"No," replied Gao Daigner, "it is the third young master's concubine-born child, and he is five years old this year."

  The concubine? Four years ago, he married his first wife, and the concubine already had a son at that time. This is quite thought-provoking.

  Mei Zi asked: "Third Master, how many concubines do you have?"

  "There are only a few, just one. From childhood serving as the personal servant of Third Master's, two years older than Third Master, named Jin Si." Madam Gao knew even the name.

  Why isn't it called Canary? Mozi heard this name and felt out of tune, with a strong sense of disgust in her heart. "The Third Master dotes on her?"

  "Hmm, how can she not be spoiled? The two wives he married are like that, and Jin Si has been serving him since childhood and even gave birth to his children. If it weren't for the fact that her status is really not suitable, she would have been made a lady long ago and none of those ugly things would have happened." Gao Damao herself was an ordinary commoner, and her words showed some bias towards Jin Si.

  "Has Madam ever seen Third Master and Jin Si together?" Mo Zi pressed on.

  "Then I went back to the Wang Fu, accompanying the old queen and the princess in conversation. The third prince brought Jin Si and their two children to pay respects. At a glance, they were truly a match made in heaven - a lovely young couple with two delicate and beautiful children, making others envious. But unfortunately, the princess didn't like Jin Si's humble status, so she let her finish paying respects before returning to her own courtyard, leaving only the third prince and their two grandchildren to chat. I think Jin Si is quite understanding. The princess had a stern face, but Jin Si wasn't angry, smiling brightly as she completed the formalities with perfect decorum."

  "After all, he is the eldest son of the Wang family, taking a concubine is no big deal, but the wife can't be casual." Mozi himself didn't have that idea, it's just from the perspective of the entire society's values.

  "Who says it's not? But looking at San Gongzi's expression, his eyes can't accommodate anyone else. I'm even embarrassed to look at him. I heard that Jin Si was taken in as a concubine by San Gongzi when he was 16 years old and gave birth to a son, then she was promoted to be his wife. It's been seven or eight years, their feelings for each other are so good that they can't be separated.

  Gao Da Niang looked at Mo Zi again, "Actually, I've heard those rumors before, but whether they're true or not is none of our business as outsiders. I advise your young lady to consider carefully, I'm just afraid she'll suffer after marrying into their family. You know that at home, everyone is the apple of their parents' eye, who can bear to marry out and have her husband dote on his concubine more than on herself?"

  It turned out that Gaodan Niang had seen it very clearly.

  "Old lady, you're right." Mozi nodded in agreement. As for the divorce, it's hard to say whether it was because of the two older ones being jealous of the younger one and using different methods to fight back, or if the younger one had turned the tables on them. But one thing is certain: Third Master trusts Jin Siyan completely and will always stand by her side.

  "Mo Ge, there's one more thing, I have to advise you not to marry. Your family's young lady is going to be married so far away, you'll definitely have to accompany her over there. At that time, it will be hard for us to meet again." Old Lady Gao said this with a smile in her eyes.

  "It's not like we're formally arranging a marriage, what you've told me, I have to tell the young lady and let her consider it herself." Mozi glanced up at the sky, then stood up with his hands on his knees, "I've troubled you for quite some time, I should be going."

  "Let's have lunch first before leaving." Old Mrs. Gao invited them to stay.

  "No, thank you for telling me all this, otherwise it would have been a complete mess." Mozi walked towards the gate of Gao's courtyard.

  "No need to be polite. Because Third Master divorced his second wife, Old Madame Wang is still angry with him and doesn't speak to him whenever they meet, no matter how much he tries to coax her. I heard from Madame Wang that she won't forgive him until the new daughter-in-law enters the house. It seems that's why they're looking for someone in Luozhou." High Dame helped Mozi open the door.

  Mozzie glanced down the alley and saw no one, so she joked, "After finishing off the capital's rest, they were scared and didn't dare to marry, so wouldn't it be better to expand outward?"

  The tall girl shouted "Ah yo" and called out "Guai guai".

  Dai Mozi walked to the end of the alley and turned back to look at her, still leaning against the doorframe waving at herself, laughing with abandon.

  After leaving the Gao residence, Mozi did not return to Ciniang An but instead went to another place. The purpose was the same, to investigate Xiao San Gongzi. She wasn't that she didn't believe what Gao Dama said, but about the rumors of divorce in the alley, she still wanted to know more. Besides, since she had already left the door, it wouldn't make sense to return so quickly.

  Mozhi walked through the commoner district and arrived at Qingqiu Alley, the most prosperous area in the eastern city.

  In the Qing Autumn Building, there is the best large wine house in Luozhou, called Wang Qiulou. In Wang Qiulou, there are three famous beauties: beautiful wine, beautiful dishes, and beautiful women. Of course, it's the beautiful women that attract merchants and nobles the most. Unlike ordinary brothels, Wang Qiulou allows customers to call for beautiful women to accompany them during the day while drinking wine. They can accompany you to write poetry, sing songs, play chess, or even perform a small play. Both male and female guests can be accompanied, as long as they pay for the private room. The quality of these beauties is much higher than that of prostitutes, they sell their art but not their bodies, and they have a contractual agreement with the wine house. The beauties are divided into four levels: dancers, singers, musicians, and companions, each with its own price, with companions being the highest because they must be proficient in all three arts before they can become companions. The owner of the wine house takes 70% of the commission to pay for tuition, clothing, and daily expenses. However, the beauties can keep the tips they receive from customers for themselves, and the owner doesn't interfere. When the contract expires, both parties have equal choice.

  The outer hall of the Autumn Building is just like any other restaurant, at most it's just more spacious and bright. If you want to go inside the inner hall, private rooms or even the pavilions in the garden to eat, the prices are different. In the garden, a high platform was set up, those new singers and dancers have a fixed number of performances every day, not only can they practice their skills but also the guests can appreciate it. A win-win situation.

  As soon as Zi entered the outer hall, a young servant came over and asked where he would like to have his meal.

  "Inside the hall." The outer hall was crowded and noisy, and there wasn't even a stage to divert people's attention.

  The little servant looked at Mo Zi's clothes, which didn't look very good, but he didn't dare underestimate the guest. He led her into the inner hall and handed her over to the people inside before retreating. The division of labor between the inside and outside was very strict. The little servants inside didn't look like ordinary servants; they all wore the same blue short shirts and white silk pants, with a pouch embroidered with their names at their waist, looking spirited and alert.

  "Dingzi, this is the guest going to the private room. You go take care of other tables, I'll lead them upstairs." A man in his thirties wearing a blue long gown said to the small second-in-command with purple ink.

  His bag was embroidered with the two characters "Zhao Liang".

  "Zhao said, 'It is.' Dingzi went to refill the tea for everyone."

  "Follow me." Zhao Zhangshi went up the stairs of the main building and opened the door to the southernmost wing, "Please wait for a moment, someone will come to take your order."

  "Thanks for the trouble." Mozi walked in and looked at the menu on the table, which was even more exquisite.

  Zhao took charge and went out to shut the gate, then left.

  A purple window opens, facing the high platform, where three young musicians play a melody of high mountains and flowing water. Their skills are not deep, but they can be called proficient, not exquisite. However, the wonderful thing is that the three are in one mind, without any difference in tone, as if they were one body. When the music ends, applause is heard from downstairs, it seems to have attracted customers.

  Suddenly, a gentle breeze, and the slightly itchy face of Mozi turned red. Turning around, she saw that middle-aged man who was obviously short but insisted on wearing a bright green long brocade robe, and she couldn't help but laugh.

  "Qian Dazhang is in charge of affairs. Looking at you in this attire, I feel as if even the small wing room has sprouted green leaves."