Chu Lian let her bring out the dim sum, and it looked extremely appetizing. She picked up a piece to try, and as soon as it entered her mouth, it was sweet and refreshing, with a unique flavor. The breakfast had been interrupted by Meng Shi, so she ended up eating more dim sum to fill her stomach.
The road to Xunzhou is far away, and she doesn't have much time anyway. At most, she can only stay for four or five days. So after lunch, she let Si Yu tell Madame Chu that she would be leaving soon, and then had Si Wei pack her things, put on a thin green silk cloak, covered her face with gauze, and prepared to leave with Si Wei.
Just a few steps away from Chao Tang Hall, someone behind her called out, "Concubine Xi, slow down!"
Chu Lian Ruo and others stopped in their tracks, only to discover that it was Wu Guan Jia, with Si Yu and the house servant following closely behind.
Only to see Wu Guan's family bring people closer, respectfully saying, "Concubine, do you want to go out and let the slaves prepare a carriage for you? Also, choose a few more housekeepers to follow, otherwise if Concubine encounters any accidents, the entire Governor's Mansion cannot afford it!"
Chu Lian didn't want many people to know about some things she had to do, so how could she bring people from the Governor's Mansion? She smiled and said, "Wu Guan Jia is being too serious, it's just going out of the mansion to clear my mind, no need for such a big fuss." Without waiting for Wu Guan Jia to respond, she turned around and walked away leisurely, "Wu Guan Jia, please go back."
Si Yu also wanted to follow up, but was stopped by Si Wei, saying that it would be better for her to stay in the Zhao courtyard. Si Yu bit her lip and eventually returned to the Zhao courtyard alone.
After leaving the Governor's Mansion, it took about an hour to arrive at the bustling Liu'an Street. Along the way, vendors' calls were endless, children frolicked and played, and the crowded throngs of people, combined with the occasional passing carriages, formed a lively and extraordinary scene. However, Chulian Ruo walked on without so much as a glance around her, while Simiao whispered in her ear, "Concubine, we're almost there."
Chu Lian nodded slightly, and before long, she had left the willow bank street far behind, entering a narrow alley. It was only then that Si Wei spoke up, "Concubine, that Old Lady You lives right here. Yesterday, I spent all that silver to gather information, but it was all for naught, until I finally found out about this person." Then she began telling the story of Old Lady You.
It is said that Yu Po-po was a stunning beauty in her youth, with skin as white as jade and a face that could launch a thousand ships. Whoever saw her would be captivated by her charm and fall deeply in love with her. Millions of people wanted to buy out her contract. Later on, she became the object of desire for both Ping Xuan Hou and the late Old Master Wang, who fought fiercely over her until they were covered in blood. However, Yu Po-po refused to accept either of them and instead took over the management of the brothel, Long Yue Lou, becoming a madam herself. Later on, when Old Master Wang and Ping Xuan Hou returned to Shengjing, they showed great favor to Long Yue Lou.
During the time when Yu Po Po was a madam, the Lantern Building was at its peak. The people she trained, whether male or female, each had their own unique charm, and later became sought-after beauties worth a thousand pieces of gold. However, it was often rumored that princes, nobles, or young scholars would fall in love with Yu Po Po, and some even became lovesick to the point of illness. It seems that this Yu Po Po was truly a one-of-a-kind wonder.
For some unknown reason, Yu Po-po handed over Long Yue Lou to her subordinates and disappeared from sight.
"Since you've been keeping a low profile, how did you manage to find out?" She didn't think her maid had such skills.
Si Wei's face was already slightly red when she mentioned these things, and now she looked completely calm. She lowered her head slightly, trying to maintain her composure. "My father is a scholar... He had the good fortune of witnessing Yu Po Po's elegance. Once, he saw Yu Po Po in Cen Prefecture, and then, accidentally let slip his tongue." As long as it was known that it was in Cen Prefecture, even if hidden extremely secretly, there would always be someone who knew.
