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Chapter 121: What I Saw and Heard at the Jiaofangsi!

Chapter 122: What I Saw and Heard at the Jiaofangsi!

Shen Yan arrived at Chang Le Gambling House.

If you want to send a message into the palace, this is one way.

Chang Le Gambling House was a property of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

As soon as they arrived at the entrance of the gambling den, two burly men immediately greeted them with smiles.

"Master Shen, are you here today to gamble or to do business? Let me show you the way."

Do you know me?

Shen Yan looked at the fierce-looking man before him, who was now putting on a fawning act, and found it somewhat comical. The man laughed and said, "Master Shen, you jest. Who in Bianjing doesn't know you, Master Shen!"

"I want to pass on a message to someone."

After hearing this, the big man led Shen Yan to a quiet room and asked him to wait a while.

Soon, a middle-aged man dressed in fine clothes walked in.

Smiling, he said to Shen Yan, "Greetings, Lord Shen. I am the manager of this gambling den. My name is Xie Yunzhou."

"Manager Xie, is it really necessary for you to personally handle such a small matter as delivering a message?"

Xie Yunzhou smiled and said, "It's not necessary for others to come, but it's different for Madam Shen. I like to befriend young talents like you the most."

Shen Yan, too lazy to beat around the bush or play games, went straight to the point: "I want to pass on a message to He Yun of the Directorate of Ceremonial. How much would that cost?"

"Just give me the message, sir. I won't charge you this time; consider it making a friend."

Shen Yan shook his head.

"It's only right to do things for money!"

"Alright, I will definitely deliver the message to He Yun today."

After leaving the gambling den, Shen Yan was somewhat confused; Xie Yunzhou had been a little too enthusiastic.

He thought to himself, "Could it be because of Ah Si?"

Back in the prison, Sun Fugui had already collected many anecdotes from the previous dynasty and legends of immortals for him yesterday.

Qi Xuan looked at the table full of supernatural tales and could only shake his head, saying, "The master's actions are unpredictable and truly unfathomable."

Shen Yan began to examine the contents, but most of the things recorded there could not be verified.

Much of it is just people's imagination, and it is very difficult to get any useful information out of it.

No matter how difficult it is, Shen Yan will still do it.

He spent the whole day looking at this pile of books, flipping through them hastily.

Sun Fugui found him a complete set, including several books of erotic illustrations.

Qi Xuan looked at Shen Yan with a strange expression after seeing this.

The erotic paintings of the Great Zhou Dynasty were not even in the same league as those of his previous life, and Shen Yan was completely unmoved by them.

Shen Yan didn't think there was anything wrong with it at all. After all, it's normal for men to read some erotic novels.

He then picked up the erotic picture in his hand and said to Qi Xuan, "Do you want to see it? Take it if you want."

"No, sir, I don't like watching this."

Qi Xuan quickly waved his hand and walked away.

News finally came from the palace. Shen Yan heard from the jailer that someone had sent him something outside the prison.

Shen Yan took it and saw that it was a letter and a waist tag.

He opened the letter, and sure enough, it was written by He Yun.

"Lord Shen, thank you for your kind words. I am too busy with palace affairs to come to the prison to express my gratitude in person. Please forgive me. This waist token is my personal item. With this token, they will give you a favor."

Shen Yan nodded after reading it and headed directly towards the Jiaofangsi (a government-run entertainment venue).

At the beginning of the Great Zhou Dynasty, no women's prison was set up. However, it was not long before the adults realized that it would be quite inconvenient to imprison men and women in the same prison.

The prison guards frequently bullied and humiliated female prisoners. In a fit of anger, the then Minister of Justice submitted a memorial to the emperor, and thereafter the women's prison was placed under the management of the Directorate of Ceremonial.

The person who received Shen Yan was an old eunuch named Ma Yue, who looked to be in his fifties or sixties.

When he saw the waist badge that Shen Yan showed, he was incredibly enthusiastic.

"Sir, which one have you taken a fancy to? I'll arrange it for you right away."

"Eunuch Ma, is there someone named Lin Qingwei?"

"Are you referring to the daughter of Lin Jian, the Minister of Revenue?"

"Yes, you know her?"

Lin Jian was merely a minor official of the ninth rank; he should not be as discerning as Ma Yue.

Ma Yue laughed and said, "I naturally don't know her father, but Lin Qingwei is no ordinary woman. She is incredibly beautiful, even more stunning than the most beautiful courtesan in the Spring Breeze Pavilion. If I weren't so old, I would be tempted too."

"Ah?! Sorry, so you're not my father-in-law!"

"Your Excellency misunderstands me. I come from the palace. Just an analogy, don't take it seriously, but Lin Qingwei is indeed stunningly beautiful."

"How much silver do I need to take her home?"

Upon hearing Shen Yan's words, Ma Yue frowned and said, "Sir, if you just want to have some fun, that's easy to arrange. But the people on this list can't just disappear!"

"I have a past with her father and cannot bear to see her suffer in the brothel. I beg you, sir, to think of a solution."

As he spoke, Shen Yan secretly slipped him a fifty-tael silver note.

Ma Yue's expression softened a bit; he didn't believe a word Shen Yan said.

In his view, Shen Yan must have his eye on Lin Qingwei's beauty, and these words were just an excuse.

Seeing that his expression had softened, Shen Yan said again, "It's freezing cold. It's quite normal for Lin Qingwei, a frail woman, to catch a cold, isn't it?"

"What you say is absolutely right, sir. Lin Qingwei looks frail and weak. If she catches a cold, even a god might not be able to save her."

Ma Yue secretly extended a finger, and Shen Yan nodded slightly to indicate that he understood.

He thought to himself, "Just what does Lin Qingwei look like that she's worth a thousand taels of silver?"

Shen Yan couldn't help but feel curious, and upon receiving the news, he went back and told Ma Danian.

"Thank you, sir. Please keep this silver!"

"Huh?! You came prepared? How did you know it was this number?"

"My lord, you may not know this, but the price for getting someone released from the women's prison depends on two things: their status and their appearance. I can easily estimate how much silver Qingwei will need."

"In that case, I'll run the errand for you again!"

Shen Yan took the money given to him by Ma Danian and went to the women's prison.

After receiving the money, Ma Yue said that it would take a few more days to arrange things, and then he would send the person directly to Shen Yan's residence.

He couldn't help but think to himself that the service in the women's prison was even better than that in the imperial prison, as they could even deliver goods to his door.

It's not that he's bragging.

After Shen Yan's efforts to improve the prison, it is now much better than before.

Inmates who frequently served time in prison all praised how much more comfortable the prison was now.

Shen Yan was about to leave after finishing his business, but Ma Yue invited him to visit the Jiaofangsi (a government-run entertainment district).

Having stayed in Bianjing for so long, Shen Yan had never been to the Jiaofangsi before, so he was curious and went there with Ma Yue.

Seeing that most of the guests were officials, Shen Yan couldn't help but wonder, and asked, "Eunuch Ma, why do we only see officials and no commoners at the Jiaofangsi?"

Ma Yue smiled mysteriously and said softly, "Lord Shen, you may not know this, but the brothels are full of wives and daughters of former officials who have committed crimes. Since they were officials in the same court, there would always be some grudges between them, so you understand."

"I see, these officials really know how to play the game."

Shen Yan originally wanted to curse a few more times, but remembering that he was also an official, he quickly changed his words.

Ma Yue said, "The women of the Yan family are always booked every night, and most of these officials are here to support them."

Shen Yan shook his head upon hearing this, for cause and effect, retribution, have their own logic.

They had once enjoyed the wealth brought by the Yan family, and now that the Yan family had fallen, they were reaping the bitter fruits of their actions, which was understandable.