Chapter 1028: Fool and Girl

Zu An was speechless. He didn't know what to say about this woman, only lamenting that Shen Zhou had met such an unfortunate match.

Gao Ying felt even more dejected. He knew his appearance couldn't compare to Zu An's or Pei You's, but being completely ignored was a bit too harsh.

Pei You quickly intervened to smooth things over. "Don't worry, you'll be paid generously. This young lady is Taohong, the... person we're looking for."

Zu An and Gao Ying exchanged glances, understanding. "Let's discuss this in a room."

What they needed to discuss was sensitive, so it was crucial that no outsiders overheard them.

"Gentlemen, please come in," Taohong said, enthusiastically sidling up to Zu An. She intentionally brushed her chest against his elbow. "This gentleman is truly handsome, where do you hail from?"

Pei You, standing nearby, immediately felt a pang of jealousy. Earlier, when he had sought out Taohong, she had been very attentive, and he had felt he had finally regained some dignity.

To his surprise, her enthusiasm for Zu An was far greater than what she had shown him moments ago.

I'm not any less handsome than Brother Zu An, so why is my appeal to women so vastly different?

However, Zu An was not as pleased as Pei You might have imagined. Catching the scent of Taohong's somewhat gaudy perfume, he couldn't help but frown inwardly as he coolly replied, "From Yijun."

"Oh, Yijun is a lovely place..." Taohong said with casual familiarity, then launched into effusive praise for the region.

Meanwhile, Zu An surveyed the Biyu Brothel. Outside, it was freezing and somewhat desolate, with snow clinging to the eaves and the overall color scheme appearing rather monotonous and dull.

Inside, however, was a completely different world: gilded and magnificent, teeming with voices, and the air permeated with intoxicating perfumes. The entire building seemed to be heated by an underground fire, making the temperature feel as warm as spring or summer.

Everywhere, scantily clad, beautiful women moved with captivating grace, their voices alluring and seductive. In such an environment, few men could maintain their composure.

Zu An scanned the room, noticing that unlike the Central Plains, there were many foreign courtesans and some demonic women here. If the "furry" enthusiasts from his previous life's internet had seen this, they would surely have fainted from excitement.

The entire establishment was even more bustling than the previously visited Xiaoyao Tower. While Xiaoyao Tower focused on ambience and featured more reserved and fewer women, this place was teeming with vivacious and unrestrained women.

Soon, the group followed Taohong into a room. "Honored guests, please wait a moment," she said. "I'll just go change and be right back."

"No need to trouble yourself," Zu An said with a cough. Clearly, they hadn't come today to watch a fashion show.

"Oh? Is this gentleman so eager?" Taohong asked, a flush rising to her cheeks. She subtly appraised the men, thinking that the handsomest one, this gentleman, she wouldn't even mind serving for free.

The first one, Young Master Pei, was acceptable, but the one behind him, Young Master Gao, was a little plain.

Oh well, worst case, she would just make him stay behind her, and she wouldn't have to look at his face.

Yes, when the time came, she would definitely face this gentleman in white...

As she thought this, she demurely began to untie her waistband. These movements had been cultivated since childhood and were performed with perfect ease.

The actions were both highly seductive and yet appropriately conveyed a woman's demureness.

"Cough, cough, there's no need to undress," Zu An hastily interjected. "We simply want to ask you a few questions."

Hearing his words, Taohong immediately pulled her clothes back into place. "Hmph, are you men here just to waste my time? You come to Biyu Brothel just to ask questions, not to engage in business?"

She had initially thought it was a lucrative opportunity, but when it turned out they weren't there for pleasure, she instantly felt jinxed.

Though the gentleman in white was handsome, that wasn't an excuse for them not to pay.

At that moment, Zu An took out a silver ingot and placed it on the table. "Don't worry," he said, "you'll be well compensated."

Seeing the large silver ingot, Taohong's eyes lit up. She immediately brought it to her mouth to bite it, then tucked it into her bosom, smiling. "Gentlemen, please ask whatever you wish," she said, "I will answer everything I know."

Seeing her rapid change, Gao Ying inwardly scorned her, thinking, *Truly, a harlot has no heart, only eyes for money.*

Zu An, however, didn't mind. He believed it was better to deal with someone who loved money than someone who cared for nothing at all. "Do you know Shen Zhou?" he asked.

Hearing the name Shen Zhou, Taohong's smile stiffened. "Who are you?" she asked.

Gao Ying impatiently snorted. "We're asking the questions now, not the other way around."

Zu An smiled. "Don't worry, young lady, we are respectable people, and friends of Shen Zhou."

"Oh, so you're friends with that heartless man," Taohong said, her emotions visibly stirring. "With his thick eyebrows and big eyes, I actually thought he was an honest person. But it turns out he was just like all the others; he used me and then abandoned me."

"What did he lie to you about?"

"He said sweet things," she recounted, "talking about buying my freedom, marrying me and making me his wife, telling me to wait for him. But now, more than half a year has passed, and I haven't seen hide nor hair of him. I've realized now: all men are bastards." Taohong grew increasingly agitated as she spoke, her words turning into a full-blown accusation.

Zu An sighed. "He's already dead," he stated.

"Where did he die?" Taohong instinctively blurted out, then suddenly froze. "What? Dead?"

"That's right. He died in the line of duty during a mission, burned to death in a warehouse," Zu An explained. "It's likely he didn't intentionally deceive you." To extract information, Zu An knew he couldn't let her retain her resentment toward Shen Zhou.

"To just die like that... I suppose it's a cheap escape for him," Taohong said with a smile. However, the men, all skilled observers, acutely noticed that her voice trembled slightly more than before, and her eyes were subtly moist.

No one disturbed her. After a while, she somewhat regained her composure. "A fortune teller once told me I had a fate that would curse my husband," she mused. "I didn't believe it back then, but now it seems I'm better off staying in the brothel for this life and not dreaming about things that will never be."

Zu An sighed. "My condolences, young lady."

"What condolences?" Taohong's voice suddenly rose, as if lost in thought, muttering to herself. "He wasn't my man. That guy was just a fool. What kind of place is the Biyu Brothel? Everyone who comes here is looking for pleasure, yet the first time he saw me, he actually talked with me all night."

"He was so awkward; at first, he didn't even know what to say when he saw me. I had to initiate the conversation."

"Then he asked me why I worked in this profession and even advised me to lead a virtuous life... advising a woman in a brothel to abandon her ways is the most foolish thing in the world," Taohong said, her tone a mix of sarcasm and tenderness. "We've seen it countless times in the brothel; the madams have long taught us how to handle it. So I fabricated a tragic backstory: that my mother was gravely ill at home, and I had a young brother, and that I was forced into this line of work out of desperation."

"A backstory riddled with holes, yet that fool actually believed it," Taohong said, still finding it amusing as she recalled the moment. "He even gave me all the silver he had on him at the time."

"Getting silver without having to entertain guests, of course I wouldn't refuse. From then on, he would visit me periodically, providing me with silver. Later, he even found a prescription to treat the illness I'd fabricated for my mother."

"Later, he even foolishly asked where my home was so he could help care for my mother and brother. Of course, I couldn't tell him, and he didn't grow suspicious; instead, he became quite anxious."

"He really was a fool..."

As she spoke, her voice gradually softened.

Zu An and the others exchanged glances, none interrupting her. Although her words were filled with mockery for Shen Zhou, they all sensed a deeper meaning, and even Gao Ying's gaze was no longer scornful.

Taohong lowered her head and remained silent for a long time. Finally, she suddenly looked up, her eyes bright and intense. "Was he murdered?" she asked.

Zu An hesitated for a moment, then nodded.

"Did you kill him?" Taohong's voice trembled slightly, clearly fearful.

Zu An shook his head. "We are here to investigate the cause of his death," he explained.

As he spoke, he took out an official identification token and handed it to her.

"I can't tell if it's real or fake..." Taohong mumbled, but despite her words, she examined it carefully.

Zu An allowed her to scrutinize the token before asking, "We suspect there's something amiss about Shen Zhou's death, and we're looking for clues. When was the last time you saw him? Did he say anything unusual to you, or give you anything?"

Taohong repeatedly examined his token, then inquired about their identities. After learning they were imperial envoys, she finally spoke. "I didn't realize it at the time," she said, "but looking back now, the last time I saw him, he seemed a bit flustered. He also gave me a box to hold onto, saying he would come back for it later."

"A box?" Zu An and the others immediately perked up.

"I opened the box and looked inside," Taohong said, rummaging around her bed for a moment. "It was just an old, broken key. I actually thought it would be some kind of treasure." She then produced a small box and handed it to the three men.

Zu An and the others opened it and confirmed it was just a key. Gao Ying even specifically inspected the box itself, but found nothing unusual.

"I don't know where the lock is, so having the key is useless," Taohong said disappointedly, as if she had missed out on a treasure.

Zu An and the others asked her a few more questions, and after confirming they hadn't missed anything, they rose to take their leave.

"Wait," Taohong called out as they turned to leave. She then pulled the silver ingot she had just received from her bosom. "Take this back; I don't want it."

"We've taken up your time, young lady," Zu An replied. "This is your rightful compensation."

Taohong shook her head. "I owe that fool far too much," she said. "You are avenging him; how could I possibly accept your silver?"

Without waiting for them to refuse, she threw the silver ingot back to them, then slammed the door shut.

Outside, sounds of revelry and laughter continued, but the three highly skilled individuals faintly heard the sound of sobbing coming from the room.

Zu An and the other two exchanged glances, their moods heavy.

Gao Ying sighed. "They say actors are heartless and courtesans faithless, but today I learned there are exceptions in this world."

"I also misunderstood that Shen Zhou," Zu An murmured.

Pei You also remarked with emotion, "Such a compassionate and virtuous woman... I will definitely come more often to support her business in the future."

Zu An: "???"

Gao Ying: "???"