Proud Feather

Chapter 48 Listening to music
Chu Ling hadn't expected to run into them, so he asked curiously, "Why are you here?"

Without waiting for Yang Yu to speak, Chu Xiaojiu pulled him and said, "To thank Brother Yang, I'd like to treat him to a drink."

Finally, he stopped calling her A-Yu, and Yang Yu didn't deny it.

"Why is the princess here?" he asked. "The palace gates are closed, right?"

Chu Ling said, "I'm staying at the Duke of Anguo's mansion tonight."

Well, as long as Your Majesty has no objection, the princess can go wherever she wants.

The three of them looked at each other, and it was Yang Yu who spoke last: "Princess, you didn't come to Wa Si just for fun, did you?"

Chu Ling said meaningfully: "You guys aren't either, are you?"

"Of course not!" Chu Xiaojiu took the opportunity to express his loyalty. "We also want to contribute to the case, so we came to Wa Si to see if there are any clues."

"I see." Chu Ling nodded, "You are such a good nephew!"

Chu Xiaojiu was the best at taking advantage of others, and immediately said, "It is my nephew's duty to go through fire and water for my aunt. Isn't that right, Brother Yang?"

Yang Yu: "..." He is of the same generation as the princess, not a nephew.

He didn't deny it, so Chu Xiaojiu took it as a tacit agreement and said, "Since we've met, let's go together! Princess..."

Chu Ling raised her finger to interrupt him: "Don't let anyone hear it."

"Oh, yes!" Chu Xiaojiu probed, "Then I should call you aunt?"

Chu Ling didn't care: "How are you going to investigate?"

"Uh..." Chu Xiaojiu said, "Let's talk to Xiao Lianxiang first?"

Yang Yu said, "The Imperial City Bureau must have looked for Xiao Lianxiang. However, it's okay to look for her first. Maybe there are some things she doesn't dare to tell the officials, so she came out during a casual chat."

So the three of them, plus a palace maid, entered the brothel together.

"Oh, isn't this the Ninth Young Master? Long time no see!" The proprietress of the brothel came up to him with a smile.

"Mother Qin, the tile shop hasn't been open for so long, so of course you can't see me!" Chu Xiaojiu pointed back, "I'm entertaining friends today, please don't embarrass me!"

"Of course!" Mother Qin glanced back, her eyes lighting up. "This is... Young Master Yang, right? I remember you came here once, your elegance and grace were unforgettable!"

Yang Yu nodded as a greeting: "Mother Qin has a good memory."

Although he doesn't often go out to have fun, as a talented and romantic man, he has to attend various gatherings, and it is natural that he will be involved in the theater.

"Hey, hey, hey!" Chu Xiaojiu was dissatisfied. "You only care about him and not me, right? We have guests!"

Chu Ling stood a little further back, and Mother Qin only noticed it then, and her eyes suddenly lit up.

The girl was young and very good-looking, but the most striking thing about her was definitely not her appearance, but her carefree and easy-going temperament. She just casually stood with her hands in her sleeves, but people did not dare to look down on her from the bottom of their hearts - she really did not look like a young girl, but more like the important people she had received.

Mother Qin spoke seriously: "Hello, Miss, is this your first time here?"

"Yes." Chu Ling responded casually while looking around curiously.

This was indeed her first time at a theater in the capital. Although she had a reputation for extravagance and pleasure in her previous life, she had always invited guests to the princess's residence, never in person. Mother Qin smiled and said, "Young lady, it's right that you come to us to listen to music. Little Lianxiang and Little Xiyu are both famous singers in the capital. Oh, Little Lianxiang will rest today, but Little Xiyu will be on stage soon. You can also tell me what music you like to hear, and I guarantee you will be satisfied!"

Before Chu Ling finished speaking, Chu Xiaojiu expressed his dissatisfaction: "Why is Xiao Lianxiang resting? We are here for her!"

"Ninth Young Master..." Mother Qin looked embarrassed.

Chu Xiaojiu didn't care and pointed at Chu Ling: "To tell you the truth, this is my aunt. I came to your place to listen to music today just to entertain my aunt. I said a lot of good things about Xiao Lianxiang to my aunt. If you don't let my boasting go to waste, you won't have any business in the future!"

Mother Qin was at a loss for words. This Ninth Young Master was a member of the royal family of the Kang Palace. If he called her "Auntie," then this girl must also be a member of the royal family. She was just a lowly actor. She might have a wide network of connections, but how could she compare to the royal family? She couldn't afford to offend the owner of the teahouse behind her!
Helplessly, Mother Qin whispered, "Ninth Young Master, to be honest with you, it's not that I won't let Xiao Lianxiang on stage, but she's involved in a government job and I won't let her out. Xiao Lianxiang is a mainstay of the brothel, and there's nothing I can do about it!"

Oh, because of this! Chu Xiaojiu's complexion improved: "Why didn't you say that earlier! How about this, she doesn't have to go on stage, you take us to meet her privately and let her sing a cappella, isn't that fine?"

"This……"

"You can't do this?" Chu Xiaojiu's face fell, "I've already given you face, don't be shameless!"

Yang Yu then said, "Don't worry, Mom. We won't tell anyone. We'll just treat it as a visit to a friend. Xiao Lianxiang wasn't arrested, which shows the government doesn't intend to lock her up. They're probably trying to avoid trouble."

After a series of threats and pleasantries, Mother Qin finally nodded hesitantly: "Okay, if Young Master Yang promises... please follow me, the three of you."

nailed it.

Chu Xiaojiu winked at the person behind him, meaning, am I awesome?
Chu Ling glanced at Yang Yu and replied to him, "Aren't you considering Young Master Yang's face?"

Chu Xiaojiu felt that his credit had been stolen for no reason, and glared at Yang Yu reluctantly.

Yang Yu was puzzled. He was talking to help!
Mother Qin led them around the stage and to the living quarters at the back.

The noisy sounds faded away, making the place even quieter. The untuned sound of the pipa came to my ears, carrying an inexplicable melancholy.

"My dear daughter, are you there?"

A lazy response came from inside: "Mom, why are you back?" The voice was sweet but not greasy, graceful and gentle, which was really captivating.

Mother Qin said, "Come and see who I brought with me!"

The pipa paused, and after a while a young lady emerged. Her appearance was merely pretty, but with a voice like hers, her looks were of little importance.

She was initially a little unhappy, but when she saw the three people, especially Chu Ling, she was stunned for a moment: "This is..."

"Xiao Lianxiang, long time no see." Chu Xiaojiu said with a giggle, "My aunt knows that you sing well and wanted to come and listen, so I brought her here."

Xiao Lianxiang opened her mouth and her eyes fell on Chu Ling: "Auntie...Auntie?"

Chu Ling nodded as a greeting: "Miss Lianxiang."

"My dear daughter, sit down and talk to them. Mom will prepare some wine and food." Mother Qin said with a smile, her eyes hinting.

Xiao Lianxiang understood and immediately smiled, "So it's Miss Chu. I'm so honored to be valued by you. Please take a seat, everyone. I'll go get the pipa right away."

"That's not necessary." Chu Ling interrupted them, "Miss Lianxiang, just sing a few lines."

He turned his eyes and said, "You don't have to leave, Mom. Let's have a cup of tea together!"