Sheng Tang: What is Liu Jianjun going to do today?

Chapter 29 Liu Jianjun really went to a brothel.

"Your subject... has remembered something!"

"In the past, when I was accused of treason, all the weapons and armor that were confiscated were burned at Tianjin Bridge, but... I did not see Jinghong among them!" Li Xian said with tears in his eyes.

At that moment, he remembered Liu Jianjun's instructions from the previous day: "Xianzi, do you have anything that belongs to the same batch of supplies as the weapons and armor?"

Without hesitation, Li Xian replied, "I have a horse named Jinghong."

Liu Jianjun then said, "My dear son, remember this: when the time comes, just say that your horse wasn't found with your armor! And that you didn't have the horse in your residence at the time!"

Li Xian didn't understand.

Liu Jianjun explained it this way: "Since the horses and armor belong to the same batch of military supplies, why are the armor and weapons in your residence, but the horses are not?"

"There's only one explanation: the temporary transfer documents were tampered with!"

Li Xian found it utterly unbelievable.

He himself couldn't even remember such a trivial matter, so how did Liu Jianjun dare to bring it up so openly?

But Liu Jianjun said, "Everyone involved in the treason case died. You are the only one who survived. What you said is the only evidence!"
"As for whether your grandfather believes you or not... that doesn't matter at all!"
"Just one point of doubt is enough."

Li Xian was unsure of what Liu Jianjun had said, and at that moment he knelt on the ground, feeling uneasy.

He wasn't worried that his father didn't know Jinghong, because this horse was a gift from his father.

His concern was whether Liu Jianjun's method would work.

To Li Xian's surprise, before Emperor Gaozong could speak, Empress Wu asked, "You say Jinghong wasn't in your residence at the time, do you have any evidence?"

Li Xian recalled Liu Jianjun's instructions, raised his head, and met Empress Wu's gaze with unwavering eyes: "I have no evidence of this matter! But I believe the Armory Administration has records from that time! Your Majesty is free to consult them!"

Empress Wu's expression changed, but she said nothing more.

At this moment, Emperor Gaozong finally spoke: "Mingyun, step down and return to the post station to await orders. Your father will give you an explanation for this matter."

Li Xian noticed that when Emperor Gaozong said this, his tone carried a chilling murderous intent, as if his father, who had led the Tang Dynasty in its eastern and western campaigns and established its formidable power, had returned.

Li Xian didn't know what this meant, but... Liu Jianjun's words seemed to have come true again.

Without a second thought, Li Xian hurriedly kowtowed and said, "Your subject obeys the decree!"

……

After leaving the imperial city, Li Xian headed straight for the post station.

He had so many questions he wanted to ask Liu Jianjun.

For example, what was the meaning of the Emperor's final attitude? And why did Liu Jianjun specifically instruct me not to reveal my speculations about Qiu Shenji? And where did Liu Jianjun's claim of punishing Qiu Shenji come true? And so on...

But when Li Xian returned to the post station, Liu Jianjun had not yet returned.

At this moment, a courier at the post station found Li Xian and said, "Young Master Liu instructed that if you return from the palace, you should go to Pingkang Ward to find him."

Li Xian was stunned.

Liu Jianjun really went to Pingkangfang?
Most importantly, Pingkangfang is a real den of iniquity; where would Liu Jianjun get the money?!
Without a second thought, Li Xian thanked the courier and hurried towards Pingkang Ward. Li Xian was very familiar with Chang'an City, and soon he arrived at Pingkang Ward.

Pingkangfang, as the most developed area of ​​the entertainment industry in the entire Chang'an City, was almost full of restaurants and beautifully dressed girls. Wealthy merchants and nobles came and went in an endless stream, all dressed in luxurious silks and satins. Only Li Xian was still wearing the Confucian robe that had been mended by the embroiderer, which made him look particularly shabby.

But Li Xian didn't care about being embarrassed at this moment, and looked around in the crowd.

All Li Xian could see were heads moving back and forth.

He suddenly felt a little discouraged. Pingkangfang was so big, with dozens or even hundreds of brothels. Where was he supposed to find Liu Jianjun?

But at this moment, a very plump woman approached with a charming smile, grabbed Li Xian and pulled him into a nearby restaurant. As she pulled him, she said in a seductive voice, "Sir, your mother has been waiting for you for a long time! Why did you take so long to arrive!"

Li Xian was already used to this kind of situation, and hurriedly explained, "Madam, I'm not here to seek pleasure today!"

The woman covered her mouth and smiled: "Are you surnamed Li?"

Li Xian nodded blankly.

"Then the old woman didn't pull the wrong person! Young Master Liu said that if a poorly dressed scholar suddenly appears in Pingkang Lane, looking around suspiciously, then the old woman should pull you in!"

As she spoke, the woman dragged Li Xian into the restaurant, saying, "This old woman's eyes have never misjudged anyone. Although Young Master Li's clothes are shabby, his demeanor is that of someone of wealth and nobility. No wonder he can be on friendly terms with that Young Master Liu!"

Li Xian was taken aback: "Young Master Liu...? Is he a dark-skinned young man?"

"That's right!" the woman laughed again, her two rosy cheeks like leaping red plums.

Li Xian finally felt relieved and followed the woman into the restaurant. Only then did Li Xian realize that something was wrong. Normally, places like this, where people sell their bodies, would be filled with young and beautiful girls soliciting customers. But today, Li Xian didn't see a single one.

If it weren't for the sounds of women singing coming from the restaurant, Li Xian would have thought he had come to the wrong place.

Filled with doubt, Li Xian followed the woman into the restaurant.

Li Xian was stunned as soon as he entered the door.

Liu Jianjun was sitting in the lobby, surrounded by more than a dozen young and beautiful girls. Some of these girls pressed their exposed breasts against his face, some poured wine into their mouths and fed it to Liu Jianjun, and some, with bare arms, groped Liu Jianjun all over his body. Li Xian even saw one of the girls reach for Liu Jianjun's crotch.

Liu Jianjun not only accepted all comers, but even enjoyed it!
Can not bear to look!

Li Xian simply couldn't understand how Liu Jianjun, such a simple and honest young man, could act like a seasoned veteran of the brothel!

But right now, Li Xian was more concerned about money.

Liu Jianjun called so many girls, he even called almost all the girls in the restaurant. How much money must that have cost!
Li Xian felt a cold sweat break out on his forehead as he thought about their empty pockets.

He knew all too well that anyone who could run such a brothel in Chang'an had a terrifyingly powerful backing. Now that he had lost his status as the Crown Prince, if he couldn't afford the "prostitute fees," he would definitely be beaten half to death.

Thinking of this, Li Xian rushed to Liu Jianjun, grabbed him, and pulled him outside, saying in a low voice, "Are you crazy! Where are we going to get the money to pay?"

At this moment, Liu Jianjun seemed to finally snap out of his reverie.

He waved his hand, still with that indifferent attitude: "Why pay? If I pay, wouldn't I be soliciting prostitutes?"
"Prostitution is illegal!"

……

(End of this chapter)