Emperor's Cunning Wife

The moment Mother Shen reached the Fragrant Orchid Brothel she went straight to the Master's room. Ning Lou laughed her hearts out just witnessing her anxious figure climbing the stairs. Without a doubt she's reporting the Exquisite Drunken Brothel's matter to Brother Long.

After one performance, the Exquisite Drunken Brothel's name will be probably in everyone's mouth. Rumours spread fast and with its help Ning Lou will be able to take advantage of heightening Mother Shen's distress until she succ.u.mbed to the pressure and relent to her help.

Sowing is done.

After the plough comes harvest.

--

Mother Shen hammered the door with her continuous knocks.

"Master!"

Hearing the shout, Long furrowed his brows eyed Chang'e who was eavesdropping behind the paper screen again.

Putting behind his curiosity, Chang'e heeded Long's silent order and opened the door.

"What is it? This better be something important!"

Given the permission, Mother Shen ignored the warning and quickly opened the door to the Master's personal study.

His words were taken as farts again! No one is really giving him any face!

Reaching the door frame, she saw her Master's body guards assembled in a row. There were scrolls piled on the table where Master sat and his raised eyebrows and taut jaw only added to the assumption that she just interrupted their important discussion.

The flames of the candle crackled creating shadows on the wall.

"Master I have something to report." Averting her eyes from the flames in Long's eyes, Mother Shen adjusted her tone.

Long waved his hand letting his men formed a narrow path for her.

Hurried small steps, she kept her head bent the whole time before she was only a meter away from the unfastened bamboo scrolls. She caught a line from the drawings- White Lotus Temple Layout.

Only one look and she immediately knew what their discussion was about. The information she reported about the Empress residing outside the palace temporarily had formulated ideas in Master's mind.

But it was not good for the subordinate to step out of her bounds. She perfectly knew her place.

Dispelling the bothersome thoughts, she summarized tonight's incident to Long including the man who suddenly appeared out of nowhere.

"Ye'er"

"Master?" One of the five men took a step forward and bowed.

"About Zhou?"

"I'll look into it." Ye'er nodded and answered sharply.

"If I'm right only two people can make him come out from that guarded place. One is the old woman and the other is that physician."

"Our men from the palace didn't send any news of sorts besides the location of the Empress."

"So it must be due to that physician. I heard rumours of the Eldest heir of the Gao to love wine and had a collection of fascinating wines from different parts of the country. With a variety of selection at home why would he look for another place to drink?"

"Master's speculation is?" Ye'er dragged his question.

"Zhou ah, I perfectly remember that his brother was there. The two parted bad. For Gao Ling to be this careless, he must've been blinded by some kind of intense emotion and it must be related to that younger brother of his."

"So, Master is saying…" Ye'er caught to his deduction.

"That drunken man must be Gao Ling, the prim and proper Imperial physician of the Emperor. And that other one…" Jinlong placed his chin on his palm and traced the layout of the temple marked with a circle "…is the current Emperor."

Gasp-

"The- the Emperor?"

Even Long's five men lifted their head. Surprise scattered on their eyes.

Long's eyes darted across each and dissatisfaction find its way on his visage.

"Enough" Long slammed the table. He is clearly irked by their responses.

Everyone swallowed their saliva. "Forgive our momentary distraction."

It was shameful for them to be fazed just hearing the word 'Emperor'.

"Ye'san I'll leave the Exquisite Drunken Brothel's matter to you."

"Yes". Ye'san acknowledged.

"Ye'er you'll be gathering information from the Gao's residence. Bring me whatever vital information you can find."

"Shen, pick one wo- wait that one called Xiaohua to accompany me to the temple tomorrow. Make preparations." As if in a trance-like state, the woman's face appeared in his head. It was unusual for him to recall someone who has no connections to him, still her sacrifice was probably the reason he was inclined to have her accompany him instead of another woman. Jinlong reasoned out in his mind.

"Xiaohua?" Mother Shen mumbled.

Long sent her fleeting glance. This Shen had already made multiple mistakes today, but his behaviour must have also pushed her to question and forgot the unspoken rules of listening to his orders without question.

"Yes. I will have her prepare." In a small voice, she replied. Though surprised was still visible on her face.

Master actually requested for that woman?

"Ye'wu, Ye'yi, Ye'si, tomorrow you'll be infiltrating the White Lotus Temple. Be careful, because other than us, the different factions must have sent men to loiter around. By all means do not engage unless it is needed and if you are caught don't divulge a word."

"Yes." They were death warriors, so death was a trivial thing. To protect the Master's identity that is their utmost priority.

"Mother Shen you're dismissed." The middle aged woman's presence was impeding them from discussing the plans further.

"Y-Yes." That came out a bit slow and stuttering.

When she went out from the Master's room, her feet made its way to Xiaohua's resting room.

"Xiaohua, I have something to tell you." Knocking, Mother Shen cleared her throat.

"Mother Shen?"

Did Mother Shen find out she sent out information to the rival brothel? But her tone didn't contain any anger. It must be an entirely different matter.

Ning Lou opened the door after some thinking. Feng Hong was beside her also curious to know what had caused the middle aged woman to visit them.

"What is…" Ning Lou didn't even finish her question when Mother Shen closed the door with a loud thump and pulled her to the table.

"Pay attention to what I'm about to say…"

The seriousness of the atmosphere that came along with Mother's Shen rushed actions made Ning Lou swallowed her throat. Something within her tells that a storm was coming and she will be in it.

"Listen…" In an almost hushed yet firm tone, Mother Shen continued.

After a couple of minutes passed, Ning Lou stared at the closed doors with an incredulous expression.

"Did Brother Long really ask me to dress as his wife?"

"Who is Brother Long?" Feng Hong asked after eavesdropping on her.

Aye! She had said it out loud.

Ning Lou clicked her tongue. Narrowing her eyes, she warned. "Ah! Too much curiosity is not good. Little Feng, you better remember this lesson...sometimes we need to play deaf and mute to stay alive."

Seriousness clouded her eyes so sudden catching him off guard, but he also detected the slight concern she had for him.

"I'll remember." As if an oath he uttered.

Screech-

Someone slid the door and entered their room.

"What bad wind wafted you in our room?" Chuckling, Ning Lou teased. However deep inside she had a speculation it was because of the trip tomorrow morning.

Chang'e rolled his eyes. His seductive lips formed a straight line. "Your fart blew me in", he managed a retort. "Anyway, he asked me to help you prepare." Getting down to the main business, he put aside his dislike.

Giving her a look from head to toe, he complained, "I got a lot of work to do."

That statement was vague making Ning Lou wondered what he was referring to.

But she didn't have enough time to ponder when a strike landed on her neck.

"Xiao…" Feng Hong was also knocked out.

On a verge of her fainting, she seemed to hear someone's evil laugh, "I finally got my revenge."