The Red Mansion in its bustling glory

Upon hearing Lin Ruhai's words, Jia Jue naturally replied, "Uncle, rest assured, I will certainly live up to your expectations. However, Uncle, please do not dwell on these unlucky matters and take good care of yourself; your health is the most important thing."

Lin Ruhai sighed and said no more.

While Jia Jue and Lin Ruhai were talking, Xue Pan had already arrived at the Eighteen Towers in Yangzhou, determined to experience some pleasure.

As soon as he entered the building, a madam came to greet him.

These brothel owners, having engaged in these kinds of shady dealings for years, have long since developed a knack for judging people.

We know what kind of people can spend a lot of money here, and what kind of people come here without spending any money.

Look at the person in front of me. He is dressed in silk and brocade, followed by several servants. His expression is arrogant and domineering, and his eyes are lewd and extravagant.

Such a person must be a big spender who throws money around.

Therefore, the madam's expression was exceptionally obsequious, and her tone exceptionally gentle. She approached and called out, "Sir, are you a new face? Is this your first time here? Would you like me to help you choose some of our fine girls?"

Xue Pan glanced at the madam and saw that although she was not a young woman, she was plump and beautiful, and still retained her charm.

Xue Pan thought to himself—I've tasted the flavors of both men and women over the years, but I've never tried something like this before, so perhaps...

Thinking this over, Xue Pan smiled and said, "I think you should serve me!"

As he spoke, he reached out to put his arm around the madam's waist.

That madam was a woman who had seen it all. Years ago, when she was young, she was incredibly beautiful and incomparably gorgeous, and was the undisputed queen of the 18th floor.

Now that she's older, she's taken up a job as a brothel madam.

However, given her looks and figure, many guests who came to the 18th floor had designs on her.

But she is not the same person she used to be.

The reason she was able to rise from a mere courtesan to a madam was partly due to her seniority, but more importantly, she had acquired another identity.

It turns out that the 18th floor had changed hands a few years ago. The new owner took a liking to her at first sight and made her his concubine.

But since you've already married her, why make her work as a madam on the 18th floor and have her face exposed in public?

Therefore, many people guessed that the boss was just playing with her.

But things didn't turn out that way. Everyone who tried to hire a brothel owner on the 18th floor ended up in a bad situation.

But let's get back to the point.

Seeing that Xue Pan was so arrogant and ignorant, the madam sneered inwardly and said to him, "Alright, sir, let's come this way~"

As she spoke, she pulled Xue Pan by the hem of his robe and led him inside.

At this moment, Xue Pan was already driven by lust and could no longer distinguish east from west.

Just follow the madam inside.

So he didn't see the madam wink at a girl next to her right in front of him.

The servants he brought didn't dare to go in when they saw that Xue Pan was going to do *that*, they just waited outside the building.

When the madam led Xue Pan into the room, Xue Pan was still in a daze, only thinking about doing some intimate things.

As soon as the madam closed the door, Xue Pan lunged at her.

But the madam seemed to have known he was going to do this all along. With a nimble turn, she made Xue Pan miss his target.

Xue Pan didn't think much of it, assuming it was just a prelude of flirting before the main event.

He then said, "My beauty, where are you going?"

He then lunged at her.

But the madam was like an eel, so agile and slippery that she was impossible to catch.

Xue Pan kept grabbing, while the madam kept running away.

Although Xue Pan was young, his body had been weakened by wine and women, and he soon became breathless.

He was now enraged and glared at the madam, saying menacingly, "Are you coming or not? If you don't, believe me, I'll smash up your place!"

Seeing that Xue Pan was angry, the madam stopped pretending and spat at him, saying, "Pah! Don't you even take a piss and look at yourself in the mirror? You think you're worthy of being served by me?"

Upon hearing this, Xue Pan was furious and immediately began to lash out.

Unexpectedly, the door was suddenly pushed open, and a voice rang out—"I'd like to see who dares to lay a finger on my Lady Ru!"

The voice was deep, but it carried a hint of weakness.

Xue Pan looked in the direction of the sound and saw a man in brocade robes enter through the door. The man was about forty years old, but his hair had turned quite white. His complexion was sallow, his cheekbones were high, and he was quite tall, but his steps were unsteady.

Xue Pan didn't recognize him, but if Jia Jue were here, he would recognize him.

Who is he?

He is the current emperor's own brother—who has been granted the title of Prince Zhongshun!

Xue Pan was certainly not stupid; he was just a little duller than normal.

So even though he didn't know Prince Zhongshun, he knew in his heart that the person in front of him was a prince just from hearing him refer to himself as "I am the king" and "I am the widow."

Despite Xue Pan's domineering behavior in Jinling, this family is just one of the more powerful families in Jinling at present.

The most powerful family to speak of is the Jia family, with two Dukes in one family. Moreover, these are relatives, and their main family members are both in the capital.

Once outside of Jinling, the Xue family's influence diminished.

After all, his family didn't actually have any noble titles; they were just nominally imperial merchants.

Moreover, business started to decline after Xue Pan's father passed away, and the employees began to act slyly.

When Xue Pan heard him refer to himself as "I am the lonely one" and then looked behind him, he saw several guards, all carrying knives.

This startled him.

He no longer felt lust or anger, and immediately bowed, saying, "May I ask which prince is here..."

King Chungshun sneered, "You don't recognize me?"

Xue Pan said, "I don't recognize him."

King Chungshun asked, "Do you know that she is my concubine?"

Xue Pan said, "I don't know."

King Chungshun said, "You know nothing?"

Xue Pan said, "As the saying goes, 'Ignorance is no excuse,' Your Highness, what do you think..."

King Chungshun gave another cold laugh.

"beat!"

As soon as he finished speaking, several guards stepped forward and began punching and kicking Xue Pan.

"Don't kill him."

After saying this, King Chungshun put his arm around the madam's waist and left.

As they walked, he said, "My beauty, you're always causing trouble here. Why don't you come back to the capital with me, back to the Prince's mansion?"

The madam's cloying voice followed—"Your Highness~ If it were possible, who wouldn't want to go back to the Prince's mansion with you and enjoy a life of luxury? It's just that the Princess Consort... sigh~ never mind..."

The sound faded into the distance, and Xue Pan could no longer hear it.

At that moment, he felt intense pain being inflicted on his body.

Yes, he got beaten up again.