The eunuch in the cold palace: You get the Nine Yang Divine Skill right from the start!

Ling Shuang followed Shen Mo's gaze to the bounty poster and explained:

"This case is worth ten Blood Yang Pills! Recently, many Blood Transformation Realm martial artists have gone missing in the martial world. Many clues point to Qingge Pavilion. Many fellow disciples have gone to investigate, but all have returned empty-handed."

Unlike cases with clear objectives like the killing of Li Laogui and Ai Luosha, there are many other cases where the target remains unclear. Because these cases involve martial artists at the Blood Transformation Realm, ordinary constables have no way to proceed and can only transfer the case to the Divine Constable Bureau for investigation.

Ling Shuang looked troubled and said, "If you want to carry out this mission, I'm afraid I can't go with you."

Why?

Shen Mo was puzzled. Ling Shuang had been quite enthusiastic just now, so why wasn't she going now?

Ling Shuang rolled her eyes at him and said irritably, "Are you really that unaware, or are you pretending? This Qingge Pavilion is both a brothel and a pleasure house!"

"How would I, a mere eunuch, know which brothels are in the capital?"

Shen Mo gave a reply that left him both amused and exasperated.

Ling Shuang thought about it and agreed, so she picked up a bounty worth five Blood Yang Pills and took it down: "I won't travel with you this time. Remember to contact me if there's a big case next time!"

The bounty for five Blood Yang Pills is not much, and relatively speaking, it is easier and safer.

Shen Mo nodded and reached out to peel down the reward notice from Qingge Pavilion.

The two went their separate ways.

Shen Mo was cautious the whole way, not daring to let his guard down.

The one who wanted to kill Wu Xiong was the Crown Prince, but the one who actually carried out the killing was the Dwarf Rakshasa of the Bai Sha Sect. If the Crown Prince Chu Feng had only paid for the assassination, that would be one thing, but if the two had truly colluded... if that were the case, then Chu Tian would be beyond redemption.

Before we knew it, we had arrived at Qingge Pavilion.

Unlike the straightforwardness of Bazhenlou, the girls greeting guests at the entrance were not heavily made up or dressed provocatively; on the contrary, they were dressed appropriately and exuded a quiet elegance.

The girl had never seen someone as fair-skinned and handsome as Shen Mo before, and her eyes changed. She took the initiative to ask:

"Sir, are you here to listen to music?"

"good."

Shen Mo nodded. Since he was here to investigate the case, he naturally couldn't reveal his identity.

The woman smiled faintly and said, "The entrance fee is two hundred coins."

Shen Mo searched his pockets but couldn't find any copper coins, only a ten-tael silver ingot, which he handed over: "The rest is a reward for the two of you."

"Thank you, sir! Thank you, sir!"

Shen Mo entered the courtyard with his hands behind his back, still able to hear the two people behind him talking about him.

"This gentleman is not only handsome, but also so generous. I hope he will take a liking to me."

"That man has an extraordinary air about him, so why would he look at us? You shouldn't dream of becoming a pampered lady."

"Can't I even think about it?"

Shen Mo shook his head helplessly and continued walking forward for several dozen more steps until his vision suddenly opened up.

What comes into view is a fairly large theater.

A woman was singing on stage, while only a dozen or so people sat in the audience, a far cry from the grandeur of Bazhenlou.

This suits his taste even better.

Shen Mo found a secluded corner to sit down, and soon a servant brought him brewed tea, as well as snacks such as peanuts and melon seeds.

The performer on stage was fairly good-looking, but she played the pipa very well, and her melodious accent added a unique charm to the performance.

Shen Mo quietly enjoyed the pleasure of listening to the music, thinking to himself:

"I have business to attend to today, so I'm going to listen to music at the brothel."

The song on stage has ended.

The performer, holding her pipa, rose and bowed, her eyes smiling as she said, "Esteemed guests, your presence is an honor for me. I cannot spoil your enjoyment. The bidding starts at ten taels of silver, and I will spend the night with the highest bidder."

Shen Mo was still immersed in the opera he had just watched. He had just taken a sip of tea when he heard these words and spat it all out. Luckily, there was no one in front of him, otherwise there would have been another commotion.

No wonder Ling Shuang said that Qingge Pavilion was both a brothel and a pleasure house.

Normally, the women in brothels only sell their art, not their bodies. Thinking about it, it's understandable. Business at Qingge Pavilion is so bad that if they didn't do prostitution, everyone would starve.

"I'll offer fifteen taels!"

"Sixteen taels!"

"You think you can make a fool of yourself with such meager possessions? I'll offer thirty taels!"

The crowd below the stage vied to bid.

Shen Mo had no intention of bidding and simply observed quietly until someone finally bid thirty-five taels of silver. He immediately went on stage, embraced the actor, and disappeared without a trace.

Just then, a madam with her face smeared with perfume appeared, smiling and saying, "Ladies and gentlemen, wonderful news! Our Miss Qin is in high spirits tonight. Which gentleman will have the honor of grace us with his presence?"

These words caused an uproar at the scene.

Shen Mo found someone and asked, "Brother, may I ask who this Miss Qin is?"

"You don't even know Miss Qin?"

The man looked at him with disdain: "Miss Qin is the most beautiful courtesan here. Unlike other entertainers, you need to be rich and talented to spend a night with her. She always gives you a test, and only those who can answer it are qualified to become her guests."

"I see, I was indeed ignorant."

After speaking, Shen Mo pondered to himself.

He had a vague feeling that this courtesan was probably connected to the case.

Not long after.

Qingge Pavilion, which was originally sparsely populated, is now so crowded that it's almost overflowing.

All these people came for this Miss Qin.

Just then, a beautiful figure appeared on the second floor. She was wearing a purple dress, had a slender figure, and her face was covered by a veil, so her true appearance could not be seen.

The scene erupted in cheers once again.

The madam returned, cleared her throat, and said, "Gentlemen, Miss Qin has been unwell lately and may soon have to return to her hometown to recuperate. You should all make the most of this last opportunity."

Listen carefully! Gentlemen, you must write a poem on the theme of "River and Moon" within the time it takes for an incense stick to burn. Write it on a piece of paper, leave your name, and I will deliver it to Miss Qin.

Everyone present was given paper and pen, and Shen Mo was no exception.

After a moment's thought, he penned a famous line that has stood the test of time.

Step—

Step—

The madam brought the first batch of poems she had collected upstairs; there were only a dozen or so in total, and many more were still racking their brains.

A moment later, Qin, the courtesan leaning against the railing, spoke up: "Which one of you is Young Master Shen Buyu?"

"I am indeed the one who is in charge."

Shen Mo clasped his hands in a fist and bowed upwards.

"Please come upstairs for a chat." After saying this, Qin Hua Kui went into the house, leaving everyone looking bewildered.

"That's not fair! The incense stick's time isn't up yet!"

"That's exactly what I'm saying. Miss Qin hasn't even read my excellent poem yet, so why should she choose him?"

"Damn it, utterly damn it!"

The crowd protested, and some even tried to rush upstairs to demand an explanation, but were blocked outside the stairs by the thugs trained by Qingge Pavilion.

Shen Mo went up to the second floor.

Pushing open the curtain to enter the boudoir, one finds the room elegant and tidy, with the carved wooden window half-open, and the evening breeze carrying the faint fragrance of flowers from the incense burner.

Shen Mo spoke first, "May I ask Miss Qin's name?"

Qin, the courtesan who had just sat down, was taken aback and asked, "You don't even know my name?"

"I don't know, this is my first time visiting Qingge Pavilion. I only know that your surname is Qin," Shen Mo replied truthfully.

"My name is Qin Shurong."

As she spoke, she removed her veil and smiled sweetly, "I wonder if my humble appearance is pleasing to the eye of the young master?"

"Does the girl want to hear the truth or a lie?"

"That's the truth, of course."

Shen Mo shook his head: "Very disappointing!"