Chapter 6

With a nervous heart, Xiaoming pushed open the door to Mother Kang's room and walked in. There was no one in the main hall.

Jiang Xia called out, "Mother Kang, where are you?"

"Come in, I'm in here."

The voice came from Mother Kang's bedroom. Jiang Xia hesitated for a moment, sensing something was off. Was he walking into a trap? As this thought arose, another one quickly followed. Twenty taels of silver as a reward, could he just let it go?

After weighing his options, Jiang Xia walked around the screen and entered Mother Kang's bedroom. Mother Kang was lying in bed, her expression suggesting she was in discomfort. Seeing her like this, Jiang Xia felt a sense of relief.

Of course, he was relieved, but he still had to ask, "Mother Kang, what's wrong?"

Although Mother Kang was under the covers, it was clear that she was holding her stomach with both hands, curled up in a ball. She said weakly, "My stomach hurts. Jiang Xia, come help me sit up."

"Okay." Jiang Xia responded and walked over. He supported Mother Kang's armpits to lift her up, but at that moment, Mother Kang, who had been in apparent pain, suddenly perked up. Her bulky body burst with an unexpected agility. Before Jiang Xia could react, Mother Kang flipped and pinned him down, her entire body pressing on him.

"Mother Kang, what are you planning to do?" As Jiang Xia asked, Mother Kang started to untie his waistband and began kissing his face wildly. Jiang Xia felt a chill, realizing what Mother Kang was up to.

The female hooligans in this world were getting more and more audacious. Being such a handsome and suave man, it was truly a curse to be coveted wherever he went. Oh, no, it was male beauty. Jiang Xia sighed inwardly, but in such a critical situation, he remained calm. After all, he was the youngest master of the Thousand Doors, and he couldn't control the situation if he didn't have the composure to remain calm in the face of danger.

Jiang Xia suddenly hugged Mother Kang's waist and said, "Mother Kang, if you just want this, you should have said so. It's an honor for me, Jiang Xia, to be favored by you."

Hearing this, Mother Kang was stunned for a moment. Seizing the opportunity, Jiang Xia flipped over and pinned her down. He looked at her with gentle eyes, meeting her gaze.

"Oh, my dear." Mother Kang whispered, only now realizing how handsome Jiang Xia was.

With his sword-like eyebrows, star-like eyes, straight nose, and thin lips, he exuded a manly charm. Mother Kang couldn't help but scold herself for not noticing such a talented and handsome man in her brothel before.

Jiang Xia untied his waistband and started to untie Mother Kang's. Mother Kang watched him with wide eyes. To be honest, although she was almost fifty, she had been a famous courtesan in the capital city in her youth, so she still had some foundation. Her body, though somewhat plump, was still tall and not unappealing, especially with her prominent breasts, making her figure passable.

As for her face, although the skin was starting to sag and she had wrinkles and spots, her youthful features were still there, and she could still be considered a mature woman with lingering charm. However, ... Jiang Xia had strict standards for women and would never compromise. He gently brushed Mother Kang's eyes with his left hand and said softly, "Don't look at me like that, I'm not used to it."

"Okay, my dear, I'll listen to you." Mother Kang closed her eyes. Jiang Xia grabbed her hands and raised them above her head, then quickly tied them up and stood up, saying, "Mother Kang, I'll give you this waistband. I'm just a servant and can't bear such favor. Goodbye..."

"Jiang Xia! Jiang Xia!" Mother Kang opened her eyes and called out loudly, but Jiang Xia had already run away. There was no sign of him in the room. Mother Kang was both angry and disappointed. She looked at the waistband in her hand and her eyes gleamed, "My dear, I won't let you escape from my grasp."

Escaping from Mother Kang's room, Jiang Xia sighed in relief. It was like escaping from the jaws of a tiger. He glanced back at Mother Kang's room and thought, "This place is too dangerous to stay. I should leave first."

Just as he turned into the corridor, he saw Zhang Yong standing at the door of Shixin Pavilion. Zhang Yong also saw Jiang Xia at that moment. Jiang Xia smiled and walked over, bowing to Zhang Yong, "Sir, good day."

Zhang Yong had just been tricked out of twenty taels of silver by Jiang Xia. Although he didn't really mind, he still felt a bit uncomfortable. So he turned his head and huffed, ignoring Jiang Xia. Jiang Xia, feeling the cold shoulder, smiled and prepared to leave.

At that moment, the door of Shixin Pavilion opened, and Emperor Zhu Houzhao came out, grabbing Zhang Yong's hand and saying, "Zhang Yong, remember this top line and quickly find someone to come up with the bottom line. Hurry!"

"Yes, yes." Zhang Yong nodded hurriedly. Zhu Houzhao looked around and took out a one-tael silver note from his pocket, handing it to Jiang Xia, "Go borrow a set of writing tools for me, quickly."

"Okay." Jiang Xia took the silver note and ran to Nian Nu Pavilion. He knocked on the door, and a young maid opened it. Seeing Jiang Xia, the maid asked, "What do you want? What's the matter?"

Jiang Xia took out a few coins from his pocket and gave them to the maid, smiling, "Good sister, can you lend me your writing tools?"

The maid weighed the coins in her hand and put them in her pocket, "Wait a moment, I'll ask my mistress."

A moment later, the maid came out with the writing tools and handed them to Jiang Xia, "Remember to return them when you're done."

"Sure, definitely." Jiang Xia nodded and took the writing tools to Zhu Houzhao.

Seeing Jiang Xia return so quickly, Zhu Houzhao nodded and praised, "Well done." Then he picked up the brush, dipped it in ink, and wrote seven characters, "Chang chang chang chang chang chang chang."

"Seven 'chang' characters, this is the top line?" Zhang Yong was stunned, and anyone would be.

Zhu Houzhao nodded, "This is the top line given to me... to me by Lady Shi. I pretended to go to the toilet to ask you to find someone to help. Find someone quickly to come up with the bottom line. Lady Shi said if I can't come up with the bottom line today, she won't let me into her bed. I've practiced the Art of the Female for so long, it would be a waste."

"You know the Art of the Female too?" Jiang Xia looked at Zhu Houzhao with surprise. He had once stolen a Chinese ancient book from the British Museum and found it to be the original "Eighteen Postures of the Art of the Female." It was said that this supreme manual of the art of the bedchamber was taught to Emperor Huizong of Song by a high master and disappeared from the palace after his death.

Although he didn't know if the story was true, Jiang Xia had practiced it diligently. After mastering the eighteen postures, he became known in the martial world as Yeyi Qici Lang (Yeyi Qici Lang), nicknamed the Indomitable Young Master. A trusted product for women... cough, the last part, well, that was a joke.

"Yes, yes, I'll go right away." Zhang Yong dried the paper and put it in his pocket. Just as he was about to leave, Jiang Xia suddenly grabbed him.

Zhang Yong roared, "What are you doing? Do you want to die? A servant dares to be so arrogant!"

Jiang Xia ignored Zhang Yong and directly asked Zhu Houzhao, "Just a bottom line, if I come up with it, will you reward me, sir?"

"You have the bottom line? As long as it's well-matched, I'll reward you generously. Zhang Yong." Zhu Houzhao looked at Zhang Yong.

Zhang Yong took out a thick stack of silver notes, "If you come up with the bottom line, all of these are yours. If you can't... hmm, I'll make you regret it."

Jiang Xia shook his head, picked up the brush, and started writing. After finishing, Zhu Houzhao was slightly stunned and muttered, "The handwriting is really good..." He looked at Jiang Xia and suddenly remembered his earlier question, "You know the Art of the Female too?"

Zhang Yong looked at the bottom line Jiang Xia had written and laughed, "This is the bottom line? Boy, you must be tired of living."

Jiang Xia's bottom line was the same as the top line, seven "chang" characters, "Chang chang chang chang chang chang chang."

Zhu Houzhao shook his head, "How can this be the bottom line?"

"Sir, don't worry, let me explain. This character has two pronunciations, 'chang' and 'zhang.' So the top line is 'chang (chang) chang (zhang) chang (chang) chang (zhang) chang (chang) chang (zhang),' and my bottom line is..."

"I understand, brilliant. Your bottom line is 'chang (zhang) chang (chang) chang (zhang) chang (chang) chang (zhang) chang (chang).'"

"Sir, you are truly talented, you understand quickly." Jiang Xia smiled.

Zhu Houzhao nodded excitedly, looked at the paper Jiang Xia had written, and asked, "Young brother, what's your name?"

Jiang Xia replied, "Sir, my name is Jiang Xia."

"Jiang Xia." Zhu Houzhao nodded slightly, dried the ink on the paper, and put it in his pocket. He said to Zhang Yong, "Zhang Yong, give the reward."

"Yes." Zhang Yong handed the thick stack of silver notes to Jiang Xia. Jiang Xia didn't know how much it was, but it was a lot. Although he was excited inside, he remained calm on the surface. He bowed to Zhu Houzhao, "Thank you, sir, for your generous reward."

Zhu Houzhao smiled, "You deserve it. I'll go inside and come up with the bottom line. I'll find you again when I have the chance."

"I'll be waiting for your visit, sir." Jiang Xia bowed and said, "I'll take my leave now." Then he turned and left.