Chapter 10

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Since she set her heart on Hou Fangyu, Li Xiangjun had rarely shown her pipa (Chinese lute) songs to others. Although she did not say it outright, her pipa songs had become exclusively for Hou Fangyu.

That was why when Hou Fangyu heard the pipa music from downstairs, he became furious and rushed up.

Qin Mu knew this as well. He deliberately asked Li Xiangjun to play the pipa, thinking why should only that good-for-nothing Hou Fangyu be the only one to listen?

Qin Mu had saved Li Xiangjun's life, and they had a very pleasant conversation that day. Li Xiangjun found it hard to refuse him, so she played the song.

Qin Mu only wanted the news to reach Hou Fangyu's ears later to upset him, but he didn't expect him to show up. Well, this face-to-face confrontation was even more interesting.

Qin Mu immediately put on a bright and cheerful smile, stepped forward, and pulled Hou Fangyu to the table. He handed him a cup of wine and said generously, "Brother Chaozong and Brother Pijiang's teachings a few days ago were greatly beneficial to me. Brother Chaozong thinks for others and acts promptly, with great generosity and righteousness. I will never forget it. Today, it's a rare chance to meet Brother Chaozong. Come, come, let me toast you three cups first."

Hou Fangyu, reminded by Qin Mu, thought of his plan. He knew that a small setback could ruin a great strategy, so he decided to endure this time. He would vent his anger after this scoundrel was torn apart by bandits and eaten.

He forced a smile and replied, "Brother Wenzhi, what are you saying? You are a talented and renowned scholar. How can I dare to teach you..."

"Brother Chaozong, you are mistaken!" Qin Mu interrupted Hou Fangyu, appearing very generous. "Confucius said, 'When three people walk together, one of them must be my teacher.' Brother Chaozong is famous throughout the land. How can I, with my coarse talents, be worthy of your teachings?"

"Not at all, not at all. I should be the one to seek your guidance, Brother Wenzhi."

"Let's not talk about who is the teacher or the friend. Formality is unnecessary. Meeting Brother Chaozong today is a great honor! Come, come, let me toast you three more cups... Hey, why did Miss Xiangjun stop playing? Don't stop, don't stop. A banquet without music is no banquet. Miss Xiangjun, could you please finish the 'Spring River Moonlit Night'?"

Qin Mu took control of the situation, and Hou Fangyu was almost fuming with anger, but he had to force a smile.

Li Xiangjun, with her clever and perceptive mind, initially thought Qin Mu was deliberately doing this. However, seeing how warmly Hou Fangyu and Qin Mu seemed to interact, she became confused.

From the way Hou Fangyu had angrily questioned her the other day, it seemed they should be at odds. She had met many people and could easily tell that Qin Mu was as clear and serene as a breeze after the rain, while Hou Fangyu's smile was forced, hiding something.

This contrast made her sigh inwardly.

The elegant pipa music played again. Li Xiangjun, with her flowing silk dress and cloud-like hair, sang softly and beautifully, "The spring river tide meets the sea level, the bright moon rises with the tide, shimmering for thousands of miles, where in the spring river is there no moonlight..."

When she sang "where in the spring river is there no moonlight," Hou Fangyu felt a sudden pain in his heart. Qin Mu had surpassed him, becoming the center of attention. Wasn't this just like "where in the spring river is there no moonlight"?

He felt a myriad of emotions, unable to express them. It was as if he was sharing his woman with someone else, and he had to force a smile. The extreme frustration made him drink until he was tipsy.

Qin Mu kept urging him to drink, determined not to leave until he was completely drunk.

He had already found out that Hou Fangyu intended to redeem Li Xiangjun, but his family in Shangqiu had been ravaged by war, and they had moved to Jiangnan. His father, Hou Xun, had been imprisoned for seven years since 1636 for misusing funds and delaying the country's affairs. Now, his family was not well-off and could not afford the money to redeem Li Xiangjun.

More importantly, his grandfather, Hou Zhipu, had died in 1641, and the mourning period had not ended. If he bought a concubine for a thousand gold pieces, he would be despised by society.

However, the mourning period was almost over, and Hou Fangyu had many connections. Borrowing money to redeem Li Xiangjun should not be too difficult. This plan to sabotage him had to be accelerated!

Otherwise, if the Manchu slave got there first, it would be unbearable.

Hou Fangyu drank until he was completely drunk, and Qin Mu, with the intention of getting him drunk, made him even more so. After half an hour, Hou Fangyu's eyes were rolling, and his speech was slurred. Qin Mu pretended to be drunk and offered to send Hou Fangyu home.

Although Hou Fangyu occasionally shouted, "I'm not leaving," Qin Mu would not let him stay. Alcohol could make people lose control. If you wanted to lose control, fine, but not here.

Li Xiangjun brought out two bowls of sobering soup but did not keep the guests, perhaps because she was disappointed with Hou Fangyu's behavior.

Qin Mu helped Hou Fangyu into the carriage and, after lowering the curtain, whispered "go to a brothel" in his ear several times.

The drunk Hou Fangyu repeated, "Go to a... brothel... brothel..."

"What? Brother Chaozong wants to go to a brothel? That's not right."

"Brothel... go to a brothel!"

"Alright." Qin Mu lifted the curtain and instructed the carriage driver, "Did you hear that? Your master wants to go to a brothel."

"I heard it," the driver replied.

"I don't know where he usually goes. Choose a place yourself." Qin Mu lowered the curtain again and whispered in Hou Fangyu's ear, "Four girls."

The drunk Hou Fangyu, driven by the urge to repeat, shouted, "Four... girls... four... girls."

Qin Mu slapped his thigh, "Four? Wow! Brother Chaozong, such vigor is truly enviable!"

Hou Fangyu continued to shout about wanting four girls. Qin Mu lifted the curtain again and told the driver, "Did you hear that? Your master wants four girls to serve him."

"I heard it," the driver replied.

"Your master has had a lot to drink today. Be careful not to upset him. I'm short on money and can't afford to stay. Let me off at the next intersection."

"Understood."

At the intersection, Qin Mu got out of the carriage and earnestly told the driver, "Your master has had a lot to drink. Take good care of him. Remember, take good care of your master."

Qin Mu left, and the driver asked through the curtain, "Master, where are we going?"

In the carriage, Hou Fangyu kept mumbling the phrases Qin Mu had drilled into him, "Go to a brothel, go to a... brothel, four... four girls..."

The driver was in a dilemma. The Hou family was not well-off, and they didn't have much money. If his master wanted four girls, they couldn't afford a high-end brothel. Reluctantly, he drove the carriage into a small alley.

Qin Mu secretly followed the carriage and watched the driver help Hou Fangyu into a low-end brothel, almost laughing out loud.

He had just taken advantage of Hou Fangyu's drunken state to test the waters, but the driver was so obedient. Heaven was on his side! Hahaha!

There was one more crucial step: spreading the news of Hou Fangyu's "four girls" feat in the small alley. This was not difficult; he just needed to reveal Hou Fangyu's identity to the four girls.

Hou Fangyu was one of the Four Gentlemen of the Fusha Society, a famous figure. Once these low-end prostitutes knew their customer was Hou Fangyu, they would surely spread the news to boost their own status.

Li Xiangjun was a gentle but strong-willed person. When she heard about this, there would be a good show... Hahaha!

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PS: Dear readers, Hou Fangyu is short on money. Please support him by voting, recommending, and collecting. The show is about to start! Your support is needed!