"Crown Prince, what is the aning of this..."
Seeing the Crown Prince’s intimidating stance, the Madam’s face twitched in fear. Her lips trembled as she stamred out the question.
However, Lu Mingyuan paid her no mind and said with a faint smile:
"Pardon the interruption, everyone."
He descended the stairs alone, his steps graceful as he walked toward the center of the First Floor’s stage. He then gestured for the dancing girls, who were still staring blankly while playing their music, to leave.
"Ladies on the stage, please step aside."
"And stop the music."
The orchestral lodies and decadent music filling the Drunken Flower Tower ca to an abrupt halt.
This scene drew the ire of many mbers of the Nobility present.
Those who were still sober enough to think clearly were furious but dared not speak. They could only grip their wine cups, their brows furrowed in anger.
"Keep the music playing! Keep the dancing going! Why did it stop?!"
"Who the hell is that guy on stage?!"
"Who dares stop from drinking?!"
The drunken guests, however, were less restrained. Not caring who was on stage, they began to curse loudly.
One Great Yan official in common clothes, his face flushed with drink, slurred, "I spent so much silver, why’d the music stop?"
Lu Mingyuan glanced at Su Yujing, whose beautiful face had gone pale with fright. His eyes then swept over the guests on the second, third, fourth, and higher floors. With a small, polite smile, he replied:
"I am with the Court. We recently received a report from the Bright Lamp Bureau that remnants of Prince Jin’s faction, as well as traitors from the White Lotus Evil Cult, have been sighted here. I ask for your understanding."
"We will now be sealing the Drunken Flower Tower. It will remain closed until the truth is uncovered. All of you present will need to co in for questioning. Rest assured, it is rely routine."
As soon as he said this, the entire building erupted in an uproar.
Lu Mingyuan’s tone was gentle, refined, and reasonable, but that did nothing to lessen their shock.
Remnants of Prince Jin’s faction.
Traitors from the Evil Cult.
They knew, of course, the weight those words carried.
Even the slightest association was a cri punishable by the execution of one’s entire family.
The entire Drunken Flower Tower buzzed with discussion.
Amid the clamor, Lu Mingyuan heard many voices in his mind.
’How did the Crown Prince find out? We haven’t done anything to provoke him!’
’We’re screwed. How did the Crown Prince track us to the Drunken Flower Tower?’
’Damn it, how are we supposed to get out of this?’
Hearing these inner thoughts, Lu Mingyuan beca even more certain that this was a den of the White Lotus Ancient Sect.
The White Lotus Ancient Sect used its teachings to bewitch the Nobility in the Imperial Capital. They had specifically purchased the Drunken Flower Tower, taking over this famous brothel, precisely for its clientele.
Anyone who could afford to be a patron of the Drunken Flower Tower was undoubtedly a person of status and influence in the Capital City.
Inducting them into the sect would unquestionably and dramatically increase the power of the White Lotus Ancient Sect.
In this light, these evil cults were nothing but parasites feeding on Great Yan.
Eliminating them now would be a convenient bonus.
At that mont, the still-charming Madam approached Lu Mingyuan, an obsequious smile plastered on her face. Wringing her hands, she said:
"Crown Prince, surely there must be so misunderstanding?"
"Our Drunken Flower Tower is a legitimate business, licensed by the Governnt Office. How could we possibly be colluding with traitors and their remnants?"
Her words found agreent among so of the guests.
"That’s right. Didn’t the Court already close the case on Prince Jin’s Mansion colluding with the Demon Dao? What remnants could be left?"
"Great Yan is in an age of prosperity. What evil cults? I’ve never heard of any."
A handso young nobleman with a Dancing Girl in his arms drunkenly staggered to his feet and demanded,
"Crown Prince, do you have a warrant from the Governnt Office? On what grounds are you sealing this place? Not even the Eastern Palace can just bully people whenever it pleases, can it?"
Lu Mingyuan smiled gracefully. "And you might be?"
"My father is Duke An. I am Yuan Jianye."
The handso young nobleman lifted his chin, announcing his family na.
Hearing this, the people around exchanged glances.
This handso young man was actually the son of a Duke—a truly noble status.
Lu Mingyuan nodded slowly, his expression unhurried.
"Ah, so you are the Heir of Duke An. If I recall correctly, your father is nad Yuan Xuangang, is he not?"
"He is."
The handso young nobleman, completely oblivious to his guard tugging at his sleeve, continued to speak boastfully.
Lu Mingyuan chuckled. "So the Heir of Duke An is also an accomplice of the Evil Cult’s traitors. I wonder, will Lord Yuan be heartbroken to learn of this?"
At these words, Yuan Jianye sobered up instantly. He cried out in panic,
"Your Highness, don’t make such baseless accusations!"
Just then, the Madam gestured, giving a aningful look to seven or eight of her most beautiful courtesans. It was unclear what she conveyed to them through a secret voice transmission, but they all nodded in understanding.
The slender-waisted courtesans sward forward. A fragrant perfu filled the air as they approached with beguiling smiles, their expressions pitiful as they pleaded,
"Crown Prince, please don’t shut this place down, won’t you?"
"Yes, if the Drunken Flower Tower is gone, we’ll have nowhere to go."
"How could we possibly associate with those traitors? As long as Your Highness agrees to spare the Drunken Flower Tower, we’ll do anything you ask."
Lu Mingyuan, of course, had heard everything. Unmoved by their words and actions, he revealed a cryptic smile.
"Spare you?"
"And where would you like to spare you? In your chambers? Or perhaps..."
As the courtesans drew closer and closer to Lu Mingyuan.
SHINK!
A sharp blade pierced through the courtesan in the erald green dress standing before him.
"...in Hell?"
Lu Mingyuan gripped the hilt, his expression apathetic, his eyes rciless and cold.
Blood stained the courtesan’s entire dress red. It trickled from her lips as her eyes widened in horror, flashing in sequence with confusion, shock, and finally, disbelief.
Her delicate body crumpled to the ground like a blood-red rose, a tragic, beautiful sight.
The powder hidden in her sleeves was about to spill onto the floor.
It was obvious they had intended to use a drug to control the Crown Prince of Great Yan, the first step in enacting their plan.
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