Chapter v19c8

## Tailing

– Caught Red-Handed

Among the many entertainment establishments in Nanchang, renowned for its abundance of common sense, was the “Cheong Hong Pavilion,” one of the “Three Great Pavilions of Nanchang.” It boasted an unbroken record of attracting customers since its opening. Located just three buildings away from the Central Plains Merchant Guild’s Nanchang branch, it was a frequent venue for client entertainment, offering the highest level of service and hospitality.

It was an open secret that the Central Plains Merchant Guild was backing the Cheong Hong Pavilion. Though officially separate entities, the pavilion was essentially a semi-hidden branch of the guild. This was evident from the fact that nearly sixty percent of the pavilion’s annual revenue flowed into the guild’s coffers. However, directly operating a pleasure house could damage their reputation, so they maintained a facade of separation.

* * *

‘One… two… three… four… and five!’

Lee Si-Geon scoffed inwardly, finding the number ridiculously low. He felt insulted, his worth seemingly underestimated. After his diplomatic meeting with Ma Jin-Ga, he had declined the offered accommodations at Cheonmu Academy and headed straight for the Cheong Hong Pavilion.

Five tails in total!

An envoy’s every move was closely monitored by intelligence agencies. They scrutinized every action, hoping to glean valuable information. Direct inquiries rarely yielded honest answers, and even when they did, they were often distorted. It was far more efficient to observe their actions and deduce their motives. If they were lucky, they might even uncover the envoy’s contacts – a valuable prize – making surveillance essential.

Lee Si-Geon was a conspicuous figure. Everyone glanced at the flamboyantly dressed young man. He was a handsome man, attracting the attention of every courtesan. His good looks made it easy to overlook the five painful-looking rings in his ear. Tracking and surveillance were a breeze. But his pursuers had underestimated his abilities.

‘Only five? They should have sent at least twice that number!’

He chuckled inwardly, mocking their incompetence. He entered the Cheong Hong Pavilion, his steps leisurely.

“Welcome, Young Master!”

A waiter rushed to greet him. It was an unusual sight for a pleasure house, where the owner or a retired courtesan usually greeted the guests. But this establishment was a restaurant, a tavern, a teahouse, and a pleasure house all in one. It was a clever business strategy, designed to lure customers from the more casual establishments into the pleasure quarters. They even went to great lengths to create an atmosphere that downplayed the pleasure house aspect, allowing customers to frequent the establishment without fear of judgment.

“Summon the manager!”

Clink!

A silver tael landed on the waiter’s palm. According to a well-established statistic, the larger the sum placed on a waiter’s palm, the deeper their bow and the faster their steps. It was a fascinating phenomenon, how a coin weighing less than a tael could exert a force a thousand times its weight.

“Th-thank you, Young Master!”

The waiter bowed so low that his head almost touched the floor, then vanished like the wind. A moment later, the manager rushed in. The waiter must have embellished his report, judging by the manager’s haste.

* * *

The manager’s eyes swept over the table, his gaze sharp as a hawk’s.

Beside the teacup lay a thin, round metal disc with a square hole in the center. The manager knew it was a valuable object, often exchanged for tea or food. He believed his purpose in life was to extract as many of these discs from his customers’ pockets as possible.

“How may I assist you, Young Master?”

He asked politely.

“I’ve come to borrow the power to ascend to Heaven.”

Lee Si-Geon said, lifting his teacup gracefully. The manager’s expression changed slightly. His gaze flickered towards the coin beside the teacup.

“What flower is the most beautiful in Heaven?”

He asked.

“The flower that blooms in the snow.”

Lee Si-Geon answered without hesitation.

“In which field of Heaven does this flower bloom?”

The manager asked again.

“It blooms in no field, east, west, south, or north.”

That left only the center.

The manager bowed respectfully.

“Please follow me.”

Lee Si-Geon set down his teacup and rose.

“This way.”

The manager led him to a separate building. It was a restricted area, accessible only to a select few, a paradise beyond the reach of ordinary people.

Lee Si-Geon looked around as he walked along the path paved with colorful stones. It was still early, so there were no customers or courtesans in sight.

The garden was clearly a product of lavish spending. The path was paved with white marble imported from Daeri, and the pillars were adorned with ornate decorations of brass and gold. The highlights were a pond built around a natural rock formation and a stream that flowed through the garden. Lotuses and unknown orchids bloomed in the pond, and its perimeter was lined with Taihu rocks, their unique shapes full of holes and crevices.

“What a magnificent garden!”

Lee Si-Geon exclaimed, genuinely impressed.

“Every detail is meticulously crafted, and the materials are all of the highest quality.”

“Thank you. You have a discerning eye. You won’t find a more beautiful garden in all of Nanchang. We pride ourselves on providing our guests with the best.”

The manager replied, his voice filled with pride.

This strategy of luxury was the driving force behind the Cheong Hong Pavilion’s success. There were always people willing to spend lavishly on the best. And to become the best, they had to invest accordingly.

“Look at the Taihu rocks around the pond. Aren’t they beautiful?”

Taihu rocks were unique rocks found only in Lake Tai, characterized by their wrinkled surfaces and numerous holes.

“A good Taihu rock must possess four virtues: wrinkles, holes, crevices, and slenderness. It must have the right amount of each to be considered high quality. The Taihu rocks in this garden were all carefully selected and transported from Lake Tai.”

“It must have cost a fortune.”

“Of course, of course. Since Taihu rocks are only found in Lake Tai, you have to transport them if you want to use them in your garden. And those rocks are quite heavy, especially the ones used for landscaping. The cost of transporting them to Nanchang was astronomical.”

They were incredibly expensive.

“Indeed.”

With each step he took along the white path that wound through the garden, a new vista unfolded before him. By the time he had seen all the sights, the manager stopped.

“This is the room.”

A large padlock secured the door.

“Ah, this? This is a special room, reserved for our most valued guests. We keep it locked to prevent any unwanted intrusions. You never know when someone might be tempted by gold and make a mistake.”

“I’m intrigued.”

“You won’t be disappointed.”

The key turned, and the lock clicked open. Lee Si-Geon entered the special room. It was called “Snow Flower.”

And someone was watching him from the shadows. His name was…

* * *

“What are you doing here, old man? Hiding from debt collectors? Or do you have a favorite courtesan here?”

“Whoa!”

Jang-Hong jumped down from the wall, startled.

“Where did you come from?”

“I’ve been here all along.”

Bi Ryu-Yeon replied casually.

“Make some noise when you’re around.”

“You’re one to talk.”

“Hmm, that’s true.”

It was against his professional ethics to sneak around like that. But how could he…? His thoughts were interrupted by Bi Ryu-Yeon’s questions.

“What were you doing?”

“Well, I was just…”

“You don’t seem to be hiding from debt collectors… Do you have a new love interest? I know you enjoy your nighttime escapades.”

Jang-Hong was flustered by his teasing.

“Hey, someone might hear you and misunderstand.”

“Why? Is there someone who shouldn’t hear this?”

“No, but…”

“Then there’s nothing to worry about, right?”

“That’s true, but… What are you doing here?”

“I was invited.”

“Huh? Someone invited you?”

“Come on, old man. Anyone with eyes can see.”

“Who invited you?”

Jang-Hong was shocked by his answer.

“What? Don’t lie!”

“Why would I lie? What do I gain from it?”

“Hmm, nothing.”

Unfortunately, there was nothing to gain.

“Nothing, right?”

“Right. But I can’t believe it. You’re telling me the Sword Empress invited you here…?”

“Believe it. Believe it, I say. Blessed are those who believe. Why can’t the Sword Empress invite me? She’s our witness, remember?”

“I doubt she was serious…”

“So you’re saying she lies?”

“No, but…”

“You’re being inconsistent, you know.”

“I admit it.”

Jang-Hong raised his hands in surrender.

“But why the Cheong Hong Pavilion?”

“Why? Is there something wrong with this place?”

“No, but… Surely Miss Na isn’t coming here, is she?”

“Why wouldn’t she? Of course, she is.”

“The men here will go crazy. Have you forgotten what happened a few days ago?”

“Tell her to use her lightness skill. Otherwise, she’ll have to wade through a river of drool every time she takes a step.”

“That’s the wisest advice I’ve heard from you in a while.”

“Don’t be so mean. My advice is always wise.”

“Tsk, I missed it.”

“Huh? Are you spacing out?”

“No, I’m lamenting. I’m going to get scolded for failing to gather information again. Can’t I join the dinner party too?”

“Do you think you can?”

“No, I don’t have such unrealistic expectations.”

Jang-Hong shrugged.