Baoyue Brothel was still in business.

Although a few well-informed individuals knew that the Fan family and the Second Prince had clashed over this most popular establishment in the capital, the aftermath only involved a boisterous beating of servants in the Fan residence, without any overly drastic reactions. Furthermore, the Overwatch Council did not cause Baoyue Brothel any significant trouble, leading people to believe that the matter had simply faded away.

In the eyes of these officials, this was a natural outcome. After all, no matter how arrogant Fan Xian might be, he would always have some reservations when facing a prince. Moreover, in their view, while the Fan family's second young master running Baoyue Brothel might slightly tarnish the family's reputation, the amount of silver he made from it was substantial. Everyone working together to suppress the matter was a truly win-win situation.

However, to those unaware of the inside story, the common people of the capital who had only seen the Overwatch Council raiding the building and heard the sound of beatings echoing from the Fan residence, the whole affair seemed a bit strange. When did His Majesty's secret service begin to concern itself with brothels? What exactly had happened in the Fan family? Why had those little tyrants who used to run rampant in the streets of Kyoto suddenly disappeared?

But whether they knew the details or not, everyone assumed that this incident would, like the usual conflicts between powerful figures in Kyoto, eventually disappear into the invisible but extensive network of relationships, resulting in a scenario where everyone benefited.

However, the managers, courtesans, and shopkeepers of Baoyue Brothel were not as relaxed as outsiders perceived. Since the Overwatch Council's raid, the main proprietor had not visited the brothel again, seemingly vanished. Although rumors circulated that this young proprietor was under house arrest, without confirmation, everyone felt uneasy. Furthermore, the second proprietor's special status prevented him from being present in the brothel every day to oversee matters. For a time, while Baoyue Brothel maintained an outward appearance of calm, an undercurrent was slowly flowing.

On one shore of this undercurrent, the Second Prince's faction was also puzzling over why the Fan family had directly sent those involved in the brothel murder case to the Kyoto Prefecture.

Since Mei Zhili's transfer, this crucial government office had been under the Second Prince's control. The opposing party surely knew that the Kyoto Prefecture was within the Second Prince's sphere of influence. If the Fan family was prepared to tear up the agreement, risking sending their second young master to court rather than succumb to their threats, why had they only heard news of the second young master being confined and seen no signs of the Overwatch Council or the Fan family taking action?

The Second Prince was racking his brain over this matter, completely unaware that the Fan family had so decisively expelled Fan Sizhe from Kyoto, sending him to a foreign country in secret. The Overwatch Council's work was indeed watertight. However, an underlying concern still prompted the Second Prince's faction to make some preparations. But when it came to it, they were stunned to discover that they had no connection whatsoever to Baoyue Brothel, innocent to an extreme. Even if they were wary of Fan Xian seeking revenge, they couldn't even figure out what vulnerability of theirs Fan Xian could exploit. How could they defend against something they couldn't even identify?

No one could grasp Fan Xian's thoughts, and no one could guess the execution power of the executor, Master Yan.

……

……

On this day, the wind was gentle, the clouds were light, and the yellow leaves were falling, making it the perfect day for an outing in the Kyoto suburbs to admire chrysanthemums.

With six days until the royal chrysanthemum viewing, the officials and common people of Kyoto were taking their families to the suburbs. Because it was during the day, Baoyue Brothel was particularly quiet. Due to the uncertain future and the main proprietor's disappearance, the usually energetic greeters leaned listlessly against the pillars. The courtesans by the Thin Lake forced smiles, entertaining the lecherous old men who indulged in daytime debauchery. Unidentified insects frantically hopped on the stone steps of the side corridor, calling out with all their might, struggling in vain, awaiting their impending doom.

The staff in the brothel seemed somewhat uneasy, haphazardly wiping the tables with rags. In the past, Fan Sizhe had issued strict orders that the tables had to be tested with white silk to ensure they were completely dust-free. They could never be as casual as they were now.

Suddenly, a person walked in. This person had extremely thick eyebrows, which looked as if they had been painted on. Although his appearance was ordinary, it was very easy to remember. Therefore, a greeter who had served him one night immediately recognized him and stood frozen by the entrance of Baoyue Brothel, not daring to approach.

A waiter, however, glanced curiously at the greeter and, with a neat flick of the gray rag in his hand, announced, "A guest has arrived..." The trailing note was drawn out in a melodious and pleasing manner.

The newcomer paused slightly, a wry smile appearing on his face, as if he was facing a great difficulty. He stood for a moment in the vast hall of Baoyue Brothel, finally shaking his head and saying, "Have Shi Qing'er come to see me."

This time, it was the waiter's turn to be stunned, thinking that this guest was rather arrogant, actually asking Miss Shi to come and see him, and even calling her by her first name? There were many powerful figures in Kyoto, but those who came to Baoyue Brothel always treated Miss Qing'er with courtesy.

The greeter who recognized the man finally came to his senses, wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, and ran to the man, saying respectfully, "This sir, I will go and inform her immediately." Then he had the waiter lead the man to the best and quietest room on the third floor, Jia number two, instructing him to take good care of the guest.

After the man went upstairs, the waiters and greeters on the first floor gathered around, chattering non-stop, wondering which deity had arrived. At this time, when Baoyue Brothel was facing an impending storm and the people were feeling uncertain, any slight disturbance would cause great unease in everyone's hearts.

Finally, someone remembered that the person with the extremely thick eyebrows, who looked like an ordinary scholar... was actually the companion who had come to patronize the brothel with "Young Master Chen" that day! Who was Young Master Chen? He was the elder brother of Baoyue Brothel's main proprietor! He was the up-and-coming Little Fan, the Supervisor of the Overwatch Council! So the person who came here was naturally Fan's confidant, probably a high-ranking official from the Overwatch Council.

The people in the brothel were dumbfounded. They all knew what had happened that day, and they were afraid that their brothel had offended Supervisor Fan terribly, causing even the main proprietor to suffer. Now that the other party had sent someone again, could it be that the Overwatch Council was going to raid the building again? Could Baoyue Brothel continue to operate?

At this moment, someone sighed and said, "I think... the brothel will have to offer a large sum of money to settle this matter... It's really a pity. Although the main proprietor acted ruthlessly, he was indeed skilled at managing the business... It's just a waste to have to fill the mouths of these officials for no reason. No matter how good the business is, it will be ruined."

"Bah!" Someone, unable to bear his pretense as a high priest of the Qing Temple, mocked, "You fool! Our Baoyue Brothel's main proprietor is Little Fan's own younger brother. The Overwatch Council wouldn't dare take silver from us. Would they really pass it from their left hand to their right? Besides, there's an old Minister presiding over them."

The man, his face having lost face, said sullenly, "Then what is this sir, who follows Supervisor Fan, doing here at the brothel?"

————————————————————————————————

The person who came was Shi Chanli. Today, Fan Xian was enjoying a carefree life, while he, a dignified scholar, had been driven to the brothel by his teacher, naturally feeling somewhat uncomfortable.

Shi Qing'er's eyes flashed with a strange light. She respectfully offered tea, knowing that although the person in front of her was not an official, he was a trusted aide of Supervisor Fan. These days, the main proprietor had been missing without a trace, and the other party had suddenly arrived. She really didn't know what he was here to do. After a slight pause, she asked gently, "Mr. Shi, I wonder what brings you here today."

Shi Chanli hesitated slightly.

Shi Qing'er was someone chosen by the Third Prince and didn't have a deep relationship with the Fan family. Seeing the other party's hesitation, she misunderstood and covered her lips with a charming smile, saying, "Now we're all one family. Could it be that Mr. Shi wants to... come... raid... the building?"

She pronounced the word "raid" with a particularly deep retroflex, making it sound indescribably strange.

Shi Chanli frowned slightly, disliking the woman's frivolousness. He pulled a long face and took out a document from his pocket, saying in a deep voice, "I'm not here to raid the building, but to... take over the building."

Take over the building!

Shi Qing'er was stunned. She picked up the thin document from the table and quickly scanned it. Her face immediately changed. After seeing the several bright red finger impressions below, she instinctively bit her lip. After a moment of silence, she finally digested the shock in her heart, widened her eyes, and asked, "The main proprietor has given all the shares of the building... to you?"

Her words were filled with surprise and disbelief. Seventy percent of the shares of Baoyue Brothel, how much silver would that be, and how could it be transferred so easily? Shi Qing'er knew that this matter was definitely not so simple. She frowned and asked, "Mr. Shi, this matter is too important. I can't agree to it."

Shi Chanli said with a wry smile, "You don't need to agree. From today onwards, I am the main proprietor of this Baoyue Brothel. I'm just here to inform you."

Shi Qing'er bit her teeth and asked, "May I ask Mr. Shi, where is the main proprietor at the moment? Such a big deal should be discussed face-to-face."

Shi Chanli had a talent for writing. The document he had drafted a few nights ago was clean and concise. He had not expected that in the end, Fan Xian would force him to become the main shopkeeper. He was already extremely uncomfortable in his heart, feeling somewhat self-inflicted. Hearing the other party's question at this time, he couldn't help but say coldly, "Is there something false about this transfer document? Don't be long-winded. The people checking the accounts will be here soon. Don't have any other thoughts."

Shi Qing'er realized that the Fan family was preparing to withdraw from Baoyue Brothel, using the scholar in front of her as a shell. However, her level was not high enough, and she didn't know too many of the inside details. Furthermore, Madam Yuan had also suddenly disappeared. She had no choice but to stall for time, saying, "Since Baoyue Brothel will soon be surnamed Shi, I'm just trying to make a living. How dare I argue with you..." She had already calmed down in her heart and said with a smile, "It's just that there are still thirty percent of the shares in... that little lord's hands. I think Mr. Shi is also clear about that."

No matter what, as long as the Third Prince's thirty percent share was in Baoyue Brothel, the Fan family shouldn't think about getting rid of Baoyue Brothel completely. However, she didn't know that Fan Xian had never intended to kick Baoyue Brothel away from the very beginning.

Shi Chanli looked at her and suddenly smiled, his two thick eyebrows twisting vividly: "The reason for taking over the building today is to trouble Miss Qing'er... to tell that person that I'm also taking over the three percent share in the hands of the second proprietor."

You're also taking over?

"What big words!" Shi Qing'er said angrily, thinking that it was of course simple for the Fan family to transfer shares to each other, but actually wanted to take away the Third Prince's shares with empty words. It's not that simple!

At this time, Shi Chanli finally slowly entered the role of a brothel owner and said in an orderly manner: "I have many ways to take over these thirty percent of the shares. The reason for bringing it up at this time is to give that second proprietor some face. Miss Qing'er needs to understand this point."

Shi Qing'er snorted coldly, "Oh? It seems I have to thank Mr. Shi, but I don't know... how much silver are you willing to offer?"

Shi Chanli held out one finger.

"One hundred thousand taels?" Shi Qing'er asked doubtfully, thinking that the price was indeed fair. Even if Baoyue Brothel could continue to operate well in the future, one hundred thousand taels for thirty percent of the shares would be a good price.

Shi Chanli shook his head.

"Could it only be ten thousand taels?" Shi Qing'er was shocked.

"I only have one thousand taels of silver." Shi Chanli said very sincerely: "Scholars... are always relatively poor."

……

……

"Bullying people too much!" Shi Qing'er said angrily, "Don't think that your Fan family can cover the sky with one hand. Don't forget who these thirty percent of shares belong to!"

Shi Chanli raised his eyebrows and said gently, "Miss, don't misunderstand. These seventy percent of shares belong to me, Shi Chanli, and have nothing to do with the Fan family or the Cai family... As for who those thirty percent of shares belong to, I'm not very concerned."

Shi Qing'er said coldly, "What if you're not allowed to have these thirty percent of shares?"

"First, Baoyue Brothel may have some letters or something raided out, something about colluding with foreign countries. As for what the crime is, I'm not very clear." Shi Chanli said with a smile: "Second, a Embrace the Sun Brothel will soon appear in Kyoto... Since I own seventy percent of the shares of the brothel, I can naturally drive away all the waiters, greeters, and courtesans of Baoyue Brothel, and then Embrace the Sun Brothel will naturally recruit them again... Miss Qing'er can think about how short a time that Embrace the Sun Brothel, which does not yet exist, can completely crush Baoyue Brothel?"

Shi Qing'er's face showed a firm look, unwilling to back down: "I don't believe the first point at all. Could it be that the Fan family... no, Mr. Shi is willing to let Baoyue Brothel collapse? To use seventy percent of the shares to perish with us?"

Her face showed a proud look: "The second point is even more impossible. When the main proprietor chose the location, he was very particular, and these popular courtesans signed death contracts with our brothel. How can they just leave?"

Shi Chanli shook his head and sighed: "Miss Qing'er, it seems you still don't understand the current situation... You need to be clear that I am now the main proprietor of Baoyue Brothel. What death contract, I have the final say."

Shi Qing'er's face changed.

Shi Chanli stood up, pushed open the window and looked out, smiling and said: "As for the location of Embrace the Sun Brothel, I don't want to hide it from you, miss. It's right next to Baoyue Brothel, also by the Thin Lake... The reason why I came to take over the building after these few days is because I was busy collecting the land deeds there the past two days."

Shi Qing'er was dumbfounded and speechless.

At this time, Shi Chanli was completely immersed in the role of a ruthless businessman, waving his hand to catch the wind blowing from the Thin Lake outside the window, and continued: "As for perishing together... if your side is not willing to withdraw, then let's perish together... Seventy percent of the shares of Baoyue Brothel, although it's worth a lot of silver, it's not in my eyes."

As soon as the words came out, he laughed self-deprecatingly. When did he start to wash away the duties of a scholar and start to be a little intoxicated by this kind of life of bullying others? He was indeed blatantly threatening Shi Qing'er, but this threat was extremely easy to materialize, and it seemed simple, but it made the other party – or rather, the Third Prince – unable to respond at all.

The land next to Baoyue Brothel had indeed been secretly requisitioned by the Overwatch Council, and it was not known what means were used. Shi Chanli knew that every step of the building takeover was extremely stable and there would be no loss. The little Master Yan was indeed powerful. If the thirty percent of the shares in the hands of the Third Prince were really unwilling to let go, Master Yan would definitely have a way to bankrupt this Baoyue Brothel within ten days, and there would be no chance of recovery in the future.

"Miss, you don't know the root cause of this matter, so don't think too much about it." Shi Chanli didn't need the other party to pass on a message to the Third Prince either. The news that Fan Xian was going to take over Baoyue Brothel had already been transmitted to Consort Yi in the palace through the Fan residence's own channels. Now the Third Prince was being dragged by Consort Yi to copy books every day, and even if he felt sorry for his money being scammed by his big cousin, he temporarily couldn't find a way to stop it.

Looking at Shi Qing'er's somewhat lost face, the scholar's gentle nature came out, and he said with a smile: "I am a very easy person to talk to. You will still stay in the brothel to work in the future. If you do your best, you will naturally not be treated badly."

Who knew that Shi Qing'er was a stubborn person, always thinking about being responsible to the second proprietor... Although the second proprietor was just a young child, she felt that this matter was extremely absurd because of the child's identity - things like dominating property and seizing fields were common in Kyoto, but how could anyone dare to forcibly seize even the property of a prince?

"If the second proprietor sends a message, I will naturally agree." She said, gritting her teeth: "But the flowing silver in the accounts, you and I must hand over clearly, one by one, without messing up."

Shi Chanli nodded, and the building takeover team that had been waiting outside the building finally walked into the brothel. Looking at that group of people, Shi Qing'er's eyes were straight - the Overwatch Council secret agents in plain clothes... were still secret agents. Who would dare to stop such a group of people from taking over the building?

When she saw the little old man in this group with a long beard under his chin, who was greatly praising the Baoyue Brothel's layout, environment and business style, Shi Qing'er couldn't help but take a breath of cold air and couldn't say anything anymore. She thought that even if she tried her best, she couldn't stop Supervisor Fan from swallowing the Third Prince's money.

With Shopkeeper San Ye of Qing Yu Tang personally taking action, no matter how you count the accounts, I'm afraid that this Baoyue Brothel will eventually be calculated as Shi... no, that damned surname Fan.

The other party would definitely not choke, and might not even bother to drink a bowl of water.