The two were led by a girl into a private room.
Soon, a table full of good wine and dishes was served, along with two attractive girls for company.
This setup must have cost a fortune. The madam was clearly planning to reveal the information about Zuo Junyi only after ensuring they were comfortable, a clever move.
"Young master, I've found out. Young Master Zuo is in the room next door, what a coincidence."
The madam soon returned, smiling at Su Fan.
She could tell who the real master was.
"Next door?"
Su Fan was slightly taken aback. Such a coincidence?
"Understood, thank you."
Su Fan said, taking out an even larger silver ingot.
"This is for tonight's expenses, is it enough?"
"Enough! Enough!"
The madam beamed and accepted it.
"Let them leave for now, they can come back later."
Su Fan dismissed the accompanying girls.
He had important business to attend to later, and it wouldn't be convenient with outsiders present.
Li Qiusheng was a little disappointed, looking reluctantly at the departing girls.
"Stop looking, you look like you've never seen the world."
Su Fan pulled Li Qiusheng to the wall of the adjacent room and pressed his ear against it to listen to the sounds next door.
However, the wall was too thick, and the sounds were faint, only indistinct groans could be heard.
But Su Fan had a solution.
He took a cup and pressed it against the wall as a makeshift stethoscope, which made the sounds much clearer.
Hmm... still just groans and moans, but much clearer this time.
"What did you hear? Let me listen."
Li Qiusheng, standing nearby, anxiously asked Su Fan.
"Why are you in such a hurry? I'm listening for a bit longer."
Su Fan rolled his eyes.
He had to admit, Zuo Junyi was quite capable. The sounds, the intensity, truly impressive!
Li Qiusheng, on the other hand, was scratching his ears and writhing with curiosity about what Su Fan was listening to so intently.
"Alright, you can listen now."
Su Fan suddenly handed the cup to Li Qiusheng and stood up.
Li Qiusheng excitedly copied Su Fan, pressing the cup against the wall and listening carefully.
"There's no sound? What just happened?"
Li Qiusheng asked, confused.
There was no sound from the next room at all; Li Qiusheng heard nothing.
Su Fan shrugged.
"I have no idea."
The silence from the next room was naturally because Zuo Junyi had finished.
Without hesitation, Su Fan headed for the adjacent room.
He had waited for Zuo Junyi to finish, which was already showing him respect.
Su Fan arrived at the next room, and without a word, pushed the door open.
Zuo Junyi, who had just finished, was startled.
"Who let you in? Damn it!"
Zuo Junyi was about to erupt in anger, but upon seeing Su Fan's face, he let out a surprised cry.
"Young Master Zuo is quite the Casanova. Come with me."
Su Fan smiled and said to Zuo Junyi.
"Help! Help! Wanted criminal Su Fan is here!"
Zuo Junyi knew he was no match for Su Fan and immediately started shouting loudly.
Su Fan didn't give him the chance, rushing forward and knocking him unconscious with a palm strike.
"Let's go!"
Under the horrified gaze of the girl on the bed, Su Fan, along with the quilt, bundled Zuo Junyi up and threw him to Li Qiusheng.
Li Qiusheng caught him and immediately ran out.
Did he just hear Su Fan was a wanted criminal? Damn it! I've become an accomplice!
But this was not the time to settle scores with Su Fan; they needed to get out of here first.
The two of them, with Zuo Junyi in tow, fled the brothel before the staff could react.
On the street, they ran headlong into a troop of soldiers.
"Damn it! I can't wash this off even in the Yellow River!"
Li Qiusheng cried out that it was over, having been caught red-handed by the soldiers, with no time to explain.
"Change direction!"
Su Fan avoided confrontation with the soldiers. Seeing that this route was blocked, he changed direction.
The soldiers also spotted them.
"Halt!"
Although they couldn't see their faces clearly, suspicious individuals must be apprehended and questioned.
The two ran at full speed. Their skills were superior, and the soldiers' average level was lower, allowing them to easily shake off their pursuers.
"You're a wanted criminal?"
Li Qiusheng, panting, slowed down and asked Su Fan incredulously.
"Ah? Don't dwell on the details."
Su Fan was also a bit tired and waved his hand at Li Qiusheng.
"This is a detail? You've gotten me into so much trouble, do you know that!"
Li Qiusheng said speechlessly.
"It's alright, it's alright. Once I deal with this guy, everything will be fine. You might even get credit and perhaps a minor official position."
Su Fan tried to appease Li Qiusheng.
"I'll believe you if I'm a fool!"
Li Qiusheng was no longer willing to trust Su Fan; he only got him into trouble!
Su Fan dragged Zuo Junyi out of the quilt. Zuo Junyi was completely naked.
Su Fan immediately covered him back up with the quilt.
"Hmph! Weakling!"
Su Fan sneered disdainfully.
He sounded quite capable based on the noise, but turned out to be a weakling.
*Slap! Slap!*
Su Fan raised his hand and slapped Zuo Junyi twice in the face.
Zuo Junyi woke up groggily.
What happened? My face feels numb.
Zuo Junyi was disoriented upon waking, only feeling a numbness in his face, as if he had been struck heavily.
"Su Fan!"
Then, seeing Su Fan, he instantly sobered up.
He immediately remembered the cause and effect.
"Oh, you're awake? Tell me, where have you hidden the princess?"
Su Fan asked with a cold smile.
"What are you talking about? Didn't you kidnap the princess!"
Zuo Junyi was still playing dumb, refusing to admit to kidnapping the princess.
He knew that if he admitted it, he would be doomed with no way out.
"I know what you're thinking. All the evidence points to me. As long as you don't confess, you'll be fine. But don't push me. If you push me too far, we'll both die!"
Su Fan threatened Zuo Junyi with a cold expression.
"As the son of Commander Zuo, you should know about his collusion with Fang Shijie, right?"
Su Fan decided to use Fang Shijie to threaten Zuo Junyi.
As expected, upon hearing Su Fan mention Fang Shijie, Zuo Junyi's expression changed drastically.
"What are you talking about? I don't understand."
Zuo Junyi still held onto a sliver of hope and refused to confess.
"What a coincidence, I went to the Zuo residence to find you tonight and happened to overhear your father talking with Fang Shijie. I'll give you a chance. Hand over the princess, and I can keep your father's secret. This way, Lord Zuo might still have a slim chance of survival. Otherwise, colluding with rebels is punishable by extermination of the entire clan, with all nine generations of relatives implicated. Think carefully."
Su Fan wasn't in a hurry, waiting for Zuo Junyi to digest the information. He believed Zuo Junyi would make the right decision.
Zuo Junyi's face contorted, a mix of emotions churning within him.
Colluding with rebels, extermination of the clan, the entire Zuo family would perish.
If he handed over the princess and took the blame himself, the Zuo family might still have a chance. Perhaps His Majesty, considering years of service, would spare his father.
"The princess... is in the woodshed in the backyard of the Zuo residence..."