"Qingmiao pays her respects to Your Highness."
"Mian'er pays her respects to Your Highness."
The greetings suddenly ringing out in the room pulled Lu Nianfu back to her senses. She turned to see Situ Yan striding towards her and smiled slightly as she went to meet him. "Why are you back so early today?"
"I heard that Miss Cheng was ill, and I was afraid you would worry if you heard about it, so I came back to tell you."
Lu Nianfu raised an eyebrow. "So, it's really to avoid the false news spread by Prince Ning?"
Situ Yan put his arm around her waist and smiled gently. "If I had known my wife was so intelligent, why would I have rushed back?"
Lu Nianfu let out a sigh of relief. "What exactly happened?"
"The Crown Prince orchestrated it. I don't quite understand the specifics, but it's likely to use this excuse to make Situ Jue back down."
"What if he doesn't back down?" After all, that person Situ Jue would even promise a courtesan the position of a secondary wife for money; what was a mere epidemic disease to him? He never wanted people, only money.
Situ Yan touched her furrowed brow. "Don't worry, His Majesty already knows about this. Marrying a woman with a serious illness, even if His Majesty doesn't openly object, he will send someone to inquire about the reasons. His reputation has suffered greatly in recent years, and he wouldn't dare arouse His Majesty's suspicion again."
The "serious illness" was just a pretense. The Crown Prince's intention was simple: to tell Situ Jue that he had intervened and intended to see this through.
Situ Jue was now severely weakened and could not compete with the Crown Prince. Moreover, he dared not arouse Emperor Changwu's suspicion, so he could only swallow his pride.
Lu Nianfu understood the whole story and was very displeased. "If that's the case, why must it damage Jiaojiao's reputation? How will she ever get married in the future?"
Having a serious illness was not a good thing.
Situ Yan spread his hands. "I'll have the Crown Prince explain this to Cheng Beizheng later. But speaking of which, given Cheng Jiaojiao's identity, anyone who wants to marry her won't be doing it for her. Having such a reputation beforehand might not be a bad thing for her. Don't worry about it. You still have one in your belly. Ji Jin said you shouldn't overthink things."
Lu Nianfu considered his words and had to admit that he made a lot of sense.
"Are you reassured now?" Seeing her expression ease, Situ Yan took her hand. "Let's go, I'll take you out for a stroll. You must be bored staying at home these days, right?"
Bored was an exaggeration. She had always been someone who could stay put. It was just that she wasn't allowed to do this or that, and she felt a little idle. Hearing about going out, she was quite interested but still refused. "Maybe not. Yesterday, I used the excuse of feeling unwell to decline the Duke of Cao's chrysanthemum banquet."
It would be too embarrassing to go out so brazenly after that.
Situ Yan thought for a moment. "Qingya, get your mistress some men's clothes."
Lu Nianfu: "......Since you're so eager to go out, fine."
So, she rode in a carriage dressed in men's clothing and took a tour of the streets. After all, Ji Jin had told her to take good care of herself a few days ago, and Situ Yan dared not let her venture out for too long. They just wandered around casually, ate lunch at a restaurant, and then returned.
Even so, Lu Nianfu felt quite content.
Soon, it was the Mid-Autumn Festival.
Zeng Weiyang came to find her early in the morning, inviting her to appreciate the courtesans at Mingyue Tower that evening.
Although courtesans were of low status, when it came to playing the zither, chess, calligraphy, painting, singing, and dancing, few noblewomen could match them. Da Yin's social customs were open, and the restrictions on women were much better than in previous dynasties. Mingyue Tower was the most renowned restaurant in the capital, and there were quite a few women who attended such grand events. Some families even specifically sent their daughters to broaden their horizons, under the pretext of learning how to win over men.
Lu Nianfu naturally wanted to go. Two of her "Four Beauties of Lingyan Pavilion" had passed the preliminary rounds and could participate in the courtesan competition that night.
Unfortunately, she was pregnant. Let alone Situ Yan and her maids wouldn't allow her to go, even she herself dared not risk her precious belly. Therefore, she had no choice but to decline, citing physical discomfort.
Zeng Weiyang was quite disappointed but could not force the issue.
Lu Nianfu cheered up and chatted with her casually. Zeng Weiyang then tactfully took her leave.
That night, the streets of the capital were brightly lit, and the lights of Mingyue Tower burned all night. Ouyang Wen and Ji Jin did not miss such a grand event. Situ Yan, burdened with the responsibility of supporting Lingyan Pavilion, was naturally among them. Being the least refined, he was forced to watch singing and dancing all night, or the sounds of the zither and pipa, and was so bored he yawned constantly.
He couldn't hold it in halfway through and left his seat.
It was better to go home to embrace his wife.
Thus, Lu Nianfu only learned the results of the competition the next day.
The title of courtesan went to Zhongcui Pavilion.
Lingyan Hong, from Lingyan Pavilion, successfully entered the ranks of the Four Beauties with her "Startling Goose Dance," and her fame soared.
This was a very good result. Lu Nianfu found Mother Jin and told her to strike while the iron was hot and open for business quickly. Lingyan Pavilion had already been renovated, and Mother Jin had the same intention. After some discussion, Lingyan Pavilion, which had been closed for a long time, finally reopened.
With a normal storefront, a grand opening was naturally essential.
But it was better to avoid it being a brothel.
If Lu Nianfu dared to show her face as the owner of a brothel, the censors would have made Situ Yan's life miserable. And she was not prepared to be summoned to the palace for a private reprimand. The thought of those old matrons in the palace who enjoyed tormenting people sent a shiver down Lu Nianfu's spine.
In the end, Mother Jin acted as the full agent. Taking advantage of Lingyan Hong's popularity, Lingyan Pavilion was completely revamped. Not only was the renovation brand new, but the entrance fee was actually two taels of silver.
This move directly captured all the old customers.
After all, in the past, for a night with a mature woman in Lingyan Pavilion, it would cost at most four to five hundred wen.
Someone, relying on their status as a regular customer, wanted to cause trouble after drinking a few more sips of wine. As a result, over a dozen men in black suddenly rushed out of the pavilion and, with their mouths covered, dragged the person into a small alley behind.
Listening to various bizarre incidents at home, Lu Nianfu gained a new understanding of the former Lingyan Pavilion.
But Mother Jin was very happy.
Now, the pavilion was filled with a team of fresh and young girls, all of whom could be called beauties. Coupled with the redemption clause, everyone was quite motivated. Within three days of opening, the income had already recouped the renovation costs.
She reported the accounts to Lu Nianfu with great enthusiasm.
She truly never expected that Lingyan Pavilion could achieve such prosperity.