Chapter 128: Walls Have Ears

As the lanterns were first lit, the pleasure district began to stir with activity. Despite the dark, heavy clouds looming overhead, Red Dust Intoxication was ablaze with brilliant light. Yang Yaozong and Zhang Lie had not requested any courtesans to accompany them, and Mother Jiang had excused herself from their private room, citing other matters to attend to.

Yang Yaozong had not grasped the profound look Mother Jiang gave him before she left. He was just contemplating when to ask her why she had summoned him here when the voices of a man and a woman drifted clearly from the adjacent room.

The door next door slammed shut, followed by a man’s heavy, labored breathing. "My sweet treasure, my darling, you’ve made me miss you to death! Come here quickly and let me have a kiss."

Then came a sharp, audible "mwah." The woman coquettishly protested, "Oh, why are you so impatient? Sit down and have some food first; I’ll keep you company for a drink, Lord Jiang Hao."

At the mention of the name Jiang Hao, Zhang Lie stopped mid-reach for his food. Having felt awkward about eavesdropping so clearly, he now silently set down his chopsticks and gestured for Yang Yaozong to be quiet. While cocking his ear to listen to the conversation next door, he dipped his finger in wine and traced the words "Loyal Subject of the Prince of Qin" on the table for Yang Yaozong to see.

Yang Yaozong, having heard of Jiang Hao from Mother Jiang just the day before, guessed this must have been arranged by her. He nodded at Zhang Lie.

"How is it that after not seeing each other for a while, you’ve become so distant, calling me 'Lord Jiang Hao'?" Jiang Hao asked. "Didn't I tell you long ago to just call me 'my dear brother'?"

"You are so capable and have earned the trust of the Prince of Qin. You haven't come for so long—who knows if you’ve found other women elsewhere? I am but a lowly woman; how could I dare call a lord 'brother'?" The woman pouted, ending her sentence with a sob.

Jiang Hao hurriedly coaxed her, "My little heart, you are truly wronging your dear brother. I’ve been sent by the Prince of Qin to Tongzhou to oversee soldier training lately. Without his command, I wouldn’t dare return to Shangjing on my own."

The woman stopped sobbing. "Then why are you back today?"

The man hesitated for a moment before saying, "Don't you know what happened last night?"

Curious, the woman asked, "What happened?"

"Well... it concerns the New Prince’s Mansion." He still did not state it directly.

"Ah! You mean when the heavens grew angry and sent down lightning to strike—" Before the woman could excitedly finish her sentence, Jiang Hao seemed to cover her mouth. He then whispered nervously, "Oh, my little ancestor! This is not something to be spoken of casually! You must remember: never bring this up again!"

The woman made a muffled sound through her nose. Presumably, Jiang Hao released her, for she then whispered cautiously, "It’s already known throughout the city, so why can't people talk about it?"

"If I tell you not to discuss it, then don't! Just remember that! Do you understand?" Jiang Hao said sternly.

"I know, I know. Why are you being so fierce? We just met, and you’re already scolding me! You want me to call you 'dear brother,' but can't I say a few honest words in front of you? Besides, you were the one who asked me!" With that, she began to weep again.

Panicked, Jiang Hao tried to soothe her. "Oh! My little treasure, why are you crying again? Is it not my fault? I was only worried about you, that’s why I was so hasty. There, there, stop crying!" He then added lecherously, "I finally managed to carve out time to come here. My little treasure, you’ve made me miss you so much; let’s not waste this beautiful night, shall we?"

"Don't be so impatient! I’m here to stay with you all night, I’m not going anywhere. Have some wine and food first. I want to have a good talk with you!" the woman said softly.

"We can talk anytime. I don't want the food; I only want to devour you!" Jiang Hao said eagerly. Immediately, the woman let out a cry of surprise, followed by the sound of Jiang Hao’s heavy footsteps, the tearing of fabric, the woman’s coquettish moans, and the man’s heavy, rhythmic breathing.

Both Yang Yaozong and Zhang Lie knew the pair next door was undoubtedly entangled by now. Hearing everything so clearly made them feel quite uncomfortable.

Seeing that Zhang Lie seemed ready to leave, Yang Yaozong handed him a cup of tea and wrote on the table: *Wait a moment.*

Zhang Lie took a sip and nodded.

Indeed, it was only a moment before Jiang Hao let out a long groan, and the woman softly remarked, "My lord, you are so vigorous!"

Zhang Lie, who had not yet swallowed his tea, nearly spat it out. With puffed-out cheeks and a flushed face, he forced it down. He was clearly flustered by the woman’s obvious lie. When he looked at Yang Yaozong, he found him pursing his lips to suppress a laugh.

"I might be a bit tired lately, lacking some energy. Otherwise, I would have made you even more comfortable!" Jiang Hao laughed lecherously.

"I was already floating in ecstasy! You are as strong as a dragon and as fierce as a tiger, my lord; I couldn't handle any more of your torment!" the woman giggled. She then stood up to pour tea, and Jiang Hao asked, "I heard that yesterday at Red Dust Intoxication, someone made a barbarian suffer a silent loss? Tell me, what exactly happened?"

The woman appeared to walk back to Jiang Hao's side. "It was all because that barbarian took a fancy to the jade pendant Chunlan wears and tried to use his status to seize it. That pendant was commissioned with everything Chunlan owns; how could she just let him snatch it away? So..." She pouted, "My sister Chunlan is still lying in bed nursing her injuries from that brute! As for that fat barbarian and the one who took him away, I recall they were from Eastern Tujue, and it was you, brother, who introduced them here!"

Jiang Hao said in a deep voice, "Those two barbarians are not to be trifled with; they are honored guests of the Prince of Qin. Fortunately, they are leaving Shangjing soon, so it won't affect Red Dust Intoxication. Tell me, do you recognize the person who stepped in that day?"

"No," the woman replied. "He wasn't very old, probably just acting on impulse—young people, you know. Not like you, brother, so mature, steady, and thoughtful in all things. But I do remember there was another barbarian that day, very burly. I’ve never seen anyone so tall and strong. I saw him come here to meet with those Eastern Tujue barbarians."

Jiang Hao pondered for a moment. "Oh! He is a Western Turk. Now that the Eastern and Western Turks are allied and both have come to pay respects to the Prince of Qin, it is natural for them to meet. As for you, my little treasure, you even know to keep an eye on these things for me. How should I reward you?" He laughed lecherously.

"Stop it! If I don't look out for you, who would? You don't know how many women you have outside, but in my heart, there is only you," the woman said coyly.

"How could I not understand your heart? Don't you know how much I cherish you? Besides, didn't I tell Mother Jiang to take good care of you? And haven't I told you? Just wait a while longer—not for long—and I will redeem you, so you can be mine to cherish every day."

"How long is 'a while'?"

"Very soon! Now that the Imperial Grandson is overseeing the state, how could the Prince of Qin allow the Emperor to hand over the Great Zhou so carelessly to a child? The Prince of Qin must take up his responsibilities as a Prince. He will be heading south, and naturally, I must accompany him. If I were to redeem you now, how could I rest easy leaving you alone in Shangjing?"

"Oh my, you’ve messed up the clothes I just put on..."