Although Fengyitai is not a brothel under the jurisdiction of the Jiaofang Division, it is indeed a formal brothel registered in Jingzhao Mansion, not some wild one. Moreover, the reputation of Fengyitai in Xijing City is firmly higher than that of the brothels under the jurisdiction of Jiaofangsi. In the past thirty years, eight out of ten recognized courtesans in Xijing City came from Fengyitai.
In addition, Fengyitai is still a time-honored brand in Xijing City. It has a history of at least a hundred years since it opened its doors.
"In other words, this is the Tantai family's industry, specifically for cultivating female craftsmen." Jin Miaomiao glanced at Shen Cha, who nodded lightly, "Sure enough, those rumors are not groundless. After the Tantai family took advantage of It is a fact that the house controls the courtiers."
"This is a conventional method, not unique to the Tantai family."
Shen Cha was not surprised at all. She also considered such a method in the early days of Shadow, but she always felt that it was too immoral and had too many unstable factors, so she gave up. Later, many people, even the late emperor, came to persuade her, but they failed to get her to nod. She dislikes and despises methods, but she will not waver no matter what.
"What the general said is that there are very few people in this world who are as principled and conscientious as the general." Yan Ruyu smiled at Shen Cha, "The reason why the general and the princess don't like me is because I was disrespectful to the Duke and the General back then, which I can understand, but at the same time, it also aroused the General's vigilance towards the Huaiyin House, right?"
"Did Madam do it on purpose?" Shen Cha immediately understood what Yan Ruyu meant, "The Tantai family's hand was stretched too far! However, at that time, hadn't Madam cut off all contact with them?"
"It's so easy to say it's cut off." Yan Ruyu's face showed a touch of bitterness, "It's easy to get on the pirate ship, but it's difficult to get off the pirate ship." She looked at Shen Cha seriously, "The general said that the shopkeeper's quilt If you’re caught, you’re not trying to trick me, right?”
"The shopkeeper is just a pawn, the boss is the big fish, right?" Jin Miaomiao had seen the list provided by Mu Sheng. Bai Meng and the others first arrested the boss of Fengfeng Yitai, and then seized Fengyi. tower. "Madam, you hate the shopkeeper more than the boss?" She glanced at the two little girls sitting obediently next to Yan Ruyu, "If it's inconvenient, we can ask the two ladies to sit in the side hall while we wait. When it's over, you can go back home together."
"No need." Yan Ruyu shook her head gently, "I have never hidden my background from them, and there is no inconvenience." She smiled at her two daughters, then turned to look at Shen Cha and Jin Miao Miao and Song Jinyu, "In the fifteen years I have been at Fengyitai, I have never met the so-called boss. As for Master Jin's so-called hatred, there is no way to talk about it. I just... disdain to associate with them."
"How disdainful to associate with them." Song Jinyu tilted her head and looked at Mrs. Huaiyin Bo, "But you said you grew up in Fengyitai for fifteen years? If I remember correctly, you married When Uncle Huaiyin was born, was he sixteen or seventeen years old?"
As Song Jinyu spoke, she looked at the Queen Mother. She was a little worried that what they were talking about would make the Queen Mother bored. However, when she saw that the Queen Mother was listening to them with great interest and energy, she was relieved and looked at her. Turning to Yan Ruyu again.
"Her Royal Highness the Princess is right. I was indeed sixteen years old when I married my uncle." Yan Ruyu lowered her head slightly, "I am an orphan. I have lived there since I can remember. I met my uncle. Although Fengyitai is registered with the government, its essence has not changed. It will still have the methods that a brothel should have, and the nastiness that it should have will not disappear because of this. "
"What is the dirty thing that Madam refers to?"
"When I was a child, Xijing City was not as stable as it is now. It was filled with all kinds of people of unknown origins, ruffians, hooligans, and human traffickers. You could meet them every day. Some of the girls in Fengyitai, except for those real orphans, , it is true that their parents cannot be found, and most of them are bought from human traffickers. I am not very clear about their origins, but some of the sisters who are familiar with me are from the border. For them, It is much better to be trafficked by human traffickers to a brothel in Xijing than to stay at the border where wars are frequent. At least, they don't have to worry about losing their lives at any time." Yan Ruyu looked at Shen Cha, "General Don’t think too much, you weren’t born yet at that time!”
Shen Cha didn't speak, just stared at her and motioned for her to continue talking.
"We started learning when we were three or four years old. Not only are we proficient in music, chess, calligraphy and painting, we have to be pretty close. If we don't learn well, we will be beaten by our teachers. In fact, it is very hard." Yan Ruyu's expression was very dull, It seems that what he is talking about is not his own business, but other people's business. "In addition, we also need to learn how to use words, how to comfort others, and let them take the initiative to express what is on their mind."
"Only when you let go of your guard can you find out the information you want to find out." Shen Cha nodded, "I heard from Her Royal Highness the Princess that Madam became the youngest oiran in Fengyitai with her song "The Return of the Wild Goose". From that night on, Famous throughout Xijing City. With Madam’s reputation at the time, it was not difficult to obtain some information, but according to the confessions of the shopkeeper and the boss, this was not the case.”
"Are they saying that I was extremely uncooperative and the information they got back was useless?" Seeing Shen Cha's acquiescence to this statement, Yan Ruyu shrugged, "Before I escaped from that place, I always thought The shopkeepers and bosses all work for foreigners. The information we let people find out will eventually become a knife that falls on the heads of the border people and soldiers. As a Daxia person, why do I want to do this? A matter of conscience? Being a prostitute is a bad fate for me, but I will not betray my country because of it."
"But you don't know that they are not working for foreigners. Their master is a mysterious family."
"Yes, a family I have never heard of, but its methods are extremely vicious. Many little sisters around me died in their hands." Yan Ruyu looked at Shen Cha, "The general just gave me The mark you are looking at belongs to their family. That family controls the entire Fengyitai, and everyone here works for them."
"When did you know about this?"
"One month after escaping from Xijing, we were blocked by them in Jiangnan." Yan Ruyu smiled bitterly, "I never thought that their power could extend from Xijing to Jiangnan. I originally thought it was a dead end. Unexpectedly, they let me live and told me some things I didn’t know before.”
"When you fled Xijing, was Uncle Huaiyin with you?"
"Yes."
"So, he also knows these things that you know?"
"..." Yan Ruyu was silent for a while, "Yes, uncle knows. But general, uncle has nothing to do with this."
"Whether it's relevant or not, it's neither you nor I who have the final say, it's His Majesty who has the final say." Shen Cha looked at Mei Zhu, "I'll tell Your Majesty the news and ask whether I should invite Uncle Huaiyin into the palace for questioning." , it is up to His Majesty to decide.”
"yes!"
