A Records Of An Alpha’s Life In Ancient Times - Chapter 17

Before this, Shen Qingshu had already done a great deal of investigation.

This Young Master Zhao was fairly diligent in his studies, though he occasionally slacked off, and his reputation among his classmates was decent too.

The servants of Count Kunyang’s estate also quite liked him, saying he did not put on airs and never had servants beaten with boards.

On ordinary days, aside from studying, he liked watching football matches and horse races. Occasionally, he would place a small bet or two, but he had no other bad habits.

Overall, he was a good young man with normal values. What Shen Qingshu wanted to test was his attitude toward beauty.

She knew that in this era, men taking concubines was considered perfectly justified and unavoidable, but at the very least, he could not linger in brothels, let lust go to his head, or favor concubines and neglect his wife.

A quarter of an hour later, the two of them appeared in the capital’s famous pleasure district.

It was Meng Bozhou’s first time coming to this kind of place. He swallowed, unable to help feeling a little nervous, and could hardly move his feet. He turned to look at Shen Qingshu and became somewhat puzzled. “Qingshu, why aren’t you scared at all?”

Nonsense. What did she, a woman, have to be afraid of? Shen Qingshu grumbled inwardly. “Scared of what? Can they eat you or something? Get this straight. They’re the vulnerable women here.”

“That’s true, that’s true.” After hearing this, Meng Bozhou felt just the tiniest bit more at ease. He clenched his fists to cheer himself on. “They’re the vulnerable ones. I’m the powerful one.”

Shen Qingshu quickly sped up her steps, secretly thinking that she absolutely could not lead the child astray.

It was still afternoon, so the entire alley was relatively quiet. Most of the brothels had their doors closed. After walking for a while, the two finally found one that was open.

“Young gentleman, have you taken the wrong road?”

Before they even entered, a teasing laugh suddenly came from upstairs, and an unknown object was thrown straight at Shen Qingshu.

She was startled. Her subconscious thought it was a hidden weapon, and her body immediately leaned back as she retreated one step, knocking the thing to the ground.

The touch was unexpectedly soft. She looked closely and saw it was a scented handkerchief.

“…”

“Why didn’t Young Master catch it? Is this servant not pretty enough?”

The woman leaning upstairs giggled again. Shen Qingshu’s face darkened with black lines. She ignored her and directly led Meng Bozhou, who had been stunned silly, to find the madam.

With money clearing the way, the madam smiled so broadly her teeth disappeared. “Young Master, don’t worry. We can handle this sort of thing too. I guarantee we’ll find you a charming little fox spirit, delicate in every way, and take care of it perfectly for you.”

“Don’t find someone too steeped in the air of the pleasure quarters.” Shen Qingshu frowned. “I want the kind that looks pure and moving, pitiful and delicate, like a respectable woman from a bitter background at first glance.”

“Young Master, though you’re young, you’re clearly an expert. Don’t worry. We have every type here.” The madam smiled and flattered her, then clapped at the pageboy beside her. “Go bring Zhu Yun over.”

Not long after, a woman in a white dress came out. Her looks were only above average, but her eyes were moist, bright, shy, and timid, like a young deer that had accidentally lost its way in the mountains. Her face carried a faint trace of sadness, and she truly made one feel pity at first sight.

With looks like hers, in later generations, it might have been possible for her to become a minor celebrity. But in this era, she could only make a living like this.

“This one,” Shen Qingshu decided at once.

Originally, she had planned that if she could not find someone suitable in a brothel, she would change her clothes, use her mental power to alter her appearance, and personally go onstage. She had not expected brothel women to be of such high quality, saving her a portion of mental power.

Returning to the football field, Shen Qingshu had Zhu Yun change into a somewhat dirty white dress, then brought her to identify the person.

“That’s him. In a while, go to him and ask for help. Make up a tragic background. If he doesn’t help you, then forget it. If he does, say you’re willing to go to his estate and work like an ox or horse to repay him.”

Zhu Yun hesitated a little. “I’m acting, but what if that young master really agrees?”

“No need to worry. If that happens, I’ll help redeem your contract as your payment. So you must act with all your heart and beg him several times.”

“I understand. Young Master, don’t worry.” Zhu Yun’s beautiful eyes shifted, and she became a little curious about the relationship between these two young masters. Could it be…

After the match ended, Shen Qingshu and Meng Bozhou followed the Zhao family’s carriage. When they reached a quiet, empty place, they had Zhu Yun go over while the two of them hid to the side and watched.

From far away, they saw the carriage being stopped. Zhao Yijian got down and exchanged a few words with Zhu Yun, who was kneeling on the ground. He even took something out and gave it to her. Shen Qingshu’s heart could not help sinking.

But soon after, she saw him wave his hands repeatedly, get back into the carriage, and leave, leaving Zhu Yun alone where she was.

Shen Qingshu hurried over and asked, “What did he say?”

Zhu Yun took out a seal token and several silver coins. She looked somewhat disappointed, though her eyes still held a smile. “This young master heard that I was sold by my uncle and only escaped with great difficulty, so he told me to go to the authorities and make a formal accusation. He gave me a seal token and said they would certainly judge the case impartially. He also gave me one thousand wen to settle myself. I said I wanted to repay him, but he refused and said it was only a small effort, not worth mentioning, and that there was absolutely no reason for me to go to his estate as a servant.”

Meng Bozhou heard this from the side and cut in, “Then his character is pretty good. Qingshu, now you can feel relieved, right?”

“Our two families are currently discussing marriage. Maybe he was afraid some rumor would spread and ruin the match.”

Compassionate toward the weak, generous with money, yet measured; unmoved by beauty, with a firm bottom line. In truth, Shen Qingshu already approved of him about eighty percent in her heart, but she still wanted to confirm it one more time.

“In a couple of days, I’ll find a little beggar to ask him for help and see whether he helps again.”

Meng Bozhou was speechless. “Qingshu, isn’t that too wicked? With such a difficult little brother-in-law like you, Zhao Yijian really must have had eight lifetimes of bad luck. Would he even dare treat your sister badly in the future?”

Shen Qingshu shot him a sideways look and did not refute him.

She also knew she was in the wrong. There was no hierarchy between people, so what right did she have to stand on the moral high ground and test others? One had to know, human nature could not withstand testing.

But her heart was biased. She was biased toward her sister and wanted to find her a good husband. She also did not have that much time to interact with him and understand him over a long period, so even though she knew this was something she should not do, she would still choose to do it.

At this point, Zhu Yun also understood. So she had misunderstood. This young master was testing his sister’s future husband for her.

With a younger brother who cared for her so much and a future husband who was a proper gentleman, that woman must be very happy. Different people had different fates. Thinking of her own rough life, Zhu Yun could not help feeling envy and sorrow.

Today’s goal had already been achieved. Shen Qingshu did not take the money from Zhu Yun’s hand. Instead, she took several silver coins from her own purse and gave them to her. She instructed, “Miss Zhu Yun, I’m very satisfied with your performance. Consider this your payment. Thank you. Also, I’ll have to trouble you to keep today’s matter tightly sealed and not spread it outside.”

After saying that, she and Meng Bozhou turned to leave, but Zhu Yun tugged on her sleeve. Shen Qingshu looked over in some confusion.

Zhu Yun bit her lower lip and looked at her with a gaze that had no aggressiveness at all, extremely obedient and lovely. Yet the smile at the corner of her mouth seemed to carry tiny hooks. “This young master’s bearing is truly captivating. Might this servant have the fortune to share a spring night with Young Master?”

“…”

What the hell?

The corner of Shen Qingshu’s mouth twitched, and she nearly split apart on the spot. She had only wanted to find an actress. How had she ended up provoking a romantic debt?!

And were all of you brothel women so free and unrestrained? You dared to say this kind of thing in broad daylight!

More importantly, Miss Zhu Yun, what kind of look is that? First, she was a girl. Second, she was only fourteen. She did not have that ability at all, all right?!

“N-no need.” Shen Qingshu was so awkward she nearly stuttered, and she fled in defeat with Meng Bozhou.

After she got into the carriage and heard a string of happy laughter behind her, she reacted. How could she not know she had been teased? She angrily hammered her fist into her palm.

How could she be this stupid!

“Hahaha…” Meng Bozhou was at the side, already clutching his stomach and laughing so hard he nearly collapsed. “Qingshu, so you have this day too! Hahaha…”

“You wanted to trick Zhao Yijian, and now look at you. Serves you right!”

“…”