CHAPTER 390: CHAPTER 390: CORRUPTION

An hour ago.

The Beauty Pavilion shop opened its doors.

The Beauty Pavilion has now become the busiest place in the Capital City.

Everything sold inside is well-liked by everyone.

Now, with a separate shop opened in the back courtyard, it’s even more eye-catching.

Ever since learning about the store’s opening, everyone had been eagerly waiting for this day.

Once the shop opened, everyone flocked in like a swarm of bees.

Yet, when they saw what was for sale, each person blushed deeply.

It was actually selling dudous.

Dudous are the most intimate garments for young ladies, usually too shy to mention, yet now they are openly being sold.

Even though men were not allowed in the back courtyard, it was still embarrassing.

However, this embarrassment didn’t last long, as they realized the dudous on display were not for sale, but merely for comparison purposes.

The Beauty Pavilion sold items that were unavailable elsewhere.

Who doesn’t have a dudou?

The dudou of the Beauty Pavilion was something no one had ever seen before.

Curious, no one left.

But when it came to actually purchasing, no one dared to speak up, everyone was just observing.

Until a maid announced that the first three people to try them on would receive one for free.

Rewards always encourage the brave.

A young lady from a prominent family raised her hand, went into the inner room, and tried on a dudou with the help of a maid.

Wearing it for the first time was extremely uncomfortable, but the enhancement it gave to her figure was undeniable.

After wearing it for a while, it became less rejecting.

And then—

Everyone started buying enthusiastically.

The young ladies mostly bought one to try out, while the noble ladies picked up three to five after trying them on.

Xie Jinxiu bought just one, as the fitting rooms were in short supply, so she wore it without taking it off.

She strolled around the Beauty Pavilion, giggling and chatting, rode the carriage back, and discovered the benefits of the Beauty Pavilion’s dudou during her journey.

"Mother, I want to buy a few more. Will you come with me?" Xie Jinxiu said.

"Let’s go after lunch," the Third Madam suggested.

After they finished lunch and went back, they were told before even entering that they were too late—

The Beauty Pavilion’s dudous were already sold out.

Sold out...

Xie Jinxiu, "...."

Third Madam, "...."

"When will they be available again?" Xie Jinxiu asked.

"In about ten days," a young maid replied.

"...."

The wasted trip was enough to annoy the Third Madam, but more was yet to come.

All the noble ladies knew the Beauty Pavilion was run by the Eldest Young Madam of Duke Zhen’s Mansion, while she was the Third Madam of Duke Zhen’s Mansion.

Those who couldn’t buy any came looking for the Third Madam, hoping she could pull some strings at the Beauty Pavilion.

Could the Third Madam gain special access to the Beauty Pavilion through Su Jin?

Earlier that day, she had helped the Old Madam punish the Eldest Young Madam by sending her to the Buddhist Hall to chant for Princess Nanzhang. Asking her now would be self-humiliating.

The Third Madam promptly refused to help, stating that the Beauty Pavilion treated everyone equally without favoritism.

However, her words had barely left her mouth when she was instantly contradicted.

The Princess NanAn and her group, having played mahjong and forgotten about the Beauty Pavilion’s opening, arrived only to find the shop already closed.

The Princess NanAn, eager to try the much-praised Beauty Pavilion dudous, casually mentioned it to the shop’s housekeeper.

She was the biological mother of Prince NanAn, who was one of the key supporters behind the Beauty Pavilion.

Was it a problem for the mother of the investor to buy a few dudous?

The housekeeper readily agreed.

Originally, the Princess NanAn was trying her luck, but she didn’t expect it would actually work out.

Overjoyed, yet slightly angry.

After all, last time she asked Prince NanAn to get her some mahjong, he flatly refused, saying there were no favors to be had.

Looking at Marchioness Jingguo and the others, the Princess NanAn remarked, "Do you think my son was worth raising or not?"

Marchioness Jingguo and the others tried hard to suppress their laughter.

Meanwhile, far away in Yu State, Prince NanAn sneezed so hard he almost stumbled.

Utterly exhausted.

He was almost forgetting what it felt like to ride a horse.

After so many days, he had worn out seven or eight pairs of shoes.

Chu Shun handed out a few water pouches, tossing one to each person.

Prince NanAn removed the cap and gulped down several mouthfuls, feeling refreshed all over.

Gazing at a carriage in front, he said to Su Chong, "Brother Su, go and tell your father, he’s switched from riding to sitting in the carriage, can we switch from walking to riding?"

A couple of days ago, it rained a bit, and they trudged on despite getting soaked to the bone.

It was then that Marquis Dongxiang began traveling by carriage.

But the rain stopped two days ago, yet he hadn’t switched back to riding.

Feeling dizzy from exhaustion, Prince NanAn could barely hold on, thinking they should change their travel method since Marquis Dongxiang had upgraded his.

Su Chong, looking troubled, said, "I don’t know where my father is."

"You don’t know?!" Prince NanAn was stunned.

"Isn’t your father in the carriage?!"

"...."

"No longer," Su Chong said.

"...."

Chu Shun and the others were bewildered.

Su Chong was even more confused, "You guys really haven’t noticed until now?"

"Your observation skills are pretty lacking, huh?"

A few sharp swords seemed to pierce the hearts of Prince NanAn and the others.

This life is truly unlivable.

The father torments their bodies, while the sons pierce their hearts.

Exhausted in body and mind, severely frustrated.

"Wasn’t your father here to quell bandits? Now that he’s reached Yu State territory, where has he gone?" Chu Shun asked.

"I don’t know, but he’s definitely not in Yu State," Su Chong said.

"...."

Prince NanAn was skeptical, so he went over and lifted the carriage curtain.

Inside the carriage, it was empty.

It wouldn’t be accurate to say there was nothing; there was still a letter stuffed inside.

Su Chong took out the letter and had a look.

Marquis Dongxiang had delegated the task of quelling bandits to Su Chong and Chu Shun.

Without him around, the task would go smoothly.

After quelling the bandits, they were to return to the Capital as they came.

Looking at the letter, Prince NanAn began to feel sorry for his feet.

Although they had never paid much attention to the bandits of Yu State, Su Chong and the others never expected it to go so smoothly.

So smoothly that they felt like crying.

After seeing the letter, they proceeded for half an hour, when the Yu State officials came to greet them.

After all, it was Marquis Dongxiang who was coming to quell the bandits.

Even though he was a Marquis from bandit recruitment, people looked down on him, but no matter what, he was still a Marquis appointed by the court, so who dared to neglect?

Moreover, besides him, there was Prince NanAn, the Heir of Marquis Beining, the Heir of Marquis Jingguo, the Eldest Young Master of Duke Dingguo Mansion, and two young masters from Jibei Marquis Mansion.

Usually, even one arrival needed to be fawned over; with all of them coming together, no matter how they were entertained, it felt inadequate.

Yet, Prince NanAn and the others weren’t much impressed by the fawning of the Yu State officials. The journey had been too arduous, and they were eager to take their frustration out on the bandits.

Prince NanAn asked, "Approximately how many bandits are there in Yu State?"

"There are no more bandits in Yu State," the Yu State official said.

"...."

"None?!" Chu Shun’s eyes widened.

"Yes, none," the Yu State official said.

"Marquis Dongxiang’s reputation is so formidable that upon hearing he was coming to annihilate them, the bandits packed up and fled."

Prince NanAn and the others looked as if their faces had turned coal-black.

They had struggled so hard, braving mountains and rivers to quell the bandits.

Yet they hadn’t even faced the bandits, and the bandits had fled in terror?

"Since the bandits ran away, why didn’t you report to the court?!" Prince NanAn was furious.

"... It’s not that we didn’t report; we couldn’t," the Yu State official promptly explained.

"No one knows whether the bandits have mixed in with the common people. If we sent a report and you returned to the Capital, they’d think the court’s warning was just a bluff. Once you leave, they could come back, and the people of Yu State would be in deep trouble."

"Since you’ve traveled all this way, let Yu State extend a bit of hospitality. Stay a few days before returning to the Capital, so the people of Yu State know the court cares about them."

This arrangement was reasonable enough.

Prince NanAn said, "Taking a couple of days’ rest is good; after such exhausting days, I want a few days of indulgence before heading back to the Capital."

Indulgence?

The eyes of the Yu State official lit up, "I’ll arrange for the Prince to have fine wine and beauties, varying in style, ensuring the Prince and the young masters’ satisfaction."

Prince NanAn, "...."

Prince NanAn rubbed his forehead and gave the Yu State official a heavy pat on the shoulder.

"My idea of indulgence is not the same as yours," Prince NanAn said.

"...."

"Understood, I understand," the official said.

"Really understand?" Prince NanAn was a bit skeptical.

"Really understand," the Yu State official assured.

Then—

Prince NanAn and the others went to the Yu State official’s residence.

The official had prepared several rather handsome young men for them.

Prince NanAn, "...!!!"

Really.

Not to mention dining, they almost threw up their dinner from the night before.

As a straight man, he couldn’t stomach this disgust, and even looking at the Yu State official felt like it sullied his eyes.

Before leaving, they beat the Yu State official so thoroughly he couldn’t even crawl up.

Outside the official’s residence, Chu Shun and the others unanimously criticized Prince NanAn.

Who told him to mention the word ’indulgence.’"

Prince NanAn felt very wronged, "I just wanted a couple of days to sleep until I naturally wake up, without sun and rain, and ride horses when I go out."

"Prince, you really have indulged," the Heir of Marquis Beining lamented.

"...."

"You’ve indulged to the point where your life’s requirements are this low."

"...."