148: Chapter 0148 Stirred Up a Nest

"There are even brothels in this Lincang City?"

Lin Xiao looked surprised, "Wife, you've wronged me. I really didn't know!"

Before entering Lincang City, Lin Xiao had already seen the layout; in fact, he knew everything inside the city like the back of his hand.

However, in front of women, he definitely had to play dumb to avoid her overthinking.

To begin with, Lin Xiao didn't have much interest in those brothel women.

It wasn't that he looked down on these women who worked day and night, but as a modern person, he was afraid of catching a disease!

Besides, the women around him were each top-tier—one was an Empress, and others were descendants of great clans and sects—so his standards had naturally risen.

Ordinary beauties? He couldn't get excited!

"I forgot, Baishui and Wu Mountain are remote and have no red-light districts, so you haven't seen much of them, Husband."

"With a stunning beauty like you as my wife, I don't need to see them!"

Lin Xiao was sincere; ever since Xiao Qingxuan married him, she hadn't had a single day of peace, busy with one thing or another every day.

The only time he had specifically accompanied her for fun was that one time they watched a play; everything else was just incidental to their daily routine.

Although he was the one who saved her, Xiao Qingxuan could have slacked off, but she didn't; she did everything she could personally.

Lin Xiao saw all of this and kept it in his heart.

"I am naturally a hundred percent at ease with your character, Husband."

Xiao Qingxuan smiled sweetly; she didn't actually care much, it was mostly just teasing.

"You might not know, Husband, but brothels can't be operated just anywhere. The borders are chaotic and the economy is backward, so they are rarely opened there."

"Lincang Prefecture and Qinshui Prefecture are the water transport hubs of the Cang River. Trade is prosperous in both places, which is why a large number of courtesans make a living here."

"It is said that the taxes from brothels are quite a significant income for the Dagan Imperial Court."

Lin Xiao shook his head dismissively and said, "No wonder Dagan is like the setting sun. If the people's lives weren't so difficult, why would women sell themselves to earn this hard-earned money?"

Xiao Qingxuan looked dazed, staring blankly at Lin Xiao.

"What's wrong, Wife?" Lin Xiao was puzzled.

Xiao Qingxuan looked moved and reached out to gently stroke the man's cheek.

"Husband, that you can view brothel women this way shows you truly have a pure heart. I admire you."

"If one day you can take charge of the realm, you will surely be able to let these poor women live a good life."

Lin Xiao realized that as a soul raised under the red flag, wasn't this level of awareness natural?

"Haha, Wife, we'll talk about that later. I'll go find those two hundred thousand taels of silver first!"

"That's two months' worth of expenses for our Zhenbei Army!"

Xiao Qingxuan smiled beautifully: "Of course. What my husband loves most isn't me and my sisters, but silver!"

"I love them all! Both!"

This woman, why must she speak the truth!

"Husband, you can go investigate, but... you must leave something behind first."

Xiao Qingxuan wrapped her arms around the man's neck, whispering in his ear.

Lin Xiao naturally understood. Isn't it just a few hundred million? I'll transfer them to you!

A full hour later, Lin Xiao emerged from the study.

His face showed the indifference of a sage who had seen through the world.

It had to be said, his Empress wife, whose cultivation was improving day by day, was becoming increasingly unfathomable!

As the Great General of the North, it certainly wasn't very appropriate to go directly to a brothel.

So, to show he was strictly on official business, Lin Xiao directly ordered Qin He to seal off the brothel!

During the day, there weren't many guests in the brothel, so it was easy to seal it off.

The location of Zuihua Pavilion was very strategic, with a market street on one side and a residential area on the other.

The flow of people here never stopped day or night, so business was exceptionally good.

When the nearby residents heard that the corruption of Prefect Wu Yonghe was being investigated, they all came to watch.

When Lin Xiao arrived at the scene, he was immediately greeted warmly by a large crowd of people.

Although the Zhenbei Army had only entered the city for a few days, the people had already felt real benefits!

Lin Xiao's prestige naturally soared!

Lin Xiao waved to the people and walked to the entrance of Zuihua Pavilion.

He wouldn't have known without looking, but once he did—wow!

This scale was actually even greater than the Prefects Mansion?

"General, I've sent people to inquire. This Prefect Wu Yonghe often calls the top-ranked girls here to his private courtyard."

"With this Prefect as its backing, Zuihua Pavilion is the largest money-burning pit in all of Lincang, even the gambling dens can't compare!"

When Qin He said this, his face was full of contempt.

Lin Xiao wasn't surprised at all, after all, Prefect Wu Yonghe carried the "Romantic Traveler" trait.

"Let's go in and see for ourselves."

Upon entering the magnificent interior, there was a huge flower hall filled with various elegant seats for drinking.

Rows of women of all heights and sizes, dressed brightly, were shivering in line, waiting for interrogation.

These soldiers of the Zhenbei Army were completely different from the garrison of Lincang; they exuded an aura of slaughter.

The girls, who usually wanted to cling to men whenever they saw them, were all intimidated now.

"This is our Great General of the North. Who among you is in charge here?" Qin He asked.

A middle-aged woman walked over and bowed timidly.

"This humble servant is Yue Hong, the madam here. Greetings, Great General!"

Lin Xiao glanced over, but felt something was wrong?

[Yue Hong, 43 years old, Madam of Zuihua Pavilion, former Yanyu Pavilion assassin, Aptitude: yellow grade]

No wonder she had killing intent and true qi? She was actually from Yanyu Pavilion?

Although she was "retired" and her strength was mediocre, as a female assassin, there were many ways.

"Hand over all the silver Prefect Wu Yonghe left with you."

Lin Xiao got straight to the point: "This General doesn't want much, just two hundred thousand taels. Not a single copper less."

Yue Hong hurriedly knelt down and cried, "General, we are being wronged! Although our Zuihua Pavilion's business is not respectable, we operate honestly!"

"If you don't believe me, we can hand over all the account books. There could never be any secret accounts, let alone a huge sum of two hundred thousand taels!"

As the madam cried, the girls on the scene also began to weep, appearing completely weak and helpless.

A delicate and lovely girl, wearing a green dress and of petite build, knelt down.

"General, we are all poor women who were sold here. Please have pity on us!"

[Ling Lan, 21 years old, silver-rank assassin of Yanyu Pavilion's Seventh Floor, Aptitude: mystic grade]

Another girl in a yellow dress, with a plump and tall figure, knelt down and shouted for the madam's innocence:

"General, the money Mama usually earns is spent frugally to take care of many of us sisters. She is not lying!"

[Yu'er, 22 years old, silver-rank assassin of Yanyu Pavilion's Seventh Floor, Aptitude: yellow grade]

"General Lin, you are a world-renowned hero, while we are just weak women with no power to truss a chicken. Please let us go..."

A girl with a round face and a pitiful expression wiped her tears and said:

"What we earn is hard-earned money. We wouldn't even dare to take Prefect Wu's money..."

[Xian'er, 20 years old, gold-rank assassin of Yanyu Pavilion's Seventh Floor, Aptitude: mystic grade]

Damn it... I've poked a nest of assassins!!