Chapter Thirty-One: The Hidden Crown Prince’s Man

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A carriage waited behind the Pleasure House, with several people standing by.

Yang Wan'er came down from the second floor and prepared to leave the Pleasure House under the protection of only two bodyguards.

The madam approached with a broad smile.

“My dear, you have only been here for a day or two, and you are already leaving? You have not even had the chance to see all of Chang'an City.”

The madam blocked Yang Wan'er's path.

She knew perfectly well that someone of Yang Wan'er's stature was not to be offended. Yet early that morning, Cui Wenbin had already sent word that Yang Wan'er was to be kept there, no matter what methods were used.

Yang Wan'er frowned slightly. It was obvious that this had to be the Cui family's doing. The madam would never have dared lay a hand on her otherwise.

“I am leaving. Perhaps it will be a very long time before I return to Chang'an.”

Yang Wan'er was still polite as she headed toward the back door. The madam could not stop her at all.

All she could do was watch, though a sinister smile slowly spread across her face.

The Pleasure House was never a place where people could come and go as they pleased.

A distinguished young lady like Yang Wan'er might have a few bodyguards, but so what? This was their territory, not hers.

“Someone block the way! Let us see how this little brat plans to leave.”

They had torn away all pretense. With orders from the Cui family, and with the hired thugs the madam kept on hand, they had everything they needed.

It was broad daylight, and there were hardly any customers in the Pleasure House. It was the perfect time to make their move.

The situation the previous night had been different. No matter who was involved, the madam could not afford to offend Su Chen, Cheng Chumo, or Li Huairen.

But today was different. This was merely a little newcomer who had traveled from afar.

No matter how beautiful she was, what difference could it make? By nightfall, Yang Wan'er would be delivered to the Cui residence.

Yang Wan'er turned her head. Her expression was filled with murderous intent, and the madam could not help shivering.

“Hmph. If the Cui family's dogs want to run wild, then let the blood flow across the ground!”

Yang Wan'er had shed her former frailty. Her brows lifted sharply, and her gaze made it seem as though the men before her were already dead.

“Yes, miss.”

The two bodyguards at Yang Wan'er's side were equally strange. They obeyed her with absolute submission.

The madam staggered backward several steps. She had never expected this little girl to speak so viciously—she was even fiercer than herself. If she were allowed to grow up, who knew what kind of trouble she would cause?

“Very well! How dare you insult us? You are courting death! Seize them all and torture them slowly!”

The madam shouted as more than a dozen men rushed forward.

Crack! Bang! The fight erupted inside the Pleasure House.

One agonized scream followed another.

The two bodyguards beside Yang Wan'er looked thin and frail, but once they began fighting, more than a dozen burly men proved no match for them.

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Using a technique that twisted tendons and dislocated bones, the two men soon had a heap of bodies on the floor. One after another, the fallen thugs clutched their hands and feet, crying out in pain.

The madam's face turned white.

How could these two scrawny monkeys be so powerful? More than a dozen strong men were not even enough to stand against them.

“You—you—you! What do you think you are doing?”

The madam retreated several more steps.

The floor was covered with men screaming in agony.

The other people in the Pleasure House watched from the windows and hurriedly shut them all.

There were few people in Chang'an who dared lay a hand on the Cui family, much less over nothing more than a pair of bodyguards protecting a young woman.

“Let us go. Pay her no attention.”

Without even turning her head, Yang Wan'er continued toward the back door.

The two bodyguards remained expressionless.

The rear entrance of the Pleasure House opened onto a narrow alley with only one exit.

Yang Wan'er came through the back door and climbed into the carriage.

The two bodyguards followed her out. They took the driver's seat, but did not set off.

Just as they had mounted the carriage, another group appeared at the mouth of the alley.

At its center stood a young master, lazily waving a folding fan.

“What a pity, what a pity. That bastard Su Chen spent the night with you yesterday, so he got to enjoy the first taste. But never mind—I do not mind at all. Ha ha…”

Cui Wenbin had brought men from the Cui family as well. They had arrived when the fighting began inside the Pleasure House, but instead of entering, they had blocked the main entrance while he led the rest to the mouth of the alley.

The men behind him laughed along with him.

“Little beauty, our young master has taken a liking to you. Today is your lucky day. Let our young master take you somewhere and have his fun. Once he is finished, he will share you with us. We want a turn too.”

The men Cui Wenbin had brought had committed such acts with him before.

To them, it was perfectly ordinary.

Even if the Great Tang now had laws, what did that matter? The dynasty had existed for only a few years, while the Cui family was an ancient aristocratic clan that had endured far longer than the Great Tang itself. Their circumstances were entirely different.

Yang Wan'er was clearly displeased inside the carriage.

She had not wanted to kill anyone today. If too great a commotion broke out in Chang'an, they might not be able to leave.

“Miss, shall we kill him?”

The bodyguard had already asked. To them, killing a man seemed almost effortless.

“Do not alert Li Shimin. Our godfather cannot reveal himself yet. We originally came to Chang'an hoping to find a way to ally ourselves with the Cui family, but now we have another plan—one that may prove more advantageous than relying on the aristocratic clans. Just break his legs.”

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Yang Wan'er did not want to cause trouble at a time like this.

If Li Shimin discovered them, it would be extremely disadvantageous.

These men claimed to have come from Gusu City, but in truth they were all followers of the Hidden Crown Prince.

Yang Wan'er had to consider the consequences and avoid making too much of a spectacle. After all, this was still Li Shimin's territory.

There was no longer any need to ally themselves with the aristocratic clans. Yang Wan'er had thought of a better candidate.

The plan simply had to proceed one step at a time. One could not become fat from eating a single mouthful.

“Yes.”

The men outside the carriage answered.

They pretended to be bodyguards, but they were all followers of the Hidden Crown Prince. For now, they obeyed Yang Wan'er's orders.

Cui Wenbin still had no idea that he was courting death. Grinning foolishly, he led his men forward.

They had brought fifty or sixty people.

Yang Wan'er had only six or seven, including the two who drove the carriage.

How could so few people possibly stand against them?

Yet what happened next struck terror into Cui Wenbin's heart.

One man after another collapsed amid screams, sobs, and cries of agony.

Not a single member of the Cui family's group remained standing. They fell one after another.

Cui Wenbin's folding fan slipped from his hand, and he no longer dared put on airs.

This was a death sentence. How could these few people be so powerful?

“Please, my lady… I—I will not do it again.”

Before anyone even laid a hand on him, Cui Wenbin had already begun begging for mercy.

He saw several men walking toward him.

A horrifying cry rang out from the alley.

The screams continued to echo into the distance, causing many passersby to take a detour. No one dared venture inside.

The madam was cautious as well.

She had no idea what had happened in the alley.

Only after most of the day had passed did she finally dare lead some people over.

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