webnovelfull Chapter 450
Chapter 450
Once a woman reaches a certain social status, she can easily obtain the favors of high-ranking officials and nobles. Even many young men from wealthy families have to resist the temptations of their maids when they are young. Although every mistress strictly forbids her maids from seducing the young master, which maid doesn't want to climb into the young master's bed and rise to the top in one step?
Of course, this is a very risky business. Most wealthy families are very wary of such things, especially the eldest sons who are highly regarded. They are extremely particular about which maids are assigned to their residences. If a maid is found to be seducing the young master, she will be sold off at best, beaten half to death at worst, or even beaten to death.
Back then, Chunlan was just a young girl who was sold to a wealthy family for the first time. The young master of that family was a spoiled brat, but he was very good at disguising himself. In front of his parents, he was a legitimate son with a bright future.
Chunlan was assigned to the courtyard of this playboy. She wasn't really a personal maid, just a lowly maid. After all, she was young and didn't know much, so she could only do some rough work in the courtyard.
This spoiled brat, drunk and dazed, started making advances towards Chunlan. The mistress of the house happened to witness it. Regardless of whose fault it was, it was ultimately Chunlan's fault. The spoiled brat's mother would always try to make amends for her son. Thus, Chunlan was branded a vixen who tried to seduce the young master, beaten bloody, and sold off.
Fortunately, he encountered Zhou Chu's cousin; otherwise, he probably wouldn't have survived that night.
After Zhou Chu became the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, Chunlan, the head steward of the Zhou family, was naturally someone no one dared to offend in the capital. Especially after Zhou Chu returned to the capital from Suzhou, Chunlan had long been accustomed to the power of the head steward of the Zhou family, and she naturally wanted to settle the scores from the past.
When the family learned that the little maid they had almost beaten to death years ago was now the head steward of the Zhou family, they were terrified and had no idea what to do.
In reality, Chunlan didn't need to handle this matter at all. Those Jinyiwei who wanted to curry favor with Zhou Chu and try to get in touch with Chunlan arrested the whole family.
Of course, they didn't arrest him outright. Although these Imperial Guards wanted to curry favor with Chunlan, they also knew Zhou Chu's character to some extent. As the commander of the Imperial Guards, Zhou Chu had always hated evil as if it were his enemy. None of the many officials he had investigated before were innocent.
There may be some incomplete or inaccurate aspects in the investigation, after all, it was handled too hastily at the time, but when Zhou Chu had these officials checked one by one afterward, it was found that none of them were clean.
It must be said that among all the civil and military officials in the court, truly honest officials are few and far between.
This family was no different. They weren't officials, just a wealthy household. But they had done a lot of dirty work, secretly colluding with the government, seizing land from the people, and even killing people. Previously, the Embroidered Uniform Guard had only focused on the officials, and hadn't investigated the wealthy households in the capital who colluded with them.
Led by a Jinyiwei centurion, the family was thoroughly investigated. When Chunlan arrived at the Zhaoyu prison and saw the family, she did not feel any sense of satisfaction from revenge.
Chunlan told Zhou Chu about the whole thing. Zhou Chu remained noncommittal. It was normal for subordinates to want to advance, as long as they didn't act recklessly. Helping Chunlan get revenge was a good idea.
For high-ranking officials and nobles, ordinary women were readily available, and they had experienced almost every kind of pleasure. They had even tried the "slender horses" of Yangzhou, so it was difficult for them to find anything new. This is one of the reasons why male homosexuality was prevalent among the scholar-official class.
Once you've tried everything, you want to try something you've never tried before.
Every woman in the Jiaofangsi, whether a virgin or a courtesan, undergoes rigorous training before officially appearing in public. Those with talents, like Liu Sisi, are given special training in music, chess, calligraphy, painting, speech, and manners to enhance their future status as a virgin.
The art of courtesan training is all about how to win the hearts of high-ranking officials and nobles. The top courtesan, in particular, is known for her aloofness and indifference towards these officials and nobles, and the more she does so, the more these officials and nobles are drawn to her charm.
People tend to disdain things and people that are easily obtained, but they are irresistibly drawn to women who are the center of attention and admirers, even if they cannot have them.
The courtesans in the brothels were like this; the more aloof and superior they were, the more officials and nobles flocked to them, spending money and time just to get close to them.
On the contrary, once they obtain something, they no longer cherish it and mostly discard it like a worn-out shoe.
Those who lack talent or whose talent is insufficient are directly trained to become courtesans. There is only one word difference between courtesans and virtuous courtesans, but their fates are worlds apart. Courtesans do not learn music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, but rather playing musical instruments, singing, and all sorts of martial arts.
In places like the Jiaofangsi, the courtesans can do almost anything you can think of. Compared to ordinary brothels, the Jiaofangsi is far inferior. The top courtesan in an ordinary brothel is just an ordinary courtesan in the Jiaofangsi.
Lu Wei was pulled along by several courtesans and half-heartedly led to the side room in the attic.
Zhou Chu pinched Liu Sisi's chin and carefully examined her face.
"You do look a little different today than usual."
Zhou Chu took a sip of wine and said.
"This humble servant did not put on makeup today. Your arrival was sudden, and the supervisors of the music and dance academy were afraid that Your Excellency would have to wait too long, so they did not allow this humble servant to put on makeup."
Liu Sisi said timidly.
Zhou Chu was somewhat puzzled upon hearing this.
Why aren't you wearing makeup?
Zhou Chu's question made his meaning clear: the courtesans of the Jiaofangsi (a government-run entertainment institution) should, in principle, be in their best condition every day, ready to be the center of attention. It would be unreasonable for them not to be wearing makeup at this time.
"Ever since I visited your residence, sir, the guards have forbidden me from showing my face in public. I've had plenty of free time, spending my days reading and playing the zither."
Liu Sisi answered truthfully.
Upon hearing this, Zhou Chu suddenly realized that the Jiaofangsi was afraid that if Liu Sisi continued to show her face in public, she would offend him, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, since they were unsure of his attitude towards Liu Sisi.
Since Zhou Chu was released from his ban six months ago, the valve of his desires had been opened again. However, he had been either in Datong or Yuyao for the past six months and had no time to think about these things. But now, seeing Liu Sisi like this, he could no longer suppress the fire in his heart.
"Take me to your place."
Zhou Chu looked at Liu Sisi and said.
Liu Sisi understood what Zhou Chu meant. Hearing this, she felt no resistance at all, but rather a pleasant surprise. She hadn't expected Zhou Chu to suddenly make such a request of her.
Shen Lian, who was following beside him, was filled with vigilance upon hearing this. He was genuinely afraid that this woman harbored ill intentions towards the master, although the possibility was extremely low, since the woman had already been won over by the master half a year ago when she was at the Zhou residence.
But half a year has passed after all, and no one knows what might have happened in those six months. As Zhou Chu's personal guard, his job is to protect Zhou Chu's safety. If anything goes wrong, he will not hesitate to rush into Liu Sisi's boudoir.