Chapter Twenty-Five: Standing Up for Justice

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The girl being bullied was young, but her appearance was anything but ordinary. On their own, her features were merely above average, but together, they stirred something deep within the heart, evoking a tender urge to pity and protect her. Anyone with discernment could see the girl was still a child, not yet grown into her looks; give her another two years, and she would surely cause a stir. Perhaps not enough to ruin kingdoms, but at the very least, she would be a beauty to captivate a nation.

Zhu Yu cast a glance at the onlookers, all ordinary townsfolk, simple and honest in appearance, yet not one of them stepped forward to intervene. People often claimed that the ancients were pure of heart, that righteous souls abounded, but there was scant evidence of it here. And wasn’t this a world of martial chivalry? Yet not a single person came to her aid—not even a word in her defense.

Indeed, human nature is the same everywhere.

"Steward Tian," Zhu Yu gestured for Yu Huatian to step in.

By temperament, Zhu Yu might once have stood by like the rest, but with his change in status and the trials he had endured, his conduct, too, had changed.

But as soon as he called Yu Huatian, the scene shifted unexpectedly. Zhu Yu quickly raised a hand to halt him, choosing to observe a little longer.

For just then, a woman appeared from somewhere, striking in her own right—one of the rare beauties Zhu Yu had encountered. She fit every standard of beauty, yet carried a boldness about her as well.

Upon entering, she needed only two or three moves to send the two bullies sprawling.

Zhu Yu’s own knowledge of martial arts was limited, so he could not judge the depth of her skill; he decided to abandon speculation and simply enjoy this rare “heroine intervenes” scene.

But just as he was admiring the young woman’s valor, the story took a most unexpected turn—one that left Zhu Yu utterly astonished and upended his entire worldview.

After rescuing the girl, the heroine inquired into the cause. The girl explained that she had asked the two men to help her find her family, but perhaps they found her slow-witted and troublesome, which was why they had struck her. She begged the heroine to show them mercy, to stop beating them.

The heroine pressed for more information, offering to help, but the girl knew nothing—she could not answer a single question. In the end, she simply said, "Only those two know. Please, don’t trouble yourself further. I was willing."

This left the rescuer completely at a loss, as though she had made a grave mistake.

Most incredible of all, the girl then apologized to the two men, and, with her frail frame, tried to hoist them up and carry them away. Their weight nearly crushed her. Her slender waist seemed on the verge of snapping under the burden, yet she staggered forward, enduring their curses as she went.

Zhu Yu smacked his forehead in disbelief. Was this beautiful girl simple-minded? Could she not tell good from evil? How had she survived this long?

He almost wanted to step in and say something, but after seeing the fate of the heroine, he thought better of it.

Even so, such an incident could not end so lightly. Shaking his head, Zhu Yu turned back toward his carriage, saying to Yu Huatian as they walked, "Look into those two men. I despise their kind. If they dared to seize a woman in broad daylight, I’d at least acknowledge their boldness, but to deceive a simpleton—this is more than black-hearted; they must be punished severely!"

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Dusk, in a certain inn in Anyang City.

Zhu Yu sat by the window, savoring the city’s night view and the inn’s exquisitely prepared fare.

He had originally planned to press straight on to Dali, but the hardships of the journey, together with Yu Huatian’s persuasion, had altered his plans.

While dining, he noticed someone approach from outside, whisper a few words to Yu Huatian, and then depart.

Zhu Yu took note and looked at Yu Huatian.

Yu Huatian bowed and reported, "Young Master, those two men from earlier have been identified—just ordinary townsmen. It appears they have already sold that girl from earlier today to the Emerald Red Pavilion."

Emerald Red Pavilion? The name piqued Zhu Yu’s interest—was this not the era’s legal pleasure house?

Upon confirming with Yu Huatian, he gave his order at once, "Hand those two over to the authorities. Let them be punished to the full extent of the law!"

Impatience overtook him, and Zhu Yu urged Yu Huatian on, eager to see what an ancient pleasure house was truly like.

"Steward Tian, hurry and lead the way. I’m going to the Emerald Red Pavilion to rescue the girl!"

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After about a quarter of an hour, Zhu Yu and his retinue arrived at Anyang City’s largest and most lavish entertainment quarter—the Emerald Red Pavilion.

Surveying the cheerful throngs of brightly dressed women, Zhu Yu nodded to himself—the atmosphere was excellent. He resolved to replicate it in the palace, though none of these women could compare to his own consorts.

But Zhu Yu forgot that his harem had been selected from across the land, each a beauty without equal. Comparing palace consorts to the pavilion’s songstresses was a privilege unique to him.

From the moment he entered, Zhu Yu drew the madam’s attention.

One had to admit, the madam was sharp-eyed—she immediately recognized that Zhu Yu was no ordinary patron.

She straightened her attire, donned a smile warmer than usual, and bustled over to greet him.

"Is this your first time, young sir? We have many fine girls here. Tell me your preferences, and I’ll bring them all for you to choose from." The madam introduced the girls, her voice honeyed.

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A woman seasoned by years in the trade, the madam could not discern Zhu Yu’s true identity, but the fact that seven or eight nearby patrons had fixed their gaze on her the moment she approached him told her this was a very lucrative customer indeed.

She steadied herself, growing even more cautious—if she handled this well, the silver would flow like rain.

Zhu Yu tried to recall the girl’s face. He was about to speak, then thought better of it—if he were too direct, it would be obvious he was here to find someone.

"Find me a pretty one, young, clean, preferably new—someone who just arrived, if possible." As he spoke, Zhu Yu tossed her a silver ingot.

Ordinarily, anyone making such demands in this place would have been thrown out for causing trouble. But the madam, swept up in her own fantasies, dismissed any concerns. She would placate him first and sort things out later.

"Yes, yes! You’re in luck, sir. We have a new girl who just arrived today!" she replied, grinning so broadly her smile nearly reached her ears, rubbing the silver as she spoke.

But then the madam’s brow furrowed. She lowered her voice, "Ah, but I’ve just remembered—the new girl today has already been reserved by Master Li. I’m afraid you’re too late. Perhaps you’d like to choose someone else? I assure you, our other girls will satisfy you."

"She’s already with a client?" Zhu Yu asked, frowning.

"Yes," the madam nodded.

"When?"

"If my calculations are right, she’s just gone into the room," the madam replied thoughtfully.

"Which room?"

"This... this..." The madam hesitated, suddenly realizing the young lord before her might not have come seeking pleasure after all.