The emperor faked his death? Never mind, I will ascend the throne directly!

It was a dark night. In a small alley in the capital, a brothel named "Zuixianlou" was brightly lit. From the half-open vermilion door, lewd music drifted faintly, stirring the hearts of passers-by.

Li Chengfeng was dressed in a green shirt and stood low-key at the door of Zuixian Tower.

Tiezhu followed behind him. This burly man looked like a shy young wife at this moment, rubbing his hands awkwardly, his eyes wandering, not daring to look directly at the beautiful women in the building.

"Your Majesty...this place..."

Tiezhu swallowed and spoke in a muffled voice.

Li Chengfeng glanced at him, a playful smile on his face, "What? Are you scared?"

"No, I'm not afraid..."

Tiezhu quickly shook his head, his face flushing red, "That's right, I've never been to a place like this before..."

Li Chengfeng chuckled and stepped into Zuixian Tower.

Tiezhu followed him closely, like a personal bodyguard.

As soon as you enter the door, the fragrance of cosmetics hits you in the face, and the sweet laughter of young girls can be heard one after another.

The heavily made-up madam came forward with her slender waist twisted. She noticed the gorgeous clothes Li Chengfeng was wearing and immediately put on a smile.

"Hey, Master, please come in! Which girl would you like to have as your companion tonight?"

Li Chengfeng waved his hand, "No need, I just want to listen to music today."

The madam's eyes rolled and she immediately understood what Li Chengfeng meant. This was a distinguished guest who wanted to have fun!

"Young Master, you have such a refined taste! Miss Ruxue, the top courtesan of our Zuixianlou, is proficient in everything from music, chess, calligraphy, and painting to singing, and her voice is like the sound of nature! I guarantee that you will be completely mesmerized by her!"

Li Chengfeng pulled out a silver ingot from his sleeve and placed it in the madam's hand. "Call Miss Ruxue over. I only want to hear her sing tonight. Send the rest away."

"Sir, you are so generous! I will arrange it right away!"

The madam weighed the silver in her hand and smiled until her eyes narrowed into slits.

A moment later, only Li Chengfeng and Tiezhu were left in the hall of Zuixianlou.

Tiezhu still sat there stiffly, staring at the teacup in front of him, not daring to glance around.

Soon, a melodious sound of a piano was heard, and a woman walked out gracefully from behind a pearl curtain.

She was wearing a lavender chiffon dress that outlined her graceful figure.

Her long black hair was tied up with a white jade hairpin, and a few strands of hair hung on both sides of her cheeks, making her skin look even whiter than snow.

Her eyebrows are like distant mountains, her eyes are like autumn water, her lips are painted with cinnabar, and her every frown and smile is full of charm.

This is Ruxue, the most beautiful courtesan in the world.

She walked lightly to Li Chengfeng and bowed slightly: "Ruxue greets you, sir."

The sound is clear and pleasant, as melodious as an oriole.

Li Chengfeng nodded slightly, signaling her to start.

Miss Ruxue bowed slightly to Li Chengfeng, stepped onto the stage, opened her red lips, and her melodious voice poured out like flowing water.

What she sang was not ordinary erotic songs. The lyrics contained hidden meanings. She sang about the broken mountains and rivers, the displacement of the people, the corrupt court, and the treacherous officials in power.

While listening to the music, Li Chengfeng observed the surrounding environment calmly.

He noticed that Miss Ruxue's eyes would occasionally sweep over him, with a hint of inquiry in them.

Li Chengfeng listened calmly, his eyes deep, and no one knew what he was thinking.

Tiezhu was completely confused. He only thought the song was nice and the girl was pretty, and he didn't know anything else.

When the song ended, Li Chengfeng clapped his hands softly and exclaimed, "The girl's singing is truly heavenly, leaving one with an endless aftertaste."

Ruxue smiled sweetly, walked up to Li Chengfeng, and poured him a glass of wine: "Sir, you are too kind."

Li Chengfeng picked up the wine glass, took a sip, and his eyes fell on Ruxue's face: "Miss Ruxue, the song you sang seems to have a deeper meaning."

Ruxue was slightly stunned, then regained her composure and chuckled, "Sir, you're joking. It's just an ordinary song."

Li Chengfeng set down his wine glass, his slender fingers tapping lightly on the tabletop, a crisp sound breaking the brief silence between them. A meaningful smile played on his lips, and his gaze blazed at Ruxue. "Miss Ruxue, your song, 'The mountains and rivers are shattered, the people are displaced, the court is corrupt, and treacherous ministers are in power,'... is so deeply penetrating."

Ruxue's expression remained unchanged, and she continued to smile sweetly, "You are too kind, sir. I was just speaking nonsense to make you laugh. If you like it, I will sing you another cheerful song."

Li Chengfeng waved his hand, "No need."

"Miss Ruxue, you seem to understand the current situation quite well. An ordinary prostitute wouldn't sing such a song."

The woman's eyes flickered slightly, but she quickly concealed it and chuckled, "Sir, you're joking. I receive all kinds of guests every day, so naturally I know a little bit."

She paused, then added, "Besides... today is the first time I sing this song."

Li Chengfeng did not ask any more questions. He knew that if he continued asking, he would not get anything out of it.

This woman is not simple.

He took out a gold ingot from his sleeve, placed it on the table, stood up and said, "I like to listen to Miss Ruxue sing."

"Today, listening to your song is worth ten years of reading. This ingot of gold is a token of my appreciation."

Ruxue quickly stood up and bowed, "Thank you for the reward, sir."

Li Chengfeng left Zuixianlou with Tiezhu.

As Tiezhu walked along, he was still savoring the singing and beauty of Miss Ruxue.

"Sir, this Miss Ruxue is so pretty and her singing voice is so beautiful! I have never heard such a beautiful song!"

Li Chengfeng smiled faintly and said nothing.

In Zuixian Tower, Ruxue looked at the gold on the table, her eyes gradually becoming deep.

She picked up the gold, rubbed it gently between her fingertips, and a meaningful smile appeared at the corner of her mouth.

"Is Emperor Jianwu...really dead?"

The slender fingers gripped the window frame tightly, and the knuckles turned white.

She is not an ordinary prostitute, and Zuixianlou is not just a brothel, but an intelligence organization.

Cheng Ruxue is the leader of this organization and also the owner of Zuixian Tower.

She has been following Li Chengfeng for a long time.

His eyes were so sharp that they seemed to see through everything.

He heard the hidden meaning in her singing, which made her alert.

"Hidden Dragon Guard..."

Cheng Ruxue muttered to herself, a cold light flashing in her eyes.

That was the direct guard of Emperor Jianwu, possessing the capabilities of assassination and reconnaissance. They were a group of elite soldiers, all of whom were the shadow of Emperor Jianwu and were only subordinate to Emperor Jianwu.

Their traces have appeared in the capital recently, their actions are secretive, and they seem to be secretly assisting Li Chengfeng's Hidden Dragon Army investigation.

If Emperor Jianwu was really dead, why would the Qianlong Guards appear?

Could it be that... the death of Emperor Jianwu was just a cover?

Ruxue had a bold guess in her mind, but this guess was too shocking, and she needed more information to confirm it.