My palace is full of female protagonists.

General Meng sighed softly, his tone full of emotion: "At first, I thought such places were a mixed bag and it would be better not to come. But now that I've come here in person, and in just one hour, the performances I've seen are even more spectacular than those I've been invited to the mansion."

Li Qing pondered to himself: In the capital, such places, where all sorts of people mingle, are everywhere, especially restaurants and brothels, where lawsuits and disputes are rampant. If one is not familiar with the rules of conduct in these places, how can the government effectively handle cases?

He smiled faintly and said slowly, "Although it will cost a lot, if you are willing to spend some money, you may be able to get the chance to meet your new sister. Otherwise, this matter of taking a concubine will probably be a pipe dream."

Upon hearing this, General Meng frowned and complained, "It's extremely tedious."

At this moment, a group of servants filed out, each carrying a long torch. From the ceiling, someone slowly pulled ropes, lowering two giant candlesticks. Each candlestick could hold twenty or thirty giant candles, which were carefully lit one by one. Instantly, the hall was brightly lit, contrasting beautifully with the softly pearlescent curtains, creating a bright yet slightly dreamlike atmosphere.

Just then, a woman carrying a guqin (a traditional Chinese stringed instrument) stepped onto the stage. She was dressed in a long robe, completely covered up, with the hem trailing on the ground. As she walked, she tripped and stumbled, eliciting a chorus of chuckles from the audience. Some felt sorry for her and wanted to go up and help her; others jokingly tossed a few copper coins onto the stage, adding to the lively atmosphere and amusement.

General Meng glanced at the two centurions standing beside him and whispered, "Take some silver downstairs and throw silver wherever there is applause on the stage to add to the excitement."

Li Qing smiled slightly and added, "When tossing the silver, remember to say: 'This is a reward from the master.'"

Upon hearing this, the two centurions respectfully accepted the heavy money bag and steadily descended the stairs. A quick-witted waiter downstairs, seeing this, immediately bowed and led them to a table next to the stage. Two guests were originally seated at the table, but judging from their demeanor, they seemed to be waiters. After a brief whispered conversation, the two men tactfully rose to take their leave and moved aside.

Li Qing's gaze swept across the now much emptier hall, and he sighed softly, "There are few guests today, and many of the tables are occupied by members of the restaurant itself. I suppose this is because the city gates of the capital were closed recently, and the people are wary and dare not go out easily."

General Meng's gaze was sharp as he said in a deep voice, "Is the turmoil stirred up by that 'chosen one' you mentioned truly unrelated to you? Did you really not contribute anything to it?"

Li Qing shook his head slightly, his expression complicated: "Indeed, it has nothing to do with it. Initially, I was the one who delivered the message to the Emperor. But when I realized that it was that person's scheme behind it, I had no intention of investigating further. At that time, that hothead Fang Hujie received the imperial decree, how could I trust him? Therefore, I waited until he returned to the capital before mentioning the matter of the master to you all. Why are you all so stubborn?"

General Meng's lips curled into a cold smile, his tone laced with disdain: "Scholars and writers are always so easily swayed by a few words from others. But we military officers only see the stability of our military power, the glitter of gold, and the heavy benefits behind our ranks. How could we possibly abandon our families based on just a few words from you? You think we'll defect to you with nothing? How laughable!"

Several centurions joined in with laughter, making the atmosphere slightly more relaxed.

General Meng gently lifted the exquisite teacup, his words carrying an undeniable authority: "Even if a noble empress or prince intends to rebel, they must first prepare sufficient silver and provisions before they can even gain a moment's consideration from us. Do you understand your own shallowness and ignorance?"

Li Qing's lips curled into a faint smile, a sly glint in his eyes: "How do you know we have nothing? Back then, when the old Yi King passed away at the hands of the Immortal King, the local officials joined forces with the tribes, each ruling their own territory and becoming local tyrants. It was the appearance of that 'destined person' that restrained those officials and maintained the army's livelihood. Whatever you desire, speak freely, and I will plead with the Lord. I believe he will give you a satisfactory answer."

Upon hearing this, General Meng's lips curled into a cold smile, his tone laced with mockery: "It seems your wicked heart is still not dead. First, think of a way to take this beautiful concubine as your own. If you behave well, I wouldn't mind keeping you at home and letting you enjoy a leisurely life."

Li Qing knew he couldn't easily offend Meng She, so he wisely chose to remain silent, turning his head away without uttering a word.

On that brightly lit and bustling night, within the brothel, the sounds of string and wind instruments filled the air, and every guest's face radiated anticipation and excitement. In the center of the stage, the newly arrived young woman sat gracefully before an antique zither, her fingers moving lightly, producing melodies that flowed forth like a clear mountain spring, melodious and pure. However, while the music was beautiful, it seemed to lack a certain soul, sounding somewhat monotonous and failing to fully ignite the flame of passion burning within the hearts of those present.

Just then, a splendidly dressed, weathered madam slowly walked onto the stage. Her eyes were sharp as an eagle's, yet a cunning and alluring smile played on her lips. She deftly accepted a heavy wad of silver from a guest, the clinking of the coins drawing the attention of those around her. The madam chuckled softly, a smile that seemed to melt away the frost in people's hearts instantly. Then, in an almost mocking tone, she said to the new girl, "Little girl, it's time to show your true skills."

As soon as the words were spoken, the madam skillfully removed the cumbersome outer robe from the new girl, revealing the carefully chosen layers of sheer fabric beneath, as light as cicada wings. These fabrics swayed gently with the air, like flowers quietly blooming in the morning mist, possessing both a hazy beauty and an irresistible allure. The new girl's skin, partially concealed by the fabric, was sometimes revealed, sometimes hidden, adding to her mysterious charm. Her graceful figure, gently touched by the light, accentuated her curves, like a fairy stepping slowly from a classical painting, carrying an otherworldly purity and an irresistible allure.

At that moment, all the guests seemed to be under a spell, their eyes involuntarily drawn to the new young lady. Gasps of amazement rose and fell like a surging tide. Some stared wide-eyed, afraid to miss a single detail; others covered their lips, afraid their exclamations would shatter the rare tranquility and beauty. An indescribable tension and anticipation filled the air; everyone held their breath, as if what was about to unfold was an unprecedented visual feast.

The newly arrived younger sister, faced with this sudden turn of events, showed no sign of panic. Instead, with a composure and confidence beyond her years, she slowly rose from her seat. Her steps were light, as if she were walking on clouds, each step exuding ease and grace.

That night, within the brothel, her graceful arrival made everything extraordinary. She was like the most dazzling star in the sky, her unparalleled radiance gently caressing this dimly lit place, eclipsing everything around her. Her appearance was like a dream quietly unfolding in the night, attracting all eyes to follow and linger, unable to look away easily. In this boundless night of romance, she became the most magnificent scenery, making every heart tremble, and every pair of eyes filled with amazement and admiration.

The new sister stood in the center of the living room, an empty space gently touched by soft lighting, as if it were set up specifically for this moment.

Her skirt swayed gently, like the shimmering surface of a lake in the morning light, both dreamlike and lively. Her hair, now loosened from its headband, was cleverly braided into an intricate plait, a few wisps falling softly across her forehead, adding a touch of effortless gentleness and playfulness. Her bright eyes sparkled with a mixture of nervousness and excitement, like two stars about to pierce the night sky, waiting to unleash their brilliance.

As a melodious yet slightly mysterious tune slowly began to play, the new sister gently closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and seemed to be having a silent dialogue with the music. At that moment, the entire space seemed to stand still, with only the notes gently colliding in the air, weaving an invisible net that tightly connected everyone's hearts.

Suddenly, the new sister's toes lightly touched the ground, like a butterfly emerging from its cocoon, gracefully leaping into the world of dance. Every movement of hers was so fluid and powerful—spins, leaps, glides—each step precise yet full of improvisation and freedom. Her body seemed to be guided by invisible lines, rising and falling with the music, sometimes as gentle as flowing water, sometimes as turbulent as a storm, transporting the audience into one magical scene after another.

All eyes in the lobby were glued to Lia's figure. Even the tea server was captivated, stopping what he was doing, his face beaming with a mixture of amazement and joy. At this moment, the new sister was not only dancing, but using her body as a paintbrush to depict a woman's tragic story on this vast canvas, every movement imbued with deep emotion.

As the drumbeats grew louder, the new sister's dance reached its climax. She finished with a stunning water sleeve movement, landing gracefully as if time had frozen. Thunderous applause and cheers erupted in the living room, and the guests rose to their feet, expressing their deepest respect and admiration for Leah.

The dance was so enchanting, it left General Meng staring in a daze, and even the necks of the centurions flushed from gazing upwards. Being a man himself, how could Li Qing not understand what they were thinking?

Just then, a soft knock sounded at the door, followed by the sweet voices of the two sisters. They were still wearing the alluring dance costumes they had worn on stage, and they said softly from outside, "My lords, would you like us to call a few of our sisters to serve you?"

General Meng cleared his throat slightly and replied somewhat awkwardly, "Summon them."

Only then did Li Qing notice that the new woman on the stage glanced at their room with a meaningful smile.

Moving to the back of the restaurant, the madam was respectfully leading several people in black cloaks, all of whom bowed and knelt in worship. Zhao Qi'er, wearing a mask, spoke in a low but firm voice: "Are you sure the person we're looking for is in the private room upstairs?"

The madam nodded repeatedly, trembling with fear: "With such an honored guest here, how could I dare utter a single falsehood? He is indeed upstairs, and I have even specially arranged for several girls to come upstairs to serve you!"

Zhao Qi'er raised her finger and pointed to the group of people behind her who were also dressed in black cloaks: "You lot, change into dancers' outfits and go to serve drinks. Find an opportunity to take Lord Li out."

The men quickly removed their cloaks and responded in unison, "Yes, Master."

The two sisters knocked lightly on the door again. Several centurions curiously peeked out and caught a glimpse of the several graceful and slightly unrestrained women following behind them. A smile appeared on their faces, and they gladly opened the door to welcome their guests.

General Meng pulled Li Qing closer and laughed, "These girls are for you to enjoy. I came here specifically to take a concubine. You two clever little devils, didn't you promise to help me negotiate a price with the madam? When will I get to see her?"

The two sisters giggled and one of them said, "Don't be in such a hurry, sir!" "That's right, that's right, our new sister has a wonderful performance to give. We should wait until the performance is over so that you can see her charm for yourself before we can discuss this matter."

General Meng feigned seriousness and said, "You must be joking with me, right?"

Upon hearing this, the two sisters playfully rushed to General Meng's feet, pouting, "Oh dear, why do you say such a thing, Your Excellency? How could we dare to do that? Heaven and earth can bear witness to our deep respect for Your Excellency!" "If Your Excellency could be so merciful as to help us escape from this place, how could we dare to jeopardize Your Excellency's great cause?"

General Meng laughed loudly and said repeatedly, "Good, good, good! Once the great undertaking is accomplished, I will fulfill all your wishes! My brothers greatly admire you."

Upon hearing this, the two sisters giggled. One of them took the opportunity to get closer to Li Qing, gently patting his arm, her movements full of charm. Li Qing remained calm on the surface, not even lifting her eyelids, but she already knew in her heart that she was not fighting alone this time.

After several rounds of drinks and a hearty meal, the centurions were all quite tipsy. At this moment, the two sisters gracefully arrived again and asked softly, "My lord, would you like to go see the new sister, or would you like to trouble this gentleman by your side to do so? Perhaps the new sister and this gentleman will get along better."

General Meng glanced at Li Qing and laughed, "This is my younger brother. Naturally, he needs my approval to take a concubine. Of course, we'll have to go together, right, 'younger brother'?"

Li Qing calmly countered, "Should we first compose a poem to show our sincerity?"

The two sisters giggled, exuding charm: "This esteemed guest is truly knowledgeable! If we could wield our brushes, that would be the best course of action! If our poems could please our new sister, she might even request to meet you."

General Meng had expected that the place would have bamboo slips and pen knives, but to his surprise, the waiter presented him with writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones. He couldn't help but exclaim, "Such refined things, truly extraordinary! Such fine items, even a restaurant like this can easily display them?"

Li Qing chuckled and explained, "They themselves may not be familiar with this art, but in order to attract those distinguished guests, they naturally have to spare no expense. Otherwise, who would be willing to spend a fortune on the beauties on this stage?"

General Meng nodded in approval, saying, "That makes sense. Then you may write it down."