Tang Dynasty: To win Yang Guifei, they asked Emperor Xuanzong to die.

Of course, this was just talk.

Once she moved to a place as brightly lit and bustling as Chang'an, her Drunken Red Pavilion would have been completely lost among the crowd and wouldn't have been able to stay open.

Never mind, as long as I can make money for myself with Qiuyue now, that's enough!

……

In the following days, Li Mao and his two companions would have Qiu Yue dance and pour them wine almost every day, and if they were in a good mood, they would give her generous tips. The madam was very satisfied with this, and not only treated Qiu Yue even better, but also stopped arranging other girls to come to the top-class rooms, so as not to displease the noblemen.

Although Li Mao and the others treated Qiu Yue very well, they never did anything out of line.

Qiuyue saw this and gradually began to trust them.

Two days later, one evening, Li Mao and the other two were all slightly drunk.

Just as he was about to leave Zuihonglou, Ting Qiuyue stopped him, saying, "Esteemed guest, please wait a moment. I... I have something I'd like to say to you privately."

The person she kept was none other than Li Mao.

Upon seeing this, Guo Ziyi and Li Guangbi exchanged a glance and wisely left.

Walking along the long corridor on the steps of the Drunken Red Pavilion, Guo Ziyi couldn't help but glance at Li Guangbi. He noticed that ever since the door to the Tianzi room where Qiuyue and Li Mao were located closed, Li Guangbi had been absent-minded and his words were always incoherent when he spoke to him.

It was as if his thoughts, along with those of Qiuyue and Li Mao, had been locked away in the Heavenly Chamber.

"Guangbi, you seem to have a good impression of Miss Qiuyue?" After leaving Zuihonglou, Guo Ziyi walked side by side with Li Guangbi and finally couldn't help but ask.

It was already dark when the lights of the shops on both sides of the street began to come on.

Li Guangbi paused, his expression slightly unnatural. "Uh... General, what are you saying? Although I have always been single, I am not a fool who has women on his mind. I only came to watch Qiuyue dance recently to make a show of it. If it weren't for official business, I would never have come to a place like this."

"Oh, really?" Guo Ziyi raised the corner of his mouth, a hint of amusement in his eyes, and said in a rare joke, "But I saw your eyes were fixed on the direction of Zuihonglou just now, you were practically burning with desire!"

"Absolutely...absolutely not!" Li Guangbi hurriedly waved his hand, his face slightly flushed.

Guo Ziyi couldn't help but laugh when he saw his expression: "Alright, I won't tease you anymore. But seriously, if you ever find a girl you like, don't hide it. Just tell me and His Highness, and we will both support you."

Li Guangbi lowered his head and said nothing more.

He was wholeheartedly devoted to serving his country and paid no attention to personal feelings.

Let's wait until we've achieved some military merit before considering settling down and having children.

Guo Ziyi, however, was already thinking to himself: This Guangbi clearly likes Qiuyue. Does he think I, as his superior, can't see it? But Qiuyue's private conversation with His Highness proves she prefers him. If both Guangbi and His Highness like Qiuyue, whose side should I take?

Meanwhile, inside the Tianzi Room of the Drunken Red Mansion.

Qiu Yue's voice was low and sorrowful as she slowly said, "I told the distinguished guest before that I didn't remember my ancestral identity, but that's not true. I was already seven or eight years old when I left home, and I could remember things long ago."

"I always remember that my real name is Jiang Caiyue, and my family is from the southern coastal area. My father was a well-known maritime merchant in the area, and the family was wealthy. But fate is unpredictable. My father was attacked by pirates during a voyage and died. From then on, my sister and I became orphans. Later, my sister and I were separated and sold here. In this Drunken Red Mansion, although life is not bad, it is only a kind of illusory beauty."

"I will always remember that I was once the daughter of a wealthy merchant family, so I can never accept the future where I have to sell my smiles to men and make a living from it. Therefore, whenever someone asks about my past, I feel very resistant, as if as long as I don't actively think about it, I am no longer a person with the body of a young lady but the fate of a maid."

Li Mao grew increasingly melancholy as he listened, and couldn't help but sigh.

He never imagined that such a beautiful woman as Qiuyue had such a difficult past, and he couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy for her.

Next, the autumn moon was connected with everything in Chang'an.

Consort Mei in the palace was originally named Jiang Caiping, and Qiuyue was named Jiang Caiyue. They also claimed to have an older sister. This shows that the two were biological sisters, but their fates were different: one became a courtesan, and the other entered the palace as a concubine.

How tragic and lamentable! But it can also be utilized!

Having Jiang Caiyue, the younger sister of Consort Mei, in his grasp is equivalent to taking a step closer to Consort Mei, Jiang Caiping. This will give him more leverage when facing Gao Lishi in the future.

Thinking it over, Li Mao asked, "Miss Qiuyue, why did you choose to tell me this now?"

Qiu Yue gently bit her lower lip and answered softly, "I feel that you have treated me well, and my interactions with you these past few days have made me feel that you are a trustworthy person. I told you about my background because I remember you asked me before if I was a member of the Jiang family. You must know about our Jiang family and have heard of our family's 'Dance of the Startled Swan.' Since you are so knowledgeable, could you help me inquire around to find out if my sister is still alive and how she is doing?"

This woman, who has wandered and drifted, still thinks about her sister to this day.

Li Mao thought about it and decided not to tell Qiu Yue the news that Consort Mei had entered the palace as a concubine.

First, the identities of the two sisters are not yet fully confirmed. Second, the gap between Qiuyue and her sister is too great. Although Qiuyue also hopes that her sister is doing better, she may also feel sad.

Let's bring her back to Chang'an City and let the sisters meet first.

So Li Mao first calmed Qiu Yue down, saying, "This is a trivial matter, not a problem for me. Don't worry, as long as I have the opportunity, I will definitely inquire for you. Once I get the news, I will send a letter to you immediately so that Ziyi and the others can tell you."

Upon hearing this, Qiu Yue was deeply moved and immediately wanted to kneel down to thank Li Mao.

Li Mao, of course, did not accept such a generous gift, and hurriedly said, "This is just something I did on the side. You can wait and see. Don't be so grateful, it makes me feel embarrassed."

Upon hearing this, Qiuyue wiped away her tears and stood up, repeatedly saying that she had indeed met a benefactor.

That night, Li Mao tossed and turned, unable to sleep.

Thinking of Consort Mei in Chang'an, and now Qiuyue, she finally made a decision.

The next morning, he counted out a thousand taels of silver notes and was about to head to the Drunken Red Pavilion.

Guo Ziyi caught up, panting from the morning drills, and asked, "Your Highness, where are you going with so much money?"