Some of the more impatient and wealthy men had already started shouting bids at Madam Bao.
"Will that lady perform a dance for us tonight? I’ll offer fifty taels of gold."
"I’ll offer a hundred taels!"
"My apologies, esteemed guests. That lady is a master who teaches the girls here at the Spring Rain Building to play the zither and sing. She does not entertain patrons..."
A wave of disappointed sighs followed.
Chen Yi found this amusing. Watching Lou Yuxue from a distance, he teased, "As expected of Miss Yuxue. A single performance for a hundred taels of gold."
Lou Yuxue shot him a fierce glare. "Follow me inside!"
Chen Yi smiled and followed her into a quiet room in the back.
Glancing around, he said, "This place has changed a bit. Heavy Willow Wood, Iron Sinking Wood... you must have spent a lot of silver."
Lou Yuxue ignored him.
Chen Yi didn’t seem to mind, continuing to ramble on.
From the room’s decor to the servants wearing black iron masks, he critiqued everything one by one.
"So the Bright Moon Building is back in Shu State? But why don’t I see any of those Evil Demonic Dao types?"
Lou Yuxue stopped, unable to take it anymore. She spun around and yanked him into the nearest quiet room.
The moment the door closed, she stared at Chen Yi, her teeth clenched. "How in the world did you find me?"
"Tonight is the very first day this place has reopened as a Bright Moon Building stronghold!"
A look of realization dawned on Chen Yi’s face. He muttered, ’No wonder no Evil Demons have shown up,’ then said with a smile:
"What’s so hard about finding you here in Shu State? Have you forgotten about the wonton shop incident?"
Of course, Lou Yuxue hadn’t forgotten.
But for a member of the White Tiger Guard who prided herself on being an expert in stealth and concealment, being found so easily time and time again was simply unacceptable.
"Are you... are you going to tell me or not?"
"You want to know?"
Chen Yi walked around her and sat down, looking at her with a leisurely air. "I’m not telling you."
’Without that intelligence tip, there’s no way I would’ve known where Lou Yuxue was.’
’But even if I told her, she probably wouldn’t believe me.’
’So I might as well not say anything.’
"You!?"
Lou Yuxue glared at him in frustration, but there was nothing she could do.
She was supposed to be the one holding all the cards, yet in front of Chen Yi, she was always the one who ended up on the losing end.
A moment later, Lou Yuxue took a deep breath. The dim candlelight cast her shapely shadow on the wall, its full, rounded silhouette striking.
She then sat down opposite Chen Yi, her heavily made-up face regaining its composure as she asked calmly:
"Out with it. Why did you come looking for me this time?"
"Is it time to start that thing we agreed on before?"
Chen Yi raised an eyebrow, surprised she had regained her composure so quickly. After a moment of thought, he said:
"Yes and no."
Before Lou Yuxue could ask, Chen Yi continued to explain, "I’ve made some headway on that matter, but a few conditions are still not in place."
"I came to find you this time to ask for a favor."
"Speak."
"Can you find a way to get me some grain?"
"How much?"
"At least one hundred thousand shi. The more, the better."
Lou Yuxue’s eyes widened instantly. "One hundred thousand shi? And you say ’the more, the better’? Do you think I’m the Lord Pavilion Master?"
Chen Yi smiled and shook his head. "You have to spend money to make money."
"If we want to earn some silver coins, we need some bait to lure those people onto the hook."
"Those people? Who exactly are you trying to deal with?"
The words had barely left her mouth when a flash of insight struck Lou Yuxue. "Grain? Are you going after the grain stores?"
"Don’t tell me it’s those few in the East Market."
Chen Yi smiled and retorted, "And why can’t it be them?"
"I’m sure you’ve heard about the East Market Grain Store’s warehouse being burned down a couple of days ago. If even a few barbarian slaves dare to make a move against them, why can’t we?"
Lou Yuxue’s brow furrowed instantly. "Do you have any idea who those people are?"