The Double
Chapter 198 - 198 95 Qiongzhi

198: Chapter 95 Qiongzhi 198: Chapter 95 Qiongzhi Jiang Li and Tonger walked into the Cherish Flower Tower.

Bai Xue was naive, so if Jiang Li told her to do something, she would do it without questioning right or wrong.

Tonger, however, felt that this was somewhat inappropriate and suspected that all of this was just a dream.

Think about it, why would their lady visit a brothel?

It would be more understandable if she were serving a young master.

Right at the doorstep of the brothel, a charming young woman greeted them with a smile, saying, “Miss, are you here looking for someone?”

Her demeanor was very familiar.

Speaking of which, the owner of the Cherish Flower Tower had some clever ideas.

Men entering through the front door were welcomed by flirtatious and extravagantly dressed women.

However, those who greeted guests at the back door dressed modestly and appeared very “proper.”

Naturally, men coming through the front door were there to seek pleasure and, of course, required the utmost temptation.

Those greeting at the back door were specially there for wives coming to catch adulterers; dressing too seductively would only provoke more anger from the legitimate wives.

Tonger’s eyes widened when she saw that this woman did not have the licentious air of a typical brothel woman.

She couldn’t help but feel puzzled, thinking that Jiang Li was just teasing her earlier about this place being a brothel, and that it was actually a respectable restaurant.

While Tonger was sizing up the woman, the woman was also taking measure of them.

She immediately recognized that Jiang Li was the true mistress, but couldn’t fathom why Jiang Li, who seemed unmistakenly to be an unmarried daughter, would come looking for someone today.

Could it be for her betrothed?

But this was a common sight for the staff of Cherish Flower Tower.

Jiang Li smiled and said, “I would like to find Miss Qiongzhi.”

The greeter’s expression shifted slightly, she paused, and then, very politely, with a smile, said, “Miss, our top courtesans at Cherish Flower Tower do not meet female guests.”

Seeing Jiang Li specifically ask for Qiongzhi by name, she assumed that Jiang Li was there to cause trouble for the fiancé who had visited Qiongzhi, and naturally sought to obstruct her.

Jiang Li smiled, pulled a silver note from her sleeve and had Bai Xue stuff it into the woman’s hand, saying, “Don’t worry, I’m not here to cause trouble.

I have some matters to inquire about with Miss Qiongzhi.

It won’t cause you any inconvenience, so could you please do me the favor of making this possible?”

The woman, seeing the amount on the silver note, felt her heart pounding.

Even the greeters at the front door rarely encountered male guests as generous as this young lady.

Observing that Jiang Li was clear-eyed and eloquent, gentle in speech, and most importantly, there was no trace of contempt in her eyes.

The last sentence, with its inquiring tone, clearly showed great respect for her.

The woman felt a slight stirring of emotion.

In this line of work, dignity was scarce.

She, who received those coming to “stir up trouble” at the back door, knew these women despised them deeply.

Even if they dressed as “proper” wives, they could not erase the disdain from those women, who would hurl unpleasant words at them, long having forgotten what dignity felt like.

In this moment, this young lady, who lived a life of privilege, seemed to treat her like any ordinary person.

The woman could not bring herself to utter a word of refusal, and even if she had harbored any intent to decline, it vanished immediately in light of Jiang Li’s generosity.

She smiled and said, “Please wait a moment, Miss.

I will go check if Miss Qiongzhi is currently with a guest, and if she is…”

“It’s no bother,” Jiang Li smiled.

“If she is with a guest, I will wait for her right here.

I’ll go in once she’s available.”

Surprised by the young lady’s unconventional demeanor, the woman did not delay any further.

She poured a cup of tea for Jiang Li and went inside to inquire.

After the woman left, Tonger asked, “Miss, who is this Miss Qiongzhi?

Could she be…

be…” The word “courtesan” was something Tonger just could not utter.

Jiang Li was the Grand Secretary’s daughter, and being seen with a courtesan would provoke too much gossip.

Jiang Li said, “She is.”

Tonger: “Ah!”

Though surprised and puzzled, Tonger dared not ask further questions.

She saw that Jiang Li’s expression had become unusually serious.

Sometimes Tonger thought that ever since they left Green City Mountain, their lady seemed to have become a different person.

Often, Tonger did not understand what her mistress was thinking, and her actions were not accompanied by explanations.

Well, it didn’t matter; her mistress was her mistress, and regardless of the hazards ahead, she had to accept it.

Before long, the woman who had taken Jiang Li’s silver returned, smiling at Jiang Li, “Miss, Miss Qiongzhi is currently without guests.

Would you like to go over now?”

Jiang Li smiled faintly, “Yes.”

The greeter led Jiang Li down a path different from the one taken by patrons.

Along the way, they did not see any indecent scenes, which greatly relieved Tonger.