The Immortal Seeker: Legend of Bronze Mirror
Chapter 106 - 76 Inner Factory

Chapter 106: Chapter 76 Inner Factory

Yingtian Prefecture, Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion.

The Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion is one of the Imperial Music Bureau’s managed properties.

It can be considered a distinctive feature of the Great Yu Dynasty in South Zhili, due to the region’s developed economy and lucrative entertainment industry, which makes taxation challenging. Thus, an Emperor from a former generation came up with the idea of officially operating brothels.

In fact, such a practice was not without precedent and existed anciently.

For instance, Guan Yiwu, the revered founding figure currently worshipped in brothels, was a pioneer of the industry. He established the very first state-run brothel – Nu Lü.

Behind Su Lianqing, Mother Chen from Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion combed her hair with a reluctant expression and said, "Inspector Wu has sent word, and it’s difficult for me to keep you. Now that you’ve been removed from the entertainment registry, have you thought about your future livelihood?"

Su Lianqing: "I still have some savings that should last me a while, and as you know, Mother Chen, I have some support where I’m going..."

Mother Chen sighed: "I know, you do have someone to rely on there. However, we women are originally like duckweed, drifting along, and this kind of connection isn’t through formal marriage; it can disintegrate as easily as it forms. You still need to think of a backup plan."

Su Lianqing asked, "Mother Chen, do you have any suggestions?"

Mother Chen smiled, "I’ve already discussed with Mother Lu from Jiangning Prefecture. Under the Imperial Music Bureau’s name, we plan to open another Heavenly Fragrance Courtyard in Jiangning Prefecture. Once you’re there, if convenient, you can occasionally teach a few female students. Having trained under you, their value will surely increase. As for you, you can be a female teacher with a stable salary. What do you think?"

"That, I’ll need to discuss with him once I’m there."

Mother Chen: "Don’t worry, the connections have been established, and we’ve already discussed it with Magistrate He of Jiangning Prefecture in advance. However, Mr. He made one condition: Mr. Xu must hold a 20% silent share. We’ve agreed to this."

She said with a smile, "I think these 20% shares are also on behalf of Mr. He, but after all, you will also benefit from them. Hence, he won’t likely trouble you over this."

When Su Lianqing heard that Magistrate He was also involved, she felt severely disheartened. One is her former faithless lover, and the other is her current master, likely even business partners, making the relationships overly complicated.

Fortunately, this time it was Inspector Wu who took the initiative. Su Lianqing smoothly reported upwards, and her superiors approved her ’plan’ to get close to Xu Qing, even adding an extra secret line from the Lotus Sect into her hands.

Su Lianqing was reluctant to accept this, but the higher authorities insisted, feeling she had established great merit.

Since Luo Sect currently holds Xu Qing in high regard, viewing him as a key player in the present political scenario of South Zhili.

After all, Xu Qing is linked to three significant figures in South Zhili: Inspector Wu, Academician Zhou, and Magistrate He, and he has unclear ties with Jiangning Prefecture’s underworld boss, King Lin.

If Su Lianqing could tame Xu Qing, it would undoubtedly be a massive boon to the sect’s ambitions.

Su Lianqing could only say that the higher-ups had beautiful aspirations, but did they know that she had already been "tamed?"

She had clearly refused, but the higher-ups still insisted on pushing this, ensuring she wouldn’t be blamed.

They even said that if Xu Qing were to be turned and become a Scholar, they might even offer him the position of an ’Independent,’ which ranks above Altar Masters and Branch Leaders, barely qualifying as part of Luo Sect’s true "upper echelons."

As for Mother Chen close to Su Lianqing, she wasn’t simple either. She could almost be certain that Mother Chen wasn’t backed by a high official but by the Emperor’s Inner Factory.

The Inner Factory and the Embroidered Guard are the Emperor’s two major espionage agencies, especially the Inner Factory, which is far more dreaded than the Embroidered Guard.

In theory, the Grand Eunuch who supervises the Inner Factory nominally also leads the Embroidered Guard.

Because the power of the Inner Factory’s supervisor is immense, there’s no official position for the Inner Factory supervisor within the highest eunuch organization, the Ritual Supervision, as a form of checks and balances.

Mother Chen and her partner’s opening of the Heavenly Fragrance Courtyard in Jiangning seems to be the Inner Factory’s new strategy there.

Su Lianqing felt extremely weary; going to Jiangning Prefecture was actually more perilous than staying in Yingtian.

And was she destined to be a female spy all her life?

If later, the Inner Factory recruited her, it would indeed be a big deal.

By then, with many identities, she might not even remember them all, and constantly acting might just split her Divine Soul.

"This is too difficult!"

...

...

"What’s so difficult, first you do this, then that..." Xu Sanyuan, who had just had a good sleep, inspected the Recovery Society’s workings and casually instructed the members on practicing their eight-legged essays.

As the nominal Sitting Hall, Xu Qing still needed to show his face occasionally.

Among these members, many could possibly become his "factional peers" in the Officials.

The Recovery Society’s guild hall was part of the former Zhao Xiong’s estate, now state property, which Xu Qing rented at the price of a couple of Silver per year. Technically, renting for a mere penny was possible, but maintaining the dignity of the Officials was necessary.

Moreover, Mr. Xu was a man of principles.

Couplets were posted at the entrance of the Recovery Society,

"The sounds of wind and rain are like the sounds of reading, all sounds reach the ears."

"Concerns of home, country, and the world, all are cared for."

To relieve the monotony of practicing eight-legged essays, Xu Qing also had court Imperial reports copied for the members to study and thereafter offer policy critiques.

It must be said, this immediately added a sense of involvement; following the policy critique, the motivation to practice their essays increased significantly.

It must be acknowledged, the level of being a "Sitting Hall" was indeed high. Under Xu Qing’s guidance, the instructed members seemed to enter a state of ’sudden realization’.