Chapter 19 An Unsharpened Knife
When Ji Yanqing heard the name of this building, he was slightly stunned and his expression became a little strange.

Xiao Cui also noticed the change in Ji Yanqing's expression and asked, "What's wrong? Why do you look like that?"

Ji Yanqing sighed and said helplessly: "Aunt, you don't know that Yanchunlou is the name of a brothel."

Xiao Cui's face turned red instantly, and she cursed in her heart, "Damn the secret guards. When they asked about the intelligence agency, they actually mentioned the name of a brothel."

But Xiao Cui thought again, secret guards generally don't lie, which means that although Yanchunlou is a brothel, it is also an intelligence agency?
Should she go to Yanchunlou to ask where she can find the killer?
Xiao Cui knew her identity. After all, she was the eldest maidservant serving the princess. If she, as the eldest maid, openly appeared in the brothel and was seen by people she knew, who knows how people would talk about the princess behind her back.

She was told that it was okay, but she couldn't let the princess' reputation be damaged, although the princess seemed to have no interest in these things now.

As Xiao Cui was thinking, her eyes suddenly fell on Ji Yanqing, and a plan came to her mind.

The princess just needs someone to put a knife to her neck and force her to sleep, and that person doesn't have to be a killer.

In fact, it's safer not to be a killer.

"Ji Yanqing, do you recognize the kind of person who looks ferocious, fearless, and dares to put a knife on the princess' neck and force her to sleep?"

Ji Yanqing described what kind of place Yanchunlou is in order to force Xiao Cui to make a choice. By observing whether Xiao Cui goes to Yanchunlou or how she goes to Yanchunlou, he would be able to know whether this girl is loyal or not.

Even the dumbest person knows that a brothel is not a good place. If Xiao Cui went to the brothel without saying anything, and even went there openly with the token given by the princess, it means that this girl's heart is not with the princess.

If this girl goes in disguise, it means that her heart is on the side of the princess. She knows she cannot cause trouble for the princess, but she still has to complete the tasks assigned by the princess.

And if Xiao Cui chose not to go, and found another way to meet the princess's request, it means that this girl has brains, and she did that in the palace just to please the princess.

Now Xiao Cui is obviously the third type.

If this is the case, then Ji Yanqing really cannot conclude now whether this palace maid named Xiao Cui is truly completely loyal.

Most of the palace people and forces will go with the flow.

Ji Yanqing didn't show any of his thoughts on his face. Instead, he showed just the right amount of surprise and helplessness: "If you're talking about a vicious monster, my brother's appearance fits the bill, but putting a knife on the princess' neck, especially in her bedroom, is probably inappropriate."

Xiao Cui also knew how shocking this request sounded, so she immediately replied, "Don't worry, I won't let your brother go at night. It's not good for our princess to have a man from outside come in and out of Anping Palace late at night. Just let him come tomorrow at noon when the princess is taking a nap. If he dares to take this job, the reward will definitely be generous. The only thing is, he must be careful not to hurt the princess."

Ji Yanqing pretended to think for a while before saying, "If you want to avoid hurting people, you have to be steady. My brother has been practicing his craft with my father since he was a child, so his hands are very steady. I just don't know if he is willing to do that."

Xiao Cui asked again: "Does your brother know martial arts?"

Ji Yanqing lowered his eyes: "Practicing martial arts is too hard, my brother can't bear that hardship, he just learned some skills."

Xiao Cui was even more satisfied when she heard this.

He looks fierce, holds a knife steadily, and has no martial arts skills.

If the person who doesn't know how to fight makes any unusual move, the secret guards around the princess can take him down at any time, so the princess will not be in danger.

No, there is still danger.

"Is there a place out here that sells fake knives like that?"

"Fake knife?"

“It’s a knife that looks real, but can’t actually hurt anyone.”

After hearing what Xiao Cui said, Ji Yanqing knew that she was considering the princess's safety. She didn't want to hurt the princess, but she also wanted the princess to think that it was a real knife so that she would sleep well.

If Xiao Cui did these things not to seek credit in front of the princess, but simply out of concern for the princess's safety, then Ji Yanqing would be sure that this palace maid was sincere to the princess.

interesting.

"An unsharpened knife is not dangerous."

There can only be one answer for a palace maid who had some brains but acted foolishly in front of the princess.

To make the princess happy.

Ji Yanqing got the answer he wanted, and stopped trying to argue with Xiao Cui. He said directly, "My brother loves money like his life. I think as long as the price given by aunt is right, he will definitely not refuse."

Xiao Cui thought that she might soon complete the task given by the princess, and she was in a good mood. She urged: "Take me there."

Only then did Ji Yanqing continue to move forward with Xiao Cui.

They walked to a courtyard that looked simple but not shabby. Ji Yanqing invited Xiao Cui to sit in the main hall, made her a cup of tea and said, "Aunt, please sit for a while. I'll go find my brother and come over." Xiao Cui didn't doubt him and asked Ji Yanqing to call someone. She took a sip of the tea made by Ji Yanqing and found that this tea was even more delicious than her own.

Ji Yanqing walked out of the main hall, went around the yard and came to another courtyard. As soon as he entered the door, someone knelt in front of him and saluted him.

"Lord."

Ji Yanqing nodded, pointed at one of the men in front of him and said, "You are now my younger brother. Later, follow the maidservant beside the princess into the palace. Do whatever she says. If you want to enter the palace, remember not to hurt the princess."

"Yes! Lord."

"I am not your master now, but your elder brother."

The person kneeling in front of him was obviously stunned. He opened and closed his mouth several times, but still couldn't shout out.

These people have recognized Ji Yanqing as their master since they were very young. Even though they have called him master for so many years, they have never called him "big brother".

Seeing this, Ji Yanqing knew that it would be difficult for these people, so he said, "If you really can't call me, then don't call me, but don't call me master either."

"Yes!"

Ji Yanqing was ready and brought the person to Xiao Cui.

"This is my younger brother, Ji Sui."

Xiao Cui was very satisfied after seeing it. Just as Ji Yanqing said, Ji Sui looked a little scary, especially with the scar on his face running across his right eye, which made this scary look a little cruel.

Even the pretend killer couldn't see any flaws.

"It's you! How much do you want in reward?"

Ji Sui thought of his master's instructions just now and stretched out his hand to make the number four.

"Forty taels? Sure!"

Ji Sui was stunned on the spot. In fact, what he meant was four cents.

Ji Yanqing knew that Xiao Cui had misunderstood, but he didn't say anything. If you have the money and don't make it, you'd be a bastard.

Xiao Cui meant that Ji Sui would replace Ji Yanqing to enter the palace tomorrow, so that at least the princess could have a nap.

Ji Yanqing and Ji Sui naturally had no choice but to agree.

Xiao Cui and her people had been gone for a while before Ji Yanqing was ready to leave.

"Master, you haven't brought anyone with you for a while, can you please..."

"No, just do what you are supposed to do. No one knows me here, so I won't be in danger."

The subordinates looked at each other, and finally their eyes fell on one person. Under pressure, that person had to step forward and report to Ji Yanqing what had happened recently.

"Master, the matchmaker has been coming to your house several times recently. Would you like to meet her?"

Only then did Ji Yanqing understand what his subordinate meant by being hesitant.

The customs of this country are open, especially the status of women is much higher than in other countries, and there are even cases of men being forcibly abducted.

When he first entered the palace, he thought he was going to be robbed.

As a result, the princess just asked him to write a storybook.

When Ji Yanqing thought of Ye Jinshu, a smile unconsciously appeared on his lips, but he didn't notice it.

"No, just send him away as usual."

"Yes."

After saying that, Ji Yanqing left in the opposite direction of Yanchun Tower.

His residence is not actually here.

(End of this chapter)