Chapter 10: Shameless

All the way there, Jin Mu couldn't wrap his head around the problem, so the atmosphere remained eerily quiet throughout the journey.

Upon arriving at the destination, Jin Mu called out softly, "Miss Xiao Wan, we've arrived."

There was no response from inside the carriage.

"Miss Xiao Wan?" Jin Mu called again. Only then did the rustling sound of someone getting up emerge from within.

Wen Wan yawned and lifted the carriage curtain. Looking as if she hadn't fully woken up, her eyes were filled with resentment. "We're here already?"

"Yes."

Jin Mu twitched the corner of his mouth. Sometimes he truly admired Miss Xiao Wan; he didn't know whether to call her thick-skinned or utterly fearless, to be able to eat and sleep in such a situation.

Wen Wan stepped on the footstool to get off the carriage, and as soon as she looked up, she saw where they were.

"Chunqi Lou?"

Jin Mu cleared his throat awkwardly, not daring to meet her amused expression.

Wen Wan winked at Jin Mu. "This is a brothel, isn't it?"

Jin Mu avoided her gaze and gave a gruff, affirmative grunt.

Wen Wan reached out and patted Jin Mu on the shoulder. "Why so nervous? You're a man, I understand."

Understand?

Jin Mu’s eyes widened, his face full of astonishment.

It was normal for him, a man, to understand, but why could she, a woman, understand?

That, he really couldn't understand.

Wen Wan strode ahead, urging him, "Hurry up. I've never been to a place like this before. I hear that brothels don't just have beautiful women, but also handsome male courtesans."

Male courtesans?

You really dare to say anything.

Jin Mu was nearly frightened out of his wits. He followed tremblingly, already beginning to worry.

If the General asked for details about picking up Miss Xiao Wan later, how was he supposed to answer without getting caught in the crossfire?

Even though brothels were the most liberal places in this era, for the well-traveled Wen Wan, it was still too subtle.

She walked along, looking around. Just as she was getting interested, Jin Mu beside her clenched his fist, coughed twice, and gave her a look.

Wen Wan paused, and following the direction of Jin Mu's hint, she saw several girls peeking and whispering.

She pondered for a moment and then lowered her gaze.

Passing through the decadent, bustling lobby, they finally stopped at a door on the second floor.

Jin Mu signaled for her to go in alone.

Wen Wan curled her lips. The moment she pushed the door open, she went into "actress mode," raising her voice to call out.

"Husband! My dear little husband! I'm here!"

Jin Mu: "???"

What is she doing?

While Jin Mu was stunned, he remembered the General's previous instructions.

The General had told him to go to the side courtyard to pick up Miss Xiao Wan, but hadn't said what he wanted her for.

At the time, Jin Mu had wondered how he should explain it if Miss Xiao Wan asked.

Back then, the General had only said one thing.

"She is smarter than you; she will know what to do."

Now, seeing Miss Xiao Wan's exaggerated actions, Jin Mu suddenly understood the General's meaning.

Inside the room, Shen Yu, who was sitting behind the desk, heard that "husband" and his hand shook, spilling his wine everywhere.

As soon as he looked up, he saw Wen Wan lifting her skirt and pouncing on him.

His instinct was to push her away, but catching a glimpse of the window, he forcibly suppressed the urge and let her fall into his arms.

Wen Wan lay in his arms, appearing tender and affectionate, but in reality, one of her claws was already unceremoniously pinching the flesh at his waist.

She used the "flesh-pinching" technique common among women, successfully making Shen Yu shudder.

"Heh," Shen Yu smiled, unobtrusively pinning her hand down. "In such a rush?"

Wen Wan smiled brilliantly and said coquettishly, "I missed you. You haven't come to see me for so many days; I thought you had forgotten me."

After finishing her lines loudly, she lowered her voice and whispered, "I'll cooperate with your act, but you have to agree to one condition."

Shen Yu’s eyes darkened. "Speak."

"When you become rich and powerful, don't forget me." Wen Wan said without blushing or panting. "I am the one who helped you find the treasure, after all. After this play is over, give me a thousand taels of silver to spend."

"A thousand taels?" He sneered. "You really dare to ask."

Wen Wan pouted. "Sigh, you know, I'm just a merchant's concubine. My reputation was ruined after being kidnapped by mountain bandits, and now I've become your nominal mistress. The road ahead is getting harder and harder."

"If I don't save up some money, how will I survive in the future?"

It sounded reasonable enough. Shen Yu raised an eyebrow. "One hundred taels."

Wen Wan drew circles on his chest with her finger. "One hundred taels is too little..."

Shen Yu chuckled. "If I told people you aren't my mistress, but the person who helped us find the ancient tomb in the mountains, what do you think would happen next?"

What would happen?

Possessing unique skills but lacking the power to protect herself, in this border city where wolves and tigers lurked, her fate would surely be miserable.

Wen Wan gritted her teeth in anger. "Are you threatening me?"

"Just cooperation." Shen Yu used a little force, pulling her close to sit steadily. "So, one hundred taels—take it or leave it."

"I'll take it!"

Wen Wan raised her voice and shouted, "Husband, a moment of spring night is worth a thousand gold; I want..."

Shen Yu: "..."

He had truly underestimated this woman's bottom line for shamelessness.

If the situation weren't so special, he would definitely have covered her unbridled mouth!

"Fine, fine. Since my wife wishes it, your husband will certainly do his best."

He scooped Wen Wan up horizontally and headed toward the bed.

Wen Wan hooked her arms around his neck, her eyes wide open, unable to stop a sense of regret from rising in her heart.

This was a princess carry! If only this young man with such explosive boyfriend-energy weren't so wicked in nature, how perfect he would be.

The door was carefully closed by Jin Mu.

Shen Yu lowered the thin gauze bed curtains, blocking the prying eyes from outside the window.

Outside the window, the person hiding in the darkness observed for a while longer, and upon hearing the creaking of the rosewood bed, they turned and left.

Wen Wan sat cross-legged, counting the silver notes, her appearance of being obsessed with money once again drawing a look of disdain from Shen Yu.

Wen Wan: "Now that the play is over, aren't you going to tell me what you want me to do?"

Shen Yu hesitated for a moment. "It doesn't hurt to tell you now. We are looking for something. Once we find it, we will let you go."

Wen Wan paused. "Is that thing in the ancient tomb?"

Shen Yu nodded.

"Do I have to stay by your side as your mistress until we find it?" Wen Wan asked again.

"Yes."

Wen Wan's expression slumped. She leaned in close to him, staring at him eagerly.

"If it's just exploring the ancient tomb, you really don't need to keep me locked up. Besides, this might work for a short time, but it will definitely arouse suspicion if it goes on for too long."

Shen Yu: "So?"

Wen Wan blinked. "So, why don't you just use my weakness to control me?"

Shen Yu pondered for a moment, then smiled.

"Your weakness? You mean silver?"

Wen Wan shook her finger. "No! My weakness is... you."

Shen Yu was about to ask what she meant, but before he could speak, he saw Wen Wan hook her arms around his neck and pull him forward.

Wen Wan pursed her lips and kissed him on the lips, and only after successfully seeing his face turn red instantly did she triumphantly pull away.

"Didn't you say I was shameless?"

"See that? That is what you call truly shameless!"