[If this doesn't make you laugh, I'll let you hit me] [Ridiculous] [Humorous] [Absurd] [Harem] [Mindless] [Satisfying]
Su Quanzhong scanned the room and finally spotted Jia Xiaochuan in a private booth tucked into a corner on the top floor, laughing and carrying on with women on either side of him. Raising his voice slightly, he said, “Scholar Jia, you certainly made me look high and low for you!”
The shout made Jia Xiaochuan jump. He looked up, saw Su Quanzhong, and thought, This is bad. He hurried to his feet, making an exaggerated face and spreading his hands. “Oh, Su, you've got the wrong idea. I'm not here enjoying myself. I'm getting close to the people and learning about their lives! Heh heh, you see, brothels are part of the people's lives too. I'm just learning about their hardships.”
Su Quanzhong shook his head slightly, a warm smile on his face. “You, you... His Majesty entrusted you with an important task, and here you are, ‘learning about the people's lives.’ You'd better get your mind back on the job.” Then he stood in the middle of the Baihua Brothel's main hall, unfurled the imperial edict, and read aloud: “By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Jia Xiaochuan of the Hanlin Academy may be young and impetuous, but he still has some talent. The court now intends to bring order to the martial world, and hereby appoints Jia Xiaochuan as Special Envoy to the Martial World, to travel on the court's behalf and handle its affairs. He must act with fairness and integrity, and make no mistakes. So decreed!”
It was the first time in the dynasty's history that an imperial edict had been received in a brothel. Everyone was stunned and didn't dare make a sound. Jia Xiaochuan looked utterly shocked, then visibly reluctant.
