My Sword Immortal Wife Has Gone Berserk - Chapter 20:

Chapter 20: The Gold-Burning Den of Xunan Ward

The burly man immediately stepped aside, no longer restraining Zhao Sui.

But Zhao Sui didn’t dare lift his head. Since the other party didn’t allow it, there had to be a reason. In any case, this person clearly wasn’t here to kill him—in fact, he had come to help him crush the Lin family!

“I dare not!”

Zhao Sui responded with utmost sincerity, and this submissive attitude only made the man in the ox cart even more pleased.

“A moldable talent indeed.”

The man continued softly, “But now I order you—look up!”

Instantly, Zhao Sui straightened up, raised his head, and looked toward the ox cart.

The moment he did, his entire body froze.

“You… You…” Zhao Sui was too shocked to speak a complete sentence. His eyes were filled with disbelief. He had never imagined that this person would seek him out—much less that they would want him to destroy the Lin family!

“You came to me?” Zhao Sui, stunned, immediately dropped to his knees.

The man inside the ox cart spoke slowly and unhurriedly as he approached Zhao Sui.

“You’re wondering, with my power, I could crush the Lin family myself… Or perhaps you’re wondering why I want the Lin family destroyed in the first place?”

Zhao Sui nodded slightly, then shook his head quickly, saying, “I dare not ask. If it’s not something I should know, I won’t question it!”

“Very teachable,” the man nodded in satisfaction. He clearly approved of the dog he had chosen. He already knew everything that had happened earlier at Moonview Tower—Lin Ce’s every word and move had been reported.

The man raised his head and gazed in the direction of the Imperial Palace, his eyes filled with disappointment.

“The art of the Emperor lies in balance. But once you step onto the path of balance, a chess piece has no path of retreat.”

“When two armies clash, a captured general might be ransomed for supplies. But a captured pawn? It only has one fate—death.”

Zhao Sui listened, unable to understand.

But he lowered his head even more respectfully.

“In a few days, you will enter the Imperial Library Pavilion. If I’m not mistaken, Lin Ce will also join.”

“Your task is to suppress him. Dig up dirt on him. I want him—dead.”

After those words, the man turned and climbed back into the ox cart. His voice gradually faded.

When Zhao Sui raised his head again, no one was there. The alley was empty, as if no one had ever been there, leaving him alone and dazed.

…

That night, Xunan Ward sparkled with dazzling lights.

Prosperity filled every corner, revealing Bianjing’s unique grandeur.

While most regions imposed a nightly curfew, Bianjing was the sole exception.

Night was when Xunan Ward was at its most beautiful. A grand river flowed through the city, and floating buildings—multi-decked ships—stood proudly on the water.

Lin Ce wore a black overcoat with the hood pulled low, blending into the crowd.

The poetry gathering had ended. Wu Sheng’an had gotten dead drunk. Li Jiayin had been persuaded to return to the Li Residence, while Lin Ce claimed he needed to visit the Duke of the Empire’s residence. She didn’t suspect a thing.

“Is that the Fragrant Butterfly Pavilion?”

From the riverside, Lin Ce gazed ahead. There were four large three-decked ships on the river, linked by iron chains, with wooden planks bridging each one. It was like walking on land, unaffected by the surging currents beneath.

The ships were brightly lit, glowing like a dream. Light and shadow danced, giving the entire scene an ethereal quality.

On the upper decks, scantily clad women waved flirtatiously in the wind. Some poured wine from above, and others opened their mouths below to catch it. There were even women dancing behind tightly shut windows, their curves fully visible to onlookers across the shore.

A gold-burning den!

This was Bianjing’s largest den of extravagance!

Who could look at it and not want to board, embrace beauties, and indulge in warmth and pleasure?

Those teasing fingers of flirtatious women haunted men’s dreams, luring them in—even as their wives shouted curses at their backs.

A small boat sailed from the floating pavilion and docked at the shore.

“Ferry across! Ferry across…”

“Ten taels of silver per person!”

The boatman shouted. Dozens of these small boats waited to shuttle people.

Ten taels—enough for an ordinary citizen to live an entire year in Great Zhou.

But here in Xunan Ward, where land was as valuable as gold, it was merely the price of a ferry ride.

Even so, countless merchants scrambled to get aboard.

Lin Ce took out a banknote and squeezed in. An aura of cold surrounded him, and no one dared stand near. As a result, his spot on the boat was spacious.

The boatman was rather displeased. Lin Ce’s intimidating presence had cost him additional passengers—and money.

Soon, the small boat rocked and reached one of the floating buildings. A slanted ladder was lowered from the left side—one only needed to climb it to reach the legendary Fragrant Butterfly Pavilion.

Climbing up was a bit difficult for Lin Ce, but he managed.

Only upon stepping onto the deck did he understand the term “gold-burning den.”

The floor was littered with silver shards and copper coins. Though individually small, they were real money. If one were willing to pick coins all night, they’d easily recover the cost of admission.

But Lin Ce quickly noticed attendants of Fragrant Butterfly Pavilion sweeping the money away.

It was enough to drop jaws—sweeping money like dust, a scene most only dreamed of. But Lin Ce remained unfazed; he had been here in his past life.

At that moment, a plump madam approached, her face plastered with a wide but fake smile.

“Young Master, you look unfamiliar—not one of our regulars, I assume. How would you like to spend your evening?” Her tone was warm, but her eyes were void of emotion—purely focused on profit.

In her eyes, Lin Ce was nothing more than walking money.

“I’m here for your courtesan,” Lin Ce said calmly. He glanced at the sky and felt a chill down his spine.

Tonight was the fourteenth of April. The moon was almost full.

His Frost Marrow Curse had started to stir. No matter what, he had to acquire the blood of the Mountain Lord tonight—otherwise, his plans would be disrupted.

“Ah, Young Master, who isn’t here to see our courtesan? But she’s not someone just anyone can meet.” The madam sighed dramatically, making Lin Ce nauseous.

This was his own family’s business, yet the person running it was… this?

Who hired such a woman?

“One hundred taels—can I see her now?” Lin Ce asked impatiently.

The madam smiled but said nothing.

“One thousand. That’s all the money I brought,” Lin Ce frowned. He remembered it had only taken a few hundred taels to see the courtesan in his past life. What was going on today?

He only wanted a short meeting—not to spend the night.

Still, the madam only smiled in silence.

“Ten thousand. If you ask for more, you won’t get a coin!” Lin Ce snapped. What was this nonsense? Even his own business was fleecing him?

“Even if you brought the entire national treasury,” the madam chuckled behind her hand, “you’ll still have to wait tonight.”

Some things, after all, money couldn’t buy.

“Our courtesan,” she said slowly, “is currently entertaining the Prime Minister.”

Lin Ce’s pupils contracted.

“Xue Yuzhang?”

He was stunned. Another familiar name!

And not just any—this was the current Prime Minister!

His grandfather’s former student!

So even high-ranking officials of Great Zhou came here to unwind? No wonder this place raked in fortunes every night—turns out even the Prime Minister had been lured in.