"When he arrives, inform him that I will be down soon, he must not come up here," she instructed, the girl bowed her head then she left the room.

The regional commander knowing how much the emperor values the owner of Ruyi pavilion entered the pavilion with only two soldiers behind him who were holding Wei Xianlu, all to show her how much value the emperor attaches to her.

​​

"Regional commander," the girl who had just reported to Madam Ju along with some other girls greeted him before he could fully enter the pavilion.

The girls recognised Wei Xianlu who was desperately trying to hide his face, to at least, save him the face of being mocked by mere entertainers, the girl in front called Yue Hua raised her raised handkerchief to her mouth and coquettishly covered her mouth with a faint smile on her lips.

"Isn't this that young master Wei-Wei something.....?" she mocked, feigning ignorance, the other girls chuckled realizing her intentions, the regional commander understood that he must have really done something to offend them.

"You...." he cursed under his breath with anger burning in his eyes but there is nothing he can do as long as the regional commander is here, he might be one of the top martial artists among the younger generation but he is definitely no match for the regional commander.

"Hmmmph! Madam has asked that you wait here for her to arrive, she will soon be down," Yue Hua disclosed with a look of seriousness on her face.

"oh oh, how did madam Ju know I was coming to Ruyi Pavilion?" a look of suspiciousness clouded his face thinking she might have spies in the palace or around him, after all, nothing is impossible in the world of politics.

"Regional commander, this is not the capital, in this city, there is nothing that Ruyi pavilion does not know, as long as you are within the city gate, we will definitely know where you are coming from and where you are headed," she answered, knowing the meaning behind his question.

"Does that mean your madam already knew the emperor was going to send me to arrest Wei Xianlu?" he squinted his eyes waiting for her answer but the girl knowing she has said too much and he was trying to sound her out cleared her throat and turned her face away.

"Aren't you exaggerating too much?" a sweet and matured feminine voice remarked, at the sound of her voice, everyone immediately looked up, numerous poems have been written about the sound of her voice even though they have never seen her, those who were present opened their mouth agape, seeing the woman who is presumably in her forties gingerly walk down the stairs with her hand held by the premium entertainer.

"Madam Ju..." the regional commander muttered, he watched her with his mouth slightly agape and his eyes rounded until she arrived at his front, her dainty scarlet lips widened into a broad smile, the wine in their mouth started dripping out of the side of their mouth.

If Hua Mexiang is a beauty then she must be a goddess.

Her hair was styled in a manner that allowed strands at the side of her face and mounted twice at the peak with the remaining length cascading on her back, golden pins decorated her updo at all sides and in the middle is a large pin inserted, on her ear dangled long flowery gold earrings with two jade sachet dangling on her belt.

She wore a black silky robe over her red robe with a deeper red colour sash around her waist, the black shadow over her phoenix eyes highlighted the sharpness of her eyes and the red rouge over her luscious lips made it more tempting to taste.

She bowed her head slightly, maintaining the graceful smile and her elegant posture while Hua Mexiang did the same.

"I wonder what brought the valiant regional commander to my humble pavilion or did you perhaps decide to pay this humble pavilion a visit before leaving for the capital?" she gave him a quizzical look also mixed with other intentions that he couldn't read while she shifted her eyes to Wei Xianlu, her smile widened.

"It is really funny how one's position can change overnight, the last time we met, you were demanding to search the pavilion with many soldiers behind you but, today you are the one tied with a rope," she remarked with a mocking gaze directed at him, they quickly understood what she meant, Wei Xianlu clenched his fist tightly.

Never has he had to suffer such humiliation to the point that even mere entertainers dare to mock him, from what he knows about the emperor, the regional commander would never treat in such lowly way unless the emperor already has plans to dispose of him.

But how did the emperor know he was here? and of course, the governor wouldn't have been so stupid to let the emperor know he is in Shannanxi unless...

He remembered how she threatened to pay him back.

"The emperor has ordered me to bring you back to the capital," the regional commander announced, they all looked at him in shock while a smug smile appeared on Wei Xianlu's face thinking she is going down with him.

"He has given you two options, you either return to the palace as his person or you move your business to the capital, this is not a request but an order," he added, reminding her that she is not allowed to chose like last time.

"Huh..." the girls turned to her with an alarmed look on their faces the customers were wondering what would become of them if the business here is closed, they had already become addicted to the wine in the pavilion and the music without even realizing why they have always felt that way.

She turned around in thought.

{I didn't think that the emperor still wants me in the palace...this has gone out of my plans, I have not discussed with the fourth prince yet,}

the side glance of her face showed the troubled look on her face, the regional commander was wondering what is so important in Shannanxi that she would rather stay in the small city than leave to the capital and be by the emperor's side where she will have more fame and riches than she already has here.

"Is Madam Ju not willing to go to the capital per the emperor's order?" he still questioned even though she has no choice.

The girls could understand her, the intel business, their riches here and the secret chambers behind the painting if they go right now, does that mean everything will be left behind.

"How can I be unwilling to obey the emperor's order, if it is the emperor's will that I move to the capital then I will go with you now," she answered no matter how unwilling she is, winning the emperor's favour is part of the fourth prince plan so she must not foil it.

"If so then if you are choosing the second option, I am afraid you must come with your girls," the regional commander added, the girls exclaimed with a frown on their faces knowing they have to go on such long journey without preparation.

"I will obey but I hope you will let me leave one of them behind to tie the loose ends," she requested, turning to Hua Mexiang, she immediately understood the meaning behind her words without needing further explanation.

The regional commander glanced at her then he hummed in approval.

"Mexiang, when you are done, meet me in the capital with all that is necessary," she held her hand then she tapped it gently and walked forward, just when she was standing beside Wei Xianlu who has been confused throughout the entire conversation, she leaned towards him.

"You should really learn from this lesson," she whispered and continued on her way while the girls followed behind her.

Seeing the numerous carriages carried by soldiers as they marched through the streets, murmurs filled the street, the number one famous entertainment house was being closed down in an instant, this reminded them of the power the emperor wields.

"Is Ruyi pavilion really closing down?"

"It can't be, what it will be of us when it is gone?"

"Thank heavens it is finally closing down, we can have our husbands to ourselves,"

"Finally our business will be resurrected,"

"But, where are we supposed to find such beautiful and mesmerizing entertainers?"

"You! are you not being unreasonable, Ruyi pavilion is the reason why our business is plummeting,"

"What do you know?"

"If your business is plummeting then that can only mean your wine is not as good as that,"

"You, who do you think you are talking to?"

While the carriages passed through the streets, murmurs, fights and heaviness filled the streets, some felt they can't do without the girls and wine even though the girls do not serve them with their body.