The Ace Bigshot Becomes A Farmgirl

Chapter 1435: Chapter 1435: Piaoxiang Courtyard Has Closed Down

Shu Yu set off by horse carriage after taking a brief rest at the inn.

The carriage moved through the streets and alleys towards the southern city gate, and Shu Yu lifted the curtain to look at the streets along the way, feeling very pleased to see new goods signs of instant noodles at the entrances of two shops.

It seems that during her absence, instant noodles have slowly opened a market in the prefecture.

Shu Yu was very happy and was about to put down the curtain when her hand suddenly froze.

”Ying Xi, slow down.”

The speed of the carriage instantly slowed down, and Shu Yu looked towards Piaoxiang Courtyard with a surprised expression on her face.

”Why is Piaoxiang Courtyard closed at this time?”

As far as Shu Yu knew, Piaoxiang Courtyard had only closed for a few months last year when the Emperor passed away.

When she left the prefecture a while ago, the place had already started its normal operations. Why is it tightly shut now, with no girls upstairs, and even the entrance looks somewhat desolate, as if it had been abandoned?

Ying Xi asked softly, ”Miss, did something happen to Old Master Miao?”

Shu Yu shook her head, ”Probably not.” Based on what her master said, there’s indeed no such person as Old Master Miao in the prefecture, but living a life without concerns is not a problem for him.

She wondered whether to visit Old Master Miao’s house, but considering the direction of the carriage, she ultimately decided against it.

The Miao Family is in the west of the city, and they were about to reach the southern city gate; making a detour would be too time-consuming, so she decided to leave it until she returned from Dongqing Temple.

Ying Xi sped up, and they quickly left the city, heading straight for Dongqing Temple.

What Shu Yu did not expect was that although she did not go to the west of the city, upon entering the gate of Dongqing Temple, she encountered Old Master Miao.

Old Master Miao also saw her at once and was momentarily stunned, ”Monarch Lu Xiang?”

Shu Yu lit incense in the temple and then walked out with Old Master Miao, proceeding to a nearby shaded pavilion.

Along with them were Old Master Miao’s wife and daughter, whom Shu Yu was meeting for the first time.

Shu Yu thought Old Master Miao might be dispirited because Piaoxiang Courtyard was closed, and he should show some signs of decadence or at least a little affected, given it was a business he had run for many years.

Unexpectedly, not only was he not dispirited, but Old Master Miao even seemed very peaceful, and his wife and daughter looked quite cheerful.

They sat down in the pavilion, but Old Master Miao’s daughter, still young, couldn’t sit still and wanted to play. Mrs. Miao took her hand to watch the squirrels frolic in the woods outside the pavilion.

Listening to the little girl’s tinkling laughter eased Shu Yu’s mind, and naturally, she asked the question she had been worried might touch upon a sensitive subject.

”I just came from the prefecture and saw the doors of Piaoxiang Courtyard were closed.”

Old Master Miao was momentarily stunned and then chuckled, ”It’s been closed for half a month.”

”Then...”

”Liu Ru took a group of girls to another brothel. I saw the girls left either had average looks or were old, or were reluctant to entertain guests for various reasons. Piaoxiang Courtyard naturally didn’t have much business. I asked their opinions, gave them severance pay, and sealed Piaoxiang Courtyard.”

Shu Yu was puzzled, ”Why did Liu Ru do this?”

Wasn’t she Old Master Miao’s right-hand woman? They’ve been together for so many years; how could she just leave?

Old Master Miao thought for a moment, ”Perhaps she could see my intention to seek other ventures and was not very attentive to Piaoxiang Courtyard. She felt a sense of crisis. If someone offered her benefits, it’s not impossible for her to move along.”

Shu Yu, ”...”