The disgraced official I took care of was actually Zhu Houcong's childhood friend.

Chapter 374

"I can't stay here any longer. Go and contact a boat for me. I'm going out to sea tonight."

Li Xian said urgently.

"I'll do it right away."

Upon hearing this, the madam realized the seriousness of the matter and turned to make arrangements.

The madam had been running a brothel in Chongming County for many years, so she naturally had some connections and knew many fishermen. Some of these fishermen had previously committed acts of arson, murder, and robbery at sea, but after the seas opened up, they saw that the situation was not right and returned to being fishermen.

These people had committed many evil deeds in the past, but at that time there was no one to monitor the sea, so there was no way to hold them accountable.

For these people, as long as the money is enough, they dare to smuggle people out to sea. The madam knew such a boat captain, and she sneaked into his house under the cover of night.

"Isn't this Lingniang? What brings you to the home of a roughneck like me?"

The boat captain, his eyes gleaming with undisguised lust, looked at the madam.

"I want you to help me send someone out to sea."

The madam didn't mince words; she knew very well that the more roundabout you were with these people, the less they liked you.

The boat captain was somewhat surprised to hear this.

"Who is it being given to? Your old flame? I've never heard of your Lingniang having any old flames all these years."

Over the years, not only boat captains but also many others have coveted the madam. However, because the madam is backed by the Li family, no one dares to touch her if she is unwilling.

"You don't need to worry about that. Just tell me how much you need, and I won't haggle."

The madam naturally wouldn't reveal Li Xian's name. Right now, these people haven't realized that the Li family is in trouble. Once they find out that the person boarding the ship is the head of the Li family, they will realize that something bad has happened to the Li family.

In that case, they wouldn't need to send Li Xian away at all. They could just kill him, rob the madam, and take over the brothel. It would be a sure-fire way to make money, and no one would hold them accountable. The madam believed they could do it.

Upon hearing this, the boat captain looked at the madam carefully and thought for a moment.

"Two thousand taels, not a penny less. Also, the navy is cracking down hard now. If I help you send someone out, I'll be risking my life. You have to spend the night with me."

The boatman stared at the madam with ill intent.

When the madam was twelve or thirteen years old, she was sent to the brothel by the Li family. She was rescued by the young Li Xian. Now, fifteen or sixteen years have passed, and the madam is only twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old. She is still very attractive. The boat captain has always had feelings for her that even surpass those of the most beautiful courtesan in their brothel.

As the boat captain put it, this madam looks seductive, but she's actually quite fierce inside; that's the kind of woman who's really exciting to play with.

"Okay, but we need to send it to someone first."

The madam gritted her teeth and finally agreed, and as soon as she said it, two lines of tears streamed down her face.

"Sure, I trust you."

Upon hearing this, the boat captain became excited. So many men had their eyes on the madam, wanting to sleep with her, but none had succeeded. Now, he had succeeded.

The boat captain knew very well that women were different from men. Once this woman slept with him for the first time, she might treat him as her man and consider his needs in everything she did.

The boat captain had never dared to dream of having such a woman before, but now he saw hope.

After the madam and the boatman agreed on the boarding location, she went back and told Li Xian about it. Li Xian was unaware that the madam had used her body to give him the chance to escape, and even if he knew, he wouldn't care.

When Li Xian saved the madam, it wasn't out of kindness, but rather a tactic his father taught him to win people over. His father played the bad cop, and he played the good cop. He had used this method on others as well as on the madam, and it always worked.

"You did well."

Li Xian praised the madam.

Hearing this, the madam was very happy. She felt that it was worth it to work for the master, even if it meant sacrificing her body.

After nightfall, Li Xian ate and drank his fill, took his travel money, and headed straight for the seaside.

As soon as he arrived at the beach, Li Xian saw the ship on the sea, which made him very happy, and he hurriedly waved.

"I'm here, could you come a little closer?"

As soon as Li Xian said this, the fishing boat actually headed towards the shore, which made Li Xian very happy. He didn't care about anything else and waded through the seawater towards the boat. However, as soon as he got close to the fishing boat, many Imperial Guards and soldiers suddenly appeared on the boat, all of whom were carrying torches and swords.

The boat captain, escorted by these men, appeared before Li Xian with a disheveled face.

Upon seeing this, Li Xian's heart skipped a beat, realizing that he had been ambushed. He turned to walk towards the shore, but as soon as he turned around, he found that the shore was also filled with soldiers. For a moment, Li Xian felt utterly desperate.