The Xinglou have three floors each facing the other, and the five floors are facing each other. The lights are on, the red candles are shining, and the streets are as bright as day. There are carved eaves and painted corners, elegant walls inlaid with flowers, flying bridges and railings, and light and dark are connected. Green curtains are hung high on the windows, and the lights are brilliant.

The east building faces the street. After crossing the courtyard, you can enter the main building. Two flying bridges and corridors connect the four floors in the east, south, west and north. The west building is the main building among the five floors and is also the tallest one.

As the carriage approached, we could hear a noisy bustle of voices. The hawkers from the shops facing the street in the east building were shouting one after another, and the sound of piano and string instruments could be heard in the building.

Lu Jin jumped off the carriage, and the waiter outside the building came forward and led the carriage to the parking lot.

Yu Qizhe followed Lu Jin into the building. The hall on the first floor was full of guests. People were coming and going in the halls and corridors. There were young men in gorgeous clothes, walking in an elegant manner. The women in the building were beautiful, some slender and some plump. The music played on the piano and danced was very seductive.

Yu Qizhe turned a blind eye to this and followed Lu Jin to the slightly more secluded west building, where he asked the waiter to open an elegant room.

Pearl curtains and embroidered plaques hang in the hall. Leaning on the railing and gazing out into the distance, one can have a panoramic view of the entire capital city. From the windows on the east side, one can see the bustling and lively hall on the first floor.

"Most of the people who come to the west building for banquets are scholars and poets. The third floor is for poetry and songs. There are lantern riddles on the flying bridge. If you can get the first prize, you can get free food and drinks." Lu Jin said with a smile, "Let's go up and take a look later. I don't have much talent for poetry and songs, but luckily you are here today. Maybe we can have a free meal."

Yu Qizhe pursed his lips and said nothing for a while before he said, "Did you come to Xinglou just to eat for free?"

Lu Jin grinned, "How can that be possible?" He took out his purse from his waist, "I brought all my wealth with me. If you can't win, I am a captain of the Jinyiwei after all. It would be too embarrassing if I was kicked out by Xinglou!"

While they were talking, waiters came in with plates of food. Soon, the table was full with all of Xinglou's signature dishes.

"But why do you and I order so many dishes?" Yu Qizhe said.

"As your senior brother, I can't be stingy since I'm treating you!" Lu Jin opened the wine jar, and the aroma of wine filled the air. After taking a deep sniff, he poured a glass for Yu Qizhe, "This is the famous Meishou wine from Xinglou. It's said that drinking this wine can help you compose poems like Li Bai and Wencheng Yongshu. Hurry up and drink a few more glasses so that you can start writing when you go up to the third floor."

Yu Qizhe picked up the chopsticks without touching the wine glass, "You know how much I can drink, why do you want to go upstairs after drinking?"

This Meishou wine smells very strong, and the rice wine in Jiangbei is like water in comparison.

Yu Qizhe can only drink as much as a normal person, not as much as Lu Jin. He also doesn't like drinking outside because he loses his sobriety easily.

"Well, I'm wrong, isn't that okay? It doesn't matter whether we go to the third floor or not, as long as we two brothers have a good time." Lu Jin muttered in a low voice, "You are too self-controlled, always tense. There are many things in this world that are beyond your control, so you can indulge yourself for a while."

Yu Qizhe ignored him and went to eat his food. Lu Jin did not force him to drink. He poured himself a drink and occasionally told Yu Qizhe some interesting gossips in the capital.

The waiter downstairs was busy as hell, and outside the building, people were cheering and horses were neighing, coming in one after another.

After having a good meal and drinking, Lu Jin took Yu Qizhe up the stairs to the third floor.

Two slender women were walking up the stairs from the first floor. One of them was wearing a water-red pleated moon-shaped skirt, with her hair hanging down in front of her chest. She turned her head and spoke with a pale and weak woman next to her, wearing a plain white jacket and a bun. "Cousin, you have been away from Beijing for many years and have not been to Xinglou for a long time. I will take you to see the hustle and bustle."

Wang Xueyan was not used to the hustle and bustle around her. She held Chen Wan's hand uncomfortably and said with some regret, "Many years have passed, and Xinglou has changed so much."

Shen Wan approached her, smiled and whispered, "I have reserved a good seat, and I can see the third floor at a glance. If you have your eyes on a scholar later, we will ask the maid to find out."

Wang Xueyan's cheeks turned red. She twisted Shen Wan's arm lightly and scolded, "You are so naughty and unruly. I will go back and tell my aunt about you."

Shen Wan pulled her upstairs and said with a smile, "Good sister, I was just joking!"

The two chatted and laughed, followed the waiter and the maid into a private room on the second floor of the middle building.

The second floor of the middle building faces the west building. Through the bead curtain, one can see what is happening on the third floor.

As soon as you enter the third floor of the west pavilion, the scent of ink hits your nose. There are many low tables in the pavilion, on which are pens, ink, paper, inkstones, wine and fruit plates. Many scholars and literati are kneeling beside the low tables, chatting and laughing, with poetry and laughter constantly reciting. There are also beauties accompanying some of the tables.

The flying bridge corridor that runs through the east attic is hung with colorful lanterns. The lights are novel, and the candles in cages are swaying, lighting up the whole room.

There are calligraphy and paintings hanging on the wall of the west pavilion, which should have been left by the literati who came to Xinglou for a drink.

Lu Jin couldn't help feeling a little restrained as he stepped on the felt carpet in the pavilion. For someone like him who was good at wielding swords and sticks, it would be a little uncomfortable for him to enter a place full of literati.

Seeing Yu Qizhe beside him with a calm expression, he straightened his back and pretended to be calm.

"Sir, would you like to write a poem?" A beautiful and gentle woman came up and asked with a smile.