There is a relatively large village between the border camp and the Rakshasa Kingdom. It was inhabited by exiles from various countries. Later, the population gradually increased, and the once inconspicuous village became larger and larger, and it could even call itself a city, connecting more than a dozen small countries around it, forming a hub-like middle zone. Although there are many people and the population is complex, they coexist in a strange way.
Luo Wenhao took Gu Zhen, Song Jiaren, and Su Su with him in a carriage. The four soldiers he brought out to purchase things, one was responsible for driving the horses, and the other three led the way.
The time for one stick of incense is up.
Song Jiaren looked out through the car window and saw buildings of all styles, including bamboo houses, wooden houses, tiled houses, and tents. There were also many two-story shops on the street. The architectural style was somewhat like modern pastoral style. Basically, there were crops planted in the open space outside every household, many of which she didn't recognize.
“It looks quite prosperous here.”
"With this place as the center, there are more than a dozen small nations radiating outward. Initially, those who were exiled or convicted were left here to fend for themselves. Later, the families of ministers whose property was confiscated, certain disbanded mysterious organizations, defeated royal descendants, and even emperors whose kingdoms were destroyed due to their weakness, all came here and gradually strengthened this area. The power structure is complex, yet it is an unmanaged area. Fortunately, these people are all peaceful and have come to terms with their crimes. They no longer fight and kill, but only yearn for a stable life. Therefore, they have their own set of rules, and wars and killings have never occurred."
There is a two-story building surrounded by flowers on the street. The gauze curtains flutter outside the building in the wind and the door is closed.
"Where is this? It's broad daylight and other people's houses have their doors open for business, but why is this one closed?" Song Jiaren asked, looking out curiously.
“This is Fengqing Building.”
Luo Wenhao was stationed in the camp all year round and seldom came here often. Even if he came a few times, he would go to Fengqing Tower. There were no military prostitutes in the camp, so the soldiers vented their excess energy in the brothels. Although he was not addicted to it, he had been here a few times.
Thinking of this, he looked at Master Su who was sitting with the Crown Prince's concubine. He had a fair and handsome face. Even though the environment in the camp was harsh and he was often exposed to wind and sun, there was no trace of roughness on his face. His skin was still delicate, which was a world apart from these rough people.
Even the women in brothels can't compare to him.
Luo Wenhao came back to his senses from his reverie, lowered his eyes, and regretted how he could compare Young Master Su with those women. He felt guilty and remorseful.
"Fengqinglou... is it the legendary brothel? No wonder it's so deserted during the day, it must be very lively at night." As a time-traveling woman, Song Jiaren, although she is traveling through a book, is also very interested in this must-visit place called brothel and wants to find out more about it.
Gu Zhen's cold eyes were tinged with a smile. "Want to go?"
Song Jiaren said with her eyes curved, "Yes, I want to go!"
"I'll take you there tonight." Gu Zhen had actually never been to such a place. He had heard other princes and other nobles talk about it, calling it a den of debauchery and extravagance.
Luo Wenhao looked at the Crown Prince in surprise. "This... isn't good." Besides, how could a woman enter such a brothel? Wouldn't she feel humiliated? Or did the Crown Prince want to humiliate his concubine?
Gu Zhen smiled calmly, "Don't judge me with worldly eyes. Maybe a worldly woman would be shy and feel insulted, but she's just curious. Besides, I'm watching over her and won't let anything happen to her. Once her curiosity is satisfied, she'll go back."
Luo Wenhao was still worried. After all, this was His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. As long as he had this title, he could not neglect him.
"How about this, I will go with you, and Master Su and a few soldiers will go back to the camp after shopping." Master Su is not suitable to go to such a place, he is afraid that the women here will scare him.
Su Su actually wanted to go and take a look. She had begged Gu Shen several times when she was in the capital, but he always refused on the grounds that it was immoral and even had the palace maids watch over her, which was equivalent to house arrest.
She looked at the woman with envy. She must be very happy to have such a husband loving her. Even if he was the king of a country, he still had many wives and concubines, which made her worry and sad and unable to sleep every night. She even doubted whether his feelings for her were real. Can a person's heart and body be separated?
Thinking back to when she fled the palace in despair, all she had done was hear that Yingpin was pregnant. It was a shame that Gu Shen always tried to comfort her, saying that expanding the harem was just a temporary solution to appease the court. He had no feelings for them, so why would he have sex with them if he had no feelings for them? And even have a child with them?
Her envy just now only highlighted how miserable her life was.
Song Jiaren looked at the distraught Su Su and naturally knew what was going on. In the book, the heroine ran away because the hero favored other concubines behind her back. Yingpin was pregnant and she showed off to the heroine as soon as possible. The heroine felt deceived and hated the hero for not being wholeheartedly devoted to her. After they had a mutual understanding, she could not stand him having other women and left.
The male protagonist soon discovered the truth and looked for the female protagonist like crazy but couldn't find her. Then he found Yingpin and realized that the truth was exposed. He decided to leave the palace and look for the female protagonist.
Judging from the speed of the male protagonist, he will be able to find it in a dozen days at most. I wonder if the two brothers will be friendly and respectful to each other by then?
Most likely not, Song Jiaren couldn't imagine the scene of the cold and indifferent Crown Prince greeting his brothers.
"Why don't you come with us, Mr. Su? We can have some tea and watch the show and then go back." Song Jiaren couldn't bear to leave such a miserable heroine behind.
Su Su looked at General Luo who was sitting opposite. He obviously had the same idea as Gu Shen. They both believed that women should feel ashamed of such places and talk about changing their colors. However, they never thought that they were the ones who frequented such places and still thought that this was the true nature of men and what a real man should do.
"Okay." She wanted to go and see if there was anything worth a man's lingering memory.
They bought a lot of seeds from an old farmer's house, and some chicks and piglets from a family raising chickens and ducks. The four soldiers also purchased a lot of tools needed for breeding and feeding, and pulled a full cart back to the camp.
When the lanterns are bright and the moon is above the branches, this usually quiet street becomes lively, and the Fengqing Building, which is usually closed during the day, opens its doors to welcome guests.
Two servants in short clothes were guarding the door. The heavily made-up old madam was saying auspicious words and greeting regular customers at the door. Her large gold-plated front teeth were shining brightly in the night. The blush on her face was set off by the thick layer of loose powder applied elsewhere, making it so white that it was frightening. When she smiled, it even fell down.
Gu Zhen, Song Jiaren, Luo Wenhao and Su Su, the four of them walked in with calm expressions, but were stopped by the sharp-eyed brothel owner as soon as they reached the door.
"You two gentlemen may come in. You two are girls, right? This is a place for men to have fun, not for girls. Or are you here to cause trouble? Then don't blame me for being rude."
A silver coin fell into the madam's hand, and the originally serious face immediately became happy and she waved the handkerchief in her hand. "I'm sure you two are not ordinary women who don't know how to behave. You must have come here to have fun because you are curious. As long as you don't cause trouble, drink tea and watch the show, I am not an unreasonable person. I will let you in to see the novelty."
Su Su, who was following beside her, looked at the silver coin in the madam's hand in surprise and asked, "Is that all?"
Song Jiaren whispered to her, "Money makes the world go round! This is the power of money!" But she still felt a little pain. This was the compensation given to her by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince when he received the imperial decree to be exiled. Half of it was given to the nanny, and there was not much left. She had to find a way to make some money. She couldn't just spend without earning.
As soon as they entered, they were stunned by the scene inside the building. It was like being in a fairyland with hundreds of flowers in full bloom, just like the fairyland of Penglai. There were countless beauties, some so beautiful that the moon would be ashamed of the flowers, some so beautiful that the fishes could sink to the bottom of their bodies, some so smart and naughty that they could even be charming.
There were tables of individual customers in the middle of the hall. It was packed right after the door opened. Fortunately, there was an empty table in the corner, and the four of them hurried over to sit down and reserve a seat.
A servant came over to serve tea and water immediately. A woman in a pink gauze dress with a flowing sash at the waist came over and said, "My servant Yan'er, what would you like to drink or eat?"
Song Jiaren was very familiar with this line of argument: "Just go ahead and do what you like." While she hadn't been to ancient entertainment venues, she'd spent a lot of money in modern bars and KTVs. Wasn't this just a common excuse for keeping the minimum spending low? Presumably, Yan'er could even get a commission.
Gu Zhen looked at her doubtfully, "You really haven't been here before?" Seeing her familiar appearance, it didn't seem like this was her first time here.
"What if the food she serves is not tasty or drinkable and she's trying to fool us?" Su Su was also confused.
"Come on, look at how big this place is. Would they waste their time trying to scam us? Besides, we haven't been here before, so how do we know what's delicious? It's better to listen to Yan'er. She can make a little profit from the price difference and won't fool us. Why not?"
Song Jiaren looked at General Luo, who had been hiding his face and looking embarrassed, "Or has anyone here before and knows what's good to drink or eat?"
Hearing the hidden meaning in her words, Luo Wenhao quickly turned his head and looked aside, not daring to respond, fearing that she would ask him about it. It was difficult to know whether to say it or not. Although he thought it was okay for men to relax occasionally, he didn't dare to let Young Master Su know directly. He didn't know what was wrong with him. He had come with the deputy general before, and he had never been so timid. It was totally unlike his character.
"I thought you had been here before. Even if you hadn't, you must have been to similar places. Otherwise, how could you understand the meaning here so clearly?" Gu Zhen said this with certainty, not questioning it, but he was also confused about where she had played to be familiar with this set of procedures, and he couldn't figure it out.
Song Jiaren couldn't help but feel guilty. Fortunately, Yan'er came over gracefully, followed by a servant serving tea and snacks. She bowed and said, "Here are your tea and snacks. Tea brings joy to life, with a slightly bitter taste at first and a sweet and fragrant aftertaste. The snacks include crispy red beans, candied dates and nuts. Enjoy."
Then she said, "Oh, by the way, you came at the right time. Tonight is the night of the Oiran, and there will be wonderful performances. If there is anything you like, ask Yan'er to arrange it for you." After saying that, she walked away with her waist and hips swaying.
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