Night Tour of Jinling
Outside the Laifu Inn, the shouts of street vendors and the laughter of people could be heard all around.
Xu Lanxin was forced by someone to rest in bed until her foot was fully healed.
The noise from the outside world made her, who loved excitement, feel a little depressed.
The door opened, and a cute little sister-type girl entered, wearing a light green short-sleeved shirt and a silver bell tassel hair ornament.
Her name is Qinglu, and she was arranged by Cen Yan to protect her.
Xiao Xi was escorted back to Kyoto by his men.
This was the result of his discussion with her.
The journey ahead is uncertain, and Xiao Xi is one of the few people here who care about her. She cannot let Xiao Xi fall into danger again.
"Madam, you're awake."
Qinglu carried the food tray over quickly, placed it on the table, and walked smilingly to Xu Lanxin.
She has two small dimples when she smiles, which makes people unconsciously lower their guard and accept her.
"Where's the bluefish?"
Lanxin raised her hand and used her paw to smooth her messy hair.
"Sister Qingyu, go out and see if you can find any interesting things to bring back for Madam to cheer her up!"
As she spoke, she went to the dressing table, took a comb, and began to comb Lanxin's hair.
"Madam's hair is so well-maintained."
Lan Xin smiled and said, "I heard you're skilled in treating poisons?"
"Yes, madam."
Xu Lanxin turned to look at her and said with a smile, "Then can you prepare some poison for self-defense?"
Qinglu paused, her combing motion froze, and a hint of worry appeared in her eyes.
Seeing her concerns, Xu Lanxin put away her smile and said seriously, "Since you have followed me, I will be your master from now on."
From now on, you will obey Madam's orders.
A cold voice rang out, and Cen Yan was already standing at the door at some point.
"You can go down now."
Cen Yan gave instructions to Qinglu, but his eyes remained fixed on Lanxin.
He hurried to the bedside, lifted her face, and looked at her.
Why aren't you happy?
Xu Lanxin hugged his waist and looked up at him pitifully.
"Zijin, do we have to wait until it's all finished before we can go out? I'll become withdrawn."
After saying that, she shook him and pouted, acting coquettishly.
"no."
He didn't indulge her just because she was being affectionate; he patiently cared for her for three days until her wounds scabbed over before they set off.
She wasn't allowed to get off the carriage during the journey; whenever she needed to use her legs, he would hang on her and carry her.
After about twenty days, we finally arrived in Jinling.
When I set off from Kyoto it was early autumn, and now it's late autumn with a slightly cool climate.
As the autumn wind rises, it swirls up the yellow leaves on the ground, creating a lively scene that dispels some of the vicissitudes of autumn and exudes tranquility and serenity.
When the group arrived at the post station, Qingyun presented his credentials, and after the post station guards registered them, they were arranged to stay.
Upon hearing the news, the postmaster rushed over immediately, switching into obsequious mode and exchanging pleasantries with Cen Yan, while Xu Lanxin stayed in her room to rest.
The sky under the sunset is dyed orange, and this unique romantic sunset in Nanjing is captivating.
Xu Lanxin rested her head on the windowsill, admiring the beautiful view.
Let's go out and have some fun!
She blurted out something abruptly, then turned and glanced furtively at the bluefish and the green fish.
The two felt somewhat uncomfortable being stared at.
They were puzzled until Xu Lanxin asked them to prepare men's clothes, which made them look at each other in confusion.
There was nothing they could do but obey their master's orders. The three of them changed their clothes and went out.
The streets were bustling with activity in the early evening, with bright lanterns hanging everywhere.
A diverse array of passersby brushed past each other on the street, while vendors enthusiastically greeted tourists.
A handsome young man wearing a blue brocade round-necked shirt and a jade crown walked down the street, followed by two well-dressed servants. The servant in the blue shirt, in particular, outshone the young man in front of him.
Xu Lanxin fanned himself, trying to appear dashing and charming, but when he encountered something unusual, he couldn't help but run over and touch it.
Their true colors were revealed.
All of this was observed by a pair of lecherous eyes upstairs in the teahouse, whose face was already contorted with barely suppressed excitement.
Xu Lanxin had finished looking at the masks at the stall and was about to rush to the next one when she had only taken a few steps.
A yellow figure pounced over, but before the face could be seen clearly, Qingyu grabbed it from behind.
The man screamed in pain.
"Let go! Do you know who my young master is? Let go now!"
One of the servants who was with the man stepped forward to stop him.
Lan Xin gave Qing Yu a wink, and she immediately shook off the man, causing him to fall onto the servant who had been speaking.
The two fell to the ground together, causing people on the street to laugh.
But upon seeing the face of the person who had risen, they quickly looked away and walked away, not daring to linger.
After seeing the public's reaction, Xu Lanxin guessed that this person was probably a 'celebrity'.
The man had a slightly yellow complexion, dark circles under his eyes, and a lewd look in his eyes; he was clearly no good.
After standing still, he struck a pose that he thought was cool, lightly tapping his folding fan.
"Where are the three young masters headed?"
After saying that, he opened his folding fan, fanned himself twice, and circled around them for a while.
Those eyes seemed to be dripping with viscous fluid onto their faces, making them feel utterly disgusted.
"There's practically no place in Jinling that I don't know. How about I accompany the three young masters?"
"Not good."
Xu Lanxin closed her folding fan, her face cold, and continued speaking in a cold voice;
"Look at our group, and then look at yourself. How can you be so shameless? Don't you have any self-respect?"
Although he couldn't understand some of the words, it didn't stop him from knowing that it meant rejection.
"Young master, he called you ugly."
The servant, who had intended to take credit for the report, was mercilessly kicked.
"I want you to be more talkative."
The man turned around, his face darkening, and said coldly:
"This young man in blue just now twisted my hand, and he should compensate me. But I'm in a good mood today, so if you keep me company for a drink, I'll forgive you."
Lan Xin was amused by this fool, and this laugh made the man opposite her glare with fervor, igniting a fire of determination to win.
"What's wrong with you? Are you shameless and deaf on top of that? You're so young but you're already acting like an old person. Tsk tsk."
The man narrowed his eyes slightly, his gaze turned cold, and he said no more.
"Guards, arrest them and take them to the Red Ridge Villa."
Qinglu led Lanxin away from the battle and watched the fight from the sidelines.
The man grinned at Qingyu: "They all abandon you, why don't you come with me!"
Qingyu rolled her eyes at him, then darted into the enemy's territory, her every move swift, accurate, and ruthless.
All that could be heard were the shouts of those people, the sounds of being beaten, and human figures rising and falling like they were playing on a trampoline.
As for the culprit, Qingyu didn't let him off the hook either. After a few slaps, he spun around and sent him flying to the roof.
"You, you all just wait. If you offend me, you won't leave Jinling City."
Having dealt with the idiot, Xu Lanxin was in high spirits. Waving her folding fan, she walked forward, stared at the idiot clinging to the roof, and sneered:
"Alright, let's make a bet and see if you'll be the first to fall into my hands, or if I'll fall into yours first."
Xu Lanxin and Yu Lu left gracefully.
However, at the stalls they visited, the vendors chased them away, refusing to serve them.
"Go away, go away, I won't sell to you. You've offended Young Master Shen, don't drag me down with you."
The other vendors also drove them away, and their excuses were surprisingly consistent.
This made her lose interest, and when she was about to return to the post station, she was pulled back by the soft, melodious songs sung in the Wu dialect.
It sounds so good!
So, wanting to see a cute girl, she followed the sound.
Arriving at the lakeside, rows of painted boats were moored along the water's edge, their large red lanterns hanging high, reflecting the lake's shimmering light.
A lake breeze blows, and the red light dapples the water, creating a beautiful scene.
Following the sound, we arrived at the foot of a ship. The ship, moored on the shore, had a two-story main building with carved beams and painted rafters arranged in a pleasing and orderly manner.
The light gauze curtains fluttering in the wind beneath the soaring eaves and steep corners are even more captivating and alluring.
Xu Lanxin walked forward with great interest, but was blocked by two people behind her.
"Young master, you mustn't."
The two spoke in unison, their expressions grave.
"Don't be so serious, little brother. We're just going to listen to some music, nothing else. Don't worry, we're dressed in men's clothing!"
Xu Lanxin smiled and stepped forward to separate the two, gently patting them:
"Let's go, let's not waste this beautiful time!"
The two remained unmoved.
"What? Are you afraid of Cen Yan's jealousy? Oh, don't worry, I'm the boss in my family! If he dares to punish you, I'll be the first to object and make him kneel on the washboard. My little brothers, let's go."
Lanxin simply pulled them away.
"Our little beauty is waiting for us!"
There were already attractive women and waiters at the dock, who greeted the three of them warmly as they approached.
"Please come in, young master."
The servant led the three of them inside.
Inside the building, the atmosphere was one of revelry and decadence, with soft music filling the air. On the central circular platform, a group of dancers twirled and swirled, their flowing sleeves billowing.
The servant handed them over to a woman with heavy makeup, wrinkles at the corners of her eyes, yet still retaining her charm.
This is probably a brothel madam.
"Young master, you seem to have a kind face. Do you have a girl you like?"
The madam's face beamed with joy.
"I was drawn in by a song on the shore just now. I wonder if you could introduce me to someone, Mother?"
The madam paused for a moment, her smile frozen on her face.
"Young master, you're out of luck. Yingying is currently serving Lord Wei!"
She waved her fragrant silk scarf and smiled sweetly:
"Young master, why don't you try our Yingying? Her little beak is just as lovely as that of the little oriole!"
Xu Lanxin didn't stand on ceremony and said with a smile, "Then I'll trouble you, Mother, to ask Yingying to sing a song. If she doesn't like it, I'll ruin your reputation!"
"Oh, oh, young master, what are you saying? You can rest assured, I will definitely satisfy you."
As they were talking, she led them to a private room.
This private room was indeed very much in the style of a brothel, with a rich fragrance, yellow neon lights, and crystal beads used as curtains.
On one wall is painted a portrait of a lady whose clothes are almost completely exposed.
Qingyu sat on the stool with her eyes fixed straight ahead, while Qinglu looked around curiously, and Xu Lanxin continued to fan herself.
However, instead of the little oriole Yingying, she heard screams from upstairs.
The sound was high-pitched and echoed throughout the entire ship's deck.
"Someone's dead."
The three people in the private room looked at each other, quickly got up, and went upstairs.
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