Chapter 80 Sensual Pleasures
When Zhuang Dongqing stepped onto the deck, she was completely stunned.
In contrast, Li Yang stood to the side with a proud and arrogant demeanor.
Zhuang Dongqing even hesitated for a moment, lowered her voice, and said incredulously, "You...you don't actually have this kind of hobby?"
The plot of the entire book has now deviated significantly. The main characters and important supporting characters are all about doing whatever they want, going further and further down the path of doing whatever they please. Apart from some predetermined character endings that are somewhat consistent, most of them have taken their lives on a whim and made them unique and spectacular...
In Luo Zhuang Dongqing's eyes, it can be summed up in three simple words—incomprehensible.
I don't understand if the ending will be the same.
I also couldn't understand how each character would act next in the different storylines.
Therefore,
Zhuang Dongqing asked this question.
Could it be that the original owner stayed by Li Yang's side because she saw Li Yang's potential to become gay?
"What?" Li Yang looked around carefully and whispered to Zhuang Dongqing, "How extravagant! These kinds of fabrics are usually used for imperial tribute, but now they're being cut up like this and used to decorate ships at will."
The light gauze hanging on the boat pole flutters and reflects dreamlike colors under the sunlight.
Zhuang Dongqing had to admit she understood better. "You like young men?"
Li Yang: "?"
Li Yang: "?!"
Li Yang's shock was so obvious that Zhuang Dongqing understood.
But she was even more confused, and said with a slight raised voice, "If you don't like it, why did you drag me up here?!"
Yes, Zhuang Dongqing was pulled up, before she could even react.
He only said it casually to help Li Yang, but little did he know... Hangzhou's entertainment industry was so developed. His original meaning was that Li Yang didn't like places of entertainment, but the official's thinking quickly took an uncontrollable turn, and he then mentioned the pleasure boats with male escorts, describing them vividly, and then naturally... sincerely invited Li Yang to do him the honor of taking a boat trip.
At that moment, Zhuang Dongqing was dumbfounded and inwardly amazed. He was still wondering if it was true or not. Yangzhou's "slender horses" were famous, but they always referred to graceful young girls in their teens. He had never heard of any graceful young boys.
As for whether or not I want to get on the ship... I'm definitely a little curious about seeing something new...
Then, in this state of divergent thinking, Zhuang Dongqing heard Li Yang agree.
Zhuang Dongqing: "?" What's good? What's good?!
Before he could even process what was happening, Li Yang grabbed his arm and forcibly bound him to her side.
Wiping away his sweat, Zhuang Dongqing's only consolation was that he had thrown Liu Fu back to report the news before stepping onto the pirate ship.
Li Yang: "How could I possibly like it!"
“But training these… cough, these slender horses… will definitely be a waste of money. Not to mention high-ranking officials like prefects and governors, even the official who made the suggestion, his annual salary would certainly not be enough to cover his expenses in these places, but look at him…”
Li Yang nodded.
Zhuang Dongqing glanced ahead, and the official turned around and smiled, but Zhuang Dongqing couldn't see anything beyond the obsequious smile.
Li Yang also noticed, and she was exasperated: "You're so familiar with the place!"
Speaking in a voice only the two of them could hear, "Didn't you notice he was the one leading the way the whole way? We didn't need the pimp on this pleasure boat to show us the way at all!"
"In that case, they must be very familiar with this pleasure boat and be a regular here."
Zhuang Dongqing sensed something was amiss.
"you mean……"
Li Yang covered his mouth and whispered, "If they are so eager to win us over, the Hangzhou Salt Bureau must be deeply mired in corruption. And if such minor officials can afford to spend their time in such places, the number of officials involved must be more than I thought."
"The red-light district is full of gossip; let's see if we can get any useful information out of them."
"Even if they can't find them, pretending to be won over will lower their guard."
The initial plan was for Li Yang and Cen Yan to play the roles of good cop and bad cop, with Cen Yan being the difficult one and Li Yang being the easy-going and compliant one.
After analyzing the situation, it wasn't entirely without merit, but Zhuang Dongqing inexplicably felt a bit sweaty when he thought about the special features of this painted boat.
Li Yang dislikes men and is very open and honest about it.
But he isn't!
he……
"Sixth Prince, Young Master Zhuang, we've arrived, please."
The official leading the way gave a fawning smile and shook the hanging bell.
A moment later, a grown man dressed in a blue robe lifted the curtain and came out.
He wore no makeup and hadn't used any special perfume. His clothes weren't particularly luxurious, but he was tall and slender, with a clearly visible Adam's apple and jawline. He was somewhat unhealthyly thin, but it was precisely this thinness, combined with his indifferent expression, that gave him an inexplicable air of refined elegance and aloofness.
"Lord Pan." The man bowed to the official first.
The gaze shifted to Li Yang and Zhuang Dongqing. Li Yang was quickly dismissed, but when it came to Zhuang Dongqing, the normally calm gaze paused when it fell on the jade pendant at his waist. After subtly scrutinizing his clothes, she smiled and said, "My lord has brought two distinguished guests with him today."
When she's not smiling, she's hard to approach; but when she smiles, she's like a gentle spring breeze, warm and kind.
Zhuang Dongqing: "..."
Is this what they call natural charm?
Zhuang Dongqing didn't understand, but was deeply shocked.
"They are indeed distinguished guests. This is the Sixth Prince, and this is from the Prince of Dingxi's residence."
The man bowed to them again.
Please invite them in.
Feeling that the situation inside was beyond her control, Zhuang Dongqing hesitated. However, Li Yang was focused on investigating the situation and was full of enthusiasm for her work. Since she was invited, she readily agreed and dragged Zhuang Dongqing inside.
Zhuang Dongqing: "..."
Looking at the hand in his, he wondered if Li Yang was also unsure and was just using him for encouragement.
To be honest, in this day and age, thankfully everyone is still relatively... reserved.
Upon entering the inner room, both the doors and windows on both sides were open, with gauze curtains draped over them, allowing a glimpse of the West Lake scenery outside.
A low table stood in front of each person. After asking everyone about their preferences, the man in blue served West Lake Longjing tea, a local product.
The children were all teenagers, around ten years old.
They looked like they were doing menial work, but each of them was exceptionally handsome.
Li Yang didn't care about those things, and since he was a prince, everything was naturally based on his opinion. The official flattered him a couple of times, and the man in blue said a few more words to him. No one knew where Li Yang had learned these words. Zhuang Dongqing listened in and felt that he was quite familiar with these places.
Ask what kind of person they need, and let the man in blue decide.
When asked whether she wanted to listen to a song or watch a dance, Li Yang said that she had already seen all the good ones in the capital and only wanted the other party to choose the best.
When asked about musical instruments, Li Yang said any instrument would be fine.
Zhuang Dongqing: "..."
He silently took another sip of tea and sat quietly to one side.
Finally, three young masters arrived, each with a... rather different style.
The man in blue who greeted them was probably the owner; he had a rather refined and elegant air about him.
The three who arrived later were all teenagers.
The oldest looked to be only eighteen, and they were all very slender, not yet the size of an adult male.
Thinking of something, Zhuang Dongqing touched her arm and then her lower abdomen.
Thanks to horseback riding, her abs have taken shape and can be seen when she flexes them, but her whole body is still mostly fleshy. If she wanted to get as toned as Cen Yan... Zhuang Dongqing felt that she probably couldn't do it.
Thinking of something, his Adam's apple bobbed, and when he looked at the three boys again, he became somewhat indifferent.
There's no other reason than that Zhuang Dongqing doesn't have a romantic relationship with children.
Upon closer inspection, each one indeed possessed its own unique characteristics: one exuded heroic spirit, another had the appearance of a beautiful woman, and yet another was gentle and refined, with smiles seemingly emanating from their eyes and brows.
The dashing young man first performed a sword dance.
It's clear he has a solid foundation, yet he's not vulgar or frivolous. His dance and his demeanor are both exceptional, making him a spirited and energetic young man.
Li Yang's comment on this: "It's good for dancing, but if you were to actually practice swordsmanship, it would be too soft."
Zhuang Dongqing: "..."
I was overwhelmed by the straight man's aura!
Li Yang didn't buy into the first one, so the next one was a young man with a pretty face.
It's still dancing, but this dance... is a bit unconventional.
While jumping, he... took off his clothes.
It wasn't taking off in the conventional sense.
Instead, his clothes were made up of layers of gauze, which were peeled off as he danced.
When the first item fell, Zhuang Dongqing sensed something was wrong.
When the second item arrived, Zhuang Dongqing began to consider the principle of "not looking at what is improper."
Li Yang also realized what was happening.
The two exchanged a glance; Zhuang Dongqing looked embarrassed, while Li Yang looked confused.
To a straight man, this is probably no different from taking off clothes normally. Even if the action has other meanings, the implied meaning is just a flirtatious glance to a blind man, who simply doesn't have the ability to receive it.
With such a short delay, the third item was already on the table, and the boy's waist was beginning to become faintly visible. Zhuang Dongqing: "..."
Help!
Perhaps heaven heard his inner cry for help, for a series of footsteps came from outside.
When the curtain was pulled open, the fourth gauze dress fell to Zhuang Dongqing's feet, and Cen Yan, who was in the lead, saw the whole scene.
Zhuang Dongqing: "..."
Good, my anxiety has finally died down.
"Your Highness?" The official stood up in surprise.
Li Yang, not understanding why, also called out "Your Highness" and stood up to greet him.
Zhuang Dongqing silently stood up and, taking advantage of the moment, moved a little further away from the boy.
"Wow, Sixth Brother Zhuang is in high spirits, watching... such a unique dance!"
Li Zhuo stepped forward, fanning himself with a fan.
The official quickly invited the two into the inner room to enjoy the view together.
Feeling someone's gaze on her head, Zhuang Dongqing secretly wiped her neck.
Li Zhuo was a playful person, and upon hearing this, he immediately walked in, saying with great interest, "Alright, this prince will also come and see the unique charm of your Hangzhou today."
Immediately, a servant brought in two more low tables, but Cen Yan didn't even glance at the one placed for him. He walked straight over to Zhuang Dongqing and sat down in his seat.
Zhuang Dongqing: "..."
Since Cen Yan had given her the seat, Zhuang Dongqing silently tried to leave. Just as she made a move, Cen Yan seemed to have eyes in the back of his head. He instantly reached out, grabbed Zhuang Dongqing's wrist, and pulled her down to sit with him.
Zhuang Dongqing: "..."
Help! Help! Help!
Cen Yan didn't look at him, but quietly stared at the young man next to him, making the atmosphere tense. The man in blue had to step in to smooth things over and asked, "Does Your Highness feel there is anything amiss?"
Cen Yan chuckled.
The fingers gripping Zhuang Dongqing's wrist tightened, and Zhuang Dongqing let out a soft hiss.
Cen Yan: "No."
"continue."
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