Chapter 207 Visiting a brothel again

For a modern person who has just traveled through time, what is the most attractive place when he first arrives?

Of course it is the ancient brothel.

Because this place doesn't exist in modern times.

This is illegal in modern times, but in ancient times, although it was explicitly stipulated that court officials were not allowed to keep prostitutes, it did not prohibit them from visiting brothels.

As soon as Jiang Jiuyi came out of the palace, he started throwing flowers.

He already had a destination in mind, and headed straight for the largest brothel in the capital, Hua Man Lou.

When she came out of the carriage, she was a handsome young man.

Taohua wanted to stop him but couldn't, so she could only disguise herself as a servant and follow closely.

However, no matter how similar the two people dress, the madam who has been surrounded by women all year round can still tell them apart at a glance.

She runs a shop and does business, so she naturally wouldn't kick customers out.

"Two young gentlemen, please come in..."

Jiang Jiu glanced at the other people. They were all rewarded with silver when they entered the door. The amount ranged from five to ten taels. It was really expensive.

She also casually gave him five taels of silver and went in with Taohua.

I have to say, brothels in ancient times were really lively.

It was the middle of the night and the streets were really deserted, but the brothel was really bustling.

There were people everywhere, upstairs and downstairs.

This is a three-story circular building with a stage in the middle and tables all around it.

The tables are quite densely packed together near the stage. According to the waiter, one needs to spend more than thirty taels to sit at a table.

Jiang Jiu was reluctant to spend the money, so he stood far away.

The back of the first floor is for individual customers, there are both standing and sitting places, and you can also share tables with others.

The second floor is a private room, which is partitioned one by one, making it convenient to watch the performance clearly.

The third floor is in a semicircle, and it is said that the back of the building is the courtesan's private room. If guests want to drink and compose poetry with the courtesan, they need to get their consent.

The four main instruments at Hua Man Lou are dance, pipa, tea and piano.

The four rooms upstairs are said to have good sound insulation, so no matter what you do inside, it won't disturb others.

There is a circular staircase on each side of the flower building, leading to the second and third floors.

As soon as Jiang Jiu walked in, he heard a new dance music.

Familiar tune, familiar lyrics, Jiang Jiu immediately concluded that this must have been written by a time traveler.

She couldn't help but hum along with the tune.

While singing, I heard two men who were sharing the table talking.

"Miss Luyao will give you a poem in a while. If you can answer it, tonight's fee will be waived."

It turns out that Hua Man Lou actually has a different set of rules.

Every night there is an Oiran who asks questions at noon. Sometimes it is poetry, sometimes it is couplets, sometimes it is various riddles and so on.

After the questions are asked, the guests will be asked to respond. Those who respond well will not only have their expenses for the day waived, but will also be able to spend an hour with the courtesan.

This makes many men want to try it at night.

However, no one has figured it out for a long time.

Jiang Jiu patted Taohua's arm excitedly: "I wonder what will happen tonight?"

Taohua showed an embarrassment: "No matter what, the princess has to go back quickly. Once the key is taken from the palace, we won't be able to go back."

Jiang Jiu didn't take it seriously: "If you can't go back, then don't go back. It's not a big deal to go home directly. I can sneak back in tomorrow morning. Anyway, the emperor is busy with all kinds of affairs and doesn't care about me."

Taohua held her forehead with her hand: "With the princess's talent, you can't even match her..."

The original owner, Yao Qin, was indeed somewhat uneducated, but Jiang Jiu was different, as he was a college student after all.

Sure enough, after the dance, a woman in a light green dress came out.

Two little maids followed behind her, and she clapped her hands.

"Everyone, please be quiet. Today's topic is still pairs. Please take a look."

The little maid behind him pulled up the couplet.

Someone volunteered to read it.

"The sea tide, day after day...what is this?"

Some people started to laugh at him.

"That's not how it's pronounced. It's the tide of the sea, morning after morning..."

There were actually not many words I could pronounce correctly, so naturally I couldn't spell it out either.

At this time, Jiang Jiu chuckled and stood out from the crowd.

“This is a good couplet. The sea tide rises and falls day after day. (hǎi shuǐ cho， zho zho cho， zho cho zho luò)”

After hearing him read so smoothly, everyone wanted to hit her.

"Since this young man can read, he will naturally be able to come up with the second line, right?"

Jiang Jiu smiled confidently: "Naturally, floating clouds grow longer and longer, and then disappear. (fú yún zhǎng， chng chng zhǎng， chng zhǎng chng xio)"

Everyone exclaimed.

"I didn't expect this young master to be so quick-witted. He figured it out before Miss Luyao could even show her tea art. He's really amazing."

Luyao also generously gave Jiang Jiu a sign.

"Sir, please wait for me in your room. Tonight's expenses are waived. May I ask your name?"

Jiang Jiu imitated the men, clasped his hands together and bowed.

"My surname is Jiang, and my given name is Jiu."

This statement should be in line with the customs of ancient people.

Unexpectedly, Jiang Jiu saw a hint of shock on Luyao's face.

Then I heard Lu Yao muttering to herself: "The tender green and red flowers are bright in the eyes, and the beauty of spring is secretly shocking."

This was a poem that Jiang Jiu blurted out when he saw her wearing green when Zhao Zhuoxi selected four courtesans and asked Jiang Jiu to give them names before coming to Suzhou.

Now that the person has passed away, when she hears the same name again, although the appearance is different, Luyao can immediately think of the past.

Jiang Jiu was also surprised: "What a good poem! Is this the origin of Miss Luyao's name? The second half of the poem should be, If you don't drink from the pot, who can you persuade to drink? The sound is ringing deep in the bamboo bushes."

After listening to this, Luyao quickly glanced up to the second floor with her bright eyes and then made a humble gesture.

"Sir, please."

Jiang Jiu knew that this meant she was asked to go to Luyao's room and wait.

Jiang Jiu waved his hands: "It's okay, I'll just watch here for a while. It's a great honor to see Miss Luyao perform tea art in person."

Just like his previous masters, he had always admired these women and never looked down on them in the slightest.

Luyao did not force her, but started her own performance.

Jiang Jiu sat at the first table and watched quietly under the envious gazes of the crowd.

"When did the princess become so talented that she can even make couplets!"

Not only Peach Blossom was shocked.

Even Zhao Zhuoxi, who came to Hua Man Lou with Jiang Jiu, was shocked.

"Jiang Jiu? She actually said her name is Jiang Jiu..."

No, no.

Zhao Zhuoxi felt his heartbeat quicken and his breathing almost stopped.

Many people in Suzhou know the name Jiang Jiu, but in Beijing...

Jiang Jiu appeared as Madam Jiang beside Prince Qi, and few people knew her full name.

Especially Yao Qin, she had never known her and the two of them had almost no intersection.

Yao Qin used to follow Zhenguogong to guard southern Xinjiang, and only returned from southern Xinjiang at the end of last year.

By that time, Jiang Jiu had already gotten into trouble.

Besides, everyone calls Jiang Jiu Madam Jiang...

Plus, all the things that happened in the past...