0058 Five Spicy Dishes (Part Two)
After Li Miao left, Shu Fu took two books from Aye's study and read them by lamplight in the pavilion by the pond until night.
She and A-Jian waited until 7 PM, keeping the water clock running, before setting off from Jichi and walking along the lush, flower-lined path to the back gate.
There was only a quarter of an hour for the servants to hand over the reins at the back door, and she needed to jump over the wall in that short time.
A-Jian nimbly climbed the banyan tree at the base of the wall and said to Shu-Fu below, "Does Miss remember what I just did?"
Seeing that the girl was still hesitant, she quickly said, "Don't be afraid, young lady. A-Jian will pull you up from above and will never let you fall... Even if you slip, I will fall down first to cushion your fall."
Shu Fu was amused by her and imitated her movements. She wedged herself into the gap between the corner of the wall and the tree roots and climbed up a few steps with all her might. Sure enough, it was a bit difficult. Fortunately, A Jian was quick-witted and pulled her up into the tree.
"You're so clever, young lady!" A-Jian didn't hold back her praise. She said a few words to her in a flattering manner, and then added, "The princess hasn't arrived yet. Why don't you sit on the wall for a while, young lady? I'll keep watch over you!"
Shu Fu sat on the wall as instructed, dangling her feet down and swinging them a few times. She listened quietly to the sound of the wind in Chang'an at night for a while, finding it to be a different kind of charm from the one Zhan Yaoguang had seen.
At 1:15 PM, Li Miao's carriage arrived on time.
She was using an extremely ordinary painted carriage at this time, which was inconsistent with her ostentatious and extravagant lifestyle during the day.
Seeing Shu Fu sitting on the wall, tilting her head to look at her, Li Miao raised her voice slightly: "Shu Fu, come quickly, I'll have someone catch you downstairs."
Upon hearing this, Cai Cai and Mian Mian quickly pulled out a soft cushion from the cubicle and placed it against the wall. They then joined hands and assumed the posture of human cushions.
Shu Fu said somewhat shyly, "Sisters, please step aside, or I might hurt you."
Seeing that she insisted, the two maids stepped aside, and fortunately the girl on the wall landed on the cushion without any danger.
Li Miao quickly pulled her up and ushered her into the carriage. Seeing this, A-Jian in the tree also felt relieved and said to Shu Fu in the carriage, "Miss, please remember to come back early. If you really can't return tonight, you must return before dawn tomorrow."
Shu Fu peeked out and nodded to her, then thought for a moment and instructed, "Even if I don't come back, you mustn't enter my room without permission, understand?"
A-Jian nodded.
Leaving aside how she would while away the night, Shu Fu, sitting in the carriage, held Li Miao's hand and pleaded for a long time, but still couldn't get a specific destination out of her.
Li Miao coaxed her to drink the tea, then took a few bites of the soft, sweet fruit himself, saying only, "Don't worry, you'll be happy when you see it."
As the carriage traveled along, the initial silence gradually transformed into a cacophony of voices.
Shu Fu was filled with curiosity, but as soon as she stepped out of the carriage, she was greeted by two rows of towering red sandalwood buildings, each two or three stories high, intertwined and closely packed together. The air was filled with the fragrance of incense, the lamps burned brightly, and soft silk curtains fluttered in the breeze, with gold, silver, pearls and jade jingling in the air, making one feel as if they were in a fairyland.
Standing in the midst of it all, Shu Fu felt the bustling noise almost deafening her; she could barely make out a bright red building in front of her.
“Kuai Zai Pavilion…” she read out each word, her heart skipped a beat, and a thought vaguely formed in her mind, but she still asked incredulously in a low voice, “What kind of place is this?”
Standing amidst the dazzling lights, Li Miao turned to look at her and smiled, replying, "As you can see, this place is called Kuai Zai Pavilion, located in Chang'an City—"
"Inside Pingkangfang."
...
Shu Fu felt as if she had been struck by lightning; blood rushed to her face, and she immediately tried to shrink back into the car.
Li Miao gave a wink to her left and right, and Cai Cai and Mian Mian, while shouting "Excuse me!", actually dragged her to the ground without any mercy.
Shu Fu struggled in vain, so she could only glare at her: "Li Miao! You're bullying me!"
"What do you mean by bullying?" Li Miao smiled and lightly touched the words "Kuai Zai Ge" with her finger. "I'm here to bring you here to have fun."
The four of them stepped into the bustling and lively Kuai Zai Pavilion, where they were immediately greeted by a warm fragrance, resembling peach and plum blossoms, so rich and lingering that it was dazzling.
As the group entered, a brothel madam with heavy makeup pushed aside a handsome young man who was standing beside her and making flirtatious remarks, and greeted them with a beaming smile.
"Today, the east wind is blowing so well that we have finally welcomed Lady Li." As she spoke, she laughed, causing her two soft, white breasts to sway back and forth, which made Shu Fu immediately turn her face away in embarrassment.
"I wonder who this lady is..." The madam's bright eyes darted around, her gaze landing on the beautiful young woman beside Li Miao.
“This is my close friend,” Li Miaozhi knew that Shu Fu was shy and somewhat embarrassed by the madam’s blatant scrutiny, so she stepped forward to block her. “She’s coming back here for the first time today, madam, don’t be stingy. Pick a few clean and handsome young men to send over later.”
Upon hearing this, the madam covered her lips with a round fan and chuckled twice before turning around and going to prepare.
Shu Fu's face flushed red, and she tugged hard at her sleeve: "What are you saying! I... I don't need to find my husband!"
"No need? Why not!" Li Miao didn't care at all. "That bastard surnamed Liang put a big green hat on you, so you should take it back to him and vent your anger. Why bother guarding that worthless chastity for such a person?"
Shu Fu paused, unsure how to tell her. She couldn't very well tell her that she was keeping a handsome young man in her room, could she?
In that moment of distraction, she was carried by Bian Caicai and Mianmian all the way to the second floor of Kuai Zai Pavilion.
Li Miao was finalizing the furnishing arrangements for the several premium rooms they wanted with another madam, while Shu Fu, having finally managed to break free from Cai Cai and Mian Mian's hold, leaned against the railing to catch her breath.
She glanced down unintentionally and saw a group of dissolute young men gathered around a high platform made of mahogany in the center of the Kuai Zai Pavilion.
Not long after, a maid with her hair in two buns lifted a curtain and entered the hall, announcing, "Miss Xi Yunzhu has arrived."
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