Was I tricked in Chapter 13?
"Sigh..." It was too late for Mu Xi to call a halt.
Mu Xun's gaze was fixed on Mu Xi's face, his voice low and alluringly gentle: "I know you're usually depressed, but tonight... tonight is really not a good time... let me take you somewhere, anything that can ease your worries."
Faced with this gentle offensive, Mu Xi clearly sensed something was amiss, but was unwilling to give up: "I just said we're going to the most bustling and expensive place. What? Does the prestigious Jin Fangjun Mansion not even want to spend a few taels of silver?"
"No, that's not true. As long as you're happy, what does it matter how much money it costs?" Mu Xun coaxed Mu Xi as if he were an older brother.
This is clearly a cliché.
Mu Xi didn't want to be treated like a fool, so she tried to force herself to get up: "Stop the car, stop the car..."
The carriage swayed, and Mu Xun grabbed Mu Xi's arm, saying, "Be careful, don't panic, we'll be there soon."
"Ah..." Mu Xi was pulled back to her seat by inertia.
The carriage stopped after the slight tumble.
Mu Xun lifted the curtain of the carriage and glanced outside.
Mu Xi eagerly looked outside and asked, "Is this it?"
The carriage stopped in front of a courtyard house with blue tiles and white walls. Inside, a two-story building was vaguely visible, its lights flickering, but no music could be heard. It was nothing like the upscale restaurant in the bustling street just moments before.
Mu Xun also hesitated: "This place is unassuming, but I've heard that the interior is elegant and clean, and that some tasteful young men in Moyang City come here to seek it out."
"Why do you sound so guilty?" Mu Xi wasn't someone who hadn't seen much of the world; judging by her appearance alone, she was rather "low-key."
Just as they were pondering this, two servants carrying red lanterns came out from the open gate to greet them.
One of the servants glanced at the carriage, then lowered his eyelids and drawled, "Sir, you've come to 'Meet the Flower Terrace,' haven't you? You know, the prices here aren't low. And our shop's rule is that the girls sell their art, not their bodies. If you're looking for those frivolous women, you won't find them here."
"I know," the coachman replied first, tossing a piece of silver into the servant's arms.
The waiter crumpled the loose silver in his hand, and immediately beamed with joy: "Oh, sir, please come in. May I ask which young lady you wish to meet at the flower terrace?"
This really is "that kind of place".
Mu Xun hadn't lied to her after all.
The plaque below the porch reads "Qingguan".
Hmm, the name sounds elegant, but it's still a place that harbors filth and corruption.
It is said that although the place is not big, its "rules" are quite impressive.
Upon receiving the letter, Mu Xi jumped off the carriage.
As soon as my feet touched the ground, I hesitated.
I acted impulsively and stubbornly insisted on coming to this place. Now that we're at the door, do I really want to go in?
Although I've been to nightclubs before in my past life, I'd never actually gone to one where I ordered chickens, ducks, cats, dogs, or geese...
I've never actually tried it.
Hesitating for a moment, Mu Xun seized the opportunity to whisper and persuade him, "If Your Highness is unwilling, it's not too late to go back now."
"Why don't you go in..." Mu Xi realized she was already in a bind.
So he strode inside.
Mu Xun quickly sent the coachman to stop the carriage, then followed and whispered, "Young Master, this kind of place is full of all sorts of people, so it's best to keep a low profile. How about we change how we address you? I'll call you 'Young Master.' Here, as long as you're willing to spend money, it's all the same."
Mu Xi hadn't forgotten the most important purpose of tonight, and refused outright: "Why? I am the dignified heir of the Jin Fang family, I don't need to hide my true colors."
"Welcome, welcome, gentlemen..." Just then, the shopkeeper, who had been informed, came over from afar to greet them.
Mu Xi deliberately raised his voice: "What young master? I am the heir of the Jin Fang family."
The shopkeeper was taken aback and quickly looked him up and down. When he got closer, he could see more clearly the hidden four-clawed dragon pattern on the front and collar of Mu Xi's purple-gold robe.
His expression immediately changed, and he quickly stepped forward to offer a deep bow: "Oh my, I never expected that it would be the young master of the Marquis's family who would grace us with their presence..."
"No need for formalities in this kind of place, shopkeeper. We should keep a low profile." Mu Xun stepped in front of Mu Xi and discreetly took out a silver note and handed it over.
The shopkeeper was overjoyed and quickly took it and put it in his pocket.
Mu Xun took two steps forward and whispered a few words to the shopkeeper.
The shopkeeper's expression changed, and then he gave some instructions to the servant before bowing and leading the way without glancing at Mu Xi again.
This Qingguan (a type of traditional Chinese pavilion) has a small exterior with a narrow porch and low walls, but its interior is actually quite different.
Mu Xi was led around the winding road, passing through flower-lined pavilions and terraces, where the sounds of women chatting could be heard from time to time. Men and women moved about among the flowers and trees, creating a unique and charming scene.
But the path the shopkeeper led them on became increasingly remote the further they went.
"Why not in the main hall, where it's lively?" Mu Xi frowned on the surface, but she was actually unsure of what to do.
The shopkeeper smiled apologetically: "Our shop is not like a typical brothel. We don't have a main hall to welcome guests. When guests come here to 'meet at the flower terrace,' they naturally go to find their own flowers, all deep within the flower terrace."
"This..." It sounds quite "high-class," but it doesn't align with Mu Xi's most important purpose for this trip.
"Stop babbling and just lead the way," Mu Xun urged from the side, then said to Mu Xi, "The young master is of noble status and naturally would not easily mingle with those scoundrels."
"Yes, yes... Your Highness, please..." The shopkeeper glanced at Mu Xun's expression and dared not say more, gesturing for him to enter the courtyard.
Mu Xi has now confirmed that she entered this place, meaning she has been tricked by Mu Xun.
But the courtyard before us, with its moonlit shadows, frost-covered trees, and clusters of flowers, truly seemed like a paradise on earth.
"Ha, you call this place 'Green Pavilion,' but there's hardly any 'green' here, yet it's all brightly colored." Mu Xi then took a step forward.
The shopkeeper explained, "Your Highness may not know this since it's your first time here. The name 'Qingguan' in our shop refers to 'Qingjiu' (green wine), and the name 'Huihuatai' (Flower Terrace) implies that there must be flowers."
They put a lot of thought into it.
As they were talking, Mu Xi entered the main room.
The room was decorated with exquisite and elegant decorations and filled with bouquets. Two musicians were already waiting inside, gracefully bowing to the guests.
Mu Xi was led to sit in the center behind the octagonal table.
As soon as they sat down, two musicians, one playing the zither and the other the flute, began to perform.
The innkeeper first served tea to Mu Xi with great courtesy, and then asked, "Young Master, how many flowers will you be 'meeting' at the flower terrace tonight? And what kind of performances would you like to see?"
Mu Xi couldn't understand these "jargon" and hadn't had a drop of water since waking up in the coffin, so she was really thirsty.
He first picked up his teacup and drank it all in one gulp, then took out the words he had thought of on the way: "Bring on the best wine and food, and perform whatever you're good at. As for the people... call them all, I'll make sure to choose them carefully."
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