You're Treating, I'm Paying?

During the day, Shi Sheng went to report for duty as usual.

Ye Liuyun also went to take a look at the Imperial Prison.

Unfortunately, as he had learned on his last visit, the Imperial Prison still had not been replenished with many prisoners.

The few scattered ones did not have any particularly special tags on them either.

After looking around for a while, Ye Liuyun left.

He waited until nightfall.

After changing out of their official uniforms, Ye Liuyun and the others arrived at one of the liveliest establishments in the city—the Imperial Brothel.

"So this is the Imperial Brothel?"

From the outside, it was ablaze with lights. Compared to other brothels, the Imperial Brothel's layout was more understated; at the very least, there were no women standing outside soliciting customers.

"I heard every girl in the Imperial Brothel is beautiful as a celestial maiden. Courtesan Leader Ruoxi is said to be a heavenly maiden descended to earth. I wonder if we'll get to see her perform tonight."

A courtesan leader was naturally the finest among all the women.

Ye Liuyun did not respond. His main purpose tonight was to broaden his horizons, so he strode inside in great strides.

Shi Sheng followed Ye Liuyun inside as well. As he passed Si Nan, he even gave him a look as though he were staring at a fool. What an embarrassment.

"My lord, wait for me!"

By the time Si Nan came to his senses, Ye Liuyun and Shi Sheng had already gone in. Without time to think, he hurried after them.

Ye Liuyun and the others were seated in a private room on the second floor, where they could see the performance on the stage below.

The gentle sound of the zither was soothing enough to relax one's mind.

There were also women dancing, their graceful movements clearly the result of training since childhood.

All around them came the cheers and tips of the other patrons.

After looking around, Ye Liuyun found the place even more luxurious than he had imagined.

No wonder they said the ancients understood how to enjoy themselves. There were only so many forms of entertainment in this era, and even some court ministers enjoyed frequenting brothels.

Before long, wine began to arrive.

"You three gentlemen look unfamiliar. This must be your first time at our Imperial Brothel."

A charming middle-aged madam came to their table and poured each of them a cup of wine.

"Our Imperial Brothel's rule is that every guest must first pay one hundred taels. Anything else is charged separately."

"Pay money?"

Ye Liuyun and Si Nan did not find that strange, but Shi Sheng froze.

"Didn't they say the food and wine here were free?"

Shi Sheng's words made the woman pause. Then she could not help covering her mouth and laughing.

"At our Imperial Brothel, each person first pays one hundred taels, after which the food and wine are free. If you require a girl to drink with you, that costs extra."

Surely no one actually thought eating at a place like this was free, right?

Ye Liuyun was not surprised at all. It just felt a little like an all-you-can-eat buffet.

Si Nan, meanwhile, looked at Shi Sheng strangely.

"So you invited us here because you heard food was free at the Imperial Brothel?"

"..."

Shi Sheng did not answer, but the meaning was plain enough.

Si Nan rolled his eyes speechlessly. This fool really was single-minded to the core—he had dared come without even figuring things out first.

"Um..."

After hesitating for a moment, Shi Sheng extended a hand toward Si Nan.

"I'm a little short on silver."

One hundred taels per person meant three hundred taels for three people.

"How much are you short?"

They were here to have fun, and if Shi Sheng had only been short a few taels, Si Nan would not have minded covering it.

"Two hundred and ninety taels."

"What the hell!"

Si Nan nearly spat out his wine and sprang to his feet.

"You only have ten taels on you, and you still dared invite us to the Imperial Brothel?"

He had thought Shi Sheng was merely short a few taels. Instead, the man had only a few taels to begin with, yet still dared invite them here.

"How was I supposed to know it wasn't actually free here? Besides, the Brocade Guard's monthly salary isn't much to begin with. It's already pretty good that I have ten taels on me!"

Most members of the Brocade Guard did not live off their salaries.

But Shi Sheng was different. He did not have all those twists and turns in his heart, nor had he ever collected protection fees. His only source of income was his salary.

"I..."

I fucking shouldn't have come.

Looking at Shi Sheng's shamelessly thick skin as he held out his hand and asked for money, Si Nan truly wanted to slap him if only his strength were not lacking.

Who exactly was treating whom here?

But there was no helping it. They were already here; he could not exactly make Ye Liuyun pay.

Si Nan could only take out three banknotes with a pained expression.

If he had not made quite a bit of money recently by following Ye Liuyun, Si Nan truly would not have been able to produce so much.

"Bastard!"

As he paid, Si Nan shot Shi Sheng a vicious glare. So you were treating, and he was paying?

"Don't worry. I'll treat you to steamed buns tomorrow morning!"

Perhaps Shi Sheng also felt that this was not quite right. He spoke to Si Nan with utmost seriousness.

"..."

Si Nan did not want to say a word.

Soon, after the woman collected the money, she left. Fine wine and delicious dishes were brought up one after another.

One hundred taels per person was not cheap, but the quality of the wine and food truly was excellent.

"My lord, a toast to you!"

Shi Sheng raised his cup, stood up, and looked earnestly at Ye Liuyun.

"I misunderstood you before, my lord. From this day forward, if there is ever anything you need, I, Shi Sheng, will not hesitate to go through fire and water!"

Shi Sheng's thoughts were simple.

Since Ye Liuyun had helped him, he would help Ye Liuyun in return.

"Don't worry. There will be plenty of times I'll need you in the future. I won't stand on ceremony!"

It would be far too wasteful not to make good use of Shi Sheng's strength as a First-Rate Martial Artist.

"And me!"

Si Nan also stood up beside them, raising his cup as he spoke to Ye Liuyun.

"Without you, my lord, there would be no Si Nan today. Wherever you point, I, Si Nan, will follow you through life and death."

After saying that, he cast a wary glance at Shi Sheng.

This fellow looked honest and proper, yet he could say such flattering words too?

No, I need to watch out. I can't let him steal my position as the lord's lackey.

"All right, I accept your intentions. Sit down!"

Ye Liuyun smiled and waved a hand, signaling for the two to sit again.

"We came here to enjoy ourselves tonight. There's no need to be so serious. Just do your work well in the future. I won't withhold a single benefit that is due to you!"

"Yes, my lord!"

Si Nan truly believed it. His lord was genuinely generous now.

It was just that the money he had worked so hard to earn was gone after a single meal. Thinking of that, Si Nan cast a resentful look at Shi Sheng.

Shi Sheng, however, acted as though he had not seen it. Completely carefree, he tore off a chicken leg and began eating on his own.

"Really delicious!"

In the private room next door.

Lü Lan was respectfully pouring wine for Yan Shuzhu.

Although Yan Shuzhu had heard of a place like this, it was also her first time coming here.

She waved a hand and declined the girl's offer to drink with her.

Sitting here, she could also clearly hear the commotion from Ye Liuyun's room next door.

Yan Shuzhu had come here precisely because she had received news of Ye Liuyun.