You treat, I pay?

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

Ye Liuyun also went to the Bright Prison to take a look.

It was a pity. He knew from his last visit that the number of people in the Bright Prison hadn't increased much since then.

There were only a few scattered individuals, and none of them had any special traits.

So, after watching for a while, Ye Liuyun left.

He waited until evening.

Ye Liuyun and the others, having changed out of their official uniforms, arrived at one of the liveliest restaurants in the city, the Imperial Brothel.

"Is this the Imperial Brothel?"

From the outside, it was brightly lit. Compared to other brothels, the Imperial Brothel's layout was more understated. At least there were no women soliciting customers outside the door.

"I heard that the girls in the Imperial Brothel are all as beautiful as celestial beings, and the Courtesan Leader Ruoxi is even like a goddess descended to earth. I wonder if we'll be able to see the Courtesan Leader perform tonight."

The so-called Courtesan Leader was naturally the most outstanding among the many women.

Ye Liuyun didn't respond. His main purpose tonight was to broaden his horizons, and he strode in with large steps.

Shi Sheng also followed Ye Liuyun's pace. As he passed Si Nan, he gave him a look as if he were an idiot. How embarrassing.

"Hey, my lord, wait for me!"

By the time Si Nan reacted, Ye Liuyun and Shi Sheng had already gone in. Without time to think, he quickly followed.

Ye Liuyun and the others were seated in a private room on the second floor, which offered a perfect view of the performance stage on the first floor.

The soothing zither music was quite relaxing.

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

Around them, many spectators were cheering or giving rewards.

Ye Liuyun looked around. It was indeed much more luxurious than he had imagined.

No wonder people said the ancients knew how to enjoy themselves. There were only a few forms of entertainment in this era, and even some court officials were quite fond of visiting brothels.

Soon, someone started serving wine.

"The three guests look unfamiliar. This must be your first time at our Imperial Brothel."

A charming woman came to Ye Liuyun and the others' table and poured each of them a glass of wine.

"Our Imperial Brothel's rule is that each guest pays one hundred taels first, and other expenses are calculated separately."

"Pay?"

Ye Liuyun and Si Nan didn't think anything of it, but Shi Sheng was stunned for a moment.

"Didn't they say the drinks and food here are free?"

Shi Sheng's words made the woman pause for a moment before she couldn't help but cover her mouth and chuckle lightly.

"At our Imperial Brothel, everyone pays a hundred taels upfront, and then drinks and food are free. If you need a girl to accompany you for drinks, that requires an additional payment."

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

Ye Liuyun wasn't surprised at all, he just felt the model was a bit like a buffet.

Meanwhile, Si Nan looked at Shi Sheng strangely.

"So, you initially heard that eating inside the Imperial Brothel was free, and that's why you invited us here?"

"..."

Shi Sheng didn't answer, but the meaning was self-evident.

Si Nan rolled his eyes speechlessly. This simpleton was truly single-minded, daring to come without understanding the situation clearly.

"Um..."

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

"I'm a bit short on silver."

A hundred taels per person, that's three hundred taels for three people.

"How much are you short?"

Since it was a happy occasion, if it was just a few taels short, Si Nan wouldn't mind covering it.

"Two hundred and ninety taels."

"What the hell!"

Si Nan nearly spat out a mouthful of wine and immediately stood up.

"You only have ten taels on you, and you dare to invite us to this Imperial Brothel?"

He thought it was just a few taels short, but you're telling me you only have a few taels on you? And you still dared to invite us here?

"How was I supposed to know it wasn't 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 Brocade Guards don't rely on their salary to live.

But Shi Sheng was different; he didn't have so many twists and turns, nor did he collect protection fees. His only source of income was his salary.

"I..."

I shouldn't have come.

Looking at the thick-skinned Shi Sheng, who just reached out and asked him for money, if he wasn't lacking in strength, Si Nan really wanted to slap him directly.

Who was inviting whom, anyway?

But there was no other way. Since they were already here, they couldn't possibly let Ye Liuyun pay, could they?

Si Nan could only pull a long face and take out three silver notes from his person.

If he hadn't been following Ye Liuyun recently and made a good amount of money, Si Nan really wouldn't have been able to take out this much money.

"You bastard!"

When paying, Si Nan glared fiercely at Shi Sheng. You're treating, and I'm paying, right?

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

Perhaps Shi Sheng also felt that what he did wasn't quite right, so he said to Si Nan in a serious tone.

"..."

He didn't want to talk at all.

Soon, after the woman collected the money, she left. Then, good wine and delicious dishes were served.

Although one hundred taels per person wasn't cheap, the quality of the wine and dishes was indeed good.

"My lord, I toast you!"

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

"Regarding the previous matter, I misunderstood my lord. From now on, if there is anything my lord needs, I, Shi Sheng, will not refuse!"

Shi Sheng's thoughts were relatively simple.

Since Ye Liuyun helped him, he would also help Ye Liuyun.

"Don't worry, there will be many places where I'll need you in the future. I won't be polite!"

It would be too much of a waste if Shi Sheng's strength as a First-Rate Martial Artist wasn't put to good use.

"And me!"

Si Nan, who was beside him, also stood up, raised his wine cup, and said to Ye Liuyun.

"Without my lord, there would be no Si Nan today. Whatever my lord points to, I, Si Nan, will follow to life and death."

After speaking, he also glanced at Shi Sheng warily.

This guy looked honest and simple, but he didn't expect him to say such nice words.

No, I need to be careful and not let him snatch my position as a lackey.

"Alright, I've received your intentions. Sit down!"

Ye Liuyun smiled and waved his hand, signaling the two to sit down again.

"Tonight is for having fun, there's no need to be so serious. Do your jobs well in the future, and the benefits that should be yours, I won't shortchange you on any of them!"

"Yes, my lord!"

Si Nan truly believed that his lord was genuinely generous now.

It was just that the money he had finally managed to scrape together was gone in this one meal. Thinking of this, Si Nan looked at Shi Sheng with a rather resentful gaze.

But Shi Sheng seemed to not notice at all. He heartlessly tore off a chicken leg and ate it by himself.

"It's really fragrant!"

In the private room next door.

Lü Lan was respectfully pouring wine for Yan Shuzhu.

Although Yan Shuzhu had heard of such a place, it was her first time visiting.

She waved her hand, refusing the courtesan's offer to drink with her.

Sitting here, she could conveniently hear the commotion from Ye Liuyun's side next door.

It was precisely because Yan Shuzhu had received news from Ye Liuyun that she had come here.