Flower Gazing Pavilion

Sitting in the courtyard, though the warm sun had risen, the ground was still blanketed in snow after the storm. A cold wind swept past, piercing to the bone.

"No, it's too cold today. I need to go warm up at Flower Gazing Pavilion."

His daily check-in at Flower Gazing Pavilion.

Hearing that Chu Xuanao was going to Flower Gazing Pavilion again, Qiuyue puffed up her little cheeks. She wrapped both arms around Chu Xuanao's neck and smoothly settled herself into his lap.

"Your Highness, you're going to Flower Gazing Pavilion again today. Is Ruyan really that enchanting?"

Looking at Qiuyue's sulky little face, Chu Xuanao curled his right index finger and lightly scraped the tip of her nose.

"You're even teasing your own prince now. Why don't you come along with me?"

"Forget it. This servant would only spoil Your Highness's refined pleasure."

Qiuyue and Shuangxue had been by his side since childhood, and both were rare, peerless beauties.

Qiuyue wore the face of a cold, regal beauty, with fair and tender skin. If she put on the aloof style of clothing from his previous life, she would absolutely have the air of an overbearing female CEO. Yet when she acted cute, she had a flavor all her own.

Shuangxue had a baby face and was utterly adorable—especially that childlike face and towering... ahem, ahem. It made one want to scale lofty peaks, irresistibly alluring. That baby face of hers alone made people want to bully her.

Don't get any wrong ideas. Qiuyue and Shuangxue were both five years older than him! Perfectly acceptable.

Among all the princes, Chu Xuanao was known for his easygoing nature and good temper. His two maidservants had gradually grown bolder as well.

From time to time, they would even joke with him a little, bringing some amusement to his otherwise bland life.

Still, the two knew their place. They understood their positions and were quite good at keeping the proper measure in how they conducted themselves and handled the people and things around them.

Unlike some people from his previous life, whose little brains had attacked their big brains until the latter were completely paralyzed.

They did things and spoke without using their brains at all. He truly had no idea how those heaven-defying remarks ever left their mouths.

As for Qiuyue saying he was going to see Ruyan, that wasn't actually the case.

It was just that after that previous incident spread, whenever he went to Flower Gazing Pavilion, everyone claimed that Chu Xuanao was there to see Ruyan.

Rumors could not be trusted!

Ever since he had visited Flower Gazing Pavilion at age eleven and uttered, "To die beneath a peony blossom—one would still be a romantic ghost," the saying had spread among those scholars and refined literati, making Flower Gazing Pavilion famous in one stroke. The name of its courtesan queen, Ruyan, had especially shaken the world.

He had nearly been beaten to death by Imperial Father in a fit of rage. Before the wounds on his backside had even healed, his imperial consort mother took over, and he was bedridden for nearly a month.

At the time, he had not actually wanted to visit Flower Gazing Pavilion. He had merely heard that Ruyan used her own name rather than a stage name.

Her surname was Liu, and her given name was Liu Ruyan.

He had only wanted to see that Liu Ruyan who stood alone through the ages. The facts proved that no Ruyan Emperor was ugly; she was not the least bit inferior to the present-day Qiuyue and Shuangxue.

Most importantly, the Ruyan Emperor possessed a unique seductive, bewitching charm that no one else had.

Yet after he won the poetry contest, he had only just entered her bedchamber and had not even started talking yet—(I wasn't planning to talk, really)—when Imperial Father's men kicked down the door, seized him, and dragged him away.

"Call Menban and Sledgehammer. Flower Gazing Pavilion."

Chu Xuanao instructed Xiao Dezi beside him.

At the entrance of Flower Gazing Pavilion, before Chu Xuanao had even reached the doors, Madam was already waiting respectfully with a group of girls.

There was no helping it—Menban and Sledgehammer were far too conspicuous, especially the greatsword in Menban's hand.

Before the men had even arrived, the sharp-eyed girls had already spotted them.

"Greetings, Prince of Qin. How would Your Highness like to arrange things today?"

When she saw Chu Xuanao alight, Madam hurried forward and bowed respectfully. The group of girls behind her also stepped forward, a dazzling profusion of orioles and swallows, beauty beyond measure.

After getting out of the carriage, Chu Xuanao stretched himself and spoke like an old cadre.

"The usual.

Qingya Yanhua, Lijing Pavilion; guqin and zither, Jile Banquet."

Qingya Yanhua referred to the four great beauties of Flower Gazing Pavilion: Qinglian, Yaxin, Ruyan, and Huarui.

Lijing Pavilion, meanwhile, was one of Flower Gazing Pavilion's signature venues. As its name suggested, countless crystal mirrors stood within it. A guest seated in the central position could see every corner of the entire Lijing Pavilion without moving an inch.

Every crystal mirror within the pavilion was carefully selected, and even their placement was meticulously arranged.

Furthermore, when dances were performed, watching them through the mirrors of Lijing Pavilion made it seem as though a thousand people were dancing together. It had a distinctive charm and was exceptionally striking.

The harmonious sound of qin and se needed no further explanation.

The Jile Banquet was the highest-standard feast in Flower Gazing Pavilion. There were seventy-two dancers, each meticulously selected by the pavilion, every one a superior choice among superior choices.

Seventy-two women, with every kind of figure and every kind of face, graceful and supple in form. Pick any one of them at random, and she could star in a scene of a hero saving a beauty, leaving countless people smitten and drooling with desire.

Their garments were all tailored by master artisans, displaying each woman's most perfect posture—seductive and captivating.

It was hailed as the ultimate spectacle of the mortal world.

"Your Highness... there are no vacant seats in Lijing Pavilion today."

Madam wore a troubled expression as she looked at the prince before her.

She could not help but groan inwardly. Why had they all come?

Flower Gazing Pavilion only had three Lijing Pavilions in total, and all of them had guests today. Including the Sixth Prince before her, there were four of them—and not one was someone she could afford to offend.

Flower Gazing Pavilion was revered as the foremost refined haunt in Tiandu City; even across all of Dagan, none could surpass it.

Its backing went without saying, but none of today's guests were simple figures. Even if they summoned the person in charge, they would have to deal with them with utmost care.

One look at the Madam's expression told Chu Xuanao everything.

There were quite a few heavyweights here today.

"How many Qingya Yanhua are left?"

"Your Highness, not a single one. How about I take you to Lakeheart Pavilion instead? I'll personally select a few peerless beauties for you. What do you say?"

The Madam was practically on the verge of tears, but there was nothing she could do. She could not afford to offend any of them.

"Who is here today?"

"Your Highness, the heirs of the Four Great Dukes' estates are holding a banquet here. And also... also..."

The Madam did not continue, bitterness welling up in her heart. If she went on, Lijing Pavilion might need to be rebuilt today.

After all, when the Sixth Prince had clashed with that person last time, an entire Lijing Pavilion had been smashed up.

"My second brother is here?"

Chu Xuanao knew Flower Gazing Pavilion well. It was owned by the Shen Family, foremost among Jiangzhou's four great clans. His second brother's imperial consort mother was from the Shen Family, and his second brother, Chu Xuantian, also had a stake in Flower Gazing Pavilion.

Aside from members of the Shen Family, those who normally oversaw Flower Gazing Pavilion were people from his second brother's residence.

"The Second Prince is not here."

"The heirs of the dukes' estates, and that fellow... who is the remaining person? Don't worry. I'm only here to listen to music today, not to start anything."

Seeing the terrified look on the Madam's face, Chu Xuanao knew that fellow was here too. She was afraid the two of them would stir up trouble again and smash Lijing Pavilion.

"Prince An is here today as well."

Chu Xuanao's eyes lit up at the Madam's words.

What a coincidence.

Someone was treating them today.

"Where is my fourth brother? Lead the way."

At this, the Madam finally let out a sigh of relief. Looking for the Fourth Prince was good.

Although there had been some unpleasantness between the Sixth Prince and the Fourth Prince before, hadn't it been resolved afterward? Nothing had happened over the past month, either.

And they were both imperial princes.

At the very least, they had to give the Second Prince some face, right?

Surely they would not make a scene here at Flower Gazing Pavilion.

The Fourth Prince should know how to act sensibly... right?

As long as they did not start something with that person and smash up their Lijing Pavilion again, anything would do.