Each of them had their own thoughts. Wu Wencai had initially felt somewhat burdened by guilt, but then he thought it over. Weren't the others here to seek pleasure too? Since they were all birds of a feather, what was there for him to feel guilty about?
With that thought, he grew all the more righteous and indignant.
"Is this your first time here, Brother Xu?"
Seeing Xu Qing nod, Wu Wencai immediately put on an expression that said he knew everything and explained, "Today is the day Shuhuang Pavilion selects the Kui Gu Ling. Besides the examinees from all over the country who have come for the imperial examinations, quite a few refined gentlemen from distant places have also come to attend."
"This is a grand occasion rarely seen once in many years. We came here to make more friends and experience the customs and talents of people from every corner of the realm."
"We're absolutely not here to curry favor with elegance or chase after the expensive and famous. Much less are we here to drown ourselves in luxury and enjoy a moment of pleasure."
Beside them, Wu Zhiyuan nodded deeply in agreement.
Only the little fatty who had invited them was utterly baffled. What are you talking about? I brought you here to sleep with women, didn't I? If not for a moment of pleasure, are you really planning to recite poetry and compose lyrics here, sitting around all night?
He might as well go home and fight crickets right now!
Xu Qing naturally did not believe Wu Wencai's nonsense either. If he had arrived one step later, he might even have taken Wu Yaoxing's place in severely condemning the two men's conduct, then appropriately granting them clemency with a warning that there would be no next time.
But that unreliable shoe-tossing divination had actually guided him to the pair's destination first!
Now he had truly jumped into the Yellow River and still could not wash away the fact that he was an upright man.
The little fatty Zhu Huai'an was clearly a regular here. With a casual wave, he handed a banknote to the attendant, who then respectfully led the group into the inner venue where the Kui Gu Ling was being selected.
Seeing the familiar sights again, Zhu Huai'an sighed emotionally. "The Kui Gu Ling is held once every five years. The last time it was held, I was only thirteen. I had gone to great lengths to sneak out of the house, but who would have thought that halfway through the Kui Gu Ling, I would run into my father and my maternal uncle."
At this point, the little fatty still felt lingering fear. "Fortunately, my uncle persuaded him from the side. Otherwise, I'm afraid I wouldn't have lived to this day."
Xu Qing fell silent when he heard that. His father and maternal uncle visited a brothel together? What kind of combination is that? Does your mother know?
"Did your mother know at the time?" Wu Wencai blurted out.
Xu Qing silently turned to look at Wu Wencai. This kid's mouth really is fast!
"My mother naturally didn't know. If she found out I'd gone to the brothel behind her back, she'd beat me to death!"
Zhu Huai'an seemed not to have heard the implication in Wu Wencai's words and continued talking to himself. "My mother is terribly fierce. My father and uncle are both afraid of her. That year, after watching the Kui Gu Ling, if the three of us hadn't been one step ahead and coordinated our stories, we would probably all have been finished!"
"For example, if my mother found out that I brought you three here to have fun today, she'd have someone break your legs, then give each of you ten thousand taels of silver."
"How much?" Wu Wencai's eyes widened, as if he truly intended to trade a broken leg for wealth.
Xu Qing was also exceedingly astonished. Could this little fatty's family own a silver mine? How can they be so outrageously wealthy?
However, he had no thoughts of that sort. Entertainment was pitifully scarce in this era. People came out to relieve their boredom and have fun, not to make friends with the rich.
Besides, no matter how wealthy a person was, after enduring a century of wind and frost, they would ultimately turn into a mound of earth.
Perhaps he would even be the one presiding over their funeral procession.
The group found an empty table and sat down, while Xu Qing watched the selection of the Kui Gu Ling on the stage with great interest.
The Kui Gu Ling was a special grand gathering held by Shuhuang Pavilion once every five years.
Its purpose was to select the girls who excelled in both talent and appearance.
At this gathering of a hundred flowers contending for beauty, the woman who overwhelmed all the others and took first place would be the Courtesan Queen. Those who placed second or third would be counted as the Flower Drums, while those who placed fourth through tenth would be the Flower Orders.
When the selection was held, all the girls participating in the Kui Gu Ling had to be women who had worked at Shuhuang Pavilion within the past five years and had never been taken in by a patron, only then could they ascend the stage and display their talents. At that time, the high officials and nobles or refined gentlemen below would present a "hair-combing gift" to the woman they favored.
Gold, silver, jewelry, calligraphy, paintings, and rare treasures—as long as something was valuable, it was accepted.
In addition, to accommodate those talented women who were about to be taken in by patrons, there would be an extra talent-testing segment to serve as bonus points.
After the rankings were determined, those talented women would choose one of the refined gentlemen who had supported them to accompany them for the night.
After learning these rules, Xu Qing thought, How is this any different from ranking performers?
Still, this was the first time he had encountered such an open solicitation of clients.
Beside the tea table, Zhu Huai'an was coaxing the Wu Family Brothers to help him pass the "talent trial."
"To be honest with you elder brothers, from the moment I first saw Miss Wan'er, I felt that if I didn't sleep with her for one night in this life, then I would have lived it in vain!"
"Unfortunately, although I have a little money and a certain amount of learning, I'm still just a little short of winning Miss Wan'er's affection."
"Brother Wencai and Brother Zhiyuan are both exceptionally talented. When we met at the yamen, you composed a poem on the spot. That poem, 'Awakening Spring,' was no worse than anything the prefectural city's number-one scholar, Zhuang Zijun, could have written."
"Miss Wan'er loves poetry most of all. I hope the two elder brothers will lend me your utmost aid and bring about a happy union between me and Miss Wan'er."
Wu Wencai had accepted Zhu Huai'an's hospitality and could hardly refuse him. He immediately nodded. "No problem. My cousin is best at composing poetry. Leave this matter to us."
Xu Qing did not get involved in their conversation. His attention had already been completely drawn to a tea table not far away.
There sat a graceful, handsome young master with red lips and pearly teeth, drinking alone and pouring his own wine.
Xu Qing thought the man looked familiar at first glance. At second glance, he recognized him.
Last month, when he replayed the Corpse Labor Mill, he had laid a spirit to rest who had worked as a Brothel Lounger. From him, Xu Qing had obtained a Hundred Beauties Erotic Scroll specially made to frighten people, as well as a secret: the county magistrate's daughter disliked men and preferred disguising herself as a man to seek out girls for fun.
And the person Xu Qing was watching at that moment happened to be that young lady of the county magistrate's family who possessed the sacred physique for grinding tofu.
How interesting. I wonder which talented woman this county magistrate's daughter has taken a fancy to.
Xu Qing looked toward the stage where the talented women displayed their skills, then turned back to glance at the handsome "young master" who was almost absurdly good-looking.
He felt that every direction was full of drama!
Beside him, Wu Zhiyuan also began to exert himself. When the famous Miss Wan'er appeared, Zhu Huai'an summoned attendants and maids and had them bring over the finest brushes, ink, and paper for Wu Zhiyuan to show his talent.
Xu Qing glanced over. The poem was like a spring breeze brushing dewdrops, filled with endless tender affection. Even compared to the poems in his memories, it was not inferior.
I never expected that the bookworm from the Paper Craft Shop next door would also be such a talented gentleman. Xu Qing sighed inwardly. Even if I lived two lifetimes, I might not be able to write poetry like this.
After the ink had dried, Zhu Huai'an took out a jade bracelet worth a thousand pieces of gold and placed it on the gift tray. "This is the precious bracelet my mother left for her future daughter-in-law. It proves just how much I truly like Miss Wan'er."
Unable to hold back, Xu Qing asked, "You secretly brought your mother's bracelet here. Aren't you afraid she'll settle accounts with you later?"
The little fatty did not care. "We'll worry about what happens later when later comes. Besides, my mother prepared seven or eight bracelets. She says I'm the sole heir of the Zhu Family and will have to marry seven or eight wives in the future."
"I'm only taking one. It doesn't count for much."
"..."
Xu Qing silently withdrew his shallow question.
Onstage, a former Flower Order lady was announcing the gifts presented to Miss Wan'er.
When she reached Zhu Huai'an's hair-combing gift, the Flower Order lady visibly paused.
"Young Master Zhu of the Changling Prince's Estate presents Miss Zhen Wan with one imperial jade bracelet, worth a thousand pieces of gold."
Below the stage, Xu Qing turned to look at Zhu Huai'an. He had initially thought it was merely a bracelet worth a little money; he had never imagined it was an imperial gift.
But what does Changling Prince's Estate mean?
Could this little fatty be—
While Xu Qing was guessing at the other man's identity, another voice suddenly came from the stage. "Young Master Zhang presents Miss Shuyu with one jade pendant, worth one hundred taels."
An attendant carried over a tray, lifted its jeweled cover, and displayed all the hair-combing gifts one by one, proving that the selection of the Kui Gu Ling was completely genuine and free of fabrication.
Xu Qing glanced over, and his thoughts instantly snapped back from the little fatty.
The jade pendant displayed on the attendant's tray was none other than the Yin Ghost Jade he had searched for so long without finding!
Xu Qing's gaze searched for the Young Master Zhang mentioned by the Flower Order lady. Although he did not find him, he saw someone who should not have appeared here.
"Excuse me. I suddenly remembered that I still have something to take care of, so I'll be leaving first. Please don't take offense, my brothers."
Without another word, Xu Qing ignored the Wu Family Brothers' questions, rose, and prepared to leave.
Just moments ago, he had seen the figure of Bai Luo, a fiend of the Tianxin Cult, in a corner.
Xu Qing hurried toward the corridor, but he had not gone far when five or six people came toward him.
At their head was an old man over sixty. Beside him was a pale-faced, beardless, and effeminate man who stayed close to guard him. There was also a Taoist-dressed figure whose eyes swept constantly in every direction.
Xu Qing did not know the old man or the effeminate man, but he recognized the Taoist at a glance.
This man was none other than Zuo Zixiong, the Baihu of the Divine Machine Battalion who had once pursued and captured the fiends of the Tianxin Cult!
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