The Goulan tiled houses in Beijing are mainly distributed in three alleys.
Yanle Hutong, Goulan Hutong, Yanzhi Lane.
"Yanle Hutong" near Dongsi Street is under the jurisdiction of Jiaofang Division. Official prostitutes train in singing, dancing and instrumental music here.
Government-run music troupes pay attention to the word "elegant".
Girls have been practicing the three-stringed pipa since they were young. Their voices must be bright and their bodies must be soft.
Jiaofang Division's old eunuch squinted his eyes and tapped the sandalwood board with his orchid fingers. "The third layer of <Nishang>—let's go!"
As soon as the strings sounded, the prostitutes in green armor would follow the tune and move their heads, and the gold hairpin pendants would hit their cheeks.
Turn around Goulan Hutong, and it's a completely different scene.
There is a Xiangfei Bamboo Curtain hanging on the face of the blue brick door, and the sound of tinkling Yueqin can be heard from inside, mixed with the shouts of men punching each other.
"Call me Tiaozi--" the turtle slave called in a long tone into the courtyard. After a while, a girl with peony hair came out holding Ruan Xian. Her coat and skirt rustled past the door pillar, leaving behind a scent of jasmine...
Yanzhi Lane Deep down, there are mostly three courtyards with stage with roll-up roof.
The place is secretive and only dignitaries go there.
As for the Floating Fragrance Brothel controlled by the Tiger Might Hall before, the grade is simply not comparable.
"What kind of official prostitutes and private prostitutes? They are just things for men to relieve their boredom!"
The man leading the way sneered in a low voice, "When I look at you, I think you are a Prosperity person. The rules in the capital are strict, but it is no different from other places. You rely on official seals and money bags."
"Look at that sedan. It has a blue cloth frame and is carried to Yanle Hutong. The red silk sedan top has hook rails. If the sedan stops in front of Su's house in Rouge Alley..."
As he said that, he blinked and said, "That must be the Liubu Hall official. You need to pay more!"
Behind him, Li Yan was dressed in a brocade robe, a small hat, and after simple makeup, he became a young man who had just arrived in the capital.
"Nine Gates Yin Ruins" He is bound to go.
Not to mention the Jianmu Demon Man clues, the evil spirit hidden inside must also be eliminated.
It's a pity that the bottom line was leaked beforehand. Pei Zongti didn't dare to cross the line. Luo MingZi didn't want him to be in danger, so official support was useless.
And when he first came to the capital, he didn't have enough connections.
The only way I can think of is to ask Golden Swallow Gate for help.
But this is also risky.
Golden Swallow Gate is engaged in the intelligence business. No matter how glamorous the vest is, he is still a popular person in the world. There is no pressure to cheat and kidnap.
And they're too involved in the Imperial Court feud.
Just like before at Linqing Customs, Zhao Wan Fang went to collect information.
The purpose was not to quell the disaster, but to judge in advance and sell knives to Open Sea Faction. Therefore, even if Zhao Wan Fang gave the token and expressed goodwill on behalf of Golden Swallow Gate, Li Yan did not want to deal with it.
Naturally, you need to be careful when visiting your home for the first time.
It would be most appropriate to pretend to be a young man from a wealthy family who has just arrived in the capital.
"Master, we're just ahead!"
The man leading the way touched the silver in his arms and smiled more flatteringly.
Li Yan Hearing this, he raised his head and looked around.
Just now, they were still in the brightly lit Goulan Hutong. There were many people on the street, music and music were playing on both sides, and there were girls leaning on the railings, looking at each other, covering their mouths with fans and laughing. Their expressions on their faces under the lanterns attracted passers-by to enter the store.
But now this alley is obviously much deserted.
The Shengge Courtyard and the candlelight are all hidden behind the eight-foot-long blue brick wall.
"This is the place to go for fine dining."
The man leading the way raised his eyebrows and said, "Sir, Yanzhi Lane is worthy of your status. There will be no disturbance from other people, and the girls are all good at sex and art. I know a few of them, I guarantee your satisfaction."
Li Yan frowned, "I want to go Su Family Estate."
The man shook his head hurriedly, "Su Family Estate That place is where the officials go. They spend their free money and just listen to the songs and touch their little hands. It's more cost-effective here. The girls really treat you as their master."
Li Yan was already a little impatient, "Either go or get out, what are you talking about."
He could tell what this man was thinking at a glance.
He clearly regarded himself as a fat sheep and wanted to find a place to slaughter him, so he changed his mind at the last minute.
"Hey!"
The man's expression immediately changed, he frowned and said, "I wonder how ignorant you are."
As he spoke, he blew a loud whistle, and three people immediately ran out of the dark alley, all with their faces covered and carrying sticks.
"What are you doing?!"
Before Li Yan could speak, an arrogant voice sounded from behind.
The speaker is a burly young man.
He is dressed in a brocade robe, with beautiful jade on his waist, and his muscles are strong and powerful. At first glance, he looks like a Lianjiazi.
Behind them were two men in black, with swords on their waists and gloomy expressions.
The man who led the way was also a discerning man. When he saw this, he quickly smiled and said, "Sir, it's none of your business."
"Get out!"
The young man glanced coldly. "Ben... I hate unruly things the most!"
The man leading the way and several of his companions were still trying to argue, but two servants behind the young man jumped out, brandished their scabbards, beat the men until they howled like ghosts, and stumbled away.
Li Yan clasped his fists slightly, "Thank you, Your Excellency..."
But before he finished speaking, the young man left with his men without looking back.
Li Yan slowly put down his hand, his eyes a little playful.
Although this young man is very stinky, his arrogance and nobility are real.
The two guards also wore official boots under their casual clothes.
He should be a descendant of a distinguished family in Beijing.
Without a guide, Li Yan had no choice but to walk in by himself.
At the end of this rouge bluestone alley is a mottled screen wall, with a few white wood vines peeking out from the cracks in the gray bricks.
If ordinary people saw it, they would think it was a dead end.
But the two sedans parked in the alley and the direction in which the young man was walking made Li Yan guess that there was something else going on there.
Sure enough, after bypassing the mottled screen wall, something suddenly opened up before my eyes.
A huge courtyard unfolds in front of you like a scroll, clearly borrowing the clever gardening techniques of "World in a Pot".
The exterior walls of this garden are all made of polished bricks with seams, the bluestone brick surface is as delicate as a mirror, and the dripping water from the tiles is in the Song-style lotus pattern.
Next to the moon cave door stands a pair of Taihu Stone, with a skinny and wrinkled appearance like Immortal Guides the Way. A half-broken stele is casually leaning on the stone base. Looking closer, it turns out to be the broken stone of Yuanyou Partisan Stele. The rugged Su Huang handwriting has long been rubbed and blurred, and is reflected by flowers and plants.
It seems random, but in fact it is carefully designed and has an ancient charm.
On the black door, there is a plaque of "Su Estate" hanging impressively.
"I've met Mr. Xiao."
A man in Tsing Yi with a goatee stood at the door. When he saw the young man arriving, he quickly stepped forward to salute and said in a low voice, "He is inside, and the matter is half settled. Please come with me."
After that, he led the young man into the garden.
Li Yan was about to follow in, but was stopped by the two boys guarding the door.
"Guest, please stay."
The two spoke very politely, "This is a private house and does not accept outsiders."
Li Yan was a little unhappy, "Su Family Estate is so famous, why don't you open the door for business?"
"It's a private house, please forgive me."
The two of them had smiles on their faces, but they still looked indifferent.
This time, it was beyond Li Yan's expectations.
I thought Golden Swallow Gate was just a brothel, but I didn't expect that I couldn't even get through the door.
Look at these two boys in green clothes. They are walking on shoes with a thousand layers of clouds. Their arms are hanging down like they are holding yin and yang. They coincide with the posture strength of the four elephants and eight poles. Their mouths are calloused. Although they lower their heads and bend down, they look like solid martial arts practitioners.
"In that case, that's a pity."
Li Yan smiled slightly, turned around and left.
This place is more complicated than imagined, so it's better to find another way.
But before he could turn around, he stopped.
"Master, does anything else happen?"
One of the boys was vaguely impatient.
Li Yan was silent for a moment, then took out the token from his arms, "I want to see Miss Zhao Wan Fang."
"Uh."
The young man was a little surprised, but after taking the token, his expression suddenly changed, and he immediately bowed his hands respectfully and said, "A distinguished guest is here. I apologize for any offence. Sir, please come with me."
After saying that, he bent sideways and raised his hands, showing great etiquette.
Li Yan didn't talk nonsense and strode in with a cold face.
The outside layout of this courtyard is already exquisite, but the inside is even better.
Passing through the blue brick gate, you will see the "Four Waters Returning to the Hall" patio unique to Huizhou architecture.
The eaves of the black tiles fly like swallow wings, and the copper bells hanging from the rain chains sway gently in the wind.
The carved sill windows on the second floor Wing Room on all sides are covered with light gauze, and the shadows of candles flickering inside are faintly revealed.
Li Yan has also been to the Royal Palace. To be honest, the luxury here is far inferior, but the style is very classy.
But at this moment, he couldn't care less about appreciation.
Just now, Gouzi felt faintly warm, as if he was feeling something, but it was not clear.
There is a criminal hiding in this garden!
Li Yan looked around, alert in his heart.
Starting from Luoyang, I didn't see any criminals along the way.
But when they arrived in the capital, Wuleji and Kong Hui were discovered one after another.
Could the old monster be hiding here?
Following the guide, he walked quickly along the zigzag corridor by the pool, Li Yan always holding the gou ultimatum.
Unfortunately, the feeling just now disappeared and never appeared again.
He noticed that the bronze mirror hanging between the pillars had Twenty-Eight Mansions patterns engraved on the surface.
Wang Dao Xuan once said that this is the number of "mirror arrays".
When suppressing some evil spirits, they are often arranged in the underground palace, and the invisible evil spirits will be trapped in it and cannot leave.
But when used here, it can not only prevent the intrusion of evil spirits, but also reflect the intruder's figure to the eyes of secret guards everywhere.
In conjunction with the feng shui array of the yard, it also has the effect of isolating Divine Ability from detection.
The person who built this garden must be Feng Shui Master.
While Li Yan was meditating, the two of them had already passed two moon cave doors.
Suddenly, the sight suddenly opened up, and the rockery piled up by Taihu Stone was two feet high, surrounded by towering bamboo forests.
Where the winding path leads to a secluded place, one can see small courtyards, arranged in an orderly manner and separated from each other without disturbing each other.
The two bodyguards of "Master Xiao" just now were guarding outside one of the small courtyards.
Seeing the arrival of Li Yan, the two men immediately grasped the hilt of the knife, their faces full of vigilance.
Fortunately, Li Yan quickly disappeared from their sight.
Under the leadership of the servant, Li Yan came to one of the courtyards.
The courtyard is very elegantly decorated. Although it is not big, it introduces a pool of water. A two-story building is built near the water. Palace lanterns and agarwood are lit in the open hall facing the water. A maid is kneeling and making tea, and the surrounding gauze curtains are fluttering in the night wind.
It looks like a painting.
"Dear guest, please wait a moment."
The boy bowed his hands respectfully and said, "Lady Zhao is not here, I will go find the owner of the garden right now."
Zhao Wan Fang is not here?
Li Yan frowned slightly, but didn't say much, came to the hall and sat down on the futon.
Just as he sat down, the maid also served him the boiled tea, and then silently withdrew.
Li Yan was thoughtful, still holding the ultimatum in his arms.
Goubi still didn't respond, as if the feeling just now was just an illusion.
This is the first time this has happened.
What methods did the other party use...
At this moment, Li Yan sniffed and suddenly smelled a faint fragrance.
It smells like plum blossom mixed with aloes, and there is also a hint of herbal bitterness.
When he looked up, he saw a woman and two maids walking from outside the courtyard.
This woman is about 27 or 28 years old, with skin as thick as gelatin, eyebrows like distant mountains, and a pair of phoenix eyes that are a bit sharp, but her eyes seem to be filled with autumn water.
After seeing Li Yan, she first smiled sweetly and waved her hand to order the maid to leave. Then she slowly sat down, leaning against Xiangfei Bamboo Curtain, twisting a gold-colored peony fan on her fingertips, "Young Hero Li I've been waiting for a long time. You've been busy these days, and I thought you weren't coming back."
Li Yan said expressionlessly, "Who are you, Zhao Wan Fang?"
"Su Yu, the slave, is the owner of Su Garden."
The woman didn't care, and said calmly with a smile, "Wan Fang is my disciple. There is something going on with Jiaozhou. She has left. The young man needs more experience, otherwise he will not dare to hand over Su Yuan to her in the future."
Li Yan thought to himself, he is indeed the elder of Golden Swallow Gate.
This conversation, neither humble nor overbearing, not only brought us closer to each other, but also established our identities.
Seeing that Li Yan was silent, Su Yu smiled slightly and said, "There have been a lot of storms in the capital recently, and the eaves of Suyuan are low. Young Hero Li is a busy man, so he suddenly came to visit. I'm afraid it's not just to visit an old friend, right?"
Li Yan took a sip of tea and said, "Wan Fang said something, I wonder if it counts?"
"Of course."
A smile appeared on Su Yu's face, "Twelve Yuan Chen is now famous as Divine Land. Many noble people want to invite you, but they have no way. If Young Hero Li is trustworthy, I, Golden Swallow Gate, will help you run errands to ensure there are no hidden dangers."
Zhao Wan Fang has said this before.
Golden Swallow Gate wants to be the contact person of Twelve Yuan Chen, help them connect the dots and introduce big jobs.
Not only is there no charge, but information support is also provided.
It seems like a disadvantage, but Twelve Yuan Chen's name is enough for Golden Swallow Gate to weave more connections.
This is the basis for their survival.
"It's not urgent."
Li Yan took a sip of tea slowly, "Senior, this place seems a little unclean..."
Su Yu was a little surprised, "Young Hero Li said unclean, what do you mean?"
Li Yan raised his head, his eyes turned cold, "Crime!"
He was so busy with everything that he couldn't be bothered to answer riddles, so he simply went straight to the point.
If the other party has something to hide, there is no need to cooperate.
Maybe, Commandery Commandant Office will be looking for him later and will surround this place to search for him.
Unexpectedly, Su Yu smiled slightly after hearing this and said calmly, "Young Hero Li is indeed not bad."
"Yes, there is indeed a 'criminal' hidden here. A senior Earth Immortal of Lao Mountain, through our matchmaking, was invited to come today and enter Prince Yan's Mansion to receive asylum, and at the same time serve as Attendant."
"Young Hero Li If you insist on doing justice for heaven, then we can't stop you."
Lao Mountain Earth Immortal?
No wonder...
Li Yan suddenly realized that Lao Mountain's pulse escape technique was famously powerful.
There is a magic trick to being able to run to the capital with such swagger.
And the young man named Xiao just now.
I thought he was a noble son, but I didn't expect it to be Prince Yan...