Song Wen reclined sideways in a carved wooden chair, his eyes fixed on the graceful dancers on the wooden stage ahead.
At his side, two young women in gauzy robes smiled like blooming flowers, calling him "young master" in soft, coquettish voices.
One held a gilded wine ewer, while the other carried a white jade cup, continually bringing amber-colored spirit wine to his lips.
The fragrance of wine curled through the air, beauties surrounded him, and he felt utterly at ease.
Suddenly, a matron with a face caked in thick powder swayed her hips as she stepped onto the wooden stage.
Her shrewd, worldly eyes swept across the crowd below, and a dazzling yet fawning smile appeared on her face.
"Honored guests, welcome to Fairy Zhizhen's coming-of-age ceremony. Fairy Zhizhen was born into a cultivation Aristocratic Clan, a bona fide daughter of a noble household. Yet her family fortunes declined, leaving her with no choice but to humble herself and come to this humble establishment, where a bright pearl has fallen into the dust. Fortunately, she has received the favor of all you honored guests. It is Zhizhen's good fortune..."
The matron launched into a long-winded speech, nothing more than the usual self-praise before selling her wares.
She merely claimed that Fairy Zhizhen was as lovely as a flower, graceful and elegant, and still pure as ice and clean as jade.
Though it was a thoroughly clichéd performance, it greatly stirred the interest of the male cultivators below, who began loudly urging her on.
Seeing that the atmosphere was right, the matron finally stopped wasting her breath.
"Fairy Zhizhen, come out and meet your benefactors."
As her words fell, the ceiling of the hall suddenly opened, revealing an open courtyard above.
Petals rained down from the opening overhead, and a