Zi Nu

"Brother Wang, Ninth Young Master! Sorry to keep you waiting!"

Zhang Liang came running over, drenched in sweat and gasping for breath.

After struggling for most of the day, he had ultimately failed to grant those singing girls their wish. Secretly, he thought women were truly terrifying.

From now on, Zhang Liang would absolutely never look for a woman!

Confucius had been right: of all things in this world, petty people and women were the hardest to deal with!

There was reason in that!

"Zi Fang, you've already had your Coming-of-Age Ceremony. Why are you still acting so bashful? How will you marry a wife in the future?" Han Fei deliberately said, his tone mildly reproachful.

"Hehe!" Zhang Liang gave an awkward but polite laugh.

"Brother Zi Fang, let me give you a four-word maxim: when faced with a chicken, cut decisively!" Wang Shu said mysteriously.

"Brother Shu, marvelous!" Han Fei revealed a meaningful smile.

Zhang Liang's face was practically stamped with embarrassment, his skin as thin as paper.

If people had not known he was a man, changing him into women's clothes might have made them mistake him for some unmarried young lady. He was as shy as Ru Hua.

At this time, Purple Orchid Pavilion was filled with all kinds of guests, young and old alike.

Wang Shu, Han Fei, and Zhang Liang did not draw much attention.

There was no shortage of young gentlemen like them!

The three found an excellent spot to sit down, drinking and making merry to their hearts' content.

Han Fei poured himself a cup of cloudy wine, tilted his head back, and drained it in one gulp. Smiling, he said:

"It truly is a splendid sea of blossoms!"

Though this brief remark seemed to praise Purple Orchid Pavilion's luxurious way of life and the Han State's current prosperity,

a clever man like Han Fei certainly did not mean that.

Nor was he the sort to build his pleasures upon the flesh, blood, and tears of the common people.

"Ninth Young Master, compared to other pleasure houses, Purple Orchid Pavilion is actually quite respectable," Zhang Liang said.

Although he had never entered such a place before, he had never paid it any less attention.

"Oh? How so?" Han Fei's expression shifted as interest suddenly sparked in his eyes.

"As far as I know, the singing girls and other young women of Purple Orchid Pavilion do not sign coercive contracts like those elsewhere.

"The women of Purple Orchid Pavilion possess absolute autonomy and freedom. They sell their talents, not their bodies.

"However, if they encounter mutual love, the owner of Purple Orchid Pavilion will not forcibly stand in their way. Instead, she allows the girl to regain her freedom," Zhang Liang said.

"Many high-ranking officials of the court are regular visitors here, yet few dare cause trouble. The reason is that there is naturally a force behind it that inspires fear.

"Even so, many people still flock here. This place can also be considered another vortex in the game of power.

"Brother Han, if you can obtain the support of the person behind Purple Orchid Pavilion, perhaps you will quickly gain a foothold," Wang Shu said.

"Haha, then I'm even more interested."

Han Fei said this while constantly rubbing the rim of his wine cup with his fingers. The corners of his lips rose, revealing his confidence.

"~~,,~"

At that moment, the noisy Purple Orchid Pavilion suddenly fell silent in an instant, and longing appeared in everyone's eyes.

A pleasant and melodious tune slowly drifted down from the third-floor pavilion!

The melody was exquisite and stirring!

Each note gathered and flowed like clear springs in the mountains, nourishing the heart and making everyone feel utterly at ease.

This showed just how superb and masterful the musician's skill was!

The beautiful melody filled the vast Purple Orchid Pavilion, lingering in the rafters without end. It even drifted through the doors and windows to places farther away!

Beneath this music, the seemingly restless Han State became far more peaceful.

Some said music was a bridge connecting heaven and earth;

others said music was another kind of language, used to communicate from one person's heart to another.

Music also contained an indescribable charm. It could make people laugh, cry, rage, or grow restless...

At this moment, every guest in Purple Orchid Pavilion quietly listened with all their heart to this heavenly melody.

The refined and learned Zhang Liang closed his eyes, swaying his head as he savored the delight within the music!

Han Fei leaned halfway back, holding a wine cup in his hand. He drank while nodding along in contemplation.

Wang Shu was also well versed in music and was an expert among experts.

In such a setting, his hands itched to take out his flute and create a harmonious duet, imitating the lofty mountains and flowing waters to leave behind a lasting reputation!

However, Wang Shu ultimately suppressed the thought. In truth, there was no need to think about it.

Within Purple Orchid Pavilion, the only one with such skill at the zither could naturally be that girl in the golden cage, Nong Yu!

She was an extraordinarily beautiful woman, gentle and frail in appearance yet immensely strong at heart!

The song came to an end. Beautiful things were always fleeting, difficult to grasp, and left people sighing endlessly.

The quiet Purple Orchid Pavilion erupted into excitement once more, even more boisterous than before, its atmosphere reaching a peak.

"This must have been Miss Nong Yu playing the zither herself!" someone shouted.

"This melody belongs only in heaven; how often can it be heard in the mortal world?"

"It is said that Miss Nong Yu possesses peerless beauty and exceptional skill with the zither. She truly is an extraordinary woman!"

"Miss Zi Nu, I am willing to offer one thousand gold, just to see Miss Nong Yu once!" a wealthy merchant pleaded.

Zi Nu was the nominal owner of Purple Orchid Pavilion, and all matters great and small within it were handled by her.

"Tch? I offer fifteen hundred gold!" another wealthy merchant declared boldly.

"I offer two thousand gold!"

In an instant, a bidding war erupted. Everyone argued until their faces turned red, and the quarrel became impossible to settle. They looked ready to roll up their sleeves and fight.

"I offer one gold," Wang Shu said calmly.

In such a noisy environment, Wang Shu's voice was not loud, yet every syllable from his mouth reached the ears of everyone present with perfect clarity.

"One gold? You're killing me, kid! Are you still half asleep? You think one gold can get you an audience with Miss Nong Yu? What a fool's dream."

A fat wealthy merchant dressed in silk mocked him, clutching his large belly as he laughed until he shook.

The others joined in the jeering!

Only Han Fei remained seated at the original table, an unfathomable smile on his lips.

"Then let's make a bet. We'll see whether Miss Nong Yu wants my one gold or your fifteen hundred gold." Wang Shu was not angry. After all, there were few decent people who came to a place like this.

Naturally, Zhang Liang was the exception.

"Hehe! You two guests are far too polite!"

A delightful feminine laugh drifted down from the second-floor pavilion of Purple Orchid Pavilion.

"Creak!"

That antique door was gently pushed open. Everyone thought Miss Nong Yu was coming out, and they all looked up, scarcely daring to breathe for fear of missing even a single beautiful sight.

From afar, a graceful and enchanting figure slowly appeared in the doorway, gradually becoming clear!

"Miss Zi Nu!"

As someone spoke, Purple Orchid Pavilion stirred into commotion once again.

That alluring figure on the second-floor corridor began walking down!

As her name suggested, Zi Nu wore a long, form-fitting purple dress!

The upper half of the purple dress was extremely close-fitting, as though it had fused with her skin.

It perfectly outlined Zi Nu's slender, delicate waist.

The lower half of the dress had a high slit, revealing a pair of straight, slender legs—though only from the side.

Overall, Zi Nu descended the stairs step by step with swaying strides, a smile hidden in her eyes. She looked utterly charming and enchanting.

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