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"You still claim you don't love him? You clearly want him to stay away from every woman and belong only to you. How can you be so wickedly possessive? Good grief, that simply won't do."

Before he could finish speaking, the tobacco pipe struck him on the head.

"Shut your mouth. Go deliver it again."

"Huh?! Go, go again?"

"That's right! Go deliver it again! And this time, you must make him accept it, no matter what!"

"I... I am a dignified man of learning, a proper man with considerable knowledge! As tough as a strong man can be, how could I violate my principles and sink so low as to deliver a love letter to another man?" As if he would ever get to see that big-headed freak!

"Oh? You won't deliver it?" His employer eyed him maliciously. "You took payment from me, Young Master Long, and failed to do the job. Do you think this can be settled just by returning the money? Someone, strip this tough man naked and throw him into the lake. Make him soak there all night without coming ashore. Let's see whether he still acts tough!" He waved toward the mouth of the alley, and two men immediately entered at his command.

What?! Strip him naked?! Then throw him into the lake for an entire night? This was outrageous, even by the standards of the pleasure districts!

His legs went weak before the rest of him did. The tough man was no longer tough. He crawled obsequiously to Lord Long and put on a flattering smile. "My lord, my lord~~ Don't, don't, don't do this! We can discuss anything! I'll deliver it, I'll deliver it, all right? I'll set out immediately and get the letter to Young Master Li. I'll do whatever it takes to make him accept it!" It was all because of his greed for money. This wretched job he had taken had made him suffer terribly.

Seeing him obediently surrender, Young Master Long raised a brow and clapped his hands. He leisurely smoked, exhaled a plume of blue smoke, and curled his lips into a satisfied smile. Then he lifted his chin and jerked it outward, signaling him to hurry up and get lost to complete the task—or wait to be stripped naked and thrown into the lake.

Zhu Bafu hugged his head and slipped beneath his arm, but Young Master Long suddenly tightened his arm and pulled him back to his side. In a lowered voice, he whispered into his ear, "He's at Chunfen Pavilion at this hour. Go there and find him."

The smell of tobacco wafted straight into his face. Although he knew Lord Long was merely whispering instructions into his ear, their position was far too strange, as though he were being held in his arms. Zhu Bafu hurriedly broke free of his arm and lowered his head, afraid to look at him. "Chun... Chunfen Pavilion? I can find him there?"

"You can try your luck there. If you find him, hand him the love letter in front of Chunfen Pavilion's number-one courtesan, Rongrong. Even if he refuses to accept it, I'll consider you to have passed and won't trouble you anymore."

Chunfen Pavilion—the capital's number-one den of extravagance.

It was paradise for men seeking pleasure and the best place for men to compete over wealth and influence. One could tell just from the rank of the woman seated beside them.

And the only woman who did not readily accompany guests and had the right to choose them was, of course, the number-one courtesan.

Since she did not readily accompany guests and could choose them herself, meeting her was naturally no easy matter. Even when powerful nobles brought gold and jewels, she might not even come out to take a glance, let alone a nameless poor scholar like him, who did odd jobs at Wuya Bookstore and had to count every coin before spending it.

Zhu Bafu stood hesitating in front of Chunfen Pavilion. It was just after the lanterns had been lit, and the brightly illuminated building looked even more magnificent and lavish. The men entering and leaving were all rich or noble, most arriving in sedan chairs carried by family retainers and servants. It was truly rare to see someone like him shamelessly standing bare-faced in front of the entrance.

Several girls standing at the entrance waiting for customers whispered among themselves and kept pointing at him. Their undisguised scrutiny burned his ears red. He turned and took a step, about to retreat, wondering how he could get rid of that Young Master Long if he ended up being thrown into the lake.

Several dainty embroidered shoes appeared in his lowered field of vision. When he raised his head, he saw a number of faces with scarlet lips curved into smiles, all focused on him alone. Several girls with swaying hips gathered around him, each flaunting her generous bosom as they pressed closer. Some tugged at his sleeve, while others hooked an arm over his shoulder.

"Sir, how can you leave without even coming inside?"

"That's right. We can't let you leave. If the manager sees this, he'll say we failed to serve you properly and made you angry and dissatisfied. I'll be punished for it!"

"No, no, no... Sisters, you've misunderstood. I merely happened to be passing by, that's all... Please let go and allow me to leave." The surging waves before him made Zhu Bafu dizzy. Protecting his chest, he turned sideways and tried to squeeze out of the circle of women surrounding him.

"Heehee, every man who comes here says he was only passing by and entered by accident. It's all because we sisters are too alluring, isn't it? Or are we not beautiful enough in Young Master's eyes, unable to turn you from a passerby into someone who stays for a little while?"

"You sisters are overthinking it, hehe. I'm simply indisposed today and cannot spend the night with you. It's not that I lack appreciation for your kindness; I'm just truly short of money. Please be magnanimous and let me leave." He repeatedly clasped his fists and lowered his eyes, not daring to look at them even once. He feared that even one glance might cost him money, and then he would suffer a huge loss.

"You don't have any money? Tch! Then why bother pulling at him?" As soon as they heard he was penniless, the girls' expressions changed drastically. They turned around, twisted their waists, and left. Two or three, however, remained where they were, continuing to size him up from head to toe.

"I know! I recognize you. You're from Wuya Bookstore... the Eighth Young Master!? Aren't you? Aren't you!?" A girl in green gauze hopped excitedly as she called out his name.

His face stiffened, and he could only nod in acknowledgment.

Seeing him admit it, the girl in green gauze lit up with delight. She pressed against his side, pouted, and hummed, "For a man as talented, learned, and handsome as the Eighth Young Master, I'd be willing to serve you without charging a single coin. Come inside with me."

"Huh? Serve... serve me!?"

"That's right. I've read the love letters and erotic stories you wrote. The girls at Chunfen Pavilion often mention you, too. I've admired you for a long time. If you need company for the night, I'll help you undress and attend to you."

Rankings

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Historical Romance

Disguised as a Man