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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 your possessiveness be so wicked? Good grief, that's simply unacceptable."

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

"Shut your mouth. Go deliver it again."

"What?! Go, go again?"

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

"I... I'm a learned, upright gentleman, a man as tough as iron! How could I violate every principle of reason and sink so low as to deliver a love letter to a man?" As if I'd ever get to see that big-headed demon again!

"Hah! You won't deliver it?" His employer gave him a malicious once-over. "You took my, Young Master Long's, silver and failed to do the job. Do you think returning the money will settle it? Men, strip this tough guy naked and throw him into the lake. Make him soak there all night without coming ashore. Let's see whether he stays tough!" He waved toward the mouth of the alley, and two men immediately entered from that direction at his command.

"What?! Strip him naked?! Then throw him into the lake for the whole night? This is outrageous—like going down the drain in the third month of spring!"

His manhood had not failed him, but his legs had gone weak first. The tough guy was no longer tough. He crawled ingratiatingly to Lord Long and put on a smiling face. "My lord, my lord~~ Don't, don't, don't do this! We can discuss anything, can't we? I'll deliver it, I'll deliver it, all right? I'll set off at once and get the letter into Young Master Li's hands. I'll risk my life to make him accept it!" It was all because of his greed that he had taken this wretched job—and been tormented half to death for it.

Seeing him meekly surrender, Young Master Long raised an eyebrow and clapped his hands. He leisurely smoked his pipe, exhaled a mouthful of blue smoke, and curled his lips into a satisfied smile. Then he lifted his chin and jerked it toward the outside, signaling him to hurry up and complete the task—or wait to be stripped naked and thrown into the lake.

Zhu Bafu ducked beneath his arm while clutching his head, but Young Master Long suddenly tightened his arm and pulled him back to his side. Lowering his voice, he breathed 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. Though Zhu Bafu knew Lord Long was merely whispering instructions into his ear, the posture was far too strange, as though he were being held in his embrace. He hurriedly wriggled free of his arm and lowered his head, not daring to look at him. "Chun... Chunfen Pavilion, is it? I can find him there?"

"You can go there and try your luck. If you manage to find him, hand him the love letter in front of Rongrong, Chunfen Pavilion's top courtesan. Even if he refuses to accept it, I'll count you as having passed and won't trouble you anymore."

Chunfen Pavilion was the Capital's foremost den of luxury.

It was paradise for men seeking pleasure, and also the finest place for men to flaunt their wealth and power. One could tell from the rank of the girl seated beside a man.

And the only woman who did not readily entertain guests and had the right to choose them was, of course, the top courtesan.

Since she did not readily entertain guests and could choose them herself, meeting her naturally was no easy matter. Even if high officials and nobles brought gold, silver, and jewels, she might not deign to poke her head out for a glance—let alone a penniless, obscure scholar like him, who did odd jobs at Wuya Bookstore and had to count every coin before spending it.

Zhu Bafu stood hesitating and wavering outside Chunfen Pavilion. It was just when the lanterns had first come alight, and the brightly illuminated facade looked even more grand and splendid. The men entering and leaving the pavilion were either rich or noble, most of them carried in sedan chairs by their household servants and bearers. It was truly rare to see someone like him shamelessly standing bare-faced outside the entrance.

Several girls waiting at the door for customers were whispering among themselves and pointing at him nonstop. Their undisguised scrutiny burned his ears red. He turned and started to leave, wondering how he could shake off Young Master Long. Otherwise, he would end up being thrown into the lake.

Several pairs of dainty embroidered shoes appeared in his lowered field of vision. When he raised his head, he saw one brightly painted face after another, smiling with scarlet, curved lips as they focused entirely on him. Several girls, swaying their hips and waists, crowded around him in a cluster, each with a pair of ample breasts, some tugging at his sleeve while others hooked an arm over his shoulder.

"Honored guest, why are you leaving before you've even come inside?"

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

"No, no, no... Ladies, you've misunderstood. I just happened to be passing by, merely passing by... Please let go and allow me to leave." The surging bosoms before him made Zhu Bafu dizzy. Shielding 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 merely passing by and only entered by accident. It's all because we sisters are too enchanting, isn't it? Could it be that, in Young Master's eyes, we sisters aren't beautiful enough to make you change from passing by to staying for a while?"

"You ladies are overthinking it, hehe. I'm rather indisposed today and can't spend the night with you. I simply lack the fortune to enjoy your company because... because my purse is truly empty. Please, ladies, be generous and let me leave." He repeatedly clasped his fists and lowered his head, dropping his gaze without daring to look at them again. He feared that even one careless glance might be considered an offense requiring payment, and then he would suffer a colossal loss.

"You have no money? Tsk! Then what are we pulling him for?" As soon as they heard he was penniless, several girls' expressions changed drastically. They turned around, swayed their waists, and left. Two or three, however, remained where they were, surrounding him and looking him up and down.

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

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

Seeing him admit it with a nod, the girl in green gauze lit up with delight. She sidled up against him, pouted, and hummed, "For a man as talented, accomplished, and handsome as Young Master Ba, I'd be willing to serve you without taking a single coin. Come inside with me."

"What? Serve... serve me!?"

"That's right. I've read the love letters and erotic books you wrote. The girls at Chunfen Pavilion often mention you, too. I've long admired you, Young Master. If you need a night of pleasure, I'll help you undress and loosen your clothes."

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