Chapter Three

Wh... What?! How had he not known that his reputation had grown so great that he could visit a brothel for free? B-But he hadn't come here for a night of passion. He had come to deliver a love letter to a man!

"Young Master Ba, come on, hurry inside!"

"No, I... I'm afraid this humble student isn't very convenient today..."

"Pfft! Young Master, stop joking around and teasing me. Could it be that you also have a few inconvenient days every month? Don't be shy—come inside!"

He was dragged and hauled along, and just as he was about to be pulled through the doors of Chunfen Pavilion, he could endure it no longer. He could only yank back on the girl and shout, "Miss, I came here today to see Chunfen Pavilion's courtesan queen, Rongrong!!"

The moment his words fell, before he had even found his footing, a deep male voice came from behind him—

"Who is so bold as to dare compete with me for Rongrong?"

The commanding voice left him stunned. A luxurious carriage with a golden roof and hanging tassels had just stopped at the main entrance of Chunfen Pavilion. Two rows of attendants came trotting over from behind the carriage and swiftly lined up on either side once it had halted, standing in formation as neatly as an army. The attendant beside the carriage lifted the curtain, while the servant riding the lead horse dismounted and briskly ran to the carriage step. Without a word, he flung back his sleeves, knelt, and bent forward, arching his back to welcome the carriage's master down. A pair of shoes embroidered with golden thread stepped onto his back, and their owner lightly jumped down from the carriage.

A gray-furred cloak hung all the way to the ground, concealing his entire body. Black hair fell to his shoulders, while a purple-gold jade crown set off his exquisite features. Under the brilliant lantern light, he seemed to shine with dazzling splendor and extraordinary nobility. With a faint smile on his lips, he strolled over to Zhu Bafu.

"Were you the one who said just now that you wanted to see Rongrong?"

"...I..." What an impressive display! This man clearly had a formidable background—either powerful or wealthy. He couldn't be provoked. He was dangerous. Caution, caution!!

"Little scholar, which academy are you from? Instead of studying properly, you ran off to visit a brothel? You don't want an official title anymore? Hmm?"

"..." What did visiting a brothel have to do with earning an official title? Besides, he had no interest in official titles.

"You want to see her? Do you have my permission?"

"Huh?! You're... the owner of Chunfen Pavilion? My apologies, my apologies!" The moment he saw someone rich and powerful, he instinctively clasped his fists and greeted the newcomer, displaying perfect courtesy.

"Hahahaha! I'm the owner of Chunfen Pavilion?" He suddenly burst into helpless laughter. Turning to the attendants beside him, he raised his brows and said with a grin, "This fellow says I'm the owner of Chunfen Pavilion? Hahahaha!"

"..." What was there to be proud of about running a brothel? What was he laughing so happily about?

"You think I'm the owner, so I won't let you see Rongrong?" He slightly lifted his cloak and toyed with the jade thumb ring on his hand. "Then tell me, how much silver did you bring to see Rongrong?"

"...This humble student didn't bring any silver."

"Oh?" He raised his brows with interest, and his lips curled upward. "You came to a brothel without any money, yet you still dared to demand a night with the courtesan queen? Hahahahaha! Boy, you have quite some nerve. I like you!"

"Huh?!" Was Zhu Bafu suffering from a romantic calamity today? First there was Young Master Long, who had forced him to confess his feelings to a man, and now there was a brothel owner confessing his feelings to him, despite his being a man, right outside a brothel?!

"Don't understand? I said I like you! I'm in a good mood today, so I'll take you inside for some fun. Put the expense on my account."

"Thank you for your kindness, Young Master, but this humble student only wishes to see the courtesan queen once. I'm not here to seek pleasure."

His unintentionally blunt words caused the noble young master's eyes to suddenly darken. His slightly raised lips took on a meaningful curve, and a hazy gleam veiled his gaze as though he were looking through Zhu Bafu at someone else. "You came to Chunfen Pavilion without seeking pleasure, just to see a woman? Hah, those words sound painfully familiar. You're quite like one of my friends. You both enjoy being unconventional. You come to a brothel without seeking pleasure, just to look at that woman once. Is that it?"

Seeing him tilt his head blankly, brows furrowed in utter confusion, the noble young master suddenly stepped closer. He bent down and stared at him, boldly examining him from below. "Boy. Do you really want to see Rongrong that badly?"

His voice was low and husky, and as it slowly sounded beside his ear, it carried an almost seductive quality. Zhu Bafu froze, not knowing how to answer such a difficult question. He blinked his round, wide eyes warily, pressed his lips tightly together, and retreated two steps like a startled bird.

That aggrieved, innocent expression—as though he were easy to bully—made the man laugh. Unable to resist, he reached out and lightly scraped Zhu Bafu's small nose. "A real man shouldn't cry just because he failed to visit a brothel."

With that, his broad hands affectionately wrapped around Zhu Bafu's thin shoulders like those of an older brother. The hand around his shoulder slid down along the curve of his arm and seized his slender wrist. With a slight hook of his fingers, he dragged him into the depths of depravity without the slightest effort—the threshold of Chunfen Pavilion.

"All right. Since you truly amuse me, I'll do one good deed to the end today and take you to see her. I'll fulfill your youthful dream of spring. But come to think of it... you've developed fully, right? Can you really complete the whole set of movements?"

"..."

The author has something to say:

=.= From now on, I'll maintain a rate of one chapter per day!!

Chapter 4 Chapter Three

Dancing terraces and singing platforms, beauties at the banquet; the sound of zithers and murmured songs thickened the mood of spring.

The dazzling golden splendor before him made Zhu Bafu unable to open his eyes. Like a country bumpkin who had never seen the world, he gaped with his mouth open and looked around, overwhelmed by everything. At the center of the stage, exotic dancers twisted their slender waists and moved vigorously in revealing clothes. Petite girls coaxing guests to drink held feather fans over their mouths as they flirted with the patrons. The icy, aloof headliners sat in little window alcoves, gazing up without a sidelong glance at the cold moon overhead, surrounded by a crowd of wealthy patrons bearing gold and silver. Every kind of woman could be found here, all available for a gentleman's choosing—some who satisfied a man's desire to conquer, and others who challenged it.

Rankings

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Historical romance

Disguised as a man