novelraw #163 - Chapter 163: Zuihualou
#163 - Chapter 163: Zuihualou
Bai Yuxuan turned her head.
She saw that her sister, Bai Jing, was also changing clothes.
And she was changing into men's attire.
Judging from her excited look, she probably wanted to disguise herself as a man and go to Drunken Flower House with Li Yuan tonight.
Bai Yuxuan quickly went over to stop her sister.
Then she whispered in Bai Jing's ear.
"Sister, it's rare for our husband to go out for some relaxation."
"If you follow him, I'm afraid Li Lang won't be able to enjoy himself to the fullest."
"Why don't you let Li Lang go by himself today?"
Hearing this, Bai Jing also realized what was happening.
She nodded quickly, realizing that she had been muddle-headed.
Today, Li Lang had an appointment with the Little Marquis to go to Drunken Flower House.
If she went, the two of them would be timid and hesitant, considering the Marchioness was by their side.
Bai Jing could only change out of her clothes with a look of resentment.
In the noble class of Great Liang, men visiting brothels was actually considered a part of social life.
Generally, as long as it wasn't excessive, wives and concubines wouldn't interfere too much.
These days, he would also browse through the Great Liang poems in Bai Yuxuan's collection during his spare time.
However, under Li Yuan's observation, he discovered that the level of poetry in Great Liang was actually far inferior to that of his previous life.
He could just copy some Tang and Song poems at will, and even directly crush the contemporary literati of Great Liang.
Today, he heard that the so-called top talent of the capital, Shen Moxuan, was going to hold a poetry meeting in Drunken Flower House.
He really wanted to see what kind of stuff this high-achieving student of the Left Prime Minister was made of.
At dusk.
The Little Marquis's carriage arrived at Gan Jing Alley on time.
As soon as Li Yuan got into the carriage, the Little Marquis's eyes lit up.
He looked at Li Yuan in his brocade robe and praised him incessantly.
"With Qingyuan Count's appearance, coupled with this brocade robe,"
"once you enter that Drunken Flower House, I'm afraid those girls inside will want to serve you even without the headdress money."
Li Yuan could only shake his head and smile.
They were silent along the way, and soon arrived at this Qiluo Street.
Qiluo Street was where the brothels and妓館 of the capital gathered.
Li Yuan sat in the carriage, looking left and right along the way.
Both sides were full of red lanterns and bustling with people.
Flower carriages and fine horses were constant, and greetings and pleasantries were endless.
At this time, the Little Marquis said softly.
"Earl, we're here."
"The front is Drunken Flower House."
Getting off the carriage, Li Yuan looked up and saw an unusually gorgeous painted building in front of him.
The Drunken Flower House had five floors, built with flying eaves and upturned corners, extremely luxurious.
Li Yuan and the Little Marquis walked across the side street and came to the entrance of Drunken Flower House.
To Li Yuan's surprise,
the entrance of Drunken Flower House was an elegant courtyard with gray walls and green tiles.
Seeing the two young masters in brocade robes enter, the servant inside didn't waste any words.
He carried a lantern and led the two towards the courtyard.
Stepping over the moon gate and turning past the shadow wall,
the scene suddenly opened up.
This was a very spacious courtyard, with winding paths in the courtyard, and both sides of the path were planted with green bamboo.
As the evening breeze blew, the green bamboo swayed and the wind chimes rang softly.
It made people feel very relaxed and comfortable.
The two stepped onto the gravel path in the courtyard and continued to walk inside with the servant.
Along the way, there was a scene every five steps and a color every seven steps, which can be said to be a winding path leading to a secluded place.
Even Li Yuan, who came from later generations, couldn't help but praise the unique scenery in front of him.
Passing through the bamboo forest path, the scene brightened again.
At this time, the two had already arrived under the painted building.
Here, red lanterns were hung high, colorful clothes were like clouds, and several gorgeously dressed women were diligently welcoming guests.
The gray-clothed servant leading the way shouted loudly towards the painted building.
"Distinguished guests have arrived, welcome the guests."
Then he bowed and retreated.
Soon, a woman in gorgeous clothes floated over and apologized.
"I don't know which honored guest has arrived, this servant has failed to welcome you from afar."
"Forgive me, forgive me."
The woman's voice was clear and moving, very pleasant to hear.
Li Yuan only felt a gust of fragrance coming towards him, and saw a plump woman in gorgeous clothes standing in front of him.
Seeing this woman, the Little Marquis next to him smiled and stepped forward, saying.
"Mama Wang, I'm disturbing you, I brought a distinguished guest to your Drunken Flower House for some relaxation."
"You must treat him well."
This beautiful woman was obviously the madam of Drunken Flower House.
Although she was called Mama Wang by the Little Marquis, she was actually only in her early thirties.
Her figure was curvy, and her appearance was charming and enchanting.
Every frown and smile had the charm of a mature woman.
She covered her mouth and chuckled, saying.
"I wonder who it is."
"It turns out that the Little Marquis has come, this servant has failed to welcome you from afar."
"Since it is a guest brought by the Little Marquis, how dare this servant be negligent."
Immediately, her gaze bypassed the Little Marquis and looked at Li Yuan behind him.
Then, she was stunned.
Even after staying in the pleasure quarters of the capital for so long, Mama Wang had never seen such a handsome man.
Not only were his facial features, sword eyebrows, and starry eyes outstanding, but his temperament was also too unique.
Li Yuan's temperament was not the kind of young master from a wealthy family.
Nor was he the kind of weak and arrogant scholar.
But a kind of heroic confidence that she had never seen before.
Mama Wang praised in her heart, her face turning red from watching.
The Little Marquis's light cough came from the side.
Only then did the old madam realize that she had actually lost her composure in front of the distinguished guest.
She quickly bowed and apologized, frankly saying.
"This servant saw that this young master has an extraordinary appearance and was mesmerized by it."
"Please forgive this distinguished guest."
What else could Li Yuan say? People praised him for being good-looking, and he could only nod and smile.
The Little Marquis said to the madam.
"Mama Wang, please lead the way."
This Mama Wang immediately made a gesture of invitation.
"Two distinguished guests, please follow this servant."
Then she floated towards the painted building.
Li Yuan and the Little Marquis followed Mama Wang into this painted building.
Looking around, the building was carved with beams and painted walls, and the furnishings were exquisite.
The interior decoration of this Drunken Flower House was contrary to what Li Yuan imagined.
There was no gaudy vulgarity, but rather a sense of elegance, which surprised Li Yuan.
The Mama Wang in front of her asked the two softly.
"I wonder what the two distinguished guests would like to do today, drink tea, listen to music, or enjoy singing and dancing."
The Little Marquis said with a smile.
"I heard that this Young Master Shen Moxuan is going to hold a poetry meeting in this Drunken Flower House."
"I wonder where their poetry meeting is held?"
Hearing this, Mama Wang's eyes rolled.
She knew something about the Little Marquis and Shen Moxuan.
Knowing that these two young masters usually didn't get along.
If they met, she didn't know what kind of trouble it would cause.
But since the guests asked, Mama Wang couldn't not answer, so she replied.
"Young Master Shen, huh."
"They have a lot of people here today."
"They booked the Peach Blossom Pavilion on the first floor."
"They said they were going to hold some kind of poetry meeting, this servant doesn't understand."
"It is said that they are all literary stars of our capital."
"Just let the girls serve them well."
Hearing that Shen Moxuan and the others were in the Peach Blossom Pavilion, the Little Marquis smiled.
"That's good, then I'll go to the Hibiscus Pavilion next door."
"The Hibiscus Pavilion is below the Peach Blossom Pavilion, I want to see what their poetry meeting is all about."
Since the guests ordered a private room, Mama Wang naturally had no reason to refuse.
She led the way, taking the two distinguished guests to the Hibiscus Pavilion.
Walking through a flower corridor, they heard some noise in front of them.
Li Yuan listened carefully, and it turned out that a person was reciting poetry loudly.
"Eyes like autumn water reflecting cold stars, smiles like flowers drunk in the evening sun, slender hands gently waving a fan, the sound of jade pendants in the wind."
"Everyone, what do you think of this poem?"
"Haha, good poem, good poem."
"Young Master Shen is indeed the top talent of our capital."
"This [Autumn Water Love] written for Miss Qiushui is indeed remarkable."
Listening to the greetings and laughter of a group of scholars, Li Yuan and the Little Marquis came to a very unique elegant room on the second floor, which was the Hibiscus Pavilion.
The window lattices in the compartment were wide open, and the two walked to the window and looked down, and below was the Peach Blossom Pavilion.
The Little Marquis was a regular here, and the location he chose was just right. From here, the situation in the Peach Blossom Pavilion was unobstructed.
The so-called Peach Blossom Pavilion was actually the inner atrium on the first floor of Drunken Flower House.
Some strange rocks and flowers were arranged here, and some rather elegant couches and chairs were placed.
At this time, there were seven or eight scholars and young masters sitting around.
The incense burner on the side was filled with curling smoke, and several beauties were playing silk and bamboo instruments.
What a refined gathering of literati and poets.
One person in the middle was reciting poetry with high spirits.
Li Yuan looked up and saw that it was none other than that Young Master Shen Moxuan.