After changing once again into a luxurious robe made from Floating Light Brocade, Gu Wangchen stepped down from the carriage and looked up at the brilliantly lit Pingkang Lane before him.
The largest and most high-end red-light district in Sheng’an City was right before his eyes.
It had been a long time since he last came.
Without delay, he donned his signature debauched smile and walked alone into the lane.
Passing through the bustling, lantern-lit streets, deftly avoiding the warblers who tried to brush against him, Gu Wangchen felt no inclination to linger.
What a joke. Who did they think Gu Wangchen was? Did those low-level brothels lined up at the very entrance of Pingkang Lane think they were worthy of his patronage?
With a sneer, he stepped to the tune of fluttering laughter and flutes, making his way straight into the ten-story, courtyard-style pavilion at the very center of Pingkang Lane.
Once inside, he crossed a vermillion-lacquered arch bridge, casually tossing a silver ingot into the lotus pond below. As he watched the koi leap eagerly from the water, Gu Wangchen couldn’t help but feel at ease.
“Master Gu~”
Descending the arch bridge, a sultry voice oozing with charm called out from behind him.
Gu Wangchen halted and glanced toward the source of the voice.
He saw a voluptuous beauty approaching gracefully, clad in a modified gauze dress, fragrant shoulders half-bared, curves on full display.
Even though the years had left the faintest trace at the corners of her eyes, the mature allure she exuded was enough to make countless men willingly kneel beneath her embroidered skirt once more.
“Oh, Lingniang, business seems quite lively tonight.” Gu Wangchen glanced at the scenes of pleasure under the warm glow of lanterns, inhaling the mixed scent of rouge in the air, and smiled.
“Oh my~” Wang Lingniang reached out, wrapping her arm around Gu Wangchen’s, pressing her soft, fragrant body close to his side as she teased, “How could Jingfang Pavilion call it a busy night without you, Master Gu?”
“Well, here I am, aren’t I?”
Gu Wangchen enjoyed the softness and fragrance by his side, his gaze sweeping over the interior of the main pavilion.
“Judging by all this… What, is your precious daughter, Miss Su, making her debut tonight?”
As for Wang Lingniang, the old madam of the house, Gu Wangchen actually had a fairly decent impression of her.
As a “capable type” who had climbed her way from the lowest red courtesan to the managerial ranks of Jingfang Pavilion, she didn’t exploit the girls in her care the way those traditional old madams in operas would.
Whether it was due to the high reputation and standards of Jingfang Pavilion, or because she herself had a strong sense of empathy, in the years she managed Jingfang Pavilion, not a single “escape incident” had occurred.
After all, it was quite common in Pingkang Lane for girls to run away, unable to bear the oppression of the brothels.
Of course, those cases were mostly in the lower-class establishments.
For a high-end place like Jingfang Pavilion, unless under special circumstances, even if someone came to redeem them, most of the girls weren’t willing to leave.
Why? Because for patrons of Jingfang Pavilion, just the scraps from between their fingers were enough for the girls to live in abundance.
And Gu Wangchen was the biggest sucker of them all.
“Tsk, tsk.”
Thinking of this, Gu Wangchen shook his head slightly, telling himself that spending money to avert disaster was a good bargain. If he hadn’t been maintaining his “reputation” so zealously here all these years, how could he have avoided political assassination for so long?
This money was well spent!
“Master Gu, you’ve come at just the right time today!”
Hearing Gu Wangchen ask about the girl making her debut tonight, Wang Lingniang perked up immediately.
Su Qianhua was the “big star” she had spent a fortune grooming for two years, just waiting for her grand debut tonight!
Although Su Qianhua took the path of a clean courtesan, Wang Lingniang understood men well: what you can’t have is always the most tempting, the one they’re willing to throw money at with abandon.
Because as long as the “famous flower” had not been plucked, those men could still think, “Maybe I stand a chance,” and lavish their fortunes in a frenzy.
But once the famous flower had an owner, once the clean courtesan officially became a red courtesan, her ability to draw money would drop sharply, and the brothel would shift their promotional resources elsewhere.
Su Qianhua was Wang Lingniang’s trump card after two years of planning.
The more customers in the audience, the better—the higher their status, the better.
And the man before her, Gu Wangchen, was perhaps the most distinguished “second generation” not only in Sheng’an, but in all of Great Qian.
After all, the present Son of Heaven was gravely ill and heirless; even the Crown Princess was the Emperor’s sister.
With this in mind, Wang Lingniang smiled gently, quickening her pace as she led Gu Wangchen along. “To tell you the truth, Master Gu, tonight is exactly the night of Qianhua’s debut. She’s been mentioning you to me quite a bit~”
“Really?”
Gu Wangchen raised his eyebrows. Although he knew full well this was probably just Wang Lingniang’s pleasantry, he couldn’t help but feel a slight ripple in his heart.
Because he had long known Su Qianhua.
Of course, it was only he who knew her—she didn’t know him.
The main reason Gu Wangchen had chosen Jingfang Pavilion tonight, aside from his main purpose of putting on a show for Li Zhaoning, was this golden-furred, jade-faced fox, Su Qianhua.
In his previous life, he had always been quite fond of this golden fox girl during the story—never mind her plush, bushy tails, just her identity and who she was made her a crucial piece in the Yao Clan side story.
And the Yao Clan side story, in turn, was tied to a certain extremely important multicolored treasure.
All things considered, as the one who always cut in line, how could he possibly just sit back and watch Su Qianhua and Feng Aotian “fall for each other” and become partners? How would that be reasonable?
With that thought, Gu Wangchen silently apologized to Sikong Yue in his heart, then strode into the main pavilion.
What met his eyes was a brilliantly lit hall, bright as day.
On the high stage, musicians played strings and flutes; beneath the stage, countless scholars and poets raised their cups and matched their verses.
Numerous girls in rainbow gauze drifted between the guests, laughter tinkling in the air.
From the ring-shaped corridors on the second and third floors, maids scattered baskets of fresh petals down, filling the air with fragrance and a dreamlike charm.
“Hey, Guanlan!”
Just then, a voice full of delight rang out. Gu Wangchen turned to see a young man in a brocade robe, steps unsteady, swaying toward him.
“Oh, Brother Ruilin, I see you every time I come here!”
Seeing the two second-generation scions starting their social routine, Wang Lingniang tactfully let go of Gu Wangchen’s arm, bowed lightly, and quietly withdrew.
“And how many times have I told you, don’t call me by that nickname,” Gu Wangchen said, putting a hand on Yang Ruilin’s shoulder, “Call me that again and I’ll really get mad.”
“Daoist Guanlan… tsk tsk, what a nice name, why not use it?” Yang Ruilin stopped Gu Wangchen with an arm and led him into a private room.
Sitting on the soft couch, Gu Wangchen waved his hand, signaling the maid to leave. After confirming they were alone, he said, “Let’s not bring up my dark past. You’re here tonight for that Su Qianhua as well, aren’t you?”
“You too?” Yang Ruilin wore a knowing grin.
“I am.”
“Wangchen, how have I treated you all these years?”
“What are you getting at?” Gu Wangchen sat up, sensing a deeper meaning in his words.
“To be honest, Wangchen,” Yang Ruilin poured himself a cup of tea and sipped as he spoke, “I just placed a heavy bet—betting that I’ll come out on top and win Miss Su’s favor.”
“Oh? Playing for keeps, are you? How much did you bet?”
“Five thousand taels.”
“Hmm…” Gu Wangchen frowned slightly, sighing inwardly.
No wonder they say: ‘There’s stinking wine and rotting meat behind the red gates, while bones freeze by the roadside.’ For second-generation heirs like Yang Ruilin, a casual bet was five thousand taels, while most people in Sheng’an City toiled day and night for a handful of coppers.
Those five thousand taels of silver, converted to copper coins, would be five million wen—enough for who knows how many households’ annual incomes.
But he was in no place to judge.
Enough of that for now.
Reining in his thoughts, Gu Wangchen said seriously, “Ruilin, you’d better go change your bet.”
“Huh?”
“Change it to: Gu Wangchen will come out on top and receive Miss Su’s favor.”