Chapter 5: Huan Yi Pavilion (2)

Although the people of Taiping Prefecture were known for their open-mindedness, it was still uncommon for women to visit brothels. Therefore, despite Huan Yi Pavilion’s recent rise in fame, it hadn’t garnered much attention before Jiang Qionglin arrived.

From the outside, the courtyard appeared unremarkable. In this land where every inch was precious, a male-oriented establishment like Huan Yi Pavilion had to rely on unique strategies to survive.

Jiang Qionglin was their star attraction, drawing crowds from all walks of life. Women came to admire his charm, while men visited out of curiosity—to observe what kind of man could make half the women in Taiping Prefecture swoon. It was understandable that they fawned over Prince Wu Rui’an—his status, power, and good looks spoke for themselves—but how could a mere male escort hold such allure?

Rui’an shared these thoughts and became even more determined to investigate.

Cautiously standing at the entrance, he watched as a familiar figure slipped past a dozing servant, lifted her skirt, and darted up to the second floor. She disappeared around the staircase corner, seemingly entering one of the private rooms upstairs.

His heart raced. Following suit, he avoided the servants at the door and carefully crept upstairs.

The courtyard was shaped like a square, with two floors of rooms surrounding a central courtyard. In the middle stood a stage, surrounded by tables and chairs—an arrangement typical of ordinary brothels.

As Rui’an walked along the corridor, he glanced down at the stage below, imagining women seated there while men performed seductively above. The thought felt unsettling, so he quickened his pace, listening intently at each door, determined to find Di Jiang and uncover her purpose.

At the far end of the hallway, the room’s entrance was adorned with pots of meticulously trimmed peonies—clearly gifts from wealthy or influential female patrons.

Unsurprisingly, he found Di Jiang outside, peeking into the room through the crack in the door.

Without hesitation, Rui’an stepped forward, grabbed her wrist, and said coolly, “What brings Miss Di Jiang here?” His tone was laced with frustration, and a hint of anger flickered in his eyes.

“How did you end up here too?!” Startled, Di Jiang exclaimed loudly, her voice echoing through the otherwise quiet midday brothel.

“Who’s out there?” A lazy voice called from within the room, causing both of them to shrink back instinctively.

“Quiet,” Rui’an hissed, covering her mouth. “If we’re discovered, we’ll be in serious trouble.”

“I understand…” Di Jiang nodded. As soon as he released her, she stole a glance at him, only to meet his piercing glare, which made her shudder involuntarily.

Di Jiang sighed inwardly. She prided herself on avoiding unnecessary drama, yet somehow kept running into him everywhere.

“You followed me?” Di Jiang frowned.

“Who said I followed you? I’m here to see a friend,” Rui’an coughed awkwardly, leaning closer to peer through the crack in the door.

Inside, the room was filled with fragrant smoke. Near the window stood a wooden bathtub, steam rising from the hot water inside. Facing away from the door sat a tall, slender man.

His neck was long and elegant, his skin fair and smooth, his fingers delicate and pale like moonlight. Even his silhouette exuded an ethereal beauty, leaving much to the imagination.

“You’re actually spying on a man bathing?!” Rui’an’s blood boiled, and his voice rose sharply. Turning to look at Di Jiang, his expression brimmed with accusation.

Di Jiang froze, staring at him in shock. After a moment, she stammered, “Y-Your Highness… why are you bleeding from your nose?”

“Nosebleed?” Rui’an blinked, then wiped his nose, only to find his hand smeared with fresh red blood.

“How is this possible!” Overwhelmed, he forgot to lower his voice again.

Voices of complaint came from neighboring rooms: “Who’s making all this noise in broad daylight? Can’t you show some manners?”

Simultaneously, the sound of rustling clothes indicated others waking up.

Startled, the two quickly prepared to leave. Though they hadn’t seen Jiang Qionglin’s face, his mere presence had been enough to trigger Rui’an’s nosebleed—a testament to his allure. Deciding to retreat for now, they planned to return another day to witness his full splendor.

But just as they turned to leave, a loud “clatter” sounded behind them. The door swung open, revealing a man clad in a pristine white robe.

His raven-black hair cascaded down his shoulders, framing a perfectly sculpted face. His phoenix-like eyes were slightly narrowed, and a faint smile played on his lips.

Both Di Jiang and Rui’an were momentarily mesmerized.

His arched brows complemented his cherry-red lips, creating an aura of otherworldly charm that left them breathless.

A warm sensation trickled down Di Jiang’s nose. Reaching up to wipe it, she realized she too had begun to bleed. On the verge of fainting, Rui’an acted swiftly, tearing off a corner of Jiang Qionglin’s robe and pressing it into her hand, saving her from collapsing.

Jiang Qionglin, startled by Rui’an’s sudden action but unfazed, asked calmly, “Who are you?”

Di Jiang, dazed, stared blankly at him, unable to speak.

Rui’an, irritated by her reaction, unconsciously decided to compete with Jiang Qionglin. Straightening his disheveled hair and adopting a princely demeanor, he declared loudly, “We...”

“Where did these beggars come from? Get them out of here immediately!” A lavishly dressed woman with a slender waist appeared in the corridor. Her features betrayed her age, wrinkles etched deeply into her face.

Upon seeing her, Jiang Qionglin respectfully bowed and addressed her as “Madam Mother,” identifying her as the brothel’s madam.

“Who are they?” the madam sneered, glancing disdainfully at Rui’an before noticing Di Jiang. She shouted downstairs, “How dare you let such riffraff into my establishment? Hurry up and teach them a lesson before throwing them out!”

“Please wait, Madam Mother!” Jiang Qionglin interjected. “They mean no harm; they must have wandered in out of curiosity. Please don’t take offense—I’ll ensure they leave quietly.”

The madam snorted dismissively, waving her sleeves. “You’re far too kind-hearted, allowing random village women to approach you. If the noble ladies hear about this, they won’t be pleased. Be careful—it’s almost your Kaiyuan Day. Don’t tarnish your reputation.”

“Yes, I understand,” Jiang Qionglin replied humbly, bowing deeply as she departed. Turning to Rui’an and Di Jiang, he said softly, “Please leave quickly, or it might become difficult to do so later.”

“This... I’ve always been treated with respect whenever I came here. When have I ever been chased away like this? She’s being utterly unreasonable!” Rui’an fumed, ready to confront her.

Di Jiang promptly grabbed his wrist, coughing pointedly. “Look at yourself—how could anyone treat you like royalty in this den of luxury when you look like a beggar?”

Her words brought Rui’an back to reality. Deflating, he clenched his fists and muttered, “A gentleman takes revenge after ten years!”

Di Jiang burst into laughter, finding his indignation amusing.

Meanwhile, Jiang Qionglin remained indifferent to their cryptic exchange. Smoothing his hair, he gave a slight nod and murmured, “Farewell, then. I won’t see you out.” With another faint smile, he closed the door.

Di Jiang couldn’t help but stare again, oblivious even to Rui’an waving his hand in front of her face.

She marveled at how different Jiang Qionglin was from other escorts. He wasn’t coy or artificial; his transcendent aura seemed innate, blending seamlessly with his striking appearance. Standing beside the disheveled, unwashed Rui’an, who resembled a beggar fresh from the mud, Jiang Qionglin looked every bit the celestial immortal.

As Di Jiang and Rui’an exited Huan Yi Pavilion, they inevitably drew disapproving stares. Rui’an rubbed his forehead and sighed, “You’re a single woman living alone. Visiting places like this will ruin your reputation if people find out.”

“I live honorably—I fear no judgment,” Di Jiang retorted, striding confidently out of the pavilion. In contrast, Rui’an slunk behind her, clearly anxious about being recognized.

Seeing his skittish behavior, Di Jiang teased, “Why subject yourself to this misery? Wouldn’t it be better to stay home quietly?”

“Do you think I wanted to come here? It’s all because of you!” Rui’an snapped irritably. “From now on, you’re forbidden to visit such places.”

“Why?”

“You—” Rui’an sputtered, lowering his voice and glancing around nervously. “Do you know what kind of place this is? A red-light district! Only men are supposed to come here. Why would you set foot in such a place?”

“I was curious.”

“Well, you’re not allowed to be curious anymore,” Rui’an scolded sternly.

But Di Jiang paid no heed, gushing dreamily, “This Peony Gentleman truly lives up to his reputation—his skin looks so flawless it could wring out water!”

“So what if his skin’s nice? He’s still just an escort selling his looks. Compared to me, he’s miles away,” Rui’an huffed, clearing his throat and attempting to strike a dashing pose.

To his dismay, Di Jiang merely chuckled. “Are you sure you should tie your hair up like that? We’re still in Changle Lane—you might get recognized.”

Realizing his mistake, Rui’an hastily loosened his hair again, hiding his face as he shuffled nervously behind her.

As they headed south toward the clinic, Di Jiang suddenly remembered something and asked, “Prince Rui’an, what exactly is a Kaiyuan Day?”

“Why are you asking about that?” Rui’an stiffened, visibly uncomfortable.

“The madam mentioned Jiang Qionglin’s Kaiyuan Day earlier. What’s so special about it?”

Rui’an’s face turned green. Reluctantly, under persistent questioning, he finally admitted, “Kaiyuan Day is when they auction off a courtesan’s first night.”

“First night?!” Di Jiang’s eyes widened in shock, while Rui’an shifted awkwardly beside her.

After a pause, Di Jiang pressed further, “What happens during the first night?”

“Don’t you know?” Rui’an raised an eyebrow skeptically. “Didn’t you marry once? How can you not understand what a first night entails?”

Di Jiang finally grasped his meaning and smirked knowingly. “The first night of virtuous women and those in the pleasure quarters aren’t the same thing, especially when it involves auctioning off a man’s virginity. Isn’t it natural for me to be curious?”

“Ah...” Rui’an sighed, disappointed. Recovering, he insisted, “Regardless, you’re not allowed to come here again.”

“Yes, yes, Your Highness. Have you grown old? You used to be less talkative,” Di Jiang teased, skipping ahead with a carefree grin.

Rui’an trailed behind, looking troubled. It seemed he faced a vexing problem without any clear solution—or even a starting point. A profound sense of helplessness washed over him.