There are two most carefree places in the world, one is the capital, and the other is far away from the capital.
The majestic capital city covers an area of more than 6,000 acres and is divided into two inner and outer cities. The outer city has sixteen gates and the inner city has ten gates. The center is the imperial palace. The imperial street at the south gate runs through the inner and outer cities and borders the imperial palace. The imperial street is the widest and most complex in the capital. Various industries are flourishing on both sides, and there are many restaurants and restaurants, the most luxurious of which is Alum Tower.
The remaining industries are mainly centered around the four streets that run across the capital, namely Wansheng and Xinzheng streets in the east and west, Chenqiao and Dailou streets in the north and south. These four streets also have dozens of crisscrossed sub-streets and alleys, with thousands of businesses and businesses. They are derivatives and can be found throughout the capital.
When it comes to singing and dancing to promote peace, people in the capital must point to Waicheng West Street for leisure and entertainment. The gourmet feast is held in the South Street of the Waicheng City, the scholarly academy is in the North Street of the Waicheng City, and the soldiers are trained in the East Street of the Waicheng City.
As for the inner city, this is the residence of the imperial bureaucracy, the three provinces and six ministries, the Confucian Garden of the Three Saints, the Tianshi Mansion, the Imperial Master's Mansion, and other residences. Of course, there are also residences of dignitaries, wealthy businessmen, and wealthy families.
If we want to use an analogy, the outer city is a symbol of the status of the people in the capital, the inner city is a leap in power and financial levels, and the palace is the center of the top royal power.
It was already late at night when Zhao Zhengli and his party entered the city from Xinzheng Gate on the west side, and there was only less than a quarter of an hour left before the gate was closed at the end of the day.
It was so dark that I couldn't see clearly the height of the city wall. It was estimated to be more than ten feet. Each block was built with huge stones weighing thousands of kilograms. The ancient city gate was as thick as the Tianmen. The outer city was noisy and noisy. The attics were illuminated with red lights and the streets were crowded with people. , faintly smelling the aroma of wine, overflowing with fragrance.
Daochang Zhao was obsessed with this fragrance. He couldn't help but take a few deep breaths and followed the aroma. He saw a tall and antique attic. The gorgeous woman at the door was holding a silk handkerchief and smiling lightly. Her enchanting figure The males who come and go are salivating, and sometimes they get impatient and rush into the door with their hands on their waists. Those who come out of the pavilion have faces full of ecstasy, and some even support the wall and pass by.
In short, all the people coming in and out were wearing brocade clothes and carrying jade belts on their waists. Daochang Zhao looked at the plaque, which read the three characters "Pin Xiang Yuan" with graceful curves, like three unique beauties.
Zhang Ziya saw the Taoist Priest's obsession and winked at him: "Does the Taoist also like such elegant hobbies?"
Zhao Zhengli withdrew his gaze and coughed twice: "It's my first time coming to the capital, and I was shocked by the prosperity here."
Zhang Ziya said tacitly: "This place is nothing. The really scary thing is to go to Miaoyin Pavilion. I heard that the top girl is better than a fairy, she is so beautiful."
Yu Xiaowei glanced at the two of them, intending to take a few guys back to Shangshu Mansion. After hearing this, her eyes became a little indifferent, she glared hard at Young Master Pianpian next to the Luan sedan, snorted coldly, and quickly drove the Luan sedan inward without saying anything. She left for Chengshang Shufu, and with her was Li Zhanyi.
Zhang Ziya suddenly came to his senses and hurriedly slapped his mouth in regret; he seemed to have acted too professionally just now and must have left a bad impression on Miss Zhan Yi!
The two sisters of the Bi family got out of the car at the city gate and followed them all the time. The two sisters were dazzled by the sight and did not notice that Miss Yu drove away. They were still sighing in their hearts about the prosperity of the capital city. Paradise on earth should be nothing more than this, right?
After a while, the belated sisters discovered that their only acquaintance in the capital was gone, leaving behind four foreigners who didn't know what to do.
The two women complained several times but could not solve the problem.
The four of them were wandering around in the outer city under the moonlight. Since they had been walking in the rain all day, the mud on their clothes and skirts was particularly noticeable in the bustling capital. They were also carrying luggage and baggage. Anyone with a discerning eye could tell at a glance that the four of them had just entered the capital.
Wandering around, I found that in addition to brothels, there were still brothels. I occasionally encountered one or two wine shops and mansions. I walked back and forth twice but didn't find any inns.
Zhao Zhengli's outstanding appearance quickly attracted a lot of attention. His sword-shaped eyebrows and jade crown, as well as his handsome face, directly disturbed the old bustards in the streets and alleys of the outer city. They looked at him dressed in a green shirt and equipped with a long sword, and his heroic appearance became more and more eye-catching. He was even more happy when he saw two beautiful sisters beside him, and his eyes were even brighter. They must have just entered the city with their dusty appearance, so someone took the lead to 'stay as a guest'.
The charming woman holding an embroidered fan in one hand moved lightly to block the group of people: "Sir, are you coming to the capital to visit relatives or to visit friends?"
The four people who walked around for several times were very surprised when they looked at the woman wearing a gauze skirt in front of them. She was average in length, but dressed like a beauty. The pair of half-exposed giant peaks were particularly attractive, white and tender, better than a baby's skin. .
The Bi sisters lowered their eyes with shame.
Although Daochang Zhao has no experience in the world, it does not mean that he does not understand that a woman in such a romantic place is so huge that it is unknown how many people have helped to knead her. How can two sisters compare to others with their own hands? Why do you feel inferior?
The situation was not suitable for comfort. Out of politeness, Daochang Zhao answered the beautiful woman first: "Just take a stroll and take a look at the night view of the capital!"
The woman shook her fan slightly and showed a charming expression: "I saw the young master walking around several times. Are you lost? Or are you looking for accommodation?"
Zhang Ziya stared straight at the others and replied with a smile: "I walked around a couple more times and looked for an inn."
Daochang Zhao took one look at that guy and wanted to bury his head in his chest.
Although the gorgeous woman was displeased, she did not show it in the end. She smiled and said to the fair-faced handsome young man: "You guys might as well go upstairs and have a cup of tea. Our Wanhua Tower's scented tea dance is famous in the capital. As long as the young master pays you a favor, I won’t charge you a penny.”
Zhang Ziya accepted it angrily when he heard that he would not be charged any money, and said with a smile: "Okay, if you have nothing to do, listening to music is also a very elegant thing!"
The Bi sisters glanced at Zhang Ziya with disgust and said, "Master Zhang, you can go have a cup of tea! The three of us have other things to do. Now that we've arrived in the capital, let's say goodbye."
The two sisters stepped forward to drag Taoist Zhao away, but a voice as sweet as an oriole came from the distance: "Master, please don't be deceived by her. Our Yihong Courtyard not only has tea, but also music, chess, and calligraphy. Master, can you give me a favor?" "
The woman holding the fan in her hand frowned slightly: "Whose yellow warbler should I be calling? It turns out to be a meat bird from Yihongyuan!"
The woman, who has a hot figure and graceful posture, responded with a strange voice: "What's wrong with the meat bird? You can enjoy happiness without spending any money. It's not like you, a simple bird, who keeps your privacy in front of others and guards your empty room alone every night. Look at you." Those two busty breasts might be secretly processed by some rough guys!"
The woman holding the round fan said angrily: "You..."
The scale of the two women's quarrel really shocked the four of them.
"Two little birds are making noisy noises in the middle of the night. Yihongyuan is bragging about being the first place. The scented tea and tea are only of second-rate quality. Music, chess, calligraphy and painting are the means of livelihood for some clan maids who have been expelled from the house. The young master is also a person who uses swords; why not come to us Peach Blossom Pavilion, would you like to enjoy Miss Peach Blossom’s sword dance?”
What came was a rouge old woman, her sharp tongue severely belittled the two families in front of her.
"Sir, our Xiangyuan not only has sword dancing, but you can also listen to music!"
"Who can listen to music better than me, Chun Man Lou?"
…
Within a moment, five or six brothels gathered around him.
Among the four people trapped in the center, Zhang Ziya was the most excited. Zhao Zhengli was a little confused. He never thought that the first thing he did when he entered the capital would be fought over by a brothel. The Bi sisters had to protect him in the middle. The two of them had never seen such a formation before. They couldn't fight each other, couldn't leave, they were both women, and they had never been so fed up with a woman.
Regardless of whether Zhao Daochang agreed or not, the five or six families took the lead in launching an incompatible posture.
"Master, come to Wanhua Tower, I will pay five taels of silver."
"I, Yihongyuan, will give me ten taels of silver!"
"Peach Blossom Pavilion offers fifty taels!"
"I will give you one hundred taels from the Xiangyuan!"
"I'll give you five hundred taels in spring!"
…
They were all jealous. It wasn't that several brothels were sick. They all valued the handsome young man's appearance. They just wanted to keep him in the attic for a day before spreading the news. Those noble ladies in the capital had not yet crossed the threshold. ?
If they could stay a few more days, it would be better than a cash cow. This is why they would rather give money back. This kind of thing is common in the industry. It is also a good means to attract 'talent'.
Brothels are not just a place for entertainment, but also for people who sell their jobs without selling their bodies. Those who sell meat are called "meat", and those who sell meat are called "vegetarian". Earlier, the two women called each other "meat bird" and "vegetarian bird", which is a curse in the industry. A derogatory term.
Plain prostitutes are also called talented prostitutes; for example, they are good at playing music, chess, calligraphy and painting, are outstanding in playing and singing, are graceful in sword dancing, etc. These basically attract males.
But the ones who really spend a lot of money are the young ladies from rich families. What attracts them are only good-looking men, and talents are even rarer. Their level of obsession is better than that of a playboy.
Miaoyin Pavilion, which is the highest on West Street, is one of them. Within three years of its opening, it has directly absorbed most of the upper-class brothel customers in the capital. Who allowed her family to have the courtesan Ji Yanyu and the most handsome man in the capital Tian Jing as two money-spinners? .
With these two money trees, Miaoyin Pavilion directly tied the heart of Miss Kuotai's playboy. Now that he meets a young man who is more handsome than Tian Jing, how can he let him go?
This is really hard to understand for these four uninformed people. How can you actually make money by visiting a brothel?
Especially Zhang Ziya, his eyes were bigger than his fists. This was the first time in his thirty years of life that he heard that a brothel paid people to come in.
The Bi sisters always felt that there was something fishy. There might be some big trap waiting for them.
The person involved, Daochang Zhao, began to be moved. This damn capital was different. Even the competition among brothels was so fierce. If he really paid five hundred taels, he wouldn't mind going in... After all, who can't live with money?
"My Miaoyin Pavilion has one thousand taels..."
Everyone looked around and saw a woman in a long black gauze dress walking gently towards her. Her tall figure was like a nine-day fairy, exuding nobility. A light black belt tied her slim waist, highlighting her arrogance. On the top of the mountain, three thousand black hairs are gently tied up with ribbons, lazy and charming, the smiling willow eyebrows and almond-shaped eyes are as curved as crescent moons, the pretty nose is pink and white like jade; the slightly raised cherry mouth reveals a few white teeth, and the smooth arms As white as gelatin, the slender jade fingers slowly shook a silk embroidered folding fan.
Her appearance dimmed everything around her. Zhao Zhengli watched quietly. This was the first woman he could not find any flaws in. He could not tell her specific age. Everything was ignored by her appearance. He could never have imagined that she was so perfect. At that time, Daochang Zhao himself had often thought about whether he would become a goblin in the world of cholera if he were a woman. After all, he had not seen many women who were better than him in appearance. Now compared with this woman, he seems to be too narcissistic. .
The Bi sisters, who are both women, looked demented. There was no trace of jealousy in their eyes, but only envy and appreciation, because the two sisters knew that no matter how much they changed, they would never be as perfect as hers. Perhaps their skin could be maintained and changed. , but it’s hard to take out my half-sized breasts, and I don’t have the plump butt like others. You can see those straight long legs through the gauze skirt. In short, it’s incomparable.
Zhao Zhengli accidentally kicked Zhang Ziya with his foot because the guy was drooling and it was really embarrassing for him.
The four or five brothels immediately lost their temper when they recognized the visitor. They stopped fighting and were all surprisingly unanimous in their approach to the outside world.
"Miss Ji is not giving us old ladies a way to survive!"
"How long will it take before Miaoyin Pavilion comes to compete with small businesses like us?"
"How long did it take for the first oiran to learn to show his face like me and go to the streets to solicit customers?"
As the night progresses, the West Street in the Outer City causes crowds of spectators. Most of the people wandering the West Street late at night are people looking for flowers and flowers. He knew all the brothels well and quickly recognized the beautiful women in gauze skirts.
"Oh my god! Did I see Ji Yanyu from Miaoyin Pavilion? You might not be able to get a glimpse of her even if you spend money! Take a closer look."
"It's over, it's going to be another sleepless night tonight."
"What are you afraid of? Remember to be more engaged when dreaming, after all, you don't see it often!"
"..."
The first oiran ignored him and still looked at Zhao Zhengli with a smile, as if any gossip was like air.
Her words were as sweet as silver bells, and she asked again: "Master, can you please think about it?"
Zhao Zhengli paused for a moment, he had to pay for this business. With such a beautiful woman as his company, not to mention earning a thousand taels, a huge sum of money that ordinary people would never have in their lifetime. He didn't even start when he went down to suppress bandits in Shu County. At this price, you can easily get it just by going to a brothel. If you had known it, you could have come directly to the capital. It is true what the Jianghu people say, there is gold everywhere in the capital. The Taoist leader responded decisively: "I want to get the money first! Then I will leave with you!"
Ji Yanyu smiled slightly, charmingly, and readily took out a banknote from her silk belt and handed it to him.
The onlookers almost vomited blood when they saw this.
"What! Miaoyin Pavilion pays people to join the pavilion? Or Ji Yanyu comes forward! Who is this guy?"
"He's covered in mud and carrying a baggage. He must have just arrived in the capital."
"There must be another prostitute in the capital!"
…
The other four or five brothels also expected this outcome, and each of them dispersed angrily.
Surprisingly, the Bi sisters did not object, nor were they displeased at all. They followed Daoist Zhao and the first oiran towards the center of the outer city.
Zhang Ziya's face had long been full of smiles. The number one oiran was much more beautiful than the portrait he bought at Zitong Qiqu Peak. Recalling those lonely and sleepless nights, it was the one that gave him happiness. Now I am lucky enough to see him alive. , he was already very promising before he fainted on the spot.
.
inner city.
The residence of the Minister of War.
The middle-aged man is sitting on a nanmu chair, wearing a Confucian robe and half-arm tiger skin jacket, leaning against a solid wood huanghuali table, holding a purple clay cup in his hand to sip tea.
The maid announced the good news and said, "Master, the third lady has returned home."
After hearing the news, the middle-aged baby daughter who had been traveling south for several months came back. She immediately dropped her purple clay teacup and headed outside the house to greet her. The ribbon tied on her head fluttered in the wind, as if she was happier than its owner.
This person is none other than Yu Bin, the Minister of the Ministry of War. Although he is already in his middle years, he still looks dignified and has a vigorous demeanor. He is more than seven feet tall and has an appearance that makes him stand out among the court. He also has a beautiful beard and is deeply loved by the elders. The emperor liked it, and sometimes made fun of him, saying that if the old emperor could exchange half of his country for a body like his, imagine how jealous the old emperor would be.
When Yu Shangshu was still in the inner courtyard, he shouted again: "Weier! Is Weier back?"
Yu Xiaowei changed her cool attitude outside and responded in a coquettish tone: "Daddy! My daughter is back."
Yu Shangshu walked to the front yard and looked around. There were only Li Zhanyi and Yu Xiaowei. He asked in confusion: "Just you two?"
Yu Xiaowei was stunned: "What else?"
Yu Shangshu asked: "Where is the little Taoist priest of Qingcheng Mountain?"
Yu Xiaowei replied casually: "Still on the way!"
Yu Bin was obviously angry, but he still taught his precious daughter extremely gently: "Why don't you bring him to the house? He has come all the way to the capital and is unfamiliar with the place. Where can he go in the middle of the night?"
Yu Xiaowei muttered slightly: "One old guy and one little guy, I'm afraid they will come and stain the mansion!"
Although she muttered, her tone was weak, and it was obvious that she ignored that several people came to the capital for the first time.
Li Zhanyi said quickly: "Master Shangshu, Miss, I will go and invite them here."
Yu Bin said quickly: "Hurry up, don't make people wait for too long, and by the way, apologize for me!"
Seeing her father's tone, Yu Xiaowei remembered that the Taoist priest was an official in Beijing, or one of the three sages of the temple, Tianshi Mansion. She understood that the situation was serious and frowned, "Forget it, I'll go too. I did something wrong." Where can I get dad to apologize? I will go and apologize in person!"
After saying that, he followed Li Zhanyi out of the mansion again and rushed towards the West Street of Outer City.
