Not only Shen Yanzhou thought this way, but Xiao Yan also shared the same sentiment.
He would absolutely not take her to a place like the Black Market.
His refined brows slightly furrowed as his deep, pleasant voice carried over:
“Take a detour.”
Watching the carriage turn toward a cosmetics shop at the bend, Feng Xin:…
Clearing his throat lightly, Feng Xin replied:
“Young Master, the Lin Residence carriage has headed to the cosmetics shop.”
Shen Yanzhou:…
Could it be that they were mistaken?
Shen Yanzhou glanced at Xiao Yan, whose face showed no expression. Xiao Yan had always been inscrutable, making it impossible to tell whether he felt disappointment or relief.
The carriage continued its leisurely journey, and the two carriages parted ways at the fork in the road.
Feng Xin didn’t recognize Seventeen, but he recognized the Lin Residence carriage.
Seventeen, however, recognized Feng Xin, knowing he was the Crown Prince’s guard.
Upon learning that the Crown Prince’s carriage was behind them, Lin Zhaoyue immediately instructed Seventeen to change direction.
She truly did not want to have anything to do with Xiao Yan at the moment.
The carriage stopped in front of the cosmetics shop. After a moment’s thought, Lin Zhaoyue simply switched to another carriage.
The entrance to the Black Market was hidden within a secluded gambling den. As the heavy stone door, carved with ferocious beast patterns, slowly opened, it felt as if another world of madness was being unveiled. An atmosphere of extravagance, decadence, and hedonism washed over them.
Shops towered on either side, adorned with glazed silk lanterns. Exquisite and alluring flower maidens beckoned to customers, while handsome young officials cast coquettish glances at passing women. The sounds of gambling and brawls echoed incessantly.
As the two stepped into the street, a loud crash was heard. A bloodied figure in black clothes burst through a window, landing right in front of them. Staggering to his feet, he vanished into the bustling crowd.
Several other black-clad figures followed closely behind, led by a burly man with a two-inch scar on his face, his expression murderous:
“Damn it, catch that brat and beat him to death with clubs. After him…”
In the blink of an eye, these pursuers also melted into the ebb and flow of the crowd.
The moment the black-clad figure leaped out, Seventeen instinctively positioned himself in front of Lin Zhaoyue.
Once the pursuers had left, he turned and asked:
“Miss, are you alright?”
Lin Zhaoyue shook her head and walked toward a shop, with Seventeen following closely behind, his eyes scanning their surroundings vigilantly.
The shopkeeper appeared to be an elegant middle-aged man, exuding a scholarly air that starkly contrasted with the surrounding atmosphere of decay.
Fiddling with his abacus without even looking up, he said coldly:
“What do you want?”
“A catamite.”
When Seventeen, standing behind Lin Zhaoyue, heard his mistress utter these two words, his typically expressionless face showed a slight crack, and the corner of his mouth twitched uncontrollably.
The shopkeeper’s hand paused on the abacus. He lifted his head, revealing scars on his collarbone that his collar couldn’t fully conceal—like fleshy centipedes, shocking to behold.
At that moment, Lin Zhaoyue noticed movement under his clothes, as if something alive was trying to crawl out.
Suddenly, her wrist tightened, her vision blurred, and when she refocused, she found herself pulled behind Seventeen.
Seventeen stood tall and straight in front of her, his sharp sword gleaming coldly.
“Please don’t mind, esteemed guest. My beloved pet is a bit mischievous.”
As he spoke, the shopkeeper held a brightly colored ringed snake that had lunged toward them. Just by its appearance, it was clear the snake was highly venomous.
Seventeen stared coldly at the shopkeeper and said in a tone devoid of warmth:
“You can test whether your snake is faster or my sword is.”
“I wouldn’t dare, I wouldn’t dare. Please, esteemed guest.”
The shopkeeper, seasoned and worldly, could tell from the movements of the man before him that he was a first-rate master.
Though the person behind him wore a veiled hat, obscuring her face, her attire and bearing made it clear she was either wealthy or noble.
Seeing Seventeen sheathe his sword, the shopkeeper’s tense nerves relaxed slightly, but a sharp pain throbbed at his neck.
He reached up to touch it—his fingers came away sticky and wet. Swallowing unconsciously, he glanced down to see a smear of crimson on his fingertips.
Belatedly, he realized that if he had harbored any killing intent earlier, he would likely be headless by now.
Cold sweat beaded on his forehead, and the shopkeeper’s smile grew increasingly ingratiating.
“Please, honored guests, come inside.”
The shopkeeper led them out of the shop, across the street, and through a winding maze of alleys until they arrived at a grand building named the Hidden Fragrance Pavilion.
Upon entering, they were greeted by cascading curtains of sheer red gauze swaying gently in the breeze. Through the translucent fabric, faint glimpses of alluring figures could be seen.
Several graceful beauties danced in the air, drawing cheers and applause from the crowd.
Banknotes fluttered through the air like worthless scraps of paper, ceaselessly tossed onto the stage.
The floor was covered in Persian carpets so soft they felt like treading on clouds. The dim lighting cast everything in an illusory, dreamlike haze, making one wish to lose themselves here forever…
In a private room on the third floor, Shen Yanzhou was speaking to Xiao Yan. After a while with no response, he looked up to find the man’s gaze fixed intently on something, his jaw slightly tense.
Following his line of sight, Shen Yanzhou caught sight of an elegant silhouette. Even from her graceful poise and slender figure alone, one could imagine the peerless beauty hidden behind the veil.
Shen Yanzhou’s amorous peach-blossom eyes glinted with interest.
“Well, who might that young lady be? Delicate bones, a willow waist so slender it seems one could encircle it with a hand—truly captivating.”
The moment Shen Yanzhou finished speaking, a chill flickered in Xiao Yan’s dark, icy eyes—a coldness he himself did not notice.
His pale knuckles tapped lightly twice on the table before he abruptly stood up.
“Hey, where are you going…?”
…
The shopkeeper led Lin Zhaoyue to an exquisitely carved door, his smile dripping with flattery.
“Honored guest, this is the place.”
As the door opened, a thick wave of incense washed over them. The room was filled with silks and satins, and a row of lightly clad young men stood holding unmentionable jade instruments.
Seeing the scene inside, Seventeen’s eyes went blank for a moment, and he instinctively glanced at Lin Zhaoyue.
His mistress remained as composed as a regular patron.
Seventeen was no fool—he knew his mistress’s temperament well enough to understand she must be here to find someone.
Though he had no idea who that someone might be.
A madam stood before the young men, seemingly lecturing them. Spotting the newcomers, she hurried over, her face wreathed in smiles.
“Oh my, shopkeeper, what brings you here?”
“Bringing a distinguished guest to make a selection. You may leave for now.”
The madam glanced twice at Lin Zhaoyue, her face lighting up with delight. Just the white jade belt at her waist was worth a fortune—clearly, she was a wealthy patron, and the wealthy were always generous.
The madam bowed twice before tactfully withdrawing.
“Honored guest, these young men are all untouched. Though inexperienced in worldly matters, their skills in serving others are first-rate. Please, see if any catch your eye.”
Lin Zhaoyue’s face burned as if scorched by fire, flushing so deeply it seemed blood might drip from it.
Fortunately, the Veiled Hat concealed her face, allowing her to endure her embarrassment as she looked them over one by one.
These youths all appeared quite young, the smallest around ten years old, the oldest no more than fifteen.
They had never truly entertained guests before, their gazes alluring yet not overly seductive. The younger ones held a hint of shyness in their eyes, mixed with an unconscious allure, their skin as delicate as snow, making one want to bully them fiercely.
If they had encountered a real “customer,” their souls would likely have been captivated. Unfortunately, they had met Lin Zhaoyue, who was as dense as a block of wood.
Lin Zhaoyue quickly scanned the group but did not see the person she was looking for.
“Customer, these youths are considered rare beauties. Is there anyone who catches your eye?”
“Average. Don’t you have any others?”
“Customer, the finest in our establishment are all here. Perhaps you should take a closer look…”
Lin Zhaoyue had no interest in dragging this out. She turned and headed for the door.
Just as she reached the entrance, she heard the shopkeeper urgently call out from behind:
“Customer, there is one more—a true, unparalleled beauty…”