“Who goes there?” Mu Simiao stood at the doorway, feigning anger as she shouted, causing the woman at the entrance to freeze in surprise.
As the woman stepped forward, Mu Simiao instinctively retreated. With no weapon at hand, she could only snap, “If—if you lay a hand on me, I’ll…”
A warm palm pressed against her forehead. The loud-voiced woman looked puzzled, withdrawing her hand to feel her own forehead. “No fever,” she murmured.
Mu Simiao: ? Did this person think she was talking nonsense?
The woman furrowed her brows and shot a glare toward Qi Yuze in the courtyard before stepping back. “Could it be you’re still drunk? Didn’t we agree yesterday to go to Qing Shu Pavilion?”
Qing Shu Pavilion? What place was that? And why was this woman looking in Qi Yuze’s direction?
“Hurry up, there’s a good show tonight. If we don’t leave soon, we’ll miss it.” The woman tugged at her sleeve. Upon hearing about the “good show,” Mu Simiao’s curiosity was piqued. She turned to Qi Yuze and said, “I’ll go for a bit. Make sure you don’t randomly pick things to eat again.”
Her sudden concern caught Qi Yuze off guard, leaving him both surprised and touched. Holding the little girl, he nodded at Mu Simiao.
His gentle and refined nature pleased Mu Simiao greatly. She turned back to the woman and said, “Let’s go then.”
Along the way, the woman kept glancing at her. Mu Simiao finally met her gaze and said, “If you have something to say, just say it.”
The woman took a deep breath but shrank back under Mu Simiao’s cold stare. She seemed afraid of the original host. “Simiao, you’re being so kind to the Qi family Furang today. Aren’t you afraid he’ll become spoiled from your favor?”
“Qi family Furang” likely referred to Qi Yuze. Though Mu Simiao didn’t know how the original host had treated him, now that he was her husband, she wouldn’t allow others to speak ill of him.
“What if he becomes spoiled? He deserves it.” Mu Simiao’s words stunned the woman, but since it was a private matter, she didn’t press further.
The woman’s expression turned odd. Could it be that the original host wasn’t like this? Yet Qi Yuze had clearly been afraid of her earlier.
It must have rained recently, as muddy puddles dotted the path at intervals. Mu Simiao tiptoed, following the woman as they skirted around the edges.
The journey was somewhat long, but Mu Simiao didn’t dare ask questions, lest she raise suspicions.
After about fifteen minutes, the woman finally stopped.
The sky had darkened, and shops on both sides of the street were closing for the night. Before them stood a palace-like building adorned with crystal wall lamps. Its vermilion nanmu doors stood wide open, and the faint, fragrant scent of cosmetics drifted through beaded curtains into their nostrils.
Mu Simiao sensed something amiss. She looked up at the gold-inlaid plaque above the door, where the three characters “Qing Shu Pavilion” caught her eye.
Though she had never been there before, Mu Simiao knew it was a brothel. As a respectable youth of the 21st century, she hadn’t even been to an internet cafe, let alone a place like this.
But judging by the woman beside her, who seemed like a regular, Mu Simiao halted. Did this mean the original host had been one too?
She couldn’t understand. Who in their right mind would leave a beautiful husband alone at home to visit a brothel? Did the original host have some peculiar tastes?
Before she could unravel her confusion, the woman linked arms with her, trying to pull her inside. Mu Simiao quickly broke free. “No, I’m not going. My husband and child are home alone. I’m worried about them.”
“What’s there to worry about? It’s not like it’s their first time staying home alone anyway.” The woman’s words confirmed her suspicion, but since she had transmigrated here, she had to change her persona. She didn’t want to earn a reputation as a scumbag.
Before she could speak again, a cheerful male voice came from inside. As Mu Simiao turned her head, the beaded curtain was lifted, revealing a slender man in blue robes wearing a smile, his eyes filled with the cunning calculations of a shrewd merchant.
“Young mistresses have finally arrived. The best room has been prepared for you both, right this way.”
His tone felt familiar, no different from the madams in period dramas.
Mu Simiao parted her lips slightly, still unable to overcome her mental resistance, but the woman’s grip was too strong, practically dragging her inside.
The crystal beads dazzled as they shimmered. Guided by the madam, Mu Simiao and the woman settled into a private booth on the second floor, turning their attention to the two musicians at the side of the stage.
This was indeed a brothel—even the musicians retained their graceful charm, though neither could compare to Qi Yuze.
Mu Simiao clicked her tongue and shook her head. The woman seemed to notice her dissatisfaction and raised a hand to cover her mouth as she leaned in to whisper, “The Hua Kui will take the stage soon. I promise you won’t be disappointed.”
Pastries and melon seeds were arranged on the table. Having skipped dinner, Mu Simiao’s stomach growled at the scent of the sweets.
As the cloyingly sweet pastry melted in her mouth, Mu Simiao frowned and washed it down with a cup of tea, exhaling deeply.
Truly, professional matters should be left to professionals. In an exquisitely decorated brothel, no one minded if the pastries were slightly inferior—after all, their minds were elsewhere.
The lingering notes of the zither and konghou faded, and with a sudden thud, a lean man descended from above amidst colorful ribbons. A sheer veil obscured his face, adding an air of mystique.
His loose crimson robe accentuated his fair skin. Barefoot on the wooden stage, the bells around his ankles jingled, stirring up the atmosphere as cheers erupted. With his back to the audience, he glanced over his shoulder in time with the drumbeats, flashing a captivating smile.
“How is he?” The woman raised an eyebrow at her, her eyes shimmering with adoration for the Hua Kui, but Mu Simiao remained silent.
The Hua Kui was indeed handsome, and his enchanting charm was captivating. As a modern person, Mu Simiao still found it a bit hard to accept, but she could at least enjoy it as entertainment.
“Not bad.”
The woman teased her for being prudish, her eyes gleaming as she stared intently at the Hua Kui, as if she wanted to devour him whole.
The music flowed melodiously, building to a crescendo. Mu Simiao sipped her tea and glanced at the stage through the gap between the cup and lid, unexpectedly locking eyes with the Hua Kui.
His movements faltered abruptly before he hurriedly caught up with the rhythm, though anyone could tell he had missed a beat.
As the guests wondered and followed the Hua Kui’s gaze, Mu Simiao made no attempt to hide her face. The crowd clicked their tongues and shook their heads in understanding.
The dance ended, but the music continued, shifting to the soft, elegant notes of a bamboo flute. Mu Simiao, however, had little interest. So this was what a brothel was like—she couldn’t understand how people in ancient times could spend hours here.
Setting down her teacup, she was about to take her leave when she noticed a servant hurrying over with a tray. On it lay a jade pendant that was clearly priceless.
Everyone in the private booth and below was curious about where the jade pendant would be delivered—after all, they all knew where it had come from.
“The Zhongqing Jade Pendant—this object can only be used by the Hua Kui, and now that it has been brought out, it must mean someone has been chosen by the Hua Kui. I wonder who could be so fortunate.”
The woman opposite picked up a piece of pastry, placed it in her mouth, and chewed slowly, her gaze following the attendant until he stopped before the two of them. Instantly, her chewing halted.
“Young lady, my Cairen invites you to Furong Residence for tea. Would you do us the honor?”
Mu Simiao looked puzzled, unsure of the Hua Kui’s intentions. She instinctively glanced at the woman opposite, who appeared equally stunned and motionless.
Men and women should maintain propriety, especially since she was already married. Mu Simiao had just raised her hand to decline when the woman abruptly pressed it down. With an ingratiating smile toward the attendant, she said, “We’ll go, we’ll go. Please lead the way.”