Xiaoxiang House was the largest, most renowned, and highest-ranked pleasure house in Yanjing City. High-ranking officials, wealthy nobles, and even the sons of powerful aristocratic clans frequented its halls. Every night, music and dancing filled the air as incense drifted through the rooms. Distinguished gentlemen lingered among willows and flowers, embraced fragrant beauties, and indulged themselves beneath the moonlight.
The common people often said that every courtesan in Xiaoxiang House was a fox spirit in disguise—stunning beyond compare, intoxicating to the soul, and impossible to forget after a single visit. As a result, gold and silver flowed into the establishment like water every day, making its lavish interior so magnificent that visitors were left speechless. As dusk settled over the city, well before the curfew bell, an endless stream of guests continued to enter and leave Xiaoxiang House.
Pleased with the bustling business, the madam was chatting and laughing with one of the courtesans when a young gentleman wearing a scholar’s cap stepped inside. He was bright and graceful, carrying himself with refined elegance.
Although his robe was simple, the quality of its fabric made it obvious that it was anything but ordinary. The two guards following behind him were tall and imposing as well. The madam naturally dared not neglect such a guest. She personally stepped forward to greet him, her heavily powdered face blooming with smiles.
“Oh my, Young Master, you’ve arrived. Would you like to listen to music today, or…”
As she drew closer, she caught the faint fragrance clinging to the youth. Secretly, she couldn’t help appraising him. Though he appeared somewhat slender, his figure was exceptionally well-proportioned.
Had this young master been born a woman, with proper training, “he” might well have rivaled Miss Duan, the house’s reigning courtesan, for the title of top beauty.
Of course, she would never dare voice such thoughts aloud.
Unless she no longer wished to keep her head.
The young gentleman ordered a pot of flower tea, remained downstairs through an entire musical performance, then ordered wine before being led upstairs to one of the private rooms amid cheerful smiles.
The moment the fragrant door was pushed open, everyone behind the courtesan felt their hearts skip a beat.
Everyone working here was shrewd. With a single glance at a guest’s bearing and attire, they could roughly determine their background, silently dividing customers into different ranks.
Naturally, such a distinguished guest was immediately given one of the finest private rooms.
However…
The inside of the room truly concealed a world of its own.
Ignoring the courtesan’s increasingly suggestive glances, the young gentleman did his best not to look toward the assortment of objects displayed on the shelves in the corner. After having his guards hand over a generous tip, he instructed them to close the door.
Only after it was firmly shut did he finally let out a sigh of relief.
The guards should have remained outside, yet both stayed inside the room instead, exchanging hesitant glances as though they wanted to speak.
“If you have something to say, then say it.”
The two men looked at each other, both seeing the anxiety and helplessness in the other’s eyes.
One finally gathered his courage.
“Second Miss… why don’t we just go back? If the Madam or the Marquis finds out, we wouldn’t have enough lives to survive the punishment.”
The guards were on the verge of tears.
After all, this was no young gentleman.
She was the precious legitimate eldest daughter of the Marquis of Zhen’an’s residence—the famed Second Miss Pei, Pei Yunting, renowned throughout Yanjing for her gentle and graceful temperament.
Earlier that day, Second Miss had summoned them, disguised herself as a young man, ordered them to keep everything secret, and asked them to accompany her on an outing.
They had assumed she merely wished to stroll through the streets and admire the scenery.
Who could have imagined that she would bring them directly to Xiaoxiang House?
The guards had lived long enough to witness countless unbelievable situations, yet never before had they heard of a noble young lady disguising herself as a man and bringing her guards into a brothel.
If such an absurd story spread, no one would believe it.
Fortunately, both men were accustomed to maintaining expressionless faces. Those serving in the Marquis of Zhen’an’s residence were no ordinary people. Knowing they could not disgrace the Marquis’s household, they had managed not to reveal anything.
But Xiaoxiang House was no place a respectable young lady could casually visit.
If anyone in the Marquis’s residence learned of this, not only would the guards lose their livelihoods—even Second Miss herself would be severely punished.
Yet Pei Yunting seemed completely bewitched, refusing to leave no matter what they said. She had even come without bringing a single maidservant, leaving only the servants to suffer.
Thankfully, they had prepared a backup plan.
Before leaving the residence, they had secretly instructed another guard to quietly send word.
The message was not delivered to anyone in the Marquis of Zhen’an’s residence.
Instead, it was sent to the one person in the world who could truly keep Second Miss Pei in check—
The Little King of Hell.
The moment they heard movement outside the door, they knew he had arrived.
If he could stop Second Miss today…
Then, in the guards’ eyes, even the Little King of Hell would become a living Bodhisattva.
Meanwhile, Pei Yunting sat serenely at the table, savoring her tea.
She thought to herself that although the tea at Xiaoxiang House was expensive, it truly tasted excellent. Whoever brewed it possessed remarkable skill.
A short while later, hurried yet heavy footsteps suddenly echoed outside the room.
Looking up, she noticed both guards avoiding her gaze.
Only then did she realize something was wrong.
“Who’s there?”
…
The madam had never imagined that Xiaoxiang House would be so honored today.
Not long after Pei Yunting entered the private room, another distinguished guest arrived.
Unlike Pei Yunting’s fresh and refined appearance as a young gentleman, this newcomer wore flowing robes that fluttered in the breeze, with a crimson jade qilin belt adorning his waist. His complexion was somewhat pale, as though he had recently recovered from illness, yet it could not conceal his otherworldly beauty.
The nearby courtesans stared in stunned silence.
Even the madam, who had seen countless handsome men throughout her life, had never encountered someone who looked like an immortal cast down from the heavens.
She was so mesmerized that she forgot to step forward and greet him.
The man did not spare them even a single glance.
He simply walked upstairs alone.
The ordinary courtesans could not recognize the jade pendant hanging from his waist.
But the battle-hardened madam immediately understood.
This was a member of the imperial family.
A figure far beyond anyone’s ability to offend.
Yan Huaijin strode forward without looking sideways and asked the man hurrying after him,
“Where is she?”
“I had them leave a mark. I’ve already confirmed it—she’s in one of the private rooms on the second floor,” Zhan Yuan replied, lowering his head.
Feeling the murderous aura radiating from his master, he dared not utter a single word in Second Miss Pei’s defense.
“Take me there.”
“Yes.”
Yan Huaijin strode forward with great urgency.
Inside the room, Pei Yunting was still feeling uneasy when—
He kicked the door open with a single blow.
The moment he saw the “young master” calmly drinking tea at the table, his anger surged uncontrollably.
The guards standing by the door wisely slipped outside, completely abandoning Second Miss to her fate.
Upon seeing Zhan Yuan, Yan Huaijin’s personal guard, one of them even struck up a conversation.
“Brother, you got here fast today. You’re at least a quarter of an hour earlier than last time.”
“You have no idea. The moment the Shadow Guards delivered the news, His Highness immediately rushed over with us. None of us could stop him.”
“…Let’s get downstairs already. His Highness the Third Prince ordered us to wait below.”
“Our lives are more important.”
…
Inside the room, Pei Yunting watched Yan Huaijin approach her step by step, an oppressive chill radiating from him.
She couldn’t help swallowing nervously.