After the meal, He Yan had to support herself on the railings to climb upstairs.

While the dishes were undoubtedly delicious, being required to finish every last grain of rice meant that even the finest delicacies became difficult to swallow towards the end. Having finally finished and earned the right to eat tomorrow, she still had to endure Young Master Xiao’s sidelong glance and his light mockery: “Indeed, quite the capacity for food.”

If he hadn’t insisted on not wasting food, would she have made herself look like a glutton in front of everyone? The other diners were already looking at her strangely, and He Yan felt thoroughly embarrassed.

She was too full to want any further conversation with Xiao Jue, so she followed the attendant upstairs by herself. Surprisingly, Fei Nu didn’t follow her up, but she couldn’t be bothered about that. Upon entering her room, she immediately lay down on the couch.

She was truly too full to move.

The softness beneath her was incredibly comfortable, and He Yan couldn’t help but roll around on the couch. This was the advantage of having money – even traveling accommodations could be this luxurious. Xiao Jue’s room was right next door, and she pressed her ear against the wall to try to hear what he was doing, but either the walls were too thick or there was nothing to hear.

As she listened, He Yan fell asleep.

After traveling half the day and having such a full meal, combined with the comfortable bed, it would have been difficult not to fall asleep. When He Yan woke up, the sun had completely set and the moon was out. She opened the window to see lanterns lit below, and the sound of singing courtesans could be heard from a nearby restaurant.

He Yan rubbed her eyes, drank a cup of water, then got up and opened the door. She walked to Xiao Jue’s room and knocked.

After a moment, a voice from inside said, “Come in.”

He Yan entered to find the room lit, with Fei Nu standing guard at the door and Xiao Jue sitting at the table, reading a book.

Did this man never get tired? He hadn’t seemed this studious back at Xian Chang Academy, but now he was being so diligent. He Yan felt a surge of shame – now this was what it meant to have endless pursuit of knowledge. She craned her neck to try to see what book Xiao Jue was reading, but he closed it before she could see anything.

He looked up, his gaze cold, “What is it?”

He Yan asked, “Commander, what are you doing tonight?”

“Nothing in particular.”

“Are you not going out?”

He said, “What do you want to say?”

“I wanted to say,” He Yan smiled, “if you don’t have any plans, I’d like to go out for a walk. This is my first time in Liang Zhou City, and I want to see if there are any interesting trinkets around.” She fabricated, “If I find something suitable, I could buy some gifts to bring back for my fiancée.”

Xiao Jue seemed uninterested in her affairs and said flatly, “As you wish.”

He Yan was overjoyed and said, “That’s wonderful, Commander, I’ll be going now!”

She practically bounced down the stairs. After she left, Xiao Jue said, “Fei Nu.”

The guard already understood and said, “Young Master, I’ll follow him.”

“Don’t follow too closely,” he said, “Be careful not to be discovered.”

“I understand.”

He Yan eagerly left the inn.

Yuan Bao Town hadn’t yet reached Liang Zhou, and they would be staying at the inn for the next few days. They had arrived in the city early without informing the County Magistrate. Besides repairing the zither, Xiao Jue likely had other matters to attend to. However, He Yan had no intention of following him around. At least for now, Xiao Jue showed no sign of trusting her, so why bother trying to get close to someone so cold? She had no desire to stay in the inn reading books like Xiao Jue, as that would remind her of those terrifying memories of studying at Xian Chang Academy.

The evening was pleasant, perfect for a walk around town. Although Yuan Bao Town hadn’t reached Liang Zhou yet, there were other ways to get news about the He family. Wherever there were taverns and teahouses, one only needed to shout “I know about Flying Phoenix General…” to start countless conversations. Not to boast, but during her most famous years, storytellers everywhere had daily repertoires about the Flying Phoenix General.

Of course, they would also have to mention Cloud Sealing General as well.

The nighttime streets of Liang Zhou City weren’t as crowded as those in Shuo Jing, but they weren’t deserted either. Street vendors were selling local products, and He Yan walked along, looking at everything. She only had the silver ingot she’d won during the flag competition.

Although Xiao Jue was acting as her “Uncle,” he showed no intention of giving her money to spend. Fortunately, He Yan was already well-fed and had no desire to spend money, so she was content just looking without buying.

Ten steps behind her, Fei Nu was following closely.

Xiao Jue suspected He Yan’s identity was suspicious, and bringing her to Liang Zhou City meant keeping a constant watch on her to see if she secretly contacted Xu Jingfu’s people. Fei Nu followed diligently, though somewhat puzzled.

This youth walked and looked around like someone who had never been out shopping before, amazed by everything. Though claiming to want to buy trinkets for a fiancée, despite looking at many items, not a single purchase was made. Either he was extremely stingy, unwilling to even buy a box of face powder for a young lady, or he was lying and using it as a cover.

He Yan turned down a street and entered an alley. Remembering Xiao Jue’s instructions, Fei Nu didn’t follow too closely, waiting until He Yan should have reached the end of the alley before following. Upon entering, Fei Nu was startled – the alley was empty except for a few lanterns swaying in the wind, with no sign of anyone.

Fei Nu thought “This is bad” and quickly moved forward to the end of the alley, which opened onto a busy street with crowds moving in both directions, but no sign of the youth.

Not only had he been discovered, but he had also lost track of his target.

He Yan walked ahead, shaking her sleeves.

Liang Zhou City didn’t seem very peaceful, with numerous bandits and petty criminals about. She had just arrived and wasn’t yet familiar with the area, but someone was already following her. They had been following for quite a while, and since she hadn’t offended anyone recently, they were probably looking to rob her. However, she was still maintaining Cheng Li Su’s identity, and Xiao Jue was back at the inn, so it was better to avoid trouble. Therefore, she didn’t confront them and didn’t even let them see her face, simply slipping away quietly.

Without a tail, she could explore more freely. However, this wasn’t an efficient way to gather information. He Yan stopped a passerby on the street and asked with a smile, “Brother, do you know which is the largest tavern in the city?”

The man looked her up and down, noting her wealthy appearance and fine features, assuming she must be from some rich family, and replied very politely, “The largest tavern would be the Wan Hua Pavilion.”

“Thank you,” He Yan asked further, “Could you tell me how to get to the Wan Hua Pavilion?”

“It’s not far. Follow this street straight ahead until you reach the end. When you see a rice shop, turn left, and it’s a short walk from there.”

“Many thanks, brother.” He Yan bowed slightly before continuing on her way with a smile.

Just as the man had said, it wasn’t a long walk. Following the directions past the rice shop and turning left, she could soon hear the sound of pipa music. Several wealthy-looking gentlemen were heading in that direction – undoubtedly, this was the Wan Hua Pavilion.

He Yan followed the crowd inside.

Before reaching the entrance, she noticed waves of fragrance wafting through the air. He Yan hesitated, finding it strange when suddenly a flash of red and perfume appeared before her eyes. A snow-white arm draped across her shoulders, and a woman’s coquettish laugh carried a hint of allure. “Young Master looks unfamiliar. Is this your first time at our Wan Hua Pavilion?”

He Yan: “…”

Hadn’t she asked about the largest tavern? Could someone please explain why the Wan Hua Pavilion that the man mentioned turned out to be a brothel?

He Yan said, “I’m not here for this.” She tried to remove the young woman’s hand, but instead of getting angry, the woman pressed herself closer. He Yan’s arm directly contacted soft flesh, making her face flush with embarrassment.

Even though they were both women, this was far too intimate!

The woman in red embraced He Yan and led her inside, saying as they walked, “Even if you didn’t come for this, you can still come in and look around. Our Wan Hua Pavilion is quite entertaining.”

Since the other person was a woman, He Yan couldn’t use the same methods she’d used with Wang Jiugui. Helplessly, she said, “Miss, I have no money. I’m very poor.”

The woman glanced at He Yan’s attire from head to toe and giggled, “Young Master is joking. There’s no need to be so stingy. But if you are worried about money, Yun Yan will treat Young Master to drinks today, free of charge. How about that?”

The woman’s perfume was overwhelmingly strong, making He Yan dizzy. Before she knew it, she was pulled into the Wan Hua Pavilion by a woman called Yun Yan. Upon entering, she felt warm air mixed with fragrance wash over her. On stage, a row of young women in thin clothing were playing instruments and singing, while cultured gentlemen sat below, cheering and tossing poetry strips, creating an atmosphere of decadent luxury.

People were everywhere, and He Yan hadn’t seen such a scene in a long time. She stood frozen, unsure where to go. Seeing this, Yun Yan covered her mouth and giggled, again pulling at He Yan’s arm. “Young Master, let’s go upstairs. There are too many people here, and Young Master is so handsome, I’m afraid someone might try to steal you away.” As she spoke, she stroked He Yan’s face.

He Yan felt a chill run through her body, like a rabbit that had wandered into a wolf’s den, feeling uncomfortable from head to toe. However, Yun Yan was passionate and eager, paying no attention to He Yan’s expression as she pulled her toward the upper floor.

The Wan Hua Pavilion had several floors. The ground floor had a long stage where the courtesans performed music and dance. The floors above held private rooms, which required more money and were used to entertain distinguished guests. Above those were where the courtesans lived.

Yun Yan’s beauty was unremarkable among the Wan Hua Pavilion’s courtesans, and she didn’t have many patrons. Having finally caught a wealthy-looking young master like He Yan at the entrance, she wasn’t about to let go easily. Moreover, seeing He Yan’s clear features and handsome appearance, if other girls saw him, they would surely try to steal him away. With more monks than porridge, it was better to act first and secure him in her room.

She kept holding onto He Yan without letting go. As He Yan pondered how to make a natural exit, they reached the upper floor where there were no more patrons embracing courtesans.

“There’s no one up here?” He Yan asked.

Yun Yan smiled, “Not everyone can enter a courtesan’s private chambers. Young Master, don’t act coy when you’ve been given such privilege.”

The courtesans here were bold and uninhibited, and He Yan didn’t know how to handle them. As they passed a room, suddenly the door burst open, and someone with disheveled hair rushed out, only to be dragged back in by their hair before reaching the doorway. Before He Yan could get a proper look, the door slammed shut with a “bang,” nearly hitting her nose and knocking her fan away.

Everything happened so quickly that He Yan was momentarily stunned. Yun Yan hurriedly came forward, asking, “Young Master, are you alright? Were you hurt just now?”

He Yan shook her head, bent down to pick up her fan, and turned to look at the tightly closed door. With her exceptional hearing, she could make out a woman’s muffled crying, followed by the sound of a matron scolding someone.

“In there…” He Yan reached out to push the door.

“Young Master, you mustn’t!” Yun Yan blocked her movement, “What are you doing?” Her gaze held a hint of wariness.

He Yan had an idea, and when she looked up again, her eyes were filled with pure curiosity, “Who’s in there? What was happening just now?”

Seeing him as just a novice who had never been to a brothel before and knew nothing, Yun Yan felt a flash of contempt but kept a smile on her face as she took He Yan’s arm again. “She’s a new girl in our establishment who doesn’t know the rules. She offended a customer, and the matron is teaching her a lesson.”

“You have girls who don’t know the rules here?” He Yan asked casually, “I thought everyone was as understanding as you.”

These words made Yun Yan beam with joy as she reproached playfully, “Young Master is such a sweet talker. We who grew up in brothels know we won’t eat if we don’t follow the rules, so naturally, we wouldn’t dare offend customers. But some people are different – those who’ve never known hardship, when they suddenly face great changes, still think they’re noble young ladies. They’re proud and willful and must learn their lessons the hard way. After a few times, they’ll understand.”

He Yan raised an eyebrow: “So she’s from a respectable family?”

“Young Master,” Yun Yan pretended to be angry, lightly punching He Yan’s chest with her powdered fist, “Are you looking down on us brothel girls?”

He Yan chuckled softly: “How could I? Compared to wild cats with claws, gentle girls are certainly more lovable.”

With her refined features and wearing Cheng Li Su’s fine clothes, she looked every bit like an elegant young gentleman. When deliberately acting suave and romantic, she could captivate many young women. Sure enough, Yun Yan was also somewhat dazed by her smile, unconsciously becoming more talkative.

“Even so, some people prefer these spirited wild cats. Though the girl in that room doesn’t know the rules, the son of our Liang Zhou County Magistrate has specifically requested her. Who knows how she got such luck?” At this point, there was a hint of jealousy in her voice.

“The County Magistrate’s son?” He Yan’s mind raced, but her expression revealed nothing as she looked at her in surprise: “Is the girl in that room so beautiful that even the Magistrate’s son comes seeking her?”

“What do you mean seeking her?” Yun Yan said dismissively, “This girl just arrived at our establishment, and when Madam wanted her to serve customers, her first client was Young Master Sun. But what did she do? She was incredibly fierce – not only did she refuse to serve Young Master Sun, she even stabbed his arm with a hairpin.”

“Young Master Sun is Magistrate Sun’s only son – how could this matter end there? Madam will discipline this girl for a few days, and once she becomes obedient, she’ll be sent to him.”

As Yun Yan walked forward, she continued, “But this girl is quite strong-willed. It’s been three whole days, and you saw just now, she’s still like this. Our Wan Hua Pavilion hasn’t seen such a fierce girl in a long time.”

“What will you do?” He Yan fanned herself, asking with concern, “If you can’t discipline her properly, how will you answer to Young Master Sun?”

“Young Master jests. No girl in Wan Hua Pavilion can’t be disciplined. No matter how fierce a girl is, give her some sleeping powder, and she won’t be able to do anything. I think this girl is just bringing trouble upon herself. If she had simply obeyed and pleased Young Master Sun, she might have even become a concubine. Now, even if she ends up in Young Master Sun’s bed, she’s unlikely to win his favor. Who knows how tragic her fate will be.”

As she spoke, alongside her jealousy, she began to feel some sympathy.

“Perhaps she’ll come to her senses in these few days,” He Yan consoled, “There’s no need to worry too much.”

Yun Yan shook her head: “I’m afraid there’s no time left. Young Master Sun’s people will come to collect her soon. They were probably doing her makeup just now.”

He Yan remained silent.

Yun Yan seemed to realize she had said too much and once again displayed her initial alluring smile. She pulled He Yan to a room at the end of the corridor and pushed her inside: “Look at us, why are we talking about others? Young Master, let’s talk about us instead.”

This was a woman’s boudoir, not very large, with cosmetics arranged on the dressing table and red curtains around the bed, suggesting the brevity of spring nights.

Her hands came up to embrace He Yan’s neck again.

He Yan’s scalp tingled, but she maintained her facade as a romantic young gentleman, smiling, “Having beauty in my arms is wonderful, but don’t you think something’s missing?”

Yun Yan asked: “What’s missing?”

“Wine, of course. Meeting you feels like fate, and this moment calls for a drink together.” She thought of how He Yuan Liang used to play with the concubines in his household, and tapped Yun Yan’s nose, “Didn’t you say you would treat this young master to drinks? Were you deceiving me?”

Even a woman of the pleasure quarters couldn’t help but feel her heart flutter when such a handsome and romantic young gentleman flirted with her. Yun Yan stamped her foot and said, “How could I? Wait here, I’ll go get the wine right now. Tonight… we’ll drink until we’re both intoxicated.”

She cast a flirtatious glance and swayed out of the room. After she left, He Yan collapsed into a chair, finally letting out a sigh of relief. Pretending to be a man visiting a brothel, whether in the past or present, was something she was extremely poor at – it was truly exhausting. Even worse than studying at Xian Chang Academy.

She shook her sleeve again, and a small paper ball rolled out.

Earlier, when passing that room, someone had rushed out and been dragged back in, and in that brief moment, a paper ball had been thrown out. Afraid that Yun Yan would notice, she had deliberately dropped her fan to cover it. When bending to pick up the fan, she retrieved the paper ball as well.

Fearing Yun Yan would discover it, she hadn’t dared to look at it until now. The paper ball was crumpled and scattered, and when He Yan opened it, there were two characters written on it.

Save me.

The characters were written with an eyebrow pencil, somewhat blurred. The writer must have been very nervous, but even so, the delicate calligraphy was exceptionally beautiful.

In that room, a young lady was being held captive.

Although Yun Yan’s explanation sounded proper, it ultimately came down to four words: forcing virtue into prostitution. Currently following Xiao Jue, she shouldn’t get involved in such matters to avoid trouble, but since learning of this situation, a knot of anger had formed in her heart, making it impossible to stand idly by.

He Yan carefully put away the paper ball, stood up, and left the room.

When Yun Yan returned with the wine, the room was already empty. She stood dumbfounded for a moment, then stamped her foot and cursed, “Deceiver!”

The night grew deeper.

The songs in Wan Hua Pavilion became increasingly suggestive and intimate, with men and women embracing and laughing together, making it difficult to distinguish between mere playacting and genuine emotion.