After queuing for about one tea-brewing period, it was finally Zhu Qing’s turn.

Zhu Qing handed over the waist tokens.

The guard glanced at the tokens, then glanced toward Xie Zhifei and the others before asking, “Have the two lords reserved seats?”

Zhu Qing shook his head.

The guard apologized. “Today’s courtesan queen selection—all private rooms in the building are full. Only scattered tables before the stage still have empty seats. The two lords…”

Xie Zhifei’s ears were sharp. He quickly shouted at the guard, “No problem.”

The more people, the better they could act under cover of chaos.

Heaven helps me and Sanhe!

A maid led the group inside. Li Buyan looked and marveled all the way.

From outside, the Training Bureau’s two vermillion doors appeared unremarkable—just more red lanterns hanging at the entrance, with faint fragrance drifting from within.

But walking inside—setting aside pavilions, towers, and corridors—just the blue-white jade bricks paving the ground and the exquisite palace lanterns lining both sides of the red carpet…

Magnificent!

In a blink, they arrived before a resplendent small building.

The three-story building echoed with cheerful voices and laughter, occasionally mixed with one or two lewd crude remarks that made faces flush.

The maid led them around to the building’s rear. Before them appeared an enormous stage with silk gauze curtains hanging between front and backstage.

Dancers twirled gracefully onstage while musicians played and sang behind the curtain.

Directly facing the stage were over a dozen Eight Immortals tables, nearly all occupied by scholars engaged in lively discussion.

Graceful maids wove among them, serving tea or pouring wine—quite lively.

Xie Zhifei chose the most inconspicuous square table and pulled Pei Xiao to sit down.

Li Buyan, Zhu Qing, and Huang Qi stood in attendance.

Li Buyan’s identity today was Third Master’s personal guard. For this, she’d even bound her chest and pasted a tuft of whiskers below her nose.

Without close examination, one couldn’t tell she was disguised as a man.

This was Li Buyan’s first time encountering such a lively scene. Intensely curious, she walked behind Xie Zhifei and asked quietly.

“Third Master, quickly tell me—how is the courtesan queen selected?”

Xie Zhifei turned to glance at her but didn’t respond.

Two people at the table—she chose to ask him. He’d explained so many times already that this place wasn’t somewhere he frequented, and when he came it was only for show.

Deaf?

“Three rounds. First round compares dance, second round compares musical instruments, third round compares poetry.”

Young Master Pei had never shown such patience since birth. Just because of that “thank you,” even his view of Li Buyan had improved considerably.

“All Training Bureau guests get one vote each. Whoever gets the most votes becomes courtesan queen.”

“After the courtesan queen is selected?”

“Then it’s the courtesan queen’s turn to select a guest.”

Li Buyan grew more curious. “How does the courtesan queen select guests?”

Young Master Pei explained, “All guests compete fairly—not discussing wealth or power, only discussing romantic matters.”

Li Buyan pressed, “What kind of romantic matters?”

“Poetry contests.”

Young Master Pei’s teeth ached just mentioning these two words.

Damn it, why not compete in Diamond Sutras or something? Then who in the capital could match him, Young Master Pei?

“Whoever’s poem catches the courtesan queen’s eye—she’ll lead that person into her chamber. That chamber isn’t ordinary—it’s built on water, reachable only by boat.”

“Good heavens, a spring night on water.”

Li Buyan’s face showed admiration. “Tsk, quite refined indeed.”

“There’s even more refinement.”

Young Master Pei continued, “When two people enter the water pavilion, they first drink tea, chat about poetry and literature, discuss life dreams. If the courtesan queen is dissatisfied with the guest, she can serve tea and see him out at this point.”

“Must be because the guest has a pig-like face, truly stomach-turning.”

Li Buyan glanced at Xie Zhifei. “Like our Third Master’s handsomeness—the courtesan queen would be willing even without payment!”

Third Master won’t respond to you.

Third Master giving you one extra glance means he loses!

Xie Zhifei kept his face straight while raising his eyebrows at Zhu Qing and Huang Qi behind him.

Zhu Qing and Huang Qi received Third Master’s order and silently withdrew.

Currently their leads were: first, slender gold calligraphy; second, embroidered shoes with moon patterns. They’d see if these two things could help discover Jingchen’s identity.

No need to question the young ones. Third Master said to find older people—spending some silver didn’t matter.

However, just turning back toward the small building, Zhu Qing and Huang Qi looked up and their scalps went numb.

Several zhang away, someone raised his eyebrows, a cold smile playing at his lips, watching them expressionlessly.

Elder Master?

Why was he here too?

Xie Erli spoke quietly to several colleagues behind him. After they successively entered the small building, he approached with a stern face. “Where is he?”

“I’ll lead Elder Master there.”

Zhu Qing gave Huang Qi a look saying “wait here” and quickly led the way.

At the square table.

Third Master had just started to cross his legs when suddenly a figure appeared before him. Looking up, he was so startled he quickly put his foot down.

Pei Xiao’s eye corner twitched wildly. After holding back, he managed, “Elder Brother, what a coincidence!”

“Quite coincidental!”

Every year during the Training Bureau’s courtesan queen selection, the Hanlin Academy sent people to observe—both to show support and see the quality of this term’s courtesan queen.

Unexpectedly, he encountered Third Brother and the others.

Xie Erli lifted his robe and sat down, his gaze sweeping over the person behind Third Brother. He felt this person looked somewhat familiar.

Looking more closely, blood rushed straight to his head.

It was actually the maid Li Buyan.

Xie Erli bit his teeth, his gaze falling on Third Brother like knives cutting.

Third Master Xie had such thick skin—acting as if nothing was wrong, he showed his elder brother a harmless smile. “Does Elder Sister-in-law know?”

Dog bastard!

Even stabbing his own brother in the back!

Xie Erli angrily stood and swept his sleeves as he left.

Third and Mingting had little learning and rarely came to such places. Coming today, bringing the cross-dressed Li Buyan…

Most likely helping Miss Yan investigate the Water Moon Nunnery matter.

Fine, fine, fine—out of sight, out of mind.

But just as he’d taken two steps, he saw Huang Qi several zhang away with a bitter expression, leading someone over.

The three at the table saw Elder Master Xie stop moving and followed his gaze.

Third Master: “…” How did he get in?

Young Master Pei: “…” Did I not check the almanac before going out?

Li Buyan: “…” Three brothers listening to music at a pleasure quarter—wow, the whole set!

Xie Buhuo walked close and inclined his head slightly toward Xie Erli.

“Elder Brother, I came with the Martial Peace Marquis’s heir. Unexpectedly encountering Huang Qi at the entrance, knowing Young Master Pei was also here, I came to greet you.”

In one short sentence, he explained the causes and effects clearly and orderly.

The Martial Peace Marquis’s heir was named He Yun, courtesy name Wenyu, two years younger than Xie Buhuo. Seven or eight years ago, the two became friends over an inkstone and had maintained a good relationship.

“Third Brother is also here!”

Xie Buhuo’s gaze swept past Li Buyan, pausing slightly, then sighed meaningfully.

“Today this place is truly lively!”