The red mark on Feng Huan’s forehead was blood, though the wound was relatively minor.

The mark didn’t look like a knife cut or something scratched by a hairpin, but rather like it had been scratched by fingernails. Yet how could fingernails create such a mark, and in that specific location, as if someone had openly carved characters on Feng Huan’s forehead?

She asked Feng Huan, “What happened to your forehead?”

Feng Huan wailed, “I don’t know! Someone tried to assassinate me. I saw a shadow fly past my eyes, like a small flying knife.”

As he spoke, he pinched his fingers together to indicate the size of the shadow.

Tie Ci fell silent.

A flying knife the size of a melon seed? Was it a toy?

Feng Huan continued wailing, “My head, my head! My head is injured…”

Tie Ci sighed, “Yes, it’s quite heavy. If you don’t hurry to see a physician, it might heal on its own.”

As Feng Huan kept crying out, he suddenly felt it didn’t hurt that much. He reached up to touch it, then walked to a nearby shop’s glossy black lacquered counter that could reflect like a mirror, only then discovering the shallow character for “king” on his forehead.

He was stunned speechless.

Tie Ci casually handed him a handkerchief, saying, “Any discoveries?”

Feng Huan took the handkerchief but didn’t use it to wipe his forehead. Instead, he seemed to casually stuff it into his chest pocket and recounted what had just happened.

Tie Ci’s eyes flashed.

She turned and went to buy a durian.

Wherever she went, it was as if she carried dung – everyone caught the scent and fled.

When she approached Xiao Xueya carrying the durian, even his perfect, cold mask was about to crack.

Tie Ci paid him no mind and instructed Feng Huan to find the guards and return to the ship on his own after leaving.

Feng Huan chased after her asking, “Where are you going? Are you also going to visit brothels?”

“What are you talking about?” Tie Ci replied without turning back, “Brother Xiao and I aren’t interested in women.”

Xiao Xueya: “…”

The lieutenant: …We don’t want to be represented, thank you.

“Then you’re going to…”

“We’re going to visit male escort houses.”

After Feng Huan was hastily dismissed, he watched His Highness enter the Wanmei Pavilion. General Manager Xiao seemed to want to turn and leave at any moment, but for some unknown reason, he still followed inside with an expressionless face.

Feng Huan suddenly felt that being a perfect, snow-white person like General Manager Xiao was quite unfortunate.

At the very least, following such a smelly person, he couldn’t even cover his nose.

But he was fortunate to visit male escort houses with His Highness.

Would they deal with that beauty from earlier?

Would the beauty serve clients?

If the beauty served clients, would His Highness be at a disadvantage or gain an advantage?

If the beauty served clients, how would His Highness and General Manager Xiao divide things? Would they fight?

As Feng Huan’s imagination ran wild, he pulled out the handkerchief from his chest. He saw that it bore no common floral embroidery, only an elegant and dignified endless knot pattern around the edges.

He indulgently brought his head close to the handkerchief and took a deep breath.

The naval lieutenant waiting at the door who wasn’t allowed to enter: …How perverted.

Before Feng Huan could take a second breath, his head was pulled away and the handkerchief snatched from him.

A sinister voice asked him, “What are you doing?”

Feng Huan shuddered all over and instinctively diverted the demon king’s attention, “His Highness just went in saying he wanted to visit male escort houses!”

Murong Yi, who had come from the ship out of concern for Tie Ci, immediately turned his gaze toward the Wanmei Pavilion.

Feng Huan continued adding fuel to the fire, “There’s an absolutely gorgeous beauty inside! Even more beautiful than you!”

Under normal circumstances, Murong Yi would have just laughed off such a comment. But at this moment, it was like poking a hornet’s nest.

He touched the second pimple that had erupted behind his mask, and his expression immediately darkened. Looking Feng Huan up and down, he beckoned a fruit vendor over, saying, “I’ll buy all your fruit.”

The vendor was overjoyed, thanking him profusely as he piled a whole basket of tutuo fruit in front of them.

Murong Yi: “Eat!”

Feng Huan: “Why should I eat!”

“You don’t have to eat, but then don’t bother taking the ship back – swim all the way home.” Murong Yi sneered coldly.

“Fine, I’ll eat! I actually like this tutuo fruit!” Feng Huan stiffened for a moment, then picked up the fruit and began eating.

He genuinely did like this fruit. As he ate, he squinted his eyes in enjoyment and looked at Murong Yi provocatively.

This guy didn’t know why he couldn’t go in to chase His Highness, so he came to bully him instead. But what kind of bullying was this? This was tribute!

After Feng Huan finished one large tutuo fruit and felt his whole body emanating an enchanting aroma, he was wondering whether he should rinse his mouth when he heard Murong Yi say, “Now find someone to kiss, and I won’t make you swim back.”

Feng Huan: “…”

Originally, he thought it wasn’t a big deal – wasn’t the Southwest known for its open customs?

At worst, he could pay money. Wasn’t this right at a brothel entrance? Throw some silver around and plenty of courtesans would rush up to offer kisses.

But then he heard Murong Yi add, “No paying, no forcing, no deceiving.”

Looking at the time: “Within a quarter-hour.”

Feng Huan was dumbfounded.

He stood in the middle of the street as people all around covered their noses and walked away.

The young ladies turned and hurried away from three zhang distance, let alone offering kisses – they found breathing the same air as him disgusting.

Murong Yi smiled as he began rolling up his sleeves.

Earlier on the ship, he’d always seen this fellow secretly glancing at Tie Ci’s cabin. Normally he wouldn’t bother with such cats and dogs, since it wasn’t strange for many men to think about a woman like his Tie Ci. He couldn’t punish them all one by one. But today he was in a bad mood, and this guy had walked right into it. He had nothing better to do anyway.

Making him swim behind the large ship for a few days would both exercise his body and eliminate that fly-like peeping.

Seeing everyone avoiding him and time running short, Feng Huan panicked. He grabbed the sleeve of a passing woman, pleading, “Could you please help me…”

The woman saw his fine clothes and accessories – clearly a wealthy young master – so she stopped, blushing as she asked, “What does the young master require?”

Feng Huan closed his eyes, pursed his lips, “Don’t speak, kiss me!”

“Slap.”

He received a crisp, resounding slap. The previously shy maiden’s eyebrows stood on end, her face flushed red. After slapping him, she didn’t let go but grabbed his collar and spun him around, “Looking respectable on the outside but stinking from inside out!”

Passersby watched from afar, pointing and enjoying the spectacle. In the crowd, a young woman led a child past. The child suddenly stopped and pointed at Murong Yi, “Bad sister is bullying people again!”

The young woman glanced over, “Young Master A’chong, you’re talking nonsense again… Eh, this person looks familiar.”

The child said, “I get angry seeing bad sister. A’ji, go help that person.”

A’ji said, “I remember who it is now. Young Master, this person is a man, and though he ate your candy, he also saved your life. You’re not going to help your savior, but instead help the person he’s trying to punish?”

The child called A’chong said, “Didn’t Uncle say that if a savior truly saves people, they don’t seek rewards? If they use their favor to demand repayment, their character is questionable, and such gratitude needn’t be repaid. So we don’t need to worry about any savior.” He pushed the young woman, “Go on, go kiss that silly boy. Once you kiss him, he’ll be yours. You can take him home as your husband, or at least as a medicine man. Look at his tender skin – he’d be delicious for Little Red, Little Yellow, Little Green, Little White, and Little Black.”

The young woman laughed, “Young Master, you call this helping him? Besides, I don’t need a husband, and having Little Red and the others drink human blood isn’t good – they’ll get diarrhea.”

A’chong giggled and stopped talking, but when the frantically circling Feng Huan approached them, he suddenly pushed the young woman forward.

Caught off guard, the young woman’s lips collided directly with Feng Huan’s.

Feng Huan was overjoyed. Not caring about anything else, he embraced her and gave her a peck.

He was prepared to be slapped again, but saw the young woman’s eyes widen. After a moment of stunned silence, she suddenly smiled and embraced him back, pressing down hard on his lips.

Feng Huan never expected such a development – now it was his turn to freeze.

These Southwest women really were bold and generous…

There was a faint sweet fragrance on her lips, an extremely indescribable aroma. Just smelling it made one feel intoxicated and bewitched, making Feng Huan’s legs go weak.

Though Feng Huan was a young dandy who frequented flower districts and was familiar with various brothels, he had never encountered such seductive and lingering fragrance. But this scent carried a faint trace of something fishy, though not unpleasant. It made one’s blood seem to boil faintly, like heavenly wind stirring dense forests, countless demons and spirits stirring restlessly in the darkness, black panthers silently walking among broad leaves, trailing withered yellow moonlight behind them.

He felt dizzy, staring with bewildered eyes, thinking that though this young woman had honey-colored skin, large eyes, and slightly brown long hair – clearly with an innocent, sweet appearance – how could she use such mature, seductive fragrance?

People around them cheered and laughed good-naturedly. The Southwest had open customs – young men and women chasing each other in the streets, deciding their fate with a mountain song and a package of grass seeds wasn’t uncommon. Some tribes even had communal grass houses specifically for young men and women who caught each other’s fancy to meet.

The young woman smiled mischievously and released Feng Huan.

The moment she let go, the crowd burst into laughter.

Because in just that short time, Feng Huan’s lips had swollen up, shiny and bright like two large centipedes lying across his face.

The young woman laughed, “From now on, you’re my person. Remember, your wife-master is called A’ji.”

She raised her hand, dangling a jade pendant. Feng Huan looked down in shock – when had his jade pendant been taken from his waist?

“Give dat back do me…” he said unclearly, trying to retrieve it. The young woman turned and disappeared into the crowd.

From inside the Wanmei Pavilion came a sudden loud crash.

…

Time rewinds to after Tie Ci and Xiao Xueya entered the Wanmei Pavilion.

A pimp approached them, but before he could speak, Tie Ci said, “No need to shout, it hurts the ears.” She casually tossed out a silver ingot.

The pimp immediately smiled and led them inside, attentively asking, “Male hall or female hall? Tea socializing or flower wine? Do you need musicians to perform? Bedding or dry bedding?”

Tie Ci said, “Male hall, we want your top talent. Tea socializing is fine, no performances needed, no bedding or dry bedding either. If you serve us well, full patronage and hanging clothes aren’t out of the question.”

Xiao Xueya: “…”

What kind of jargon was this? What had the Crown Princess been doing during her year of experience outside the palace?

The pimp smiled even more obsequiously and led them inside. Both were exceptionally outstanding people – Xiao Xueya like snow on a cliff, Tie Ci like a tree in daylight, brilliant and luminous with inner nobility. People around them all turned to look, and women fluttered like butterflies, laughing coquettishly. The bold ones tried to cop a feel – all targeting Tie Ci.

After all, Xiao Xueya looked unapproachable, while Tie Ci appeared amiable with her smiling expression.

Tie Ci skillfully deflected their advances as they walked, quite displaying the carefree spirit of “passing through ten thousand flowers without a single petal clinging.”

She even proactively explained the jargon to Xiao Xueya: “Top talent refers to the premier male escort, tea socializing means opening a table to drink tea, play cards, eat melon seeds and such. Bedding means staying overnight in the escort’s room, dry bedding means staying overnight in the pavilion without company. Full patronage means taking a fancy to someone and throwing a celebration banquet, widely inviting guests to announce you’ve claimed that person. Hanging clothes builds on full patronage – when two people first share a bed, they set off firecrackers, light candles, give rewards, and distribute red envelopes. The latter two specifically refer to high-priced top talents who are deeply infatuated with you and need to be courted.”

Hearing her rattle off brothel customs and jargon so expertly, Xiao Xueya’s lips twitched slightly, “You needn’t tell me these things.”

Tie Ci had a sudden realization, “Ah, saying these things sullies your ears? I thought you were curious. You looked at me several times just now.”

Xiao Xueya’s brow moved slightly, “I didn’t.”

“If you didn’t, you didn’t. If you don’t want to hear it, you don’t want to hear it.” Tie Ci was good-natured.

After all, this noble general born to privilege, clean as snow, wielding great power, and unstained by worldly dust, was already surprising her by following her into the Wanmei Pavilion to find male escorts.

Making him listen to this while smelling durian did seem a bit excessive.

Xiao Xueya fell silent.

After walking for a while, he suddenly asked, “How do you know these things?”

“Me? I learned during my travels. There’s a brothel in Ziyang called Fuchun Tower – I go there often.” Tie Ci was somewhat surprised he spoke again, but still answered him.

Xiao Xueya looked at Tie Ci.

Did those cabinet scholars and ministry officials know that the Crown Princess spoke of “I frequently go to brothels” with such frank brightness?

That tone was no different from “I frequently go to the imperial study.”

“To… listen to music?”

Tie Ci smiled slightly, “To court beauties. He taught me all this jargon.”

Xiao Xueya was silent for another moment, then said, “Feiyu?”

Tie Ci turned back in surprise.

This person still remembered Feiyu? If she recalled correctly, he’d only seen Feiyu once – after the Ziyang incident concluded, during her illness when Xiao Xueya was guarding her and Feiyu came to visit. Feiyu had used her ample bosom and a song to force him to retreat.

Xiao Xueya, who dealt with countless daily affairs and only had military matters on his mind, actually remembered a “top courtesan” he’d met in passing?

“Who is that person? When I saw her that day, I felt she was extraordinary. This person doesn’t seem to be by your side now?”

Since many people around her didn’t know about Murong Yi’s Feiyu identity, she naturally wouldn’t tell Xiao Xueya.

“He’s my lover,” she smiled. “When golden wind meets jade dew, it surpasses countless encounters in the mortal world.”

Xiao Xueya looked at her, seeming about to say something more, but the pimp smiled, “We’re here.”

This was an exquisite small building in the rear courtyard, laid out similarly to those in the capital. A powder-faced, dark-haired man came out smiling in welcome.

Tie Ci took one look and turned to leave.

The man was stunned, and the pimp chased after them shouting, “Young master, why are you leaving! Young master! Young master!”

“I said I wanted your top talent – what are you trying to fool me with!” Tie Ci was furious.

Behind them came a sudden laugh. The man said, “So you want to see our Duanmu. Duanmu isn’t on our regular roster – you’ll need real ability to request him.”

Tie Ci turned back, “What ability?”

The man tilted his face and smiled at Xiao Xueya, crooking a finger at him, “I don’t like you. I want to talk to this big brother.”

Brother Xiao’s face immediately turned green.

He’d never heard such a form of address. Even the women in his clan could only call him “elder brother” when they saw him – none dared be so familiar with him.

Now this “big brother” came from a man of similar age in such a soft, coquettish tone that his whole body went numb.

But that seemingly dignified yet actually unscrupulous Crown Princess was poking his lower back from behind, whispering, “Minister Xiao, my dear Minister Xiao, please endure this small inconvenience. This matter is truly important to me.”

Xiao Xueya suddenly stepped aside to avoid Tie Ci’s hand, then said coldly, “No.”

Tie Ci moved closer, whispering, “I saw the fireworks outside the city earlier – someone really did make a move, and I saw black smoke too. General Manager Xiao, I saved your army. Won’t you agree to even this small request?”

Xiao Xueya looked toward the outskirts of the city, then after a long moment stepped forward.

Tie Ci poked him: “Don’t walk like you’re going to execution. Step closer, be gentler…”

Xiao Xueya brushed away her hand and stepped forward again.

The man rested his chin on his hand, staring at him with a smile, beckoning, “Come closer and I’ll tell big brother…”

Suddenly there was a sharp ring as cold light splashed like snow. A sword was pressed against the man’s neck as Xiao Xueya said calmly, “Either speak or die.”

The man stared at the sword at his throat, then suddenly shouted, “Duanmu! Duanmu!”

Tie Ci immediately looked around, expecting to see the peerless beauty Feng Huan had mentioned, but didn’t see anyone who could be called a beauty. Even with a blade at his throat, the people around continued walking and chatting as usual. Except for a few outsiders who stopped curiously thinking it was a performance, the people in this building didn’t even spare a glance.

As Tie Ci wondered about this, she suddenly felt a violent wind rushing toward her. The wind carried a strange scent mixed with several pink shadows. Before she could react, something slammed into her chest, causing her chest to sweeten as a violent airflow surged upward.

In her forward vision, something metallic flew up to the sky with a clang, while chaotic shouting filled her ears.