Chapter 79

Chapter 79: Would You Stay? (2)

Feeling unbearably idle, Cold Jiu changed clothes and slipped out of the palace. With Du Heng in charge of the outer palace and Zi Yu and Qing Lian in the inner, she left confidently, knowing Qing Lian could disguise herself if needed.

Bi Shui Tian Tang, a name coined by Cold Jiu, was indeed surrounded by azure waters, located at the edge of the Western Lake, bordered by mountains and the lake, making it a stunning sanctuary. Cold Jiu, not versed in architecture, had left the construction to Long Yue Li. According to Mei Na, the buildings were exceptionally beautiful, much like the ones in her drawings.

Dressed in men's clothing, but not in white today, she wore luxurious dark blue brocade, undoubtedly taken from General Leng's wardrobe. Although the clothes were a bit large for her, she managed to wear them.

Though Bi Shui Tian Tang’s affiliation with Prince Xuan was not publicly announced, court officials knew it bore his name. While Prince Xuan had limited power and accomplishments, his royal title required their careful consideration. Plus, being a legitimate business, no one dared to stir trouble there.

Located in the outskirts of the city, Bi Shui Tian Tang was some distance away. On the opening day, a ten-mile red carpet extended from the city to the establishment, flanked by luminous trees and lanterns, with flower petals strewn along the path and young women offering flowers, granting every visitor a sense of prestige and visual delight.

Many officials, initially planning to visit covertly, ended up arriving openly as the conspicuous route made discretion impossible. After all, the imperial decree didn’t explicitly forbid officials from visiting brothels, and this place was primarily for artistic performances, not a brothel.

Naturally, noble young men didn't miss the opportunity to visit, arriving on horseback with style, drawing cheers from the women. Bi Shui Tian Tang welcomed female guests too, with a special pavilion for them. Invited young ladies from noble families arrived in carriages, veiled, adding another layer of allure to the scene.

The venue inevitably attracted poets and scholars. Cold Jiu knew the influence of their words on a woman's reputation in this world. Therefore, she offered them access to the main hall at lower prices, allowing the less affluent poets to broaden their horizons.

When Cold Jiu arrived, her attire was that of a dashing young nobleman. Her captivating phoenix eyes caused the hearts of the flower-basket carrying maidens to flutter. By the time she reached Bi Shui Tian Tang, she had enough flowers in her hands to open a shop!

She placed all the flowers at the entrance of Bi Shui Tian Tang and shook off the pollen before stepping inside. She was immediately astounded by the place – three-story buildings with traditional roofs and white walls from outside, but stepping in revealed an entirely different world.

The entrance was a single, ten-meter-wide and five-meter-high passage, spacious and luxurious. All visitors entered through this channel; its floor covered with a thick red carpet embroidered with imitation gold silk patterns, while both walls displayed gilded murals of elegant ladies in various poses, so lifelike and exquisite. The ceiling was adorned with wooden carvings of blooming flowers painted in gold and red, with the centers inlaid with goose egg-sized luminous pearls, immediately captivating the visitors.

The twenty-meter-long passage was enough to redefine this place in the eyes of its visitors. At the end, it branched into three paths – one opulent for officials and nobles; one elegant for scholars who loved tranquility and literature; and the third, ethereal and secluded, for female guests.

The hostesses were uniformly dressed, though in different colors, all in the same style – a modern greeter's cheongsam modified by Cold Jiu with added sleeves and trousers. Seductive yet modest, they tantalized without revealing too much, whetting the appetites of onlookers.

Inside was a cluster of buildings surrounding a central stage set over water, two hundred square meters in size and three meters high, for performances visible from all the floors. Each building also had smaller stages.

The external architecture matched the world’s style, but each interior was unique, creating a diverse visual feast.

Cold Jiu chose the second path, leading to a building themed around plum blossoms. It was decorated with plum carvings and hung with ancient and modern plum paintings and poems, mesmerizing the literati. The building even housed several budding plum trees of various colors, a stunning sight.

Cold Jiu paid her entry and settled in a windowed private room on the third floor, drawing the curtains to wait quietly for the performance to start.

Soon, the sound of gongs awakened the audience, drawing their attention to the central stage. A performer struck the gong to signal the beginning of the show.

The opening act featured the flower-basket maidens, who danced while scattering petals, their light veils fluttering, creating a breathtakingly beautiful scene.

After the petal scattering, the real dance began. The dancers wore sheer, plain dresses, allowing their figures to be subtly discerned without being overtly revealing. This attire, more alluring than outright nudity, played on the idea that a woman clothed can be more enticing than one undressed.

Hearing the door open behind her, Cold Jiu didn’t turn around, recognizing the newcomer by his presence.

Mo Zi sat opposite Cold Jiu, glanced at the performance, and although not in the mood to appreciate it, he couldn’t deny its innovative and impressive nature.

After the performance, various arts like music, chess, calligraphy, and painting were showcased. Cold Jiu noticed that the musician playing the guqin was Peony, the same woman she had met on her first visit to a brothel with Long Yue Li. She wondered if Peony was there by choice or had been persuaded by Long Yue Li.

Peony’s skill on the guqin was commendable, earning her applause and adoration, especially from her former admirers.

When Mei Na took the stage, Cold Jiu had put in considerable effort to ensure her success. She designed a stunning ethnic costume for Mei Na and personally choreographed a dance for her. If this didn’t make Mei Na famous, Cold Jiu joked she could write her name backward.