Chapter 118

Chapter 118

Yu Jing's Fengyue Tower, the most glamorous and decadent place in the entire capital.

The matters of Fengyue (pleasure-seeking) represent earthly paradise, but the establishments are not solely for those pursuits.

Often frequented by nobility and court officials, beyond the amorous warmth, there's a touch of elegance in their décor, and many renowned poems have been inspired in such settings.

There are entertainers who maintain their dignity, not selling themselves but their art, singing and accompanying drinks, playing the role of a mute, earning their rightful rewards.

Rong Tang was tricked by Ke Hongxue into visiting a few times, initially unaware of the nature of the place, only to discover that despite Ke Shaofu's talk of indulgence, he was fiercely protective of his virtue.

They've had rounds of drinks, jokingly asking the beauties if they wanted to leave with them, whether sincerely or in jest, accepting or refusing, seemingly immersed in a world of pleasure. But the fact that there are no women in Ke Hongxue's family residence, and no mistresses, is true.

After a couple of visits, Rong Tang understood.

When Ke Hongxue said they were just going to have fun, he truly meant just that.

Listening to music, drinking, while maintaining a frivolous and carefree exterior to the outside world.

—He claimed to be a profligate in front of the emperor himself; if he didn't live up to it, who would believe him?

Moreover, in a place like Fengyue Tower, after a few drinks and the fragrance of powder, defenses naturally lower, and Ke Shaofu gleans many secrets in casual conversation, all of which could be utilized later.

Ke Hongxue wasn't exactly proper, but he wasn't entirely improper either.

Thus, when he mentioned Fengyue Tower, Rong Tang hesitated only briefly before changing his clothes and joining him.

On the carriage, Ke Hongxue asked in surprise, "Aren't you afraid I'll lead you astray, Young Lord?"

Rong Tang, feeling somewhat gloomy in the evening dusk, glanced at him and retorted, "Aren't you afraid of being investigated by the Ministry of Justice?"

Both knew very well who was in the Ministry of Justice.

Ke Hongxue opened his mouth, laughed unrestrainedly, and lifted the carriage curtain, letting the early autumn breeze flow in, along with the earthly aroma of the streets. After a moment, he turned back and casually mentioned, "The Ministry of Justice is too lazy to bother with these things. It's the old folks at the Censorate who like to make a fuss and catch people now and then."

Rong Tang: "..."

The Censorate, old folks...

He lifted his eyes, looking deeply at Ke Hongxue. Ke Shaofu, unfazed, met his gaze, the corners of his lips curling up in a faint smile, as if to say: I did it on purpose.

Rong Tang watched for two seconds, then looked away.

It couldn't be such a coincidence that Su Huaijing said he had an engagement that evening, who knows when it would end.

Besides, even if the Censorate really did raid Fengyue Tower, they would always give a heads-up, never opting for a surprise attack.

And even if they were to investigate court officials, what did it have to do with him, the Crown Prince of Ningxuan?

Rong Tang mentally prepared himself, finally stepping into the bustling entrance of this den of iniquity at its busiest hour.

Ke Hongxue ordered two pots of wine and called over a few refined entertainers, coincidentally running into some colleagues and thus joining them.

Rong Tang blended in, outwardly calm but inwardly anxious, his eyelids twitching as he sipped the peach blossom brew in small mouthfuls.

After chatting with others, Ke Hongxue seemingly casually turned to ask him, "Are you troubled, Young Lord?"

Rong Tang shook his head: "No."

"Oh—" Ke Shaofu nodded, his smile meaningful.

As everyone sat on the floor, he leaned in slightly, almost turning halfway towards Rong Tang, whispering in his ear, "I thought... you came to learn something."

Rong Tang's hand holding the wine cup trembled slightly, spilling a few drops on the carpet. Ke Hongxue noticed, his eyebrows raised, his smile lingering.

Rong Tang was taken aback, but he feigned calmness, "What are you talking about?"

Ke Hongxue: "Nothing much. Just that Lord Su, after the morning court session, chatted with me, his complexion bright and cheerful, like a peacock with its feathers spread, boasting about—"

Rong Tang's heart raced, unable to focus on the conversations or the songs around him. His ears turned red as he stared at Ke Hongxue, unconsciously swallowing to ease his tension: "Boasting about what?"

Ke Hongxue asked softly, "Do you really want to hear it?"

It felt like a volcanic eruption in his head. Rong Tang decisively turned away, raising his wrist and downing a cup of wine, burning half his tongue.

Ke Shaofu, laughing like a triumphant fox, picked up the wine pot from the table, filled Rong Tang's cup again, and said leisurely, "He didn’t say much. Just that I was thinking, with such a short time in the morning, if you two had really been thorough, Lord Su would hardly make it to the court session, and you…"

He paused and laughed, "With a constitution not strong enough to withstand the wind and rain, how could you go out with me tonight?"

“……”

Rong Tang mentally berated him hundreds of times, stubbornly retorting, "Why couldn’t it be him unable to attend the court?"

"Is that so?" Ke Hongxue sipped his drink, "My apologies, I hadn’t realized the Young Lord harbored such grand ambitions, aiming to exhaust our Lord Su. Impressive, indeed."

Rong Tang: "?"

"Not...?"

Ke Hongxue said, "But Lord Su is still young. Despite his maturity and steadiness, he may be impulsive and rash in bed. Even if you truly harbor such thoughts, Young Master, it's best not to tell him, lest you end up suffering in the end."

Rong Tang: "?"

"What's wrong with you? Are you sick?"

"What kind of nonsense are you spouting!?"

Rong Tang was dumbfounded and about to retort to his nonsense when a jolt of realization hit him, and the system interjected: [Tang Tang, being stubborn isn't a good virtue.]

Rong Tang: "..."

[If you can't even get it up, how do you plan to stop the villain from attending court?]

The system, like a mischievous child sitting on a stool eating a popsicle, was both annoying and sharp: [Ke Hongxue is not wrong, he's even trying to help you. You're not grateful, and now you want to scold him.]

[Tsk tsk, you and your spouse...]

[Neither of you know how to behave.]

One was spouting nonsense in front of him, and the other was making snide comments in his head. Rong Tang was stuck, missing the perfect chance to retort.

Meanwhile, Ke Shao-fu had already drawn his conclusion: "So, Young Master, what exactly do you wish to learn? The secrets of pleasure in bed, ways to bring joy, or perhaps how to inquire from the courtesans here about keeping a patron?"

Rong Tang's face flushed red, and after struggling to find words, he said in a low voice, "Shut up, will you!"

Ke Hongxue, unconcerned, kept mulling over it and suddenly had an epiphany. He looked at Rong Tang with an expression of understanding and sympathy, asking softly, "Could it be that you're wondering about impotence and how to consummate the marriage?"

System: [Oh snap~ You guessed it, Tang Tang~~~]

Rong Tang: "..."

"You're both so infuriating."

-

Su Huaijing had only visited Fengyue Tower once before. As a child, he had heard about this place, usually in stories of his third brother sneaking out of the palace with a group of frivolous friends, returning after a night of drinking, reeking of alcohol, and then being punished by their father the Emperor with silent recitation of texts.

In the Imperial Library, the Third Prince knelt rigidly, reciting the Confucian classics with every 'zhi', 'hu', and 'ye'.

Outside the library, the Fourth Princess, holding a honey peach or a sour date, would eat and tease, "Third Brother, speak louder! Father says he can't hear you!"

The Seventh Prince looked around, seeing neither the Emperor nor his eldest brother, and quietly exposed his sister's lie: "You're tricking Third Brother."

"He deserves it!" The Fourth Princess bribed him with a sweet pastry, saying, "Why should he visit Fengyue Tower without me?"

Su Huaijing, bewildered, overheard the princess murmuring, "I also want to see the pretty sisters."

Thus, in the young Seventh Prince's mind, Fengyue Tower became synonymous with fine wine and beautiful women.

Until he grew up, and a single lotus seed cake laced with drugs and a slender chain shattered all the beautiful imaginations of his childhood.

He never thought he would return to this place in his lifetime.

Su Huaijing owned multiple properties in the capital, but never ventured into the world of brothels.

He found it disdainful.

The young and handsome nobleman stood outside the tower, looking up at the gilded signboard with a dark, unfathomable look in his eyes, his emotions deeply hidden, like the tide at midnight.

However, the courtesans at the entrance, not minding these details, were drawn by his appearance and attire. Their eyes brightened as they crowded around, eager to spend a night of passion with this young nobleman.

Having only taken a few steps forward, before a courtesan could latch onto his arm, Su Huaijing cast a glance downwards. Instantly, like being frozen by the ice of the coldest winter month, everyone halted in their tracks, not daring to move closer.

Thus, he stepped forward, entering the den of pleasure with an air of cleanliness.

Surrounded by warm curtains and red candles, the place was a den of decadence. Su Huaijing, however, only felt nauseous, a sense of revulsion stirring in his heart.

He had already investigated before coming, knowing which room Rong Tang was in. He walked directly upstairs, pausing on the staircase to memorize the faces of the court officials in the lobby below.

According to the Great Yu's laws, court officials openly consorting with courtesans were subject to thirty lashes and half a year's salary fine.

Su Huaijing thought, Ke Hongxue was handing him a political achievement on a silver platter.

He shifted his gaze away and continued upstairs.

Before arriving, he was anxious, but stepping into this place, Su Huaijing calmed down. He leisurely walked past each room. Passing by a certain room, he even stopped to ask for some items to be prepared for him before proceeding towards Rong Tang's room.

Even before entering, he could hear the sound of a pipa, a courtesan singing softly, beauties laughing and urging drinks, the air thick with a cloyingly sweet fragrance, a scene of utmost revelry.

Su Huaijing nodded slightly, murmuring, "No wonder he doesn't want to go home."

He stood at the door for a while, waiting until the items he requested were brought to him. Then, with a slight smile on his lips, Su Huaijing opened the door.

The people inside, thinking it was another guest sent by the madam, turned their wine-flushed faces towards the door, seeing a figure standing in the backlight, dazzling and tall, dressed in a white jade robe, like a celestial being descended to earth.

At first, everyone's heart stirred in unison, but they quickly regained their senses. Someone immediately pushed away the beauty on their lap, calling out in panic, "Lord Su?"

At that moment, Rong Tang, cornered by Ke Hongxue's sharp words and about to drink, paused mid-motion upon hearing the voice, turned his head, and saw the villain's face, smiling yet not smiling.

Su Huaijing said, "I am here to find my husband. Please continue, gentlemen."

He walked over to Rong Tang with a smile, his tone exceedingly gentle: "Tang Tang, may I have a word with you?"

Rong Tang panicked inexplicably, letting go of his wine cup and about to stand up, but Su Huaijing slightly bent down, took hold of him with one hand, and with the other, grabbed the wine cup. As he stood up, he gave Ke Hongxue a frosty glance that could freeze someone to death.

Ke Shao-fu smiled nonchalantly, raising his cup towards him and then downing it in one gulp.

[Ungrateful, Ke Hongxue was clearly trying to help him.] The system commented.

Rong Tang had no mind to listen to its nonsense; the moment Su Huaijing appeared, his heart raced to its limit, almost bursting.

He opened his mouth, inexplicably wanting to explain.

But Su Huaijing had already led him by the hand into another empty room.

The room was dark, save for the faint incense smoke curling up from a Boshan censer on the table.

As the door closed behind them, Rong Tang found his voice, "Huaijing..."

"Tang Tang." The villain interrupted him, stepping closer, pinning him against the door, his back against the inanimate wood, but his front was the warmth of a living chest.

Su Huaijing lifted his hand, looking at the wine cup painted with intertwined mandarin ducks, and asked softly, "Is the wine outside better than what we have at home?"

"No—"

"Lying to me again." Su Huaijing smiled, bending down to sniff his neck, "You're covered in the scent of wine."

He stepped back slightly, downing the wine in the cup, and then in the darkness, captured Rong Tang's lips. The cold wine slid down their throats, the fragrance of peach blossoms intertwining between their lips and tongues, intoxicating and alluring.

Rong Tang was almost out of breath when suddenly a metallic clashing sound rang in his ears.

"Click—"

A cold sensation locked around his wrist. The villain stepped back slightly, smiling faintly: "Tang Tang, you really are not obedient."

Rong Tang looked down in confusion, a slender chain connecting him to Su Huaijing.

[Oh no—] The system said: [You're done for.]