Chapter 88: Even if I want to indulge in daytime pleasures, who would know? [Three updates]

Chapter 88: Even If I, the Emperor, Wished to Indulge in Debauchery in Broad Daylight, Who Would Know? (Third Watch)

In a flash, it was already noon.

The dark clouds had dispersed, and the sunlight reappeared, with the golden crow (a poetic term for the sun) hanging high in the sky, casting its light equally upon the earth.

Finally, the chilly weather turned warm, and the high-flying banners and flags appeared even more dazzling and brilliant, swaying in the wind under the azure sky.

At a glance, the banners were diverse, and the goods on sale were a dazzling array.

There was nothing that could not be bought in Qilin Alley.

In the main alley, the number of pedestrians had dropped by thirty percent compared to earlier, yet the various large restaurants and eateries were bustling with activity and packed with people.

Although she had eaten a small jiaoquan (a type of fried dough ring) before leaving the palace, after walking for so long, Jiang Yunran felt somewhat hungry again.

She looked up at Jing Huayan: "My Lord, it's time to eat."

Even if they weren't in a hurry to eat, the palace servants who had been attending to them along the way also needed a rest.

Jing Huayan nodded and, out of habit, reached for her hand.

Their soft palms pressed together, and both were momentarily stunned.

Suddenly, an unexpected intimacy had sprung up between them.

Such tender little gestures had gradually become a habit.

Upon reflection, it didn't feel annoying at all.

Seeing Jing Huayan silent, Jiang Yunran smiled faintly: "Do you have a favorite eatery, my Lord? Could you take me to try it?"

"Naturally, I do," Jing Huayan turned to look at her, his gaze shifting, a smile playing on his lips. "Would you do me the honor, my Lady?"

Walking along the main street of Qilin Alley, it took only a quarter of an hour to arrive at a three-story-high eatery.

Outside the eatery hung a tall banner with the words "Zhengdian" (main restaurant) written on it. The decorated archway was tall and intricate, adorned with silk flowers in vibrant reds and greens, a dazzling array of colors.

The eatery consisted of three buildings connected by cloud bridges (elevated walkways), resembling a celestial palace from afar.

Jiang Yunran was astonished by the sight before her, and even more so by the bustling noise inside the eatery—the clatter of dishes, filled with lively energy.

"Is this Fanlou?"

The largest eatery in the entire Yujing was Fanlou in Qilin Alley.

Since Yujing was founded, Fanlou had existed.

Though it had changed hands several times over the past hundred years, Fanlou had endured. To this day, it had purchased three surrounding shops, becoming a landmark of Qilin Alley.

Jing Huayan smiled faintly: "This is Fanlou."

He paused and asked casually: "Didn't you say you've been to Qilin Alley before? Have you never seen Fanlou?"

Jiang Yunran’s breath caught.

Jing Huayan was truly perceptive.

Fanlou had become a landmark of Yujing. Almost every visitor to Qilin Alley would take a look at Fanlou.

However, this wasn't a major issue.

In an instant, Jiang Yunran curved her lips, her smile flawless.

"Of course, I've been here before. But the last time I came, I was busy with my own affairs and didn't venture this way." At this point, her smile faded slightly. "After all, at that time, I was only concerned with survival and never bothered with such matters of food, drink, and pleasure."

Jing Huayan said: "Just as well."

He took her hand and stepped forward: "Today is a coincidence. I will accompany you, Madam, to explore Fanlou properly."

As soon as the group stepped into Fanlou, a male and a female attendant approached—one offering warm towels, the other holding a tray with two cups of hot tea.

The waitstaff here had sharp eyes and could immediately tell that the two were either wealthy or noble, so they were naturally deferential.

Jing Huayan glanced at the towels and teacups but didn't take them. Jiang Yunran smiled and said: "No need to trouble yourselves."

The two attendants were clever and immediately withdrew the items. The older female attendant stepped forward and said with a smile: "Are the two of you here for lunch? Unfortunately, the Mortal Hall and Jade Hall at the front are full today. Only the Celestial Hall has a private room available."

At this moment, Liang Santai stepped forward and said: "We've already made a reservation. The Celestial Room, Number One."

The two attendants were momentarily stunned, and then their smiles widened even further.

"So it's our honored guests. This way, please."

Jing Huayan held Jiang Yunran’s hand and led her through the crowd.

It was mealtime, and the Mortal Hall at the front was already packed. Waiters rushed to serve dishes, carrying towering stacks of plates and bowls yet remaining steady.

Jiang Yunran looked up and saw that all three floors of the Mortal Hall were filled with guests.

Jing Huayan told her: "The food in the Mortal Hall is priced the same as in ordinary eateries outside, but the dishes are of excellent quality and affordable, making them more popular among tourists."

The Mortal Hall catered to commoners, the Jade Hall naturally served merchants and the wealthy, and as for the Celestial Hall, one needn't think too hard to know it was a luxurious den for high officials and nobles.

The group made their way through the cloud bridge connecting the two buildings. Jiang Yunran looked outside and could see vividly crimson flamingo flowers.

Not far away, the melodious music from strings and flutes accompanied the clinking of plates and bowls, evoking a sense of peace and prosperity.

Even in the winter season, Fanlou strived to create a lively and prosperous atmosphere.

"Truly impressive," Jiang Yunran exclaimed. "The owner here must be a master of business."

Jing Huayan curved his lips into a faint smile.

The folding fan he carried for show snapped open, revealing a pattern of a magpie on a branch faintly visible on the brocade surface.

Behind the fan, Jing Huayan leaned down slightly and whispered softly into her ear.

"Madam, you flatter me."

This time, Jiang Yunran was truly stunned.

Her eyes widened, and she looked at Jing Huayan in disbelief.

Jing Huayan gave her hand a gentle squeeze but didn't explain immediately.

Since he didn't speak, Jiang Yunran didn't push for an explanation.

Walking along the cloud bridge, they stepped into the Celestial Hall, where the atmosphere shifted abruptly.

The decor here was even more simple and elegant than that of the Common Pavilion, without any lavish embellishments, yet it made one feel serene and focused.

Unlike the other two pavilions, the Celestial Pavilion consisted entirely of private rooms. From the first to the third floor, aside from the attentive servers, no guests were visible.

Rows of purple bamboo doors blocked the view, allowing only faint murmurs of conversation to be heard, making it impossible to see inside the rooms.

In a city like Jade Capital, where land was worth its weight in gold, such private rooms must have cost a fortune.

The aroma of food mingled with the scent of wine, making one feel ravenous.

Upon reaching the third floor and stepping into the most spacious Celestial Room Number One, Jiang Yunran exclaimed, "This single room alone takes up half the floor."

Indeed, Celestial Room Number One had both an outer and an inner chamber. The outer chamber featured a massive round table that could seat twenty people, while the inner chamber held a separate Eight Immortals table, suitable for only four.

Beaded curtains swayed, delicate green gauze draped down, and a branch of red plum blossoms stood gracefully by the window, bathed in the warm noon sunlight.

The setting here rivalled the guest rooms of the capital's nobility.

Jing Huayan led Jiang Yunran to their seats in the inner chamber, and Liang Santai immediately set to work.

Washing hands, cleansing faces, and rinsing mouths.

Once everything was ready, Qing Dai, Zi Ye, and Eunuch Little Liu began serving the dishes one after another. After all the dishes were laid out, all the palace attendants withdrew, leaving only the emperor and his consort in the private room.

It seemed everything had been prepared well in advance, with no need for further instructions—even the menu had been arranged long before.

Noticing Jiang Yunran’s rare look of curiosity, so different from her usual bright and confident demeanor, Jing Huayan saw instead an innocent, almost naive charm reminiscent of a young girl.

A sight seldom seen.

Jing Huayan sat composedly beside her, gazing at her with leisurely ease, his eyes clearly conveying the phrase "a feast for the eyes."

When the dishes were all served and the attendants had withdrawn, Jiang Yunran finally withdrew her curious gaze and noticed Jing Huayan watching her with amusement.

"What is it?"

Jiang Yunran placed the steamed perch, which Jing Huayan usually enjoyed, in front of him and said, "Your Majesty, let’s eat."

Jing Huayan picked up his chopsticks and placed the tenderest piece of fish from the perch on her plate.

"Let’s eat."

With these words, the two began their meal.

Today’s dishes were all Fanlou’s specialties. Besides the steamed perch, there were also fruitwood-roasted duck and the "Fortune, Prosperity, Longevity, and Happiness" dish. What’s more, there were even dishes rarely seen in Jade Capital.

For instance, the fermented tofu braised pork and Eight Treasures Tofu were famous dishes from Huaiyin.

In addition, there was a dish called "Mountain Family’s Three Crisps," light and vegetarian, featuring bamboo shoots that were hard to come by in winter.

In total, there were six dishes, each one a signature of Fanlou.

Jiang Yunran tasted a piece of the perch. The flesh was extremely tender, without any fishy taste, and enhanced by the perfectly brewed soy sauce, it was bursting with freshness and aroma.

She marveled, "This skill is no less than that of the imperial chefs in the palace."

"Of course it isn’t," Jing Huayan said. "The imperial chefs in the palace are meticulously selected. Some come from generational culinary families, while others are taken on as apprentices mid-career. Though many apprentices are taken, not everyone can become an imperial chef."

Hearing this, Jiang Yunran understood.

She sampled the dishes while meeting Jing Huayan’s eyes.

Without speaking, her eyes held a clear question.

“What?”

Jing Huayan raised an eyebrow and smiled, looking completely at ease.

Jiang Yunran knew that whenever he was happy, he would put on this rakish, devil-may-care attitude, as if he hadn’t a care in the world.

“What did you mean earlier, Your Majesty?”

Since he remained silent, she was the one who had to ask.

Jing Huayan replied, “I didn’t think you’d care.”

How could that be?

He was being downright mean—tossing out a line and then refusing to say more, making her come to him.

“Won’t you tell me, Your Majesty?”

Jiang Yunran, of course, knew how to play him.

She looked at him with a pout, her eyes full of pleading—a look that could melt hearts.

Even someone with a heart of stone would likely soften.

But Jing Huayan was the emperor, no ordinary man.

He raised an eyebrow, amusement glinting in his eyes, leisurely set down his chopsticks, and picked up his teacup to take a sip.

Then, he beckoned her closer.

Jiang Yunran: “…”

Something told her that Jing Huayan was up to no good.

But she couldn’t help but lean in.

Jing Huayan moved closer and whispered something into her ear.

His warm breath brushed against her neck, making her long, fair neck flush.

“Your Majesty!”

Jiang Yunran was both embarrassed and angry. “How inappropriate!”

Jing Huayan held her hand, rubbing slow circles into her palm, their fingers intertwining and winding through the gaps like coiled snakes—impossible to pull apart.

The caress was intensely intimate.

It left Jiang Yunran breathing a little faster.

“Your Majesty.”

Jiang Yunran didn’t realize how soft and alluring her voice sounded at that moment.

“No.”

She stood her ground.

Jing Huayan gave a low chuckle, his movements growing more deliberate as he slowly found Jiang Yunran’s wrist, tracing circles on her wrist.

"Is that a no?"

His voice carried a hint of grievance: "Aw, I’m so disappointed."

Jiang Yunran wanted to call him out for being shameless.

Her face was redder than the anthuriums used for garnishing on the table. No matter how Jing Huayan tried to persuade her, she was digging in her heels.

"No means no."

By the end of her words, Jiang Yunran was gritting her teeth.

"Your Majesty, you are the emperor—how can you do something so brazen?"

Jing Huayan replied in surprise, "It’s because I’m the emperor that I can get away with it."

"What…" Jiang Yunran was stunned by his sheer nerve, momentarily at a loss for words.

Jing Huayan finally released her hand, he reached out and directly embraced her slender waist.

Of all of Jiang Yunran’s features, this slim waist was what he couldn’t get enough of.

"As the emperor, I can do as I please. If I wish to be shameless, who’d find out? And who’d dare say a word?"

Jing Huayan whispered close to her ear, and with his words, he boldly bit on Jiang Yunran’s earlobe.

Jiang Yunran snapped her mouth shut.

Jing Huayan laughed lowly, growing even more unrestrained.

"Even if I desired to indulge in debauchery in broad daylight, who would ever know?"