Chapter 38: Play Boy/Fop

Zhou Chen felt rather foolish, truly.

He had thought that the third prince, this insatiable creature of desire, would remain chaste despite his rigorous cultivation.

Yet perhaps that was exactly what the third prince was like.

With a slight bow, Zhou Chen asked softly:

"Third Prince, shall I accompany you?"

Standing at the stairwell, Xu Yuan turned to smile:

"Didn't Mr. Zhou earlier wish for the two sisters, Zizi and Zihua?"

Xu Yuan was always generous toward those who had ability.

He didn't lack wealth.

"..." Zhou Chen's eyelid twitched.

Xu Yuan patted his shoulder and chuckled:

"Come on, I've already informed the madam to meet us downstairs."

Zhou Chen paused in silence, then chuckled softly, "Then I shall thank the third prince in advance."

With that, he followed closely behind Xu Yuan.

...

Descending the stairs, the Jade Immortal Pavilion exhaled a faint, lingering fragrance.

That scent carried a subtle intoxication—likely a concoction of herbal medicine. With careful attention, one could detect a faint aphrodisiac effect within it.

Along the way, countless young women and men passed by, some lingering at doorways of private chambers, bidding farewell to their companions in soft, tender gestures.

Some unwise wenwomen, spotting Xu Yuan descending from the upper floors, would approach him eagerly, chatting and laughing, their words laced with subtle, seductive overtones.

The Third Prince, as everyone knew, was a notorious fool.

Among the sisters, there's a rumor that if you serve them well, the third prince might throw out a hundred taels at once.

Red women who possess private chambers at Zui Xian Pavilion are not only beautiful and well-proportioned, but Xu Yuan also enjoys playing around with these graceful young ladies.

Nature dictates desire—having come to such a place of pleasure, there's no need to hide or conceal.

By the time they reached the lower back chambers, Xu Yuan's body was already tinged with the scent of rouge and perfume.

Outside the back quarters of Zui Xian Pavilion, there are several large pavilions where the madam and several top-tier flower queens reside.

These flower queens wield immense autonomy—exemplary in appearance, and fluent in poetry, music, and calligraphy. They host the pavilion's poetry and song gatherings, taking the lead in organizing them.

To become one of their guests, one must not only have wealth, but also be willing to spend lavishly, be handsome, and possess talent.

It's truly a case of them choosing the guests, not the other way around.

A well-worn marketing tactic, yet these refined young gentlemen happen to be exactly the kind who fall for it.

The area behind Zui Xian Pavilion, though called pavilions, is more accurately described as a garden.

Each geisha head-of-household's residence was built to the standard of hosting a poetic and musical gathering.

Elaborate pavilions, serene lakes, opulent in every detail.

Yet this was entirely normal—without extravagance, how could one entice the wealthy young gentlemen to spend lavishly?

Still, compared to the lavish private estates of the top geishas, the dwelling of the madam herself seemed quite modest.

A simple, standard villa.

Upon reaching the gate of the madam's private residence, Xu Yuan simply pushed the door open and stepped inside.

Knocking was possible, but unnecessary.

Rocks and small ponds, a gentle stream trickling through, stone benches and tables—fragrant with blossoms and birdsong. A pleasant atmosphere.

Apparently sensing the sound at the door, a cheerful voice immediately rose from within the house:

"Oh! The Third Gentleman has arrived so early! I haven't even finished my grooming yet~"

Her tone carried a touch of the seductive charm unique to the pleasure quarters.

As she spoke, a woman of voluptuous figure pushed open the door and stepped out of the room, a golden hairpin nestled in her updo, her simple beige gown clinging tightly to a thoroughly ripe physique.

Xu Yuan remembered the madame before him was named Yueniang, a formidable woman.

His original self could not have lasted three moves against her.

Emerging from the room, Yueniang first swept her smiling gaze over Xu Yuan, then looked deeply at Zhou Chen behind him, her lips curving into a smirk.

"Third Young Master, you had Little Nine send word, so what might the matter be? If it is for two people, my fragile bones..."

Hearing this, Zhou Chen let out a playful smile.

Xu Yuan, however, cut her off directly.

"Two things."

Though her words were interrupted, Yueniang showed no hint of anger; shifting her lotus steps, she glided gracefully toward the pair, bowing her head with a smile.

"You say, mistress, I'm listening."

"First, send Ziye and Zihua up to the top floor."

"Oh dear, this... this depends entirely on the wishes of my two daughters..."

Yue Jiang spoke on, but upon glancing at Xu Yuan, quickly changed her tone and smiled directly: "Since it's the Third Prince's need, we won't have such rules. Just wait a moment, I'll arrange it right away. Only wonder—what's the second matter of the Third Prince?"

Xu Yuan shook his head and smiled, then walked over to the stone bench in the courtyard, sat down, tapped the stone table, and closed his eyes with a gentle chuckle:

"Second matter—send the new top flower of Zui Xian Pavilion to my room."

Yue Jiang's eyes flickered for a moment, then walked to face Xu Yuan, folded her skirt neatly, and sat down slowly, smiling coyly:

"Third Prince, there will be a poetry gathering at Bamboo Garden tomorrow night. My daughters will surely attend. Why rush matters so soon?"

"Poetry gathering?" Xu Yuan murmured.

"Yes, the other daughters in the villa will also go there to lend a hand. You show your grace then, and my daughters will all fall in love with you—why rush it so?" Yue Jiang subtly tried to refuse.

Xu Yuan listened carefully, then tapped the table again, smiling slightly:

"How much silver, just say it plainly."

Yue Jiang's eyes flickered with a touch of helplessness, and she quickly replied:

"Third Brother, this isn't a matter of money. My daughter's invitation has already been sent out, and she is a clean maid—she must decide for herself."

Xu Yuan furrowed his brow, staring intently at this beautiful woman before him, and remained silent for a long while:

"So it's all over then?"

Yue Jiang's smile didn't waver, as she gently settled herself beside Xu Yuan, one hand around his arm, caressing his thigh:

"Third Brother, calm down. Like this, regardless of the outcome of tomorrow's poetry gathering, I'll arrange for you to meet my daughter. That would be fine, wouldn't it?"

Xu Yuan glanced at Yue Jiang's broad chest, and quietly withdrew his hand.

Yue Jiang sat up with a cheerful smile, her eyes crinkling as she looked at Xu Yuan.

Xu Yuan glanced with a flicker of contemplation.

To have him participate in the poetry gathering...

He recalled carefully the immortal verses from his previous life.

Hmm... it seems like a decent suggestion.

This fool might just be able to pretend.

Yet, as the thought passed through his mind, Xu Yuan gently shook his head.

For now, he was Xu Changtian.

A poet?

A poet? He’d write nothing but nonsense rhymes!

Would they expect someone who couldn’t even compose a crude folk poem to suddenly pen immortal lines?

Taking a deep breath, Xu Yuan drew a banknote of ten thousand taels from his Sumeru ring and slapped it onto the stone table.

Yueniang’s pupils contracted slightly.

She was astonished by the ten-thousand-tael note, but even more so by the ring adorning Xu Yuan's finger.

Ignoring the utter bewilderment in her eyes, Xu Yuan fixed his gaze upon her.

"For the final time: will you deliver her, or not?"

Ten thousand taels to purchase a debutante courtesan's first night was already high, perhaps even absurdly so.

For instance, the two sisters, Ziye and Zihua, commanded only about forty taels together for a single evening, and a solo arrangement might barely exceed fifteen.

Even with the Zuixian Brothel's top floor priced at a hundred taels a night, most patrons shared the cost for gatherings; only an extravagant young master like Xu Yuan would reside there permanently.

Spending tens or hundreds of thousands of silver taels just for a courtesan’s maidenhood existed only in storybooks.

Yueniang glanced at the ten-thousand-tael banknote, pursing her lips with a touch of pitiable vulnerability.

"Third Young Master, but the invitations have already been sent out, can you not wait a little longer?"

Given the Third Young Master’s past history of impatient lust, perhaps he could be squeezed for a higher price; he already possessed a Sumer

"Oh my, since the third young master cherishes my daughter so dearly, ten thousand taels it is."

The brook murmured softly, and the courtyard fell into silence.

Xu Yuan stepped lightly, paying her no further mind.

The money had already been given.

If she refused the ten thousand, then so be it.

Three thousand taels was the going rate in his memory, and if a young gentleman possessed a knack for poetry and talent, that price might even be cut in half.

Reaching the doorway,

Yueniang’s smiling voice lost a fraction of its warmth, drifting over with an airy lightness:

"Third young master... there must be rules for everything; forcing a sale is hardly reasonable."

Hearing this, Xu Yuan glanced at Yueniang, let out a soft chuckle, and closed the courtyard door.

The courtyard closed off, silence so profound it could be measured by the sound of a single needle falling.

Yue Niang sat on the stone bench, her eyes flickering for a moment, drawing in a deep breath, then exhaling slowly.

A surge of yuan qi rippled through her body, and in an instant, her form flickered—vanishing completely from where she had been.

And as her figure had just disappeared...

"BOOM!!!"

A thunderous crash erupted in the narrow alleyway between the courtyard buildings!

Dust settled.

Xu Yuan stared at her with a faint smile, watching the beautiful young woman suddenly appear before him, only to be abruptly choked by Zhou Chen and slammed against the stone wall beside him.

After a brief pause, Xu sighed, smiling gently.

"Yue Niang, what in the world are you doing?"