Back home, Xie Yan wanted to find Lu Yang, but Lu Yang hadn’t returned yet.
Li Feng suggested he ask Shun Ge’er: “Shun Ge’er knows everything.”
Xie Yan was even more shocked.
How could Shun Ge’er possibly know about this kind of thing?!
He shyly called Shun Ge’er aside and asked questions, hesitating and stammering for a long while, unable to get the words out clearly.
Li Feng came over to prompt Shun Ge’er: “Lu Yang asked me to scope things out, right?”
Shun Ge’er sighed heavily.
“Why couldn’t he take me instead?”
Xie Yan asked, “Go where?”
Shun Ge’er whispered, “To the entertainment district… to pick men. Brother Yang said, pick the men, make them sing, dance, take off their clothes!”
Xie Yan felt like the sky was falling.
Li Feng laughed uproariously.
That night, unable to scope the place out, Xie Yan sat on the doorstep waiting for Lu Yang. The moment Lu Yang came home, he was dragged inside and questioned.
Xie Yan felt aggrieved. “Jingzhi, why are you looking for other men?”
Lu Yang had just returned from the dock stall. Merchants had left, but their stall had become wildly popular. The traffic drew other merchants in, continuing good business and keeping him busy.
He drank tea in big gulps, asking Xie Yan, “Other men?”
Xie Yan said, “Those… courtesans.”
Having read the guides, Xie Yan knew many cultured men liked to redeem others.
He had also heard Li Feng talk about the hidden doors at the dock and had visited before, which made him anxious.
“These wild men outside aren’t good at all. They just like silver, not people. Don’t fall for them,” he warned Lu Yang.
“None of them are better than me. Stay home with me—it saves money.”
Lu Yang listened to his long string of words, finally catching on. He put down his teacup, circled around him, tugging at his clothes and poking his cheeks.
Xie Yan stood there, enduring the tugs and pokes, even letting Lu Yang kiss his mouth and nibble his teeth. Soon, the two embraced, teasing and kissing each other, testing their mouths.
After the sweetness, Lu Yang patted his shoulders, easing the pressure.
“You’re going to hurt me.”
Xie Yan still held him, asking, “What are you thinking?”
Lu Yang teased, “Who complained?”
Xie Yan answered truthfully: Li Feng had spoken, and Shun Ge’er confirmed it.
Lu Yang thought for a moment and assigned Xie Yan a task to distract him.
“This matter was assigned to him by me. I had met Hong Chu and agreed to visit the courtesans together. Business has been busy these past days, now it’s time. I’ve never gone before—what if I suffer a loss? So I said let Li Feng scope it out first. He told you, which works perfectly—you can go out for a bit and help me keep an eye on Li Feng.”
Xie Yan twitched his ears.
Lu Yang continued, “If he takes a liking to someone else, what about Brother Liu? This is important. I can’t trust anyone else with it. You keep an eye on him.”
Xie Yan accepted the task. He went to eat, then strolled the alley with the dog. Passing Li Feng, he shot him a sly grin.
Li Feng: “…”
This kid must be possessed.
The next day, after school, Li Feng came again to pick up Xie Yan, and the two headed out to the entertainment district together.
Xie Yan had prepared—he brought a change of clothes that morning and switched at the academy, no longer wearing his scholar robes.
Li Feng said, “What’s the point? You’re all scholarly-looking, can’t hide it.”
Xie Yan ignored him, eyes fixed, on guard like a thief-catching watch.
Li Feng: “…”
What exactly had Lu Yang told him? Why was he acting like this?
The entertainment district had its own street—they didn’t need hidden courtyards or side alleys, just go straight there.
Like the other streets in the capital, the brothels all ran the same business. Beyond the entertainment district, a few streets led to the river and the pleasure boats.
They wouldn’t visit the boats today, just the stalls.
Capital city brothels weren’t divided by gender—people along the street and waving from the upper floors included both boys and girls, men too.
These people wore flashy, gaudy clothing, very different from the merchants’ attire.
Li Feng led Xie Yan along the street twice, urging him to choose quickly.
“I don’t want to stay here tonight. I want to go back early.”
Xie Yan said, “Who knows what you want?”
Li Feng squinted. “Say one more word and you won’t get home.”
Xie Yan shut up.
They went in order, inspecting each place, selecting men.
Men could pick men, and the brothel staff were experienced, casting meaningful glances at the two without saying a word.
Each house had no more than five men, some only one or two. Men working in this line were still rare.
Xie Yan openly complained—they were too few, not enough.
The madam said, “Sir, it’s not about the number. Even if there are many, what use if you don’t like them?”
After speaking, three men at the table all flirted at once.
Xie Yan couldn’t handle it, coughing repeatedly.
Li Feng disrupted, telling the madam, “Yes, exactly like this. He likes this. Any more? Bring them all.”
Xie Yan didn’t like it at all!
He glanced around, eyes scanning, pointing to a brawny man in the east: “You, spin around so I can see.”
The man stepped forward alone, turning three times in place.
Arms open, chest exposed, clearly used to heavy labor.
Xie Yan said, “This one’s good, keep him. My husband would like him!”
Li Feng: ??
Alright, alright—you insist, huh.
Li Feng glanced around. None of these men had any scholarly refinement.
He was furious. “Don’t you have any decent ones? Not one refined man?”
The madam, stunned by Xie Yan saying “your husband would like him,” hadn’t reacted yet, and hearing Li Feng, only said casually, “If your husband likes, I can borrow men from other houses.”
Xie Yan laughed heartily!
Seeing their expression, the madam immediately called someone to fetch men from other houses.
Li Feng, focused on business, asked, “Can the men from different houses be borrowed?”
The madam laughed: “Of course. On this street, keeping the guests is most important. What’s mine or theirs doesn’t matter.”
Li Feng said, “You are generous.”
After a few words, seeing they were easy to talk to, the madam probed: “Who manages you? Not staying the night today?”
Hearing this, Li Feng felt even more at ease. Not staying meant they could select freely—extremely convenient.
He said, “Our master invited esteemed guests to play. We’ll pick five or six men. You get the best, payment isn’t an issue.”
After all, Hong Chu was paying.
The Hong family had money—they wouldn’t mind spending.
Xie Yan’s eyes widened hearing “five or six people.”
“They’re only three! Do we need that many?”
The madam beamed. “Left and right embrace! I say six isn’t enough! Nine at least. One for each to hold two, one left to play and sing, two to dance—perfect!”
Xie Yan: …
He had no idea why his husband and this madam would get along.
Li Feng glanced sideways. “Go home and advise your husband.”
Xie Yan wanted to, but wouldn’t let Li Feng speak.
“What about my husband? If he’s capable, he should come out and play with men.”
Li Feng: ??
What are you arguing with me about?!
The men present all opened their eyes wide.
Xie Yan, watched by them, couldn’t sit still and paced.
The room had a rose-red carpet, embroidered with roses. Beyond the beaded curtain was the bed, draped with crimson gauze.
On the canopy were embroidered images of beauties, dressed minimally, glancing over their shoulders, large expanses of skin revealed, yet nothing essential was exposed. The craftsmanship was exquisite, eyes coquettish and alluring.
