Chapter 506: This Master Bears Rewards!
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Upon entering, they were greeted by a lady who still had the charm of a woman in her prime. She went up to them with a small round fan embroidered with peony flowers. She swept her gaze over their clothes quietly before smiling very politely.
“Welcome, distinguished guests!”
Qi Qingyao was holding some sugar-fried chestnuts while latching onto Li Ruoxuan’s arm, quietly scrutinizing the furnis.h.i.+ngs and decorations inside.
“May I know if you’d like to drink alone or have a lady accompany you?” the courtesan asked, thinking that the two guests looked rather understated. Based on the curious expression on the young master’s face, she could tell that it was his first time here. The person next to him, however, was dressed in a black robe. The robes were of high quality and were embroidered with a pattern of golden honeysuckle. The man also had a black eyepatch over his right eye…
From just a look, the courtesan felt that this person was not to be trifled with.
It seemed that they were martial artists…not to mention rather capable ones. They were definitely the sort who had many subordinates!
Although she did not know them, she was sure that they were major financiers.
“Can I not call for a lady after going to the Huayue Pavilion?” the little young master asked.
The courtesan’s eyes shone when she heard this. “Some distinguished individuals like to come to this establishment to talk about things, so we would usually arrange for a private room.”
She added tentatively, “Judging from your accent, you don’t seem to be from around here?”
“You caught that…” The little young master did not seem embarra.s.sed, instead he laughed openly. “I’ve just arrived at the capital and I’m not familiar with the area, so I thought I would come here for a drink.”
The courtesan was in charge of Huayue Pavilion in the capital and had met many people in recent years. After these three sentences from him, she felt that the little young master’s voice seemed to be unusually low and noticed there was no Adam’s apple in the throat.
She looked at his delicate face again.
The courtesan could see through this little young master’s facade with her flaming, gold eyes. The person was actually a little lady who had disguised herself as a young man. That explained the short frame, only about a hundred and sixty centimeters.
No wonder she was so nervously grasping the arm of the man with the eye patch next to her.
The courtesan instantly laughed.
“Then, would the two masters please take a seat first and call for some wine. Our signature wine is the Peach Blossom Spring. How about two pots?”
“Let’s have two pots of wine first, and we’ll watch the dancer’s performance in the meantime. I want to see the quality of the girls in this establishment and then decide if I want their company!” The little young master who was holding sugar-fried chestnuts sat down happily next to the eyepatch man. He put the bag of chestnuts down on the low table in front of him.
“Alright then, my distinguished guests~”
The courtesan covered her mouth with the small round fan and smiled. She turned around and called For Mei Jiao’er, who was in charge of hostessing with wine.
Qi Qingyao and Li Ruoxuan sat on the ground behind a large screen embroidered with pine, bamboo, and plum trees. The low table was made of the finest mahogany.
As she ate, Qi Qingyao said, “The smell of the cosmetic powders here is much lighter compared to ordinary brothels, and the overall atmosphere feels luxurious! I can see why they say the Qilin Administration is very rich.”
Li Ruoxuan scrutinized the dimly lit place expressionlessly. “The Qilin Administration is part of the Ghost Organization. How can they be poor?”
“The women are also pretty good-looking, and they all have their own merits!” Qi Qingyao eyed the beauties dressed in gorgeous thin robes, kneeling on the floor next to the guests as they poured wine. “Each one of them looks like a rich n.o.ble lady, nothing like those mediocre and vulgar-looking ones in typical brothels!”
“Mm.” Li Ruoxuan answered, completely absent-minded as looked down at the sugar-fried chestnuts in her oil paper bag.
Qi Qingyao turned to him and asked, “Is there anyone you’re interested in? Should we call one?”
Li Ruoxuan said, “They’re all entertainers here, not prost.i.tutes.”
Pretending to be shocked, Qi Qingyao stared at him with protuberant eyes. “Are you holding that against them? Did you have some intentions for them?”
Li Ruoxuan was slightly stunned. He turned and looked at her with a curious smile. “Little lady, I only have intentions for you, but it’s a pity that you’re not interested in me.”
Qi Qingyao pursed her lips. Absolutely shameless, she glanced at him and said with a calm look in her eyes, “You all aren’t interested in me, but Si Jin! You’re all the same, each of you. So, let’s drink today and not be killjoys.”
After a pause, she pressed, “Are you going to ask for a lady?”
Li Ruoxuan withdrew his gaze. “No.”
After waiting for a while, a lovely young woman, who was dressed in a Tang-style high-waisted robe with a large portion of her shoulder and collarbone exposed, walked over to them with light steps and a pleasant smile. She went to Qi Qingyao’s compartment, knelt down next to her, and spoke in a whisper.
“I’m Hua Xiaodie, I’ve come to keep you company with your drinks.”
“Take a seat, take a seat!” Qi Qingyao was delighted when she saw how the little lady looked. “Xiaodie, your establishment is very big.”
Hua Xiaodie put down the two pots of wine she was carrying.” Is Master not from around here?” she asked while pouring the wine.
Qi Qingyao nodded slightly. She fished out a banknote from her arms and stuffed it into the little lady’s revealed chest. “I like listening to you, so I will reward you!”
“You are so generous, I can’t accept this!” Despite her words, her actions were the complete opposite. She put away the banknote very shyly.
Then, she leaned on Qi Qingyao’s shoulder and cried out, “Master~~~”
“…”
Li Ruoxuan noted the little woman’s obedient and l.u.s.tful gaze and felt inexplicably disgusted. When he saw the little woman’s whining figure draped over Qi Qingyao’s shoulder, Li Ruoxuan could not help getting angry despite knowing they were both women.
He was upset at the thought of something happening between the two women, but he was angry that Qi Qingyao did not try pus.h.i.+ng away the little courtesan at all. She even kissed the courtesan on her face, hugged her, and let her sit on her lap. She even slipped one hand inside the little courtesan’s clothes and touched her thighs…making the courtesan giggle with embarra.s.sment.
This was the first time Li Ruoxuan witnessed such a scene and he was having a slight meltdown.
He tried very hard to remind himself that this person was a woman.
‘But if you are a woman, what are you thinking, doing that to the little courtesan?’
Her expression was completely like an irreverent womanizer.
Li Ruoxuan could not wrap his head around it. Suddenly, a thought flashed through his mind.
She had no interest in any man, be it Jiang Yeqian, Lu Yan, or himself. Could it be that…this little lady liked women!!
When he thought of this, Li Ruoxuan went through an even bigger meltdown.
Qi Qingyao cuddled the little courtesan for a bit. Kissing her softly on the earlobe, she then murmured, “So, who are the most powerful young masters and young ladies in the Northern Liang capital?”
“I shouldn’t say.” The little courtesan had been reduced to jelly and only a trace of her consciousness remained as she responded blearily.
“I’ve just arrived at the capital and I’m afraid of offending others in the future, so I have to learn a bit about the rankings here~~~” Qi Qingyao took another banknote from her bosom and stuffed it into the courtesan’s clothes.
Li Ruoxuan, “…”
Could she be trying to gain information?
Was it not because she liked women?
Still, this behavior was too shameless!!