The Duke Wei's Residence.
Second Master Xu desperately wanted to kill Xie Jiang.
He thought the Grand Madam had suddenly summoned him for something important, but upon entering Shou'an Courtyard, he saw a room full of women.
His wife, daughter, eldest sister-in-law, and younger sister-in-law, as well as his nieces, were all there.
All the female members of the Duke Wei's household had assembled.
They all wanted to attend the auction at Chunse Manyuan?!
They were all mad! What a farce!
What kind of place was Chunse Manyuan? What woman would go to Chunse Manyuan!
"Young Master Xie said that Chunse Manyuan is not exclusively for men. Men can go to Chunse Manyuan for socializing, and women can also go there for tea and to enjoy singing and dancing. Moreover, the fabrics, jewelry, and gems being auctioned tonight are specifically prepared for us women. Why can't we go?"
"I heard the singing and dancing at Chunse Manyuan are superb, unlike anything we've seen before. Heng Yi went with Young Master Xie once and praised it highly to us afterwards..."
"It sounds like a place of elegance, not sordid like other brothels. Didn't you also go for drinks?"
Second Master Xu felt as if he didn't recognize the women in the room.
Why were they all making such a fuss about this? How was Chunse Manyuan not sordid!
It was truly elegant, but the sordidness was also truly sordid...
"No, you can't, you absolutely cannot go..."
How could they believe the nonsense that Xie Jiang fellow spouted! Can men and women be the same! Naturally, women cannot go where men go!
Second Master Xu's attitude was extremely firm.
If it were any other time, the ladies of the household would have simply not gone, as no women had ever visited Chunse Manyuan before, and Chunse Manyuan had always been a paradise solely for men.
But now Chunse Manyuan had also become a paradise for women!
Grand Madam Xu, at her advanced age, found her eyes blurring as she looked at the various jewels and ornaments in the small booklets, as well as fabrics that existed only in rumors, yet she couldn't bear to put them down.
Let alone the ladies in their prime and the young girls who were just beginning to appreciate beauty?
No.
They must go.
If they didn't go, they would be restless and unable to sleep soundly for years to come.
Second Master Xu's head was about to explode.
What kind of bewitching potion had that scoundrel Xie Jiang fed them!
Grand Madam Xu handed him several of the small booklets she had in her hand.
Second Master Xu opened them in a daze.
And then he was stunned!
Chunse Manyuan had even produced a separate set of booklets for the female guests!
What was Chunse Manyuan trying to do?!
"The ladies of the Duke of Liang's residence and other households, as well as several Grand Princesses, are all going. Why can't our Duke Wei's residence go?"
"What?"
Grand Madam Xu said, "We've already made arrangements."
So he was called here just to be informed directly?
"You are going too? Your health..." Second Master Xu was too distressed.
"My health is fine. I'll just be in the private room."
...
The sun gradually began to set.
It was usually the liveliest time in the Yuchi Street area after nightfall.
Today, however, the entire street had been bustling with people since dusk.
Clever small vendors had arrived early, hoping to make a fortune tonight. Upon arrival, they found that the best spots had already been taken by those who arrived even earlier.
Carriages and horses with entry passes drove past one after another.
Some people silently counted, noting that nearly half of the notable families in the capital were present.
More people were unqualified to enter Chunse Manyuan tonight, but this did not dampen their desire to join the excitement.
As a result, the crowd on Yuchi Street grew larger and larger, and later arriving carriages and horses almost couldn't get through.
Ruan Ziji stood before the ceremonial archway from dusk until sunset, waiting for Xie Jiang, but the auction hadn't started yet and Xie Jiang was nowhere to be seen.
Then, Han Zhao ran out of the flower house and told him that Xie Jiang was already inside.
Ruan Ziji hurried inside and indeed saw Xie Jiang preparing to go upstairs.
"Young Master Xie, where did you come in from? Did you perhaps stay at Chunse Manyuan?"
"Is that not allowed?"
"It's not that it's not allowed, it's just..."
Ruan Ziji felt a pang of heartbreak. Which little enchantress had Young Master Xie slept with! Could he offer himself?
He would go talk to Lan Meng later and ask her to take on a part-time job at Chunse Manyuan. It should still be in time, right?
At this moment, Lan Meng walked over, "Young Master."
Xie Jiang said, "Is everything ready?"
Lan Meng smiled and said, "Rest assured, Young Master."
Xie Jiang said, "You'll be busy tonight, so you don't need to attend to me. It's not your first time here."
Lan Meng, twirling the round fan in her hand, smiled without speaking, her eyes flicking towards Ruan Ziji and Han Zhao.
Ruan Ziji and Han Zhao knew she had something to say, so they wisely retreated a bit.
Lan Meng whispered to Xie Jiang, "Young Master Song of the Duke of Dingguo's residence has arrived."
Xie Jiang then followed Lan Meng's gaze towards a private room on the third floor.
"You are thoughtful."
The private room where Song Ze was located was next to the one Lan Meng had arranged for Xie Jiang; both were the best private rooms.
As they went upstairs, Ruan Ziji noticed that Xie Jiang's mood had become exceptionally good, a smile playing on his lips that easily stirred his heart. He wondered what Lan Meng had said to him.
Young Master Xie hadn't seemed happy when he saw him earlier.
Could it be that Young Master Xie liked beauties like Lan Meng?
That's why he frequented Chunse Manyuan?
Although Ruan Ziji wasn't inclined that way, he had to admit that Lan Meng was an absolute beauty. He felt immense pressure competing with such a stunning woman as Lan Meng.
"By the way, Young Master." Lan Meng, who had already left, suddenly turned back.
Xie Jiang turned to look at her.
Lan Meng glanced at the private room prepared for Xie Jiang, then winked at Xie Jiang, indicating that there was a surprise waiting in the private room upstairs.
Xie Jiang understood instantly.
So far, there was only one person she wanted to capture.
Ruan Ziji also looked up. Although he couldn't see anything, he understood Lan Meng's meaning. Young Master Xie had a secret lover! Young Master Xie was keeping a mistress!
Han Zhao immediately gave him an encouraging look, telling him to get rid of the secret lover and win Young Master Xie's favor for himself!
Ruan Ziji had ten thousand curses stuck in his throat, wanting to burst out.
Xie Jiang stopped abruptly outside the private room and casually glanced at the one next door.
Ruan Ziji, full of righteous indignation, rushed in first.
He wanted to see what kind of person could have bewitched Young Master Xie!
However, the moment he met the other person's gaze, Ruan Ziji's mind went blank, and the hairs on his back instantly stood on end.
Ruan Ziji felt as if he were being stared at by an ancient fierce beast.
It could tear him apart and turn him into dust at any moment!
Someone tell him, why was Yi Yan Gen the secret lover Young Master Xie was keeping!
Ruan Ziji's first instinct was to flee, but his feet felt as if they were glued to the spot; he couldn't move them at all.
It wasn't until Xie Jiang walked in, and Yi Yan Gen's entire gaze fell upon Xie Jiang, that Ruan Ziji felt the restraint on him lifted, and he began to pant heavily.
The feeling just now was too terrifying.
In that short time, the clothes on his back were already soaked.