Not just because her face was pretty.
Every frown and smile drew the eye, her entire being captivating.
The way her soft waist swayed with her movements made one wish to die by her side.
Her face was, of course, extremely beautiful.
Especially her pair of narrow, almond-shaped eyes, like a fox's, their gaze shifting, carrying a deep, unforgivable sin.
And she even had two dimples, which, when she smiled, blended intoxicating allure with a sweetness that could kill.
It was deadly.
What man could resist such a woman?
Xu Hengyi couldn't hear what Lan Meng and Xie Jiang were saying.
His mind was filled with Lan Meng's dimples.
Were all courtesans this beautiful?
Did men entering Chun Se Man Yuan need to watch singing and dancing or other girls?
One Lan Meng was worth a thousand soldiers.
When Lan Meng willingly linked arms with a young man and walked upstairs, the entire pleasure house stirred. Men on all floors looked at Xie Jiang with naked envy, jealousy, and hatred.
Why should Lan Meng link arms with a brat who hadn't even fully grown his fur!
Were they not strong enough? Or not handsome enough? Or had they not spent enough money?
But the men present, beyond their internal grumbling, dared not do anything.
After all, the past examples were enough to sober their lust-filled minds.
Xu Hengyi also recalled gossip from his friends.
It was said that Lan Meng of Chun Se Man Yuan was the woman of the sect leader of Cui Shan Sect.
Some dared to test the law with their lives, and the result...
It was too bloody and brutal to detail, but their deaths caused quite a stir at the time.
Since then, no madman had dared to covet Lan Meng.
No matter how much lust they possessed, they had to keep it in check.
At most, they would visit Chun Se Man Yuan more often, hoping for a chance to catch another glimpse of Lan Meng.
But what was with this brat?!
Where is the sect leader of Cui Shan Sect? Your woman is being taken!
Would this brat be found dead in the street tomorrow?
Huh?
Everyone who saw Xie Jiang's appearance was stunned.
This brat's looks...
Were they dreaming?
They rubbed their eyes.
Then gasped.
The brat really looked like that! No wonder Lan Meng would lower herself.
Where is the sect leader of Cui Shan Sect? Your woman is being charmed away!
The commotion in the pleasure house subsided for some after they saw Xie Jiang's appearance.
Who, after seeing Xie Jiang's face, could still harbor any feelings of jealousy or hatred?
Then, a greater commotion erupted.
Whose young man was Lan Meng holding? To let someone look like that out in the open, was he meant to bring ruin upon all beings?
Xie Jiang and Xu Hengyi were seated in the best private room on the third floor.
Wine and refreshments were already prepared.
"Do you want me to stay and accompany you?" Lan Meng personally poured Xie Jiang a cup of tea and sat down beside him.
Xie Jiang accepted with a smile, "Aren't you afraid Shunhua will be jealous?"
Lan Meng's eyes were solely on Xie Jiang. When she smiled at him, her dimples seemed to fill with honey, "If he likes to eat, let him eat."
The two chatted intimately, oblivious to anyone else.
Xu Hengyi felt completely superfluous.
Should he leave?
If there were no illicit affair between Xie Jiang and Lan Meng, he would write his surname backward! The familiarity and casualness between them were evident even to the dullest observer.
From their conversation, Lan Meng indeed had a lover.
Named Shunhua, was it?
And they were here exchanging flirtatious glances!
You can know a person's face but not their heart. Xie Jiang, that scrupulous scoundrel, was quite adept at digging up other people's corners!
"Young Master, would you like to stay the night at Chun Se Man Yuan? Hua Jin and Hua Fu have been missing you."
Xu Hengyi silently perked up his ears. So, Xie Jiang not only had something going on with Lan Meng, but also with the sisters Hua Jin and Hua Fu!
At such a young age, wasn't he afraid of exhausting himself to death!
Xu Hengyi absolutely refused to admit he was envious, jealous, or hateful.
"No, I'm just here for a meal tonight, and to bring a young friend to see the singing and dancing. Oh, and call Tian Kang Tai over later."
Lan Meng only then noticed Xu Hengyi sitting beside them.
Seeing Lan Meng look over, Xu Hengyi immediately straightened his back, trying hard to feign composure.
But Lan Meng merely glanced at Xu Hengyi, not wanting to waste a second, and turned her head back.
Xu Hengyi: "..."
Was he not worth more than a glance!
How was he worse than that scoundrel Xie Jiang!
He was also a handsome young man!
Lan Meng did not linger.
Since the young master was here for a meal, she had to personally oversee the kitchen, ensuring everything was the best, not allowing even the slightest deviation in cooking.
And the singing and dancing the young master wanted to see also needed to be meticulously prepared, something unforgettable at first sight, not like those ordinary performances.
"Honestly, when did you and Lan Meng get together?" With only Xu Hengyi and Xie Jiang left in the private room, Xu Hengyi, his mood complex, felt his way across the cushion.
Xie Jiang casually replied, "That was quite some time ago."
"How long ago is 'quite some time ago'? A year ago, or two years ago? It couldn't be three years ago!"
Xu Hengyi was fifteen this year, and Xie Jiang looked about the same age. Three years ago, he would have been only twelve, still a tender sapling!
So, how did she manage to capture his heart?!
Xu Hengyi scrutinized Xie Jiang suspiciously.
Then he quickly thought of his grandmother and his mother.
The way Lan Meng looked at Xie Jiang earlier, it could be seen as the gaze of a lover, but it could also be interpreted as the gaze of a younger brother or son?
But if Lan Meng's lover would be jealous of Xie Jiang, it still indicated that Xie Jiang and Lan Meng were involved.
So Xie Jiang was already mingling in the flower bushes at such a young age!
He was fifteen, and his family never allowed him to fool around!
Xu Hengyi found it hard to convince himself not to be envious, jealous, or hateful.
"And the Hua Jin and Hua Fu twin sisters! Didn't you get together with Lan Meng, so why did you also pluck the twin sisters?" The pure and innocent virgin Xu Hengyi glared at the flower-mingling Xie!
The twin sisters, like Lan Meng, were also treasures of Chun Se Man Yuan! And Xie Jiang had managed to get them both?!
Many people could only eagerly await the sisters' dance performances once a month.
Even with real money in hand, they couldn't secure a meal with the twin sisters.
But Xie Jiang could make the sisters yearn for him!
That's what Lan Meng had just said!
It was too much!
Why was the gap between people so vast?
"Why, do you want to pluck flowers too? You're not young anymore, you should be perfectly capable of..."
"I don't, I'm not, I don't want to."
Xu Hengyi immediately denied it three times.
His second brother's men were waiting outside.
Even if he wanted to do something, he couldn't do it under his second brother's watchful eye.
"I just want to see what the legendary twin sisters look like."
Xu Hengyi was indeed extremely curious.
Many of his classmates from the Imperial Academy were regular patrons of Chun Se Man Yuan.
Even those who weren't regular patrons of Chun Se Man Yuan were regular patrons of other major pleasure houses.
They could list the top courtesans of various pleasure houses by heart, and the few from Chun Se Man Yuan were unattainable for most.
It was only because Chun Se Man Yuan was backed by Cui Shan Sect that the many lustful ghosts hadn't pounced on them, disregarding any rules they had set!
"If I could have a meal with them, that would be the best."
Xu Hengyi finally expressed his small wish.
If this wish were granted, he could boast about it for a year.