Before the first month of the lunar calendar was over, the night view of Chang'an was still dazzlingly beautiful. The large red lanterns hanging at the doors of every household shone brightly, forming two giant red dragons on either side of the street. Not long after nightfall, children dressed in new clothes played and laughed freely in the streets. According to the customs of the Sui Dynasty, children would not be scolded by adults no matter how much they played during the first month.
Walking on the streets, one often saw women stuffing candy into the hands of unfamiliar children. However, there was no need to worry about them being child traffickers, although child abductions did occasionally occur. But because the Sui Dynasty valued filial piety and benevolence, and the court enforced strict laws, such universally condemned crimes were rare.
If one had many children, they could be adopted by others. If two families agreed, a child could also be bought. However, registration with the government was mandatory, and officials would regularly check on the children's living conditions. If abuse was found, the children would be forcibly returned to their biological parents, and the adoptive parents would be severely punished—from whipping and imprisonment to exile to the frontier.
Those who stole and sold children had only one punishment: death without mercy.
Children, carrying fireworks and candy, ran freely through the streets, occasionally lighting a firecracker and throwing it on the ground. Startled adults wouldn't curse, because in the minds of the people of the Sui Dynasty, the first month of the lunar calendar was a time for children to play freely. The Sui Dynasty's school holidays extended until the second day of the second lunar month, allowing children a whole month of unbridled fun.
The second day of the second lunar month was chosen because it was the day the dragon raised its head. In the Sui Dynasty, the people considered this day the departure of winter and the arrival of spring. The rain god, the Dragon King, who had slept all winter, would awaken and bring the first precious spring rain to the earth.
Of course, this was just a custom.
In fact, according to the records of the Great Sui Astronomical Observatory's Weather Bureau over the years, it only rained on the second day of the second lunar month in the fifteenth year of Emperor Shenzong's reign.
Shops were all open, and the aroma of wine and meat from the restaurants wafted out, filling the nostrils of passersby. The waiters, dressed in new clothes and looking neat and tidy, stood at the door, enthusiastically greeting the coming and going customers. Good business meant more of their wages, so they were naturally happy.
Across from this restaurant was the Crescent Moon Pavilion, one of the most famous brothels in Chang'an. Its fame was second only to the two brothels owned by Wu Yidao, the richest man in the Great Sui Dynasty, and it was considered a golden brand in Chang'an. Although the business of the Red Sleeve Pavilion had dampened the business of all other brothels, this January, even the stingiest men of Chang'an wouldn't be stingy with their pocket money, so the Crescent Moon Pavilion was exceptionally busy.
The Red Sleeve Pavilion had its charms, and brothels had their allure. In Chang'an, it wasn't shameful for men to frequent brothels, unless their wives were particularly fierce. At the entrance of the New Moon Brothel stood four young men in blue robes and black boots, each with delicate features. Among the wealthy and powerful families who frequented brothels, these young men sometimes commanded prices no lower than those of the courtesans.
Fang Jie, having specially changed into fine clothes, approached the New Moon Brothel and carefully observed the four young men. He noticed their steady stance, suggesting they had some basic martial arts training. Before coming, he had thoroughly surveyed the area around the brothel; knowing an escape route was a habit of his.
Fang Jie wasn't afraid of running into acquaintances in such places. Truly influential people wouldn't dare show their faces in public. Even if they came to a brothel, they would quickly go inside and immediately seek out their favorite girls for intimate encounters. After all, they were all men of status. If those sharp-tongued censors of the Censorate were to impeach them in front of all the civil and military officials, even if the emperor only reprimanded them, they would lose face.
Furthermore, Fang Jie had slightly altered his appearance. The small mustache that Shen Qingshan had carefully glued onto his nose was very realistic, making him look much more mature. He had also padded his slightly gaudy brocade robe, making him appear a bit plump.
The servant at the door greeted Fang Jie warmly, asking if he knew any girls. Fang Jie smiled and shook his head, generously giving him some loose silver. The servant, having received the silver, became even more enthusiastic, leading Fang Jie inside and introducing the brothel's most beautiful and charming women. Fang Jie pretended to listen intently, looking around to see if he recognized anyone.
"Young master, this seems to be your first time visiting our Crescent Moon Pavilion. We wonder what type of girl you prefer? Lively or gentle? Our brothel boasts not only refined ladies from Jiangnan, but also girls from the Western Regions. If you're willing to spend a little more money, you can even have a stunning beauty from the Northern Liao court served you."
The waiter pointed upstairs as he spoke, "Young master, given your distinguished status, why not find a private room upstairs and then choose your girls at your leisure? I'll have my matron lead the girls to the private room to see you, and whoever you choose can stay and serve you." "You are truly exceptional. I'm not exaggerating, but every girl in our brothel is incredibly talented, proficient in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. They can recite poetry and play the flute with refined elegance. If you wish to hear some music, we can effortlessly perform tunes from all over the country."
Fang Jie nodded and said, "Alright, lead me upstairs."
The servant, knowing he had secured another patron, quickly led him up to the second floor, calling out in a clear voice, "Honorable guest, Tingyu Pavilion! Madam is here to greet you!"
This was Fang Jie's first time entering a brothel, both in his past and present lives. In his previous life, he had always longed to enter such places but lacked the courage. Now, finally stepping inside, Fang Jie felt somewhat strange. Perhaps it was the influence of his past life's thoughts, but he felt a sense of thievery.
The second floor was entirely composed of private rooms. As he passed by, he frequently heard singing and laughter coming from inside. Fang Jie listened carefully, trying to discern any familiar voices.
Just as he was observing these things, the servant in front of him stopped: "Young master, this is Tingyu Pavilion, please come in."
...
...
Pushing open the door, Fang Jie found the room's furnishings to be elegant and free of any vulgarity. A clothes rack and washbasin stand were placed near the entrance, for guests to remove their robes and wash their hands. A stove was burning, keeping the temperature comfortable. Sandalwood incense was also lit to prevent the guests from feeling overwhelmed by the smell of charcoal.
Fang Jie didn't remove his robe, as he was hiding something underneath.
He strolled inside and found that the space behind the screen wasn't very large. There was an exquisite mahogany bed, a table, two chairs, and nothing else. The landscape painting hanging on the wall was clearly a copy, the style somewhat rough.
Fang Jie thought to himself, no wonder he could hear people talking inside when he passed by the door; it turned out that each room was so small.
He had barely sat down when the still-attractive madam, dressed rather provocatively, entered with a beaming smile. She showered him with attention, acting as if Fang Jie were a long-lost relative. Fang Jie felt somewhat uncomfortable with this attitude but deliberately tried to appear relaxed. Madams, with their keen eyes, could easily tell that this handsome young man with a small mustache didn't frequent such places.
She giggled and exchanged a few polite words before clinging to Fang Jie's shoulder and asking, "Young master, give me a general direction so I can choose a suitable girl for you."
"Do you have any…?"
Fang Jie thought for a moment, then lowered his voice, "Someone pure and innocent, with a demure appearance? She'll do whatever I say, preferably with a petite figure, um… preferably not too big-breasted, you understand?"
He realized he was indeed unsuitable for such places. Even though he was acting, his voice trembled slightly as he spoke, like someone caught doing something wrong. The madam, however, preferred customers who were slightly shy. Generally, these customers wouldn't make excessive demands and were generous with their money.
The madam covered her mouth and giggled, saying, "Young master, you certainly know how to enjoy life! I understand what you mean—you want someone younger, right? If you're willing to pay a good price, there are a few beautiful, delicate, virgin courtesans in the brothel. Fourteen or fifteen years old, they're like flower buds in their prime. Delicate and supple, they're incredibly alluring."
Fang Jie initially wanted to refuse. Visiting a brothel was for business; to harm a virgin would be a sin. But then he thought, even if he didn't do it, who knew which rude and barbaric man would take advantage of the girl? And if he refused, the act would seem rather fake.
"Very well, I'll leave it to Mother's arrangements."
Fang Jie pulled a silver note from his sleeve and handed it over. The madam glanced at the amount on the note and seemed satisfied. After exchanging a few polite words, she turned and ordered someone to bring out some rare fruits and delicate pastries. These fruits weren't locally grown; they were likely brought over by merchants from Dongchu from across the sea. Ordinary people couldn't afford to buy them; a plate of these fruits would be enough to feed a family for half a month.
After the madam left, Fang Jie finally felt a little more at ease. This conversation had been even more exhausting than his verbal sparring with Prince Yi. He couldn't help but laugh self-deprecatingly, thinking that he had been in this world for almost seventeen years, yet he still felt so out of place. He recalled Shen Qingshan's teasing look earlier, and his face flushed slightly. He thought to himself that even Shen Qingshan could see his weakness; he had truly failed in this regard.
He picked up a piece of fruit and put it in his mouth. He knew it was called a musk fruit, about the size of a grape, and he had never seen it in his previous life. It had a fragrant aroma and, if stored properly, could last for months without spoiling. The taste was slightly sweet but not cloying; it was called musk fruit by the Sui people because of its unique fragrance.
After putting two in his mouth, the madam led in a smiling young girl with slightly flushed cheeks.
"Quickly, greet the young master. Tonight, he will be your patron. You must serve him well. If the young master is kind, your first time will be easier, and you might even have a good time. If you don't serve him well, the young master will be rough with you, and you'll suffer."
The young girl looked about fifteen or sixteen years old, about the same age as Wu Yinyu. She was petite, only reaching Fang Jie's shoulders. She looked slightly thin, but her slender yet rounded shoulders were attractive, especially her slender waist, which could be encircled with one hand. Her breasts, while not small, were like steamed buns, barely filling out her clothes. Because she was rather thin, her hips weren't as full and rounded as a mature woman's. However, she had a certain charm; it was this slight naiveté that made her so endearing.
She lowered her head, avoiding Fang Jie's eyes, blushing as she gave a soft "Mmm" and curtsied to him. With willow-leaf eyebrows, large eyes, a slightly pointed chin, and a pert nose, she was indeed a beauty.
The madam said, "Young master, please be gentle with our young lady, lest she faint from pain," and then smiled and left. As she left, she didn't forget to give Fang Jie a flirtatious wink.
After the madam left, Fang Jie seemed even more awkward than the courtesan. He opened his mouth but didn't know what to say, so he could only give an awkward smile.
Although the courtesan was young, she had trained at the New Moon Pavilion for many years. Naturally, she could tell at a glance that Fang Jie wasn't the kind of unwelcome guest, so she breathed a slight sigh of relief. These girls were all sold into brothels at a very young age. Because of their beauty, they were specially kept and taught music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, and how to please men, so they could be sold for a good price when they grew up. She knew she would eventually face this ordeal, and only hoped that her first encounter with a gentle man would be alright.
Seeing Fang Jie's handsome features, and how he seemed even more shy than her, she knew she was lucky. If she had encountered a rougher man, he might have already torn her clothes.
"How about... I sing a song for you, sir?"
The girl hesitated for a moment before asking.
Fang Jie, already at a loss, immediately nodded upon hearing this: "Alright, alright... I'll sing a song first then."
He subconsciously wiped the sweat from his forehead; his back was also damp.
"It's so hot in this room..."
He said awkwardly.
"Hot?"
The girl had been specially trained for many years and knew the subtle hints in the customers' words. Generally, when the topic turns to heat, it's time to get down to business. She thought to herself, "This man is so strange. He just mentioned listening to music, and now he's already impatient?" So, blushing, she took a few steps forward, knelt down in front of Fang Jie, and said softly, "Then let me first undress you, young master..."
"Ah!"
Fang Jie was startled and jumped up in fright.
"Weren't we going to sing a song? Why do I have to take off my clothes now?"