Noon!
Li Xi bounded over again, his grin as bright as ever, face creasing into comical folds.
"Boss, after we clock out tonight, let me take you somewhere fun!"
He edged in close to Xia Chen, whispering with a sly, leering grin.
Bold as brass, this low-ranking squad leader—leagues below Xia Chen's commander status—called him "Boss" to cozy up.
Xia Chen shot him a strange glance—could this punk be scheming to haul him off to some brothel or dive for tunes?
Entertainment in this world was scarce, especially at night—just drinking, music, girls, and the deeper exchanges that followed.
Thus, the "deep exchange" trade thrived here.
Brothels, though, ranked high in the field—think upscale clubs. The girls there were stunners.
But the cost matched—spending a night could drain most of a common household's yearly earnings, and that was the cheap tier. Courting a top courtesan? Money alone wouldn't cut it.
Hence, dives flourished. Lower-grade than brothels, sure, but affordable—high value for the coin. Even modest folk could grit their teeth and indulge.
Naturally, they drew bigger crowds.
Honestly, Xia Chen yearned for these spots. A gentleman he might be, but joining the fun? Why not?
With that in mind, he agreed to Li Xi's pitch without fuss.
"No plans tonight, and you're all hush-hush. Fine, I'll tag along for the ride!"
He clapped Li Xi's shoulder—kid's got promise!
Li Xi beamed, scampering off to plan the night.
"Being a boss rules—someone else sets up the fun, no counting coins or worrying. But isn't this a twist on foot spas or karaoke joints? Bigger stakes, maybe!"
Xia Chen mused with a scholar's curiosity, eager to see how fiercely this world's culture clashed with his own tonight.
…
Evening arrived. The day passed quietly—Xia Chen patrolled with his men in the afternoon, the capital's bustle dazzling Xia Qian behind him.
Along the way, they passed Princess Yaoguang's Mansion. Xia Chen glanced at the weathered, majestic lions flanking its gate, then looked away, sparing further stares.
He also scoped the roads, pinpointing key brothel locations.
Not for personal revelry, mind you—he was a gentleman, a paragon of virtue like Cao Mengde (slang for a certain wife-loving historical figure)—no, a chaste young lord!
That night, this chaste lord trailed Li Xi, sneaking out of the Feathered Forest Guard Office with Xia Qian, slipping into a dim alley.
The deeper they went, the odder it felt—this path veered from the brothel and dive districts he'd mapped.
"Heh, Boss, good stuff—music and dance!"
Li Xi finally spilled, his grin splitting his face wide.
"I know you're from the Marquis of Zhendong's household—strict rules there. No outings 'til Eighth-Rank Refining Essence, just grind in the compound, no overnight jaunts.
"Bet you've never hit these spots. Tonight's on me—time to taste the capital's nightlife!"
Before Xia Chen could reply, Xia Qian flushed behind him. So that's why the commander skipped home tonight—these places!
He'd never been either, though kitchen hands raved about them—prime earthly delights, unforgettable once tasted.
"This route's not toward Suyu Street, is it? Aren't brothels and dives mostly there?"
Xia Chen asked calmly, inwardly wary. A trap, maybe?
Was the Zhao clan plotting revenge, luring him into this dark alley tonight?
Li Xi caught his caution, hastily explaining.
"Dive tunes are too low-end for your caliber. Brothels are fine, but your status is tricky—too many eyes there. Word spreads, your rep takes a hit, and that's trouble.
"So I picked a spot called Qingya Xiaozhu—music, dance, and a bed if you fancy. Everyone wears masks—tight-lipped as can be!"
Li Xi whispered like he'd scored a prize. Xia Chen's betrothal to the Second Princess was capital gossip—he knew it too.
Xia Chen eyed him oddly. Kid's thorough—real talent, huh?
In Dawu, visiting pleasure haunts wasn't rare—lately, scholars even hyped it as refined. Among them, hitting twenty without a visit? A disgrace to the literati!
Xia Chen marveled—scholars sure played thick-skinned, proud of whoring. No wonder the Empress, in the [Great Unification] era, banned the "deep exchange" trade outright.
When Xia Chen and fellow players arrived, they'd wailed—golden days gone before they'd savored them.
Some even rebelled against the Empress over it, aiming to topple Dawu and revive manly glory.
That guy got slapped dead by her, of course…
"Here I thought you'd drag me to the Imperial Courtesan Bureau!"
"Boss, you're kidding! I can't afford that—five taels just to step in, drinks and tunes extra. Sleeping with a girl? Ten taels minimum, no dreaming otherwise!"
Li Xi shook his head, eyes glowing with longing. He'd heard the girls there were pale enough to squeeze water from.
Better yet, most were officials' wives or daughters. Bedding one might mean a boss's or colleague's kin—an identity thrill money couldn't buy.
The Imperial Courtesan Bureau topped this world's leisure game—its women, mostly fallen officials' families, a resource brothels couldn't touch.
Throughout the walk, Xia Chen remained quiet, ears open and mouth shut, absorbing Li Xi's rundown of tips while piecing together a sharp image of these red-light spots in his head.
Not all were flesh trades—that'd be crude. They'd spawned music, poetry, and scholar-loved arts.
The classier, the hotter.
Qingya Xiaozhu, Li Xi's pick tonight, was one such joint.
Of course, overnight stays remained core—else who'd trek out late just for tunes and verse?
Soon, the trio slipped into a hidden alley, reaching a courtyard blending seamlessly with nearby homes. Its gate bore four simple characters—Qingya Xiaozhu!
Unknowing folks might peg it as a plain residential house.