Chapter 6

Never had he thought that Second Master Brother could have such a fierce side. Unfortunately, no matter how brave it was, it couldn't escape its fate of being slaughtered. Causing such immense physical and mental harm to Gao Yanei, it and its pig sister were surely doomed. Winning the bet, Zhao Yougong felt refreshed and clear-headed. As the winner, he should show some magnanimity, but he wouldn't do that because he, Zhao Yougong, was a thoroughly despicable prince, one who delighted in adding insult to injury.

"Hey, ladies, are you enjoying the show? Look, does our Great Official Gao look like a... ah, scary, he eats so many pig trotters, if he turns into a pig, wouldn't that be terrible?"

Zhao Yougong lifted his head and smiled at the girls on the Xie Fang Lou (Fragrant Pavilion). Having long been a frequenter of brothels, he was naturally very skilled at jesting and entertaining. The girls upstairs couldn't help but giggle and coo, familiar with the young prince's nature, they all waved their scented handkerchiefs and pouted, "Oh, Young Master Zhao, you are so naughty..."

"Naughty? How am I naughty? Look, I am only sixteen, and I am as handsome as a jade tree, where am I naughty?" Zhao Yougong narrowed his eyes and then placed his left hand on his waist, pointing with his right hand, "You, and you, will you two accompany me tonight? Let's study together, where exactly am I naughty?"

"Master Zhao is so shameless, I won't pay attention to him anymore. Sisters, let's go back." The girls called out, giving a flirtatious glance and leaving behind a trail of fragrant air.

Zhao Yougong, with his face as smooth as jade and his tall, slender figure, was a patron that no girl disliked. Moreover, this young prince was known for his youth and wealth. Although his money came from selling family assets, as long as he had money, who cared where it came from?

The girls all left, and the onlookers were driven away by Gao Yanei's lackeys. Zhao Yougong found it very boring and, with his hands clasped behind his neck, swayed into the Xie Fang Lou. It was not yet noon, and the building was very quiet. No matter when, brothels were always for the night, and there were few visitors during the day.

Due to Zhao Yougong's special status, Wu Mama greeted him with a smile, "My young master, why are you here at this time?"

"Brothel, why do you ask so many questions? I came here naturally to drink and have fun. Where is Nian Nu? I want to see her!" Zhao Yougong casually threw some money as a tip. Although he came as agreed, he couldn't break the rules of entering the building.

Seeing the money, Wu Mama smiled even more charmingly, but unfortunately, her face was full of fat, and when she laughed, her chubby cheeks trembled, and the rouge and powder on her face fell off. Seeing this, Zhao Yougong wished he could slap her back, and he had no mood to chat with her. Wu Mama must have noticed that Zhao Yougong's patience was running out, so she pouted and, lifting her skirt, ran up the stairs.

Cui Nian Nu's boudoir was very elegant. An ancient zither was placed by the bed, and the walls were hung with various famous calligraphy and paintings. Near the door, two potted plants added a touch of vitality to the room. At this moment, Nian Nu held a long, emerald-green flute, smiling silently as she tapped the ancient, simple table. Xiao Tan pouted, as if something was bothering her, "Why did Sister Cui know that Young Master Zhao would definitely win?"

Hearing the little maid's question, Nian Nu put down the flute and gently shook her head. She didn't know that Zhao Yougong would definitely win; it was just a feeling, or perhaps she wanted to see a miracle. Unexpectedly, that young prince Zhao really created a miracle. Maybe no one would care about this miracle, but Nian Nu couldn't let it go, because this incident was enough to make her reassess the royal waste who was famous in Tokyo.

Nian Nu had many things she wanted to ask Zhao Yougong personally, but she didn't know how to start, and even if she asked, Zhao Yougong wouldn't say. She was very curious about this young prince. This young prince had been frequenting various brothels since he was seven, spending money like water, and it was said that in three years, he had squandered all the savings of the Chu王府 (Chu Mansion). After that, he started selling family assets. That was one thing, but this young prince was not only a playboy; his mind seemed to be a bit off. Every year, he would go mad two or three times. In the sixth year of Zhenghe, he ran into the icy snow in a thin robe, almost freezing to death outside.

Nian Nu hoped she was wrong, but also hoped she wasn't. If everything was an act, then this young prince's mind was too deep, and he must be hiding something. Who was he guarding against? The current emperor?

"Knock, knock," a light knocking sound came from the door, and Wu Mama stood outside, smiling softly, "My dear, the young prince is here..."

"Mother, let him in, I have an appointment with him!" Cui Nian Nu's voice was clear and crisp, like a yellow oriole in April. After Wu Mama left, she turned to look at Xiao Tan, who was still pouting, and gently urged her, "What are you waiting for? Go get some wine and dishes, this young master is not easy to please!"

"Alright, Sister Cui, don't rush me, I'll go," Xiao Tan grumbled and unwillingly left the room. She didn't understand why, knowing that Young Master Zhao was extremely difficult to deal with, she still made such a bet with him.

With the beauty's permission, Zhao Yougong had no reason not to enter. Although Cui Nian Nu's boudoir was not as hard to enter as Li Shishi's, it was not easy for just anyone to enter, especially for Zhao Yougong. In the Song Dynasty, literature was valued over martial arts, leading to a flourishing literary culture and a lax military. In society, whether it was officials or brothels, literary talent was highly respected. This led to stories like Liu Sanbian freely visiting the boudoirs of famous courtesans, and more remarkably, Liu Yong winning the favor of famous courtesans Xie Yuying and Chen Shishi with his talent for poetry.

By the time of Emperor Huizong, the admiration for poetry and literature had reached even greater heights, which is why Li Shishi was so devoted to the fifty-year-old Zhou Bangyan. Climbing the ranks in a brothel and performing a refined act was a beautiful thing, and the famous courtesans often used poetry as a threshold. What kind of person was Zhao Yougong? Everyone in Tokyo, young and old, knew he couldn't write poetry, so he couldn't even copy it. Therefore, although he could frequently visit the Xie Fang Lou, he had only entered Cui Nian Nu's boudoir twice.

As soon as the door opened, a faint fragrance wafted in, not like the scent of flowers or cosmetics. Upon closer inspection, a small incense burner was burning on a low table in the middle, and the unique fragrance was emanating from it.

"Prince, how do you find the scent?"

"Very unique, I feel much refreshed when I smell it!" Zhao Yougong sat cross-legged opposite Cui Nian Nu, speaking while his eyes quietly gazed at the smiling beauty.

Facing Zhao Yougong's bold gaze, Cui Nian Nu seemed completely unaware and instead smiled lightly, "This is white sandalwood, a very rare scent. If it weren't for the young prince, I wouldn't have lit it..." Cui Nian Nu blushed, her tone slightly coquettish.

Zhao Yougong seemed to lose control, swallowing his saliva and somewhat ruining the mood, "I didn't come to smell the incense, I came to see you... hehe..." His eyes gleamed with lust, and his tone was silly.

Cui Nian Nu frowned slightly, even she couldn't tell if Zhao Yougong's expression was real or fake. Closing her eyes, Cui Nian Nu seemed to enjoy the unique scent, inhaling it and wrinkling her cute nose. In Zhao Yougong's eyes, Cui Nian Nu was a very complex woman, sometimes pure, sometimes seductive, sometimes cute, sometimes mature, and you never knew what kind of person she was, but no matter what, you couldn't deny her beauty.

Xiao Tan brought the wine and dishes, and Cui Nian Nu didn't keep her to serve. Soon, the boudoir was left with only her and Zhao Yougong. With the wine, Zhao Yougong became even more unrestrained, holding his wine cup and laughing, "Nian Nu, let's drink, let's drink..."

"I'll fill your cup," she smoothed her hair and refilled the wine, leaning close to Zhao Yougong's ear, she noticed that this experienced young prince trembled slightly. Cui Nian Nu smiled inwardly, having some suspicions, but her expression remained unchanged, "Prince, I heard you said at the De Yue Lou that the flower queen contest at the end of the month no longer belongs to Shishi?"

"Yes, that's true. I said it to provoke Li Shishi, who always acts cold and distant, as if no man can get into her bed..."

His words were crude, but Cui Nian Nu wasn't very angry because Zhao Yougong was right. If she really treated men like dirt, it would be one thing, but Li Shishi was the emperor's exclusive favorite.

"Ha ha, Prince, you are very straightforward. I won't be coy either. I wonder if you will support me. You know, I have lost to Shishi for four consecutive years! If I don't win this time, I will have no more chances!" Cui Nian Nu's voice was filled with sorrow, her phoenix eyes blinking, and a hint of sadness in her gaze. Any man would be moved by this, and Zhao Yougong was no exception, so he put down his wine cup and glared with anger.

"Nian Nu, don't worry, I will support you. But you don't need to be so sad. If you don't win this year, there's always next year, right?"

"Next year? Prince, do you really think I can wait that long? Ha ha, Mother said that after this flower queen contest, I will be ready to leave the brothel!"

Cui Nian Nu felt desolate, but Zhao Yougong's eyes gleamed. The other words didn't matter, but Cui Nian Nu leaving the brothel was good news. Inevitably, a lustful light appeared in Zhao Yougong's eyes, and he didn't even notice the drool at the corner of his mouth.

Like other men, Zhao Yougong wanted Cui Nian Nu, so he didn't hesitate to speak his mind, "Nian Nu, I will help you win the flower queen, and you will spend the night with me!"

The sun outside was bright, but Cui Nian Nu didn't know how to respond. After a long time, she finally nodded lightly. The flower queen for the first night, was this a deal?