The spring breeze fluttered the pearl curtains of the small courtyard, creating a lingering sound like the gentle vibrations of heartstrings.
There were thirteen guests, when it was usually only ten.
But who cared when Little Li had cash to splash? Some dumb rules didn’t matter, and you couldn’t expect strict protocols from a place made for fun and games anyway…
Yet, upon being led inside by the maid, Li Mo was taken aback.
Not because of anything else, but because of the room’s unusual decor.
In the small courtyard, there were no chairs—or should we say, there were no normal chairs? The guests were seated…
On the elegant figures of beautiful women, each poised like a bridge, their limbs firm against the ground, as if they had trained in some kind of acrobatics.
Their faces were painted in ink-style makeup, but one could still see the exquisite features—worthy of causing a double-take on the streets—though their expressions were numb, as if their faces were not skin but rather masks.
Human seats.
Not just chairs, there were quite a few other things that followed suit.
“This….”
Li Mo frowned deeply.
“Ha ha ha… Young Master Li hasn’t been to the Imperial Capital and is unaware.”
The madam of the house waved her silk handkerchief, summoning a human seat:
“Just try it out, it’s warm and soft, and you can play with them at will. The nobility in the capital keeps a lot of them at home.”
“But they… are human!”
Li Mo felt an indescribable absurdity rising within him.
Everything before his eyes was attacking his worldview, which he had been raised under the red flag to believe.
“You can use them freely. You and they are not the same, are they? They’re lucky; many would love to suffer this fate but have no chance,” the old madam said, unable to grasp Li Mo’s shock and indignation.
“To be a stool for the nobles, a urinal, a spittoon, it’s far better than being a wandering ghost.”
“How expensive is land in the Imperial Capital? Even in d*ath, there’s no place to be buried.”
“…”
Li Mo felt an inexplicable surge of anger but also an overwhelming sense of powerlessness.
This wasn’t right, yet they were willing, all for a better life.
But…
At that moment, a guest clad in fine brocade chuckled, “Hey, young man, if you can’t handle this, don’t go to the bathroom later; I’d hate to scare you. Hold it in if you have to!”
“Don’t let something happen to you tonight!”
“Hahaha…”
As soon as this was said, the other guests broke into mocking laughter, and suddenly the courtyard was filled with a joyful atmosphere.
Li Mo realized that the folks from the Imperial Capital were so used to this, they found no fault in it.
Neither the human seats nor the ones being seated saw anything wrong with their arrangement.
Xie Xuan opened his mouth but felt it was blocked by some invisible force, unsure of what to say.
“Shut up.”
A cold voice cut through the air, short but effective.
The courtyard fell silent in an instant.
Cold Fairy turned her frosty gaze back at the madam, then shrank back slightly, feeling a chill; this youth radiated an air of nobility, suggesting he had a significant background.
A few normal chairs were brought out.
As soon as they were placed, from behind the courtyard’s screen, a graceful figure stepped forth, her voice ringing out before her presence:
“Who dares to make things difficult for my guests here?”
The guests who had been pressed down earlier by the “Korean prince” sat up straight; they were all seasoned patrons.
Even if they hadn’t dined here, a deal was still a deal.
Lady Nongying, as the owner here, would undoubtedly stand on their side…
“Ah, it’s Young Master Li! Had I known, I would have personally come to welcome you…”
Hua Nongying’s shimmering eyes stared at Li Mo, her surprise perfectly mixed with a hint of shyness.
The other guests were like, “Huh?”
Had they seen this guest before? What, just because he looked good? Seriously!
Xie Xuan blinked, confused.
Seeing those expressive eyes, his gaze became enraptured for a fleeting moment, but quickly turned complex.
After all, this wasn’t some glimmer of affection aimed at him.
Wait, wait, was there something more going on? Did Nongying already know Li Mo? Could it be that he was the one who wanted to come?
He fumbled his thoughts; although he might be a backup love-struck fool, he wasn’t utterly clueless. Li Mo had just arrived in the Imperial Capital, and had even brought Cold Fairy along. There was no way he had known Hua Nongying before.
“?”
Cold Fairy narrowed her serene eyes, her smile slightly more benevolent.
Her foot, snug in her boot, lightly prodded Little Li’s foot.
“I’m a little hungry,” she said.
“What do you want to eat?”
Li Mo sat upright, serious as ever.
Let’s be real: was Hua Nongying pretty? Absolutely—she was stunning, captivating enough to make steel turn soft, truly worthy of being called a beauty without peers.
But let’s be clear; this was definitely not the type of girl Little Li liked!
Having lived through the brutal reality of information overload in his previous life, Little Li would confidently declare, “I can tell you’re a bad woman at first glance…”
“Steamed dumplings, with extra seasoning,” Cold Fairy said softly.
“Take it easy. Too much vinegar isn’t good for your stomach.”
Li Mo quietly took out a vinegar dish from the system space.
“?”
Hua Nongying was taken aback.
In her life, she had never seen a man—or male creature—who wouldn’t even spare her a glance.
That aside, all his attention was focused on that other guy sitting next to her.
Excuse me?
Who in the world has that kind of preference would come to such a place, not to mention Li Mo was still known as a “wife-bringing fighting spirit”…
Surely, he wouldn’t be simply… disinterested in her, right?
Her eyelids twitched slightly, but she quickly regained her coy demeanor, smiling at the rest:
“Then let’s begin the tea gathering.”
The tea gathering was a drinking game or a poetry recitation, all for fun and enjoyment.
In the end, whoever impressed Hua Nongying would get to stay the night.
In fact, even the other courtesans—be they top tier or simple companions—could spend the night without any shady business.
But Hua Nongying was different; she didn’t have a price. Staying the night meant merely singing songs and chatting, without venturing into anything else.
This was deliberately arranged by Wind Moon Small Residence.
The more they did, the more her value increased…
Half an hour passed.
“This Li Mo…”
Hua Nongying praised other noble guests with her words, while her mind was evidently wandering, glancing sideways.
Everyone wore a strange expression.
From the moment he entered, this Young Master Li had hardly engaged and had even taken to feeding the beside “Korean prince” with steamed dumplings.
What were they even doing here?
Had these steamed dumplings suddenly become five-star delicacies just for a two-gold entry fee??
A flicker of devilish crimson flashed in Hua Nongying’s eyes.
Her fingers, pinching the wine glass, were becoming slightly pale.
This captivating courtesan had never thought she would lose out to a man.
“Next, a word’s worth a thousand gold.”
“Today, I’d like to hear a poem that satisfies me.”
At this stage, it meant the tea gathering was approaching its conclusion.
“Brother Li! You’ve come all this way!”
Xie Xuan was really anxious now, having called him “Brother Li.”
“I’ve already helped you meet her…”
Li Mo sighed, realizing the system hadn’t registered any feedback.
Well, it appeared Hua Nongying hadn’t laid eyes on Xie Xuan even once; she probably didn’t even notice when he came.
Clearly, the investment hadn’t paid off.
“What does it mean, a word worth a thousand gold?” Li Mo asked.
After Xie Xuan’s explanation, Li Mo finally understood.
This was the way to stay overnight at the Wind Moon Small Residence.
The first way was to write her a poem she would appreciate, allowing her name to spread.
The second, simple and straightforward, was for the highest bidder to win.
It boiled down to fame and fortune.
“Um…”
Li Mo was just about to say the second way seemed easier; it’s all just buying what you can solve with money!
But then he glanced at the handsome Korean prince, expressionless, munching away on the jet-black steamed dumplings.
“Brother Li, can you write poetry?” Xie Xuan asked eagerly.
