Futile Devices Scans

“Wow… what a beautiful pavilion.”

Mu Xueshi stared at the magnificent building before him, hardly able to believe it was a pleasure house.

Eight enormous golden pillars stood in two rows on either side. The walls were constructed entirely of white stone bricks carved with intricate patterns, while glazed tiles shimmered brilliantly beneath the sunlight. Suspended in the center hung a massive plaque, upon which several bold characters danced like dragons and phoenixes:

Changxin Courtyard.

Having grown accustomed to the solemn palaces and dignified attire of the imperial court, Mu Xueshi now felt an exhilarating thrill at the sight of such dazzling colors and extravagantly dressed people.

Suddenly he noticed a burst of laughter and chatter coming from the second floor.

Looking up, he saw more than twenty beautiful young women leaning along the balcony railings. Each held a decorative fan, smiling brightly as they greeted the nobles and wealthy patrons gathered below. Not a trace of shyness could be found among them.

Watching them, Mu Xueshi could not help grinning back. The excitement on his face was impossible to hide.

Wu Cai glanced at Mu Xueshi, whose eyes seemed even more roguish than his own, and let out a quiet sigh of exasperation. Seeing that Mu Xueshi paid no attention to his displeasure—and that his neck had been tilted upward for so long it seemed unlikely to move again—Wu Cai finally spoke with mockery.

“This is all your fault. If you hadn’t chattered endlessly earlier, we would have arrived long ago. Look at all the firecracker debris on the ground—the Flower Queen selection has already ended.”

The smile on Mu Xueshi’s face slowly froze.

He rubbed his sore neck and turned toward Wu Cai.

“Listen here. I let you off earlier, but here you’d better give me some face. Otherwise I’ll immobilize you!”

As he spoke, he raised two fingers in a threatening gesture, looking extremely arrogant.

Before Wu Cai could reply, a sudden commotion erupted nearby. Everyone’s gaze shifted in unison toward the second floor.

Standing there were the newly crowned Flower Queen and the proprietress of the pleasure house.

The Flower Queen possessed delicate brows and eyes brimming with springlike charm. Her skin was smooth as warm jade, glowing with a soft radiance. Her cherry-red lips looked as though they might drip with sweetness. She was so beautiful she seemed almost unreal, like a fairy untouched by mortal dust.

Yet the woman standing beside her was even more striking.

The proprietress bore no resemblance to the wrinkled, gaudy madams Mu Xueshi had imagined. Her black hair was gathered high into an elegant coiffure adorned with a jade dragon-and-phoenix hairpin. She wore a gauzy green robe threaded with gold, its thin fabric drifting like mist.

Her figure was seductive enough to steal a person’s soul.

Although a veil of sheer silk covered her face, the pair of peach-blossom eyes beneath it shone with such alluring charm that one could not help but imagine the beauty hidden behind the veil.

As groups of wealthy young masters and influential officials surged noisily into Changxin Courtyard, Mu Xueshi remained outside, staring in a daze.

His expression looked utterly bewitched.

Wu Cai glared at him, clearly disgusted, and motioned impatiently for him to follow.

Only then did Mu Xueshi snap out of his trance. He shook out his robe and tried to adopt the swagger of a seasoned man, striding boldly inside alongside Wu Cai.

“Waiter! Bring us several jars of your finest wine! And send over the most beautiful girls—this lord here—”

Before he could finish, Wu Cai clamped a hand over his mouth and dragged him toward the second floor.

The proprietress of Changxin Courtyard, Li Gui, was Wu Si’s sworn elder sister. To him, this brothel was practically another home. It was precisely because of his frequent visits to Li Gui that many rumors about Wu Cai had spread.

Changxin Courtyard was the largest pleasure house in the imperial capital. Its guests were all prominent figures—court officials, noble families, and even members of the imperial clan. Space inside was limited; anyone of low rank was simply not permitted entry.

If not for Wu Cai’s connections, Mu Xueshi would never have qualified to set foot inside.

As they climbed the stairs, Mu Xueshi continued glancing around at the singers performing in the central hall. This was clearly an establishment of the highest class; even the performances lacked the vulgarity he had expected.

Many sections on the second floor bore plaques indicating official ranks. Every influential patron had a private area for entertainment, along with designated courtesans or male attendants. No one else was allowed to intrude.

At last they arrived at a private room on the second floor.

Inside sat the very woman who had captivated Mu Xueshi moments earlier—Proprietress Li Gui.

She sat elegantly upon a carved redwood folding chair, gently fanning herself with a white feather fan. Every motion she made carried an indescribable grace.

The moment she saw Wu Cai and Mu Xueshi, she rose with a radiant smile.

Rather than greeting Wu Cai, Li Gui walked directly to Mu Xueshi. With a delicate finger, she lightly brushed his cheek and spoke in a soft, flowing voice.

“You must be the one admired by the most beautiful man under heaven.”

Mu Xueshi froze for a moment before realizing she meant the Third Prince.

At the mention of admiration, he felt as if a warning bell had suddenly rung in his mind. Hastily he greeted her:

“Greetings, elder sister. My name is Mu Xueshi.”

“I know,” Li Gui replied with a smile. “I have seen you before. Though back then… you did not seem to possess the same appearance.”

At this, Mu Xueshi scratched his head awkwardly.

“Yes… well… this face of mine was improved after the Third Prince applied a facial mask…” He nearly added that there was still a thin film on his skin, but remembering the prince’s warning, he stopped himself.

Gone was the bold confidence he had shown earlier.

Mu Xueshi realized that whenever he faced a beautiful woman, his legs tended to weaken. He kept glancing around awkwardly, wanting to do something—anything—but whenever he caught Li Gui watching him, he could only flash stiff smiles while his wide eyes darted about.

“So adorable,” Li Gui said, unable to resist gently pinching his cheek.

The touch made Mu Xueshi’s whole body tense.

Immediately, the image of the Third Prince’s dark expression flashed through his mind. Every time his heart stirred, he felt as though the prince’s unseen gaze was watching him from somewhere.

Taking a deep breath, Mu Xueshi forced himself to speak seriously.

“Madam… I came here today because I have something I wish to ask of you.”

Even in such circumstances, he still remembered his real purpose.

Even Mu Xueshi himself did not understand how he managed such restraint. Perhaps it was because a faint uneasiness lingered in his heart—fear that he might be dragged back before finishing what he came to do.

Besides, everyone here was a stranger. He had only known Wu Cai for a few days. Some sense of caution still remained within him; he knew this was not a place to linger long.

Hearing his request, Li Gui’s fan slowly stopped moving.

She rose gracefully and took Mu Xueshi’s hand.

“Come,” she said warmly. “Follow your sister into the next room. And from now on, you needn’t call me Madam.”

At those words, Mu Xueshi felt almost intoxicated.

Never before had a woman treated him with such closeness.

In the past, people barely wanted to look at him. Since arriving here, his circumstances had changed only because of the Third Prince, and even then he had never had the chance to grow close to any woman.

Yet now—this stunning beauty was holding his hand and leading him away.

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