In Guangling, a city in the South.
Compared with the cold early spring in the North, the South was already a land of prosperity with hundreds of flowers in bloom. Guangling, the largest city in the South, was also the capital of the previous dynasty. Though the previous dynasty was long gone, Guangling remained a political, economic, and cultural center of the South. During the early years when the founding emperor of Great Chu reigned, Guangling was the capital. Though the capital was moved to the North later, Guangling stood as a secondary capital. Compared with the political and military position of the capital of Chu, Guangling witnessed a more flourishing economic and cultural scene. Three of the four most wealthy merchants of Great Chu lived here which was a good evidence that Guangling was more affluent than the capital of Chu which was in the far North.
In the gathering dusk, Ye Li strolled around a clamorous street filled with the scent of rouge and power at ease. Both sides of the street were full of noise, the smell of liquor and that of powder and rouge. All she heard were obscene songs. Secret Guard No.3 followed her a little awkwardly. From time to time, he had to push away amorous and beautiful girls who tried to stop him or the princess and he complained inwardly. If he had known that the princess was to come to somewhere like this, he wouldn't have fought with No.1 over this job. *Sobs… If His Highness knew he had companied the princess on a tour around brothels, he would be dead.
As Ye Li wandered about, she would look back at Secret Guard No.3 now and then, rejoicing in his awkwardness. When Secret Guard No.3 was about to yield to the temptation, Ye Li finally stopped with a smile: “This is it.”
Secret Guard No.3 let out a sigh of relief. Looking around him, he saw an elegant pavilion stand beside a quiet lake, with a flamboyant style of calligraphy, its sign read: Cool Breeze Bright Moon House.
As a secret guard specially trained by Prince Ding's Manor, he knew well what Cool Breeze Bright Moon House was. It was the most popular brothel on earth. He had heard that it offered the best wine, dish, and the most beautiful and talented women. It was a land of warmth and tenderness which every man yearned for even in his dreams.
“My Lord?”
Ye Li raised her brows at him with a smile. “What? Isn't the best brothel in this world good enough for you?”
Secret Guard No.3 smiled bitterly. “My Lord, are we really going inside?”
Ye Li smiled and said: “You don't think I take you out simply for a stroll, do you? Let's go.” Unfolding her fan, Ye Li walked into Cool Breeze Bright Moon House, beaming.
As the best brothel in the world, Cool Breeze Bright Moon House had its reasons for being out of the common run. As soon as Ye Li and Secret Guard No.3 were inside, they were received by two young women with light make-up instead of a procuress with heavy make-up that catered to vulgar common tastes. Seeing that Ye Li is in an ice-blue brocade robe with cloud patterns embroidered with silver threads and a white belt with a jade of the best quality, a young lord at ease with a folding fan, the two women hurriedly came up. “Nice to meet you, My Lord. You seem a little unfamiliar. Is this your first time here?”
Ye Li nodded with a smile: “Right. It's my first visit to the South. I've long admired Cool Breeze Bright Moon House so I want to experience it for myself.”
One woman smiled: “My Lord, we are honored by your presence. Let me show you to a private room with dances and songs first and you can decide what you like.”
Ye Li smiled: “I've heard you are good at something else except dances and songs. You might as well introduce me to some fun stuff.”
As a receptionist of Cool Breeze Bright Moon House, this woman understood her immediately. Though Ye Li was in nice clothes, the woman concluded that this young lord was no more than 13 years old. There were indeed young boys who were interested in women while some didn't. Seeing the conceited and proud look between this young lord's eyes, she took him as one of those young lords who were out for some fun. The woman covered her mouth and laughed: “My Lord, if you don't like our girls, they'll be heartbroken. Certainly, they know more than dances and songs. I only wonder what you are interested in, My Lord?”
Ye Li frowned and said: “I wanted to gamble at first but the gambling houses in Guangling are way too noisy with people in various trades. How disappointing!”
The woman's lips curved in a smile and she said: “Well, please follow me, My Lord.”
Secret Guard No.3, who was standing behind Ye Li as still as a timber moved his lips as if he wanted to say something but refrained himself awkwardly when he saw her smile.
A gambling house was nothing since they were already in a brothel, right?
The gambling house inside Cool Breeze Bright Moon House was different from other gambling houses. All dealers and a.s.sistants were women. As soon as Ye Li and Secret Guard No.3 were inside the gambling house, they saw a beautiful woman in purple shaking a dice cup slightly. Around her gathered some gamblers. Ye Li smiled slightly.
Small or big game was the most monotonous yet most cla.s.sical game. With an exceeding beauty as the dealer, it would no doubt attract endless gamblers who would pour their money in.
The woman who was leading their way saw how Ye Li looked at that woman in purple and smiled immediately: “She is Ru Mei, one of the 12 most popular girls of our house. She's best at playing dice. Even our master praise her for that.” After saying that, she thoughtfully introduced basic information about this gambling house to Ye Li, for example, three girls among the 12 most popular girls of Cool Breeze Bright Moon House were dealers here. Besides, they didn't work as normal prost.i.tutes. Only men who managed to beat them at gambling can get on intimate terms with them. However, n.o.body succeeded yet.
Ye Li can't help laughing.
Han Ming Yue was good at making money sure enough. Ordinary men visited brothels for beauties. But men who were qualified to enter Cool Breeze Bright Moon House were men of great fortune who had seen various beauties. It was natural that a gambling house like this was more attractive than normal ones. Men were born with a sense of conquering. Those who were affluent with money and time wouldn't mind spending money like water on a woman they wanted to get close to.
“Ah San, what do you think of Ru Mei?” Ye Li pointed at that woman in purple not far away with her folding fan and turned to Secret Guard No.3 with a smile.
Secret Guard No.3 worked hard to maintain a straight face and answered her without any expression: “My Lord, she is indeed a beauty.”
“Hm, I think so.” With her folding fan supporting her chin, she smiled: “How about we play several round? We might…”
“My Lord, you… your family won't be happy about this.” Secret Guard No.3 reminded her with clenched teeth.
“I know. So… I'll leave you the chance to get on intimate terms with her.” Ye Li looked with all smiles at Secret Guard No.3 whose face was as dark as ink and walked towards the gambling table with a light heart.
Ru Mei shook the dice as she looked at those gamblers smilingly. She detested those men for showing their greed and desire so straightforwardly which only made her smile more charmingly attractive. She stilled for a second when she saw Ye Li squeezing through the crowd, a young lord no more than 13 or 14 years of age whose outfit told her it was yet another n.o.ble descent. However, this young lord's pure eyes made him different. She flashed a smile at him: “Young lord, are you going to make a bet?”
Ye Li tilted her head. Looking around her, she found the smallest bet on table was 50 Liang. This gambling house had proved itself as a part of the best brothel in Great Chu. She thought. Ordinary folks can live by a casual bet of those wealthy men for over half a year.
When those gamblers found it was a boy who still smelled of his mother's milk that squeezed inside, they looked at him with scorn. Some even booed him. Ye Li didn't mind that. Taking out a 50 Liang silver ingot smilingly, she threw it on the table and said: “Big!”
Ru Mei glanced around the table with a smile. Apparently, those wealthy merchants and n.o.bles were no difference from ordinary folks. They all started to shout. “Big, big! ”
“Small! Small! Small…”
With a slight curve on her lips, Ru Mei lifted the dice cup that was turned upside down and smiled: “Two, four, four. Small.”
Some rejoiced, some not. Ye Li didn't care about that 50 Liang she had lost and waited for the next round patiently. This time she still betted 50 Liang on big. With the dice cup lifted, it was small again. The third round, Ye Li increased her bet to 200 Liang on big again. It took Ru Mei no time to shake a dice. In 15 minutes, Ye Li already lost 2,000 Liang. Those gamblers around her all looked at her, a little surprised, wondering which family this generous young lord came from.
“My Lord, are you still going to play?” Ru Mei asked Ye Li with a smile.