Chapter 110 — The Pleasure Quarter
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 2 of 3
The village headman and the others had once said that Jingping was a nation disguised as a sect; only now did he know how powerful that sect truly was. "Brother Shen, have you a place to stay?
" Wei Yong invited. "If not, why not stay a few days at the Duke's residence? When the Imperial Academy opens, we can go together to sit its examination. " Shen Mu hesitated, then shook his head.
"I have old acquaintances from my home village here in the city, and I mean to go to them. Brother Wei Yong, let us part here.
" Wei Yong had no choice but to let it be. "Once you are settled, send someone to the Duke's residence to let me know. " Shen Mu laughed. "I will.
By the way, Brother Wei Yong, where are the brothels? " Wei Yong's face turned strange.
"I would never have guessed Brother Shen was a man of such. .
.
such refinement, fond of that sort of thing. The capital's largest brothel is in Flower Lane.
Walk down Fenghua Street to the end, turn right, and after three more streets you will see Flower Lane. The finest house in Flower Lane is called the Rain-Listening Pavilion.
Cough, cough, do not ask me how I know; I have never been there.
.
. Take care of your health! " Shen Mu was puzzled. What sort of thing was going to a brothel? And what had it to do with his health?
The two took their leave.
Shen Mu went forward with Snow Fox, walking along Fenghua Street.
"This is not a brothel.
.
. " In Flower Lane, Shen Mu looked at the buildings on either side, doubt in his heart.
The roof tiles here were blue-green, but the buildings were vermilion, and lanterns hung before the doors.
"Young sir, come up and play!
" some young ladies called from the upper floors, waving to him.
"Master Mu, do you know them?
" Snow Fox asked doubtfully. "They are shouting so warmly! " "Last time I went to Crimson Dragon City it was the same; some sisters were very warm, and it was hard to get used to.
" Shen Mu walked deeper, reading the signboards along the way. Flower Lane ran deep, turning and twisting seven times over, and farther in it was no longer so clamorous. The girls here were reserved, leaning at the windows with pipa in hand, the pipa half hiding their faces, plucking softly, cool and plaintive.
Deeper still, low notes of the qin drifted out; Shen Mu looked through an open door and saw gauze veils floating in the courtyard, several young girls running to and fro among the gauze hangings, and a woman tuning her qin. Farther in, some girls practiced song and dance upstairs, laughter like crisp little bells drifting out now and then, very playful and lovely. And here the lane held fewer passersby; from the courtyards men emerged now and then, as though they were the masters of the houses, with gentle, modest women straightening their clothes for them and seeing them off with lingering looks. Yet the men who came out, catching sight of Shen Mu, all hid their faces, as if they feared being recognized. Shen Mu was puzzled: walking out of one's own home was no disgrace, so why hide one's face?
"City folk are truly strange.
" He walked to the depths of Flower Lane and saw a building bearing the words "Rain-Listening Pavilion.
" Its doors were locked tight, yet the courtyard looked deep and profoundly tranquil.
Shen Mu stepped up and knocked; after a moment he heard a tip-tap, tip-tap of footsteps, and a girl's soft, gentle voice came: "Coming, coming. " Inside came the sound of a door bar being drawn, then the door opened a crack, and a girl peeked out from behind it.
Seeing Shen Mu, she asked curiously, "Sir, whom have you come to see? " Shen Mu said courteously, "Is Fu Qingyun in?
" The girl opened the door halfway and smiled. "May I ask the young master's name, so that I may announce you?
" "Tell her my surname is Shen.
" "The young master has arrived?
" Voices of girls came from within, clear and bright, chattering like little spring birds talking in trees that had just put out tender buds.