Volume 1, Chapter 14 – Hundred Flowers Pavilion

After thinking it over for a long time and still coming up empty, Shi Lan simply set the matter aside for now.

Compared to Shi Feng’s pillar of fortune, the chain between them was still tiny, its impact not all that great. There was no need to rush to undo it.

Shi Lan asked the gatehouse for a folding fan, then led a group of guards out the door, heading first to a three-story building of blue bricks and red tiles.

Through a protruding terrace on the second floor, she could vaguely see all sorts of colorful silk ribbons hanging inside.

Strands of pipa and guzheng strings floated out, mixed with the playful banter and laughter of men and women.

The plaque above the door bore three large characters: “Hundred Flowers Pavilion.”

At the entrance of the Hundred Flowers Pavilion stood two burly men in black, with fierce, brutish faces.

When these two men saw Shi Lan and her group, their expressions changed at once. They bent at the waist, the rolls of flesh on their faces bunching up as they forced out fawning smiles at Shi Lan.

Shi Lan’s expression held curiosity laced with a hint of excitement. This legendary pleasure house and brothel held an unrivaled allure for her.

You only get to transmigrate once—if you don’t come take a look around, wouldn’t that be a huge waste?

“Today, I’m the host. I’m treating you all to drinks with the ladies!” Shi Lan swung her arm in a grand gesture, sounding quite heroic.

“Great!”

“Great, my ass!”

One guard blurted out a “great” on reflex. Shi Feng glared at him and was just about to speak up and dissuade them when the other guards all caught on and started chiming in noisily.

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“Great!”

“Young Master is wise!”

“Many thanks, Young Master!”

Shi Feng’s face darkened, but none of the other guards took him seriously. His presence in the Shi residence was hardly any stronger than Shi Lan’s had been in the past, and not many people knew his true identity.

In their eyes, Shi Feng was just a new guard. If Shi Lan hadn’t already spoken to him alone before, they’d have long since conspired to give him a rough “welcome.”

Seeing Shi Feng’s sour expression, Shi Lan only assumed he was too embarrassed to admit he wanted to go.

A repressed type.

That was the label Shi Lan stuck on him in her heart. She’d been a man before too—unless a man was actually into men, or was truly one of those “pure to the grave” types, most of them had very weak resistance to places like this.

Especially when someone else was paying—then that resistance could drop into the negatives.

After all, men were a kind of creature that could separate feelings from physical desire.

If a naked beauty stood in front of them, free for the taking, most men wouldn’t be able to hold back. It didn’t mean they were in love with her—it was just a purely physical impulse.

“Food and sex are human nature.”

Shi Lan flashed a sly grin, punched Shi Feng in the chest, then turned and strode into the Hundred Flowers Pavilion ahead of everyone.

Clutching his chest, Shi Feng looked utterly baffled. Behind him, the guards cheered and poured into the Hundred Flowers Pavilion after Shi Lan.

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“Honored guests have arrived!”

“Young Master Shi, please come inside!”

The two burly men shouted in unison, bowing so low their waists were bent to the limit, their foreheads nearly touching the floor.

Shi Lan snapped open her folding fan and swept into the main hall with brisk, confident steps.

Because it was broad daylight, there weren’t many patrons in the Hundred Flowers Pavilion—just small groups scattered around.

Hearing the commotion at the door, the madam, nearly forty yet still alluring, came over with a broad smile. “What blessed wind blew our esteemed Young Master here today?”

The madam carried a cloyingly sweet perfume that made Shi Lan feel a bit uncomfortable. She raised a hand to lightly rub the tip of her nose.

The madam was quick on the uptake; she immediately backed up a bit and said with a smile, “Please, come this way.” Then she swayed her hips and turned to lead the way.

The group swept upstairs in grand fashion.

Shi Feng followed right on Shi Lan’s heels, not leaving her side for a step.

The madam led Shi Lan into a private room, and the guards, knowing their place, did not follow.

Once seated, Shi Lan pointed toward the door. “Go down the line and give each of those men outside a girl to keep them company. Make sure they’re well entertained.”

“Rest assured, everything will be arranged perfectly.” The madam left with a smile.

Not long after, the guards came into the private room one by one, grinning as they thanked Shi Lan and laying the flattery on thick.

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Once everyone had left, Shi Lan glanced at Shi Feng, who stood behind her with a dark face, and the corner of her mouth curled up. “Why aren’t you going?”

“Young Master, this kind of place… really isn’t suitable for you,” Shi Feng said helplessly.

Shi Lan was about to answer when the madam came in again, this time with a line of girls behind her.

The oldest of these girls looked no more than twenty, each one more fresh and lovely than the last, and each one wearing less and less fabric.

Watching them, the smile at the corner of Shi Lan’s lips slowly faded, her expression turning somewhat murky and hard to read.

Seeing Shi Lan’s face like that, the madam’s heart skipped a beat. Not good. She forced another smile. “If Young Master Shi isn’t satisfied, it’s fine. I can go bring in another batch.”

As batch after batch of girls filed in and out of Shi Lan’s room, her expression grew darker, her gaze losing all light.

By the time the last group of girls left, the madam’s smile was starting to crack. Was this lord here just to make trouble?

“Young Master Shi, you’re still not satisfied?”

Shi Lan let out a long sigh, looking somewhat desolate. “Call out the most beautiful girl you have here.”

“Young Master Shi, the Hundred Flowers Pavilion’s top courtesan only receives guests at specific times. It’s not her hour yet…”

“I said, call out the most beautiful girl you have here.” Shi Lan stared at the madam, enunciating every word.

“P-please wait a moment. I’ll bring her right away.” The madam didn’t dare refuse again. This was the Shi family’s legitimate eldest son, after all. No matter what ugly rumors circulated, he was not someone who ran a brothel like hers could afford to offend.

Before long, a young woman in a light blue ruqun, hair styled in twin buns, walked in and bowed to Shi Lan with proper respect.

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Her features were pure and gentle, and she looked young, around seventeen or eighteen, her demeanor calm and serene.

“Young Master Shi, Wan’er is a pure courtesan—she doesn’t sell her body,” the madam said carefully.

“You can go,” Shi Lan said with a wave of her hand.

After shooting Wan’er a subtle “be careful” look, the madam left the room with a helpless sigh.

Wan’er looked at Shi Lan, nervous and uncertain, her heart wavering. If Shi Lan tried to force himself on her later, should she submit or refuse…?

If she could really follow Shi Lan as a concubine, that would still be far better than selling smiles in the Hundred Flowers Pavilion.

“What instruments can you play?”

While Wan’er was still weighing things up in her heart, Shi Lan’s voice cut through her thoughts.

“Qin, se, pipa, flute, xun, and drums—I can play all of them a little,” Wan’er answered reflexively.

“Play something for me.” With that, Shi Lan rose to her feet and walked to the window, pushed it open, and gazed into the distance, her expression dim.

Watching those scantily clad girls file past her one after another, Shi Lan felt only one thing—utter boredom.

That feeling doused every bit of enthusiasm and awe she’d held in her heart for this so-called legendary place of romance and pleasure, snuffing it out completely.