Red Mansion: Bastards rule the roost

Chapter 66 Famous Building with Hundred Flowers
  Jia Cong took Jia Huan and seven or eight young men out. Since the last incident of Hanako photographing someone, several men now take at least seven or eight young men and attendants with them when going out, just in case of unexpected events.

"Third brother, I heard people say that Baihua Tower is one of the four famous buildings in the Shenjing City. Not to mention the delicacies, it is also equipped with all kinds of acrobatics, Baixi, Shiban, dance, music and opera. It has always been a place for dignitaries, powerful people and wealthy people. It’s a great place to live, but it’s a pity that my mother never let me go.” Jia Huan said excitedly while riding on his horse.

Jia Cong heard the boy and others behind him chuckle, turned around and asked, "What kind of place is Baihua Tower?"

"Back to Third Master, Baihualou is a famous brothel in Shenjing City." Wangcai said with a smile.

No wonder Aunt Zhao didn't allow Jia Huan to go. Seeing Jia Huan's surprised and embarrassed look, it was obviously the first time she heard about it. Jia Cong laughed, isn't this equivalent to the ancient heaven and earth?

Jia Cong turned to look at Jia Huan. It seemed inappropriate to take such a young child to a brothel. It would be strange if he didn't get scolded by the old lady when he went back.

Then he thought again, since the two princes are here, they have different styles and there won't be any dirty things. Even if they are, they can just send someone to send Brother Huan back first. But we cannot let the flowers of the imperial court be tarnished. If you want to be tarnished, come to me, but don't harm my brother.

Jia Huan was worried, fearing that Jia Cong would send him back first. When he saw that he didn't say anything, he was a little relieved. After all, he was also the third master Huan of Rong Mansion. If he hadn't visited a brothel and drank wine, he would make people laugh if he told it.

Soon, we arrived at Zhuque Street, heading south along the street, and east of Guangfu Fang, to Yongle Fang, which is the most prosperous area in Shenjing City, three points busier than Gulou Street.

The sky is about to darken, and the square is filled with restaurants, teahouses, gambling houses, brothels, theaters, and shops of all kinds of rouges, gouache, silks, and fabrics. The lights are brightly lit everywhere, as bright as day, and the sky is filled with chatter, laughter, and shouts.

The ancients also had nightlife. Jia Cong couldn't help but sigh, isn't this just an entertainment and shopping street?
  "Third Master, we're here." Wangcai pointed to a tall and gorgeous gatehouse in front of him. The gate has three rooms, and a plaque hangs on it with the words "Baihua Tower" written in it. The handwriting is elegant and graceful, floating like floating clouds and powerful like a startling dragon. , obviously written by a famous artist.

A couplet on the left and right:
  If there are no barriers, I am afraid that Feng Yue will be restrained by him;

Open a big account and put hundreds of flowers into my arms.

Jia Cong's eyes lit up, such a fragrant sentence, this one line alone established the style of this romantic place.

Suddenly, I saw several big men in brocade clothes coming up to me. They cupped their hands and said, "But Mr. Cong of Rongfu in person?"

"It's my Third Master Cong." Wangcai replied hurriedly.

"My master has been waiting for you for a long time. Please come with Mr. Cong."

"Lead the way." Jia Cong nodded, got off his horse, led Jia Huan, and followed the big man in.

This big man has a powerful figure, roots under his feet, and a faint sound of wind as he swings his arms. He is obviously a rare martial arts master, and he must be a guard around the prince.

Damn it, when will I be able to afford such a guard? Jia Cong is very envious.

Passing through the hall full of makeup and fragrance, she could feel the hot and passionate gazes of countless warblers and swallows in the hall. As long as she hooked her fingers, a large number of girls would rush towards her. Jia Cong secretly smiled to himself that it was true that people depended on their clothes. Without this, It is impossible for him to be so popular just based on his appearance and appearance.

"Third brother, their eyes are so strange, as if they want to eat people." Jia Huan followed Jia Cong closely, for fear of losing him.

Jia Cong smiled and said: "Be careful, they are all tigresses, they like to eat little chickens like you."

"I think they want to eat you more, third brother."

"Haha, I can't help it. Who told me to dress better than you?"

In the midst of chatting and laughing, after passing through the lobby and entering the backyard, it suddenly became much cleaner. The second step was all exquisite and unique independent private rooms. The lights inside were bright, and the shadows of eating, drinking and playing, and the sound of talking, laughing and drumming were faintly revealed. Obviously, the charging standards It’s different.

Until you pass through the third moon gate and enter the fourth entrance, it is different from the previous three-story zigzag building. Instead, there is a tall octagonal building and a field of exotic flowers. The balcony has overhanging eaves and brackets, and the winding corridors are exquisite and beautiful. The frightening bird bells hanging on the eaves jingle in the wind, creating a sense of tranquility in the midst of the noise. The subtle fragrance of flowers and plants floating around is tantalizing, adding to the sense of tranquility on a moonlit night.

Jia Cong secretly admired that in this bustling place, he could still create such a quiet and elegant atmosphere. This was meant to ruthlessly rip off guests.

Entering the building, I saw dozens of well-dressed men who looked like they were worth a lot of money sitting sparsely on the first floor. Everyone was holding a pretty girl in their arms, but no one was talking or laughing. They were just quietly drinking tea and eating. Wine, as if waiting for someone.

The big man took Jia Cong directly to the second floor. Everyone downstairs looked envious when they saw Jia Cong and others going up.

The second floor is a circular structure with a dozen exquisite rooms surrounding a small square platform in the middle, which means a round sky and a round place.

The platform and private rooms are completely hollowed out, with only two trestles on the central axis connecting the front and back. Looking down from above, you can see the dozens of guests on the first floor.

At this time, the platform was covered with the full moon's bright white gauze, like clouds and mist, fluttering in the wind, half-covering and half-covering, covering the surrounding area.

Jia Cong saw that only a few private rooms on the south side were occupied, while the north side was empty. I think someone is going to perform on the south side of the platform. Who wants to sit on the north side and watch the back view?

When passing by a few elegant rooms nearby, Jia Cong saw a few familiar people and couldn't help but raise his eyebrows.

It was Xiong Lin, Zhao Guan and others they met on the way to the siege. Qi Zheng was not here, so he received a severe blow on the face, and he did not dare to come out to see anyone.

When he reached the middle room facing the trestle, the big man opened the door, bowed and stepped back, raising his hand to invite Jia Cong in.

"Brother Cong, come in and sit down." A calm voice sounded.

Jia Cong looked up and saw two people sitting in the room, and two more guards standing in the corner. The second prince was about twenty years old, with a handsome face, sharp eyebrows and starry eyes, a slender figure, a calm demeanor, and as gentle as jade.

The tenth prince is probably a year or two older than him. He has a bohemian smile on his chiseled handsome face. He seems to have a more casual and free temperament compared to his elder brother's gentleness and restraint. His palms are wide and thick. The fingers are slender and powerful, and when the neck is slightly rotated, the muscles and blood vessels are looming like a small snake.

Both princes were wearing casual clothes. It was obvious that this was a private visit incognito.

Jia Cong was shocked. The tenth prince was actually proficient in martial arts and seemed to have a solid foundation. He was not a parallel import like Princess Ruyi who could only serve as a guard.

"My minister Jia Cong and my brother Jia Huan pay homage to your two highnesses." Jia Cong hurriedly pulled Jia Huan to salute.

"B-bye, no need to be polite." The tenth prince appeared in front of Jia Cong and stopped him.

"My two brothers invite you today for no other reason than to thank you for saving Ruyi. If you save Ruyi's life, it is equivalent to saving the lives of two of my brothers. From now on, you and I don't need to talk about our superiority in our relationships. We only care about each other in private. How about we treat each other as brothers?" The tenth prince smiled.

Jia Cong said hurriedly: "I am just doing a little work, how can I deserve to be so valued by His Highness? I must not do this, and the etiquette must not be abolished."

"If you don't comply, you are looking down on both of us." The tenth prince lowered his face.

The second prince smiled and said: "Brother Cong, just accept him. My tenth brother Suxi is a hero. It is difficult for ordinary people to like him. You are the first friend he has made. Don't refuse me anymore."

Jia Cong smiled and said, "That Cong is overstepping his bounds."

(End of this chapter)