Chapter 1967
Late Ming Dynasty 3
The soft sounds of string and wind instruments drifted from the house; they sounded quite pleasant.
But Liu Deyue's expression turned sour, and he said to Liu Tong and the other, "If we follow this alley, we should be able to get to the main street. Let's go ask for directions on the street. It's not good to bother other people."
His ears turned red as he said this.
Liu Dong and Liu Yinxia both noticed it, and the two became curious about the courtyard.
The two exchanged a glance and decided to sneak out that night to investigate.
The two followed Liu Deyue back to the street and stopped a passerby.
Liu gave the man a few copper coins, and the man sent the three of them back to the inner city.
The three of them were starving after walking around for so long, so they ordered a table full of food at a restaurant to fill their stomachs before parting ways and going home.
Lord Liu has not yet returned home, and Madam Zhao has made no comment on Liu and his companion going out of the manor to play.
The fact that the two were able to escape from the mansion was naturally due to Zhao's indulgence.
She wished the two of them only knew how to play around and didn't know how to make progress.
Previously, Liu Yinxia studied relentlessly, putting her daughter in awe and causing her to cry many times.
Zhao was extremely dissatisfied and secretly plotted to make Liu Yinxia fall ill so that she could no longer study.
Unfortunately, Liu Yinxia had Qian Shi, her mother, to protect her, and thus blocked all of Zhao Shi's schemes.
On the other hand, Liu Niandong, without her aunt's protection, was tricked and fell ill.
But this angered Old Madam Liu.
Because Liu Yindong was an illegitimate daughter, although she was raised by her, she did not pay much attention to her.
Even if they didn't value her, she was still the old lady's person. How could the old lady not be angry that she was tricked by Zhao?
The old lady, relying on her status as the mother-in-law, gave Zhao a good beating, and afterwards began to pay more attention to Liu Niandong.
Liu Niandong could be said to have turned misfortune into blessing.
Getting back to the topic, Zhao did not stop Liu and the other girl from running outside.
Ideally, both of them should let their hearts run wild.
This way, her daughter will have an easier time.
And that Liu Dong, it would be great if he could be raised into a spoiled brat!
That way, less of the family's political resources can be diverted.
Liu Dong and Liu Yinxia were able to see through Zhao's thoughts and were happy to go along with it.
Who says that being out and about all the time means you're not ambitious?
They were learning about local customs and people's lives.
It is better to travel thousands of miles to read thousands of books.
Madam Qian gave the two a lecture, telling them to stop running around all the time and to focus on their studies.
Madam Qian said, “Your father has already invited a male and female tutor, who will come to our house in a few days to teach you. You should also settle down and stay home these few days to review what you have learned before. That way, you can make a good impression on the male and female tutors.”
The two of them said "Oh" in unison and exchanged glances.
We can't go out during the day anymore, but we can go out for some fresh air at night.
For example, tonight.
At night, Liu Tong and Liu Yinxia slipped out of their room.
The two used their light-footed skills to leap through the air above the capital city, like two happy little birds.
Following their memory, they arrived at the house from the daytime and easily scaled the wall into the yard.
The house is not large, with two courtyards in total.
The second courtyard was brightly lit, filled with the melodious sounds of string and wind instruments, accompanied by a woman's singing: "Jade censer, ice-cold mat, mandarin duck brocade, powder melts, fragrant sweat flows onto the mountain pillow. Outside the curtain, the sound of the well pulley, brows furrowed, a smile hidden in surprise. Willow shade is light and indistinct, hairpins fall from her lowered temples. I must give my all for today's joy."
Liu Yinxia blushed deeply upon hearing this, and she instantly understood why Liu Deyue had told them not to knock on the door.
This house is not a proper place.
The woman was singing "Bodhisattva's Charm," a famous erotic poem by Niu Jiao, a poet from the late Tang and Five Dynasties period, depicting the intimate encounters of men and women. Liu Dong also realized where they were.
This kind of place is much more upscale than the brothels outside, and the people it caters to are all prominent figures.
I wonder which one is inside now?
Seeing that Liu Yinxia was about to leave, Liu Dong said, "Go outside and wait for me. I'll see who the guest inside is."
"You're just being nosy!" Liu Yinxia snorted and used her lightness skill to leave.
Liu Qiu also used her lightness skill to land on the roof from which the singing was coming from, and lifted the tiles to look inside.
The woman singing inside was quite beautiful, but she couldn't compare to the woman sitting next to the two men, pouring them drinks and making jokes.
Two men, one with a three-inch-long beard, looking every bit the scholar.
A man with a fair complexion and no beard.
Liu Tong couldn't help but laugh: So there really are eunuchs visiting brothels!
Although she didn't know the identities of the two people, Liu Dong became even more interested, intuitively sensing that she had discovered some great secret.
The current Liu Dong has not regained his memories of his past life and is an overly curious child.
In order to uncover the secret, he lay on someone's rooftop for half the night.
Liu Yinxia couldn't wait any longer and came to find him, but he sent her home.
Finally, Liu Dong overheard the secret between the two.
The eunuch was a servant of Consort Zheng in the palace, and the other man was named Li Kezhuo, who was the Vice Minister of the Court of State Ceremonies.
The eunuch handed a box to Li Kezhuo.
Li Kezhuo opened the box, and Liu Qiu also saw what was inside: several red pills.
Li Kezhuo left with the box, but the eunuch stayed behind.
Although he no longer has that thing, he's very adept at playing around and knows how to cause trouble for people.
Liu Tong couldn't stand it after a couple of glances and quickly slipped home.
The next day, since she didn't have to go out or study, Liu Dong slept in.
At lunchtime, Madam Qian invited him, Liu Yinxia, and Liu Qin to eat together.
Liu Qin is three years older than Liu Tong and Liu Yinxia. He has been taught to be well-behaved, but he still shows his boyish side in front of his mother and younger siblings.
After dinner, Liu Qin, the older brother, began to test his younger siblings' homework.
Both of them answered Liu Qin's question very well.
Liu Qin was satisfied and let them leave.
As soon as they left Liu Qin's hospital, Liu Yinxia approached Liu Qiu and whispered, "What secret did you find out yesterday? Tell me quickly."
Liu Tong instinctively felt that the matter of the red pill should not be told to others, and only said, "Do you know what the next line after 'How much sorrow can one have' is?"
Liu Yinxia: "Isn't it just 'like a river of spring water flowing eastward'?"
Liu Tong: "It's like 'a eunuch going to a brothel.'"
Liu Yinxia blinked her big eyes, realized what was happening, and then clenched her little fists to punch Liu Tong.
"You jerk!"
Liu Dong quickly dodged.
Because there were many servants around, neither of them dared to use their lightness skills.
Even so, they were very agile, which made the servants marvel at how healthy the two young masters were.
After playing around for a while, Liu Qiu quietly told Liu Yinxia, "The people in that room who are patronizing prostitutes are eunuchs from the palace."
Liu Yinxia's mouth gaped open, her face filled with disbelief.
Can eunuchs also visit brothels?
Liu Yinxia walked out of the mansion in a daze, not even realizing she had seen Liu Deyue. (End of Chapter)