Chapter 455: 455
Chapter 455: Discussing History At The Feast At Hongmen [JW1] (1)
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
On the east side of the third floor of Baoyue Brothel was the large Flower Hall . Half of the room hovered over the empty air and the large hall on the first floor could perfectly be seen . The large and wide carpet from the Hu people was covered with a fresh red color . It added another distinct style .
Since there were noble guests in the building, this half of the Flower Hall had also been emptied . As he entered the flower hall, the Second Prince's eyes unconsciously glanced up at the door and saw there were two characters written there in gold paint . He couldn't help but be curious as to what these two characters meant .
"Hongmen . "
As the host, Fan Xian smiled calmly as he welcomed the crowd into the hall . Flower Hall had been divided by screens and hanging woolen curtains . The hot air rose . As each figure entered the hall, he was stripped of his large capes and jackets by the girls beside him, leaving only the inner, unlined clothing .
It was enough . There were already all kinds of exquisite teas and desserts on the tables . The plates used were the best in Jiangnan, and the cups for alcohol were also the best glass ones . The alcohol served was the most expensive liquor in the world, Wu Liangye . The girls serving on the side were all gentle and quiet beauties .
Naturally, the Crown Prince sat in the most honorable position . He gazed at Fan Xian and laughingly scolded, "Only you could enjoy life like this . Look at all these things . They're all from the three workshops . The Palace is counting on them to exchange for silver . They certainly don't spend like you do . "
The customs of Qing Kingdom were simple and plain, so even the officials of the royal family had taken extra to be cautious . They were definitely not as extravagant as the Northern Qi court . For a feast like the one Fan Xian gave, it was indeed stepping over the boundaries a bit . Everyone knew that right now, the palace treasury was single-handedly controlled by Fan Xian . It wouldn't be a problem to transfer some expenses over . However, they weren't sure if the Crown Prince's laughing remark was a silent jab .
Fan Xian's expression didn't change, and he smiled . "If one can enjoy, it's best to grasp the opportunity to do so . "
Xue Qing sat on the first table on the left side . He was here by edict to watch the show, so he did not care about much . Besides, he had long lived in Jiangnan and was used to such luxuries . Seeing the sighs of admiration from these major figures in the capital, he couldn't help the corners of his mouth twitching up and smiling . He thought to himself that although it was difficult to make a living in such a big city as Jingdou, their luxuries were still far from that of Jiangnan .
The feast began . The girls were quiet and speechless as they began to place dishes and pour wine for the guests at each table . Although they had gone through special training the past two days, the girls' hearts couldn't help but be nervous at suddenly seeing so many major figures of the Qing court at once . Their red lips were pressed tightly together .
The princes and officials present had all made their way through the romance scene before . However, suddenly having so many people gathered in one hall, they were truly at a loss for what to do .
Actually, there were not that many guests of honor . There were about 10 people, each with a girl sitting beside them and a personal attendant kneeling behind them, yet they still filled Flower Hall .
The person serving Fan Xian wasn't just anybody . It was the shopkeeper of Baoyue Brothel, Sang Weng .
In a setting such as this, it would not do to open with too much yelling, endlessly drinking games, and inappropriate fondling, particularly with Xue Qing and the two Deputies of the Bureau present . The young nobility were all conscious of their status, so the room was somewhat quiet and stuffy for a moment . They only talked about some of the idle jokes from the court, such as Shu the Scholar falling drunk into the snowy street again last night and such .
In any case, Shu Wu's personality was easy going and didn't care about how juniors mocked .
No one dared use the princes and Fan Xian as the butt of jokes, particularly Fan Xian . Everyone was still guessing at the true purpose of this meal .
In the air of awkwardness, Xue Qing minded his own business drinking the alcohol and playing with the hands of the girl beside him . This man immediately removed his air of officialdom and felt a bit more like a middle-aged loafer . It looked like the scholar of the Cabinet of Official Papers has also battled his fair share with the skeletons of the red tower .
The Second Prince took a shallow sip and gazed with a slight smile at Fan Xian across from him . "An Zhi, I haven't been to Baoyue Brothel in a year . I've discovered that the girls here are much prettier than before . "
Immediately, the atmosphere in the room relaxed . Between Fan Xian and the Second Prince, someone had to take the lead and speak first .
"What nonsense," Fan Xian laughingly scolded . "For today's set up, for just Baoyue Brothel to serve you all, that's impossible…to be honest, the 13 girls in the building today are not only girls from here . I've invited all of the most famous women in the capital . . . regardless of whether it is the pleasure boats on Liujing River or at the teaching workshop, if you leave this building tonight and can find another famous girl, then I'll have lost . "
Everyone was shocked, thinking it was a very grand scale, but not the issue of money . Rather, to make the romance industry in Jingdou obediently give up their most famous girls in just one day, Fan Xian's might was indeed at a hair-raising level .
Everyone turned to take a glance only to see the girls beside them all had their heads lowered shyly . After a closer look, everyone couldn't help but laugh . They recognized someone from Liujing River and someone else as from the teaching workshop . They were all familiar people .
Only the Second Prince's gaze was a bit dark . It was absurd to speak of it, of the dozen girls in the building tonight, there four that belonged to Liujing He, arrangements that the heir Hongcheng used to be responsible for . However, Yuan Meng died in Jiangnan and Shi Qing'er defected to Fan Xian while Li Chenghong was put under house arrests by King Jing .
He raised his head and took a distant glance at Fan Xian only to see that Fan Xian's expression was calm, except, his eyes held a not-quite-there smile . For the moment, he wasn't sure whether he was demonstrating his might through this small matter or had other plans .
The Second Prince smiled slightly and said, "Baoyue Brothel's smooth running must all be due to Sang Wen's cleverness and acumen . I drink to you . "
After saying this, he raised the cup in his hand and moved it to drink to Sang Wen beside Fan Xian .
To put himself lower, despite his princely status, aligned with his usual warm and gentle way of doing things . Furthermore, they were in a romantic setting . If notions of seniority were constantly upheld, it wouldn't be fun . Thus, no one really cared . They only cared that…Why did he drink this first cup to Sang Wen? Where was he putting tonight's host, Fan Xian?
Sang Wen was right beside Fan Xian bringing a sliver of lichen toward his lips . Suddenly hearing these words, she couldn't help but feel startled and turned her head to glance at Fan Xian .
Fan Xian smiled slightly and nodded . Sang Wen stood, bowed slightly toward the Second Prince and then emptied the cup . Without waiting for the Second Prince to say more, she poured herself another cup and raised it to the Crown Prince, sitting at the head, and the Great Prince .
The Crown Prince was acting a bit strange, but he was only having fun with the beautiful woman in his arms . The beauty's body had long turned soft under the attentions of the Crown Prince . The Crown Prince looked very pleased and was not paying much attention to the undercurrents on the feast between the Second Prince and Fan Xian .
However, the Great Prince drank with Sang Wen and then sighed .
The Second Prince's expression didn't change . He smiled slightly and said, "Today, it is rare that everyone is present . There needs to be some performance to add to the fun . Sang Wen, ever since you became the shopkeeper of the Baoyue Brothel, the ears of the people of Jingdou have no longer been blessed . I wonder whether I could ask Sang Wen to sing a song for us . "
Sang Wen smiled slightly . Her warm expression was calm . As she rose to get her qin, her hand was unexpectedly pulled on by Fan Xian .
Fan Xian looked calmly at the Second Prince . "Sang Wen doesn't sing now . "
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