Let Me Explain, Fairy
Chapter 251 - One Hundred Ninety-Five: Two Months

Chapter 251: Chapter One Hundred Ninety-Five: Two Months

Due to the upheaval in the Northern Frontier, it seemed that the arrangements for the marriage alliance were shuffled to the back burner, and since my father wasn’t paying it much mind, Xu Yuan decided to leisurely wander back to the Imperial Capital, taking in the sights along the way.

Although a shadow of uncertainty hung over the northern battlefronts, within the Dayan Territory, peace and beauty still reigned.

Seizing the quiet before the storm, he wanted to appreciate the magnificent rivers and mountains with Big Ice Lump and Xu Xinyao.

Then,

Xu Xinyao took her chance while Xu Yuan wasn’t looking and ran off.

She left him a letter, explaining she wanted to continue her travels and see for herself whether all the Sects in the world were truly cut from the same cloth, then she stealthily slipped away into the night.

After traveling with Xu Yuan for over half a month, Big Ice Lump too departed upon reaching Daqing Continent, off to find the cave Xu Yuan had mentioned, carrying goods back to Sword Sect to find her master.

With both women gone, Xu Yuan continued alone, his sole company his spirit, traveling from the southwest to the northeast, traversing the entirety of Dayan...

...

...

...

Two months later, in the outskirts of the Imperial Capital, on Qi North Mountain.

At sunrise, accompanied by a gentle breeze, the mountain mist flitting through the trees began to clear, revealing a building atop the peak of the mountain.

The mountain woodland after a rain shower in the early morning seemed especially serene, a solitary tavern standing on the precipice at the mountain’s summit, nine stories high, its walls adorned with carved dragons and painted phoenixes, strains of celestial music drifting from within.

One could hardly imagine the manpower and resources needed to erect such a structure atop the mountain.

But here, adjoining the Imperial Capital and near the heart of the Dayan Imperial Court’s power, nobles and wealthy merchants gathered, and countless desires gave rise to numerous luxurious dens of iniquity around it.

This building was an entertainment venue under the jurisdiction of the music bureau, Qifeng Pavilion, where most of the courtesans were surviving female disciples from the turmoil in Xuanqing Sect in previous years.

Not martial disciples, but proper cultivators of the cultivation technique.

Even falling into the mortal world, they still carried an air of otherworldly grace.

Many people fancied this allure and, despite the high starting price of a hundred taels of silver per day, the patrons of Hook Bar never ceased to come.

In the morning light, Xu Yuan leisurely pushed open the door of his room, heading downstairs for a meal.

Outside was a long corridor, carpeted with precious red fabric, the air faintly fragrant with an intoxicating aroma.

Just as he stepped out from the elegant rooms, Xu Yuan heard a cold voice coming from the corridor nearby:

"My lord, please conduct yourself with respect!"

"...."

Xu Yuan raised an eyebrow.

By the sound of it, this seemed to be a courtesan from within the music bureau named "Chu Jingyi."

He had stayed here for three days, only listening to her play the guqin from behind a screen. It was quite pleasant, her skills impressive, but he had not seen her face.

He was currently going by the name Zhou Chen, and as she was Qifeng Pavilion’s leading courtesan, supposedly the daughter of some deceased high-ranking individual from Xuanqing Sect, he was not in a position to be familiar with her.

As these thoughts flashed through his mind,

Xu Yuan heard a man’s relaxed voice:

"Hahaha... sorry about that, I slipped."

While speaking, Xu Yuan glanced over, seeing three people standing not too far away.

A dandy dressed in a loosely worn brocade robe was blocking a graceful woman whose face was veiled with a thin scarf, his hand provokingly retreating from beneath her hem.

A man with a soft and shady demeanor quietly stood behind the dandy.

The woman had annoyance in her eyes, but she restrained herself after looking at the man standing behind.

The dandy seemed to enjoy sizing up the flustered woman and, with a laugh, suddenly turned to look in Xu Yuan’s direction, calling out with a smile:

"Zhou brother, just watching is no fun, why not join in?"

At this proposition, Xu Yuan’s expression turned a bit strange and said,

"It’s quite early for such refinements. Why bother Miss Chu like this?"

The noble’s son grinned, slapped the veiled woman on the waist:

"Alright, Zhou brother has spoken in your favor, so you can leave now. Don’t block the view."

Subject to such humiliation, Chu Jingyi’s chest heaved with indignation, but she ultimately just snorted coldly and turned to leave.

The noble’s son watched as her graceful figure disappeared at the end of the corridor, shook his head disdainfully, and approached Xu Yuan with a smile:

"Zhou brother, shall we dine together?"

Xu Yuan did not decline the invitation.

This noble’s son was someone he had met in a top-tier tavern in Mingze Prefecture after Ran Qingmo had left.

At the time, a group of young scholars who had recently passed their examinations were drinking wine and composing poetry in the tavern, pontificating as if they could direct the affairs of the whole world. This noble’s son found their babble too noisy and got into a spat with these poets, which led the Oiran to intervene, suggesting that a highbrow gathering should debate through poetry.

Those who were uninvolved held themselves aloof.

Xu Yuan, who sat on the side munching on melon seeds, was curious to see if the noble’s son would pull out some classic move.

Like quoting some timeless lines to show off and silence the poets.

But Xu Yuan miscalculated.

Before the oiran could finish her sentence, Prince Wang slapped her delicate, pretty face, and with a "bang," she flew seven or eight meters, crashing directly onto his table:

"I have been in a foul mood these days, and you ask me to compose a poem? Fine, I’ll do it for you. Someone, tear down this place!"

He had indeed some of the grandeur he possessed when he was in the Imperial Capital.

And because of the table-smashing incident, the two men thus became acquainted.

After discovering that their destination was both the Imperial Capital, the two decided to travel together. Perhaps due to similar dispositions, they talked and traveled together, and now a month had passed.

Besides, Xu Yuan noticed that Prince Wang seemed to be very wealthy, even wealthier than himself.

As they were walking downstairs,

Prince Wang turned to Xu Yuan with a familiar smile:

"Brother Zhou, Chu Jingyi is indeed a wild steed. If we weren’t entering the capital today, I’d really like to tame her a bit."

Xu Yuan glanced at him noncommittally:

"With your financial resources, why couldn’t you?"

Prince Wang waved his hand:

"This is under the son of heaven’s nose at the Office of Music Arenas. It’s one thing to tease her casually, but if I were serious, the Patrol Bureau would likely trouble me."

"The Court established this Office of Music Arenas to make money. If you’re willing to spend the money, then that’s just business. But if it causes a stir with the Patrol Bureau, then you probably haven’t spent enough."

Xu Yuan observed the layout within the Hook Bar: "Furthermore, Brother Wang, you don’t really believe that all the courtesans here are from the remnants of the Xuanqing Sect, do you?"

Prince Wang paused:

"Brother Zhou, what do you mean?"

Gazing over the variously dressed female disciples, Xu Yuan spoke softly:

"During the chaos of war, some die, some are captured and slaughtered, others escape, while other Sects ransom their former comrades’ children. Those who could be left are few and far between—how could there be so many beautiful women here?"

"Your point does seem reasonable."

After listening, Prince Wang narrowed his eyes and smiled: "So, this is what you referred to as ’packaging’ before?"

Xu Yuan curled the corner of his mouth:

"That would be one way to put it. Though, these women do have some genuine qualities—their looks and figures are indeed top-notch."

Prince Wang, as if suddenly reminded of something, stared at Xu Yuan with interest:

"Brother Zhou, this information should be rare, right? Especially about the high-level Xuanqing Sect offspring that were ransomed. That should count as treason. If investigated, it could implicate many high officials."

Xu Yuan sidelong glance met Prince Wang’s gaze, grinned, and said:

"Yes, Cheng Yu, how did you come to know this?"

At the end of their words, they looked at each other and burst into laughter.

A party of three entered the grand hall of Qifeng Pavilion, and a gentle-looking man hurriedly asked a serving girl to prepare some breakfast.

Xu Yuan and his companion went straight to a seat in the grand hall.

Prince Wang, with his legs crossed, lounged in his chair, watching a Xuanqing female disciple dance gracefully on stage:

"A common chicken gets packaged and instantly turns into a phoenix... Tsk, such a profitable business. No wonder my Hook Bars can’t compete. I should start one for fun one of these days."

As he drank his morning tea, Xu Yuan offered a reminder:

"To earn such money, you need the endorsement of the Office of Music Arenas. Ordinary people, even if they could find such female disciples, wouldn’t be believed by others."

Prince Wang seemed thoughtful as he arched an eyebrow, and after a moment, said with an air of realization:

"So many years in a place of flowers and willows, and I only knew how to spend money. I never considered all these twists and turns. Thanks to you, Brother Zhou, these recent days I have learned quite a bit here."

"A posture?"

Xu Yuan hurriedly waved his hand: "Brother Wang, if you’re learning postures here, they’re definitely not taught by me."

"....." Prince Wang.

With a chuckle, Prince Wang knocked on the table:

"Brother Zhou, we’ve known each other for a month, and the Imperial Capital is within reach. There’s no need for you to play dumb with me anymore."

"Oh?"

Xu Yuan’s gaze sharpened: "What do you mean by that?"

Prince Wang shook his head helplessly:

"Brother Zhou, along the way, you’ve seen that I manage some business guilds, and your insights into management are quite unique. Wouldn’t you consider helping me out?"

As Xu Yuan was about to reply, he heard Prince Wang continue:

"I can see that you must have some influence at home, but I don’t mind that."

With that,

Prince Wang gently placed a jade token engraved with the character "Three" onto a side table.