Chapter 021 The Dying Man
Seeing Uncle Qi's slightly mean expression, Lu Sen smiled and said, "Old Qi, you know a lot about brothels."
"It's all hearsay, it's all hearsay. Those places are dens of illicit sex. We servants can't afford to go there."
Uncle Qi looked righteous when he spoke.
Lu Sen naturally didn't believe it, so he continued to ask, "What do I need to prepare to meet a famous lady like Zhao Xiangxiang, or are there any taboos?"
Uncle Qi became curious: "Lu Xiaolang has never visited a brothel or drunk wine?"
"I admire you very much and am planning to visit you for the first time." Lu Sen smiled.
hiss!
Uncle Qi took a deep breath, then rubbed the back of his head in annoyance: "Ah, this is not easy to deal with."
He regretted it now. He should not have told Zhao Xiangxiang about it earlier. The Lu Xiaolang in front of him had never been to a brothel. He was such a good young man and a perfect match for his young lady.
If the two of them really get together in the future, and the young lady becomes a wife, and then hears that her husband learned about his first visit to a brothel from her, she will probably pick up her red tasseled spear and stab herself with ten or eight bloody holes.
It’s scary just thinking about it.
So he thought he had to redeem himself: "How about I ask around for you, Lu Xiaolang, and you just go home and wait for the news?"
Lu Sen shook his head: "Thank you, Lao Qi, no need to bother, just tell me what taboos and rules there are."
"In fact, there are not many rules. You are either very powerful and they dare not refuse you casually, or you can write poems and lyrics that are pleasing to the eyes of famous ladies." Uncle Qi saw that Lu Sen looked serious, so he could only say, "All famous ladies like to set some strange rules. For example, Zhao Xiangxiang will not be seen unless she is talented or handsome... Lu Xiaolang should be able to see her. There is probably no one more handsome than you born in Bianjing City."
Lu Sen was stunned for a moment and asked, "Is it not okay to have a lot of money?"
"Hahaha." Uncle Qi laughed. "Scholars, farmers, merchants, and artisans. Merchants are lowly. The rich may bully ordinary people, but in our Bianjing City, even the young ladies won't even raise their eyebrows to look at them. Throwing money... they do throw money in brothels, but they just help others pay for drinks."
Lu Sen understood.
Rich people who go to brothels are only worthy of spending the night with ordinary prostitutes, while famous prostitutes are only available to scholars and high-ranking officials.
Even if rich people wanted to see a famous prostitute, they had to pay for others to go to the prostitute's room, only then could they see her and satisfy their visual desire.
This is certainly because merchants are unwelcome, and another reason is that the status of famous prostitutes in the Zhao Song Dynasty is somewhat abnormal.
The main thing is that Concubine Liu De, who was just a singing girl and someone else's wife, managed to become the queen, and finally became the empress dowager who ruled the country from behind the curtain.
It's truly legendary.
Influenced by this, the literati and ministers of the Zhao Song Dynasty thereafter all looked up to famous prostitutes.
Therefore, famous prostitutes had the confidence to look down on all social classes except literati and high-ranking officials.
After knowing that money was not useful to Zhao Xiangxiang, and only power, talent and looks were useful, Lu Sen bowed to Uncle Qi and said, "Thank you for telling me, Uncle Qi. After this matter is over, I will find you for a drink and thank you very much."
"You're too polite, Lu Xiaolang."
After leaving Tianbo Yang Mansion, Lu Sen turned a few corners in the street and arrived at the entrance of Nuanyu Pavilion.
Nuan Yu Pavilion is the name of a pleasure boat.
It was already noon.
Many pleasure boats were docked at the shore, but the "Nuan Yu Pavilion" was the largest and tallest, and Lu Sen saw it at a glance.
The ship is divided into three floors, and there are red gauze hanging between the deck corridors of each floor.
Many young ladies who had already woken up were looking out from the windows in the corridor with sleepy eyes.
Lu Sen appeared at the door of Nuan Yu Pavilion. It was still early and there were not many customers, so Nuan Yu Pavilion seemed a little deserted.
But a middle-aged woman dressed quite seductively came up and said with a flattering smile, "Oh, this young man is so handsome. I have lived for more than 30 years and have never seen such a handsome man. You came so early, which girl in our pavilion did you take a fancy to?"
This old procuress looked OK, with her face powdered, giving her a bit of a beauty vibe, but the crow's feet at the corners of her eyes could not be concealed.
As she spoke, she walked over and stood close to Lu Sen.
And walked towards Lu Sen.
Although Nuanyufang is the largest pleasure boat in the Bianshui River, it is not actually that big.
It is about thirty-five meters long and ten meters wide.
Although it has three floors, in order to prevent it from being overturned by strong winds, the height of each floor is only three meters to keep the center of gravity as low as possible.
In addition, this pleasure boat is not actually moving, it is just parked on the shore as a special "brothel".
Because it is not suitable for sailing in rivers.
Lu Sen is 1.8 meters tall. When he entered the houseboat, the ceiling was a little close to his head, so he felt a little depressed.
Stepping on the red cloth carpet, Lu Sen came to a round wooden table in the main hall and sat down.
The madam looked at Lu Sen from the side and felt that the short-haired young man in front of her was so handsome that she couldn't help but admire him in her heart. Then she threw away the handkerchief in her hand, put one hand on Lu Sen's shoulder, and asked, "Sir, do you want to listen to some songs first, or go directly to find the girl you like?"
Young ladies usually call their patrons "sir". After all... they are going to do that, so calling him "sir" seems reasonable.
Lu Sen placed his right hand on the table, flicked his fingers and nodded gently on the tabletop: "I'm looking for Zhao Xiangxiang."
"Sister Xiangxiang." The madam looked at Lu Sen's face and sighed, "Your face really meets the requirements of Sister Xiangxiang. Please wait a moment, sir. I will go and inform Sister Xiangxiang."
The madam went upstairs, twisting her waist.
At this time, a young lady was yawning as she was sitting on the second floor corridor of the main hall. She saw someone below and subconsciously looked up. She couldn't help but exclaimed, "Wow, what a handsome gentleman."
She shouted so loudly that everyone on the second floor seemed to have heard it.
At this time, the ladies had not yet started work and were quite free. When they heard the calls, they came out to watch the fun.
Soon, a dozen or so women in ragged clothing and half-exposed clothes appeared on the second floor, looking down.
Then everyone was amazed.
"He's really handsome. If he likes me, I don't have to charge him."
"His skin looks better than ours. He must be from a wealthy family. He has no shortage of women. He can do whatever he wants to the maids at home."
"Could it be that his family has strict rules and he came out to have fun?"
"It's too strange to come during the day."
Lu Sen looked up and glanced at them, then looked away.
If he was really a young man, seeing these tempting scenes, his face would have turned red like a monkey's butt, and he would even be at a loss.
However, Lu Sen was not moved at all.
There was no other way. He had been subjected to the beatings of the Internet since he was a child. He was forced to watch pornographic ads every day, and he couldn't turn them off even if he wanted to. Over time, he had become accustomed to them and his heart was calm.
Although the ladies upstairs were discussing heatedly, they actually knew that the young man below had an extraordinary temperament and was definitely not an ordinary person, not someone they, the fallen women, could dream of, so they just watched from above and had no intention of coming down to "have" fun.
Soon the madam came down from the third floor again. She smiled and said, "Sister Xiangxiang just woke up not long ago. She didn't want to see anyone, but I said a lot of good things for you, and she agreed. How are you going to thank me, sir?"
"sorry to bother you."
Lu Sen stuffed a tael of silver into the other person's hand.
The madam immediately smiled and said, "Sir, you are really generous."
Then she led the way enthusiastically and took Lu Sen to the third floor.
Money is not omnipotent, but it can solve most problems and disputes.
The air was filled with a strong fragrance. The two stopped in front of a room, and the madam called out in a shrill voice, "Sister Xiangxiang, I've brought someone here."
"Got it, please come in, sir."
"Have fun." The madam flatteredly swept Lu Sen's chest with the silk scarf in her hand, then walked away happily with her waist twisted.
Lu Sen pushed the door open and closed it gently.
After all, it's a ship, and there are quite a few girls here, so the room must not be too big.
There was a double red bed with the silk curtains drawn, making it difficult to see what was inside.
Then there is a dressing table on the left side, and a carpet in the middle of the room with a low table on it.
There was a woman sitting at the table, wearing a silk robe that was neatly dressed, but it was a little too revealing. Her shoulders and neck were as round as white jade, and she was wearing a pink tube top that caught everyone's attention.
The woman was very pretty, and her hair was not tied up, but just fell straight down.
She really she had just woken up, and she also had a charming scent.
Lu Sen walked over and sat cross-legged opposite the woman.
The woman was a little stunned when she first saw Lu Sen. When he sat down, she couldn't help but say, "I thought Mi Niang was bragging, but it turns out that she is really a rare handsome young man."
Mi Niang is the madam who just left.
Everyone has been young before, and the madam was also very pretty when she was a girl.
"Mrs. Zhao Xiangxiang?" Lu Sen sat cross-legged, staring into the other person's eyes.
"It's me." Zhao Xiangxiang looked at Lu Sen again, sighed and said, "Young man, you have an extraordinary temperament and should not be involved in this mundane place. You should go home and find a noble woman to marry and have children."
Zhao Xiangxiang sincerely felt that such a clean and smart young man in front of her should not come to drink wine.
This place would defile him. Even himself, his feelings would defile him.
Lu Sen was about to speak, but at this moment, there was a sudden cough from the bed behind Zhao Xiangxiang.
He coughed several times in a deep voice, obviously a man.
Zhao Xiangxiang immediately got up, went to the bed anxiously, lifted the silk curtain, and saw an old man with white hair under the flowery quilt. He was covering his mouth and coughing continuously, looking very uncomfortable.
"Sir, take your time. Don't cough and hurt your heart and lungs."
Zhao Xiangxiang sat on the bed, helped the old man up with a distressed look on her face, let him rest his head on her legs, and then patted the old man's chest gently.
Lu Sen stood up and walked over, looking at the old man carefully.
Although the man is old and even looks frail, there is a sense of romance in his face. I guess he was also a dashing man when he was young.
As if he sensed the gaze of an outsider, the man opened his eyes, looked at Lu Sen for a while, and said with a smile: "Xiangxiang, you are so lucky. This young man is more handsome than I was when I was young, and it seems that he is still a virgin. You have made a fortune..."
Having said this, the old man started coughing again.
Zhao Xiangxiang was a little annoyed, but when she saw him coughing, she rubbed his chest with concern: "My dear, please stop talking and don't make me angry!"
The old man coughed several times in a row, and when he gradually felt better, he smiled with difficulty: "Xiangxiang, don't be upset, I was wrong, I was wrong."
Lu Sen watched from the side and found it quite interesting.
This girl Zhao Xiangxiang has an old man hiding in her room. It seems that they have a relationship, but now she comes to receive guests. This is really... Lu Sen couldn't help shaking his head. But then, he suddenly thought of something and raised his eyebrows slightly.
Zhao Xiangxiang looked at the old man who was so sick that he had little strength left, sighed, then turned to Lu Sen and said, "My dear, you have seen it too. My husband is here. Although I can meet you, it is not convenient for me to do anything else with you. I am also afraid that my husband's illness will attack you. Could you please come back another day?"
Lu Sen ignored Zhao Xiangxiang and asked the old man with a fist, "Are you Liu Sanbian, Liu Tuantian?"
Liu Sanbian, Liu Jingzhuang, Liu Yong... Lu Sen had read many poems by the man in front of him.
Liu Tuntian is his official title...just like Bao Zheng is called Bao Longtu.
The old man was stunned for a moment, then he coughed twice and said with a smile, "You guessed it. Which family does the young man belong to?"
Zhao Xiangxiang sighed.
"My surname is Lu, my name is Sen, and I am from the outside world."
Liu Yong and Zhao Xiangxiang were both stunned.
"Help me up." Liu Yong exerted a little strength, and with the help of Zhao Xiangxiang, he sat up against the head of the bed, and then stared at Lu Sen, with some surprise in his yellow eyes: "Lu Xiaolang came to Nuanyu Pavilion to find Xiangxiang, it seems that he is not greedy for love?"
"Indeed. Uncle Liu, you guessed it right."
Lu Sen nodded and repeated his purpose.
After listening, Liu Yong said with admiration: "You have a good heart, young man. There are not many people who are willing to help their servants avoid disaster. Xiangxiang, you can help him and make some connections for him."
"But if we help him, what if the talks between the two sides fail?" Zhao Xiangxiang said worriedly, "I am a prostitute, at most I will just abuse my cheap body with beggars a few more times, but if they take their anger out on you, you won't be able to bear it."
"Anyway, he is about to die..." Liu Yong smiled and said nonchalantly.
"My dear, please don't talk about such sad things anymore. It makes me uncomfortable to hear them." Zhao Xiangxiang lowered her head and wiped her tears. She was really sad.
Alas! Liu Yong sighed deeply.
Lu Sen thought about it, took out a bunch of lettuce from the system backpack and handed it over: "Try it, it tastes pretty good."
His system backpack contained a lot of cooked food and several kinds of freshly picked vegetables as backup supplies.
Anyway, the things in the system backpack will not spoil, so just take as much as you can.
This bunch of lettuce appears very abruptly.
Liu Yong was stunned, and Zhao Xiangxiang was also stunned. They didn't understand where Lu Sen got the lettuce from.
And...bringing a bunch of lettuce to a brothel, what kind of weird habit is this?
Zhao Xiangxiang was a little annoyed: "My husband is weak and short of breath, it is not good for him to eat raw vegetables. Mr. Lu, you want to harm him."
"Try it, it tastes really good." Lu Sen smiled and winked at Liu Yong, saying, "Anyway, it's good for a dying person to eat. If it works for you, your cough might get better."
If you directly tell them that your vegetable leaves can add a small amount of health points and relieve Liu Yong's pain a little bit, these two people will probably not believe you and will instead think you are a charlatan.
Then I thought about driving them away.
So...it's better to motivate them.
Zhao Xiangxiang's eyebrows stood up and she was about to get angry.
But Liu Yong laughed twice, which seemed a bit heroic, but soon the laughter turned into a series of coughs.
After he stopped coughing, he panted and said in a hoarse voice, "The lettuce looks juicy. Let me chew a few bites. I've been taking medicine recently, and my mouth and tongue are very bitter."
Zhao Xiangxiang pleaded, "My dear, you need to take care of your health. The doctor told you not to eat raw vegetables."
"It's okay." Liu Yong stretched out his hand: "Lu Xiaolang is right, I'm dying anyway. I still want to drink some wine, so what's wrong with eating a few green vegetables?"
Lu Sen handed a handful of lettuce leaves to Liu Yong.
