"Greetings, officers."

Chen Yuan and Wang Ping had just entered the Misty Rain Pavilion when a waiter, who had been waiting, immediately greeted them with keen eyes.

Constables and yamen runners with official positions were considered to have some status in this vast Ping'an County. At least, they were much better than some small merchants. The waiter naturally did not dare to neglect them.

"Bring two pots of good wine," Wang Ping said expertly, tossing over a piece of silver.

"Alright, officers, please find a seat at your leisure. I'll bring you the wine right away. Miss Xiaoyue will be performing a dance later. You've come at the perfect time."

The waiter caught the silver, grinning.

Wang Ping nodded slightly, exchanged a look with Chen Yuan, and found a secluded corner to sit down.

His eyes darted left and right, his heart restless, seemingly very much looking forward to Miss Xiaoyue's appearance.

"Haven't you already met that Miss Xiaoyue? Why are you still so impatient..." Chen Yuan glanced at Wang Ping. In his impression, Wang Ping, although lecherous, was definitely not the type to lose his composure at the sight of a woman.

Could it be that the retired courtesan from the capital was really that attractive?

Chen Yuan instinctively felt that something was wrong. If she was really that attractive, she wouldn't have come from the capital to a small county like Ping'an. It was like things were getting worse.

Wang Ping gave an embarrassed smile:

"I... I've only seen her dance from afar, I haven't had any contact with her."

"Then why did you say she was very gentle?" Chen Yuan raised an eyebrow.

"I felt that she was very gentle..."

"Wang Ping."

"Hmm?"

"Simps never prosper!"

"???"

Although he didn't understand what "simp" meant from Brother Yuan's mouth, he was sure it wasn't a compliment. Wang Ping was certain of that. However, he didn't refute it, because he also felt that the statement was correct.

But for some reason, as soon as he entered this Misty Rain Pavilion, he had a strange impulse.

Chen Yuan and Wang Ping's entrance into the Misty Rain Pavilion didn't cause any waves. At most, only a few people nearby noticed them. The rest were whispering, wondering why Miss Xiaoyue hadn't come out yet.

Chen Yuan silently opened his Heavenly Eye. A flash of azure light swept through the Misty Rain Pavilion, but to his surprise, there was nothing unusual.

There was no trace of destiny at all.

This made him a little puzzled. Was he overthinking things?

According to the clichéd plots in novels and TV dramas, either someone would deliberately provoke him, or he would discover something unusual.

Chen Yuan was silent, feeling that he definitely had some persecution complex.

In fact, since Chen Yuan had transmigrated, besides longing for the martial arts of this world, he had always had a deep sense of unease, because this was not a harmonious society.

Rather, it was a terrifying world where martial arts reigned supreme and lives were as cheap as grass.

Soon, the waiter who had taken the silver brought over a pot of wine. Wang Ping filled a cup for Chen Yuan and said softly:

"Brother Yuan, have a taste. This wine is good. It's worth the price."

Chen Yuan picked up the wine cup, brought it to his nose, and smelled it lightly. Indeed, a sweet aroma wafted over him. Then, he gently took a sip.

"Not bad."

Wang Ping grinned, drinking the wine in his cup in one gulp.

As time passed, more and more people entered the Misty Rain Pavilion. Some couldn't find a seat and simply stood aside, their eyes full of anticipation.

"Why hasn't Miss Xiaoyue come out yet?"

"Exactly, exactly."

"I'm getting impatient..."

Gradually, some people began to shout impatiently.

Chen Yuan watched coldly, like an outsider.

"Zheng..."

Suddenly, a low, melodious zither sound came from the second floor of the Misty Rain Pavilion.

"Brother Yuan, Miss Xiaoyue is coming out..."

Wang Ping stared intently in one direction, his eyes unblinking, even holding his breath.

He was not an exception. At this moment, everyone sitting below, whether they were dignitaries or wealthy talents, had the same expression.

Then, the sound of a flute merged with the zither.

"Swish..."

"Swish..."

"Swish..."

Three red silks shot out from the second floor, wrapping around the two pillars in the hall.

The next moment, a long-haired woman in red leaped from the second floor. Flowers filled the air. The woman spun lightly, stepping on the red silks and dancing gracefully.

The melodious sound, the fluttering petals, and the woman seemed to blend together.

Her graceful figure twirled in the air, supported by the red silks, like a fairy.

Chen Yuan narrowed his eyes, his attention focused on the woman's movements. Her movements were light and nimble. This woman definitely had martial arts cultivation.

Furthermore, it required a lot of training to achieve this effect.

No wonder the people of Ping'an County were amazed by her, but she didn't have as much appeal to Chen Yuan.

"Bravo."

"Miss Xiaoyue is so beautiful..."

A chorus of shouts rang out below.

Then, a scroll descended from the sky. The woman in red pulled on the red silks, opening the scroll. A delicate woman on the scroll splashed a pot of ink.

After that, the woman in red waved her sleeves wildly, dipping them in the ink, and gently flicked it onto the blank paper scroll. Her skirt whirled, as if lotus flowers were blooming beneath her feet.

Her slender waist swayed gently, captivating the soul, casting flirtatious glances. It could be said that silk and bamboo robes danced wildly.

Before long, the sound of the flute stopped, and the woman in red finished the last stroke.

It was a lotus flower in ink wash, lifelike.

The woman in red looked back, glancing lightly at the crowd, and slowly descended to the ground, holding the red silks.

Chen Yuan narrowed his eyes. This Miss Xiaoyue was indeed extraordinary. She had fair skin, an oval face, and a pair of eyes containing a hint of charm, with fine lines at the corners.

She was indeed older, but she had a unique charm.

"Ladies and gentlemen, it's the same old rule. Whoever can compose a poem that satisfies Miss Xiaoyue can spend a night with her."

A flamboyant madam twisted her body and shouted loudly.

"I wonder what the topic of the poem is?"

A young man in a simple blue shirt closed his folding fan and asked with a smile.

"A pedant."

Wang Ping snorted softly.

Chen Yuan glanced at Wang Ping and whispered:

"What if they can't compose a satisfactory poem?"

"The highest bidder wins. It is said that someone paid thirty taels of silver the other day to get a chance to spend a night with Miss Xiaoyue." A look of envy flashed in Wang Ping's eyes.

Chen Yuan shook his head. This was completely artificially inflating the price. What was the concept of thirty taels of silver?

It was two years' salary for a constable or yamen runner.

It could be exchanged for three Tiger Bone Pills.

Of course, if the mood was right, it didn't matter whether it was worth it or not.

"The topic will be the lotus flower in this painting."

The madam pointed to the painting hanging above.

"Misty Rain Pavilion, Pavilion of Misty Rain.

Miss Xiaoyue is like a black lotus.

Want to ask what's inside the lotus?

Break it open and take a look!"

A burly man with a beard suddenly said loudly.

————

Thanks to the support of 1500 points from the book friend Five Watches Cold Night Wandering!