Another world beyond this one

  Until then, Zhen Ming's gaze was drawn back from the beautiful dancing women on stage when Chen Mama came to inform him, and he followed the young man and the old procuress around the elliptical corridor of the hall and out of the Xiaoyuan building.

  As soon as I stepped out of the building, it was as if I had entered another world.

  Behind the building, there was a wide stone dock, and on the dock were moored dozens of small flat boats, with two boatmen waiting on each one.

  Along the riverbank, all that can be seen are willows leaning on each other, buildings towering one after another, lanterns and streamers hanging everywhere. Each house is separated by several hundred meters, with one building next to another, and the eye cannot see the end.

  It has the momentum of a coastal villa group.

  The gatehouses of the villas along the shore all have elegant and unique names such as "Chenxiang Pavilion", "Lingyun Pavilion" and "Taishang Huanjing".

  The small boat passed under several arch bridges and sailed for about ten minutes in the rippling river, finally docking at the shore.

  Madam Chen led the two of them ashore, where a high and thick wall stood at the water's edge. From the dock, they climbed up a flight of steps to a large vermilion gate, guarded by two soldiers in uniform, holding long spears with icy expressions.

  As I drew closer, I found that the two guards were actually two beautiful women with elegant demeanor. Their hair was tied up and hidden in their helmets, revealing a stretch of snowy white neck, with delicate features and bright eyes that sparkled like spring.

  Even the gatekeeper is of such quality, it can be imagined what kind of heavenly fragrance and national beauty are inside.

  "Who goes there?" one of the female guards shouted.

  "I am Chen Mama of Xiangxiang Pavilion. Please trouble the young ladies to inform Li Mama that Young Master Yang has arrived."

  "Wait here!"

  The female guard turned around and went in to report.

  The old procuress turned around and said to the young man, "Young Master Yang, please wait here for a moment. Li Mama will come out soon to take you in. You're also an old customer, so I'll go back to attend to the guests first."

  "Thanks, Chen Mama. Come on, give Chen Mama five taels of silver." The young man gave Zhen Ningshu a meaningful glance, and when he saw the murderous look in her eyes, he couldn't help but take a fright - it was the look of someone who wanted to kick him into the river.

  Zhen Ming slowly pulled out five taels of silver from his bosom and handed them over to the old procuress, almost leaving fingerprints on the silver. This was all the hard-earned money he had accumulated in a month, and with a wave of his hand, it went into the old procuress's bulging bodice, who knows how much of it was silver and how much was flesh.

  The old procuress took the silver and left with great joy.

  "Let me give you a reward again, I'll destroy you directly." Zhen Ming said with a bitter tone.

  The young man didn't think much of it: "In Luoyang City, many men have spent a thousand gold coins just to hear Sister Frost say one sentence 'get out', but you can only spend ten taels to listen to Sister Frost play a song, so be content!"

  ……

  After a while, the female guard who went to report finally came back, followed by an older woman.

  Unlike other madams, this one didn't wear bright red and green silk fabrics, but a plain-colored cotton dress. Her face wasn't covered with thick layers of powder that could withstand bullets, and the passage of time had left its mark on her face, yet she looked serene.

  That young man seemed to like the madam very much, and when he saw her coming over, he hurriedly went up to greet her, holding onto her arm, and asked in a flurry of questions: "Madam Li, has Frost sister gone to sleep yet? I heard that she wasn't feeling well these past few days, is she better now? Has she composed any new songs? These past few days I haven't come, hasn't Frost sister been angry with me?"

  "Ah, my little ancestor, don't ask so many questions, this old lady can't remember all your questions at once. Your sister Xue is fine, she's been complaining about why you haven't come to see her for so long. And now, you've made someone announce your arrival, and your sister Xue has prepared a lot of delicious food, waiting just for you."

  She turned her head and glanced at Zhen Mingshu who was following behind her.

  "Who is this?"

  "Oh, he's my personal bodyguard, Zhen Wei. And this is Li Mama, she's been taking care of Frosty since she was little, handling her daily needs and meals. She's the most senior mama in the Hundred Flowers Pavilion."

  Zhen Ming smiled wryly and nodded slightly, which was a way of greeting.

  That madam's face showed a different color, apparently doubting how this frail and weak body could even take care of itself, let alone become a personal guard?

  Out of trust in the young man, she didn't suspect much and kindly reminded him: "Since you are Yang Gongzi's personal bodyguard, I won't stop you. Once you enter the building, be sure not to run around randomly. This place is not like other inferior places. Unless the young ladies want to see you, no other men can easily come in. If you're caught by Yu Huoyuan, you'll be beaten to within an inch of your life. Don't say I didn't warn you beforehand."

  Yang Dang smiled and said: "Don't worry, Li's mom, he knows the rules, I've already reminded him."

  "Alright then, follow me."

  ……

  Once inside the gate, winding paths lead to secluded spots.

  A winding stone path, turning a thousand times, leads to a place where willows are dark and flowers are bright.

  On both sides of the stone path were strange rocks and lush green cypresses, blocking out the sky and moon. If it weren't for Li Mama holding a lantern in her hand, you wouldn't be able to see the path ahead at all.

  After winding around several bends, crossing over a few small arched bridges, and passing through a patch of lotus flowers with frogs croaking loudly, the scene suddenly opens up, revealing another world.

  What appears before one's eyes is a boundless, sparkling artificial lake surface, with an area of over 1,000 mu.

  The lake's shape is a perfect ellipse, and the water under the moonlight shines with a silver glow, like a vast mirror.

  ……

  A junk boat is sailing on the lake under the moonlight.

  The lanterns on the building boat are shining brightly, and the hull is also decorated with colorful silk brocade, which is extremely luxurious.

  Faintly audible was the melodious sound of the guqin and sheng playing together in harmony.

  A young man in fine clothes sat at a small table at the bow of the boat, looking at three people on a distant pavilion bridge, his eyebrows deeply furrowed.

  Across from him at the wine table, a beautiful young girl was playing the zither and flute, softly singing. It was none other than Miao Yu, the lovely little maid who had been serving gruel to the beggars and refugees at the back door of the Hong Xing Inn.

  She now has her hair tied up, and although there is still some childishness on her face, she is already a beautiful beauty. Especially her gentle and clear voice, which reveals a lively and lovely, carefree and innocent quality that makes people feel happy and relaxed.

  Listening to her soft humming, the young man turned his head and looked at Miao Yu who was playing the zither. His tone was slightly unpleasant: "Didn't Peony Fairy say that she was unwell and couldn't see guests? Where are they going?"

  The sound of the zither gradually stopped, and Miaoyu's two slender and delicate small hands were placed on the zither bridge. She turned her head to look towards the pavilion bridge, and a pair of clear and bright eyes sparkled with curiosity.

  "Normally at this time, Frost Sister wouldn't receive guests, maybe it's because Young Master Yang has arrived."

  The young man's face sank upon hearing this, and he shouted at the family servant who was rowing the boat towards the bow: "Turn the boat back to the Peony Pavilion!"

  There is an artificial island in the center of the lake.

  The willows on the island's shore were lush and verdant, their branches stretching down to the lake's surface, swaying gently in the breeze, creating ripples on the water.

  On the lakeside, at intervals, there are ten or more magnificent villas of different styles, four or five stories high, wooden buildings surrounding the lake and built along the lake.

  Each house leads out a winding corridor bridge, spanning hundreds of meters wide lake surface, connected to the small island in the center of the lake.

  Lanterns are hung on the pavilion bridge, in the dark night like ten winding dragons swimming freely in the lake.

  A villa group composed of ten large courtyards, forming a layout of a hundred flowers clustering together, surrounding the small island in the center of the lake with a five-story tall mansion.

  ;