Chapter 314: Old Loli, Unexpected
Two hours later—
Changyu Street was decorated with lanterns and streamers due to the night market. Heavy traffic filled the roads, and men and women were seen wandering around in pairs everywhere.
In an elegant room of a courtesan house, Ye Anping sat cross-legged on a cushion, looking speechlessly at four girls acting coquettishly and performing a unique Central Domain dance.
Courtesan houses were similar to brothels. Most patrons were young gentlemen who would book private rooms and ask for girls to accompany them, serve drinks, dance, and chat.
As for why they were here…
Ye Anping took a sip of tea and turned to Si Xuanji, who was staring intently at the four girls’ dancing postures. He asked, “Miss Xuanji, why are we here?”
“Haven’t I been here before?” Si Xuanji tilted her head, looked at him, and smiled, “There’s nothing like this near the Xuan Xing Sect. My mother confined me to the sect since I was young. It’s rare for me to come here, so I thought I’d try something new.”
Confined by my mother…
Xiao Yunluo, kneeling on Ye Anping’s other side, glanced at Si Xuanji with a speechless expression but didn’t dare to say anything, so she just drank her tea like a teapot.
Si Xuanji looked at her daughter’s appearance, shook her head slightly, and then asked, “Young Master Ye, have you ever been to such places of pleasure before?”
“No.”
“Really?”
“Of course. I’m not very interested in such places, nor do I have any disreputable friends. If Miss Xuanji hadn’t insisted today, I wouldn’t have come here.”
“Is that so…” Si Xuanji pursed her lips and tilted her head, “I thought you, Young Master Ye, would like such a place, which is why I specifically chose it. What do you think of their dancing?”
“I don’t know much about dancing, so I can’t comment.”
“I see… Then, shall I have my sister dance? She used to like it very much.” Si Xuanji poked her head out and looked at Xiao Yunluo, “Okay? Sister, how about dancing for Young Master Ye?”
“Huh?!”
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yunluo immediately spat out the tea she had just taken into her mouth and turned around, “What?”
“Sister, your dancing is so beautiful, why don’t you dance for Young Master Ye?”
“…”
Before Xiao Yunluo could speak, Si Xuanji clapped her hands lightly and casually took out a dozen spirit stones from her storage bag, placing them before the four courtesans who were dancing. “Thank you for your hard work, girls. You can go now.”
After ushering the four out, she turned to Xiao Yunluo, whose cheeks were flushed and eyes wide. “Sister, go up. Just dance “Qing Ping Le” for Young Master Ye. Haven’t you danced it for me before?”
Ye Anping looked at Xiao Yunluo’s expression and quickly chimed in, “Miss Xuanji, this might be a bit too much. Young Master Xiao is the young master of the Xuan Xing Sect.”
“What’s the big deal? Isn’t dancing meant to be seen?”
Si Xuanji narrowed her eyes and directly transmitted sound to Xiao Yunluo:
—Go and dance!!
This command struck her spiritual sense directly, startling Xiao Yunluo, who shivered and subconsciously stood up from her seat. She blushed as she looked at Ye Anping, and finally mustered the courage to walk to Ye Anping’s small table.
Ye Anping looked at Si Xuanji and sighed, saying, “Senior Sister Xiao, if you’re unwilling, then…”
“It’s fine.”
She mumbled softly, then turned to the musicians holding the pipa and guzheng, asking them to play a tune. She then tied her four ponytails into a bun.
Just as the music began to play, a knock on the door suddenly interrupted the musicians’ fingers on their instruments.
Dong dong—
Si Xuanji’s yin-yang heteromorphic eyes showed obvious displeasure. Ye Anping immediately became vigilant and replied, “Please come in.”
The one knocking was a woman in a blood-red ruqun, with her hair styled in double buns. She had a beautiful face, but her demeanor was extremely restrained, making her look like a maidservant from a great family.
The person walked into the room, her eyes scanning Ye Anping and the others before quickly lowering her gaze and nodding. “This servant’s name is Hongyu. I am a maidservant of the Imperial Palace of Tianan City. The palanquin is ready downstairs. Please follow this servant into the palace.”
Si Xuanji’s face showed some confusion, and she asked, “The Emperor of the Central Domain wishes to see us?”
“It’s not the King, but the Queen who wishes to invite you two to the palace. The Queen heard that you two have come to Tianan City and wishes to entertain you with a moon banquet, inviting you to the palace to admire the moon.”
Ye Anping listened to her words and pondered inwardly, understanding what was likely happening.
It was probably his Brother Liang who went to see the Empress.
Originally, the Imperial Sect’s plot did not involve the Emperor and Empress of the Central Domain. He was even sure that when the Imperial Sect event occurred in the game, Liang Zhu had not returned to the Imperial Sect.
But now that Liang Zhu was involved in the Imperial Sect’s plot because of him, it had naturally drawn the Emperor and Empress of the Central Domain into it.
Although it was slightly beyond his expectations, it was a development in a positive direction.
He had originally asked Liang Zhu to gain the trust of Yue Xuanming, the Deputy Commander of the Xing Tian Division, to make Yue Xuanming an ally. Now, through unforeseen circumstances, the Emperor and Empress of the Central Domain seemed to have joined the fray.
Since an extra helper had appeared for no reason, why not take advantage of it?
Ye Anping nodded in agreement. “Since it’s a banquet hosted by the Empress of the Central Domain, Miss Xuanji and Young Master Xiao should go quickly.”
Si Xuanji frowned slightly, seemingly as surprised by the sudden appearance of the Empress of the Central Domain as anyone else. She turned to Hongyu and asked, “Miss Hongyu, what does the Empress want to see us for?”
“This servant does not know. I am only responsible for bringing you and Young Master Xiao into the palace. Also… may I ask if this Young Master is Ye Anping?”
“It is I,” Ye Anping replied.
“Perfect then.” Hongyu bowed to Ye Anping. “The Queen also invites Young Master Ye to the banquet.”
Upon hearing that the Empress had also invited Ye Anping, Si Xuanji’s narrowed eyes gradually relaxed. She looked at Ye Anping and asked, “Young Master Ye, did you do something?”
“Well, that’s a long story. Shall we talk on the way?”
“…Alright.”
Si Xuanji seemed to understand the situation. She stood up, tidied her dress, and turned to Xiao Yunluo with a smile. “Sister, you can dance for Young Master Ye when we get back. The Empress has invited us to admire the moon.”
“Ah… yes.”
Xiao Yunluo was confused. She looked at Hongyu beside her and awkwardly lowered her raised hand, nodding in agreement.
“Then, please lead the way, Miss Hongyu.”
“The three of you, this way please.”
After Hongyu paid for the private room for the three of them with spirit stones, she led them down the stairs of the courtesan house and to the palanquin that was waiting outside.
There were three palanquins in front of the courtesan house’s main entrance. The bearers looked like emotionless terracotta warriors, standing by the palanquins waiting.
Xiao Yunluo looked at them and asked, “These people…”
Hongyu nodded and replied, “These are the Queen’s death warriors. Their ear and throat meridians were severed from birth, so they can neither hear nor speak.”
Hearing this, Xiao Yunluo, even though she was still bewildered, realized that the Empress of the Central Domain was meeting them privately. Since it was a private meeting, it was definitely not just a simple “moon viewing.”
She looked at Si Xuanji and Ye Anping. Seeing no change in their expressions, she also remained silent and got into the palanquin. The death warriors carried them to a small house in the East City, and from a hidden tunnel, they entered the Imperial Palace of Tianan City.
… …
