Early the next morning.
Jiang Yuechu had a rare good night's sleep.
Consequently, her mood today was also quite good.
Since she was in a good mood, she should go out for a walk.
Having fought all the way from Jiannan Circuit to the Western Regions, and then back from the Western Regions to Chang'an, her nerves had been stretched too tight; she needed to find a place to relax.
As for where to go...
Jiang Yuechu changed into ordinary black casual attire, took no maids or attendants, and left the palace gate alone.
She turned into a certain street with familiarity.
The gatekeeper was secretly dozing off when he suddenly felt the space in front of him darken.
Just as he was about to curse, he opened his eyes to look.
The curse on the tip of his tongue was swallowed back down forcibly, and he was so terrified that it was a case of Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering, scrambling to his knees on the ground.
Clearly, he had recognized this face.
"Pa... Pay respects..."
"Hush."
Jiang Yuechu raised her index finger and pressed it against her lips.
The servant hurriedly covered his mouth.
"Is your Young Miss in?"
"In... she is, she is, she is..."
Jiang Yuechu nodded with satisfaction.
"Alright, don't make a sound, I'll go myself."
As the words fell.
The servant only felt a blur before his eyes.
He looked again.
The Figure in Black that had been standing in front of him was already gone.
As for the Wei Residence, Jiang Yuechu was as familiar with it as her own home.
She arrived outside Wei Qing's boudoir.
She pushed the door open, slipped inside, and entered.
Her movements were smooth and flowing, without making a sound.
Warm fragrance floated in the room.
Moving around the screen, on the carved bed, the brocade quilt was heaped up in a large pile.
A small, fair foot was sticking out of the quilt in an extremely unladylike manner, swaying with her breathing.
Jiang Yuechu walked to the bedside and looked down from above.
The person on the bed was sleeping soundly, with a trace of crystal saliva at the corner of her mouth, muttering something unintelligibly.
Jiang Yuechu was in no hurry; she leisurely moved a brocade stool, sat by the bed, and reached out to pinch the other person's nose.
"Mm..."
Wei Qing's brows furrowed, and she subconsciously shook her head.
But there was no escaping it.
With her breathing obstructed, her rosy little face gradually flushed, and she had to open her mouth to gasp for air.
"Huff... huff..."
Finally.
"I'm suffocating!"
Wei Qing opened her eyes abruptly and sat up from the bed with a start.
She was about to lash out and see which blind maid it was.
She looked up.
She met a pair of cold, half-smiling eyes.
"..."
Wei Qing blinked, then rubbed her eyes.
"Ah..."
A scream had just rushed out of her throat when it was ruthlessly pressed back by a palm.
"Shut up."
Jiang Yuechu withdrew her hand and wiped it on the quilt in disgust: "It's early in the morning, why are you screaming like a ghost?"
Wei Qing stared blankly at the person in front of her.
Black casual attire, long hair tied up casually.
It was as if she had returned to the Region...
"Why did you come suddenly? You didn't even have anyone announce you, like a thief."
Jiang Yuechu raised an eyebrow: "What, not welcome?"
"How could that be!"
Wei Qing hurriedly waved her hands, then seemed to remember something, and looked Jiang Yuechu up and down.
"Are... are you okay? I heard yesterday..."
But before she could finish, she was interrupted by Jiang Yuechu: "Get up quickly. I remember someone telling me she would take me to eat everything in Chang'an... I finally have some free time today, so you aren't allowed to go back on your word."
Hearing this, Wei Qing naturally understood that the other party did not want to talk more about this matter.
She had no choice but to give up, getting up and muttering: "Eat, eat, eat... that's all you know how to do..."
The one hundred and eight wards of Chang'an.
Every ward has its own vibrancy, and the Mortal World is everywhere.
Wei Qing held a steaming sesame seed cake in her hand, carefully following behind her.
From time to time, she turned her head to steal a glance at the woman beside her.
Because this face was truly too conspicuous in Chang'an.
At this moment, it was covered with a thin layer of white gauze, revealing only a pair of cold eyes like cold stars.
The two walked through streets and alleys.
From the East Market to the West Market, they strolled from noon until the sun set behind the mountains.
Throughout this journey, no blind playboy came up to harass them, nor were there any cliché scenes of bullying.
Simply because, even with her face covered, the pressure unconsciously radiating from the young girl still made passersby tremble with fear.
At a roadside tea stall, the storyteller slapped his wooden clapper and spoke with great animation about the battle in front of the Imperial City yesterday.
When he reached the exciting parts, the whole audience cheered; some stood up and slammed the table, others downed shots of strong liquor.
Jiang Yuechu stopped to listen for a moment.
Listening to the exaggerated, almost deified description, a flash of helplessness crossed her eyes.
"Let's go."
She said softly.
Wei Qing was listening intently, and upon hearing this, she quickly followed: "We've been eating all day... do we still need to keep eating?"
"Just follow me."
Jiang Yuechu did not stop her steps, but changed direction.
The street, which should have quieted down with the arrival of night, was now brightly lit, with the sounds of strings and flutes endless in the ears.
Red lanterns were hung high.
The chirping of orioles and swallows, and coquettish laughter followed one after another.
Wei Qing did not react at first, only feeling that this area was very lively.
When she saw the women in red sleeves and green skirts leaning on the railings on both sides of the street, and the men coming and going with lewd smiles on their faces, her little face turned pale instantly.
Wei Qing grabbed Jiang Yuechu's sleeve, her voice trembling: "This... is this Pingkang Ward?!"
Chang'an's Pingkang Ward.
The famous flowers of the North Ward, the hub of romance.
Simply put, it was a place for men to seek pleasure, a pleasure house!
Jiang Yuechu stopped and looked up at the most magnificent building in front of her.
The pimp welcoming guests at the door was all smiles, greeting and sending off people.
The girls upstairs waved their silk handkerchiefs, looking incredibly enthusiastic.
"Mm."
Jiang Yuechu nodded, her expression calm: "It is Pingkang Ward."
"Then... then why are we here?!"
Wei Qing stomped her feet in anxiety, lowering her voice: "This is... this is..."
"I know."
Jiang Yuechu turned her head: "A pleasure house."
"Since you know, why don't we leave quickly?!"
Wei Qing pulled her, wanting to turn back: "If anyone sees the Grand Princess visiting a brothel..."
Jiang Yuechu remained unmoved.
Even though Wei Qing used all her strength, she couldn't budge her at all.
"What's the rush."
Jiang Yuechu reached out and flicked Wei Qing's forehead gently.
"Back in the County, I once visited incognito. The gentleness of the southern women truly had a unique flavor. Now that I have been in Chang'an for so long... if I haven't experienced the romance under the feet of the Son of Heaven, wouldn't that be a great pity?"
"Besides, since we're here, with me around, what are you afraid of?"
It's because you're here that I'm afraid, okay?!
Wei Qing was on the verge of tears.
Jiang Yuechu said no more.
She wrapped an arm around Wei Qing's shoulder, and like she was carrying a chick, semi-forcibly took her inside.
The procuress at the door had sharp eyes; although she saw that these two were dressed as women and had extraordinary temperaments, in a business like this, how could one turn customers away?
Nowadays, it wasn't uncommon for young ladies from noble families to dress as men to listen to music.
There were even those who had a penchant for mirror-polishing...
"Two distinguished guests, you look unfamiliar, please come in —"
"Today, our Red Sleeve Pavilion has welcomed a few new courtesans, who have proficiency in zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting..."
Jiang Yuechu casually tossed out a gold ingot.
The golden light dazzled the procuress's eyes.
"I want the best private room, and call all your most popular girls to me."
"I want to properly... criticize them!"