Qian Guangzong felt it was a pity and was determined to continue pulling Han Xiao, but Lian Qiao in his arms clung to his arm, her delicate hand slipping into his sleeve, gently stroking his arm. She said, "Elder Qian, usually itâs Han Xiao who serves you, but tonight let her rest and allow me to serve you well, how about it?"
She giggled and said, "If Elder Qian feels itâs not enough, then I can invite Mu Dan and Shuixian to join us later to ensure your comfort."
Qian Guangzong couldnât resist Lian Qiaoâs tactics and immediately melted, forgetting Han Xiao. Half-hugging Lian Qiao, he rushed to a room upstairs.
Gu Youlu and Qian Chengcai also hurriedly embraced their beauties to head upstairs.
In just a moment, voices began to emerge.
Seeing her task accomplished, Han Xiao quickly left the courtyard to soak in the prepared medicinal bath.
She didnât want to get caught herself!
The skills of Mu Dan, Shuixian, Lian Qiao, and Haitang were so great that they served Gu Chengxian and the others into a state of inebriated bliss, working tirelessly until dawn.
Gu Chengxian, afraid that Lord Lai would learn of his escapades, got up at dawn, hoping to make it back to his residence. If encountered by the people from the Vice Magistrateâs office, he could use the excuse of being out for morning study, instead of having been in a brothel seeking pleasure.
"Are you leaving already?" Mu Dan didnât stop Gu Chengxian. She rose to dress him and, leaning into his arms, said reluctantly, "Mu Dan will leave in ten days; make sure to visit me often. Otherwise, once Iâm gone, you wonât be able to see me."
Mu Dan, true to her name, was dazzlingly beautifulâmore so than any maid of the Lai family. Gu Chengxian was very satisfied, hugging her tightly. "Donât worry, my beauty. Once I pass my exams, Iâll bring you into my home as a concubine to reward your efforts from last night."
"You tease~" Mu Dan playfully pouted, her alluring demeanor heating Gu Chengxianâs entire body again. If not pressed for time, he would have taken Mu Dan once more.
Nevertheless, recalling the comforts of the previous night, Gu Chengxian felt his visit was worthwhile.
However, as much joy as he had last night, stepping out of the room was equally disastrous.
This courtyard was a two-story pavilion; Gu Chengxian and the others rested upstairs, while downstairs was reserved by Young Master Yu of the Prefecture to entertain Young Master Fu and two scholars from Jiangnan.
Young Master Gao, one of the two scholars, was at that moment embracing last nightâs prostitute and sitting at the stone table in the courtyard, engaging in the game of brewing wine and composing poetry: "Spring breeze warms the beautyâs soul..."
He had just uttered the word "soul" when it seemed his throat was being squeezed, rendering him speechless.
The prostitute accompanying him wrinkled her brow and called him, "Young Master Gao, your poetry is truly delightful; I adore it. Please, continue reciting."
She even gently touched Young Master Gao.
Unexpectedly, Young Master Gao screamed as if startled by a ghost, falling to the ground in fright, pointing at Mu Dan beside Gu Chengxian, tremblingly saying, "You, you, you, how did you end up here?!"
He then pointed at Gu Chengxian, "Did you sleep with her?"
Gu Chengxian smiled proudly, holding Mu Dan closer: "With Mu Danâs beauty, no man could resist."
Then he glanced at Young Master Gaoâs prostitute, a mocking smile playing at his lips: "A vulgar woman."
However, Young Master Gaoâs next words almost drove Gu Chengxian mad.
Perhaps Young Master Gao was so shocked that he shouted at the top of his lungs, "Mu Dan, that prostitute, has a venereal disease! Youâre done for!"
Upon hearing this, Gu Chengxian was stunned and cursed at Young Master Gao, "Where did this useless fellow come from, slandering a beauty out of jealousy that I can be served by her? Do you even know who I am?"
Young Master Gao cast a look at Gu Chengxian as if he were a fool, pointing at Mu Dan, "You do realize sheâs stunningly beautiful, donât you? But have you ever considered why someone so beautiful would abandon earning money in Jiangnan and come to this rundown place in Heâan Prefecture instead?"
He added, "If you donât believe it, you can ask her. Or wait a couple of days to see if you start showing symptoms. That disease has spread to quite a few men, and they had to leave Jiangnan because they could no longer stay there!"
Young Master Gao slapped his thigh, looking distraught, saying, "I must be unlucky to run into such bad luck on my rare trip to Heâan Prefecture. I need to find a doctor quickly to make sure Iâm not infected."
As he finished, he hurriedly knocked on the doors of Young Master Yu, Young Master Fu, and Scholar Wuâs rooms.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
"You all better come out; somethingâs happened! We need to leave quickly, or weâre screwed for life!" Young Master Gao, scared half to death, yelled, drawing out not only Young Master Yu and his party but also Qian Guangzong and his group.
Qian Guangzong, fastening his waistband, shouted down from upstairs, "Whatâs all the shouting for? Canât one get some sleep?"
Young Master Gao ignored Qian Guangzong and relayed the issue with Mu Dan to Young Master Yu and the others.
Young Master Yu and Young Master Fu were dumbfounded. Damn, how did a Flower Fairy infected with venereal disease end up in Chunfeng Pavilion?
Having known Mu Dan and been aware of her case, Scholar Wu screamed like a ghost and dashed out of the courtyard, yelling back to Young Master Gao and the others: "Why are you standing there? Run! Or do you want to catch a venereal disease too?!"
After hearing this, Young Master Gao and his group ran off hastily, not even caring to retrieve their jackets left inside.
Qian Guangzong and his group were dumbfounded and pointed at Mu Dan, asking, "What are those people saying? Do you, you, really have a venereal disease?"
Mu Dan never expected to encounter people from Jiangnan here and was terribly frightened, but she could never admit to having the disease. She quickly cried, "No, Mu Dan doesnât have it; that man named Gao couldnât afford my services and held a grudge, falsely accusing me out of spite."
However, not only did Mu Dan have a venereal disease, but so did Shuixian, Lian Qiao, and Haitang. They were all driven from Jiangnan because of it, coming to Heâan Prefecture to make money.
They planned to make a quick sum and leave.
Who would have thought theyâd run into people from Jiangnan here and be recognized?
Gu Chengxianâs academic skills werenât the best, but he wasnât foolish. Seeing Scholar Wu flee like he saw a ghost, he felt a chill in his heart, looking at Mu Dan as though she were a specter. He quickly withdrew his arm from around her waist, jumped a meter back, and pointed at her, trembling with rage, "Wretch, tell me the truth, do you really have the disease? If you dare lie, the Vice Magistrate wonât let you off!"
Seeing Gu Chengxian invoke the Vice Magistrate, Mu Dan knew she couldnât easily smooth this over. She simply revealed her true nature, snorting coldly, and warned, "Young Master Gu, you still plan to take the exam, donât you? If word of this gets out, do you think youâll still be able to sit for the exam? Who would dare take the exam with you?"
"Young Master Gu, some things are best left unclear. Once everyoneâs had their fun, itâs done. Youâd better head back. Otherwise, once the guests at Chunfeng Pavilion catch wind and come looking for a laugh, you wonât be able to leave."
With Young Master Gao and the others fleeing so, attracting attention was inevitable, and this incident couldnât be covered up.
Mu Dan wanted to quickly dispatch Gu Chengxian and his group, so they could pack their valuables and flee. If they didnât leave soon, the matron at Chunfeng Pavilion would have them chopped up.