Rebirth: After Becoming the Villainess-Chapter 246: Don’t Let the Lord Find Out You’re Having an Affair
Huaxu Square, the liveliest pleasure quarter in Li Zong Pass.
"Young Madam, are you sure you want to come here?"
Dressed in men’s clothes, Xuan Mei cut a dashing figure, but a slight frown of worry now creased her brow.
"I hear Huaxu Square is full of curiosities, and lots of... uh... blonde-haired, blue-eyed Ah Qi Beauties. I have to go see for myself!"
"But His Lordship..."
Song Lianhe stopped in her tracks, a wide grin spreading across her face. "Did Zhou Cangyan ever explicitly forbid me from going to Huaxu Square?"
Xuan Mei froze for a moment, then shook her head. "No."
"Well then!" Song Lianhe proactively linked her arm through Xuan Mei’s, snuggling against her shoulder. "If he didn’t forbid it, that means it’s allowed. We came all this way to Li Zong Pass. Wouldn’t it be a shame not to see the sights?"
"..."
Xuan Mei found herself at a loss for words.
’This place is fraught with danger,’ Song Lianhe silently reminded herself. ’I’ll just take a quick peek and then leave.’
But if she didn’t see it with her own eyes, she’d never be able to rest easy.
’After all, I promised Zhou Cangyan in my dream that I wouldn’t let him get hurt. A person has to keep their word.’
Huaxu Square was situated in a bustling district. While it couldn’t match the gilded magnificence of Peiyue Building in Ling’an City, it was still exceptionally lively.
The ground floor was a market and performance area, the second was a restaurant, the third was a teahouse, and the fourth, it was said, could only be accessed by renowned officials and aristocrats.
’But in my eyes,’ Song Lianhe thought, ’this place is just a massive intelligence hub. It caters to every social class for the sole purpose of gathering information.’
’How clever!’
She led Xuan Mei directly to the second floor.
The second floor was a world of sensual delights. The serving maids bustled about in revealing attire, their movements so graceful they seemed to float on clouds. Their figures were charming and supple, as if boneless. Every now and then, a customer would grope one of them, but she would only turn back with a giggle and a playful pout.
In addition to the maids, there were also male attendants dressed in white robes with a subtle lotus pattern. Their collars were slightly open, and any broad movement would reveal a glimpse of their fair chests, eliciting delighted giggles from the noble ladies in attendance.
The male attendants were even more popular here than the maids. Customers, male or female, who took a fancy to one would simply pull him into their arms and continue their drinking and revelry.
"Tsk, tsk. What a den of luxury and pleasure, a veritable paradise of earthly delights!"
This was a real eye-opener for Song Lianhe. Her gaze roamed over the male attendants passing by. "To think a mere border town would be hiding so many crouching tigers and hidden dragons... such a wealth of talent~"
’By modern standards, every single one of these male attendants was devastatingly handsome. Compared to them, the maids were just background decoration.’
’There were tall, brawny types; gentle, refined ones; and even some with an ethereal air and delicate features. A whole catalogue of handsome men to satisfy the varied tastes of all the customers.’
’Song Lianhe had to admire the master of Huaxu Square. Now this was someone who knew the secret to making a fortune.’
Xuan Mei had no interest in such things and couldn’t see what made these men so special. She did, however, notice something inappropriate in Song Lianhe’s gaze.
"Young Madam, permit me to remind you that you are a married woman."
Song Lianhe gave her a helpless look. "Why do you have to be such a killjoy? Isn’t having fun the whole point of coming here?"
"But you said you were here for the experience."
"Exactly! Life is just a collection of experiences, and having fun is part of that!" She slung an arm over Xuan Mei’s shoulder, guiding her farther in. "And don’t be so stiff. They’ll know we’re first-timers at a glance, and we’ll get ripped off..."
SWISH—
Xuan Mei had already drawn the short sword at her waist. "Let’s see who dares to try anything!"
Song Lianhe’s eyes flew wide. She scrambled to help her sheathe the sword. "Whoa, whoa! I meant ripped off, not carved up!"
"Is this your first visit to Huaxu Square, ladies?"
Song Lianhe stiffened at the sound of that voice.
’It sounded just like...’
She slowly turned. A woman stood on the steps, dressed in a flowing indigo gown. She had an oval face with willow-leaf brows, almond-shaped eyes, and a mouth like a cherry. Her hair was swept up into an intricate, cloud-like chignon, held in place by a kingfisher-feather Lotus Hairpin. In her hand, she held a round silk fan embroidered with twin lotuses on a single stalk.
Song Lianhe stared at her, dazed. ’No wonder Zhou Cangyan took a blade for her in the original story. Her voice, her aura, the gentle charm in her every gesture—she was a seventy or eighty percent match for Song Xilan.’
Naturally, Song Lianhe guessed who she was.
"I am Zhen Niang," she said. "It is a pleasure to meet you both."
She curtsied, her every movement slender and graceful.
Song Lianhe smiled. "So you’re Boss Zhen. I’ve long heard of your esteemed name. Now that I’ve seen you in person, you’re every bit the delicate beauty the rumors describe~"
When Song Lianhe laid on the praise, her words were as sweet as honey.
’Xuan Mei shot her a glance. ’Aside from her own master, she’d never seen Song Lianhe go to such lengths to praise someone.’
’Yes, it was completely calculated.’
’She had come here specifically for Zhen Niang.’
Zhen Niang, in turn, was sizing up Song Lianhe. Even beneath the heavy, gaudy makeup and tacky clothes, her divine beauty was impossible to hide. From the moment she had stepped into Huaxu Square, she had unknowingly drawn countless eyes.
She lifted her fan to cover her mouth, letting out a delicate laugh. "You’re teasing me, miss. If we’re speaking of beauty, you are the one who is a peerless treasure, with the grace of a goddess."
’Song Lianhe knew this woman worked for Zhou Junlin and was the intelligence chief here, so she had no desire to get involved with her.’ "We’re just passing through from Chuzhou," she said. "It really is our first time at Huaxu Square."
"Ah, so you are honored guests from a distant land."
Zhen Niang crooked a finger, summoning two male attendants. "Serve our guests well."
"Yes."
The male attendants’ eyes lit up the moment they saw Song Lianhe and Xuan Mei.
They had never seen such beautiful women before and eagerly drew near.
Xuan Mei’s brow furrowed. ’She was afraid she’d lose control and snap one of their hands off!’
In contrast to Xuan Mei’s stiffness, Song Lianhe slipped into her role with ease. "How old are you? Have you been working here long?"
’The two men were perceptive. ’The woman with the sword was stone-faced and clearly not one to be trifled with.’
’She was nothing like this other one, who was both bewitching and adorable.’
Xuan Mei watched with a cool gaze as Song Lianhe sat down, laughing and joking with the two men. She handled them with practiced ease, looking just one step shy of draping herself over both of them.
She crossed her arms, standing beside her, and said in a hushed voice, "If His Lordship finds out you’ve been unfaithful, not even the gods themselves will be able to save you."
HISS!
Song Lianhe sucked in a sharp breath. ’Even though my conscience is clear, this scene... would be very hard to explain...’
’A man with an extreme personality like Zhou Cangyan would never, ever allow his wife to set foot in a pleasure house like this.’
"My lady~ Let’s have a drink~"
The male attendants flanked her, one offering her a sip of wine, the other a bite of food.
This...
’Now *this* is the life!’
Song Lianhe shot Xuan Mei a helpless look before happily partaking in their offerings.
Xuan Mei stared at her as if looking at a dead woman walking.
Suddenly, Xuan Mei’s eyes narrowed. She tapped her scabbard twice on the tabletop.
"What’s wrong?"
Song Lianhe looked up at her.
Xuan Mei shot a quick glance across the room. Song Lianhe followed her gaze and immediately sucked in a sharp breath.
On the other side of the large, circular stage, a man in black robes held a cup, his gaze fixed on them. A faint, almost sharp-edged smile played on his lips.
