Drunken Flower Room - Chapter 60

Jade Madam was efficient. In less than the time it took to finish a cup of tea, she arrived at Warm Melody Pavilion, bringing along the Twelve Golden Blossoms. 

The Twelve Golden Blossoms were the signature beauties of Drunken Jade Pavilion. Each of them was around fifteen or sixteen years old, fresh-faced and radiant. Their figures varied, some slender, some curvier, but all were undeniably stunning. 

When they entered the room and saw Su Rong, their faces lit up with joy. They had clearly been instructed beforehand, so unlike Jade Madam, they didn’t show any shock at the sight of Zhou Gu sitting beside her. 

As one, the twelve young women bowed gracefully before launching into song and dance. For a moment, the room filled with the enchanting melodies of silk-stringed instruments and the soft rhythm of dancing footsteps. 

Zhou Gu remained unimpressed. He had seen countless performances at the imperial palace banquets every year, and this was nothing new to him. 

Su Rong poured him a cup of wine and raised her own. “Zhou Gu, cheers!” 

Zhou Gu glanced at her, said nothing, and took a slow sip. He swirled the wine on his tongue before asking, “What kind of wine is this?” 

It was different from Drunken Nectar, but it was smooth and rich, with a lingering aftertaste. 

“This is Hundred Brews, a special reserve exclusive to Warm Melody Pavilion. You can’t get it anywhere else. Many people who taste it once come back again just for another cup.” 

Zhou Gu nodded in approval. “Not inferior to Drunken Nectar.” 

“Of course not,” Su Rong said smugly. This is one of my money-making tricks, after all. 

Back when Miss Lan first brewed her wines, Su Rong had made sure not to release all the good ones to the public. Drunken Nectar sold for a hundred taels per jar, but Hundred Brews? Here, just one jar cost over two hundred taels. Paired with the right company, a single night could easily drain a man’s wallet by the thousands. 

She grinned at Zhou Gu. “Now that you’ve tasted this wine, do you still think coming here was a waste?” 

Zhou Gu shot her a glare. “What’s your relationship with the owner of this place?” 

Did she really think he was clueless? Even though he had never visited a pleasure house before, he knew that no ordinary guest could summon all twelve of the top courtesans for a private performance. 

“If I told you we once got into a fight, would you believe me?” Su Rong asked. 

Zhou Gu paused, then nodded. “I would.” 

Su Rong blinked in surprise. 

Zhou Gu reminded her, “Like that fight you had with Chen Zhou.” 

Su Rong was speechless. Right… I did fight Chen Zhou. And that idiot even said he liked me afterward. What rotten luck. 

After the first dance, the Twelve Golden Blossoms began showcasing their individual talents. Each had been trained since childhood in the arts, whether it was music, chess, calligraphy, or painting. The melodies of the pipa and konghou filled the air, each note masterfully played. 

One of the girls even performed a mesmerizing sword dance, wielding her blade with an elegance and precision that captivated the audience. 

At first, Zhou Gu had dismissed it all as just another song-and-dance routine. But as the performances continued, he found himself drawn in. The variety of talents, the vibrancy of the performers—this was far livelier and engaging than the palace’s refined but predictable court musicians and dancers. 

Half an hour later, both Su Rong and Zhou Gu had finished half a jar of wine each. Zhou Gu, no longer as stiff and reserved as before, seemed to have eased into the atmosphere, finally appreciating the entertainment. 

Su Rong chuckled. “Well? Not a waste of time, right?” 

Zhou Gu nodded. It wasn’t as vulgar or crude as he had imagined. In fact, it had been quite an enjoyable experience. 

“Come on, let’s head over to Rouge Pavilion for a bit.” Su Rong stood up. 

Zhou Gu was stunned. We’re going to another place? 

“Hurry up!” Su Rong urged. “I told you we were going to visit all three pavilions tonight.” 

Zhou Gu had no choice but to follow her. 

As they stepped out of the room, Jade Madam, who had been waiting by the door, blinked in surprise. “You’re leaving already?” 

Su Rong looked at Jade Madam and said, “Let’s head to Rouge Pavilion next.” 

Jade Madam was speechless. She yanked Su Rong aside and whispered, “What about Moonlight Pavilion?” 

“We’re going there too.” Su Rong was determined to make the most of this rare opportunity to take Zhou Gu through all three establishments in one night. If her elder brother found out about their little adventure, she’d be lucky if he didn’t have the mansion locked down by tomorrow. 

Jade Madam gave her a look of pure admiration. “You really don’t hold back, do you?” 

With that, Su Rong led Zhou Gu out of Warm Melody Pavilion and into Rouge Pavilion. The process was much the same, sneaking in through the back to avoid drawing attention. 

Rouge Pavilion was run by a woman named Madam Wan. She was older than Jade Madam, exuding a mature and elegant charm. When she saw Su Rong bringing Zhou Gu in at this late hour, her expression was just as shocked as Jade Madam’s had been. But the moment Su Rong casually mentioned that they had just come from Warm Melody Pavilion, Wan Madam’s competitive spirit flared to life, and she wasted no time making arrangements. 

Before long, Su Rong and Zhou Gu were seated in the most refined private hall, Listening Harmony Chamber, waiting for Rouge Pavilion’s Twelve Fairies to make their entrance. 

Compared to the Twelve Golden Blossoms from Warm Melody Pavilion, the Twelve Fairies were older, their beauty sultrier and more refined. Each had a mesmerizing allure, their charms honed over the years. The contrast was striking, youthful green plums versus ripe, luscious peaches, each with its own distinct appeal. 

Like Warm Melody Pavilion, Rouge Pavilion also had its own exclusive wine, unavailable anywhere else, Rouge Smile. 

By this point, Zhou Gu had already spent over half an hour in Warm Melody Pavilion. Coming into Rouge Pavilion, he no longer felt as restrained. His posture was more relaxed, his demeanor more at ease. 

They stayed for another half-hour, drinking another half-jar of wine each while watching the Twelve Fairies perform. Then, Su Rong turned to Zhou Gu and said, “Let’s go to Moonlight Pavilion.” 

Zhou Gu grabbed her wrist. “Enough, don’t you think? It’s getting late.” 

“Moonlight Pavilion has a special wine called Moonlit Drunk. Don’t you want to try it? If we miss tonight, my brother will probably have guards watching our every move by morning, and you’ll never get the chance.” 

Su Rong had been pacing herself with the drinks all night, ensuring she and Zhou Gu only consumed a single jar between them. But at Moonlight Pavilion, she planned to go all out. Moonlit Drunk was her favorite, she wasn’t going to hold back. 

Zhou Gu hesitated but was ultimately swayed by the prospect of another rare wine. “Fine.” 

And so, Su Rong led Zhou Gu to Moonlight Pavilion. 

Unlike the first two establishments, which were run by women, Moonlight Pavilion was managed by a young man. He was far calmer than Jade Madam and Wan Madam. When he saw Su Rong and Zhou Gu enter, he simply glanced Zhou Gu up and down with sharp phoenix eyes before curling his lips into a knowing smile. 

“Zhou Gu doesn’t quite match the rumors,” he remarked. 

Zhou Gu studied the man, then turned to Su Rong in question. 

Su Rong introduced him, “This is Feng Yue.” 

Zhou Gu nodded in acknowledgment. 

Feng Yue smiled. “How would Seventh Miss like things arranged tonight?” 

Su Rong waved a hand casually. “Do as you see fit. Just make sure there’s plenty of Moonlit Drunk, we’re here for the wine.” 

Feng Yue gave her a meaningful look and simply said, “Understood.” Then he directed them to Moonlight Hall before leaving to make the arrangements. 

Su Rong led Zhou Gu inside. 

The furnishings of Moonlight Hall were even more luxurious and elegant than the previous two places. As before, they took a seat by the window. 

This time, they waited for quite a while before the performers arrived. When the doors finally opened, a group of young men entered, clad in sheer, lightweight robes. 

Zhou Gu froze, his expression instantly darkening. He turned to Su Rong with wide eyes. 

Su Rong was equally stunned. She blinked, then rubbed her nose awkwardly before clearing her throat. “Uh…” 

Before she could say more, Zhou Gu shot to his feet, grabbed her wrist, and pulled her up. “We’re leaving.” 

Su Rong hurriedly held onto him. “Wait, wait, wait! Their clothes are just a little… light. It’s not like they’re not wearing anything—” 

Zhou Gu, his face burning, snapped, “Su Rong!”