The Stories of Mine in the Ming Dynasty of China in 1368

Li Qing suppressed his agitation and secretly cursed himself for being so lacking in self - control. It had just started, and he had almost lost his composure. All those ten years of cultivation on the mountain seemed in vain.

The really beautiful ones were inside. He had money in his pocket. Even if he couldn't get a courtesan of the highest rank, he should at least get a top - tier girl, right?

Li Qing pushed the girl off him without hesitation. "Sorry, you're nice, but I'm looking for someone even better."

"You..." The woman's full bosom heaved violently. She gritted her teeth, and all the coquettish charm from before was gone. "I bet you don't have the money. I don't even want to serve you."

With that, she gave him a resentful glare, then turned and walked away, swaying her hips.

Li Qing rubbed his nose, feeling rather哭笑不得. Truly, prostitutes were heartless and actors were unfaithful!

The Zuixian Tower at night was completely different from the daytime. The doors at the back of the main hall were wide open. In the long courtyard, tables were placed one after another. Lanterns hung high, and well - dressed "decent people" sat in groups of three or five. There were pretty girls sitting on their laps, flirting, drinking, and indulging in a life of luxury.

Those with money could have a table to themselves, and there were even more than one girl around them, surrounded by charming women, giving themselves over to sensual pleasures.

This must be what they called having a drink with courtesans... Li Qing walked while observing, and couldn't help but sigh, "The ancients really knew how to enjoy themselves."

The common people lived a hard life, but those with power and influence didn't suffer at all.

Li Qing had a face as fair as jade and an elegant bearing. Along the way, he was approached by many women. Their looks and figures were decent, but he rejected them one by one.

He firmly believed that there were better ones inside!

The Zuixian Tower truly lived up to its reputation as one of the top restaurants and brothels in the capital. Along the way, he hadn't seen a single ugly woman. Even if someone's appearance was just passable, her figure made up for it. Either they had a good face or a good figure, always excelling in one aspect.

It was really commendable!

"Sir, please stop."

At the end of the inner courtyard, in front of a luxurious two - story building, Li Qing was stopped.

The servant said politely, "Please show your entry ticket, sir."

Li Qing was stunned. He didn't expect there to be a "membership system" in this era. He looked up at the building in front of him. It covered an area of about one mu, much smaller than the front of the Zuixian Tower, but it was extremely luxurious.

The pillars were made of whole pieces of excellent mahogany. The doors and windows were exquisitely crafted and refined. The roof was covered with high - quality glazed tiles, and large red lanterns hung all around, showing off its opulence.

Li Qing knew that the best ones were inside. Since he had come this far, he naturally couldn't just go back.

He touched his pocket, and his confidence grew. "How much is the entry ticket?"

The servant replied, "The entry ticket is free, but you need to spend five hundred taels in the restaurant."

Li Qing cursed secretly, "Damn it. I'll come back another day."

He turned to leave, but then heard the servant say, "Sir, if you want to go in, you can buy a one - time ticket."

"How much?"

"Three taels."

Li Qing paid the money readily, took the "temporary membership card," and walked inside.

The building was brightly lit. There were wing rooms on both sides of the two - story building, leaving a large open space in the middle. There was a platform in the middle, covered by a gauze curtain, and a slender woman was sitting inside.

Hazy and indistinct, her appearance couldn't be clearly seen, yet this added to her mysterious beauty, making people eager to lift the veil and see her true face.

The woman was playing the zither, and the melody was clear and gentle, flowing like a trickling stream in people's hearts.

He found an empty seat and sat down. Listening to the music, he looked around. There weren't many people in the room, only about forty or fifty. All of them were well - dressed, quietly listening to the zither music, and it was very quiet.

Li Qing scratched his head. This was not what he had expected.

With so many people here, there was not even one woman to go around!

Had he spent three taels just to listen to music?

Li Qing felt it was a huge loss. Although he had said he was here to listen to music, in his heart, he also wanted to be "tainted" by the world of sensual pleasures.

Looking down, he saw fruits, pastries, and wine on the table. Ignoring whether it was out of place or not, he immediately started eating and drinking.

The person at the table on his right cast an unfriendly look at him, as if someone was howling in front of them during a concert, which was really annoying.

Li Qing glared back at the man and continued eating and drinking. At least he had to get his money's worth for the late - night snack.

A quarter of an hour later, the zither music stopped. The woman gracefully stood up, curtsied to everyone, then put on a small veiled hat and went up to the second floor. Then, a woman in her thirties, with a worldly look on her face, walked onto the stage.

"Gentlemen, if you want to be Miss Wanling's guest, seize the opportunity. The bidding begins," the madam said with a smile. "Now, it's up to you gentlemen."

The quiet hall immediately became noisy. One person raised a wooden number plate and said, "I offer fifty taels."

As soon as he finished speaking, another person said, "Sixty taels."

"Eighty taels!"

Li Qing looked at the capital - numbered wooden plates on the table and then understood what they were for. He couldn't help but laugh.

They were having an auction here?

While he was in a daze, the price had reached one hundred and fifty taels. Li Qing couldn't help but gasp. The confident posture he had earlier gradually slumped.

He really couldn't afford to play.

"Three hundred taels!"

The person at the table on his left raised the number plate, doubling the price directly. The noisy hall suddenly fell silent.

Li Qing turned to look. Next to him was this rich kid who was like a fool from a landlord's family. A small gold - traced fan covered most of his face, only revealing a pair of shifty eyes shining with a strange light.

Although his face couldn't be seen, it could be judged from his voice that he was no more than fifteen years old and was still in the voice - changing period.

Li Qing cursed secretly, "You haven't even grown hair yet. What are you doing here?

Driving up prices like this, may you be struck by lightning!"

A fair - faced man beside him tried to persuade earnestly, "Young master, we should go back. It will be curfew in less than half an hour..."

"Stop talking nonsense. I want to see what she looks like," the young master said, clearly excited. He said proudly, "Is there anyone else who wants to bid?"

Those who could come here were not poor, but they just thought it wasn't worth it. Usually, the price was around a hundred taels. But this kid was so arrogant that naturally, some people were annoyed.

"You impudent brat, don't think only your family has money," a man snorted. "Three hundred and fifty taels!"

"Five hundred taels!"

The young master perfectly exemplified the phrase "rich but foolish". The man who had been outbid rolled his eyes in annoyance. Despite his displeasure, he refrained from making another bid.

He sneered, "Where did a young brat like you get so much money?

Don't tell me you're just here to brag?"

"That's right. This isn't your home, so you can't just say whatever you please."

"Go back and play with mud!"

Those around chimed in, one after another.

Everyone detests those who drive up prices!

"You're talking nonsense!" the young master retorted, flustered and angry. He turned to the man accompanying him and said, "Xiao Lin, go pay the money."

"Master, let's go back. If the Emperor finds out, I'll lose my life," pleaded the man.

"If you don't go, I'll beat you to death right now." The young master couldn't stand being goaded. He closed his small fan and started hitting the man with it.

When Li Qing saw the young master's face, his pupils dilated in shock. "It's you?" he exclaimed.

He really hadn't expected that the one driving up prices was the son of the top - notch "landlord" in the realm—the son of Zhu Yuanzhang.

Li Qing didn't know the young master's name, but he remembered that Zhu Biao had once called him the Eighth Prince.

Only then did the Eighth Prince turn his gaze. Seeing Li Qing, he panicked and quickly unfurled his fan to cover his face. "It's not me, it's not me. You've mistaken me, Mr. Li."

Li Qing was left speechless.

At this moment, the madam on the stage grew impatient. "Young master, it's time to pay up," she said, her tone tinged with annoyance.

"Ha! He doesn't have any money!"

"If you don't have money, why act so high - and - mighty?"

"Look at him, too scared to show his face. It's hilarious."

The Eighth Prince had incurred public wrath by driving up prices, and now that there was an opportunity to mock him, no one was about to miss it. They all started making sarcastic remarks.

A prince like him had never endured such humiliation. However, he couldn't reveal his identity. He wasn't Zhu Biao. If Old Zhu found out that he had sneaked out of the palace to visit a brothel, he'd be bedridden for at least ten days as the lightest punishment.

But at thirteen, he was in the rebellious stage. He just couldn't swallow this insult. "Fine, I'll pay," he said resentfully. "Xiao Lin, go pay quickly. After that, we'll leave."

After a pause, he turned to Li Qing. "Mr. Li, consider this my treat today. You must keep my secret!"

Li Qing: "..."

Seeing that Li Qing didn't respond, the Eighth Prince grew irritated. "If I get punished, you won't escape unscathed either."

Li Qing was even more speechless. All he could do was say, "I won't let this news slip from my lips."

"Good." Reassured, the Eighth Prince turned to the madam. "I've paid the money. You'd better serve Mr. Li well."

"Oh, don't worry, young master," the madam replied, all smiles and obsequiousness. She had seen many wealthy people, but someone this wealthy and this foolish was a first for her.

He casually threw out five hundred taels and then transferred it to someone else. It was so easy to deceive... make money from him.

The Eighth Prince, having saved face, left in a hurry. Once the palace gates were locked, even as a prince, he couldn't get them opened.

The madam approached Li Qing obsequiously. The friend of a wealthy person was surely wealthy too, and she didn't dare to show the slightest neglect to her financial backer.

"Sir, please go upstairs!"