38 In Search of the Brothel (2/2)

For the rest of the day, he lingered under the shade of the willow and stood by the side of sweet pedlar from a far distance across a large crowd of people, to watch the upright and threatening censor stepping out of the Department of Provincial Censor. The censor returned to his own mansion and several strong bodyguards beside him followed. He noticed that there were several security police statued along the highly secured street, and sometimes, a Yulin Royal Guard would swiftly ride past him on a horse for his rounds. All these made him certain that he must not kill anyone along the street without a proper plan.

Nothing was gathered or gained during the daytime. By evening, the main door of Zhang's mansion opened. As though going for an official invitation from someone, the censor's wife and a few well-dressed ladies, most probably the concubines, sent him off at the door. Several wanderers on the street were laughing and pointing in that direction while expressing their admiration towards the censor. However, Ning Que, who was sitting in the teahouse drinking herbal tea, noticed one detail—other than the censor's wife whose expression was cold was skinny, the other concubines had great figures.

A man's perception of beauty towards women was usually not shown in his wife, but through his concubines and lovers. Sometimes, the reasons for having a wife were mainly for family status, money, future... and perhaps for fabricated stuff like love. However, the reason for concubine or lover was very simple. It was basically to fulfill the sexual needs of the man.

”So he prefers full-figured women.” Ning Que thought silently and smiled from within as he looked at the concubines who quietly stood behind their mistress like quails while their eyes revealed a sense of satisfaction and evilness.

As Ning Que followed the censor's carriage across four streets and saw it entering into the towering and grandiose prince's residence, he quietly took a glance at the main door of the prince's residence before turning around to head towards the crowded street. He then asked a wanderer on the street, ”Hello friend, I'd like to know which brothels in our Chang'an are famous for ladies with a full figure?”

It was a dumb question, but the moment when silver was presented with the question, no matter how dumb the question was, one would still obtain a not-so-dumb answer. At that instant, Ning Que had turned into a rich bumpkin scholar that had come to Chang'an from a foreign land in that wanderer's eyes. After giggling for a while, the wanderer professionally introduced to him about the romance affairs in Chang'an, with a teapot in his arms.

Listening to the names that were even more complicated than the academy entry exam(s) mock questions, Ning Que massaged his frowned brows as he smiled bitterly and commented. ”That's a lot of information. What about you just tell me which brothels are the most expensive? The environment should be quieter as well.”

...

...

With a few recommended brothels name and addresses in his hand, Ning Que searched along the Chang'an street under the bright-lighted streetlights. While walking and hesitating along the loin street, there were a few brothels that he chose not to enter. Judging from the appearance and the surrounding environment of these brothels, he was certain that censor was not a regular of these places. This was purely an instinct from a hunter.

The issue was that he was not an expert to hunt in such places. When he was approached by those pimps that were very enthusiastic in inviting him in, he rejected them and did not enter, which made him felt embarrassed. By the time he reached the fourth brothel on his list, he had already realized that his method was not only dumb but extremely stupid.

There were so many brothels in the Chang'an, and most of them appeared to be quiet and high-class. Which brothels would not have those signature ladies with a full figure? The chance for him to meet the old bear by searching along the street like a blind bear to try his luck would be way too low.

Just as he was hesitating outside that brothel on whether to enter and finally decided to leave, he suddenly heard some crisp, clear voices coming from his back. These clear laughs echoed from a distance on the Chang'an street, which attracted many attentions.

Ning Que turned his head instantly. He noticed a serene and deserted brothel from the direction of the laughter. The beautiful ladies, who had yet started working, were giggling and laughing as they waved their long red sleeves. It was as if they were teasing at the lad who dared not enter the brothels.

”That's too much!”

He shook the bag of silvers in his sleeve and looked at the beautiful laughing prostitutes who revealed a seductive look in their eyes. With a look of determination, he raised his head, swung his sleeves to the front as he walked into the new age in high and vigorous spirit.