Chapter 127: The Boss Is Generous

"Let's go, then." Ye Qin spread his hands slightly, an air of dashing bravado radiating from him.

Ye Kun sighed inwardly. It seemed his younger brother was still deeply stung. Ba Wanqing, he thought, one day my brother will certainly teach you a lesson in humility. You think my brother is kind and easy to bully? You’ll see—when he truly gets ruthless, he’s terrifying even to himself.

Ye Kun had considered intervening, but would that really make his brother feel any better? No. Some things a man must resolve for himself; a sickness of the heart requires its own cure. They were about to enter the academy, weren't they? It was high time for his brother to shine. Ye Kun had been the best in Taixi County for sixteen years, and it was time for his brother to experience that same feeling. Truth be told, though, it wasn't all that great.

Following the madam, the three of them walked up the stairs to a private pavilion on the third floor.

"Please, young masters, sit, enjoy some pastries and wine. Miss Ziyan will be here shortly," the madam said, bowing and beaming with delight. Had she known the Ye brothers were planning to pick a fight, her smile might have vanished. Still, to run a brothel of this scale in Ankang Prefecture, she certainly had some power behind her.

As the madam left, Ye Qin called out, "Brother, come take a look. No wonder Father likes this place."

*Oh, little brother, stop dragging Father through the mud; just keep that to yourself,* Ye Kun thought. He walked over and leaned against the wooden railing. The vantage point was perfect, offering a clear view of the red stage below. It must have cost a fortune in gold coins. Above them were two more floors where silhouettes could be vaguely discerned, though everyone had lowered their glittering gold curtains to preserve their privacy—after all, reputation mattered.

Ye Kun glanced back and saw their teacher, Wu Chi, already sitting down and drinking, despite his claims of having sworn off alcohol. So much for his integrity.

"Fine wine! Ye Kun, Ye Qin, let me tell you, this is the best wine in all of Ankang Prefecture. This 'Flower Carving' wine is made from the essence of hundreds of different flowers. Don't underestimate this small pot; it's worth a hundred gold coins." Wu Chi shook the flagon, looking utterly intoxicated.

Ye Kun gasped. *Teacher, you're drinking liquid gold! And you downed a hundred gold coins in one gulp.* His heart ached for the gold.

"Drink up, Teacher, there’s plenty more," Ye Qin said generously, clearly winning the teacher’s favor.

"Then I won't be polite. Truly, one pot is hardly enough to even wet the whistle. Both of you have passed your coming-of-age ceremonies; how can you not drink? Come, come, join in—let's get the atmosphere going!"

"Brother?"

"Drink, drink, drink. Let's drink until we drop," Ye Kun muttered, feeling utterly helpless. Pot after pot of Flower Carving wine was brought in—at least a hundred of them. Ye Kun stopped thinking about the gold coins; things had already gone this far, so he might as well let go and enjoy it!

"Come! Teacher wishes you both a future as bright as brocade! May you soon become famous across the entire Taijing—no, across the entire Dongyou!"

"Thank you, Teacher."

The three of them guzzled the wine. It had to be said, this was the finest wine Ye Kun had ever tasted. It didn't burn going down; instead, a strange, lingering fragrance filled his mouth and ascended to his brain, making him feel as if he were floating.

"Excellent wine!" Ye Kun couldn't help but exclaim.

"Brother, this really is delicious. No wonder it's so expensive; it’s worth every coin," Ye Qin added. When the brothers were bored at home, they would occasionally have a small drink, but those couldn't compare to this.

Wu Chi laughed. "Flower Carving is good, but don't overindulge. This wine has a powerful kick; only an old drunkard like me can handle it. It should be sipped slowly to be truly appreciated."

Just then, enthusiastic cheers erupted from below. Curious, Ye Kun and Ye Qin looked down. A woman with a mesmerizing figure drifted onto the red stage with lotus-like steps. She was draped in crimson silk that stirred the imagination; her bright eyes held a gentle, elegant smile, and her long, raven-black hair fell naturally behind her back. Her fair, jade-like neck was enough to make a man want to reach out and touch it. As she stepped onto the stage, the men below went mad, screaming "Ziyan! Ziyan!"

"Is this Ziyan?" Ye Qin was clearly stunned.

Teacher Wu Chi, clutching his flagon, leaned over and chuckled. "Indeed. I picked her out for you, and I certainly didn't choose wrong. As one of the top courtesans, her beauty goes without saying. She is skilled in song, dance, chess, calligraphy, and painting. It’s a pity, though—she is merely a woman of the red-light district."

Ye Kun and Ye Qin took a sip of their wine, both thinking the same thing: even a woman of the red-light district was more loyal than Ba Wanqing.

As Ziyan took the stage, seven or eight dancers appeared, moving toward the red platform with enchanting steps. Ziyan flicked her wrists, and two long red silk ribbons unfurled as her supple body began to sway. Her movements grew faster, her jade-like fingers dancing through the air, her red skirts fluttering. She looked like a flower behind a veil—hazy, ethereal, and utterly captivating.

"Ziyan’s dance is legendary for its beauty. One look and you are deeply ensnared," Wu Chi said softly, his gaze turning tender as he watched her, as if he were seeing his own wife dancing before him all those years ago. *What a pity,* he thought, tilting his head back to drink, as if trying to wash away all his troubles.

Ye Kun and Ye Qin were still young and had never seen such feminine grace; even Ye Kun was mesmerized. Although he had two incredibly beautiful wives at home, they seemed to know nothing but how to act spoiled. Looking at this woman, he realized she truly understood men. Every single glance she cast could drive a man to madness. If Ye Li and Yan Mu’er were like this, the effect would be even more insane.

"Brother, who do you think is prettier, Ba Wanqing or Ziyan?" Ye Qin asked suddenly.

"It has to be Ziyan, without a doubt."

"I think so too."

The brothers looked at each other and clinked their flagons together. Truly, when you have a broken heart, you should come to a brothel; it’s guaranteed to make you forget everything. In comparison, Ba Wanqing was pathetic.

After the song ended, Ziyan bowed slightly and said softly, "Thank you all for your support."

*Oh?* Ye Kun found her voice quite pleasing—it was clear and spirited. If a woman’s voice wasn't pleasant, it would be a major drawback. His own wives had lovely voices, and he was quite satisfied with that.

"Of course, I must also thank the boss in the Zuiyu Pavilion on the third floor."

As Ziyan spoke, the entire room fell silent for a moment before erupting into cheers!

"The boss is generous!"

"The boss is a legend!"

Ye Kun and Ye Qin shrank back in embarrassment. Everyone was looking at them. The one thing you fear when visiting a brothel is being recognized—it’s just too awkward.

"Teacher, why are they so excited?" Ye Qin asked curiously.

Wu Chi patted Ye Qin’s shoulder. "Ye Qin, Ziyan’s appearance fee is not low, and having her accompany you for drinks is even higher."

"How much?" Ye Qin asked.

"Ten thousand gold coins."

Ye Kun and Ye Qin froze. Ten thousand gold coins! *Are you kidding me?* Ye Kun couldn't help but feel like their teacher was acting as a pimp. But even if he had said a hundred thousand, they didn't have a single coin left—which was, in a way, quite refreshing.