My father is Chongzhen? Then I have no choice but to rebel.

Zhu Cilang, who was standing to the side, had been watching this scene with great interest ever since Luo Yangxing started trying to dissuade him.

Seeing Luo Yangxing, who was usually quite imposing and deep-thinking, rendered speechless and embarrassed by an old man selling wontons and a little girl, he found it extremely amusing. The corners of his mouth couldn't help but turn up slightly, and his eyes were full of amusement as he watched the show.

It's truly rare to see Luo Yangxing suffer such a humiliation.

Seeing that Luo Yangxing had been thoroughly rebuked, Zhu Cilang slowly stepped forward, a gentle smile on his face, and bowed to the still fuming old man, saying:

"Old man, and young lady, please don't be angry. It was my servant who was rude and didn't know how to speak properly. He didn't mean to slander you, he was just a little worried and spoke carelessly. I apologize to you both on his behalf."

His humble attitude and sincere tone contrasted sharply with Luo Yangxing's earlier embarrassment.

Seeing that the young "gentleman" spoke politely and sincerely, the old man's expression softened considerably, and he also clasped his hands in a fist salute.

“This young master is quite reasonable. I am not an unreasonable person either, but I run this small business and rely entirely on my reputation. I can’t stand being slandered without cause. Since you have said so, then let it go.”

Zhu Cilang smiled and said:
"Sir, you have a generous appetite. Since that's the case, please cook a bowl of wontons for each of us, so we can taste your signature dish and see if it lives up to its name."

Upon hearing that there was business, and even several bowls at that, the old man's face immediately lit up with a smile, and he nodded repeatedly.
"Alright! Please have a seat, young master, and all of you. The wontons will be ready shortly, and I guarantee you'll be satisfied!"

As he deftly dropped wontons into the boiling pot, he gave Luo Yangxing a look that said, "You're lucky, your son is sensible."

Seeing that her grandfather was no longer angry, the girl named Pear Blossom curiously glanced at Zhu Cilang a few times. She thought that this young master was not only handsome but also spoke pleasantly, much better than that big guy who talked nonsense. So she turned around and went to help clear the dishes.

Seeing this, Luo Yangxing finally breathed a sigh of relief, but his face was still burning. He secretly glanced at Zhu Cilang and saw that the Crown Prince still had a lingering smile in his eyes. He felt even more embarrassed and could only smile awkwardly. He dared not say anything more and obediently sat down on the bench next to the low table with the others.

The stool was short, and he was tall, so he felt very awkward sitting on it. Coupled with the embarrassment he had just experienced, he felt like he was sitting on pins and needles.

Soon, several bowls of steaming hot and fragrant wontons were carefully served by the girl named Pear Blossom in a large, rough earthenware bowl.

In the pristine white porcelain bowl, the broth is clear and bright, sprinkled with emerald green scallions and golden egg strips. Thin-skinned, generously filled wontons, shaped like ingots, float in the soup, making one's mouth water.

Since several guests had already eaten the wontons and none of them had any adverse reactions, there was no need to test for poison again.

Zhu Cilang picked up a spoon, scooped up a spoonful, gently blew on it to cool it, and put it in his mouth.

The wonton wrappers are smooth and melt in your mouth, while the meat filling inside is fresh and juicy, with a hint of sweetness from the chewy shrimp meat, clearly made with the finest fresh shrimp.

The broth was rich and flavorful, clearly the result of simmering pork bones and chicken carcasses for a long time.

He couldn't help but nod and praised:
"What the old man said is true. The minced meat is indeed fresh, the shrimp is springy, and the soup is rich and flavorful. It is a rare and delicious taste."

As he spoke, he scooped up another spoonful of soup and savored it carefully.

Old Wang, who was still angry with Luo Yangxing, immediately beamed with joy upon hearing the "young master's" expert praise. His wrinkles smoothed out, and he proudly said:
"Right! I told you so! Young master, you clearly know your stuff! This meat is from Liu's butcher shop on East Street, freshly slaughtered pork foreleg every day, three parts fat and seven parts lean. The shrimp are live shrimp caught from fishing boats on the river this morning, peeled and chopped right away, how could it not be fresh? And this soup, it's been simmering since last night, even the marrow has been extracted from the bones!"

As he spoke, he couldn't help but glare at Luo Yangxing, who was burying his head in his food and not daring to look up, and snorted, the meaning of which was self-evident.

Luo Yangxing pretended not to hear and silently ate the wontons in his bowl. They tasted really good, but he couldn't enjoy them at the moment. He only wanted to get away from this place of trouble as soon as possible.

After eating a bowl of wontons, I felt warm all over.

Zhu Cilang put down his chopsticks and used the clean towel that Ma Bao handed him to wipe the corner of his mouth, a satisfied look on his face.

Seeing this, Luo Yangxing immediately seized the opportunity, leaning forward again, his tone even more earnest, even carrying a hint of barely perceptible pleading:
“Young Master, look, you’ve eaten the wontons. It’s getting late. The Qinhuai River gets more lively and crowded as the night goes on. What if someone accidentally bumps into you or you get separated from them? The Master is probably getting really anxious waiting at home.”

"Shall we head back first? Another day, I'll accompany you out for a proper stroll, how about that?"

Zhu Cilang glanced at him helplessly, feeling that Luo Yangxing was being far too tense.

He waved his hand, his tone still relaxed:

"You're being far too cautious. This is the capital city of Nanjing, not some desolate wilderness. What trouble could possibly happen here? Besides, look at the beautiful night view and the scenery of the Qinhuai River. We haven't even had a chance to fully appreciate it yet, so why let it go to waste?"

He ignored Luo Yangxing's pained expression and turned to Zhang Shize beside him, a playful smile on his face, asking:

"Brother Shize, you've been in Nanjing for quite some time now. Where are the best scenic spots and most interesting places along the Qinhuai River? Could you recommend a couple and show us around?"

Zhang Shize was stirring the soup in his bowl with a spoon when he heard this, and his hand trembled, almost spilling the soup.

He looked up at Zhu Cilang and saw a hint of mischief and understanding in the Crown Prince's eyes. His heart skipped a beat, and his old face instantly turned red, even his ears turned red.

He quickly put down his spoon and stammered in explanation:

"My lord, what makes you say that? I have always been upright and honest, and strictly abide by etiquette. During my time in Nanjing, apart from official business, I have spent my days discussing classics and historical texts with my colleagues, or reading and practicing calligraphy at my residence. I have never set foot in any disreputable places! My lord, you must see this clearly!"

He spoke these words with righteous indignation, as if he had suffered a great injustice.

However, Zhu Cilang merely looked at him with a half-smile, his eyes clearly saying:
Keep pretending.

While you, the heir apparent of the Duke of Yingguo, frequented the brothels and spent the night in brothels in the capital, Zhu Cilang, though he did not witness it himself, surely he has heard of it.
Now that you've arrived at this world-renowned place of pleasure, you've become a virtuous man who remains unmoved even with a woman in his lap?
Feeling uncomfortable under Zhu Cilang's insightful yet amused gaze, Zhang Shize knew that continuing to deny it would only make him look foolish and hypocritical.

He coughed awkwardly twice, his face flushing red and then pale, and finally he could only say sheepishly in a very low voice:
“Well, since you have such refined tastes, young master, and wish to experience some different scenery, I do know a quiet and unique place that might interest you.” He spoke in such a low voice that only a few people nearby could hear him, and he looked extremely embarrassed.

In her mind, however, she was quickly calculating which place to take the prince to satisfy his "curiosity" without going too far, and most importantly, to ensure his absolute safety!
Luo Yangxing heard everything clearly and felt his head buzz. His vision blurred, and he cried out in his heart: It's over! The thing I feared most has finally happened!
The young master is really going to "that kind of place"!
What does this make him do?
There was no stopping them; were they really going to accompany the Crown Prince to a brothel?
If this got out, or if some censor heard about it and reported it to the emperor, could Luo Yangxing still keep his official hat, or even his head? He was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan, but he dared not try to dissuade him anymore. He could only look at Zhang Shize with hopeful eyes, hoping that this young master would have some sense of propriety and not really lead the crown prince into a fire pit.

Seeing that Zhang Shize had "confessed the truth," Zhu Cilang nodded in satisfaction, stood up, and dusted off non-existent dust from his robes.

"In that case, lead the way, settle the bill, and give me a generous tip."

Helpless, Luo Yangxing had no choice but to take out his money pouch, count out ten Ming Dynasty silver coins, and gently place them on the table. He then said to Old Man Wang:
"Old man, this is a gift from my young master. Please forgive my offensive words just now."

Old Wang was about to say a few more words to Luo Yangxing when he saw them leaving. Suddenly, he saw the ten heavy, shiny silver coins on the table. His eyes widened instantly, and his mouth opened wide enough to fit an egg!
Ten taels! A full ten taels!
How many bowls of wontons would I have to sell to make this money?

He probably wouldn't earn this much even after working for half a year! He'd never seen so much reward money in his entire life!

"This...Young Master, this is too much! This is unacceptable, this is unacceptable!"

Old Wang was so excited that he was incoherent, waving his hands repeatedly, but he dared not touch the silver coin.

Zhu Cilang had already turned around, but upon hearing this, he turned back and smiled:
"Father-in-law, your wontons are excellent. You deserve this reward. Please accept it and buy your granddaughter a new dress."

Having said that, he gestured for Zhang Shize to lead the way.

Watching Zhu Cilang's departing figure, and then glancing at the silver coin on the table, Old Wang finally became certain that this extraordinary young man was no ordinary person! He tremblingly picked up the silver coin, weighed it in his hand, and then bit it with his teeth to confirm it was genuine gold and silver. Overwhelmed with emotion, tears streamed down his face, and he repeatedly bowed in the direction Zhu Cilang had gone.

"Thank you so much, young master! Thank you for your generous gift! You are truly a benefactor! I wish you a long and prosperous life, and may your descendants enjoy countless generations of high rank and great fortune!"

Pear Blossom was also stunned, then her little face flushed with excitement, and she tugged at her grandfather's sleeve:
"Grandpa, this young master is so generous!"

Zhu Cilang and his entourage had already merged into the crowd.

Led by Zhang Shize, they stopped walking along the main riverbank and turned into a relatively quiet alley, which was still brightly lit.

The alley was lined with high walls and deep courtyards, with various elegant lanterns hanging at the entrances, bearing refined names such as "Qin Yun" (Musical Melody), "Mo Xiang" (Fragrance of Ink), "Shu Yu" (Jade Cleansing), and "Ting Xue" (Listening to Snow), but without the large red lanterns and straightforward signs of typical brothels.

The air was less filled with the strong scent of cosmetics and more with the fragrance of sandalwood, ink, and the faint sound of a zither.

Zhang Shize was clearly quite familiar with the place. After several twists and turns, he finally stopped in front of a gatehouse.

The gatehouse is not ostentatious, but it is extremely exquisitely built, with upturned eaves, black tiles and white walls. Above the gate hangs an ebony plaque with the three characters "Shuyuxuan" written in elegant running script.

Two servants in blue robes stood at the entrance. They were clean and well-mannered. When they saw Zhang Shize, they seemed to recognize him and immediately put on professional but not obsequious smiles, bowing slightly.

"Young Master Zhang, you've arrived! Please come in!"

A servant greeted them attentively, his gaze quickly sweeping over Zhu Cilang and the others behind Zhang Shize. He noticed that these people had an extraordinary bearing, especially the young man in the middle. Although he was dressed plainly, he exuded an air of authority. The servant dared not be negligent.

Zhang Shize nodded slightly and whispered to Zhu Cilang:

"Young master, this is the place. This 'Shuyu Pavilion' is a relatively elegant spot on the banks of the Qinhuai River. It is mostly frequented by refined gentlemen who are skilled in music, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry, and prose. They mainly gather with friends through literature and occasionally hold elegant gatherings and poetry parties. The environment is quite pleasant and relatively clean."

He deliberately emphasized "refined" and "clean," not only for Zhu Cilang's ears but also for Luo Yangxing, who was standing nearby with his ears perked up and his face pale.

Luo Yangxing looked at the facade of "Shuyuxuan" and realized that it was indeed unlike those noisy and vulgar brothels. He felt a little more at ease, but his vigilance did not diminish at all.

Zhu Cilang neither agreed nor disagreed, but simply stepped inside.

The servant quickly led the way.

Upon entering, there is a small and exquisite front yard with artificial rockery, bonsai trees, and a few bamboo stalks, creating a tranquil environment.

Passing through a moon gate, a three-story Chinese-style pavilion suddenly appears before you, with flying eaves, bracket sets, carved beams and painted rafters. Each floor is brightly lit, and the faint sounds of string and wind instruments and the chanting of scholars can be heard.

There was a spacious hall in front of the building, which was already quite full of people, mostly dressed as scholars. Some were chatting and laughing in small groups, while others were enjoying tea and admiring the scenery alone. The atmosphere was indeed quite elegant.

However, not long after Zhu Cilang and his entourage entered, dozens of people suddenly surged into the entrance to the front courtyard and the hall!
These people were dressed in various ways, including merchants, servants, and tourists. They seemed to be unrelated to each other, but after entering, they quickly dispersed with great tacit understanding. They each took a seat in the hall with a good view and a good position to guard the passageway. They ordered some simple tea and snacks, but their eyes seemed to be scanning the whole room, especially the area where Zhu Cilang was.

The sudden influx of a large number of people immediately caught the attention of the manager of "Shuyuxuan".

The shopkeeper was a shrewd middle-aged man in his forties with a mustache. He was sitting behind the counter fiddling with an abacus when he saw this. His heart skipped a beat.

When you're running a business, the worst thing is to have groups of customers who come from unknown backgrounds and are clearly not there for entertainment.

He forced a smile and stepped forward, bowing to the man who appeared to be the leader, dressed as a merchant:

"Welcome to our shop, sir/madam. May I ask who you are?"

The "merchant" remained expressionless, not even glancing at the shopkeeper, and directly pulled a bag of Ming Dynasty silver coins from his pocket, slamming it onto the counter with a low, cold voice:
"Serve me the best tea and fruit. Sit quietly and don't disturb me unless I call you. Do you have enough money?" (End of Chapter)