Great Zhou: Emperor Wu, I need to check your taxes.

This was the prevailing social norm in the Tang Dynasty: women could not only engage in trade, but also freely shop and buy things, essentially having no difference in rights from men.

However, this does not mean that men are the same as women.

Lin Yun, a grown man, suddenly barged into the rouge shop, like a wolf falling into a flock of sheep, instantly attracting everyone's attention.

"Hey, whose handsome young man is this? Why is he browsing a cosmetics shop all by himself?"

"He's really handsome. His features are much better than my deadbeat husband's."

The bolder women even started pointing at Lin Yun, covering their mouths and giggling, their eyes full of mockery.

Lin Yun felt extremely uncomfortable, but he forced himself to walk inside.

However, the next second, Lin Yun saw a scene that gave him goosebumps all over.

On a soft couch next to the counter sat a young man dressed in a pink robe.

The man was about twenty years old. He was fair-skinned, but his face was covered with thick makeup, and his lips were painted bright red.

At this moment, he was holding a handkerchief, his pinky finger slightly raised, chatting animatedly with several women surrounding him.

"Oh dear, Sister Zhang, your complexion has looked rather dull lately. You must not have been using the peach blossom cream I recommended, right?"

"That was carefully prepared by me using the Dew of a Hundred Flowers."

"And Sister-in-law Li, why has your waist gotten even thicker? That won't do, men all prefer a slender waist."

Her voice was high-pitched and feminine, and her movements were even more womanly than a woman's. Every now and then, she would cover her mouth with a handkerchief and giggle.

Lin Yun's lips twitched.

A prodigy, an absolute prodigy!

Lin Yun just wanted to finish his business and leave as soon as possible; staying in this place for even a second longer was torture.

He forced himself to squeeze through the crowd, got to the counter, and knocked on the table.

"Um... excuse me, I'd like to speak with your boss."

The handsome young man who was gossiping with the women turned around when he heard the voice.

Those peach blossom eyes with heavy eyeliner looked Lin Yun up and down, their eyes filled with amazement, and then she swayed her hips as she walked over.

"Oh, this young master looks unfamiliar."

Zhao Songjin walked up to Lin Yun, and a fragrant breeze wafted over him. The handkerchief even brushed lightly against Lin Yun's chest.

"I am the owner here, Zhao Songjin. May I ask what business you have with me, sir?"

"Are you looking to buy rouge for your sweetheart? Or... do you want to chat with me?"

What the heck? This is the good sister Wu Yuanmin was talking about?

Her appetite is way too much!

Lin Yun felt a churning in his stomach. He suppressed the urge to pluck out Qing Si and give him a quick death. He took out the emerald green jade ring from his pocket and waved it in front of Zhao Songjin.

"I am Wu... I am a friend of your benefactor," Lin Yun said in a low voice.

"You should recognize this, right?"

Zhao Songjin, who had been all smiles, narrowed his eyes slightly when he saw the ring, but quickly resumed his frivolous demeanor.

But before he could speak, the sharp-eyed women around him erupted in a commotion.

"Wow! What a beautiful jade thumb ring!"

"This quality, this clarity, it must be priceless!"

"This young master is not only handsome, but also incredibly wealthy! Whose son is he?"

A group of women instantly surrounded him, their eyes gleaming with lust. Some even reached out to touch the ring, while also trying to grope Lin Yun's hand.

"Young master, may I take a look at this thumb ring?"

"Is the young master married? I have a younger sister who is sixteen years old..."

Lin Yun was surrounded by this group of fierce women, unable to move forward or backward, his face full of helplessness.

It's true that the Tang Dynasty traditions are open, but this level of enthusiasm is a bit too much!

Just then, Zhao Songjin suddenly snorted coldly, a hint of displeasure flashing in his peach blossom eyes.

That's the kind of frustration that comes from having your prey snatched away by someone else.

"Alright, alright! Everyone, disperse!"

Zhao Songjin waved his handkerchief and shooed the group of women away like flies.

"Can't you see this young master has important business to discuss? Have you all never seen a man before?"

"This is my friend! Don't even think about making a move on him!"

After saying that, he turned around, gave Lin Yun a flirtatious wink, and extended a hand in an invitation.

"Young master, there are too many people here. Please come with me to the backyard for a chat."

Lin Yun took a deep breath and told himself that this was for work, for medicinal herbs, and for becoming stronger.

"please."

Gritting his teeth, Lin Yun followed the swaying pink figure through the back door.

The backyard corridor was winding and secluded, and the further you went in, the stronger the suffocating scent of perfume became.

Lin Yun forced himself to follow Zhao Songjin. Looking at the pink waist twisting like a water snake in front of him, he felt his stomach churning, even more uncomfortable than when he faced that pile of corpses.

"Young master, we've arrived. This is my boudoir; normally, no stinking men are allowed to enter."

Zhao Songjin chuckled and, with a delicate flick of her wrist, pushed open a carved wooden door.

"Please."

Lin Yun took a deep breath and mentally prepared himself before stepping inside.

But as soon as his foot touched the ground, he almost pulled it back.

This is hardly a man's room.

This is practically a spider's web!

As far as the eye can see, there are layers upon layers of pink gauze curtains, swaying in the wind.

The huge canopy bed was covered with a brocade quilt embroidered with mandarin ducks playing in the water.

What Lin Yun found most unbearable was that several brightly colored undergarments were casually draped on the wooden chair and even on the messy shelves by the bed!

Some of them are embroidered with unknown flowers, and the ribbons hang down, making them look extremely... unrestrained.

Even on the dressing table, there were several boxes of rouge that were not properly sealed, with eyebrow pencils and a few pieces of lip paper stained with red ink lying around them.

"this……"

Lin Yun's lips twitched violently, and he didn't know where to look, afraid of seeing something he shouldn't have and getting a sty.

"Manager Zhao, let's get straight to the point."

Lin Yun stood at the door, refusing to take another step inside, and said in a stern voice with a stern face:

"Did that esteemed person ask you to convey any message to me?"

"Oh dear, young master, why are you in such a hurry?"

Zhao Songjin seemed to enjoy Lin Yun's predicament. He walked to the table and sat down with an elegant posture.

He even picked up a large red bellyband draped over the chair, sniffed it, and then slowly folded and put it away.

The series of movements made Lin Yun's scalp tingle.

"Since you're a guest, shouldn't we at least have some tea before we talk?"

Zhao Songjin did not answer directly, but instead took out an exquisite tea set.

During the Great Zhou Dynasty, tea drinking was very popular, but it was not the plain tea of ​​later generations. Instead, it was cooked into a soup with seasonings such as ginger, salt, and scallions.

But this Zhao Songjin...

It clearly has a very unique flavor.