Now I really have to marry the princess.

Chapter 98 They've arrived at the back door of the bathhouse

The following day, the 30th day of the fourth month of the fifth year of Zhenguan (1549), was an auspicious day for receiving money, conducting transactions, and signing contracts.

Yang Zhengdao was in high spirits, while Nazha and Su Hongyi were full of pride.

Su Hongyi, in particular, would occasionally blush and chuckle to herself, after all, she had given away what she shouldn't have, and given away what she should have.

When Nazha looked over, Su Hongyi immediately straightened her face again, but the blush on her face made it difficult for her to maintain her usual aloofness.

"Sister in red, the dream I had last night—"

"Don't talk nonsense!"

"I understand! I understand!" Naza chuckled foolishly, making Su Hongyi's face turn even redder.

"Hurry up! We'll definitely run into acquaintances if we go any later." Yang Zhengdao spurred "Wu Ying" on its flanks, and "Wu Ying" suddenly sped up.

"Black Shadow's" hoof injury has healed, and horseshoes have been nailed on for verification purposes at the Imperial Stables.

But the prerequisite is that "Shadow of the Black" cannot leave Chang'an City.

This didn't matter to Yang Zhengdao, since he couldn't leave Chang'an for the time being anyway.

The three men and three horses deliberately exited through the East Gate and headed straight for the Imperial City. Xi Junmai, Tan Feng, Aba, and the others all stayed at the bathhouse to help with the opening.

As for Li Hui, this was probably the first time he had ever seen a water-bed mirror room, and he couldn't control himself.

So after the water bed and mirror room, there was a swing and rocking chair, which naturally lasted all night long, and Li Hui was unable to get up today.

Yang Zhengdao was worried that if Li Hui messed things up here, it might cause a rift with the Wang family of Hejian.

Ru Meng, that woman, was also indulgent. Not only did she do it herself, but she even paid out of her own pocket to call over a group of musicians and bath attendants to entertain them.

That's right, the musicians and bath girls in hot spring bathhouses are all employed through labor dispatch. The hot spring bathhouses provide the venue, costumes, and props, and charge a service fee in return.

This approach avoids competition with other embroidery academies and schools, while maintaining mobility and attracting outstanding talents from the entire Donghui Sanqu region.

Moreover, all these dispatched workers are wearing masks—and veils, too.

It can increase mystery, keep people guessing, make people unforgettable, and make people feel that something is being updated every day.

You'll never meet a soulmate here; you'll only encounter a bunch of unattainable ideals.

The main point is to present something elusive and insipid, to satisfy the husband; the main point is to present something illusory and unreal, to reassure the wife.

Yang Zhengdao had just entered the imperial city.

The hot spring bathhouse has unveiled its new signboard, hung lanterns, and begun welcoming guests.

The plaque above the door is the same as that of an ordinary private residence, a small plain wooden plaque hanging above the door.

The inscription reads: Wei's Bathhouse.

A wooden plaque stands to the side of the door, inscribed with a poem:

The fragrance of powder and the sweat dampen the strings of the zither; spring's gentle touch melts like a soft, nourishing rain.

After the bath, her lover caressed her, and her spirit felt cool and refreshed, like purple grapes.

What's even more shocking is that the author of this poem is Chang'an Xiaoxiaosheng, and the poem is titled "Sent to the Wei Family Bathhouse".

The original manuscript of the poem was sent to Wannian County by Yingluo early in the morning.

The original manuscript was written in the style of Ouyang Xun's regular script, which is the most popular font at the time. Finding Chang'an Xiaoxiaosheng by the handwriting is like finding a needle in a haystack.

However, the original manuscript included an additional note:

The world praises the three who were ranked first, while I alone am relegated to the third. Was the first truly the best? Was the last truly the worst? My mind is unsettled, hence this poem.

This was naturally a spur-of-the-moment decision by Yang Zhengdao.

With the complete knowledge of calligraphy from all dynasties provided by the system, it was no problem for him to write a piece of Ouyang Xun's style regular script on behalf of Chang'an Xiaoxiaosheng.

The top trending topic in Chang'an right now is undoubtedly Chang'an Xiaoxiaosheng and his novel "Lianpingchun," so we have to ride the wave of popularity and create some hype.

As for whether it will cause trouble for the hot spring bathhouse, there is naturally no need to worry.

The so-called benefits should be shared, not monopolized.

Yang Zhengdao directly distributed 50% of the profits from the bathhouse to Li Hui, 10% to Li Tai, 10% to Li Yuanjia, and Li Yuanjia also held 20% on behalf of the Crown Prince.

Therefore, this hot spring bathhouse, like other embroidery houses and secluded places in Nanqu, usually has someone behind it.

Upon opening the door, the first guests to arrive were the matriarchs and chief magistrates of various families in Nanqu, invited by Liu Rushi.

Women and ladies came over to offer their congratulations, presenting fresh fruit, colorful threads, handkerchiefs, and the like as a token of their good wishes.

Liu Rushi thanked them and led everyone into the courtyard to get a feel for the layout. Beforehand, Liu Rushi had visited each of them to discuss the hiring of musicians and bath attendants.

The fake mothers from each academy, whether they were eager to learn from the masters or sincerely wanted to cooperate, all readily agreed.

Before long, scholars and wealthy merchants had entered to try the new product.

Entering the front yard, you'll find yourself in the front hall.

The attendants were all dressed in tight-fitting ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), paired with a specially made sash, with a soft silk ribbon used to lift up their treasures and squeeze them together.

Standing in front of the hall, he bowed and revealed his magic weapon, making the visiting guest dizzy.

Then, in a sweet and gentle voice, say, "Welcome, distinguished guest."

It is difficult for someone who is not experienced in love and romance to resist such temptation.

Tan Feng, Shi Tu, Gao Kan, Aba, and Xi Junmai only needed to stand in the front yard to intimidate the villains.

Because at hot spring bathhouses, you enjoy the experience first, and then all expenses are calculated at the end.

Of course, according to the customs of the Tang Dynasty at that time, wealthy young men would naturally sign the bill at the end and then go to collect the money themselves.

Upon entering the front hall, the interior layout remained largely unchanged. A large screen displayed the entire poem "Song of Everlasting Regret."

Scholars and young men were full of praise and comments, saying that Erlang Jushi deserved to lose.

Wealthy merchants and magnates, indulging in refined pursuits, praised and echoed the saying that the scholar of Sanshang was exceptionally talented.

Among them were officials and clerks from Wannian County who came after hearing the news, ostensibly to seek out Chang'an Xiaoxiaosheng, but in reality to learn from him.

Whether or not we can get the hundred-string reward is another matter, but just taking a stroll in the front yard of the bathhouse and seeing the treasures of the guest master is worthwhile.

After a discussion in the hall about the poems "Song of Everlasting Regret" by the Three Upper Hermit and "Sent to the Wei Family Bathhouse" by the Three Lower Hermit, the group got down to business under the guidance of the host.

Behind the front hall, there was a dressing room with a locker for each person, and the dressing room was connected by a corridor leading directly to the east and west wing rooms.

Without a doubt, this bathhouse has no women's section.

Instead, the east and west wing rooms were divided into a bathhouse and a shower room. The shower room was familiar to everyone; it was a bathhouse where ordinary people bathed. The bathhouse used a shower head that had not yet appeared in the Tang Dynasty.

Both the bathhouse and the bathhouse have covered walkways that lead directly to the pavilion in the central courtyard.

In this way, guests can first go to the bathhouse to soak in the bath, wash away the dirt, change into their undergarments, go to the pavilion to have a banquet and listen to music, and finally return to the bathhouse to soak in the hot spring, looking refreshed.

As everyone entered the changing room, they saw a plaque with three characters in the upper-class style of calligraphy: "A gentleman is open and honest; it's all the same whether he takes his clothes off or not."

The group exchanged smiles, and the awkwardness of open communication dissipated.

Upon entering the bathhouse, one is greeted by a screen displaying a poem titled "Ode to the Lotus," written in the handwriting of Prince Xu, Li Yuanjia.

The line "The lotus leaves are half-hidden, half-concealed in spring, their jade-like bodies reflected in the clear water" brought smiles to everyone's faces. Another line, "When the flowers bloom in June, their red petals and tender stamens will be most alluring," filled everyone with anticipation.

Unfortunately, the word that is used to highlight the theme was not yet used as a verb in the Tang Dynasty, and only Yang Zhengdao could appreciate its double meaning.

Upon entering the hall, one sees a square pool with a bluestone bottom, the water being over two feet deep and crystal clear.

The pool water is divided into two sections, one hotter and the other lukewarm.

On the other side of the pool are individual cubicles containing bath tubs, specifically for washing away the dust.

Another row of veiled, uniformed bath attendants are waiting to provide bathing assistance; you may choose one.

The joy here needs no further explanation.

After bathing, everyone changed into dry undergarments and were led by the host to the central courtyard pavilion.

The first floor is a hall with a small table in the center and low tables around it.

On the small stage, masked musicians held a pipa, a transverse flute, a konghou, and a waist drum.

The sounds abruptly arose and played in sequence.

The lyrics they sang were actually the long and short sentences written in "Spring with a Curtain".

When people first saw the poem, they felt that the sentence structure was irregular, as if it was casually composed by Chang'an Xiaoxiaosheng, which only had color but no rhythm.

Now, with this music accompanying the short and long sentences, every word comes alive and every sentence is full of emotion. It can be said that the sentences are short but the feelings are long, and the sentences are long but the feelings are enduring.

Immediately afterwards, various scenes from "Spring Behind the Curtain" came to mind.

When the music ended, the audience fell silent, then erupted in thunderous applause.

Some exclaimed, "Only after listening to this piece do I understand the profound meaning within its varied verses. What were originally miscellaneous phrases now resonate in my ears as every word a gem."

Some praised: "By reading the three volumes of writing, one can know the ingenuity of the strange skills; by listening to the three volumes of music, one can know the elegance of the talent."

Some people lamented: "If we talk about poetic talent, the Three Upper Hermits are still worthy of being called superior; but if we talk about extraordinary talent, the Three Lower Hermits are certainly not inferior."

During a pause in the music, it was as if I were on stage in a dream.

She introduced herself as the mistress of the second son of the Wang family in Hejian, explained the purpose of the attic to everyone, and hinted that spending ten strings of cash would give her the opportunity to become a member.

When everyone asked what membership meant, Ru Meng smiled mysteriously and said, "You can ask the musicians in the private rooms on the second floor or in the east and west wing rooms."

The second floor consists of private rooms specifically for banquets and tea rooms for quiet conversation.

The east and west wing rooms in the central courtyard are elegant rooms for massage and acupressure, still connected by corridors.

The east wing is called "Fusong Room," where medical practitioners provide massage and acupressure for guests, which can relax muscles and improve blood circulation, reduce swelling and relieve bloating.

The west wing is named "Lotus Picking Pavilion," where a medical worker teaches guests massage techniques, which they can learn and practice at the same time.

The gentle massage techniques mastered by these medical professionals are the secret to the hot spring bathhouse.

The joy here needs no further explanation.

The backyard is an area exclusively for members.

The space was divided into private rooms and courtyards, where members could bring their maids or invite female entertainers to play.

If you bring a maid, a musician will also teach you how to play.

For this purpose, the hot spring bathhouse also has a back door hidden in a bamboo grove.

All members can enter directly through the back door.

The main feature is that it comes and goes without a trace, leaving no trace.

At this moment, Li Tai, under the pretext of continuing the literary gathering, once again invited Gao Lixing, Yan Xianfu, Du He, Fang Yi'ai and others to secretly arrive at the back door of the bathhouse.

Simply because this is where they can play the roles they've always longed for.

Without going into detail about the grape trellis or the hot spring basin, the book's ability to recreate the scenes, costumes, tools, lines, and actions is enough to inspire a person's innate acting talent.

Playing the lead role yourself and choosing the supporting roles yourself—this kind of scripted murder mystery game, set over a thousand years in advance, would definitely be a chaotic free-for-all in the Tang Dynasty.

Yan Xianfu originally didn't want to come, but recently he's been copying a lot of "Yan Family Instructions".

The thought that "he can only talk the talk but not walk the walk, he is not known for his loyalty and filial piety, and he lacks benevolence and righteousness" made him decide.

The sons of the Yan family should certainly "do it," and they must not be "incapable of doing it."

Meanwhile, Li Hui, looking exhausted, was sneaking around the back door, waiting to meet up with the others.

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