Joy of Life: Me, the Second Prince? Summon Yuan Tiangang!

"Young master, you look unfamiliar. Is this your first time visiting our Purple Orchid Pavilion?"

The maid's voice was sweet and soft, as if it could drip water. As she spoke, she very naturally reached out to take Li Chengze's arm, her watery peach blossom eyes full of undisguised provocation.

Li Chengze turned slightly to the side, avoiding the maid's touch.

Without saying a word, he extended his right hand directly from his wide sleeves.

"when!"

A dull yet crisp metallic clang stood out starkly in the noisy hall.

A gold ingot the size of a baby's fist, of excellent quality, was casually stuffed into the maid's hand by Li Chengze.

The weight of the gold and the dazzling light it reflected under the lamplight instantly stunned the maid.

She had been welcoming and seeing off guests at Zilan Pavilion for several years and had seen countless extravagant spenders, but she had never seen anyone like this young master who, without saying a word, directly offered a priceless gold ingot.

This gold ingot is enough to buy the virginity of several courtesans in this Purple Orchid Pavilion!

"Young...Young Master..." The maid's voice trembled slightly. She gripped the gold ingot tightly, as if afraid it would fly away. Her eyes were filled with awe and fervor as she looked at Li Chengze.

Li Chengze stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze sweeping across the hall to the carved staircase leading to the second floor. His tone was calm: "Second floor, arrange for me the quietest private room. Bring me your best wine."

He paused, turned his head slightly, glanced at the maid, and added, "Remember, I only drink. I don't need any sisters with me."

The maid felt a shiver run through her body as Li Chengze's cold gaze swept over her, as if she were being stared at by a prehistoric beast. Any romantic thoughts she had harbored vanished instantly.

"Yes...yes! Please follow me, young master!"

The maid dared not be negligent in the slightest, and immediately bowed respectfully to lead the way, guiding Li Chengze up to the second floor.

The second floor of Zilan Pavilion is completely different from the bustling first floor. It is decorated with extreme elegance, with elegant rooms separated by sandalwood screens and beaded curtains on both sides of the corridor.

The air was no longer filled with the cheap scent of cosmetics, but with an extremely high-grade agarwood fragrance that could calm the mind and soothe the nerves.

Those who can go up to the second floor are either rich or noble, and are all prominent figures in Korea and even the seven kingdoms.

The maid led Li Chengze to the most spacious and elegant room at the end of the corridor, with a superb view. The room faced the street, and opening the window offered a panoramic view of most of Xinzheng City at night.

"Please wait a moment, young master. I will go and fetch the 'Orchid Wine' that our Zilan Pavilion has treasured." The maid bowed respectfully, then backed out of the elegant room and gently closed the door.

After leaving the elegant pavilion, the maid breathed a long sigh of relief, touched the heavy gold ingot in her arms, and a shrewd glint flashed in her eyes.

Instead of immediately going to the wine cellar to get the wine, she quickly walked through the second-floor corridor and arrived at the deepest part of the Purple Orchid Pavilion, in front of a wooden door carved with intricate purple patterns.

This is the private territory of Zi Nu, the owner of Zi Lan Xuan.

The maid took a deep breath and gently knocked on the door.

"Enter."

A languid, alluring, yet subtly authoritative female voice came from inside the door.

The maid pushed open the door and respectfully went inside.

The room was decorated in an extremely luxurious and exotic style. Layers of purple gauze curtains were draped over the walls, and a strange, intoxicating fragrance filled the air.

In the center of the room, on a soft couch covered with snow-white fox fur, leaned an extremely alluring woman.

She had long, flowing purple hair that cascaded down like a waterfall, and her skin was as white and delicate as mutton fat jade.

She wore a tight-fitting purple dress that perfectly accentuated her devilishly alluring figure.

Her eyes were adorned with an eerie purple eyeshadow, and her gaze seemed capable of stealing a man's soul.

At her waist, a chain-snake-like soft sword, seemingly alive, gleamed with a chilling light, reminding the world that this beautiful violet carried a deadly poison.

She is the owner of this Purple Orchid Pavilion, and also one of the core figures of the future Quicksand Organization—Purple Maiden.

"What is it?" Zi Nu held an exquisite pipe in her hand, took a light puff, exhaled a wisp of purple smoke, and asked casually.

The maid stepped forward, presented the gold cake with both hands, and respectfully reported, "Sister Zi Nu, a very special guest has arrived downstairs."

Zi Nu glanced at the gold ingot without any reaction, but upon hearing the maid's words, a playful expression appeared on her face.

"Oh? How is it special?"

The maid swallowed hard, recalling the scene just now, and said truthfully, "That young man looked unfamiliar and was definitely not a local nobleman from Xinzheng. But he was extremely generous; he rewarded me with this gold ingot as soon as he entered. And..."

"And what?" Zi Nu raised an eyebrow slightly.

"Moreover, he specifically requested to go upstairs to the second floor and drink the finest wine, but he specifically instructed that he did not need any of the ladies to accompany him, nor did he allow anyone to disturb him," the maid said in a low voice. "Judging from that young master, he has an extraordinary bearing and his eyes are frighteningly deep. He is definitely not an ordinary江湖客 (jianghu kè kè, a wandering swordsman) or 富商 (fù shāng dāng, a wealthy merchant). He came to our Zilan Pavilion alone, but only drank wine and did not seek out any ladies. I find this rather strange, so I came to report to you, sister."

Upon hearing this, a sharp glint finally flashed in Zi Nu's originally languid eyes.

She slowly sat up straight and gently tapped the pipe in her hand on the table.

"Alone, generous, and with an extraordinary air, yet she comes to Zilan Pavilion just to drink..." A playful smile appeared on Zi Nu's lips, and a cunning glint flashed in her purple eyes.

In this city of Xinzheng, anyone with a little knowledge knows what Zilanxuan is.

People come here either to seek pleasure or to make connections with the powerful and wealthy.

For someone with such wealth and magnanimity to come to this place of pleasure and yet choose to drink alone with a pure and abstinent heart is itself an extremely abnormal thing.

There must be a demon in the abnormal situation.

"Interesting." Zi Nu stood up, her purple skirt trailing gracefully on the ground.

She walked to the window, gazing at the dazzling lights of Xinzheng City outside, and murmured softly, "The waters of Xinzheng City were already murky enough. Now, it seems another raging dragon has swum in."

She turned to the maid and ordered, "Go and retrieve the 'Purple Jade Nectar' that has been treasured for ten years from the cellar."

The maid was shocked upon hearing this: "Sister, that 'Purple Jade Nectar' is yours...?"

"Do as I say." Zi Nu interrupted her, a glint of shrewdness flashing in her eyes. "Since he is an honored guest, he should naturally be treated to the finest wine. I want to personally meet this mysterious young master and see what he's really up to."