Film and Television: The Collector Who Rampages Across the Heavens

Northern Song Dynasty, Tokyo.

The noble and prestigious Ningguo Duke's Mansion.

"Young master, young master!"

"It's time to get up and eat."

Zuli opened her eyes groggily. It had rained lightly last night, and the room was quiet and peaceful. The breeze blowing in from the window carried the fragrance of the neighboring garden.

Beside the rosewood bed, a beautiful maidservant was having three or four other maidservants help him get up and dress.

This is his second month in the world of "Dream Record". His identity is the youngest son of the Duke of Ningguo, Su. This Duke of Ningguo was a founding hero who followed Zhao Kuangyin of the Northern Song Dynasty to conquer the country. He was skilled in martial arts and knowledgeable in literature. He was a scholar-general who made great contributions.

He was personally granted the title of Duke by Zhao Kuangyi. This was the fourth rank in the nobility system, after Prince, Heir Apparent, and Prince of the Commandery. Because the Northern Song Dynasty suppressed the granting of the title of Prince of the Imperial Clan, it was almost never granted. Heir Apparent was the title of the son who inherited the title of Prince of the Imperial Clan, and there were very few of them. The remaining title of Prince of the Commandery was the most common title in the Song Dynasty, but even so, very few people could obtain it.

When the Song Dynasty emperor proclaimed that he had recovered the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun and bestowed the title of "King," he was referring to the title of "Prince of the Commandery."

The title of Duke is undoubtedly prestigious. As long as one does not plot rebellion or treason, one can inherit it indefinitely, enjoying wealth and honor for generations, sharing prosperity with the nation.

"Young master, raise your hand..."

The beautiful maid Shui Ning wiped his face with a silk handkerchief dampened with water. The latter pointed to her proud figure, which was supported by the tassels and silk, and the most prominent part of her body.

She was a courtesan bought from the Jiaofangsi by Su Li. She had a slender and graceful figure, a pure and lovely appearance, and skin as white as snow. Her delicate and beautiful face was adorned with a beauty mark at the corner of her eye, adding a touch of alluring charm.

He joked, "You seem to have gained weight again!"

Shui Ning glanced at the young nobleman with her delicate and beautiful eyes, but remained silent. This young duke was known throughout Tokyo for his dashing and unconventional personality.

On the second night after she was bought and brought back to the Duke's mansion, she was taken to bed with him, and they were intimate every day. They knew each other well.

"We're too close, teasing each other is pointless..." Su Li muttered to herself, then spread her arms and put on an elegant blue and white silk dress, with a jade belt carved from blue jade around her waist, and white socks and black patterned boots on her feet.

A bronze mirror, as tall as a person, reflected on the side wall of the room a handsome, tall, and jade-like noble young man.

With that kind of appearance, if he went out and did something bad, no one would believe it was him...

Breakfast consisted of thin porridge, side dishes, and steamed buns. The taste was acceptable, and Su Li ate with relish. Shui Ningying came to report when he was almost finished eating.

"Young master, the carriage is ready."

"Then let's go..."

Yesterday we agreed to go to Zuihualou to see Zhang Haohao, the top courtesan in Tokyo, who is also one of the female characters in the drama.

The Duke's Mansion was a densely packed complex of buildings, with pavilions and houses stretching out in a continuous line, surrounded by green tiles and blue bricks. Long corridors, alleys, and arched bridges connected the buildings. Generations of the Su family had built and lived there, and the area was very large. There were more than a thousand servants, maids, and guards. One can imagine how corrupt life was in ancient times.

A carriage stopped at the side gate, surrounded by six lightly armored mounted guards. They were stern-faced, burly, and had sheathed longswords at their waists.

When walking in the city, only public officials were allowed to carry weapons. Apart from the imperial family and nobles, the rest were also honored.

Once inside the carriage, Su Li pulled the fragrant Shui Ning into her arms, her gaze fixed on the carriage exterior, which was being blown about by the wind.

Tokyo was a great city to live in. It was a prosperous and bustling metropolis supported by the entire Song Dynasty. The city was teeming with people, and the sounds of vendors hawking their wares filled the air. There were also merchants from beyond the Great Wall selling slaves, genuine leather, gems, and other goods.

"Young master..."

The water condensed and lifted up.

"Ah... I'm sorry."

Shui Ning was speechless for a moment; this was clearly a case of someone getting the better deal.

The carriage finally arrived at Zuihualou, a place of pleasure and entertainment in Tokyo. Zuihualou was the premier establishment, and all who came there were high-ranking officials, nobles, and wealthy young men.

"Oh, young Duke, you've arrived! It's been so long! How have you been?"

Upon receiving the report from her subordinates, the madam of the Drunken Flower Pavilion, with her slightly plump figure and a fawning smile, rushed out of the building.

"Enough with the nonsense, take me to see Zhang Haohao."

Snapped!

With his folding fan open, Su Li fanned himself with a rather dashing air. Six fierce-looking guards stood behind him, giving him the air of a villainous young master.

"Please, please..."

The madam led the way, her plump, round buttocks swaying back and forth like two apples. Su Li's eyelids twitched as she watched. This madam was only old and faded; if she had been in her prime, she would have been a beauty.

Bang bang bang!

"Alright, alright, the young Duke has come out to see you. Open the door quickly."

The madam knocked on the door and called out. Soon the door opened, and a beautiful woman in a goose-white long dress gracefully emerged. She had delicate skin, black hair like clouds, delicate eyebrows, pretty cheeks, a slender figure, and an elegant demeanor.

She gave a graceful bow and said with an air of elegance, "Good morning, Young Master Su."

This wasn't the first time the two had met; they had known each other for about half a month and their relationship was fairly good.

"This is none of your business."

Su Li gestured for the madam to leave, then led Shui Ning into the room and closed the door.

"Okay, okay, I didn't miss you."

He stepped forward and grasped the woman's slender, fair hands. Her delicate fingers were like jade scallions. Su Li looked closer and saw that plastic surgery was not popular in this era, so her face was completely natural.

"Young master, please have some self-respect."

Zhang Haohao blushed, trying to pull her hand back but unable to muster the strength.

"That's not very nice of you. I've come to see you so many times, don't you understand my intentions?"

Su Li reached out and handed her the items.

"chocolate!"

Zhang Haohao was overjoyed and blurted out that she had fallen in love with this sweet snack ever since she first tasted it at Su Li's place, but she had asked people to search all over Tokyo and still couldn't find it.

Su Li used chocolate to tempt her time and time again, which made their relationship develop rapidly, and they were just one step away from going deeper into the relationship.

Carefully opening the chocolate wrapper, Zhang Haohao took a small bite and couldn't help but let out a long sigh, her face filled with satisfaction.

Actually, chocolate isn't that delicious; it's just that it's rare and therefore expensive...

Looking at the woman's glossy, pink lips, Su Li couldn't resist lowering her head and biting them.

Waaah... Zhang Haohao's beautiful eyes widened in surprise, not expecting this man's sudden attack, taking liberties with her in front of his personal maid.

She clenched her delicate hands into small fists and gently pounded the man's chest again and again. Only when he couldn't breathe did Su Li release her.

"Young Master Su, you..."

Zhang Haohao's face was filled with anger. She was not the kind of person who would use her beauty to please others. Although she came from a background of courtesan, she had always devoted herself to practicing singing, hoping to find a good man with talent.

But these men only care about her appearance. Although she has feelings for the man in front of her, his occasional flirting makes her uncomfortable.

"This is the payment I'm making."

Su Li said something, and then, under the other person's puzzled look, explained, "Three days ago, the son of the Marquis of Qingyuan wanted to invite you to the Marquis's residence, but I stopped him. Does that count as helping you out?"

Zhang Haohao's thin lips twitched, and her pretty face changed color. As a courtesan who used her beauty and charm to please customers, if she entered that wealthy family, she would have no way to resist whatever they did to her.

Although Zuihualou has powerful backers, how could they possibly offend the Marquis's mansion for the sake of a lowly woman like her!

"This humble servant thanks Young Master Su!" Zhang Haohao bowed solemnly.

"What are you thanking me for? Your business is my business." Su Li held her delicate hand and said calmly, "Although you were exceptionally beautiful before, you were rarely seen in this Drunken Flower Brothel, so naturally no one would have any designs on you. But now that you've become the number one singing girl in Tokyo... I don't need to tell you, you understand."

Zhang Haohao remained silent. Countless singing champions had emerged from the Drunken Flower Pavilion. Where had all those women gone? It was obvious that they had all become playthings of those high-ranking officials and nobles. If they were lucky, they would become concubines; if they were unlucky, they would be handed over like commodities.

Just then, the sound of arguing came from outside...

"Who are you people and why are you blocking this way? My husband wants to see Zhang Haohao!"

"Get out!" These were the words of a guard from the Ningguo Duke's mansion.

"How dare you! Do you know who I am? I am Chi Pan, the head of the twelve guilds in Bianjing! You're asking for trouble, daring to block my way!" the arrogant man shouted.

Clang!

The sound of a sharp blade being drawn rang out, and a guard said coldly, "This is a matter for the Duke of Ningguo's mansion; those who have no connection to this matter, get out of the way."

"The Duke of Ningguo? Excuse me, is the Duke of Su Xiaoguo inside?"

Chi Pan outside was taken aback and asked cautiously.

creak!

The door opened, and Su Li and her companion emerged, saying lazily, "Young Master Chi, what brilliant ideas do you have?"

"Ahem, in front of you, young master, I dare not address myself as 'young master'."

Chi Pan secretly bit his tongue, glanced at Zhang Haohao, and muttered a regretful note before saying, "Since the young Duke is here, I shall take my leave. Perhaps we can have a drink together sometime."

He was a big shot in the business world, but he had to back down when he encountered the Duke's mansion.

"How about that? Another one eyeing you."

Su Li reached out and cupped the woman's fair, delicate chin, saying, "If it weren't for me, could you stay peacefully in your boudoir?"

"I'm going to Qiantang in two days. Are you ready to come with me?"

After a moment of silence, Zhang Haohao asked, "What brings you to Qiantang, young master?"

"Springtime is still chilly, so it's definitely time to go sightseeing."

……

The river and lake shimmered, and sailboats passed by one after another. Among them, a large ship had its flags fluttering and was engraved with the character "Su". Dozens of armored soldiers stood around it, making it look majestic and extraordinary. This attracted the attention of some passengers on passing ships, who pointed and talked about it.

Inside the elegantly decorated and antique-style ship's interior, a sweet and soft singing voice rang out. A woman, barefoot, sang and danced. It was Zhang Haohao.

"Her singing is beautiful, and she's beautiful too! No wonder she's Tokyo's most famous courtesan! What a stroke of luck!"

With the back of her head resting on Shui Ning's round and slender legs, Su Li commented while eating strawberries.

Exhausted from jumping, Zhang Haohao came over in a few steps, poured a glass of wine, and handed it to him with both hands. After being reprimanded by Su Li today, she had become much more obedient and lost her previous arrogance.

"I've heard that there's a master pipa player, the best in Jiangnan, living by the Qiantang River. I wonder if I'll have the chance to meet him and exchange ideas," Zhang Haohao said.

"If you like it, I'll help you find it, but how will you thank me?"

As Su Li spoke, she reached out and touched her slender, jade-white feet, then moved upwards, touching her legs.

Zhang Haohao blushed with embarrassment. In ancient times, only a husband could touch her bound feet. She said shyly, "How would you like me to thank you, young master? How about I perform a song and dance that I just learned for you?"

"What's the point of singing and dancing? I'd like to eat some fruit."

Su Li looked at her with a smile on her face.

"Fruit?" Zhang Haohao looked blankly at the strawberries, grapes, and other fruits on the table, and asked, "Which kind would you like, young master?"

"You still don't understand, Ning'er, tell her!"

Su Li gave a signal, and Shui Ning leaned close to Zhang Haohao's ear and whispered a few words.

The latter blushed instantly, speechless with embarrassment; she couldn't believe such a comparison existed—peach and strawberry…

She playfully scolded, "Young master, you're too naughty!"

"That's right, your young master is a big bad guy." Su Li teased her in his arms for a while. Zhang Haohao had taken advantage of him a lot recently and was already used to it. She also had a premonition that tonight would be the day she lost her virginity.

As expected, as soon as she finished dinner, Shui Ning took her to take a bath, changed her into a light gauze dress, and led her into Su Li's room.

A candle on the table dispelled the surrounding darkness. There was a pot of wine and two plates of snacks. Su Li sat to one side and smiled slightly when she saw her come in.

Putting everything else aside, its appearance alone is enough to make some young girls' ears burn and their hearts pound. Shui Ning closed the door behind her, and Zhang Haohao walked over shyly.

"Young master, what you're doing..."

Before she could finish speaking, she gasped and was pulled into the other person's arms.

"Look at her, with bright eyes and white teeth, her features are exquisite, she truly is a beauty of unparalleled grace." Su Li picked up a glass of wine and handed it to her, "Tonight is your big day, drink more."

"A joyous occasion?" Zhang Haohao was somewhat amused and exasperated; using this word to describe it felt rather inappropriate.

"What, you think it's inaccurate?"

"Great joy! A wedding is only called a grand wedding when a wife from a prestigious family is married into the family. It's impossible for me in this lifetime," Zhang Haohao said with a hint of melancholy. Being favored by this young duke was both her fortune and misfortune.

"That's not right. If you serve me to my satisfaction, I might as well take you into my household." Su Li meant to take a concubine, not to marry.

"Is this the truth, young master?" Zhang Haohao's eyes shone like stars.

Being a concubine sounds despicable, but that was her destiny. Some women didn't even get that title; they were kicked out of the house when they grew old and lost their beauty, left to their fate.

Needless to say, the concubines of the young duke were usually daughters of wealthy merchants who could rise to such a position. If she could, it would be a stroke of incredible luck, and she would be willing to do anything.

"I never lie, but my beauty, you need to show me some real talent besides singing and dancing."

Su Li gently twirled a few strands of hair between her temples, blew on them, and spoke softly.

Zhang Haohao blushed, recalling the things Shui Ning had taught her while she was washing up. Now she understood everything; it was all instructed by this young master.

It's embarrassing to talk about, and it's a waste of breath, but what can she do?