Do you know: I should be fat and you should be thin!

"Could you rub it a little more gently?"

Zhou Ning lay on the edge of the bathtub complaining, wondering if he should buy some maids to serve him.

Pear was already strong, and now that it's growing, its strength is increasing day by day, and it's really too much for it to handle.

"Hmm, that's too small-minded. Why buy a maid? If you're going to buy one, buy Wei Hangshou!" Zhou Ning quickened his washing and changed into a new set of clothes.

I was young before, and although I'm still not old now, I've finally got money!

And if I remember correctly, Gu Tingye paid the bill tonight, since he won the polo match.

"Pear Head, it's time we got a carriage, what do you think?" Zhou Ning suggested.

Pear Head wholeheartedly agreed. It was quite a long trip to the Sheng residence every day, and if there were a carriage, he could at least sleep for a couple of quarters of an hour longer!

The master and servant strolled around the carriage shop and bought a carriage. Pear Head began to learn how to drive, slowly making their way towards Guangyuntai.

Guangyuntai was located on West Gate Street in the inner city of Bianjing. It was the largest brothel in Bianjing, even more luxurious than Fanlou, and frequented by high-ranking officials, nobles, and wealthy merchants.

When Zhou Ning and his companion arrived, the streets outside the building were already filled with all kinds of carriages.

Due to limited manpower, Pear Head was left to watch the car.

When a maid saw Zhou Ning approaching, she quickly stepped forward to lead him into the building.

The room was filled with silk and decorated with red lanterns.

Zhou Ning immediately spotted the three courtesans dancing on the central stage.

He glanced around and saw that the first floor was mostly occupied by individual customers, with long tables for two people, which seemed to fit the pairing of one person and one prostitute.

"May I ask if you have a sweetheart, young master? If not, you may come with me to the side room to choose one," the maid said softly.

Zhou Ning coughed and chuckled, "Could you ask Chief Wei if she's free? I'd like to request her!"

The maid immediately understood that Zhou Ning was a novice and didn't know the rules of being a hostess.

This isn't a question of whether it's empty or not; if there's no threshold, it will never be empty!

It should be noted that Wei, the head courtesan, was praised as a "flower who understands words." She was skilled in short poems and excelled at singing "Wuling Spring." At a young age, she secured her position as the most beautiful courtesan at Guangyuntai based on her talent.

"Young master, you may not know this, but to see Head Chef Wei, the silver is just a formality. You also have to answer the questions she asks or match the poems she gives you. Otherwise, even if the emperor's brother-in-law or a general came, you still wouldn't be seen," the maid explained.

Wei Xingshou told everyone in an almost "arrogant" way that he only gives his time to those who understand him!

Zhou Ning nodded that he understood and said, "Then I'll trouble you to make the trip and ask Chief Wei to quickly give me the questions. I'll wait here. These are for you." He then handed over several strings of cash.

The maidservant smiled and accepted the gift, then quickly went upstairs.

A moment later, she came downstairs with two slips of paper and handed them to Zhou Ning, saying, "Master Wei said that if you can answer any of the questions, you will be my companion."

On a piece of paper was written the first line of a couplet: "The sound of wind, the sound of rain, the sound of reading—all sounds enter the ear."

On another piece of paper was half a poem: Spring waters are bluer than the sky, a painted boat sleeps listening to the rain.

Zhou Ning, quick-witted, replied immediately: "Listen to my second line: Family affairs, national affairs, world affairs—I care about everything. As for this poem, I can also complete the second half. Listen carefully: 'The mud thaws, swallows fly; the sand warms, mandarin ducks sleep!'"

The maid's eyes lit up, and she exclaimed, "Young master is so amazing! Many scholars can't answer this well, and so quickly too!"

"If you have remembered it well, please reply," Zhou Ning urged.

After repeating it once, the maid went upstairs immediately, and soon a young girl came down with a fan.

The young woman's features were exquisite, her beauty like a crabapple blossom glistening with morning dew. Her figure was graceful, her waist swaying like a willow in the east wind. Her eyes were bright and lively, and every gesture exuded elegance!

"That's nice!" Zhou Ning thought to himself.

Their eyes met, and Wei, the head of the business, bowed slightly, surprised that Zhou Ning was indeed as young as the maid had described. He then asked softly, "I've troubled you to wait, young master. Shall we leave the table or go inside for a chat?"

Seeing the lively music and sweet scents of perfume mixed with the smell of alcohol in the lobby, Zhou Ning knew he was about to confess his feelings. Still a little shy, he smiled and said, "Please lead the way, let's talk inside."

The two moved to the Listening Lotus Pavilion.

Inside the room were precious rosewood and sandalwood furniture, and the curtains were made of shimmering Wu silk. There were also many rare and precious items on the antique shelves. What attracted Zhou Ning even more was the Jiao Wei Qin (a type of zither) in front of the zither table.

After the two sat down, Zhou Ning kept staring at Wei Xingshou without saying a word.

Wei, the head of the business, was quiet and insightful, and would not say anything to spoil the atmosphere, allowing him to observe her.

"Seeing is believing, and one can become intoxicated by one's own presence even without wine," Zhou Ning praised.

Wei, the head of the business, smiled and thanked her.

"I wish to redeem you, but it will take time. I know you're used to these empty words and have seen all sorts of people, but I'm serious. Until I do, I will not touch you in the slightest!" Zhou Ning said earnestly, his eyes shining.

Since they're still young, we can't let it affect their development, and we can also show off their self-control.

Having heard the phrase "I'll redeem you" so many times, Wei Xingshou was not moved in the slightest.

But the young man in front of her looked a few years younger than her, and spoke so sincerely that she didn't know how to respond for a moment. She could only urge him to drink: "If life were only as beautiful as our first meeting, why don't you have a big toast, sir?"

One glass of wine down!

"Good wine. Sister, you were once a courtesan, and now you've become the head courtesan. It's not something you can just buy off with enough money. You have to submit an application, have an official of the fifth rank or above act as guarantor, get approval from the prefecture, and pay fees at each level. But unless something major happens, the government will never let you go easily. But don't worry, sister, as long as you're willing to wait for me, I will definitely take you away." Zhou Ning spoke eloquently and sincerely.

However, what he said was true. Official prostitutes were directly or indirectly managed by the government and served as a "cash cow" to boost alcohol taxes.

It is worth noting that when Su Shi was serving as the Vice Prefect of Hangzhou, the famous courtesan Zhou Sheng was renowned for her beauty and talent. Her application to leave the profession was rejected by Su Shi, who gave the simple reason that "the work always needs to be done."

Wei Xingshou raised his eyes and said, "Young master, your words are utterly foolish."

"Call it madness or insanity. To be honest, Sister Wei, I am already a Juren (a successful candidate in the provincial civil service examination), and I will only be thirteen years old after the spring. Besides, my parents died early, and I have no family burdens. Since I am all alone, what do I have to fear? If being a Juren can't save you, then I will take the Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examination)! If becoming a Jinshi is not enough, I will strive for the Zhuangyuan (the top scholar in the imperial examination)! If I become the Zhuangyuan, I will be appointed as a compiler in the Hanlin Academy, and my starting rank will be the sixth grade..." Zhou Ning picked up the wine pot and said as he walked.

Hey girl, aren't you mesmerizing? What girl could resist you?

Wei Xingshou was completely captivated. She had only ever seen such a spirited and dashing man before, Gu Tingye.

But Gu Tingye's ambition lies in reclaiming the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun!

The young man before me is so bold, daring to compete for the top scholar title to redeem himself!

The most beautiful words of love in this life are none other than these...

Zhou Ning leaned closer again, bowed, and said affectionately, "Perhaps you don't have any feelings for me now, but life is only seventy years long. Subtract ten years of ignorance and twenty years of old age, and you only have forty years left. Then, take away half of those forty years as night, and you only have twenty years left. Think about it carefully, years of studying hard, running around, attending court and bathing, all of which will take up a lot of time. The time I really have left to spend with you is very little."

"What...what exactly are you trying to say?" Wei Xingshou's heart trembled.

"I've liked you since the first moment I saw you..."

......