Chapter 13: Kryptogold Ancient Tree

Da Xia Capital.

Jing'an Lane.

In a secret passage, Gu Jin Nian and the others proceeded in order.

Qingyue Hall was ultimately not a respectable place; if these nobles came openly, they would be easily spotted.

It wasn't that they feared elders' reproach—after all, elders also liked such places and sometimes, with good luck, could run into them.

The main reason was that some old relics in the court would cause trouble.

They were already old, naturally uninterested in such matters, so they forbade the young from coming here.

Thus, if the news reached their ears, they would be scolded to some extent.

It could never be brought before the court; before state affairs, such trivial matters mattered little, but the impact would still be undesirable.

Therefore, these taverns got clever: while building a main gate, they also constructed several back doors to accommodate nobles of special status for leisure.

Gu Jin Nian's purpose in coming here was simple; he truly just wanted to take a look.

After all, ancient entertainment venues were few; such taverns were essentially places all nobles had to visit, merely differing in venue.

However, the trip also cost Gu Jin Nian a lot of words.

Steward Wang initially insisted on following, but finally, after Gu Jin Nian's various remarks, chose to leave.

Otherwise, if Steward Wang had followed, it would have been awkward; Grandfather Gu would certainly not allow it.

So this counted as a covert arrival.

Of course, Gu Jin Nian also promised to return after an hour, otherwise he couldn't get out.

There's no way around it; in ancient times, before coming of age, individuals had no freedom.

The idle, indulgent rich second‑generation characters seen in dramas are basically not nobles.

Proper nobles, before reaching adulthood, must stay dutifully at home or attend school.

Family discipline was strict; who would want their child to loiter outside when idle? After crossing the hidden passage and arriving at a building entrance, they ascended quickly; led by a voluptuous, attractive woman, the group entered a private room.

Except for Gu Jin Nian, Wu An, and Li Ping, the other five appeared especially nervous, their bodies trembling slightly.

Obviously, it was their first time in such a place.

This reminded Gu Jin Nian of his own past, when he was equally nervous, but gradually calmed down after staff soothed him.

Having lived two lifetimes, Gu Jin Nian naturally could no longer be nervous; instead, he was curious, taking in everything around him.

Qingyue Hall had five floors in total.

The decor was fine, using premium wood, and the whole place exuded a faint fragrance; incense burners placed in the corners emitted a calming aroma.

The overall colors were not vivid, yet appeared exquisite.

True to a grand tavern, it lacked any vulgarity, instead giving a tea‑chat ambience.

After entering the private room,

The room was spacious, furnished with dozens of grand chairs, three tables displaying assorted pastries, and six young, beautiful maids greeting them.

When the group entered, a pleasant voice rang out.

"Greetings, young gentlemen."

The crisp, pleasant voice, accompanied by shy glances, instantly made the young men unable to hold themselves.

Each flushed slightly, yet to show their distinction, remained silent, gave a pretended proper nod, while their eyes kept darting away.

They resembled those coming to a brothel for the first time.

The most natural were Wang An and Li Ping.

Wang An directly took the main seat.

Li Ping then pulled a stack of silver notes from his bosom, each worth ten taels; a quick glance suggested there were a dozen or so.

"Hong Jie, have the back kitchen prepare some delicacies and grant each person a portion; they are my friends, keep it quiet."

Li Ping seemed casual, tossing the notes over.

The woman called Hong Jie smiled as she took the notes, thanked Young Master Li, then gave the maids a signal.

The group did not linger and immediately bowed gracefully to Li Ping.

"Thank you, Young Master Li."

The crisp voice made Li Ping feel elated.

Finally, she inadvertently pinched Hong Jie's hip, then beckoned everyone to sit down.

Hong Jie smiled and left, without disturbing the group.

Soon, six maids poured wine for the group.

However, the maids' gazes occasionally fell on Gu Jin Nian; clearly, among the eight he was the most handsome, and they had noticed from the start.

"Brother Jin Nian, how is it? Not bad, I guess."

Li Ping invited Gu Jin Nian to sit, and also had everyone sit, his face full of smiles and a hint of smugness.

"Tipping over a hundred taels in one go—you really have money."

After sitting down,

Gu Jin Nian couldn't help but smile.

The Da Xia Dynasty's currency units were mainly copper coins and silver.

One hundred copper coins equaled one tael of silver; ten taels of silver equaled one tael of gold.

The purchasing power of one tael of silver was roughly a hundred coins in his previous life.

In other words, Li Ping had just casually tipped close to ten thousand.

The maids naturally burst into laughter.

Qingyue Hall was indeed a high‑end tavern in the capital, but there weren't many wealthy playboys like Li Ping; more accurately, the capital's nobles were scattered, and the city wasn't served by only Qingyue Hall.

Brother Jin Nian, you're just making fun of your brother.

My maternal grandfather is a merchant; the family has some silver, and he's willing to let me spend it, but what kind of person am I, Li? With money, it's absolutely impossible for me to spend it all alone—it's definitely something everyone does together.

Li Ping gave a bitter smile.

His father is the Chief Commander of Jingmen North Gate, holding a fifth-rank position, wielding considerable power, but compared to Wu An it's insignificant, let alone Gu Jin Nian.

The family gives him silver merely to let Li Ping grease the wheels with superiors and subordinates, maintain good relations—beneficial for himself and his elders—essentially paving the way with money.

Otherwise, relying solely on his father's position, Li Ping truly wouldn't be qualified to hang out with them.

I know your intentions; I'm just joking with you.

Gu Jin Nian smiled.

He clearly understood that Li Ping was very smart, at least when it came to worldly affairs—there was not a single flaw, he was extremely smooth.

Just then, Wu An's voice sounded.

Jin Nian.

This Zhang Yun is quite ungrateful; in half a month the study hall will close—do we brothers want to give him a little trouble?

As Wu An's voice rang out.

The others immediately spoke up.

Right, right, Brother Jin Nian, this Zhang Yun doesn't know what's good for him; let's give him a little trouble. "The study hall is about to close—we can definitely find an opportunity to mess with him."

Yes, let Zhang Yun suffer a loss; don't think that just because he's studious he can do as he pleases—I've long disliked him.

Everyone spoke up, but mainly because these maidservants were present, not knowing how to show themselves; taking advantage of this opportunity, they immediately spoke out, each appearing extremely smug, wanting to attract their attention through this, unaware how ridiculous it was.

Gu Jin Nian saw through everyone's thoughts at a glance.

Feeling a bit embarrassed, he still shook his head and said.

No need.

His father is a Great Scholar; if we really move against him, we won't have any good fruit to eat.

Alright, since we're out to play, let's really relax.

Brother Li Ping, what's the way to play here? Tell us—surely we aren't just a bunch of big men drinking alcohol.

Gu Jin Nian said skillfully.

He inquired about the way to play at the Azure Moon Pavilion.

As soon as he said that, everyone fell silent, each growing tense once again, yet their eyes were filled with anticipation.

Brother Jin Nian, the way to play here is also very simple.

Soon there will be civil and military performances on stage; the civil performance is just playing music and singing, but they're all courtesans—if you take a liking to one, you can have the attendants invite her to a private room for drinks and chat; of course the courtesans also have the right to refuse, and we won't force them.

The military performance is similar; however, after inviting the courtesans to a private room, you can also watch some performances—it just costs a bit more silver.

Li Ping said with a smile.

As soon as he said that, everyone's breathing grew a little hurried, because mentioning the military performance made Li Ping's expression noticeably different.

How much silver?

Gu Jin Nian asked curiously.

He didn't intend to look into it deeply; otherwise, if word got out, probably no one in the Gu family could protect him—it was just pure curiosity.

There are several grades: copper badge for ninety-eight taels, silver badge for one hundred ninety-eight taels, gold badge for two hundred ninety-eight taels, jade badge for three hundred ninety-eight taels.

Li Ping laughed.

That expensive?

Gu Jin Nian clicked his tongue.

Good heavens, even the cheapest costs ninety-eight taels—no wonder it's the capital; out in the countryside it'd be at most three taels.

Gu Jin Nian had previously encountered nothing more expensive than a hundred taels.

One hundred ninety-eight taels? Are they jacking up the price?

Even in ancient times, there's cutthroat competition?

Brother Jin Nian, what is this? If the courtesan is willing, it's at least five hundred taels to start.

Moreover, the Azure Moon Pavilion isn't even the most expensive; the most costly in the capital are the Flower-full Pavilion, Chang'an Si, and Linglong Hermitage—even a hundred thousand taels of silver can't buy a night with the top courtesan there.

Li Ping said somewhat dismissively.

As soon as he said that, everyone clicked their tongues.

A hundred thousand taels can't buy a single night? Truly, poverty limits imagination.

Would charging by the hour work?

Gu Jin Nian pondered in his heart.

Just then, the room door was knocked.

Then a servant entered carrying a tray covered with a red cloth; after the person left, Li Ping directly lifted the red cloth.

In an instant, gold ingots appeared before everyone.

It was obviously prepared by Li Ping.

The six maidservants stared, their eyes somewhat glazed.

One gold ingot equals ten taels, or one hundred taels of silver; the tray held twenty ingots, which comes to two thousand taels of silver.

In the maidservants' eyes, this naturally seemed quite grandiose.

Li Ping, why did you bring out so much gold?

Someone looked at Li Ping, somewhat curiously.

Brother Zhou, you don't know this—trading in silver is safer; silver notes are easily detected.

This is prepared for all of you brothers.

Li Ping replied, making the other person's face and ears instantly red.

"I'm just here to look, not to touch."

The other person spoke with a slight stutter, since there were outsiders present, they naturally couldn't relax.

Li Ping didn't think much of it, just smiled.

Soon, a strain of zither music sounded, drawing everyone's attention.

Gu Jin Nian looked over; on the stage appeared a woman with exquisite bearing and superb countenance, wearing a somewhat thin garment, and she began to dance gracefully.

Everything was quite quiet, without any loud shouting.

After appreciating it for a while, Gu Jin Nian lost interest.

After all, to him this was nothing, not at all open; he came here mainly out of curiosity, and also to see if he could stir up some resentment.

Since there's nothing interesting.

Gu Jin Nian went to the wine table and continued to study the ancient tree.

The maid thoughtfully filled a cup of wine, and also lightly brushed against him.

Gu Jin Nian didn't mind, but since he was thinking, he had no interest in chatting with her.

Several cups of clear wine went down his throat.

Gu Jin Nian also found nothing special, feeling a bit bored; he picked up a gold ingot and examined it a bit, after all, the Huaxia people have an inexplicable obsession with gold.

The half‑catty gold ingot felt somewhat heavy in his hand.

It also felt smooth; the bottom of the ingot was engraved with the four characters "Da Xia manufacture".

The feel was not bad.

"Li Ping, I'll take a bit of this ingot from you and pay you back later."

Gu Jin Nian said, "Having a bit of this on you is always fine."

It's still the same saying: before the coming‑of‑age ceremony, noble families basically don't give silver, for fear of reckless behavior.

But just as Gu Jin Nian held it in his palm,

In an instant, the gold ingot seemed to vanish into thin air, and then a strand of golden light appeared in his mind, entering the second branch on the right.

At this moment.

Gu Jin Nian froze.

Pay‑to‑win ancient tree?

(End of chapter)