Chapter 101: Why is Master 100 so constrained? (Requesting subscriptions!)

After saying goodbye to Liu Qingmei and Ye Yin.

Ning Mu walked into the city alone.

He walked and stopped, taking in the local customs and atmosphere on both sides of the road.

When he stopped in front of a small hair accessory shop, intending to pick out a few hairpins to give to those pretty maids of his.

Suddenly.

A fragrant breeze swept past him.

Ning Mu could not help but glance to the side, only to see Liuli, with her cold expression and indifferent demeanor, standing there gracefully like a fairy.

At this moment, Liuli was wearing a plain, cream-colored robe and holding a parasol; her graceful and slender figure was so stunning that even the middle-aged woman selling the hairpins was left dazed.

"Master, what a coincidence, are you here to buy hairpins too?"

"The hairpins in this shop are quite nice, hmm... this one, it would suit you quite well, Master."

As he spoke, Ning Mu picked out a peachwood hairpin and handed it to Liuli.

Liuli suppressed the agitation in her heart, reached out to take the peachwood hairpin, and appeared distracted.

"You are quite leisurely, little friend. I wonder how many young ladies are destined to be ruined by you after you've picked out so many hairpins?"

There was a hint of reproach in Liuli's beautiful eyes.

"Master, that is a grave injustice. Am I really that desperate?"

Ning Mu cried foul.

Immediately after.

After paying, he looked at Liuli's attire for the day.

It had a lot of charm.

The plain robe had no shawl, and two ribbons set off her naturally snow-white shoulders, making them appear even fairer.

Looking down, the two temple towers, though covered by the plain robe, were still impossible to hide and were faintly discernible.

"You aren't desperate?"

"Those maids in your courtyard act like they're in a competition every night. I reckon if you let your maids participate in the singing contest at the upcoming Sacrificial Saint Festival, they would all take first place."

Liuli's face flushed slightly as she retorted without mercy.

"Cough, cough... let's not talk about that, let's not. I'm heading to the Yichun Courtyard now. Are you coming with me, Master, or...?"

Ning Mu's old face reddened, he coughed awkwardly, and then changed the subject.

It could be vaguely seen that at this moment, Liuli was wrapped in her plain clothes, and underneath, she was strictly following the requirements of her mission, with no unnecessary adornments.

Hearing Ning Mu issue a 'dismissal', Liuli suddenly felt flustered in her heart.

Her eyes flickered, and she feigned a serious tone: "Cough, come to think of it, this nun should go and check on them to see if the toxins have had any backlash. I shall accompany you, little friend."

Liuli found a high-sounding excuse for herself.

Ning Mu chuckled inwardly, but he would not expose her.

"Then let's go. I wonder if your affairs in Yonghang have been resolved, Master? How much longer will you be staying?"

Ning Mu asked with a smile.

It sounded as if he were chasing her away.

Liuli could not help but frown slightly.

She still had a mission to protect this scoundrel for a year!

Immediately, her eyes drifted, and she said: "Not resolved. Why, little friend, are you finding this nun a nuisance and want me to leave?"

"Do you feel that what I said to you in the past was too abrupt, little friend?"

"If you mind, this nun can move out of the courtyard. After all, the courtyard is indeed a bit crowded now, and often because I am there, you cannot unleash your true nature with those maids. I can understand that."

Liuli's eyes flickered, not knowing how to find a suitable excuse to stay by Ning Mu's side for a year.

"Master, you've misunderstood. I was just concerned about whether your affairs were going smoothly and if you needed any help. How could I ever have the thought of chasing you away!"

"A beauty like you, Master, being able to stay by my side every day—even if we don't do anything, just being able to look at you once or twice a day is a feast for the eyes. How could I mind?"

"As for the courtyard... Master, as someone outside the secular world, you wouldn't mind if I were a bit too wild with my maids, would you?"

Ning Mu said with a smile.

"..."

Liuli's expression was gloomy; she did not want to speak.

She had long since discovered that when it came to a battle of wits, she was no match for this scoundrel!

But...

She still had a mission to complete! Gritting her teeth, Liuli looked down at Ning Mu's hand.

Then, gathering her courage, she extended her slender, fair, and soft hand and took the initiative to hold his.

"Since it is a feast for the eyes, then how about this?"

Liuli's eyes shimmered, and she tilted her head and smiled at Ning Mu.

Suddenly feeling a hand that was as warm and soft as jade, and as smooth as congealed fat, Ning Mu smiled slightly and held it back.

"Your hand is a bit cold, Master. Do you suffer from a cold womb?"

Ning Mu asked with a smile.

"Let me warm it up for you."

Before his words had even faded, he pulled this Buddhist hand, which had spent years accompanied by a Wooden Fish and a Whisk, and tucked it toward his chest.

Of course, he did not actually tuck it inside his clothes.

Not to mention that this was in public, with people coming and going.

It would be inconvenient to walk with it tucked inside.

However, this movement still made Liuli subconsciously want to pull back.

Upon noticing Ning Mu's teasing gaze, she immediately realized she had been played by this scoundrel again.

The two walked hand in hand toward Yichun Courtyard.

Ning Mu's expression was as usual, unrestrained and carefree.

But it was hard on Liuli.

Along this way, Liuli's heart was indescribably complicated!

Aside from a beige monk's robe, she wore no undergarments at all.

With every step she took, it felt exceptionally difficult for her.

It was the season of spring warmth and blooming flowers.

The cool breeze carried waves of floral fragrance.

Every time it brushed inside, it seemed to stir the flowers.

What made her even more uncomfortable was this.

On this street, in the public eye with people coming and going, although the monk's robe covered everything and only her shoulders and neck remained exposed, she still instinctively tensed her body whenever gazes were cast her way.

Especially since the combination of her and Ning Mu easily attracted everyone's attention.

A young, beautiful nun with long hair.

A handsome, dashing man with an imposing appearance.

The two walked hand in hand.

And they were under the same umbrella.

It was impossible not to attract attention.

"Why is the Reverend so restrained?"

Seeming to have noticed Liuli's off state, Ning Mu asked curiously.

In fact, at this moment, he was feeling incredibly thrilled inside.

Others didn't know Liuli was empty underneath. Only he knew.

Liuli thought he didn't know.

This feeling was very strange.

He even asked on purpose, immediately causing Liuli's cheeks to flush with color, her eyes glistening with gloom.

"It's... it's nothing, just keep walking, stop scratching my palm!"

Liuli endured the discomfort and glared at Ning Mu.

This brat.

Was he counting the lines on her palm? In her anxiety, she even changed how she referred to herself.

Fortunately, the sign for Yichun Courtyard had already appeared in her line of sight.

It was a plaque hung up only recently.

The calligraphy on it was bold and unrestrained; Yu Linglong had asked Zhao Changji, a romantic talent famous on both banks of the Qintang River, to write it.

Hearing that Hua Man Ge had changed its sign and invited him to write the inscription, Zhao Changji agreed very readily.

He had spent his whole life frequenting flower houses.

He loved writing inscriptions the most.

His hobby was almost identical to Ning Mu's.

"We're here, let go!"

Walking under the archway, Liuli stopped nervously.

"Ah... well, I've gotten used to holding hands."

Ning Mu feigned realization, then teased her, smiling as he released Liuli's palm.

And at this moment, not far away.

Yu Linglong, who was directing the servants to hang red lanterns, glanced back inadvertently and happened to see Liuli pulling her hand away from Young Master Ning.

"Oh?"

With a soft exclamation, Yu Linglong acted as if she hadn't seen anything and hurried forward to greet them respectfully.

"Young Master, Reverend, you've arrived."

"Mm, how is the preparation going?"

Ning Mu nodded, his expression natural.

But Liuli was clearly somewhat unnatural.

She kept her legs together, a flash of embarrassment crossing her expression, and after nodding slightly in acknowledgment, she cast her gaze elsewhere.

Logically speaking, for a nun to run to a brothel frequently was already not very elegant.

Added to the fact that she was currently acting as dissolute as these women, wearing only a monk's robe, she couldn't help but feel even more embarrassed inside.

Especially since that cool breeze seeped in everywhere.

"Replying to Young Master, the sisters are all ready. According to your instructions, the song and dance troupe is divided into two teams, each with fifteen people and three alternates. They have also learned the dances from the Image Recording Spirit Jade you left here, and other aspects are in the final stages. Now we are just waiting for the Sacrificial Saint Festival on the fifth day of the fourth month to open for business!"

Yu Linglong reported with great enthusiasm.

"Alright, have them all gather; I have something to announce."

Ning Mu nodded with satisfaction.

"Very well, Young Master, please wait a moment!"

Yu Linglong immediately took the order and left.

Ning Mu then led Liuli toward the main hall of Phoenix Tower.

"What kind of mischief are you up to now, little friend?"

Liuli looked at Ning Mu with a strange expression and asked curiously.

Ning Mu was taken aback, then laughed out loud: "It's not mischief, it's a brilliant idea to benefit the masses."

???

You're opening a brothel to benefit the masses?

Liuli was just about to retort.

At this moment.

Yu Linglong had already brought a group of famous courtesans and entertainers into the main hall in a continuous stream.

Seeing Ning Mu and Liuli, the courtesans' eyes were filled with gratitude and admiration.

Some of the lively and bold ones even stepped forward to greet them.

"Alright, everyone be quiet and listen to Young Master's instructions."

Yu Linglong clapped her hands, signaling everyone to quiet down.

Ning Mu coughed lightly, clapped his hands, and said: "Everyone, in a few days, our Yichun Courtyard will officially open."

"This opening marks a subversion of the brothel industry; we will no longer focus solely on the flesh trade."

"Instead, we will let customers experience a sense of being at home. From the moment they enter the door, they must experience the most ultimate service: sauna and massage, steam baths and foot washing, board games and gambling, hall dancing... whatever the customer wants to play, the etiquette ladies will take them there!"

"And we cannot just target the literati and scholars."

"Even if someone doesn't have much money, if they are willing to come, they can enjoy your beautiful dancing even while ordering a plate of fennel beans and tea in the hall."

"A street vendor tired after a day's work can also come in, order two girls to give him a massage, and loosen his muscles and bones."

"The rich have the rich's way of playing."

"The poor have the poor's way of playing."

"From top to bottom, we turn no one away!"

"Low-end consumption has clearly marked prices; high-end consumption has no price ceiling!"

"For the wealthy, we will promote three to four Personal Scene Customization services every month. Each scene customization will be voted on within a small group; the scene with the most votes will be arranged for the next service, and as for who gets to enjoy this service, we will hold a small-scale auction—whoever bids the highest gets to exclusively enjoy this scene customization."

"I am honored to have experienced this subversion with all of you!"

Having said this, Ning Mu nodded with a smile.

*Clap, clap, clap, clap... *

Instantly, applause thundered.

The girls, led by Yu Linglong and Yu Rou, were moved by his words and clapped incessantly.

These past few days, Ning Mu had been giving them emergency training.

He selected a few clever ones, taught them those skills like sauna and massage, steam baths and foot washing, smiling service, etc., and then had them pass it on to the others.

Over a hundred girls were divided into several groups.

Each group was responsible for one project.

In addition, there was a group of girls who were both beautiful and talented, responsible for the Personal Scene Customization service.

The so-called Personal Scene Customization was based on the preferences voted on by the guests; the girls would perform the roles, and the Yichun Courtyard's handymen would be responsible for the scene setup.

For example, if someone liked the "pretty sister-in-law in mourning clothes."

Then the girls could play that fragile sister-in-law who lost her husband and was weeping in the mourning hall.

If someone liked a mighty and extraordinary, decisive female general.

Then the girl would wear military attire, hold a Wuji, and have a cold expression...

In short, whatever the guest liked, they would play it.

The highest bidder enjoys it! Another thing is the casino.

These girls' gambling skills were definitely not up to par.

But this could not stump Ning Mu.

There was a gambling den right next door, and according to Liu Qingmei, the owner behind this gambling den was the eldest brother of Second Aunt.

(End of chapter)