Chapter 329: Let Me Teach You How to Go Bar-Hopping

He Jinglan knew Gu Xixi wasn't unable to afford these things; she just rarely dressed up.

She knew Gu Xixi's temperament all too well, and could only resign herself regretfully.

"I've gotten you addicted to dressing up—what a shame—but I can only wait until the day after we return home to continue playing."

Gu Xixi laughed at the mirror, saying, "Playing dress-up? Do you think I'm a little girl's rag doll?"

She suddenly paused, turning to He Jinglan, "Wait, you said we're going home the day after tomorrow?"

"What about tonight? What about tomorrow?"

An Qinghe also looked over curiously. "Isn't there a curfew in the capital? Can we just wander around outside at night?"

He Jinglan grinned. "Naturally not, so tonight we need to find a place that offers both entertainment and lodging."

"As for tomorrow, it's simpler: we'll go horseback riding out of the city to enjoy the spring scenery."

Gu Xixi and An Qinghe exchanged puzzled looks.

Is there a place at night that offers both entertainment and lodging?

He Jinglan said it was still early, visited a few more shops, bought gifts for Aunt Zhang, Shitou, Old Doctor Lao, and others, and loaded them onto the carriage.

She also didn't forget the villagers, planning to buy some local specialty candies and pastries for them before Gu Xixi returns to the northwest.

By then the sky had darkened, An Qinghe was carrying things for the two young ladies, and they were all hungry from wandering.

After much effort, He Jinglan said, "All right, let's go."

The three reboarded the carriage, with the young ladies inside the cabin and An Qinghe and the driver Old Li up front.

Along the way, Gu Xixi even took a nap.

When the carriage stopped, she stepped out and was stunned by the sight before her.

Although it was already night, looking ahead it was as bright as daytime.

Colorful lanterns of various hues and shapes could be seen everywhere.

The street was bustling with people coming and going, shops on both sides brightly lit.

An Qinghe was also astonished. "It's almost curfew—how can there be such a prosperous area?"

He Jinglan had already ordered Old Li to drive the carriage back to the manor, bringing all the purchases back for the maids of the Jade Bamboo Hall.

She walked over to Gu Xixi and An Qinghe, gesturing for them to look up at the sign ahead.

"Xihuaguan," An Qinghe read aloud, saying, "I understand its meaning—it's just a flower nursery, right?"

His voice was loud, causing passersby to involuntarily cover their mouths and snicker.

An Qinghe noticed and asked, "What, did I say it wrong again?"

He Jinglan chuckled softly. "This is the Music Bureau; although it's indeed a place for cultivating flowers, it's not the kind of flower shop you imagine."

As she spoke, she was about to step onto the stairs when Gu Xixi grabbed her.

"If this Xihuaguan is the Music Bureau, then the place we're in must be Pingkang Ward, right?"

He Jinglan nodded. "Mm!"

Pingkang Ward is the capital's largest pleasure quarter, with taverns, the Music Bureau, brothels, gambling houses, and more, famed as the "sleepless heaven" of the Great Undertaking Dynasty's capital.

After the night curfew, as long as one doesn't leave the ward, one can move freely within it.

To further confirm her suspicion, Gu Xixi pulled He Jinglan aside and asked, "Are all the people inside beautiful?"

He Jinglan: "There's also fine wine and food, graceful songs and dances, elegant music, poetry composition, incense burning and tea brewing—believe me! It's lots of fun!"

Gu Xixi's face showed reluctance as she glanced at the Xihuaguan sign. "This kind of place… I don't really want to go. Besides, dressed like this, they wouldn't let us in anyway—let's just leave."

"Let's find a tavern to listen to storytelling and watch a show."

The two had not changed out of their female attire when they arrived—don't female characters in historical dramas always cross-dress to go to entertainment venues?

Gu Xixi had always found this plot puzzling.

As fellow women, they wouldn't hesitate to disguise themselves as men to infiltrate places that oppress women like livestock.

And yet they call it "reckless freedom-loving decadence"?!

He Jinglan pondered for a moment, then understood what Gu Xixi really meant, and couldn't help laughing.

"Tsk, this isn't a place just for those stinking men to have fun."

"Rest assured, the Xihuaguan has always been refined, not vulgar."

She glanced around, pointed at the door, and said, "Look—those few are female guests just like us."

Gu Xixi looked and saw indeed several women laughing and entering without obstruction.

Relieved, she whipped up her enthusiasm to twelvefold.

This is practically an ancient bar, after all—I wonder what splendid scene lies inside.

Gu Xixi and He Jinglan walked forward hand in hand, while An Qinghe hadn't caught what they'd just said and simply followed along cheerfully.

Upon entering the Xihuaguan gate, the first thing before them was an artificial mountain with flowing water.

Although it was early spring, the lower pond was dotted with blooming lotuses, surely achieved by some contrivance.

Various colored koi frolicked among the lotus leaves, and the brilliant lights cast shimmering specks upon the water.

Aunt Cai had just greeted a wave of guests entering, then turned and walked toward them.

"Miss He, it's been a while since you've come—this time the friends you brought are all new faces."

He Jinglan slapped a silver note into Aunt Cai's hand: "I want an upstairs room with a view of the downstairs song and dance, with the finest dishes and pastries brought up."

"And do you have any left of your house's special plum ice wine?"

Aunt Cai glanced at the amount on the silver note without a trace, her enthusiasm unchanged from before receiving it.

"There is—knowing Miss He loves this, even if there's none for others, there's yours."

"After all, if it weren't for the late lady of the He family…"

Aunt Cai looked around, likely considering the crowd and mixed eyes, and didn't continue.

Please, three honored guests, come inside.

After rounding the artificial hill, the scene inside suddenly came into view.

More splendid and gilded than Gu Xixi had imagined, yet everywhere one could see exquisite details; the people coming and going were all graceful beauties.

At the center stood a huge peony-shaped stage.

On the stage, Western Region musicians were playing; the dance maidens were dressed as Dunhuang flying apsaras, and higher up at the back another woman was singing.

Indeed, the lingering melody wrapped around the beams; the song had a voice that could split stone, the dance bore the mien of heavenly demons, and the profusion of flowers dazzled the eyes.

Gu Xixi stood there, dazed for a long while.

Only when He Jinglan quietly squeezed her hand did she gather her thoughts and calmly follow along.

The private room was likewise luxurious and refined, with crystal bead curtains, gold-threaded soft cushions, and a lion-head censer burning precious jade-dew incense.

The layout consisted of an inner and outer chamber; the inner room had a tall bed with soft pillows, while the outer room featured a red-wood table by which, upon pushing open the window, one could see the singing and dancing downstairs.

Cai Mama first summoned two little maids to attend here, then she went out to make arrangements.

Gu Xixi sipped purple bamboo-shoot tea, ate sugared lotus seeds, and then gazed at the dreamlike scene downstairs.

Amidst the enjoyment, she still felt a slight self-loathing.

Gu Xixi, Gu Xixi, you are still in the midst of your venture; you have not yet become strong enough to fully command your own fate.

And yet you dare to go bar-hopping like others?

How much money does this night cost!

An Qinghe voiced the thought that Gu Xixi had kept to herself.

He Jinglan gazed downstairs, did not directly state the amount, only saying, 'Occasional indulgence is not excessive.'

Gu Xixi and An Qinghe exchanged a smile, then each relaxed and immersed themselves in the scene.

As the maidservants were delivering food and drink, a clear voice sounded from outside the door.

I am Jian Lan,

Mei Ying,

Here to serve the three honored guests.

Gu Xixi stared, instinctively glancing at He Jinglan—how could there also be a man?

He Jinglan smiled, inscrutable.