Surnamed Zhang, so he must be Prime Minister Gu's younger brother. What difference does it make if he's Zhang Er or Zhang San? The young man in brocade clothes flicked open his folding fan and smiled, "My surname is Qian, I'm the fourth. You can just call me Old Fourth."

This Qian Si* was definitely not the fourth son either; he was either the eldest or the second. After all, the only ones in all of Quanzhou Prefecture who could put on such an arrogant display were probably the two 'crown princes' of the Qian family.

*T/N： Fourth Qian.

But everyone was out to have fun, so a tacit understanding was enough. What was the point of knowing things so clearly? Ji Weiqiu also feigned ignorance, revealing a meaningful smile, "So it's Old Fourth. I heard your two older cousins are unwell. You seem to be in high spirits. Aren't you afraid of being scolded at home?"

Qian Si fanned himself smugly. Honestly, fanning oneself in this weather was quite cold. He said, "They can be sick all they want, and I'll have my fun. What does one have to do with the other? Let's see if my family catches me first. Besides, even if they do, so what?"

Ji Weiqiu smiled knowingly. Qian Si meant they were blatantly feigning illness. Even if the 'Prince of Rui' sent an imperial physician, they had ways to fool them. And if they really couldn't, getting caught red-handed wasn't a big deal either.

Ji Weiqiu thought to himself that his role as a do-nothing Prince was quite successful.

Qian Si leaned in and said teasingly, "Third Brother Zhang, it's rare for you to visit my Quanzhou. You're treating this meal, so I won't fight you for it, but leave the rest to me! Who knows the food and fun in Quanzhou City better than I do? I guarantee Third Brother will have a great time!"

Ji Weiqiu's expression shifted slightly. "If you have time to take me out, why not go to the Prince's place?"

"Hah, forget it." Qian Si snapped his fan shut and tapped it impatiently in his palm. "They say accompanying a ruler is like accompanying a tiger, and a Prince is half a ruler... Is that fun? This young master has no patience for serving someone like a pageboy, fawning over them, running errands, and being ordered around... Can we not talk about that killjoy?"

Ji Weiqiu raised his cup, took a small sip of wine, and said leisurely, "Aren't you afraid I'll tell the Prince?"

"You can tell him, and I can just deny it!" Qian Si said with a playful grin. "He can't just execute the son of a local official over such a small matter, can he?"

The ranks of prefectural governors were divided into three classes based on tax revenue. Quanzhou Prefecture was first-class, and its governor was of the junior third rank. This rank wasn't particularly eye-catching in Yanjing, but in the provinces, it was the highest possible. They held real power and would be highly regarded even in the capital.

Ji Weiqiu smiled and changed the subject, "What's a fun place to go?"

"Depends on what Third Brother likes to do," Qian Si said. "If you don't know what you want... I have a great place in mind. How about you come with me, Third Brother?"

"Tell me the place first." Ji Weiqiu glanced at the Qingxuan Guard beside him.

Qian Si remained oblivious. "It won't be as interesting if I tell you."

"Then I can't go." Ji Weiqiu lifted his chin. "See them? They're all in charge of me. They have to scout the place out first. Otherwise, if my older brother finds out, I'll be in for it."

Qian Si followed his gaze and sneered, "Third Brother Zhang must have an extraordinary status. That's to be expected."

Having said that, he nonchalantly gave an address, "The second building in Changliu Lane... Forget it, I'll have my pageboy take them there to check it out first."

After speaking, he asked with a hint of malice, "Third Brother Zhang, if you were to visit a prostitute, would they have to strip her naked, roll her in a blanket, and deliver her to you?"

Ji Weiqiu's fingertips subconsciously tapped the table, his expression still calm and unconcerned. "It wouldn't go that far."

Qian Si made idle conversation with Ji Weiqiu, mostly asking about the fun things to do in Yanjing. Ji Weiqiu was a man of the world, so there was naturally nothing he couldn't talk about. Qian Si suddenly said, "Third Brother Zhang, I heard there's a Dark Auction in Yanjing. Is that true? Have you been?"

The so-called Dark Auction was a place that sold everything that couldn't be sold openly. In this society, even people could be sold openly, so one could imagine what was sold at a place that had to be specialized.

Ji Weiqiu had heard of it and had even received several overt and covert invitations. But he couldn't be bothered to go to such a place, and he didn't know why his older brother allowed it to exist.

"There is a Dark Auction." Ji Weiqiu took the handkerchief Mian Li handed him and wiped his hands. "It's too chaotic inside. My family won't let me go."

Qian Si's eyes flickered, and he said vaguely, "...What a pity."

"Why, have you been?" Ji Weiqiu was slightly curious.

"Of course not, how could a small place like ours host something like that!" Qian Si said casually, then started talking about which brothel's top courtesan was beautiful and which gambling den had the most tricks. The meal finished without them noticing, and the Qingxuan Guard returned. Seeing him nod slightly, Ji Weiqiu said, "It's about time. Let's go."

The carriage creaked. After entering an alley, they switched to a sedan chair, which took Ji Weiqiu through many twists and turns to a marketplace, specifically to a lavishly decorated backyard. This entire area was probably full of brothels, judging by its appearance. Even the air was thick with the decadent scent of rouge and powder.

As soon as Qian Si pushed open the courtyard gate, four or five beautiful women came out to greet them, giggling as they flocked over. Qian Si shamelessly put an arm around two of them and looked sideways at Ji Weiqiu. "Third Brother, don't be shy. Tell me which one you like!"

"This is it?" Ji Weiqiu folded his hands into his sleeves. "They look average."

"Third Brother has high standards!" Qian Si said dismissively. "Next time I'm free, I'll go to Yanjing! Third Brother can show me the sights!"

Since Ji Weiqiu was already here, he wouldn't just turn and leave. He followed Qian Si inside. It was indeed full of beauties, who were unusually intimate with Qian Si. They all looked at Qian Si as if he were their husband.

As the saying goes, madams love money, and courtesans love handsome faces. A man of Ji Weiqiu's caliber almost outshone Qian Si into oblivion just by standing next to him, yet not a single courtesan took the initiative to approach him. The two who were by his side had been assigned by Qian Si, and their expressions looked as if they were being forced into prostitution.

Qian Si seemed to notice his confusion. "Third Brother, don't mind them. These girls have all been spoiled by me! I spent a great deal of effort training—"

As he was speaking, there was a knock on the door. He clicked his tongue impatiently. "Come in!"

A person dressed as a pageboy entered. Seeing Ji Weiqiu, he fell silent. Qian Si barked, "Speak! Stop dawdling!"

The pageboy trembled and then said, "Young Master, we've brought back that Lady Zhishui you wanted!"

Qian Si immediately perked up. "Really? You actually managed to catch her?"

The pageboy gave a sheepish laugh. "If the Young Master wants someone, we'll go through mountains of blades and seas of fire to bring them back for you!"

Qian Si became restless. He turned to Ji Weiqiu and said, "Third Brother, are you interested in seeing the number one beauty of our Quanzhou Prefecture?"

To be honest, Ji Weiqiu had actually paid attention to this. After all, his older brother had given the order to 'handle the matter well'. He couldn't go back and report 'I know nothing' about everything, could he? He also had to report back to the Mother Empress! He asked doubtfully, "The number one beauty? I heard the number one beauty of Quanzhou is the daughter of an imperial merchant? How could she be here?"

"Don't you worry about that! Just tell me if you're going or not!" Qian Si placed a hand on the table and tapped it incessantly, as if he would immediately take his leave if Ji Weiqiu said no.

"Of course, I'm going. Such a good opportunity is hard to come by." Ji Weiqiu agreed, and the two immediately followed the pageboy to the third floor. The third floor was different from the two below; there were burly guards at the door of every room. Qian Si said, "These are all the top courtesans. We're afraid of clients causing trouble and hurting them. Don't be scared, Third Brother!"

Ji Weiqiu nodded casually. Before they even got close, he could hear faint rebukes. "Let me go! Do you know who my father is?... How dare you... Let go..."

Qian Si pushed open a door, but it was to the room next door. He fiddled with something on the wall and then beckoned Ji Weiqiu over to look. Ji Weiqiu looked through the peephole and saw that she was indeed a rare beauty, her face like a spring blossom, lovely whether happy or angry. Right now, the girl was being held by two old nannies, one on each side, who were tying her hands. Her cheeks were flushed with anger, giving her a unique charm.

Ji Weiqiu stepped aside, and Qian Si eagerly pressed forward, letting out a strange laugh. "Heh, she finally fell into my hands! Third Brother, you have no idea how hard this girl was to catch! I've been waiting a year, and my men finally found an opportunity!"

Ji Weiqiu said, "You captured her like this. Aren't you afraid her father and brother will come looking for trouble?"

"What's there to be afraid of?" Qian Si stared intently at the room opposite them. "I've already caught her and brought her here. Even if her father and brother find out, what can they do? They'll just report that she died suddenly. Are they going to stage a grand rescue?"

Ji Weiqiu said slowly, "There will always be trouble."

Only then did Qian Si look away and turn to Ji Weiqiu. "Third Brother, do you like her? If you do, I'll give her to you. Don't worry, I'll handle it cleanly for you. There won't be any trouble at all."

Ji Weiqiu looked at him without speaking. For some reason, Qian Si felt his skin crawl under that gaze. He said awkwardly, "If Third Brother doesn't like her, just pretend I never said anything!"

Ji Weiqiu suddenly said, "Are you waiting for me to ask you something?"

"...What are you talking about!" The corners of Qian Si's eyes drooped. "I brought you here to have fun out of the kindness of my heart. If we don't see eye to eye, then just leave! I'm not forcing you to stay!"

"A beauty is precious. I cannot stand by and watch such a waste." Ji Weiqiu said frankly, "We don't get along. You have your fun, I'll be leaving."

With that, Ji Weiqiu flicked his sleeve and left. Qian Si's gaze turned abruptly cold, but he quickly chased after him. "Third Brother, it's my fault, I misspoke! Hey, hey... Third Brother Zhang, please wait!"

Qian Si chased him all the way to the main entrance, where a carriage was waiting outside the pavilion. He watched as Ji Weiqiu lifted the curtain and got on without a backward glance. The carriage slowly started moving. He called out a few more times before stopping.

A pageboy came forward and whispered, "Young Master, wasn't this step too risky? What if he goes back and reports you..."

"He won't." Qian Si smiled coldly. "It's not that he isn't tempted, it's just that people like him don't fall into traps so easily. He was probably afraid I was just bait. What a pity... now that he's come to my place, he can't escape—if he were truly smart, he shouldn't have come here with me."

......

Ji Weiqiu sat in the carriage, his eyes slightly closed, a hint of mockery in his tone. "Tell me, do I look like an easy target?"

"Mian Li, send Qian Si to the Dark Auction. Let him have his fill of fun."

Mian Li hesitated for a moment, then lowered his gaze obediently. "Yes, Your Highness."