Chapter Six: A Beauty in a Distant Place

  The two little maidservants reluctantly left.

  Xue Er and Qing Er left, the expressions of the two visitors changed immediately.

  Li Jingyu got up from his seat and walked closer to He Lanmin's side, lowering his voice and saying: "Chang Zhu brother, are you really injured?"

  He Lan Minzhi looked at Li Jingyuan with a puzzled expression, then at Liu Mian's almost calm face, and nodded slightly hesitantly, "Yes... but it's just a minor injury, I'm fine now, you two brothers don't need to worry..."

  "I see, I thought Brother Changzhong was using illness as an excuse to avoid us!" Liu Mian said with a smile.

  "I'd rather not be treated like a patient all day! I also hope to go out and have fun with the two of you!"

  "Ah, Brother Chang Zhu, it's all good now, it's all good!" Standing beside He Lan Min, Li Jing Yu let out a long sigh and continued in a low voice: "Brother Chang Zhu, today Little Brother and Tian Guan came to discuss something with you. You see... the three of us haven't gone out together for fun after New Year's. Why don't we pick a day and go to Yi Xiang Lou together to drink and have some fun? I'll be the host, as a celebration of your recovery..."

  "Yi Xiang Lou?" He Lan Minzhi was slightly puzzled, could this be a brothel?

  "Yes, yes! Brother Chang Zhuo, after the New Year, a young woman named Su Lan arrived at Yi Xiang Lou. She is only fifteen years old and very beautiful... Her appearance is not inferior to your sister Min Yue's, and she is proficient in all aspects of music, chess, books, and painting. It is said that she was purchased from Jiangnan, and her musical talents are exceptional, with no one able to surpass her dancing skills. In just a few days, she has become famous throughout Ping Kang Fang... Her self-composed poems and songs have even made those famous scholars in Long An sigh in admiration, especially the poem 'Emerald green connects the desolate shore, smoke-like beauty enters the distant tower...' which is being widely circulated among the people..." Li Jing Yu spoke endlessly like a treasured family heirloom, and then shamelessly smiled at He Lan Min, "Brother Chang Zhuo has been staying in the mansion these days without going out, so it's not surprising that you haven't heard of Su Lan's reputation... But you must go see this extraordinary person for yourself, I guarantee you won't be disappointed!"

  Li Jingyu misunderstood his own doubts, and He Lan Minzhi could only pretend to be silly, following Li Jingyu's meaning, saying: "I haven't heard of this before, if it wasn't for Brother Jingyu saying it, I really wouldn't have known that there was such a talented and beautiful woman at Yixiang Building..."

  Yi Xiang Lou was indeed a brothel, and it seemed that those few people were still regular customers there.

  "Brother Chang Zhu, you have no idea, this person is arrogant and proud, always looking down on others, never putting on a polite face or drinking with guests. She didn't even give me or Tian Guan brother a second glance... and now, there's no one who can catch her eye," Li Jingyou said, sighing as he looked at Liu Mian beside him, revealing a sly smile in the midst of Liu Mian's puzzled gaze. "We thought that Brother Chang Zhu would make a move, relying on your talent and looks to win her over, but unfortunately, you're injured now and can't go... alas, what a pity, what a pity..."

  "Ah, ah! Brother Chang Zhuo is taking action, he must be able to move Su Lan's heart, haha!" Liu Mian immediately echoed, "Brother Chang Zhuo has been to Ping Kang Fang before, and no girl has ever caught your eye. I believe this Su Lan will definitely move your heart!"

  "Oh? There's actually such a woman? I must go take a look!" Li Jingyu and Liu Mian's words piqued He Lanmin's strong curiosity, not only towards the stunning courtesan named Su Lan mentioned in Li Jingyu's words but also towards his "past self"'s behavior. Didn't his past self often mingle with these people in front of him at the brothel, drinking and seeking pleasure? He really wanted to ask if it was true or not, but he couldn't bring himself to ask, and while hesitating, he saw the two dandies' strange expressions, occasionally exchanging glances, and somewhat understood their thoughts. Smiling slightly, he said in a light tone: "It's just that I have an injury on my body right now, let's talk about it later when I'm fully recovered!"

  He Lan Minzhi's words made Li Jingyu and Liu Mian unable to help but feel disappointed. Before entering the mansion, Li Jingyu was confident that he could motivate He Lan Minzhi with this, but now he was a bit frantic. "Brother Chang Zhu, many people have been coming to support Su Lan in recent days. If you don't seize the opportunity, someone might take advantage of it and you'll regret it! Do you know that every day, there are noble young masters visiting Yi Xiang Lou, wanting Su Lan to accompany them? Some even offer poems to try and move Su Lan's heart! Brother Chang Zhu, your appearance is more handsome than anyone else, and your talent far surpasses ours. You're the only one who can match Su Lan, but if you hide and don't make a move, and someone else takes advantage of it... we'll be too ashamed to show our faces!"

  Li Jingyu found himself saying something wrong and immediately stopped his mouth, but he had already provoked Liu Mian's angry eyes.

  He Lan Min didn't notice anything unusual, he was already attracted by Li Jingyu's words and really wanted to go see what kind of stunning woman she was, but he didn't want to show his eagerness in front of these few young masters, so he still spoke in a calm tone: "Several brothers, I'm not feeling well at the moment, it's really not suitable for me to go out, how about this, let's wait for a few days, when my body is completely recovered, then I'll go with the two of you...to see what kind of stunning woman Su Lan girl is..."

  There is such a high-quality beauty, it's not okay if you don't go and appreciate her, but the words can't be spoken hastily.

  He Lan Min's words delighted Li Jingyu and Liu Mian, Li Jingyu's lips were trembling with excitement, "Chang Zhu brother, when you arrive, be sure to give us some face, don't let Wu..." He caught himself almost slipping up again and quickly shut his mouth.

  He Lan Minzhi also felt a bit strange and looked at Li Jingyu with some doubt.

  Liu Mian glared at Li Jingyu, got up from his seat, and bowed to He Lan Minzhi. "Brother Chang Zhu, your wound has just healed, you need to rest more. We won't disturb you today, or Madam will scold us! After a few days, when you've fully recovered, we'll come visit you again at the manor, and then we can go out together. Farewell for now!" He gave Li Jingyu a signal with his eyes.

  Li Jingyu understood, and immediately bowed to He Lan Min's work, "Older brother Chang Zhu, we'll take our leave first!"

  He Lan Min stood up with even more confusion in her heart and returned the courtesy, "Then...the two of you take your time!"

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  "Brother, they came over today, are they going to take you to Pingkangfang for fun again?"

  "How did you know?" He Lan Minzhe turned around and looked curiously at He Lan Minyue, who was combing his hair.

  "They come to find you, which time is not going to Pingkangfang to drink, watching those green building women's music and dance!" He Lan Minzhi was a bit dissatisfied with the pouting mouth, "Brother, you go to that kind of place less in the future, so mother often says you!"

  "Brother listens to Minyue's words, and from now on, go to that kind of place less often!" He Lanmin immediately agreed, looking at He Lanminyue's lovely face, smiled and said: "Minyue, in a few days brother will take you out to play, how about it?"

  It's been several days since I arrived in the Tang Dynasty, and I haven't seen what the outside world looks like. He Lan Minzhi has a strong curiosity, wanting to visit this city building that is said to be the greatest in ancient China, to see how the capital Chang'an of the Tang Dynasty was built, whether the streets are really as neat as a vegetable garden, and also wants to go out of the city to take a stroll, to see what the scenery is like now compared to Xi'an in later generations.

  "Brother, aren't you afraid of getting into trouble? Want to go out and have some fun?" He Lan Minyue stopped combing her hair, leaned her head on He Lan Minzhi's shoulder, looked at He Lan Minzhi's eyes in the mirror, and coquettishly begged, "Brother, you must keep your promise, take Minyue with you when you go out to play! Okay?"

  He Lan Minzhi looked at the mirror, where He Lan Minyue's beautiful face that could captivate any man was reflected. She then looked at her pouting expression, which made her even more adorable, and couldn't help but feel affectionate. Turning around, she pinched her small nose, "If brother goes out to play, he will definitely take Minyue along. Sister is so good to brother, even helping with his hair, how could brother leave you behind?"

  As he spoke, he was also thinking that the stunning woman Su Lan, in terms of appearance, couldn't be more beautiful than his own sister He Lan Minyue.

  He Lan Minyue was overjoyed and, without regard for the presence of Xue'er and Qing'er, two maids standing nearby, she threw her arms around He Lan Minzhi's neck and pressed her face against his, speaking in an even more tender voice: "Brother, really? Then after some days, when your injury is completely healed, will you take Minyue out to have some fun? We've been in Chang'an for so many years, but apart from the estate and the imperial palace, we haven't had a chance to properly play at other places!"

  "Alright!" He Lan Minzhi nodded in agreement without any hesitation, "In a few days, when the weather gets warmer, we'll go on an outing to the outskirts of the city, and Qing'er and Xue'er will come along too!" In a few days, isn't it March 3rd? This ancient "Valentine's Day" must be very lively, as can be seen from ancient poems, "On the third day of March, the weather is new, by the waterside in Chang'an, many beautiful women..." Du Fu's poem explicitly says that the waterside outside Chang'an city is full of beauties, not going to take a look and verify the lethal power of this buttery face on girls would be a real pity.

  When He Lan Ming heard this, He Lan Ming Yue immediately stood up and cheered. She had heard some of the servants in the mansion say that there were many places inside and outside Chang'an City with good scenery, and she wanted to go, but her mother and brother would not let her out, fearing that she would be treated lightly, and they did not accompany her, making her feel depressed. Today, her brother was unusually willing to take her out to play, and they would leave in a few days, how could she not be excited?

  Qing'er and Xue'er, who were helping He Lan Mingyue on the side, couldn't help but cheer and jump for joy. Their young master was actually taking them out to have fun, this was a bit unprecedented, they just hoped that Madame wouldn't stop it.

  He Lan Minyue completely forgot that she was combing her brother's hair, and in her excitement, the comb in her hand pulled on He Lan Minzhi's hair.

  "Hey! Minyue, you pulled your brother's hair!" shouted He Lanmin in pain.

  "Oh... Ah!" He Lan Minyue immediately came back to her senses, releasing the hand holding the comb, and looked a bit embarrassed as she stuck out her tongue, with an adorable and shy expression...