Yang Jian's old lover for 35 episodes

  Wu Song and Gong Sheng Yan hastily returned to the Tianji Pavilion, but Yang Jia had not yet come back. Gong Sheng Yan again slipped into the armory, Wu Song knew that anxiety was also useless, ordered the steward to invite several stonemasons, in front of the Tianji Pavilion gate erected a stone tablet, inscribed: Tianji Pavilion is a place of importance, travelers dismount their horses.

  As soon as this stone tablet was erected, it immediately attracted the attention of the surrounding villagers who came to watch. These people had long known that the grand mansion was home to a high-ranking official close to the Emperor, but there were still a few skeptics who, leading their horses out of their homes, wanted to pass in front of the Tianji Pavilion, only to be thrown off their mounts one by one.

  The common people were amazed and rumors spread everywhere, adding some mystery to the Tianji Pavilion.

  Yang Jian returned after noon, exhausted, and said: "The emperor was just buried, and there were too many miscellaneous things in the palace. Today, our family accompanied King Duan to the palace. Those ministers quarreled fiercely, and finally they decided on the throne by slapping the Empress Dowager. A lucky day has been chosen, and eight days later, he will ascend to the throne. King Duan was overjoyed and asked me to bring a decree, which after ascending to the throne, would allow you to widely recruit practitioners of Qi from all over the world, establish the Tianji Pavilion, and also bring the seal of a third-rank official."

  Yang Jiaolong handed the imperial edict and seal to Wu Song. Wu Song casually put them aside and mentioned today's challenge by the three countries of Western Xia, Liao, and Tubo, saying: "Brother Yang, with our current strength, it's really difficult to deal with the three countries' martial artists. Do you have any ideas?"

  Yang Jian hesitated, "We know a few people, but they are all evil demons and heretics, not righteous. And their abilities are mediocre, the most powerful one is only on par with us."

  Wu Song was overjoyed: "It doesn't matter if it's the right path or not, those people on the right path are all cultivating peacefully, why would they bother with us?" He paused for a moment and said: "Are you sure you can invite them here?"

  "Our family is a humble and unremarkable one, not worthy of attention. One person can't invite them over, and it's only because of your status that they'll come. Yang Jia thought for a moment, then said: "These people all have the idea of supporting the Dragon Throne, but they're just low-ranking members of inferior sects - what chance do they have? As long as you, Wu brothers, hold the imperial seal and edict, those guys will mostly be like cats smelling fish, scrambling to get close to you."

  Wu Song put the imperial edict and seal in his bosom, saying: "Rather than choose a day, let's take advantage of today. I'll go invite them right now, and three days later, we'll bring this group of evil demons and heretics to do battle with those barbarian sorcerers!"

  Two men walked out of the mansion, Yang Jia thought of something again and said: "Wu brothers, are you a disciple of Zhu Men? When you see them, never say that you are a Zhu Men's disciple, just say that you are a Bing Men's disciple. Although Bing Men is an evil path, it is also higher than the lower nine streams."

  Wu Song rolled his eyes and said, "I was originally a disciple of the military gate."

  Yang Jian smiled and said, "You're so fat you can't even breathe, yet you're ranked last among the nine streams of the footman door. I've never looked down on you. To tell the truth, although our eunuch door is ranked above the footman door, it's still not as good as the footman door..."

  "I am really a disciple of the military gate!"

  "You can't even ride a war horse, let alone be a foot soldier? If it gets out that you're from the military gate, people will laugh their teeth off. That night, the senior of the military gate broke through the Five Thunder Seal of the Taoist school with just one knife, what kind of prestige is that? Do you have such skills?"

  "That night, the one who drew his sword was my half-teacher."

  Yang Jian clapped his hands and said, "Your idea is great! When we meet those evil demons and outsiders, you can just say that the person with the knife is your master, and then make up a name to fool them. I'm sure they won't be able to see through it. They'll respect your non-existent master and enter the Tianji Pavilion, who would dare not listen to you?"

  Wu Song nodded and said, "I'll just pretend to be a disciple of the military gate." Yang Jiaolong brought Wu Song to Mahang Street's Smoke Flower Lane. Before they even entered, they caught a whiff of perfume and cosmetics. They saw that the buildings on both sides were densely packed, with signs hanging everywhere bearing the names of courtesans, some calling themselves "Flower Queens" and others "First in Line". All of them had white silk curtains and red lanterns hung outside their doors.

  Two people walked into the alley, and saw that handkerchiefs and scarves were falling down from the buildings on both sides like rain. The girls upstairs leaned against the windows, laughing and calling out: "Those two gentlemen, come up quickly, there are fun things to play with!" It turned out that those women of the wind and dust had seen that they were born with a dignified appearance, better-looking than others, and had moved their hearts, wanting to entice them.

  Wu Song arrived at this place, and his heart was stirred. He smiled and said: "Yang brother, I didn't expect you to like this kind of thing too, it seems we have similar tastes. Do you have some good ones? Introduce two to me."

  Yang Jian's old face turned red, and he said, "Don't make fun of me." As they arrived in the middle of the alley, they saw a house with a blue cloth curtain hanging outside, and inside, there were bamboo screens with spots. On both sides were green silk windows, and outside, two plaques were hung, each with five words written on them: "Goddess of Song and Dance, Wind Liu Flower Moon Charmer."

  Yang Jian lifted up the green cloth curtain and walked in, saying in a low voice: "Before our family's purification ritual, I've come here several times, don't you dare tell anyone..."

  Wu Song was just about to pry into his private matters when he heard the sound of light footsteps coming from behind the door, and the pearl curtain jingled as a beautiful woman emerged from inside. Before she even arrived, Wu Song caught a whiff of a faint, refreshing fragrance. Upon seeing the woman, Wu Song felt that the entire brothel was suddenly bathed in bright light, and he exclaimed, "Enchantress! Enchantress!"

  The woman listened, and with a burst of laughter, she was indeed a thousand times more charming, her waist as slender as a willow in the wind, her eyes bright and alluring. She glanced at Wu Song, then walked elegantly to Yang Zhi's side, wrapped her arm around his, pinched him hard on the waist, and said with a smile: "Yang Lang, you've been gone for years without returning, leaving me to suffer alone!"

  Yang Jian shook off her hand, raised the white bone fan and scolded: "Li Erniang, you know I've become a eunuch in the palace, why are you teasing me again!"

  Li the Second's wife couldn't stop laughing, her eyes darting back and forth, finally settling on Wu Song. She clicked her tongue in admiration: "He really is a fine man! Sir, you're also going to enter the palace to attend to the Empress Dowager, thinking of having some fun at my place before that?"

  Wu Song hastily shook his head and said: "Little girl..."

  Li Erniang covered her mouth and giggled: "Can't be called 'little' anymore, I'm already 39 this year. Little brother, you're born so handsome, why bother learning from Yang Jia, becoming a useless man?"

  Yang Jiao coughed and introduced, "Second Brother, this is the leader of the brothel, Li Erniang. Li Erniang, let me introduce you to this official, he is a close relative of Prince Duan's, a descendant of a military family. Soon after Prince Duan ascends to the throne, he will be the master of Tianji Pavilion and a third-rank official!"

  Li Erniang's eyes lit up, and she curtsied: "Good sir, are you the Wusong Wu Jun who defeated the 50,000-strong army of Xia Guo last summer?"

  "Wu Song hastily returned the courtesy and said: 'That's right, it was me.'"

  "I heard that the military commander had returned with a great victory, and I was eagerly waiting for him to come to my place, so I could serve him well. But who would have thought that he didn't come for over a month, leaving me to cry tears of disappointment? Just now, I was saying how happy the magpie's call sounded, when suddenly the military commander arrived!"

  Wu Song's head was as big as a bucket, and this Li Erniang had sharp teeth and knew how to flirt with people. It was really tiring talking to her. He hastily stated his intention, saying: "Erniang, if you help me deal with the Hu people's sorcerer, in the future when I enter the Dragon Vein to cultivate, there will be a share for you!"

  Li Erniang listened, and her heart was moved. After a moment's consideration, she raised her head and smiled: "I have another condition, sir. If you agree to it, I will help you deal with those foreign masters."

  "The second daughter said it didn't matter."

  Li Erniang chuckled and said, "I've been in this profession for over 20 years, and although I have a bit of a reputation in the industry, I've never slept with an emperor. I always feel that it's not fulfilling. If you can introduce me to the next emperor, I'll definitely repay you with my life!"

  Yang Jia heard this and was about to open his mouth to scold, but Wu Song hastily said: "I agree!" The manager glared at Wu Song with anger in his eyes, but Wu Erlang pretended not to see. Li Erniang smiled and said: "Indeed a straightforward and honest military man." She took out a piece of embroidered silk handkerchief, called over the old servant, and instructed her: "Old mother, go take care of important matters, keep an eye on the gate, don't let that rogue sneak into my daughter's bedroom!"

  "Second Sister-in-law, you have another daughter?" Wu Song asked curiously.

  Li Erniang looked at Yang Jian with a flirtatious gaze and chuckled: "Isn't this the result of Yang Lang's one-night affair? This man ran off to the palace to become a eunuch, leaving us widows and orphans. After New Year's, I gave birth to a daughter, whom we named Li Shishi. Your Excellency, if you take a liking to my daughter, we can discuss the details another day...

  Yang Jian burst into rage, shaking the large banner in his hand. Suddenly, a thick black fog spewed out, and more than a dozen skull-headed ghosts rushed towards Li Erniang: "She's not my daughter at all!"

  A pink glow flashed in the dark fog, Wu Song opened his eyes to see that Li Erniang had somehow raised a brocade handkerchief and sprayed out a peach blossom shield, blocking the attack of the white bone fan.

  _____

  New week, vote for me to be on the chart!