There is a happy inn in the capital.

Chapter 219 Showing Off

Upon hearing this, Li Shuchen held the jade pendant in both hands, gently wiping it with his sleeve, and sighed.

"Wow, this is really valuable! I'll have to keep it safe."

Princess Changning looked at Li Shuchen as if he were worthless and asked, "But the top courtesan of Yaqing Pavilion is always given to the person who flatters them the most, how did he end up in your hands?"

Li Shuchen chuckled and said, "Yiling gave it to me."

Princess Changning raised an eyebrow and said, "Isn't she in Yangzhou? Why is she here?"

Li Shuchen sighed and said, "Let's help her find her lover; she's so pitiful."

Princess Changning crossed her arms and said disdainfully, "Hmph, all men in the world are fickle. She traveled all this way, but her lover hasn't even shown up. Could it be that he did something wrong and is afraid?"

Li Shuchen scratched his head and said, "Oh, Yiling's taste isn't that bad, is it?"

Princess Changning raised her head and said, "Hmph, I hope so."

At night, Yaqingxuan was brightly lit and packed with people; the queue at the entrance stretched for almost two streets.

Upon alighting from the carriage and seeing this scene, Li Shuchen exclaimed, "Holy crap, there are so many people! How are we even going to squeeze in?"

Princess Changning replied lightly, "Yes."

Li Shuchen walked ahead, trying his best to squeeze through the crowd, using various methods, but he couldn't get in no matter what he tried.

Furious, Li Shuchen took a deep breath, put his hands on his hips, and tried to think of a solution.

Princess Changning looked at Li Shuchen from the side and laughed.

"Li Shuchen, are you stupid? Don't you have a jade token? Take it out and use it!"

Upon hearing this, Li Shuchen suddenly realized, "Oh right, she has a jade pendant. I was so stupid."

He then took the jade pendant out of his bosom and held it high.

"Hey, brother, look at me! I have a jade token! Let us go in first! Brother, look at me! I have a jade token! I have a jade token!"

The gatekeeper, seeing someone holding a jade token, hurried over respectfully, bowing and scraping as he spoke.

"Distinguished guests, I apologize for not greeting you properly. Please follow me."

Li Shuchen quickly replied, "No problem, lead the way."

"Please, distinguished guest."

Li Shuchen accepted the jade token and swaggered in behind the servant into the Elegant Pavilion.

"Hey, how did they get inside?"

"Didn't you see that girl holding a jade pendant? I heard that it costs a hundred taels of gold to rent for a day."

"Wow, that's so expensive! That girl must be really rich!"

Hearing these words, Li Shuchen walked with her head held high and chest out. She'd finally pulled off a big show, hehehe.

The three followed Xiao Si all the way to the entrance of "Yuntian Pavilion".

Servant: "Distinguished guests, we have arrived at Yuntian Pavilion. Please come in."

Upon entering the private room, Li Shuchen was immediately struck by the luxurious decor. He looked around, touched everything, and exclaimed in admiration.

"Wow, there's a reason why it's so expensive! This white jade teacup must be made of the finest Hetian jade, this magnificent chair must be made of rosewood, and even the carpet under your feet is made of white fox fur. It's so extravagant!"

Gu Ziying smiled and said, "Shu Chen has a good eye; everything he said is correct. This is my first time visiting Yuntian Pavilion; it's truly luxurious."

Princess Changning sat down, took a sip of wine, and said, "Still fragrant and refreshing."

Upon hearing this, Li Shuchen quickly poured a glass for Gu Ziying and himself.

"Ziying, let's try some too."

Gu Ziying: "Okay"

Li Shuchen took a small sip, clicked his tongue, and said, "What kind of wine is this? It smells quite refreshing, but it's a bit harsh on the palate. However, the aftertaste is sweet and pleasant. It's a good wine."

After finishing her drink, Gu Ziying said, "This wine has a fresh bamboo fragrance, like the scent of a bamboo forest deep in the mountains."

Princess Changning drank another cup and said, "This is the 'Golden Bamboo Brew' unique to Yaqing Pavilion. This golden bamboo grows on the mountaintop and is extremely difficult to harvest. One jar costs one hundred taels of silver."

Upon hearing this, Li Shuchen stared blankly at the wine glass in his hand: "My God, am I drinking wine or money?"

He then cautiously asked Princess Changning, "Does this jar of wine cost money?"

Princess Changning glanced at Li Shuchen's worried expression and smiled, "If you don't want the first jar, you'll have to pay for the second one."

Li Shuchen breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this: "This jar is free? That's good, that's good. Then I'll have another cup."

"Miss Yiling is here! Miss Yiling is here!"

Upon hearing this, everyone looked towards the pavilion. Yi Ling appeared on the third floor, dressed in blue, yet appearing even more aloof and unapproachable.

After Yiling settled down, she glanced towards Yuntian Pavilion, then smiled and began to strum the strings of her zither.

As the first note faded, everyone fell silent, captivated by the beauty of the music.

Li Shuchen shook his head slightly, took a sip of the fine wine, and then smacked his tongue.

Yes, this is the taste, exactly the taste—comfortable, invigorating, and delightful.

Listening and drinking at the same time, drinking and listening at the same time, one sip after another, it was impossible to stop.

Perfect, perfect, perfect! Fine wine deserves fine music, and fine music deserves a beautiful woman.

Such a beautiful scene, a paradise on earth, should be savored slowly.

In my imagination...

When the song ended, Li Shuchen was already drunk, whether from the wine, the music, or the person himself, it was hard to tell.

The guests downstairs were momentarily dazed, as if they had just woken from a beautiful dream, savoring the experience. When they came to their senses, they all shouted...

"One more song, Miss Yiling, one more song!"

Yi Ling rose gracefully, gave a curtsy, and left with a stunningly beautiful silhouette.

The guests became anxious when they saw Yiling leave.

"Why did Miss Yiling leave?"

"That's right, Miss Yiling, don't go! We haven't heard enough yet!"

A man in another private room on the third floor said, "Is it because you haven't paid enough? I have plenty of money, throw some money at me!"

As soon as the rich young master finished speaking, his servant began throwing silver coins onto the pavilion.

The crowd downstairs followed suit, continuously throwing silver coins into the pavilion.

The female manager of Yaqingxuan appeared, swaying her hips and laughing loudly.

"Haha, if you gentlemen like my Miss Yiling, please come again in three days."

"Three days later? That's too long. Manager, why don't you talk to Miss Yiling and suggest she play a few more pieces?"

The female manager explained with a smile, "This is Miss Yiling's rule, please understand, esteemed guests."

Someone in the crowd downstairs said, "This Miss Yiling is from Yangzhou; this is how things are done there."

"Really? Brother, you've been to Yangzhou?"

"I've been there before; it's always packed, you can't even squeeze in. It's just that one part was missing today."

"What part?"

"If someone gives Miss Yiling a gift she desires, that person will be granted a meeting with her."

"Is everything you said true?"

"I saw it with my own eyes, how could it be fake?"

Having received confirmation, the customer asked the female manager on the third floor, "Manager, why isn't there a gift-giving ceremony for Miss Yiling today?"

The female steward said calmly, "Miss Yiling already has someone she wants to see today."

People downstairs were talking about it.

"Who is it? Who is it?"

"Who has that kind of nerve?"

"I do not know"

After the female steward finished speaking, she left and went to Yuntian Pavilion: "Distinguished guests, my young lady Yiling invites you."

Li Shuchen turned around groggily and said, "Ah, Yiling needs to see us. Let's go."

The three followed the female manager to the door of a room.

The female manager smiled and said, "We've arrived. Please, distinguished guests."

Li Shuchen pushed open the door and entered, followed closely by Princess Changning and Gu Ziying.

Upon entering, they saw a beautiful woman in blue with her back to them.