Volume One, Chapter Seventeen: What a Disgrace

Li Xian withdrew his gaze and looked at Xiao An, asking, “Why do you say that?”

“When the master has something on his mind, he always stares absentmindedly at the fields,” Xiao An whispered.

The master regarded the hundred acres of farmland before him as his very root, much like certain landlords who, out of idle curiosity, count their silver coins in the treasury.

“Is that so?” Li Xian touched his nose and smiled. “Actually, I was thinking that since Yanshan County lies just beneath the imperial city, only a few steps away, perhaps I should buy a house there for the future—somewhere for my wife and me to settle. Otherwise, my wife can’t always live with me here in this small mountain village; it would be far too shabby. Even if I’m content, she might not be. After all, I must give her a proper status; this ambiguous situation isn’t right.”

He could live here himself, claiming it was to enjoy the leisurely rural life.

But his wife was likely from a noble background, of high birth and status. Living in a village with nothing might not appeal to her.

Therefore, sooner or later, he must purchase property in the imperial city as a backup.

This was something he had been contemplating ever since he met Yiyi.

Xiao An could only say, “I leave it to your decision, Master.”

He understood that the master was merely confiding in him; as for the master's affairs, Xiao An had no authority and guessed that Li Xian already had a plan.

“Very well, then I’ll buy one!” Li Xian stood and made up his mind.

Once decided, there was no need to dither.

Three days later, accompanied by Xiao An, Li Xian arrived at the Great Qian Imperial City.

This was the first time Li Xian had come to this place since crossing over into the Great Qian world.

Originally, he had planned to bring Yiyi along to see the city, but she showed no interest—she would rather enjoy a long, lazy sleep.

Thus, only Li Xian and Xiao An ventured out today, intending to find a modest yet sufficient residence.

In truth, Li Xian felt no need for multiple wives; one or two would suffice in the coming years. He was not greedy.

Looking upon the Great Qian Imperial City, Li Xian’s eyes held a trace of surprise.

Having witnessed the splendor of modern cities, he was naturally not easily impressed by an ancient imperial city.

What caught his attention, however, was the broad avenue bustling with horse-drawn carriages, troops patrolling the streets, and small vendors selling spinning tops and candied hawthorns. The imperial city was undoubtedly the most prosperous place in Great Qian.

Nearby were a blacksmith’s forge, a noodle shop emitting steam, and a martial arts school where many bare-chested men practiced horse stances.

Not far off, Li Xian spotted a place bustling with activity.

It appeared to be a sizable establishment, with many young women dressed flamboyantly standing at the entrance, casting enchanting glances toward passersby—inviting yet teasing. Under such circumstances, pedestrians’ hearts wavered, their steps slowing; some weaker-willed men even succumbed to the temptation and slowly approached the partially open door.

“That place…” Li Xian murmured strangely to himself, “Chunxiang House?”

Having been inundated by the vast array of internet information before his rebirth, Li Xian instantly recognized it as a traditional brothel unique to ancient times.

But since his rebirth, in six years, Li Xian had barely left Lijia Village. The farthest he’d ventured was Yanshan County, which naturally lacked such pleasure houses due to its small population and low spending power. Such establishments were typically found in prefectural cities like the Great Qian Imperial City, where brothels thrived.

In fact, this was Li Xian’s first encounter with such a place in real life, and he was genuinely curious.

Xiao An looked up, noticing his master’s gaze fixed on the establishment, and asked with curiosity, “Master, do you want to go inside and take a look?”

As a child of about ten, Xiao An had no understanding of what a brothel was—only sensing his master’s curiosity.

Li Xian was momentarily speechless.

Xiao An’s innocent question caused the women at Chunxiang House to giggle behind their hands, smiling warmly as their gazes shifted from the boy to Li Xian.

Their eyes then brightened.

This young man was refined and elegant, graceful and handsome—the most dazzlingly attractive man they had ever seen.

In Great Qian, a young man with such exquisite looks was truly rare.

“Handsome sir, would you like to come in and play? No charge if you’re not satisfied,” one called.

“Young sir, come on in! I’ll keep you company for free!” another beckoned.

“If you want me to accompany you tonight, I’ll serve you so well you’ll never want to leave…” their voices trailed alluringly.

Outside the brothel, the air was filled with their chatter.

Many passing men looked on with envy at Li Xian.

Chunxiang House was renowned, filled with graceful courtesans beloved by the literati of Great Qian’s capital—a true den of extravagance.

Even the ordinary women inside were considered exquisite beauties by brothel standards elsewhere in Great Qian, their figures superb, for the selection criteria here were stricter.

Spending a night there was many men’s dream, though extremely costly—one night might cost several taels of silver.

To put that into perspective, many families’ annual income barely reached that amount.

Even among the wealthy, ordinary households earned only a fraction of that, a stark and pitiful disparity.

Within Chunxiang House, aristocratic sons often spent dozens or hundreds of taels in a single day. Such a place was truly a money pit.

Since the women said it was free, it likely was—many courtesans voluntarily offered their company to famous literati to raise their own status. Many also admired handsome, talented young men.

Better to spend a night with a charming young man than be exploited by an old wealthy patron.

A night of passion was priceless—especially with someone as extraordinarily handsome as Li Xian.

For such a man, volunteering for such company was no big deal.

Hearing the lively chatter, Li Xian felt awkward and quickly pulled Xiao An away in a hasty retreat.

They were here to buy a house, not to visit a brothel.

Besides, even if he wanted to, he wouldn’t bring a child like Xiao An to such a place—it would be utterly inappropriate to corrupt the child’s innocence.