Travel back in time and become Chongzhen, watch me turn the tide

As night falls, the Qinhuai River resembles a flowing Milky Way, emitting a dreamy glow. The bright moon hangs high in the sky, like a flawless lamp, scattering its light into every corner and covering the pavilions and towers on both sides of the Qinhuai River with a layer of silver gauze.

The river shimmered, the moon's shadow swaying gracefully on the waves. Painted boats, each adorned with colorful lanterns, glittered across the water. Their lights, reflected on the river and intertwined with the moonlight, created a vibrant world. From the boats, laughter echoed, and the sound of stringed instruments drifted in the air. Dignified officials, scholars, and beautiful women gathered, savoring mooncakes, drinking wine, composing poetry, and playing musical instruments, fully enjoying the romance and elegance of this festive occasion.

Willows sway along the riverbank, like fairies in green dancing in the breeze. Buildings rise and fall on both sides, their soaring eaves and angled corners etched with graceful lines in the moonlight, their carved beams and painted buildings shimmering in the light. Red candles glow brightly within the buildings, and figures bustle about, some toasting to the moonlight, others leaning on railings to admire the riverscape, creating a lively and peaceful atmosphere. In the distance, the bridge bustles with pedestrians: couples stroll hand in hand, sharing their hearts, children run and laugh, lanterns glittering in their hands. Beneath the bridge, the river gurgles, whispering the ancient and enchanting story of the Qinhuai River. The night market on the shore is ablaze with lights, and the hawkers selling lanterns shout incessantly. A dazzling array of lanterns, along with steaming, fragrant food stalls, add a rich, festive atmosphere to this Mid-Autumn Festival night, showcasing the vibrant scene along the Qinhuai River.

Chongzhen and others followed the bustling crowd, strolling on the bluestone-paved road. Various aromas filled the air, intertwining and making people salivate.

Every food stall was overflowing with a dazzling array of delicacies, emitting an alluring sheen and steam. Chongzhen looked curiously at the steaming sweet-scented taro sprouts in candied osmanthus. The delicate taro sprouts tumbled and surged in the pot, emitting an alluring sheen, as if showcasing their sweetness and softness.

Seeing Chongzhen's focused gaze, Wang Wan'er smiled and pulled him towards the stall. The stall owner enthusiastically filled a bowl and handed it to Chongzhen. Chongzhen took a sip, and the sweet taste instantly spread across his tongue, like a warm current flowing into his heart, making his frown slightly relax, and a look of comfort and satisfaction appeared on his face.

"Your Majesty... Master, I want to eat this." After walking two steps, there was a shop selling Jinling Roast Duck in front of him. When Zhu Tie saw the shiny and fragrant meat, he could no longer move his feet. He stared at the roast duck and said with saliva dripping.

"My dear, buy a few more for Tiezhu." Chongzhen couldn't help but smile when he saw Zhu Tie's expression.

Wang Chengen walked over with a smile and, after some negotiation with the stall owner, bought three or four roast ducks. He first handed one, carefully wrapped in a lotus leaf, to Chongzhen, and then stuffed the rest of the roast ducks into Zhu Tie's mouth.

Before Chongzhen could even make a move, Wang Wan'er had already taken the roast duck, carefully tore off a piece of duck meat, and handed it to Chongzhen. Chongzhen opened his mouth slightly and took a bite. He found the roast duck's skin crispy, like a thin cracker, and a gentle "crunch" sound. The duck meat was tender and juicy, melting in his mouth, fragrant and delicious. He couldn't help but praise it repeatedly, his eyes full of admiration and joy.

As they strolled and ate, enjoying the charming scenery of the Qinhuai River and feeling the atmosphere of the daily life, Chongzhen temporarily forgot about the worries and troubles of government affairs and enjoyed this moment of joy and relaxation with everyone.

Though dressed in men's clothing, Wang Wan'er's heart was filled with joy, as radiant as a spring flower, as cheerful as a playful rabbit. She skipped about to admire the various lanterns, then enthusiastically bargained with the vendors, trying to find the lowest price on her desired items. Before she'd even stepped out for long, her hands were laden with delicate ornaments, exquisite snacks, and other interesting trinkets. Her silvery laughter, like a bell, drifted on the wind, its clear, melodious sound blending into the nightscape of the Qinhuai River, adding a touch of spirit and joy to this enchanting evening.

Gazing upon the flourishing scene along the Qinhuai River, Chongzhen made a secret resolution: this picturesque scene must not be destroyed by the Qing court's iron hoof. The tragic end of the Southern Ming dynasty must not be repeated under his own hands. He would use his wisdom and strength to protect this land and its people, restoring the Ming dynasty to its former glory.

"Master, look, this is Meixiang Tower!" As they walked, Zhu Ge pointed to a small building on the side of the road and said, "This is where Mr. Hou's confidante, Li Xiangjun, lives."

"Oh?" Chongzhen's eyes lit up when he heard Zhu Ge say that. A feeling of curiosity and anticipation surged in his heart, and he turned around to look.

The Meixiang Tower, with its carved beams and painted rafters, stands by the water. Its soaring eaves and angled corners gleam golden in the sunlight, resembling a resplendent palace, exuding a unique charm and allure. The vermilion window lattices are exquisitely detailed, each pattern telling of the prosperity and romantic affairs of the past. Over the doors and windows hang multicolored beaded curtains, which sway gently in the breeze, creating a crisp and melodious sound, like the laughter of a beautiful woman, inviting the imagination and stirring the heart.

"Let's go in and take a look!" Chongzhen said with a smile, his eyes flashing with excitement and curiosity.

Brothels hold a special allure for men. Whether it's Zhu Youjian in later generations or the revered Emperor Chongzhen today, they've always found themselves in a mysterious place they've never ventured into. Deep down, men harbor a lingering curiosity and yearning for such places steeped in romance and stories. Who wouldn't want to explore and savor their unique charm?

"Your Majesty, no!" Wang Chengen was anxious, his face suddenly changed, and he reached out and grabbed the corner of Chongzhen's clothes tightly and said.

What a joke! If the Ming emperor's visits to a brothel were known to the officials, Emperor Chongzhen would be bombarded with memorials. As a close minister serving the emperor, he would be impeached by the officials, accusing him of dereliction of duty and condoning the emperor's misconduct. The court would undoubtedly erupt in uproar, with disastrous consequences.

"Don't worry, my dear. Let's go and take a look." Chongzhen knew what Wang Chengen wanted to say and smiled and comforted him, "We will go in quietly. No one will know... Oh, Wan'er is waiting outside!"

"No! I want to go too." Wang Wan'er was originally prepared to happily follow in to broaden her horizons, but she didn't expect that she would not be allowed in. She immediately became anxious, her little face flushed red, and she said.

"As a girl, how can you go to a brothel with others? It's inconvenient!" Chongzhen said with a smile, trying to persuade Wang Wan'er to stay outside.

"I'm a man now, look!" Wang Wan'er showed off her men's clothing and said confidently, "His Majesty just said we should go in and take a look. I'm going with you to supervise you and prevent you from doing anything out of line."

"Well, okay!" Chongzhen thought for a moment, nodded, and said, "What you said makes sense, then let's go and take a look together!"

After they finished talking, without waiting for Wang Chengen to react, they turned around and walked into Meixianglou, followed closely by Zhu Ge and Zhu Tie.

Wang Chengen shook his head helplessly. He had a strong feeling that Emperor Chongzhen had changed drastically since he'd attempted suicide that day. He was like a completely different person. If he hadn't been by Chongzhen's side the entire time, witnessing all these changes firsthand, he would have truly believed he was a completely different person... Could the dream His Majesty had described earlier be true?

Wang Chengen shook his head, threw these complicated thoughts out of his mind, took a deep breath, and followed the crowd in.

As you step into Meixiang Tower, a rich aroma hits you in the face. The aroma is a mixture of the fragrance of cosmetics, the richness of spices and the aroma of fine wine, which is intoxicating.

In the hall, sandalwood tables and chairs were decorated with exquisite floral carvings, their lines flowing naturally, their detail and lifelikeness creating the illusion of delicate flowers blooming on the tabletops. Spotlessly polished, they radiated a soft sheen under the light, revealing the owner's meticulous care and attention to detail. The surrounding walls were covered with calligraphy and paintings by renowned figures. There were elegant and graceful strokes, each showcasing talent and individuality; there were also lifelike paintings, depicting flowers, birds, fish, insects, landscapes, and figures, all imbued with spirit, seemingly bursting forth from the walls and leaping into view, a scene that evoked awe and admiration.

As soon as I walked into the hall, I heard Wang Wan'er's surprised voice: "Hey! Isn't this Mr. Hou?"