Being an emperor is not something he can do, so he can only rely on his connections.

night.

Thanks to some special connections, Zhao Mingcheng and his young attendant finally entered the Zuixianlou. As soon as they entered, they were overwhelmed by the overwhelming sound and heat. The bizarre scene before them was so bizarre that even Zhao Mingcheng, a man of great experience, was slightly startled.

Inside the door wasn't the simple hall of a restaurant as one might imagine, but a vast, high-ceilinged space. Several enormous glass lamps illuminated the surroundings, making them as bright as day, yet veils and screens cleverly separated different areas. The air was filled with the aroma of wine, cosmetics, the scorching aroma of roasting food, and an indescribable, eager odor, the steam of money and desire.

What was ringing in my ears was a bustling melody of various sounds: In the southeast corner, a huge gambling table was surrounded by people, and the dealer was shouting at the top of his lungs: "Put your bets on it! Ladies and gentlemen, open your eyes wide, three fours - open! Big!" The dice cup was opened, and suddenly there broke out a noise of ecstasy or annoyance.

To the west, a charming wine maid held a jade tray and said in a soft voice, "Sir, would you like to try our Zuixianlou's signature sake? It's aged for ten years, and it's smooth on the palate, yet has a strong aftertaste!"

On the north side, there was a pitching pot field where people kept trying to throw arrows into the long pot. The shooting officer chanted: "Whoever shoots an arrow through the ear will be rewarded with ten strings of cash!"

On the small stage in the center, a storyteller clapped his hands in a rhythmic voice, "Dear audience, today, let me explain the absurd story of the former imperial concubine who got drunk in the Huaqing Pool..."

The ethereal sounds of stringed instruments drifted from upstairs, mingled with the crisp tinkling of dancers' ankle bells. A servant called out, "Sir, would you like an authentic Western Region Flying Fairy Dance? I guarantee it will make your eyes tingle and your heart beat!"

There was even a makeshift platform where a small-scale auction was taking place. The host held a scroll and said, "The next item is an authentic calligraphy work by the great scholar Li Songnian of the current dynasty! This is a rare opportunity, everyone. The highest bidder wins!"

Dragon dancing, fire breathing, acrobatics...all kinds of martial arts were performed in the corner, attracting a crowd of cheering people.

How could this be a restaurant? It was clearly a place where the ecstasy of an entire bustling street was crammed into this massive building with carved beams and painted buildings!

The young man was dazzled by the sight and whispered to Zhao Mingcheng, "Mr. Zhao, this place is truly... so diverse and bizarre, even more lively than the Lantern Festival in Beijing!"

Zhao Mingcheng glanced at the throng of people jostling for position, quickly calculating in his mind. His voice was low, "It's more than just a bustling scene... The entrance fee is one hundred guan per person, and look at this place, there are more than a hundred people! This is the kind of wealth that makes millions of guan every day... This is a big deal, and a deep thought!"

At this time, a maid with a slim figure and a silk mask came forward quietly. Her voice was soft and measured after careful training: "You two gentlemen look unfamiliar. Are you new VIP members? The rule of our Zuixianlou is that all members must wear masks. It can be enjoyable and elegant at the same time." There were several masks of different materials on the tray in her hand.

Zhao Mingcheng noticed that the masks on the stage were indeed different, so he asked, "Young lady, I see that the masks here seem to be different. Is there any reason for this?"

The maid deftly explained, "For VIPs, regular members wear bronze masks, while super members wear silver ones. If you're our distinguished gold super member, you can wear a gold mask." A hint of yearning lingered in her tone. "As for high-rollers who renew their membership for more than a year, they're eligible for a rare glass mask, the true symbol of status. However, Zuixianlou's membership system is new, so we don't have any guests wearing glass masks yet."

Zhao Mingcheng frowned slightly and casually mentioned, "Oh? But I just seemed to see a gentleman wearing a glass mask going upstairs."

Upon hearing this, the maid covered her mouth with a chuckle and lowered her voice even more: "Your Excellency has excellent taste. That man... is the owner of our Zuixianlou, so naturally he's special. He's a very important figure."

Zhao Mingcheng asked tentatively, "Is this County Magistrate Zhang?"

The maid's smile remained unchanged, but her eyes revealed a hint of vigilance and tact. "You are joking, VIP. I see through it but won't say anything. In our Zuixianlou, only members enjoy exclusive privileges, regardless of rank. Once everyone puts on a mask, they become equal guests, enjoying pure bliss without caring about worldly matters."

"I see." Zhao Mingcheng nodded and asked, "Aside from the masks, what's the difference between ordinary members and super members?"

"Ordinary members can enjoy the fun of this floor. There are gambling houses, snacks, hot springs, and folk music. It is no different from the street market, but more refined and complete." The maid stroked her slender hand, "If you want to go to the second floor... then you need to be a super member. On the second floor, there are performances by all the masters of the music troupe, live auctions of famous paintings and calligraphy, and even the top dancers carefully trained by our Zuixianlou, who will accompany you for drinks and conversation, which is endless fun." There were suggestive hints in her words.

Zhao Mingcheng followed up with another question: "What about the third floor?"

A subtle awe flashed in the maid's eyes. "The third floor... That's where the master will personally receive you. We're not discussing romantic matters, but business cooperation. As for the specific details, that's beyond my ken."

"What if I want to go up to the third floor and take a look now?" Zhao Mingcheng pretended to be casual.

The maid smiled apologetically and said, "Forgive me, distinguished guest. The third floor is a secret place, and even we have never been there. This is the rule, so please follow the rules."

"In that case, let's go upstairs and take a look first." Zhao Mingcheng said.

The maid bowed slightly. "Please forgive my rudeness, sir. I need to verify your qualifications. Land deeds, house deeds, or any other valuable documents will do."

The young man next to him was a little impatient and took out a document and handed it over: "Is this feasible?"

The maid took it and saw it was an official document from the Inspector. She smiled but shook her head. "So it's the Inspector. There have been quite a few officials entering the building with this kind of document lately. They are all temporary members, and according to the rules, they can't go up to the second floor."

Zhao Mingcheng pondered for a moment, then pulled out a token from his pocket. It was neither gold nor iron, and was engraved with intricate patterns. He handed it over casually, "Take a look at this token. Is it acceptable?"

When the maid's eyes fell upon the token, her pupils suddenly shrank. Although she tried her best to remain calm, her tone instantly became more respectful, and even carried a hint of barely perceptible panic: "So... it's a distinguished official from the capital! Please don't blame me for my poor eyesight! Two distinguished guests, please go upstairs!" She stepped aside to lead the way, her posture much more humble.

……

Ascending to the second floor, the clamor seemed filtered, becoming slightly hazier, yet the luxury far surpassed the ground floor. The chips on the gambling table had been replaced with more delicate ivory cards, their denominations clearly measured in "guan." The men and women playing around were dressed in brighter attire, their movements more daring and unrestrained. The dancers were noticeably more graceful, and the music was even more melodious and elegant.

The young man blushed and whispered, "Sir, this... is outrageous!"

Zhao Mingcheng's expression remained unchanged as he said calmly, "Since we're here, we'll just make the best of it. It's nothing more than some entertainment, harmless."

They strolled through the noisy crowd and arrived at an auction hall, where all sorts of rare treasures were on display: flawless glass cups, lustrous, round, top-grade oriental pearls, and even rare medicinal herbs that were clearly ancient... Each one was worth a fortune.

The young man gasped, "Sir, those Dongzhu and Liuli...I'm afraid they might not be common in the palace!"

Zhao Mingcheng glanced at them, his tone remaining calm, "Tribute items are occasionally circulated among the people. The court hasn't explicitly banned them, so... it's fine."

Then, they were led to a dining room by a strong, spicy aroma. Inside, diners raved, "Sigh! This pot is both spicy and numb, and it's really flavorful!"

"Tsk tsk, these fresh-cut beef tendon balls are so springy and chewy, they're definitely not comparable to the frozen stuff!"

"Yes! Look at this meat, red and white, trembling slightly, and it's served so fresh? The boss is really generous!"

Outside the door, the young man's face changed drastically. He suddenly grabbed Zhao Mingcheng's sleeve and said in a trembling voice, "Sir! Beef! How dare they eat beef openly?!"

Zhao Mingcheng's eyelids twitched, and he forced himself to remain calm and said, "If the cow died of natural causes, it can be slaughtered and sold after being inspected and stamped by the government, according to the law." Even he himself felt a little reluctant to say this.

However, when he passed by a box called "Uniform Temptation", the conversation coming out of it was like a heavy hammer, shattering all of Zhao Mingcheng's calmness!

I only heard a crude male voice pretending to be rude: "My beloved concubine, I have been reviewing the memorials today and am exhausted both physically and mentally. I am now horny and thirsty. I must eat you, my little devil~~"

Then a pretentious female voice came out: "Oh~ Your Majesty, you are so bad~ Please don't~~ I... I can't bear it..."

With a loud bang, Zhao Mingcheng felt a surge of blood rushing to his head! His face instantly turned ashen! As prime minister, he knew that propriety, law, and morality were the foundation of a country. To openly play the emperor, desecrate the court, and despise the imperial power was simply treason! Appalling!

The young man was so frightened that he said anxiously, "Sir!"

Zhao Mingcheng's chest heaved violently, his fingers trembling slightly as he squeezed out a few words from between his teeth: "This beast! How dare he... How dare he condone such a rebellious act! He has tarnished the majesty of the imperial family. His heart deserves death! His crime is..."

At this moment, a large bronze bell hanging high in the center of Zuixian Tower suddenly rang! "Dang—" The heavy bell sounded loud and penetrating, instantly drowning out the clamor within the building.

The lingering sound of the bells had barely faded when a fierce quarrel and scuffle could be heard from downstairs. A burly man wearing a bronze mask was being twisted by the arms of several muscular guards. He struggled hard, shouting, "Let me go! You blind slaves! Do you know who my father is? My father is the Provincial Surveillance Commissioner of the Capital Region! Dare to touch a hair on my head, and I'll let my father rob this shabby building of yours!" On the other side, an old man, also wearing a bronze mask, his clothes torn and tangled, was shaking with righteous anger. He pointed at the guards and cursed, "Rebellion! Rebellion! How dare you treat an official of the imperial court like this?! Believe it or not, I will file a petition to the Censorate tomorrow and have this den of yours, a den of filth and corruption, completely shut down!"

The chaos in Zuixianlou had just begun. Zhao Mingcheng stood on the second floor, his face as sullen as water, watching the farce below with a cold glint in his eyes.