Beauty helps me achieve immortality

The wild horses galloped along the long street, stirring up the dust.

The already narrow carriage was even more bumpy at this moment, and the curtains on the side of me were swaying slightly...

Zhao Qing was a little embarrassed for a moment. He had never been alone with a man in such a small space, and this man was his father-in-law.

Of course, he had seen a lot of the world, so he didn't seem too embarrassed.

But what the hell... what the hell is going to the Jiaofangsi?!

Among the twenty-four departments of the imperial court, the Jiaofang Department was under the Ministry of Rites and was considered an official brothel. It was full of girls who were good at singing and dancing. In addition to being used by the inner court, they would also attend sacrificial ceremonies or imperial temple fairs, etc.

Well...at least that's what my aunt used to say.

But as a man, Zhao Qing knew very well that it was just a brothel for high-ranking officials to have sex for free! ?

For no reason, a smile appeared on the corner of his mouth.

Zhou Zongliang was very familiar and smiled as he asked, "But what happy things have you thought of?"

cough cough.

Zhao Qing naturally didn't want to get it for free.

He pondered and said, "I remember when Xiaoyi and I first went out together, she took Shuyue and me to Tianxiang Tower to listen to music."

"I see."

The man understood and smiled, "Xiaoyi has been proficient in music since she was young, and she often pesters me to play the gong and shang notes with her."

Zhao Qing thought to himself that a daughter is like her father.

Back then, his aunt had taken him to a brothel, and today Zhou Zongliang was going to take him to a brothel again...

Zhou Zongliang leaned comfortably on the wooden pillow and said casually, "Xiaoyi has been with me for nearly twenty years, but she hasn't come back many times since she left."

"What do you think of her temperament?"

Zhao Qing was a little surprised when he heard this, as if he sensed something wrong with Zhou Zongliang.

My aunt was very reluctant to acknowledge him as her father, as he had actually abandoned his wife and daughter... However, when Zhou Zongliang talked about Xiaoyi, he didn't show any estrangement.

At this moment, he carefully responded: "Although Xiaoyi looks cold and aloof, she is actually very thoughtful and considerate. If she hadn't been by my side all these years, I wouldn't have come this far."

"Ah!"

The man sneered, and he actually had some similarities with Xiaoyi in temperament.

"Zhou Xiaoyi was arrogant and unreasonable, and I beat her with the stick many times back then."

!! ?

Is that so?

Zhao Qing was puzzled in his heart. His aunt was a little unreasonable, but he had never felt her to be arrogant. Could it be that her mind had become more stable after leaving home?

"Fortunately, you've trained me pretty well over the years, and now I see I've become much more restrained."

Zhao Qing fell into deep thought, thinking, is this something a father should say?

He could only smile and say, "Xiaoyi usually discusses family matters with me and is rarely rude."

Zhou Zongliang raised his eyebrows slightly and patted his wrist with his folding fan: "She's just a woman, there's no need to protect her like this."

This father-in-law seemed to have no interest in the affairs of Siyou Sect and the Changsheng Sword, but instead put his arm around his son-in-law...

"There are many women like this in the Jiaofangsi. They are well versed in music, chess, calligraphy and painting, and their appearance is more charming than her ugly face. I will take you to play with a few of them."

several!?

Zhao Qing's mind froze. Could this be... a test from his father-in-law?

Although he knew that Zhou Zongliang was a playboy, he couldn't be so unreliable, right?

Si He's thoughts came through: "Take advantage of his own strategy! Teach him a lesson!"

I'll hit you with a hammer...

How could a father-in-law take his son-in-law to a prostitute?

Unheard of!

Zhou Zongliang's starry eyes swept across Zhao Qing's surprised expression and jokingly said, "Don't believe it?"

"The people in Fangsi are all the wives and daughters of officials, including some from prominent families in the past, and there are many people with noble births."

"Court battles are more dangerous than sectarian fighting. You never know who's wife or daughter might become someone else's plaything."

Zhao Qing nodded with a smile, feeling that his father-in-law's thoughts were difficult to understand.

However, he knew that there were beauties in the Jiaofangsi. Generally speaking, if an official's house was raided, the women in his family would be sent to the Jiaofang as punishment.

As if feeling that Zhao Qing didn't discuss these things with him, the man turned and asked, "Among your three women, can Xiaoyi defeat Shuyue and Qinghuan?"

Zhao Qing: ...

Why are your questions always so sharp?

He gave a helpless smile and told the truth: "The three of them are like brothers and sisters, and they have never had any disputes."

"But if we really want to talk about it, Xiaoyi probably can't beat Qinghuan."

"Shuyue has always been taken care of by us. She is like the little daughter in the family."

Zhou Zongliang nodded slightly, a thoughtful look flashing in his eyes.

That Gu Qinghuan doesn't seem to have any cultivation...

"That's it."

"You probably haven't met Xianxian yet. She's lively and cheerful, even more mischievous than Xiaoyi."

"It should be almost time to build the foundation now."

The Xianxian he mentioned was Zhou Xiaoyi's mother, who had been living in her mother's home in Juechen Valley, Liguo, for many years.

Zhao Qingsi thought that the situation at his aunt's home was somewhat like that of a divorced parent...

The two chatted casually, all about trivial matters at home over the years, and did not mention the Siyou Sect or the events in the cultivation world.

……

On the other side, Zhou Xiaoyi also took Shuyue and Qinghuan to stroll around the palace.

The palace city was already the most magnificent place in the entire Chu State. The rows of palaces were magnificent, and the golden tiles and jade bricks were dazzling.

There are also peach and apricot gardens, pavilions, waterside terraces, carved beams and painted buildings, flying pavilions and flowing red buildings, which are even better than those of the Changsheng Sword Sect.

My aunt changed into a red dress and introduced herself slowly and gently.

"Father became the Prime Minister at that time, inheriting the position of Grandfather, which was considered to be the exclusive authority of the Zhou family."

"When I was young, I often went to the depths of this palace garden to enjoy the music and paintings among the peach trees..."

"At that time, the imperial family's tribute was still Duan Wenyu, and I had never heard of any intersection between him and Du Chun's biological mother. Who would have thought that after leaving the imperial city, I would see him traveling with the empress dowager on the Purple Pearl Spirit Boat."

"That's really interesting..."

The woman spoke casually, but her mind had already drifted away.

I wonder what my father will talk about with Zhao Qing?

These two men have almost divided her short life into equal parts.

One is the father who raised me for more than ten years, and the other is the husband who has been with me for more than ten years...

Before she knew it, the woman's heart was filled with anxiety and curiosity.

Feeling the warmth on his fingertips, Qing Huan smiled and held her soft hand: "Let's build some palaces on Shouyun Mountain, just like the palace city. Si He will be very happy."

Although Qinghuan looks weak, she has accurately grasped Sihe's preferences these days - big, good, and expensive.

Shuyue's eyes flickered, and she also laughed crisply, "Apart from the palace, we can also leave a few willow groves to decorate it a little."

"A waterfall can be created on the top of the mountain, and the remaining spring formations can be used just right."

Weeping willows, waterfalls, palaces... ?

Zhou Xiaoyi looked up at the lotus pond deep in the palace, a hint of smile flashing across her face.

No one could refuse something like infrastructure construction, not to mention that the entire Shouyun Mountain would be their home in the future...

We can plan and manage it bit by bit, and I don’t know how many years it will take to build it to suit my family’s wishes.

·

Imperial City, Jiaofangsi.

A long, wide and dark street was covered with ink-colored gauze, making the street look somewhat dark and hazy.

A man who looked like a scholar pulled the carriage and came to the alley at the deepest part of the street.

It is clearly daytime now, but it is difficult to see sunlight here.

There was soft music echoing in my ears and a faint scent of powder in the air.

The clattering sound of horseshoes hitting the ground subsided, and a female official in light armor was waiting there to greet them.

The woman had delicate features, a high nose, and her slender figure was tightly wrapped in standard light armor. Apart from her cheeks and her long black hair, which was tied up high, not an inch of her skin was exposed... She was very special in this Jiaofang Bureau.

She gripped the whip tightly in her hand, quickly approached the carriage, knelt on one knee and bowed, "Mr. Zhou."

The scholar casually handed over the reins in his hand and nodded, saying, "Second Master is here."

The curtain of the carriage was lifted with a folding fan, and two men walked out of the carriage one after another, talking and laughing.

At this moment, the pretty woman who was kneeling to greet him was even more respectful. She even held her breath and dared not look up.

Zhou Zongliang was still introducing it to Zhao Qing.

"The wives and daughters of officials are usually of extraordinary appearance and upbringing. When they come here, they don't need to be disciplined too much and can be provided for the inner court."

Zhao Qing just nodded without expressing much opinion.

He never imagined that his father-in-law would actually...

"Those who are still alive here have no dignity whatsoever. You can do whatever you want to them."

“Even if…”

The man glanced at the pretty woman in light armor and chuckled, "Even this Le Cheng."

The woman looked calm, placing the whip in her hand on the ground. She then untied the hairband that held her hair together, knelt on both knees and said respectfully, "Le Cheng Yin Yuying greets you, young master."

Zhao Qing: ???

He stared at the clear eyes of the woman in front of him, her pretty nose and thin lips, her messy hair and tight light armor... It was really exciting.

No, that's really too much.

……

After a while.

In the dark music room, wisps of smoke were dancing above the incense burner.

The female official who had just been wearing light armor had taken off her outer garments, leaving only a thin undergarment and loose stockings. She knelt sideways on the ground, a xylophone resting on her long, tight legs...

Her ink-black hair is gathered at her sides, and her slender green fingers lightly pluck the silk strings, playing a soothing and graceful melody continuously.

In front of her, the hibiscus warm tent was covered by a thin gauze, and two men were leaning comfortably on the cool jade pillow, also wearing only thin underwear.

The six beauties were naked, all kneeling and leaning lightly on the edge of the soft couch.

"call……"

Zhao Qing closed his eyes slightly, feeling very nervous.

This is a battle concerning a man's dignity, and he cannot retreat.

It was like being dragged to the door of the club by brothers. No man would say that he would kneel on the washboard when he got home...

Even if you really have to kneel, you have to endure this moment first.

What's more, the person who brought him here is Xiaoyi's biological father!

If I get scared, how will I face my father-in-law in the future...

Si He's pretty face appeared in his mind, her cunning eyes blinked, and she exclaimed in admiration: "Good, good, good!"

"If you don't enter the tiger's den, you won't catch the tiger's cubs!"

Zhao Qing: ...

He slowly relaxed his mind.

The melody echoing in my ears became increasingly gentle, accompanied by a tinkling sound similar to that of dripping spring water.

Beside the incense burner, a woman gently waved a small fan, sending wisps of smoke into the gauze curtain.

This is a kind of fatty fragrance called Shili Osmanthus. After being roasted, the smell becomes more subtle, making people want to smell it more.

My neck rested on the ice-cold jade pillow, and a subtle chill ran down my spine and up to my head... accompanied by a little sleepiness, I closed my eyes and felt like I was on top of the clouds, and all the movements around me seemed so ambiguous and hazy.

Her legs were covered with a deep softness, and her slender arms gently massaged her waist.

Feeling a warm touch on his lips, Zhao Qing gently opened his mouth and ate the red grapes that the girl had carefully peeled.

He was secretly surprised.

Is this the happiness of a father-in-law?!

It's too plain and simple.

Zhou Zongliang's laughter came from my ears: "The one in your ear is the daughter of the Taichang Temple's accountant, and the one serving the incense is the concubine of the Minister of Revenue."

"What do these two look like?"

Zhao Qing replied casually: "It's okay."

"Um……"

The man paused for a moment, then continued, "Yin Lecheng was originally a cultivator in the late stage of Qi training, but his Dantian was destroyed and he ended up here."

Hearing this, Zhao Qing suddenly felt a little uncomfortable.

Qing Huan was in the same situation. Because he saved him, he damaged his Dantian and lost his cultivation.

The music outside the gauze curtain slowly died down. The music minister put down the xylophone, and with his thin lips and long black hair, he walked onto the bed where they were staying...

Zhou Zongliang smiled and said, "I originally wanted to take Xiaoyi back to my side."

"But when Du Chun used Duan Wenyu's name to propose marriage to the Songshan Zhao family, I knew that this girl had finally grown up."

Du Chun?

Offer a marriage proposal?

Zhao Qing recalled briefly and realized that the other party was probably talking about the time when he had just become a disciple of the Blood Robe. A group of Yujing monks from the Chu State not only bought him a house, but also gave him a marriage certificate.

If you really think about it, he and his aunt are now a well-matched couple, and the eldest daughter of the Zhou family married into the Zhao family of Songshan... These are of course all fabricated.

Zhao Qing cheered up and temporarily pushed Le Cheng's delicate body to the side.

"Does father-in-law have anything to say to the child?"

Zhou Zongliang chuckled and shook his head.

"There's nothing to say. Xiaoyi is your wife. Whether she's happy or sad, whether she lives or dies...it all depends on you."

"I know you are a disciple of Yujing, but you must never underestimate the heroes of the world."

Zhao Qing's mind moved, and his eyes swept over the more than ten graceful women in the dark music room. Any one of them, if placed outside... would be extraordinary in music, chess, calligraphy, painting, appearance and figure.

turn out to be……?

He suddenly understood something. This prime minister who controlled the world seemed to have said nothing, yet it seemed as if he had explained everything clearly.

It's like there's a layer of window paper...that needs someone to pry it open.

Zhao Qing's eyes narrowed slightly as he whispered, "Who is this hero who should not be underestimated?"

Zhou Zongliang sighed with a smile.

"I still don't know."

"Back then, my father was the Prime Minister, and I was just a playboy in the capital."

"Every day I take my wife and daughter out for a stroll, have a drink at the Jiaofang, and play chess with my daughter..."

"But suddenly one day..."

Zhao Qing's sword eyes flashed with brilliance. The reason why his aunt was full of resentment towards her father was that after he succeeded to the position of prime minister, he no longer cared about them, mother and daughter, and even adopted a son, using Xiaoyi as a tool to find the recipe for the elixir.

But the most fundamental reason...

He continued, "But suddenly one day, the Zhou family's only pillar fell. The grandfather was poisoned by a Gu, and the Zhou family was in imminent danger."

The man nodded slowly.

He chuckled and said, "At that time, I was just a Qi training cultivator. Although the side branches also had foundation building, it was not enough to withstand the turbulent undercurrent in the court."

"The differences between clans, the disputes in the court, the abyss is endless, there is no way back."

"They are both useless, mother and daughter. They only hinder my progress, so I used some tricks to send them away."

Zhao Qing was silent for a long time, then said softly, "I understand."

At that time, Zhou Yunfeng fell, but the person who secretly exorcised the Gu had not yet been found, and the Zhou family was in danger of being destroyed at any time...

The man continued, "They naturally understand the danger. If they are not disheartened and leave, once the building collapses, the Jiaofang Bureau will only have two more playthings, and Xianxian will not even have the chance to marry again."

Zhao Qing thought silently without saying anything.

If the road ahead wasn't so dangerous, who would be willing to abandon their wife and daughter...

My aunt's mother returned to her country and stayed out of the matter.

My aunt was ordered to go to Danxia. In addition to the elixir recipe, it might also be related to the connection between the Du family and the Sword of Immortality.

Danxia is far away in the deep mountains of the southwest... Cheng Yue once entered Lanqing alone, conquered the four southwestern counties and established his clan.

And the Zhou family knew about the existence of the Yujing cultivator...

For a moment, Zhao Qing was actually amazed at the foresight of this second master.

"Have you ever thought about making amends?" he asked in a low voice.

Zhou Zongliang was slightly startled, patted the delicate body in his arms and chuckled nonchalantly, "I did nothing wrong, what's there to redeem?"

"Just two women."

"If it's lost, it's lost."

He clamped the fair wrist in front of him with his powerful hands and put a red grape into his mouth.

Then he laughed out loud and said, "Keep playing the music!"