If you traveled back to ancient times, while others ate Guanyin clay, you would actually have giant

"Your Majesty, I actually think this matter is simple."

Gu Xinyuan, perhaps being an outsider with a clearer perspective, didn't think the matter was particularly difficult.

"Oh, what's your plan?"

"Your Majesty, have you forgotten that Zhou Wu, besides being the Crown Prince's tutor, still retains his position as the commander of the Qingyang Army?"

What does it matter?

“Your Majesty, since Zhou Wu still holds the title of commander of the Qingyang Army, he has an obligation to lead the Qingyang Army. This way, he doesn’t have to stay in the capital all the time. When he makes some contributions, Your Majesty can promote him without any problem.”

"good idea."

Li Tiancheng thought this idea was good and logical, and it wouldn't embarrass the Crown Prince or make him feel resentful. However, he couldn't rush it yet, otherwise it would be too obvious.

. . . . .

Besides being a metropolis, the capital city is also a major information exchange center. Zhou Wu's heated discussion was quickly buried under other information within a few days, which was exactly what Zhou Wu had in mind.

"Oh, so boring."

Zhou Wu wandered aimlessly through the streets. Back in Niujia Town, although he didn't have to worry about everything himself, he still had places to go. Now, although the capital was bustling, he didn't know where to go.

"Grandpa, come in and have some fun."

"Sir, come in and take a look. The new girl is very pretty."

Unbeknownst to him, Zhou Wu arrived at Jiaosifang, which, to put it bluntly, is a place for drinking and carousing. However, he had heard—and this is just hearsay—that there are two types of drinking and carousing: one is simply drinking and chatting about life, and the other is where, after drinking, everyone begins to have a spiritual exchange.

Logically, men would definitely prefer the latter kind of in-depth communication, but the most popular group here is actually the plain one, the four most beautiful courtesans in the capital, all of whom are in a group chatting about life.

"Ladies and gentlemen, tonight, Wu Tianji, one of the four most beautiful courtesans of Xingmanlou, will be making friends through literature. I hope you will all support her."

"What? Miss Wu Tianji has finally shown herself."

"My God, I've been waiting for months, and I've finally met Miss Wu."

"That's the most mysterious of the four most beautiful courtesans, the Fifth Sister."

Zhou Wu didn't understand anything, only hearing something about the Four Beauties and Wu Tianji. Then he was pushed and followed by the crowd into Xingmanlou. By the time Zhou Wu realized what was happening and wanted to leave, it was too late.

"Fully booked, closing time."

The Starry Pavilion was already packed with men, so to avoid unnecessary trouble, the madam ordered it to close.

"Welcome to Xingmanlou. Tonight is a meet-and-greet for our courtesan, Wu Tianji. Next month is the Capital Courtesan Competition, and we hope everyone will support our Miss Wu from Xingmanlou."

The first to appear was a fat brothel madam, just like the fat brothel madam in the TV series "The Magistrate".

"So this is a campaign to win votes and popularity. Are the requirements for a courtesan this high?"

Zhou Wu muttered something under his breath, but a man next to him overheard him.

"Brother, is this your first time here?"

"Brother, you could tell that?"

This person's appearance was so familiar, exactly like Zhu Zhishan from my previous life, both dark-skinned and despicable.

"Hehe, I'm not very talented, but I've been visiting all the brothels in the capital since I was a child. I can tell at a glance whether a man or a woman is a good person or a prostitute."

"Brother, you have such extraordinary abilities? As expected of the capital, it truly is a place where talented people emerge in great numbers."

"Oh, this is nothing. My name is Zhu Zhiyong. May I ask your honorable surname, brother?"

"My name is Zhou Wu."

"Zhou Wu, that name sounds familiar."

Zhu Zhiyong felt that he had heard Zhou Wu's name somewhere before, but Zhou Wu interrupted him.

"Brother Zhu, tell me about this brothel."

When the topic of brothels came up, Zhu Zhiyong became interested, since his life goal was to visit all the brothels in Dalong, even though he hadn't left the capital yet.

"Then let me tell you about the ways of the brothel."

Zhu Zhiyong was significantly older than Zhou Wu, so the two tacitly addressed each other as brothers.

"Ah."

"Xingmanlou is not actually the most famous brothel in the capital. In the history of brothels in the capital, it is a relatively young establishment, having only been open for a few years. During these years, it has performed only moderately well among the brothels in the capital. However, since Wu Tianji came to Xingmanlou, things have been completely different."

Zhu Zhiyong was indeed engrossed in the study of brothels, and his commentary was eloquent and insightful, just like a commentator for the Chinese national football team.

"Is Wu Tianji really that powerful?"

So far, Wu Tianji has not shown herself, so Zhou Wu has no idea how many heads or hands she has.

"Brother, that's too superficial. Being named one of the four most beautiful courtesans in the capital is no trivial matter."

"Who are the Four Beauties?"

"You've come to the right person. First is Wu Tianji of Xingmanlou, then Hongxiu of Yichunyuan, Ruxin of Jinchailou, and Cuimei of Wangyouge. Each of these four has her own strengths. Cuimei plays the pipa very well, Ruxin is good at dancing, and Hongxiu plays the xiao very well."

"Playing the flute?"

"Yes, Hongxiu is very skilled at playing the flute. Brother Zhou, are you also knowledgeable about playing the flute?"

"No, no, no, I don't know how to play the flute, nor do I like playing it."

Zhou Wu shook his head repeatedly. Although he knew the other party didn't understand his meaning, he still felt a little uncomfortable.

"That's a real pity. I also have some knowledge of playing the xiao (vertical flute) and was hoping to have a chance to exchange skills with Brother Zhou."

"No need, no need, Brother Zhu, please make yourself at home. Oh, by the way, I haven't introduced Wu Tianji yet. What is she best at? Can she play the flute?"

"Oh, Wu Tianji can naturally play the flute. Which courtesan doesn't know one or two musical instruments? But Wu Tianji was ranked as one of the four most beautiful courtesans not because she can play the flute, but because she is the most mysterious. To this day, no one has seen her true face."

"What? Are you kidding me? You've never even seen what she looks like, and she's already the top courtesan? Who decided this? There must be something fishy going on."

"Um, I am not very talented, but I am the one who evaluates these four beauties."

"Haha, as expected of Brother Zhu, your discerning eye is as sharp as a pig's. Your judgment of the four most beautiful courtesans demonstrates the principles of fairness, impartiality, and transparency, which makes people have no choice but to believe it."

"Brother Zhou really understands me! Do you know how much pressure and temptation I faced to select these four beauties? It wasn't easy for me at all, sob sob sob~~~"

As Zhu Zhiyong spoke, he became so moved that he started to cry.

"Brother Zhu, Brother Zhu, there's no need, there's really no need."

The strange looks from those around him made Zhou Wu feel awkward. He just wanted to quietly distance himself from Zhu Zhiyong, but unexpectedly, Zhu Zhiyong called out to him.

"Brother Zhou, where are you going?"

"Oh, uh, I... I'm going to the toilet, I'm going to the toilet."

"What a coincidence, I also suddenly need to use the restroom, let's go together."

Damn, he couldn't escape even when he went to the toilet. He was stuck with her. Zhou Wu really couldn't get rid of her, so the two of them had to go to the toilet together. Just as the two of them were about to turn around and go to the toilet, the madam's voice rang out again.