A husband found in the village? I bought a regent for a penny!

He Jinglan knew that Gu Xixi wasn't unable to afford these things; she just didn't usually dress up.

Knowing Gu Xixi's personality all too well, she could only regretfully give up.

"I'm addicted to dressing you up, but unfortunately, we can only continue playing together when I get home the day after tomorrow."

Looking in the mirror, Gu Xixi chuckled, "Dressing up for fun? Do you think I'm a little girl's doll?"

She suddenly paused and turned to He Jinglan, "Wait, you said you're going home the day after tomorrow?"

"What about tonight? What about tomorrow?"

An Qinghe looked over curiously. "Isn't there a curfew in the capital? Can people just wander around outside at night?"

He Jinglan grinned, "Of course not, so we need to find a place to relax and stay tonight."

"As for tomorrow, it's even simpler: we'll ride out of the city on horseback for a spring outing."

Gu Xixi and An Qing exchanged puzzled glances.

Are there any places that offer nighttime entertainment and accommodation?

He Jinglan said it was still early, so she visited a few more shops and bought gifts for Aunt Zhang, Shi Tou, the old doctor, and others, which she then loaded onto the carriage.

She also thought of her neighbors in the village and planned to buy some local specialties such as candies and cakes before Gu Xixi returned to the Northwest.

It was already getting dark. Anqing was carrying things for the two girls and was getting hungry from all the walking.

Finally, He Jinglan said, "It's okay, let's go."

The three boarded the carriage again, with the young woman sitting in the inner carriage and Anqing and the driver, Old Li, in front.

Gu Xixi even took a nap during the journey.

When the carriage stopped, she got out and was stunned by the sight before her.

Even though it was already night, the view was as bright as day.

Colorful lights of various colors and shapes can be seen everywhere.

The streets were bustling with people, and the shops on both sides were brightly lit.

An Qinghe was also astonished, "It's almost curfew, how can there still be such a bustling area?"

He Jinglan had already instructed Old Li to drive back to the mansion and take the things he bought back to the maids in Yuzhu Courtyard.

She walked towards Gu Xixi and An Qinghe, gesturing for them to look up at the plaque directly in front of them.

“Shihua Pavilion,” An Qinghe read aloud, “I understand what it means. Isn’t it just a flower shop that cultivates flowers?”

He spoke very loudly, and some people passing by couldn't help but cover their mouths and chuckle.

An Qinghe noticed and asked, "What, did I say something wrong again?"

He Jinglan chuckled softly, "This is a music academy. Although it is indeed a place for cultivating flowers, it is not the kind of flower room you are thinking of."

As she was about to step onto the stairs, Gu Xixi grabbed her arm.

"This Flower Planting Pavilion is a music academy, so this place must be Pingkang Ward?"

He Jinglan nodded, "Mm!"

Pingkangfang was the largest entertainment district in the capital, with taverns, music halls, brothels, casinos, and more, earning it the reputation of being the "Never-Sleeping City" of the Great Ye Dynasty.

After the curfew at night, people could move freely within the ward as long as they did not leave it.

To further confirm her suspicions, Gu Xixi pulled He Jinglan aside and asked, "Are all the women here beautiful?"

He Jinglan: "There's also fine wine and delicious food, beautiful singing and dancing, elegant musical instruments, reciting poems and composing essays, burning incense and brewing tea. Trust me! It's a lot of fun!"

Gu Xixi looked troubled and glanced at the sign of the Flower Shop. "I don't really want to go to a place like this. Besides, they won't let us in dressed like this. Let's go."

"Let's find a tavern, listen to storytelling and watch a play."

The two did not change out of their women's clothing when they arrived. Don't girls in period dramas always dress up as men when they go to entertainment venues?

Gu Xixi had always found this kind of plot very puzzling.

Despite being women themselves, they were willing to disguise themselves as men to infiltrate places where women were treated like prey and oppressed.

They even have the audacity to call it being unrestrained and loving freedom?!

He Jinglan was puzzled for a moment, then realized what Gu Xixi really meant and couldn't help but laugh.

"Hey, this isn't a place just for those stinky men to have fun."

"Don't worry, Shihua Pavilion has always only pursued elegance, not vulgarity."

She glanced around, then pointed to the door, "Look at those women, they're the same kind of female guests as us."

Gu Xixi looked over and saw that several women were indeed chatting and laughing as they went in without being stopped.

She breathed a sigh of relief and became extremely interested.

Isn't this just like an ancient bar? I wonder what a magnificent sight it must be inside.

Gu Xixi and He Jinglan walked forward hand in hand. An Qinghe did not hear what the two had just said, but just followed happily.

Upon entering the flower garden, the first thing you see is a rockery and flowing water.

It's only early spring, yet water lilies are blooming in the pond below; it must be some kind of clever trick.

Colorful koi carp frolic among the lotus leaves, and dazzling lights cast shimmering reflections on the water.

Just as Mrs. Cai had ushered a group of guests inside, she turned and walked over here.

"Miss He hasn't been here for a long time, and the friends she brought this time are all unfamiliar faces."

He Jinglan took out a silver note and slapped it into Cai Mama's hand, "I want a superior room with a view of the singing and dancing downstairs, and bring up the best dishes and snacks."

"And do you have any of your family's secret-recipe plum wine left today?"

Madam Cai glanced at the amount on the banknote without making a sound, and her enthusiasm remained no different from before she received the banknote.

"Yes, we know Miss He likes to drink this. Even if there isn't any for anyone else, there will be some for you."

"After all, if it weren't for the late Mrs. He..."

After looking around, Cai's mother probably thought that there were too many people around and it would be too much for her to handle, so she didn't say anything more.

"Please come in, distinguished guests."

Turning past the artificial hill, the scene inside suddenly came into view.

It was even more magnificent than Gu Xixi had imagined, yet elegant details were everywhere, and graceful beauties were seen all around.

A huge peony-shaped stage in the center.

On stage, musicians from the Western Regions are playing music, dancers are dressed as flying apsaras from Dunhuang, and another woman is singing high up behind them.

The music was truly melodious and lingering, the song had the power to split rocks, the dance had the grace of a celestial being, and the dazzling array of colors was captivating.

Gu Xixi was in the midst of it all, and remained in a daze for a long time.

It wasn't until He Jinglan quietly squeezed her hand that she calmed herself down and followed.

The private room was also luxurious and exquisite, with crystal bead curtains, gold-threaded cushions, and a lion-head incense burner burning precious jade dew incense.

The layout consists of two rooms, an inner room with a high bed and soft pillows, and an outer room with a mahogany table. You can see the singing and dancing downstairs by opening the window.

Madam Cai first called two maids to serve her here, and then went out to make arrangements.

Gu Xixi sipped her purple bamboo shoot tea, ate some candied lotus seeds, and gazed at the dreamlike scene below.

While enjoying it, I also felt a slight sense of self-loathing.

Gu Xixi, you're still starting your business; you're not yet powerful enough to completely control your own life.

You dare to go to bars like other people?

"How much does this cost for one night?!"

An Qinghe voiced the question that was on Gu Xixi's mind.

He Jinglan looked downstairs, not mentioning the amount of money directly, only saying, "It's an occasional thing, not excessive."

Gu Xixi and An Qinghe exchanged a smile and then relaxed and immersed themselves in the moment.

As the maids brought out the wine and dishes, a clear voice rang out from outside the door.

"My name is Gladiolus."

"Plum Blossom Shadow"

"I have come here to serve our three distinguished guests."

Gu Xixi was stunned and subconsciously looked at He Jinglan. Why was there a man there?

He Jinglan's smile was enigmatic.