Poisonous Goddess: I'm just lazing around in the mortal realm.

As dusk settled, thousands of lanterns illuminated the streets and alleys of the capital, making the entire city as bright as day. The bright moon hung in the sky, and the lanterns were just beginning to glow. The taverns echoed with the clinking of glasses, and the teahouses were filled with the rising smoke of wine; the bustling streets were brimming with the vibrant atmosphere of everyday life.

Especially in the very center of the most bustling street in the capital, the most lively and bustling place is none other than the No. 1 building in Nanyang—Zuihualou.

The three large golden characters on the signboard, "Zui Xian Lou," are said to have been bestowed by the late emperor. Now, they hang prominently in front of the brothel, serving as a treasured symbol of good fortune.

The area in front of the brothel was bustling with activity, with a constant stream of guests coming and going. Judging from their attire, they were all either rich or noble, and their faces showed a hint of excitement and anticipation.

Thirteen looked helpless, her eyes still heavy with sleep, too tired to keep open. She had thought that now that she had finally moved, no one would bother her to catch up on her sleep.

Before I could even fall asleep, I was jolted awake by a large, red, fluttering moth that had broken into my home.

"Hey... Zhou Jinghuai, are we that close?"

Thirteen was so sleepy he could barely keep his eyes open, and then he yawned again.

"It's one thing to stay up so late, but why come to my house and drag me here?"

Thirteen looked at the magnificent Zuixianlou in front of her. Was this a place she could come to?

It wasn't that she wasn't interested in looking at pretty girls, it's just that she hadn't had a good rest these past two days. She had been fighting and being lectured by the emperor during the day, and her spirit simply couldn't withstand such torment!

"Wake up, Thirteen! I'm taking you to a brothel, why are you still so sleepy!"

Zhou Jinghuai pulled Shisan into his arms, thinking to himself that he had specially paid to entertain him, so why was he still so sleepy?

"Please let me go, please?"

She was truly at a loss for words; her body was really about to give out.

"Don't be like that, Thirteen. I specially spent money to invite you to see the courtesan today, aren't you happy?"

"I……"

Thirteen was about to say that he hadn't slept all night when he turned his head and caught sight of Shen Mu getting off the carriage. Zhou Jinghuai had finally persuaded him to change out of his usual official robes, but he turned around and put on a black robe.

His tall and slender figure made him stand out in the crowd, and coupled with his already captivating face, it was hard not to notice him.

Thirteen's eyes flickered, whether from surprise or shock, it was hard to tell.

"Lord Shen has arrived as well?"

"I came here specifically to investigate the assassin. Thank you for your hard work, Mr. Thirteen." Shen Mu nodded to Thirteen.

"Put this on."

Zhou Jinghuai produced three masks from who-knows-where. Tonight happened to be the night of the courtesan, and all guests had to wear masks to enter.

"You really like black, Lord Shen. You're always dressed in black wherever you go."

Zhou Jinghuai glanced at Shen Mu's black clothes and black mask. Before he finished speaking, his right arm was around Thirteen's small shoulder, while his left hand reached up to Shen Mu.

"Do you think everyone dresses like you, all festive, for their wedding?" Shen Mu said, nudging him with her elbow and subtly making Zhou Jinghuai take a step back.

"Be gentle! Don't you know I'm injured?"

Zhou Jinghuai instinctively winced in pain, releasing his right hand from Thirteen and clutching his stomach in agony. Shen Mu had clearly asked him to come with him to Zuixianlou to investigate the case, so why was he poking fun at his wound?

The three of them stepped into the Drunken Immortal Pavilion, giving Thirteen the illusion of returning to the modern world.

Inside the Drunken Immortal Pavilion, the lights shone brightly, and the opulent atmosphere filled the room. Guests sat around magnificent mahogany tables, sipping wine and chatting. On the stages erected on either side, the courtesans of the brothel danced as gracefully as swallows.

Just as Thirteen was engrossed in watching, the madam swayed her hips and walked gracefully toward the three of them.

"Gentlemen, would you prefer the main hall or a private room upstairs?"

Zhou Jinghuai skillfully took out a silver ingot from his pocket and gave it to the madam.

"Is there a courtesan here today?"

"Oh, thank you, young master. You must be a regular customer?"

The madam pocketed the silver, overjoyed. She carefully observed the three handsome young men, thinking they must be wealthy and distinguished guests, and hurriedly asked...

"Today there is an auction of the most beautiful courtesan, so why don't you follow me this way?"

She led Zhou Jinghuai and the others up to the second floor. Looking along the second-floor railing, Thirteen saw a circular platform in the very center of the Drunken Immortal Pavilion, where a young girl was sitting.

The stage was about one and a half stories high, and the madam led them to the table on the second floor closest to the circular stage.

"Please have a seat here, gentlemen. Would you like me to call a few more ladies?"

"No need, please have some tea and snacks."

Thirteen pressed down on Zhou Jinghuai, who was about to agree to the madam's request. Although she was still in male form, she was truly powerless to do so.

Girls? Forget about it.

The three of them sat at the table, which gave them a clear view of the Drunken Immortal Pavilion below.

"Aren't we here to find the assassin?"

Thirteen couldn't hold back any longer. If it was just drinking and carousing, she planned to go back to sleep. As for visiting brothels, her eyes could handle it, but her body couldn't.

"Yes, that's why we're here to buy the courtesan."

Zhou Jinghuai explained to her with great confidence. Soon after, the servant brought over wine, food, and a redwood engraved plaque.

The plaque was exquisitely carved, with the number two specially outlined on it.

"what is this?"

Thirteen examined the wooden sign carefully. She had only seen brothels in books or on television, and this was the first time she had ever seen any of them.

"It's used for bidding on the courtesan. See those courtesan girls down there?"

Zhou Jinghuai pointed to the girl on the circular stage. Thirteen looked down and saw the girl sitting on the soft couch on the stage, her face veiled, so he couldn't see her features.

"I see it, is it going to be auctioned?"

"That's right."

"What does that have to do with catching assassins?"

"If you can buy the courtesan, you can go up to the eighth floor of the Drunken Immortal Pavilion and find out where the assassin is."

As Zhou Jinghuai ate sunflower seeds, he looked down at the hall below. The hall was gradually filling up, and the auction was about to begin.

"Once you go up to the eighth floor of Zuixianlou, you can buy any information you want to know. Today, Haojing and his team discovered that assassins had infiltrated Zuixianlou, but they can't find their whereabouts."

Shen Mu, who had been sitting silently to the side, suddenly began explaining to Shisan. He noticed the puzzled look on her face and continued...

"There must be people from the imperial court behind Zuixianlou. We can't search it rashly, so we can only sneak in during tonight's auction."

As the three were chatting, a handsome young man walked towards them from the second floor.

Although the boy's face was half-covered by a white mask, his eyebrows were lively and rosy, and his smile was deliberately nonchalant.

Dressed in clean, crisp white robes, with a handsome and upright figure, holding a white fan in his hand, and with half a jade pendant hanging at his waist, its color somewhat aged. The boy's gait was slightly deliberately rough, and Thirteen could tell at a glance that he was a girl disguised as a boy.

The boy seemed not to see them at all, and led by the servant, sat down at another table next to them.

"Boom boom boom——"

A series of gongs and drums sounded downstairs, indicating that it was time to auction off the courtesan.

As the drumming and gonging ended, the entire Drunken Immortal Pavilion gradually quieted down.