The prince is more stable

Chapter 635 The Beauty Yi'an
As Zhao Xiaoqian walked out of Yanfu Palace, he moved slowly, lost in thought as he went.

One undeniable fact is that a man's true growth requires experiencing intense pain.

Zhao Xu was one such example.

Emperor Huizong of Song (Zhao Xu) was considered a wise ruler in history, and historical records speak highly of him. If he had not died so young and had not passed the throne to Emperor Huizong of Song (Zhao Ji), the Northern Song Dynasty might not have perished.

Later generations' concept of a "wise ruler" may be somewhat one-sided.

So-called wise rulers are not those who always show magnanimity and benevolence; they are merely mediocre rulers, or even foolish rulers, who have been brainwashed by Confucianism.

A wise ruler is defined as someone who always has the ability to recognize and utilize talent, and who always knows how to make the right choices at crucial historical junctures, thereby leading the nation and dynasty to prosperity.

See how simple it is? Yet most emperors in history simply couldn't do it.

Therefore, a wise ruler cannot simply demonstrate magnanimity and benevolence; in fact, from the perspective of the state, magnanimity and benevolence are often a derogatory term.

Suspicion, distrust, selfishness, greed, and so on—these are all flaws of emperors, and wise rulers have them all. They are not the standard for judging whether an emperor is incompetent or wise.

Zhao Xiaoqian's feelings were complicated at this moment.

He was gratified that Emperor Zhao Xu, after experiencing the great pain of life, had finally grown into a mature and wise emperor. However, he also knew that from now on, the wise emperor would only be a lonely man, having lost his friends, brothers, and human love.

Like a monkey wearing a golden headband, possessing boundless magical power, capable of destroying heaven and earth, but also extinguishing emotions and desires.

From now on, Zhao Xiaoqian must change his approach to dealing with Zhao Xu. He must never mention friends or brothers in front of him, but only show a subject's respect for the emperor and maintain a distance.

As Zhao Xiaoqian stepped out of the palace gate, he let out a long breath.

Everyone grows, and the price of growth is something that must be paid, even if one is unwilling to do so.

Outside the palace gates, a carriage belonging to the Prince of Chu was parked, and Chen Shou and the imperial guards stood quietly beside it.

Just as Zhao Xiaoqian was about to get into the carriage to return home, an arm suddenly hooked around his neck. Zhao Xiaoqian was startled, but when he turned around, he saw that Chen Shou and the others were smiling and completely unsuspecting, so Zhao Xiaoqian immediately felt relieved.

Turning my head, I saw Su Shi's familiar old face.

“Mr. Zizhan, it’s been a long time. How have you been?” Zhao Xiaoqian hurriedly bowed.

Su Shi, however, held tightly to his neck, ignoring his struggles to bow, and said angrily, "You, Zian, how long have you been back in Bianjing, yet you've ignored me completely? I've visited your manor many times, only to be told that you're not there."

"Ha, did I eat your rice? Why are you avoiding me like this?"

Zhao Xiaoqian paused in his struggle, then said earnestly and truthfully, "Of course Mr. Zizhan didn't eat my family's rice, but you ate my family's meat, which was more expensive than rice..."

Su Shi's expression froze, then he said angrily, "How long has it been? When did you become so stingy? I ate your meat, so I'll give it back to you!"

Zhao Xiaoqian, without hesitation, said, "Since Mr. Zizhan is so sensible, I shall accept it without being disrespectful. Putting aside the other meat, at least give me back a bear paw, okay?"

Su Shi was stunned again.

He remembered that when they were at the Juma River camp, Zhao Xiaoqian had obtained a bear paw and shared it with him. Su Shi still couldn't forget the delicious and juicy taste of it. After returning to Bianjing, he would always reminisce about the taste of that bear paw when he had a banquet with his friends.

Now Zhao Xiaoqian is demanding repayment, but how can he repay it?

Bear paws are a rare treat, something you can only dream of. After Zhao Xiaoqian tasted bear paws, he became addicted and ordered Chen Shou to lead the Imperial Guards to hunt another bear in the mountains. However, Chen Shou and his men wandered the mountains for more than half a month but couldn't find even a single bear hair.

How could Su Shi possibly return such precious ingredients that even the state apparatus couldn't procure? Should we send this old codger into the mountains alone to provide targeted poverty alleviation for the bears?

Staring blankly at Zhao Xiaoqian's ambiguous smile for a long time, Su Shi's expression suddenly changed, becoming warm and delighted: "When did Zian return to Bianjing? My dear friend, who is so close to me, returned without a word. He truly deserves punishment. I punish you by making you drink with me tonight until dawn, until you're completely drunk..."

The topic shifted abruptly, but Zhao Xiaoqian remained unmoved, extending his palm in front of him: "We'll talk about drinking later, give me back my bear paw first."

Su Shi laughed heartily, then feigned anger and said, "Zi'an!...You're being naughty!"

"Hurry up, hurry up! I'll treat you to drinks today, and I guarantee you'll get drunk."

Without saying a word, he was pulled into the carriage, which was a carriage from the Chu Prince's residence.

This person doesn't treat themselves like an outsider at all.

The carriage swayed and rattled as it arrived at Zhouqiao Bridge. At the corner of the Imperial Street of Daxiangguo Temple, there was a brothel. This time, it was no longer the brothel called "Zuihuayin". Su Shi had chosen a brothel that looked more upscale and luxurious than Zuihuayin.

After getting off the carriage, Su Shi warmly pulled Zhao Xiaoqian through the door, where a guest greeted them as soon as they entered.

There's a misconception that those soliciting customers outside brothels are all lewd middle-aged madams, waving handkerchiefs and calling out, "Come on in, sir!" This is incorrect. Brothels throughout history have never been so degrading, and they would never engage in such lowly behavior as openly soliciting customers on the street.

Even if a brothel is doing poorly, it wouldn't stoop to that level. Doing so would only ruin its reputation and turn it into a den of iniquity and a place of filth and corruption. Any sane business owner wouldn't do that.

Ancient brothels were more like high-end private clubs where elites of high society gathered a thousand years later. They not only allowed men to chat, drink, and make merry with girls, but also served as places for patrons to socialize, negotiate, engage in literary pursuits, and provide emotional support.

The brothel Zhao Xiaoqian is now entering has a host who is a middle-aged man dressed as a refined scholar. When he sees Su Shi, he bows to Su Shi politely and addresses him as "Scholar Su." His greeting is casual yet friendly, making him feel at ease, while his attitude is just right.

Su Shi was clearly a regular here. After greeting the host, he pointed at Zhao Xiaoqian and said with a smile, "This is the famous Prince of Hejian, feared by the Liao people like a tiger. He is a hero of the Song Dynasty. Today, I am the host, so please treat him well and don't ruin your reputation."

Upon hearing Zhao Xiaoqian's name, the guest master immediately became respectful, then formally straightened his clothes and bowed deeply to Zhao Xiaoqian.

"This humble student pays respects to Your Highness. Your Highness led the mighty army of our Great Song Dynasty to pacify the Northern Liao, wash away the shame of our nation, and display your might to foreign lands. All subjects of the world admire and respect you. It is my great honor to meet Your Highness today."

Seeing the guest being so respectful, Zhao Xiaoqian felt extremely uncomfortable, his face numb, probably because he was disgusted by the guest's excessive politeness.

The guest, however, remained oblivious and continued to express his sincere respect to him.

Zhao Xiaoqian couldn't stand it any longer. He lifted the arm of the usher who kept bowing and said seriously, "Brother, there's no need for this. We're customers who have just entered. Customers don't deserve to be treated with such politeness. You should satisfy our needs while cursing us for our moral depravity."

The guest was taken aback, clearly not expecting that his politeness and admiration for his idol would be met with such a response...

Su Shi, who was standing next to him, was also stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter, patting Zhao Xiaoqian's shoulder hard as he laughed, tears welling up in his eyes.

"I've said it before, my virtuous brother Zian is a remarkable man. Listen to that, how remarkable! That's right, he walks in here as a customer of prostitutes, all that fancy talk and hypocrisy! Enough with the nonsense, we're here to find girls, aren't we?"

"Hurry up and arrange for a private room. Call over your most beautiful and sensible girls. Don't bring any ugly girls to make up the numbers, or I'll write your infamy into my poems."

Su Shi continued to laugh as he pulled Zhao Xiaoqian into the elegant room.

Zhao Xiaoqian looked around at the furnishings in the elegant room and nodded to himself.

To satisfy the romantic desires of literati, brothel owners were willing to spend lavishly.

The elegant room was filled with calligraphy and paintings by people from previous dynasties and their descendants. Even a porcelain vase, a plain zither, and a landscape screen had their own origins and stories.

Scholars who enter this place are bound to be so excited they urinate, and they are simply overwhelmed with their refined taste.

Zhao Xiaoqian was a regular customer. He had six wives, two of whom were courtesans. He was naturally familiar with the environment of brothels. As soon as he entered, he found a pleasing spot and sat down cross-legged, half-sitting and half-lying down, looking lazy like a cat that had just caught a mouse.

Soon, the host brought several young ladies into the elegant room. Zhao Xiaoqian casually glanced at them and thought, "Wow, they are all stunning beauties. No wonder Su Shi led the way here; the girls' looks are truly extraordinary."

However, Zhao Xiaoqian's threshold for beauty is now too high. All six wives in his family are stunning beauties, and although the women outside are beautiful, they no longer arouse Zhao Xiaoqian's lust.

After all, once people get used to eating coarse grains, who would want to eat wild boar?

The purpose of going to the brothel was to drink with Su Shi; beauty was not important. So Zhao Xiaoqian casually pointed to one of the girls and asked her to sit down and serve him. Su Shi, without any politeness, pulled two girls over and had them sit on his left and right sides.

"Bring wine and food! Today, I must have a good time with Mr. Zizhan!" Zhao Xiaoqian slammed his hand on the table and shouted.

Su Shi laughed and said, "Zi'an, don't be anxious, there are still guests who haven't arrived yet."

"Who?"

Su Shi blinked mysteriously, but before he could speak, the wooden door of the elegant room opened and two people walked in. One of them was a middle-aged man with a wry smile, looking at a petite figure behind him.

The petite figure behind him was dressed as a man, but Zhao Xiaoqian could tell at a glance that she was a woman disguised as a man.

The petite figure was not tall, but had a pretty and charming appearance. She was about fourteen or fifteen years old. She hid behind the middle-aged man, cautiously peeking out, her eyes mischievously observing Su Shi and Zhao Xiaoqian in the elegant room.

Upon seeing the middle-aged man, Su Shi burst into laughter, pointing at him and saying, "Li Wenshu, you're late! You should be punished with three cups of wine..."

Before he could finish speaking, Su Shi saw the petite figure behind him and was immediately taken aback. The scholar Su, who had seen countless women in his life, naturally recognized at a glance that it was a woman.

"Uncle Wen, I wonder who this gentleman is..." Su Shi asked hesitantly.

The middle-aged man gave a wry smile and said, "This junior, Li Kefei, pays his respects to Scholar Su."

"The lady I brought is my unruly daughter. She was just about to sneak out to meet Scholar Su when she discovered me. She grabbed my beard and insisted that I bring her to see the world, or she would never forgive me. Alas! What kind of woman goes to a brothel? What kind of behavior is this!"

Just as a smile appeared on Zhao Xiaoqian's face, Li Kefei's daughter suddenly jumped forward and landed in the middle of the elegant pavilion. Her bright eyes curved like crescent moons as she giggled and said, "Scholar Su, and this... um, this brother, my name is Li Qingzhao!"

(End of this chapter)