Sheng Tang: What is Liu Jianjun going to do today?

Chapter 32 Shangguan Wan'er
The next day, early in the morning.

Liu Jianjun really did take Li Xian to a brothel.

When Li Xian first stepped out, he felt a little embarrassed, but seeing Liu Jianjun's familiar and confident manner, Li Xian thought that he couldn't let a "outsider" look down on him, so he straightened his chest and walked confidently down the road.

Liu Jianjun teased him, "We're going to a brothel, don't act like you're going to war, all high and mighty, okay?"

Li Xian turned to look at Liu Jianjun and found that he was indeed more like a local than he, a native of Chang'an.

So, somewhat discouraged, he said, "Why are you so carefree? Are you really from that poor place in Bazhou?"

"Who knows? The fortune teller said I was born to live a life of luxury, so I guess I was born to stay in Chang'an," Liu Jianjun said nonchalantly.

Li Xian remained silent for a moment before asking, "So you really plan to stay in Chang'an from now on? What about your second uncle and the others?"

Liu Jianjun sighed: "I would like to bring them to Chang'an, but you've seen my second uncle, he's henpecked, and my second aunt is the kind of traditional woman from the countryside who doesn't have much knowledge. She just stares at the few dozen acres of land that my grandfather left her, and thinks that place is her world."

“If we send them to Chang’an, they’ll definitely refuse to do it no matter what.”

"At worst, when I become successful in the future, I can send them some money or something."

Li Xian nodded and comforted him, saying, "Everyone has their own ambitions."

Liu Jianjun retorted, "It's not a matter of ambition. A person's vision determines the upper limit of their life. Take my second aunt, for example. She has never left Huacheng County in her entire life. Of course, she can only focus on her small plot of land."

"If you were born in Liujiazhuang, would you think that place was poor?"
"You'll only think that there are fields to cultivate, trees to plant, and... a beautiful girl like Tiger Girl waiting for you to marry. Life there will be wonderful!"

Li Xian thought Liu Jianjun made sense. If Liu Jianjun hadn't met that demoted official from Chang'an, he probably wouldn't have thought of coming to Chang'an.

Then, Li Xian teased, "Didn't you say that Tiger Girl was born with broad shoulders and a thick waist, and that you didn't like her?"

“I can’t explain this to you…” Liu Jianjun suddenly pointed to the prostitutes soliciting customers on both sides of the road and said, “Pick the one you think is the prettiest from here.”

Li Xian was puzzled, but he also looked over at the prostitutes.

Pingkangfang was the most popular place for entertainment in Chang'an, and Chang'an was the most prosperous place in the entire Tang Dynasty.

So, to be fair, the prostitutes here are all very beautiful.

In particular, each of them had their breasts half-exposed, displaying their charm in every possible way, so much so that Li Xian couldn't pick out the most beautiful one for a while.

Finally, Li Xian pointed to a prostitute wearing a pinkish-green dress and said, "Is this... it?"

Li Xian felt that his choice was fair. The prostitute had a round face, fair skin, and a cinnabar mole between her eyebrows, which added to her charm. Most importantly, she was also plump, with breasts like bulging water bags that swayed as she solicited customers.

The patrons around them, their eyes wide with astonishment, are the best proof of this.

Liu Jianjun glanced at the prostitute and sighed, "See? This is the difference in our aesthetic tastes. This prostitute is too fat for me."

"Fat?" Li Xian wondered.

He felt fine.

The prostitute had a plump figure, like a beautiful glazed flowerpot, making one want to go up and caress her.

“Yes, Fatty, Tiger Girl looks seven-tenths like her. I don’t like her, I like…” As he spoke, Liu Jianjun’s eyes searched the crowd like a wolf looking for its prey. Suddenly, Liu Jianjun’s eyes became exceptionally bright, and he pointed in a direction and said, “Like this!”

"This girl... I like her so much!"

At the same time, disappointment was evident in his eyes.

Li Xian looked in the direction he was pointing.

In an instant, he understood why Liu Jianjun was disappointed. This woman wasn't a prostitute; she was just an ordinary pedestrian walking through Pingkang Lane, which meant Liu Jianjun couldn't solicit her.

Li Xian found it somewhat amusing.

But then more attention was drawn to the woman.

To be fair, the woman had nice skin—fair, moist, and radiant—and delicate features. Her long, beautiful black hair cascaded over her shoulders, and she wore a well-fitting light blue dress. She looked elegant, yet she also possessed a cold and aloof air, like a plum blossom in the dead of winter.

Li Xian just thought she wasn't pretty.

In Li Xian's opinion, she was too thin.

The light, long dress draped over her body, revealing even the shape of her shoulders.

Li Xian was very disappointed in Liu Jianjun. After all, he was from a small town and didn't even know what a beautiful woman looked like.

But just as Li Xian was thinking this, he noticed that the woman's eyes lit up and she walked towards him.

At this moment, Liu Jianjun tugged at Li Xian's arm and asked, "The way that woman looks at you makes it seem like she knows you. Could she be your old flame?"

Li Xian said irritably, "This woman looks to be only twenty-nine years old, a decade younger than me!"

Liu Jianjun muttered, "Who knows what you'll be like? No girl can stay eighteen forever, but there will always be eighteen-year-old girls. Who knows, maybe you're an old cow eating young grass..."

Liu Jianjun stopped speaking before he could finish, because the woman had already come up in front of the two of them.

Then, she stared intently at Li Xian for a moment.

Li Xian instinctively cupped his hands in greeting: "Miss..."

"Your Highness!" The woman suddenly burst into tears and bowed gracefully to Li Xian. "Your Highness, you...you're alright, you're back!"

Li Xian was stunned.

Do I know this woman?

At this moment, Liu Jianjun also came over, giving Li Xian a sly look.

Having known Liu Jianjun for so long, Li Xian could read the meaning in his eyes. He was clearly saying: You still say that you two have no relationship.

Li Xian was completely bewildered. He reached out and gently supported the woman, then asked doubtfully, "Miss is... Besides, my current status is merely that of a commoner. I am not worthy of such a title!"

The woman wiped away a tear from the corner of her eye; the excitement in her eyes seemed genuine.

“I…I know! It was because I knew you had come to Chang’an that I came here specifically to find you! I went to the post station first, and the couriers said you had come to Pingkang Ward, so I came here. Your Highness…don’t you remember me? I, I am Wan’er!”

Li Xian was stunned again, staring at the woman's face for a long time until he felt it was somewhat impolite, and then the image of a little girl with a bun hairstyle appeared in his mind.

"You...you are Wan'er?" she exclaimed in surprise.

Liu Jianjun nudged Li Xian's arm, his wicked smile widening.

Li Xian turned his head and explained in an annoyed tone, "Her name is Shangguan Wan'er. Do you remember the Left Inner Commander Shangguan Mazi that I told you about before...?"

Before Li Xian could finish speaking, Liu Jianjun's eyes widened, and he exclaimed in disbelief, "Shangguan Wan'er?!"

……

(End of this chapter)