The Most Luxurious Den of Vice in Luoyang
The streets outside the pleasure house were dangerous. That was why they had come to Honghua Pavilion in Luoyang.
Recently built, the establishment boasted the finest facilities, yet it was a shameless den that would accept even the roughest sorts—criminals, bandits, pirates—if the price was right. Still, the rates were so exorbitant that only the biggest players among the underworld could afford it. Because of that, respectable nobles refused to set foot inside, dismissing it as a vulgar business unfit for their station. In other words, it was the most comfortable hiding place with the lowest chance of encountering anyone important.
This was the best choice the Yuan family’s loyal and seasoned coachman could make for their pitiful youngest miss. Of course, the absolute best choice would have been to shout, “I cannot possibly escort the young miss to such a place!” and bite his tongue in honorable suicide… but honestly, he didn’t have that kind of loyalty toward the youngest miss. Hadn’t she complained and scolded him every single time she rode in his carriage? “Why are you driving so roughly? Why is it so slow?” and so on. If it had been the ever-gentle Lady Yuan Shao, perhaps he might have considered it, but risking his life for the tyrannical Lady Yuan Shu? …The more he thought about it, the angrier he became. Maybe he should have just taken her to a cheap brothel instead?
The more the coachman reflected on the past, the faster his loyalty drained away.
“My lord, we’ve arrived.”
Tsk. Still, she was the youngest daughter of the Yuan clan. He couldn’t do that to her. For a moment he considered turning the carriage around and heading straight for one of the rough, rundown establishments favored by thugs, but the coachman barely held himself back and called out to Zhao Yun.
After a long delay, Zhao Yun finally emerged, grunting and panting. He was drenched in sweat, carrying Yuan Shu wrapped in layers of clothing just as before. It seemed the weight was finally becoming too much, and his body was reaching its limit. Just a little longer, we’re almost there. Cheering himself on inwardly, Zhao Yun trudged toward the Honghua Pavilion, then suddenly turned his head as if a thought had struck him.
“Ah, uncle. You do realize that if you tell anyone about this, it won’t end well for you either, right? Go ahead and try spreading the word that I got off here. Then everyone will hear how a coachman with a bushy mustache and a bald head delivered the Yuan family’s youngest daughter to a brothel. Got it?”
What a fucking bastard! The way he acts, he and the youngest miss really are a match made in heaven! Thoroughly fed up, the coachman shook his head vigorously and returned to the Yuan estate. Naturally, he would not breathe a word about the young miss’s whereabouts—or even mention the pleasure house—for the time being. After all, he was the one who had brought her here in the first place. And the Yuan clan was not known for its mercy toward those who endangered their bloodline.
Watching the coachman leave with clear disgust, Zhao Yun turned back and pushed open the doors of the Honghua Pavilion.
Inside, the decor was so gaudy it bordered on tasteless—everything glittered and sparkled. Did they simply believe that brighter was better? There was no subtlety, only cheap, aggressive stimulation. Amid the vulgar splendor, a heavily made-up woman who had been greeting guests with a bored expression slowly rose to her feet.
“Hmm… First time here, sir? I don’t recognize your face.”
Apparently not curious enough to pursue the thought, she sank back into her chair. Since this was the sort of place that catered to rough customers, bothering to scrutinize every unusual patron would be exhausting. It was a wise decision for someone who made her living here.
“Give me the best room you have left. No girls. …And women’s clothes. The kind a courtesan would wear—the most vulgar ones you’ve got.”
Zhao Yun’s body was beginning to sag so heavily that even speaking was difficult. Sweat poured down his face as he barely managed to finish his request. The woman eyed him suspiciously for a moment, but when he tossed her a piece of precious jewelry (which he had secretly taken from Yuan Shu’s person before entering), her face lit up with a bright smile and she led him to the room.
A slightly suspicious guest… but then again, they weren’t exactly rare. And that thing wrapped in clothes he was carrying was clearly a person no matter how you looked at it… but that wasn’t any of her business. He had paid, after all. And paid with something extremely expensive. The ornament was far too valuable for a mere room fee. The woman knew perfectly well that it was hush money.
It seemed the woman had taken his request for “the best room you have left” quite seriously. The space was so luxurious it felt more comfortable than most modern—no, future—apartments. Zhao Yun forced his exhausted body, which felt ready to collapse at any moment, to keep moving. He hadn’t asked for women’s clothing for no reason. There was one last thing he needed to do.
Riiip! Schhhrrk—!
Using what little strength remained in his right hand and legs, Zhao Yun violently tore away the layers of clothing wrapped around Yuan Shu. Through the shredded fabric, her barely covered body was revealed. She had apparently regained consciousness; her sharp eyes glared at him with fury. When he roughly tossed her onto the bed, her face flushed crimson in an instant, as if she had guessed what he was thinking. Then he threw the cheap, vulgar garments that only madwomen obsessed with men or low-class whores would wear on top of her, and her face grew even redder. At this rate, it looked like she might actually explode.
Is he really going to use me like a whore? He tore off all my clothes and threw these at me… so that must be it, right…? What a lunatic! Does he actually think I would submit to the likes of him?!
Yet even as she thought this, her body—still not fully under her control—twitched and rubbed her thighs together. She looked exactly like a nervous bride on her wedding night, embarrassed yet secretly excited.
He already violated my mouth and my ass as he pleased, and now he wants to take my virginity in a place like this? …Hmph! Let him do whatever he wants. No matter how roughly he takes me, he will never claim my heart! Of course not! I am the youngest daughter of the Yuan family of Runan, the greatest noble house in the Han Empire! I would never bat an eye at some man from a mediocre provincial clan. Even if his appearance is… for a country bumpkin… well, honestly quite handsome…! And his skills are rather impressive too…! And although he is younger than me—unlike the men Father keeps suggesting…! And even though I ended up owing him my life…! Anyway, he’s nothing special. How dare he not know his place and try to become my man? It’s ridiculous.
…Or is it? At that level, isn’t he actually the best?
…No! What does that even matter? He’s incredibly rude! The kind of man who suddenly shoves his cock into someone’s mouth! Every time I tried to be generous and forgive him for the small help he gave me, he would act without manners. To treat the youngest daughter of the Yuan family like that, as if he were someone important… what an insolent bastard. And tonight he even violated me from behind in front of all those subordinates. It was fortunate they had their faces pressed to the ground; what would have happened if they had seen?! Of course, I was the one who threatened him first… but how can he compare to me? A lowly wretch who used to scrape by in the countryside, daring to…! So no. Absolutely not. Even if he tries to steal my virginity right now, I will never allow it. Even if he pounces on this Yuan Gonglu like a beast! …Yes! Even if he does!
…What? Why is it so quiet?
Snore—!
Isn’t that the sound of snoring? …Don’t tell me he set up this whole scene and then fell asleep?
Still partially paralyzed and moving with difficulty, Yuan Shu turned her head. There was Zhao Yun, collapsed on the floor and sleeping as if dead. A vein throbbed visibly on her forehead.
Is this bastard seriously toying with me right now?!
And so the night at Honghua Pavilion grew deeper.
Some time later, once the paralysis had completely worn off, Yuan Shu put on the vulgar clothes Zhao Yun had thrown at her and rose from the bed.
Thud! Thud!
Zhao Yun, who had been sleeping on the floor after losing to both exhaustion and the poisoned needle, opened his eyes at the feeling of kicks landing on his body. Was it Yuan Shu? Thud! Thud! He turned his head slightly and confirmed that yes, it was her. With a thoroughly irritated expression, she was delivering sharp, angry kicks to his body.
…Honestly, after everything that happened today, maybe he should just pretend to stay asleep and let her vent? She had thrown the first tantrum, but in the end he was the one who had pierced her asshole. Besides, his body still wouldn’t move properly. It had been quite a while, yet he was still in this state… Just how potent was that drug?
After kicking him several more times, Yuan Shu finally let out a long sigh as if her anger had been somewhat relieved, then threw herself onto the bed.
Yeah… For someone with her personality, the fact that she didn’t immediately try to attack my ass is already a blessing. Of course, if she actually tried it, I wouldn’t just lie there and take it. Let’s just go back to sleep. She wouldn’t seriously think of going outside dressed like that, right?
Or had he underestimated Yuan Shu?
After glaring at him from the bed for a moment, she snorted loudly, stood up, opened the door, and walked straight out.
“C-crazy…!”
Zhao Yun forced his unresponsive body upright and staggered after her, but she was already nowhere to be seen. She couldn’t have gone outside wearing that, could she?! He was wondering whether he should head downstairs when he heard footsteps going up instead. Since they were on the third floor, above them must be the rooftop. She had probably gone up for some fresh air because she felt stifled.
…But wearing those clothes? If she was dressed like that, she should have stayed inside. What was she thinking—?! Anyone who saw her would definitely mistake her for a cheap whore! If someone was already on the roof, a fight was bound to break out.
“…Ah! You lowly thing… how dare you… right now…!”
“Y-you fucking bitch!!! What the hell did you just say to me?!”
Just as expected…
Zhao Yun clutched his head and let out a deep sigh, then dragged his staggering body toward the rooftop.