A few flaps of a butterfly's wings in the rain forest of the Marson River can cause a tornado in Texas two weeks later. Just how big of a political storm would the Censorate cause in the South-Central, South-Eastern, and South-Western regions?
Yang Fan didn't know how big the storm would be, but he knew it wouldn't be small. Anyway, his business was done, and there was no need to step into this political whirlpool. So he cleverly avoided Luoyang and went straight to Chang 'an.
Logically speaking, if the journey to the south had been peaceful, it would have been fine for him to go straight to Chang 'an. However, so many things had happened on the way south. A dutiful, or perhaps a shrewd, official should return to the capital and appear in front of his emperor in time.
Whether it was listening to inquiries or offering advice, this was the duty of an official, and only then could he get the emperor's favor. For Yang Fan, the Emperor's favor was far less tempting than the moment his own flesh and blood looked at him the moment he was born.
Moreover, he was the one who followed the censorate to put out the fire. After he killed two imperial envoys, he was also the one who persuaded the chiefs of Yaozhou, Manzhou, and Panzhou to burn the Divine Palace of Wanxiang. Returning to the capital at this time, there would be many benefits, but there would also be many risks. It was better to avoid trouble.
So, with the excuse that Wu Zetian's original instructions were not clear, and there was no clear explanation on whether Princess Taiping needed him to escort her back from Chang 'an, Yang Fan decisively went to Chang' an. However, he didn't know how big the storm was. Could he avoid it by hiding in Chang 'an?
The wind was shapeless, the clouds were formless, and the world was impermanent.
Who knew if he would step into an even more complicated and dangerous whirlpool with this step?
He arrived at Chang 'an.
When he first entered Chang 'an, Yang Fan almost thought he was back in Luoyang. Everything here was so similar to Luoyang. The layout of the city was similar to that of Luoyang, with the same horizontal and vertical streets, the same squares separated by high walls, and the same hundreds of years old locust trees, elms, and weeping willows planted on the roadside.
After a few more steps, he found something different again.
The drainage ditches here were wider and deeper than those in Luoyang. Furthermore, they were all open ditches, so every intersection had to be bridged.
There were more than a million people here, no less than Luoyang's. However, walking on the streets gave off the feeling that there were few people here. It was far less lively than Luoyang because the city was bigger and the streets were wider.
The group entered the city and rushed to Peaceful Peace Square.
Yang Fan still had Hu Yuanli, Sun Yuxuan, and the Dragonmartial Guards by his side. He couldn't just abandon everyone as soon as he entered the city and fly to Aunt Pei's house to see his wife. Therefore, he could only go to see Princess Taiping first. Princess Taiping's mansion was in Pingkang Lane.
Turning into Peaceful Peace Square along the hundred-pace-wide Vermilion Bird Avenue, the feeling of being sparsely populated was instantly swept away.
It was a completely different feeling inside the square and on the street. Compared to the several squares they passed by along the way, it was also very different. People came and went here, and it was very lively.
Wine flags fluttered in the wind. Hu Ji, dressed in exotic ethnic clothing, waved at you enthusiastically. When you walked past them, her charming smile, intoxicating blue eyes, and the deep cleavage on her towering breasts, mixed with the fragrance of the wine wafting from the shop, would still float endlessly in your mind …
The exotic beauty's charm had yet to fade away when two young married women wearing "Fengli" came slowly, followed by two young maidservants in green clothes. A brimmed hat and a thin black veil extended from the brim of the young married women's hat to their knees, shrouding their entire bodies. Their figures were slim and graceful, and their charm was boundless.
Compared to the wine selling Hu Ji, this kind of married woman with the rich ancient style of the Qin and Han Dynasties had a different flavor.
Musical instrument shops, bookstores, jewelry shops, porcelain shops, wine shops, porridge and biscuit houses, row upon row …
There were not only Tangs on the streets, but also Turks, Huihe, Tocharians, Sogdians, and even Kunlun slaves, Korean maidservants, Persians, Nude Linyi, foreign monks, Taoists, and so on. There were all kinds of people, as if the whole world had been condensed here.
Although Yang Fan became more anxious as soon as he entered Chang 'an, he could not help but praise such a scene, "This Pingkang Lane is so lively."
Yang Fan had never been to Chang 'an, so he did not know that this was the most prosperous and lively place in the whole of Chang' an, apart from the eastern and western markets. The reason why Pingkang Lane was so prosperous was that it was a place of pleasure and pleasure.
In the whole of Chang 'an, Pingkang Lane had the most prostitutes. Of course, although Pingkang Lane was the most seductive place in Chang 'an, it was not the entire lane for prostitutes. The brothels in Pingkang Lane were concentrated in the north, while the south, east, and west were still inhabited by common people.
Li Jing, Duke of Wei, Chu Suiliang, Marquis of Yangdi County, Chu Liang, Chancellor of the Imperial College, Kong Yingda, and other officials who had once served as civil and military officials of the imperial court all lived here. In the royal family, Princess Lanling, Li Shu, and Princess Taiping, Li Lingyue, also had mansions here.
The north of Pingkang Lane was the place with the most concentration of brothels.
After entering the north gate, there were the three sections of North, South, and Middle. Most of the brothels in North Qu had a madam and a prostitute. Most of them were mother and daughter, and the daughter inherited the mother's business to make a living. Most of the brothels in South Qu had famous prostitutes. Each prostitute had its own building, just like a study. It was difficult for even the relatives of nobles to get close to them, and their wealth was also frighteningly high. Most of the brothels in Middle Qu had large brothels, and the prostitutes inside were of various grades. Those who were rich could have their own beauties, and those who were poor could also have ordinary, old prostitutes to entertain them.
"Of course!"
Upon hearing Yang Fan's words, Censor Hu, who had always been serious in speech and manner, revealed a smile that only men could understand. He said, "Brother, this is Pingkang Lane, the gentle land of Chang 'an. I remember when I passed the Jinshi examination and saw the list, all the new Jinshi were in high spirits and agreed to go to Pingkang Lane to get drunk and admire the flowers. Hahaha, it was a crazy night, a crazy night! "
Maqiao curled his lips and said, "You scholars have really become stupid from studying. You can't find any fun at all. You actually enjoy admiring flowers after becoming a Jinshi. I wonder what is the most famous flower in Chang 'an. Old Hu, are you admiring the peony or morning glory? "
Hu Yuanli rolled his eyes at him and said angrily, "What a stupid cow. Coming to Pingkang Lane to admire flowers, of course it's to admire women's flowers!"
Maqiao said curiously, "Women's flowers? Is there such a flower? This is the first time I've heard of it. Brother Fan, let's go and admire it together later. If it's really beautiful, I'll bring a pot back to Luoyang. "
Yang Fan could not help but laugh and said, "Women's flowers, women are like flowers. The women's flowers that Brother Hu is talking about are naturally the beauties here. Come to think of it, this Pingkang Lane is like Luoyang's Gentleness Lane, where there are many brothels and wine shops! "
Hu Yuanli said with a smile, "Exactly! The women in the brothels here are graceful, eloquent, obedient and pleasant. Most of them are proficient in poetry and songs. Whether you are a young hero in the capital, a ruffian in the streets, a scholar, or a rich gentleman, they can all distinguish between people, measure people according to your taste and habits, and coax you so much that you forget to return … "
When Maqiao heard that it was a brothel, he rubbed his nose and laughed dryly, "Visiting a brothel is just visiting a brothel. Why are you talking about women's flowers? I'm not a scholar, how would I understand those flowers that you drop in your book bags? Since it's a brothel, there's no need to go. There's no need to spend money on them. "
Hu Yuanli repeatedly shook his head and said, "Being young and romantic, after all, when you're old, there's always something to reminisce about. When you reach this old man's age, even if you want to go crazy, you won't have the capital to do so."
Sun Yuxuan repeatedly nodded to the side, looking like he deeply agreed.
Yang Fan pretended not to see Miss Hu Fei, who was dressed in a soldier's uniform. She had red lips and white teeth, and was very pretty, was riding her horse closer to Sun Yuxuan. Yang Fan asked him loudly, "So, when Brother Sun passed the Jinshi examination, you also had a romantic life?"
Sun Yuxuan said with a smile, "Haha, which young scholar wasn't like that back then? Once you pass the imperial examination, all of you in the same year have to go. If you don't get drunk in the arms of beauties, how can you repay the years of bitter study? I remember when I went to the capital to take the imperial examination, I lived in Luoyang's Propaganda Lane and rented a house there to prepare for the exam.
During that time, I went to the Wen Nuan Fang with several friends. The Wen Nuan Fang was the first wine shop after entering from the west gate. There was a Persian waitress there. This woman could sing and dance, her figure was charming. I fell in love with her at first sight. During those days, I often went there to drink, not to drink, but to hear her talk, to see her figure … "
Sun Yuxuan recalled his bitter love for that lovely and moving Persian girl, he couldn't help but show a bit of infatuation on his face.
Maqiao also saw Miss Hu Fei, her beautiful big eyes were narrowed dangerously. Maqiao held back his laughter and asked, "What about this Persian girl?"
Sun Yuxuan hung his head and sadly said, "She was engaged by a rich man from Yangzhou, Shangzhu. The day I passed the imperial examination, I excitedly rushed to the wine shop, but I didn't see her. When I asked the innkeeper, it was as if I was struck by lightning … "
With a smile that was not a smile, Yang Fan said, "I didn't expect Doctor Sun to be such a passionate person. Could it be that you still can't forget her?"
Sun Yuxuan sighed and said, "The first person I love in my life, how can I forget her? I … "
While saying that, he raised his head. From the corner of his eyes, he suddenly saw Miss Hu Fei. Sun Yuxuan's heart jumped, but his expression didn't change. He immediately changed his words and calmly said, "However, ever since I had Miss Hu, my heart could no longer let go of anyone else."
Yang Fan laughed out loud and said, "You should save these words for Miss Hu. It's useless to tell us."
Yang Fan laughed and rode away. Hu Yuanli and Maqiao also laughed and followed him. Only Sun Yuxuan was left behind, looking at the sweet smiling Miss Hu Fei with a bitter expression.
Miss Hu Fei's eyebrows and eyes were also smiling. Her voice was sweet and greasy, "I really didn't know brother had so many romantic past. That girl is called Persian, right? It doesn't sound like a Han family name. Where is she from? Compared to her, who is prettier? "
As Miss Hu Fei was speaking, her pair of slender fingers made a gesture to pinch the soft flesh on Sun Yuxuan's waist. A moment later, a miserable scream sounded in Ping Kang Square, followed by Sun Yuxuan's sorrowful and indignant cry, "The one with the surname Yang, you are not a good friend …"
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