Chapter 156: Fun and Games

Shen Zuijin approached slowly. Others might have found her alluring, but to Liu Liwa, it looked unnatural, like a man binding himself to act female.

Her features were delicate, her skin as fair as snow, her charm utterly captivating. The scholar candidates watched, spellbound. Liu Liwa was just as stunned. Previously, Shen Zuijin always wore heavy makeup—bright red lips, powdered face, thick brows—completely obscuring her true face. Now, she looked pure, like Furong blooming from clear water, free of all adornment.

She glided forward, a small maid behind her carrying Brush, Ink, Paper, and Inkstone. Shen Zuijin chuckled, “All you talented scholars are pillars of the future. Your presence today brings great honor to our humble Pleasure House. Please leave us some inscribed treasures with your brushes. When you rise to glory, we at Intoxication Pavilion will bask in that light!”

Hah! Such blatant asking for inscriptions! A five-thousand-year tradition of the Celestial Empire: emperors inscribing poems upon famous mountains and rivers to display their grandeur; scholars writing upon historic sites to show off their learning. This custom endured and flourished. Anyone holding an official post—big or small—would dare pick up a brush and write grandly, even tour groups scrawling “visited here” graffiti. Many inscribed names for schools or famous companies, showing the leader’s support for education and prosperity.

Really, it was all about fame and advertising. These scholar candidates were all going for the imperial exams. Any might soar high. Then, their inscribed words here would become priceless treasures. Even Intoxication Pavilion, being a Pleasure House, would gain prestige. The scholar himself wouldn’t be criticized either—just seen as youthful charm, a beloved story.

The scholars grew eager, especially with Shen Zuijin in her thin gauze wrap-top, bent over, brush poised, looking fully focused… yet with her Summit of the Maiden nearly bursting free. Even Liu Liwa couldn’t help staring.

“Since everyone is excited, and Intoxication Pavilion’s sincerity is clear, we shouldn’t dampen spirits,” said Du Shaofu, ever cheerful and easygoing, always ready to go with the flow and enjoy.

Wu Yuzhou, though bookish, was not stiff, knowing socializing was part of life.

First Shen Zuijin’s bending posture, then Du Shaofu’s proposal, spurred all scholars into enthusiasm. The girls bustled over too, sweet-talking as they praised the scholars’ talent like they were all brilliant geniuses.

“How about we take the scenes of Intoxication Pavilion as our subjects? Anything or anyone here is fair game. Write freely, but use couplets. That way, more have a chance,” Du Shaofu proposed again. Everyone agreed at once. Feeling playful, Du Shaofu pointed to a corner, drawing all eyes. There, a scholar hugged a girl, ignoring the world. She sat nestled in his lap, whispering something that made her blush red near his ear. Seeing this, everyone laughed. Seizing the chance, Du Shaofu said, “I’ll start simple, as a humble opening gambit. First line: ‘Gently, kiss and darling.'”

Cheers erupted. It was perfect! The pair in the corner, lost in each other, not disturbing anyone—truly “Gently, kiss and darling”!

The laughter made them aware they’d become the center of attention. The girl shyly hid her face. The scholar fidgeted. Then everyone noticed—the scholar’s hand was inside the girl’s robes! Clever and quick-witted, Wu Yuzhou instantly declared, “Second line: ‘Silently, touch and granny.'”

“Brilliant!” Liu Liwa applauded first. These two weren’t simple at all—beneath the gentle scholar disguise hid lustful hearts! His praise helped others grasp it too: the scholar slipping his hand into the robe was exactly “Silently, touch and granny.” A flawless pair for the first line, matching rhyme and scene.

Amid the roaring laughter, the embarrassed couple stayed put. That hand never pulled out. In a Pleasure House, everyone was there for this; who could mock whom? Besides, they seemed truly immersed in passion. Suddenly, the girl pulled the scholar up and dashed with him into a room. Immediately, a red Candle lit inside.

A rule—even daytime encounters required a lit Candle—meaning she had a guest.

Witnessing this bold step against convention, everyone marveled: not even a Pleasure House could stop natural human urges. Amid loud laughs, Liu Liwa stood. Staring at the room with its flickering candlelight, he boomed: “An idea strikes me. First line: ‘Lantern just lit, man just met, sash urgently untied.'”

Laughter grew louder. How fitting—this pair of newcomers immediately acted reckless like they were alone, and lit the Candle before dark! “Lantern just lit, man just met” captured it perfectly.

This first line stumped the crowd, though. Everyone frowned in thought. The noise faded into quiet. Just then, a girl’s coquettish voice floated from that room: “No rush, dear… just don’t touch that! I… I won’t…”

Scholars and girls alike burst out laughing at her words. A scholar suddenly cried out: “Second line! I have it! ‘Thread so thin, waist so soft, eagerly welcomes the touch.'”

Lantern just lit, man just met, sash urgently untied.

Thread so thin, waist so soft, eagerly welcomes the touch.

The wolfish friends roared with laughter, toasting one another. Girls kept serving, blushing in shock. Who’d expect these elegant scholar candidates to be even more salacious than crude folk?

Shen Zuijin carefully wrote both couplets, her brush dancing, characters neat and graceful. Liu Liwa, still wondering what scheme Wu Liniang and Shen Zuijin had, took the chance to step closer. His hand slid under her brush-wielding arm and out her armpit: “Miss truly shines inside and out. Your calligraphy is impressive. Especially the ‘untied’ character in ‘sash untied’—most lovely.”

He flattered her while “accidentally” pointing. His elbow nudged that hard-pressed, ready-to-burst Summit of the Maiden. Trembling, Shen Zuijin nearly stabbed him with her brush, but she was acting. She had to endure. She whispered low: “The Madam is preparing a surprise treat for these two talented guests. For best effect, you need to keep engaging them now. Sustain this energy.”

“Such tight squeezing must make veins bulge and feel awful?” Liu Liwa answered off-topic.

Shen Zuijin froze, following his gaze to her Summit of the Maiden—stuffed hard together by the wrap-top, veins bulging. Barely A size padded to C. Easy to get damaged!