After leaving Palace City and parting ways with Xu Mengxi, Xu Yuan didn’t hurry back to his residence but instead strolled leisurely along Chang’an Street.

Compared to twenty years ago, the street scene of Di’an had undergone a dramatic transformation. To accommodate more newcomers, while the Outer City continued to expand, those sprawling courtyard houses in the inner city were gradually replaced by towering buildings with flying cornices and tilted eaves.

The court meeting ends around nine in the morning, and the originally quiet neighborhood had already become bustling. Various street vendors shouted strenuously, shadows scattered in teahouses, elderly men leisurely walking birds in cages, tourists in splendid clothes wandering the city, and swordsmen hurriedly passing by.

At a glance, it was a myriad of urban life.

Walking a distance, Xu Yuan was pondering whether to find a place to sit when suddenly a commotion was heard not far away.

It came from a high-end tavern by the roadside, with many people running out. Xu Yuan immediately identified the source, and a conversation reached his ears.

"Brother, I don’t think I’ve ever seen you in Di’an before."

"Mr. Li indeed only recently got the document to enter the Capital City; I wonder what advice you might have?"

"Nothing important, just want to ask brother for an explanation—who doesn’t know in the whole Capital City that Miss Yuan’er belongs to Fang Pingsheng..."

"....."

Xu Yuan glanced at the plaque on the building,

Wanghai Pavilion.

It seemed like a high-class establishment, but also perhaps a brothel, or a bit of both?

After twenty-odd years, Xu Yuan was already unfamiliar with this circle, yet disputes of jealousy in such places still remained an eternal amusement.

With nothing better to do, Xu Yuan headed towards the noisy building.

Just as he entered, a slightly sophisticated scent of incense hit his nostrils; his gaze wandered around the hall, the decoration was quite nice—less flashy and ostentatious than twenty years ago, a bit more subtle and elegant.

This was a courtyard-style building, with luxurious silk and gauze cascading from the top floor, accompanied by warm sunlight falling on the stage in the hall, making the performance of the woman inside appear veiled and elusive.

At first glance, it was quite charming.

Wow... quite a change.

Xu Yuan, with keen interest, scanned around, and walked upstairs along the steps. But just after taking a couple of steps, he was swiftly intercepted by a woman mature with charm.

The young woman gave a smile common in places of debauchery:

"Oh my, young master, it’s been such a long time since you visited~"

"?"

Xu Yuan’s eye twitched.

Why does this person falsely accuse someone of impropriety upon opening their mouth?

Xu Changtian has never been to such a place.

However, he quickly understood that this was merely common banter.

As the young woman spoke, she suddenly leaned closer, and a ’cheap’ rouge scent immediately overwhelmed him.

Xu Yuan frowned, retreated half a step, dodging her aggressive advance.

The woman, noticing his disdain, wasn’t offended; after all, what kind of clients hadn’t she seen over the years?

Compared to the Third Young Master, who liked tearing down buildings she encountered before marrying, all other customers were like gentle lambs.

With a slight apologetic smile, she also took half a step back, her gaze reminding, glancing at the hurried people going out, she whispered:

"But young master, right now... it’s somewhat inconvenient in the pavilion."

Xu Yuan feigned ignorance, raised an eyebrow, and asked:

"Oh? What do you mean?"

The young woman whispered:

"A distinguished guest arrived from afar a couple of days ago, somehow managing to charm our Miss Yuan’er into wanting to redeem herself."

Xu Yuan was taken aback, with a hint of teasing:

"Oh, from a place of romance, whether renowned or pure, one can be said to be worldly-wise, and yet in just two days, caught true feelings during mere theatrics?"

The young woman, seeing his familiarity in speech, sighed:

"Young master, you know, yuan’er, pure courtesans don’t sell themselves; we don’t mind her mingling with the distinguished guest."

"Looks like that young man has some tricks."

"That’s indeed the case."

Saying this, the woman glanced upstairs, her expression turning bitter:

"But you see, the Third Young Master from the Fang family got wind of it somehow, and came over to demand an explanation."

"Is that so."

Xu Yuan nodded, proceeding to walk upstairs.

The young woman looked a bit confused, hurriedly followed to persuade:

"Oh young master, you shouldn’t go upstairs; you might not know, but that Fang family....."

"Third Grade Official Fang Hongli, Minister of Rites."

Xu Yuan casually reported the identity of the other’s father, looking at the young woman askance: "I know you’re well-intentioned, but I’m going up to meet an old friend."

"...."

The young woman’s pupils shrank.

Though Di’an City gathered many powerful and noble individuals, there were not many who dared to refer to that great man by his full name. The young man before her was in his early twenties; what was his background?

Just as she was thinking,

The young man’s voice sounded again:

"Oh right, bring your pavilion’s best wine upstairs, and put it on that distinguished guest from afar’s tab."

"...."

"...."

When Xu Yuan reached the top floor along the steps, the polite greetings had already evolved into exchanging insults.

"Looking at your maid outfit, are you from Japan?"

"Why bring up origins concerning matters of romance?"

A gentle voice, unhurried, a handsome young man with a small mustache was lying sideways on a soft couch, with a woman in Ninja Sect attire standing behind him, watching with interest a group of people not far away, he smiled and said:

"What, are you intending to use one’s influence to pressure others?"

Fang Hongru, dressed in luxurious attire, hearing this also chuckled, though his gaze gradually turned cold:

"Using influence to oppress people isn’t quite right, but recently there have indeed been quite a few stray dogs from outside running wild in the inner city of Di’an, thinking they can pull this same act here."