Chapter 139: Back on the Flower Boat
Chapter 139: Back on the Flower Boat

After chatting for half an hour, it was not known whether it was the effect of the gift list or Ye Xuan really thought that Zhang Quandan was a good person.

Ye Xuan actually invited Zhang Quandan to stay for dinner, which was rare.

Originally, when Ye Xuan returned, the decree had just been issued and it was dusk.

They chatted for another half an hour, and it was completely dark.

After all, he is a guest, so Ye Xuan has to be polite even out of courtesy.

Unexpectedly, Zhang Quandan actually agreed, and the dishes were served soon.

Looking at the three dishes and one soup on the table, Zhang Quandan sucked his teeth and said with emotion: "I didn't expect that with your status, Brother Ye, you can still live such a poor life. It's really admirable!"

Ye Xuan thought that Zhang Quandan was referring to his position as a captain of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, which was at least a fifth-rank official appointed by the imperial court.

If he were to be transferred to a local level, he would start as a prefect.

As the saying goes, three years as an honest magistrate earns you 100,000 silver coins.

Three dishes and one soup does seem a little simple.

However, when he was the emperor in the Hongwu Dynasty, especially in Yingtian Prefecture, he would not dare to spend money even if he had it!
Hearing this, he just chuckled and said, "I am the emperor's personal guard, and this is the emperor's feet, how can I be extravagant?"

Zhang Quandan's eyes widened when he heard this, but he thought that Ye Xuan was taking care of his identity as the emperor's illegitimate son, and it was not right for him to be extravagant under his father's nose. He should set an example and respond to the emperor's call for integrity.

I couldn't help but think in my heart that he is worthy of being the emperor's bloodline. Although he is just an illegitimate child, his awareness is beyond the reach of ordinary people.

He immediately gave Ye Xuan a thumbs up and said, "Brother Ye is a man of high character. I admire him very much!"

"However, considering Brother Ye's current status and appearance, he is still living such a miserable life. I really can't bear to see him like this!"

The more Ye Xuan listened, the more he felt something was wrong. Although Zhu Yuanzhang did indeed attach great importance to him, he, a fifth-rank official appointed by the imperial court, was indeed like a local emperor in the local area.

But if it were placed in Yingtian Prefecture where there were as many beasts as dogs, it would not be a big deal.

Is it really necessary for Zhang Quandan to exaggerate so much?
Seeing Ye Xuan remained silent, Zhang Quandan thought that his words had resonated with him, and he could not help but strike while the iron was hot to improve the friendship between the two: "If Brother Ye does not mind, Zhang would like to invite Brother Ye to find an elegant place to taste fine wine and food, how about it?"

Ye Xuan didn't know whether to accept or not after hearing this. As a person from later generations, he had no idea how many delicacies he had eaten that were created with the help of technology and hard work.

Although the delicacies of the Ming Dynasty are indeed authentic, they are still slightly inferior to the technological delicacies.

Seeing that Ye Xuan seemed unmoved, Zhang Quandan became more certain of his guess about Ye Xuan's identity.

Suddenly I realized, as the emperor's illegitimate son, who often goes in and out of the palace, what kind of delicious food and wine has he not tasted and drunk?
However, Zhang Quandan did not feel ashamed at all. Instead, he smiled lewdly and whispered something in Ye Xuan's ear.

Ye Xuan frowned and said with interest: "Oh, there is such a place in Yingtian Prefecture. As a Jinyiwei, I have never heard of it. I really need to see it."

After that, he waved to Qiuyan and said, "Remove the dishes. You and Chunfengxiayu can eat. I have to go out with Master Zhang."

Not long after, Ye Xuan changed into casual clothes and followed Zhang Quandan in a carriage to the Qinhuai River.

"I thought it was somewhere else, isn't it just the flower boats on the Qinhuai River?" Ye Xuan couldn't help but say in disappointment as he looked at the large and small boats lit up at the pier. Zhang Quandan laughed and said, "Although they are all flower boats, this one is different."

Seeing that Ye Xuan was not interested, Zhang Quandan said obscenely: "The owner of this flower boat knows how to do business. He often gets some foreign women from foreign countries."

"Not only do these foreign women look completely different from ours, but their hot and sexy bodies are even more stunning than ours. Although their skin is a little rough and they have some body odor, if they use more makeup to cover it up, they can still be very charming!"

Ye Xuan understood as soon as he heard it. Isn't this the Ming Dynasty version of Heaven on Earth?

In ancient society, due to inconvenient transportation, Zhu Yuanzhang issued a maritime ban during the Hongwu period, and European countries had not yet established a sea route between China and Europe, foreigners were not often seen, let alone getting foreign women on a brothel.

There are many rich and powerful people in Yingtian Prefecture, and there are many young men like Zhang Quandan who have money but nowhere to spend it.

He has seen a lot of beautiful women, but has never played with many foreign barbarians. When he heard that there was such foreign food to be had, wouldn't he spend a lot of money?
In his previous life, Ye Xuan had met many foreigners, but he had little communication with them. After hearing this, he couldn't help but feel the urge to see the world.

Zuo You Daming's nightlife is boring and there is nothing to do when you get home.

Then he followed Zhang Quandan through many twists and turns and finally boarded a flower boat.

From the outside, the ship looked only medium-sized, but once inside, one would find that the interior was quite spacious.

The cabin was brightly lit and filled with seven or eight tables and chairs, and was already crowded with people.

Many Chinese and foreign women were scantily clad, like butterflies flying among flowers, carrying fine wine and delicious food and moving back and forth to serve wine and food.

Most of the guests present were young men dressed in luxurious attire, and it was obvious at first glance that they were either rich or noble.

There was a small stage against the wall at the stern. A Central Asian woman with revealing clothes, black hair, blue eyes, aquiline nose, hot figure and fair skin was dancing on the stage to the sound of Hu instruments.

The white skin that was revealed from time to time made Zhang Quandan so dazzled that tears were about to flow out of his mouth.

Ye Xuan also admired it with great interest for a while. He hadn't seen such foreigners for a long time since he came to Ming Dynasty.

After admiring it for a while, a brothel owner in her thirties smiled charmingly and took Zhang Quandan's arm. "Mr. Zhang, you haven't been here for a long time. Our little Sally misses you so much!"

Zhang Quandan reluctantly withdrew his gaze from the Central Asian woman on the stage, looked at the madam in his arms, frowned and said, "With your family's expenses, I would like to live here directly, but my financial situation does not allow it!"

Sister Hua covered her mouth and chuckled, "Mr. Zhang, you really love to joke."

After that, he turned to Ye Xuan and changed the subject, "This young master looks unfamiliar. I wonder if he is the young master of that master's house?"

Zhang Quandan was about to introduce Ye Xuan's identity, but Ye Xuan spoke first: "I am not talented, my surname is Ye. I am just a student from another place. How could I be so lucky as Mr. Zhang to be born into an official family."

Zhang Quandan was stunned at first, then he suddenly realized.

Ye Xuan is a captain of the Imperial Guard on the surface, but secretly...

It is not easy to introduce him to others. Even if it is Ye Xuan's official identity as a Jinyiwei, all the playboys on the boat would be scared away if he told others about it.

(End of this chapter)