The brothel had always been a fascinating place, with different customs and traditions in each region. The courtesans varied from warm and welcoming to cold and aloof. But ultimately, it was still a place for men to seek pleasure. Of course, there were some men who had never been to one—such as the four who were visiting this time.

Zhao Pu had never been to a brothel, which wasn’t surprising. Though he had a bit of a rogue’s air about him, he was still a legitimate prince and a grand marshal. To put it bluntly—without fear of offending the heavens—Zhao Pu looked more like an emperor than even Zhao Zhen. Some of the senior ministers even claimed his imposing aura surpassed that of the founding emperor himself… though, of course, making such a statement came with its own risks.

That said, even rogues had their principles. Zhao Pu was the kind of scoundrel with high standards, a thug with refined tastes, and just a little slow on the uptake. So it wasn’t surprising that he had never set foot in a brothel.

Ouyang Shaozheng, on the other hand, looked exactly like the kind of man who would frequent brothels—his baby face and perpetual mischievous grin gave off a carefree air. But surprisingly, he hadn’t been to one either, and his reason was even simpler than Zhao Pu’s. As a child, his strict parents forbade him from going. Later, when he was stationed at the border, there simply weren’t any brothels around.

However, Ouyang had always followed a set of principles: one major rule—sticking with Zhao Pu no matter what—and one minor rule—he basically had no rules. So, he wasn’t against trying new experiences when the opportunity arose. Visiting a brothel to see some beautiful women? That sounded like fun. And besides, looking didn’t cost anything!

As for Bai Yutang… it was hard to say whether he had ever been to a brothel or not.

Rumor had it that Bai Yutang was quite popular with women. Many of the most famous beauties in the martial world claimed to be his friends, though no one really knew how they had met. Even the top courtesans in the most renowned brothels also claimed to be acquainted with him. Yet, no one had ever actually seen him walk into a brothel or linger in one. So, whether those stories were fact or fiction remained a mystery.

Besides, looking at Bai Yutang’s face, he really didn’t seem like the type to visit a brothel. If he did, he would likely cause a riot. And honestly, it was unclear whether he would be the one taking advantage of the courtesans or the other way around.

Finally, there was Zhan Zhao.

Zhan Zhao frequently visited brothels… but only for investigations, not for pleasure. In that sense, he had never truly “experienced” a brothel.

Being a courtesan was a dangerous profession—not just because of the inherent risks of the job but also because of the diverse clientele. Among them could be imperial fugitives, notorious criminals, or wanted men.

When Zhan Zhao first entered the martial world, he had no particular fear of brothels. He figured he could simply avoid the women inside. But after joining Kaifeng Prefecture and working under Bao Gong, he found himself regularly visiting brothels on official business.

It was only then that he truly understood the phrase “women are fiercer than tigers.” He also realized that, above all else, the most important quality for a constable wasn’t skill in martial arts or analytical ability—it was having thick skin.

Unfortunately, Zhan Zhao was about as thick-skinned as a delicate paper-thin cat. The moment the courtesans surrounded him, his ears would turn red. After a few teasing words, his entire face would flush. And if one of the women said, “You’re so handsome,” he would become flustered, bow politely, and reply, “Thank you, you’re too kind…”

This, of course, only led to the women exclaiming that he was “so cute!” which made him even more embarrassed. He would continue bowing, shaking his hands in protest, saying, “I don’t dare, I don’t dare…”

At that point, the courtesans would stop talking and start using their hands. Zhan Zhao, in a panic, would resort to his qinggong skills to make a hasty airborne escape. Yet even as he fled, the enthusiasm of the women never waned. Wang Chao, Ma Han, Zhang Long, and Zhao Hu—his fellow constables—often had to form a human shield to block the mob of overly affectionate courtesans.

After several such incidents, Zhan Zhao developed a serious psychological shadow regarding brothels. However, this time, he had some hope—because Bai Yutang was going with him!

As the four men walked side by side toward their destination, each wore a different expression.

Zhao Pu, as always, was carefree and unfazed. Ouyang Shaozheng was visibly excited, eager to see what all the fuss was about. Bai Yutang was calm and composed. Meanwhile, Zhan Zhao seemed just a little bit nervous.

Bai Yutang stole a glance at Zhan Zhao, finding his reaction rather amusing. He was unexpectedly looking forward to seeing how Zhan Zhao would handle the situation inside.

Finally, they arrived at Wan Hua Brothel.

To be honest, for a small town like Dao Fu Zhen, a place named “Wan Hua Brothel” wasn’t exactly high-end. It certainly couldn’t compare to the brothels in Kaifeng, which were frequented by high-ranking officials and wealthy patrons.

However, the establishment did have a bit of class.

Lately, though, business had been slow. Normally, the brothel was bustling with important guests, but ever since certain recent incidents in town—and the arrival of the legendary Bao Gong—most of the usual clientele had chosen to stay home, afraid of getting caught in any potential legal trouble.

As a result, the brothel was rather quiet. A few hired workers were wiping down tables, and the courtesans were scattered about, some gambling, others chatting, all of them bored.

Just then, a stammering attendant at the entrance suddenly announced, “We… we have guests… guests.”

A courtesan sitting near the entrance laughed. “Oh my, has it been so long since we’ve had customers that you’ve forgotten how to talk?”

The other courtesans found this amusing. Since when was stuttering contagious?

Then, they noticed the first courtesan pointing toward the door, urging them to look.

At that moment, the madam of the brothel—who had been upstairs—rushed down in excitement. Despite her plump figure, she moved with surprising agility. “Oh my! Welcome, gentlemen!”

The gathered courtesans were stunned. Four men?! And at a time like this? They all turned to see who had dared to visit a brothel under these circumstances.

The first man to enter was Zhao Pu. As usual, he strode in at the front, exuding an overwhelming aura of dominance.

Zhao Pu glanced around, unimpressed. “So this is a brothel, huh? Lots of women… But wouldn’t it be inconvenient for Su Tulu and his gang to hide here? This place is crowded, full of gossip, and there are so many wanted posters around. Aren’t they afraid of being recognized?”

“Oh my, this gentleman is quite distinguished!” The madam immediately recognized Zhao Pu’s authoritative presence and stepped forward to greet him—only to take a startled step back when she looked up into his intense gaze.

Zhao Pu looked down at her, sizing her up, and bluntly asked, “Are you the boss?”

The madam nodded, suddenly nervous. Just who was this man? Why was he so intimidating?

Meanwhile, several of the courtesans were already swooning.

(To be continued… as there’s still much more to the scene!)