#39 - Mid-Autumn Festival and the Fox Demon (Part 1)

This year, the Mid-Autumn Festival coincides with the Empress Dowager's eightieth birthday. In addition, reports of good weather and abundant harvests from all over the country flew into the palace like snowflakes. Finally, Ning Yongnian was overjoyed and issued an imperial edict to the people, with four large characters written on it:

Universal Celebration.

When Wei Changtian went out, the entire capital was already bustling with activity.

Every household hung large red lanterns in front of their doors, and the sound of firecrackers filled the city. Even the constables patrolling the streets had tied a piece of red silk to the handles of their sabers, adding to the festive atmosphere.

Especially in the city's main business districts, the scene was reminiscent of a Spring Festival train station in his previous life.

A people's banquet was set up on the long street. Although there was no fine wine and the dishes were not particularly exquisite, everything was paid for by the government and provided free of charge.

Vendors selling snacks and lanterns weaved through the crowds, shouting loudly. Children held sugar figurines in one hand and tugged at their parents' clothes with the other. If they happened to meet friends on the road, they would stop and exchange a few words of praise for the peaceful days.

The night grew deeper and deeper, and soon it was the hour of Hai (9-11 PM).

Except for a few border cities, the Great Ning Dynasty did not impose a curfew, so the carnival atmosphere throughout the city showed no signs of waning.

The round moon, carrying the longing of mankind, had already traveled to the center of the night sky. The silvery moonlight shone unreservedly on the earth, illuminating the figures of all living beings.

Some farmers, taking advantage of the free wine at the people's banquet, drank themselves into a drunken stupor on the street. Some scholars argued over a lantern riddle until their faces were red in the face.

A young martial artist, hesitating in front of the brothel door, bitterly touched his empty purse. A graceful woman leaned against the window, waving her handkerchief at familiar customers passing by. A man in brocade clothing cast his gaze on his wife and children not far away. The child, however, was staring at the sword on the young man's waist, his face full of longing…

At this moment, everything in the world was connected by this bright moonlight, like a grand play, slowly unfolding in the darkness.

And on the bank of the Qingci River in the south of the city, a small stage curtain was finally raised at this time, but the audience was mostly ignorant young masters from aristocratic families and a few pedantic scholars.

……

The Qingci River was not particularly wide or deep, but it was more than enough to accommodate a few pleasure boats.

Wei Changtian stood on a small boat, the boatman behind him vigorously poling. The boat cleaved through the shimmering and colorful reflections on the river, heading towards a pleasure boat at a leisurely pace.

Although there was still some distance from the pleasure boat, the sight of beautiful figures dancing and colorful butterflies fluttering on the boat was already faintly visible, arousing longing in people's hearts.

"There are quite a few people."

Wei Changtian said to himself. Wang Er, who was beside him, immediately chimed in: "Young Master, most people are just hoping to catch a glimpse of Miss Liu Shi. Compared to you, they have no competitive edge at all."

Wang Er learned the word "competitive edge" from Wei Changtian, and he had already reached the point of applying it flexibly.

Wang Er pointed to a few small boats hidden around the pleasure boat, and at the same time handed over a copper whistle: "All of them are sixth-rank experts. As long as they hear the whistle, they can rush onto the pleasure boat in less than three breaths."

"Good."

Wei Changtian took the copper whistle and said nothing more. At this time, the small raft also stopped steadily on the side of the pleasure boat.

"Young Master Wei! Young Master Wei is here!"

The pimp on the boat, who was responsible for receiving guests, shouted loudly and immediately ordered people to lower the rope ladder.

However, climbing the ladder was too demeaning. Wei Changtian roughly estimated the height of the pleasure boat, bent his legs slightly, and actually stepped on the side of the boat a few times before somersaulting onto the deck.

"Young Master, what skill!"

The pimp and a few servants were stunned at first, and then cheered in unison, looking like they were about to set off a salute to celebrate.

Wei Changtian patted his sleeves with the demeanor of an expert, shook out a small ingot of silver and threw it over: "Has Miss Liu Shi come out yet?"

"How could she! Isn't she waiting for you!"

The pimp hurriedly held the silver, his face full of smiles as he bowed and stepped aside: "Young Master, please come this way, I'll lead you to a seat first."

"Yes."

He walked more than ten steps in the direction of the music and entered the cabin.

The scenery in front of him instantly changed, as if it were a different world from the outside.

More than a dozen women wearing only thin veils were dancing gracefully in the enchanting music. Every gesture and smile revealed an incomparably alluring charm, making people want to immediately go up and, cough, dance a song with them.

Almost all of those sitting around were young masters in luxurious clothes. Not counting the servants, there were about twenty or thirty people, who were currently drinking and making merry, each with a maid in their arms.

These maids were nominally Yang Liu Shi's handmaidens, but in reality, they all had the responsibility of "sleeping with" the guests.

It even seemed that many of them were about to fulfill their responsibilities.

If you want to find a word to describe the scene in front of you… extravagant? Sumptuous? Debauched?

Or…

A word suddenly popped into Wei Changtian's mind.

Sea Heaven Feast?

……

Soon, Wei Changtian took a seat in the front row.

A maidservant whose appearance was no less than Qiu Yun Yuan'er's came over to offer fine wine and snacks, then moved lightly and leaned over, presumably she would immediately throw herself into his arms as long as he nodded.

However, Wei Changtian didn't have time to do this at this time.

He waved his hand to send the maid away, glanced around at the people in the room, and asked Wang Er.

"Tell me which family and which mansion these people belong to, don't miss a single one."

"Yes."

Wang Er, who was standing behind him, immediately bent down and leaned to Wei Changtian's ear, lowering his voice and introducing them one by one:

"The one over there who is touching the maid's thigh is Fan Xian, the son of the Fan family, whose father is the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites…"

"The one who is kissing the maid is He Shouyuan, the son of the He family, whose family runs Shunlong Bank, the largest bank in the capital…"

"The one who is holding the hand of the servant is Yang Yunqing, the son of the Yang family, whose sister is Concubine Yang in the palace…"

"Wait a minute!"

Wei Changtian looked at Yang Yunqing, who had a feminine look, and asked suspiciously, "What is he doing here?"

"This Young Master Yang is bisexual."

"Oh, continue."

"Yes."

"…"

Before long, Wang Er introduced almost everyone in the room like a treasure, until he paused slightly when it came to one person.

Recalling Wei Changtian's instructions just now, "Don't miss a single one," he continued:

"Young Master, the one who is flirting with three maids at the same time is Liu Zongliang, the son of the Liu family…"

Liu Zongliang?

Hearing this familiar name again, Wei Changtian couldn't help but take a few more glances.

Although he didn't know how the previous owner had humiliated this person, judging from the other party's current reaction, the degree should be no less than a humiliation of the crotch.

"Bang!"

The wine glass suddenly fell to the ground, and the three maids screamed and jumped away.

Liu Zongliang, realizing that Wei Changtian was also present, stood up instantly, his eyes full of raging anger.

Such a big commotion naturally attracted the attention of many people, but everyone just looked up and quickly lowered their heads to do what they were doing.

After all, whether it was the Liu family or the Wei family, they couldn't afford to offend either of them.

With a calm expression and a smile on the corner of his mouth on one side, and a flushed face and raging anger on the other.

Wei Changtian stared at Liu Zongliang for a while, and the music suddenly stopped at this time.

Dear readers, first of all, good news! The recommendation has been promoted again, and it will be strongly recommended next week! The next small goal is to get on Sanjiang. Don’t ask me who Sanjiang is, I have never been on it.

Secondly, report on the battle with the goddess.

Last night, I sent her the screenshot of everyone's votes. As expected, the goddess didn't delete me! And she also said that she said that before to motivate me!

I knew the goddess was doing it for my own good!

I'm going to chat with her now to deepen our relationship!

So there will only be two updates today, I believe you will understand~

The follow-up goddess chapter will have a chance to be updated later, maybe next time it will be getting married and having children, hahaha!