The end of the Ming Dynasty was an era when Qinglou culture prevailed, whether it was a prosperous capital or a remote county, you can see the figure of Qinglou, they can be seen everywhere like modern bars and teahouses.

Jinling, as the southern capital of the Ming Dynasty, has always been a gathering of gold powder, talented people gathered, especially on the bank of the Qinhuai River, since ancient times it has been a boundless place, the old courtyard and the area of the banknote street are embroidered buildings, and the green buildings are piled up.

Whenever the lanterns are on, there is an endless stream of merry talents, the market vendors sing and sell loudly, the old courtyard in the song is very lively, the lights on the riverside and the bright moon in the sky reflect the reflection in the water, and connect into pieces of bright light, like countless bright stars in the dark night. Under the breeze, the humid air is filled with the aroma of fat powder, which is intoxicating.

At this time, Zhang Bin had already followed Bi Maokang into the wall of the old courtyard, and walked slowly on the streets lined with embroidery buildings, as for Zhang Cha and others, he sent them to the tea shop, and there were also tea shops on both sides of the Wuding Bridge, and there were courtyards surrounded by half-person high Yan Shan in each place, which was specially designed for the retinue of chariots and horses to rest.

Smelling the intoxicating fragrance, looking at the embroidery buildings with carved railings on both sides, Zhang Bin couldn't help but feel a little nervous, he was not afraid to face the woman in the Qinglou, the main thing was that he had boasted in front of Bi Maokang that he had been here, in fact, he had never heard of this place before, if Bi Maokang asked about the situation here, he was afraid that he would not be able to answer a word.

At this time, Bi Maokang seemed to be a little confused, and there was obviously a trace of confusion in the excitement.

When Zhang Bin saw his expression, he almost jumped into his mouth: Big brother, don't ask me, I don't know anything!

Fortunately, Bi Maokang didn't expect Zhang Bin's "stunned youth", he glanced around, and then quickly walked up to a scribe in his fifties and said: "This brother is polite, I don't know which embroidery building is the best in this old courtyard." ”

The old man was walking leisurely, but he was suddenly blocked from his way, and he couldn't help but be a little annoyed, but when he looked up at Bi Maokang's dress, it was immediately cloudy and sunny, and he smiled and said: "This brother is polite, if you want to say that in the embroidery building now, it is naturally the best Meixiang building of the Li family." ”

When Bi Maokang heard this, he was slightly surprised and said, "Oh, wasn't the best one in the past the Ma family's Youlan Pavilion?" ”

The old man stroked his sparse long beard, shook his head and said: "Brother Tai is afraid that he hasn't been here for more than ten years, since the Ma Xianglan fragrance of the Ma family has disappeared, most of the ladies in the Youlan Pavilion have left, and there are few red cards at this time, not as good as before, not as good as before." ”

Bi Maokang almost met a bosom friend, and he asked with great interest: "Oh, did Ma Xianglan finally marry Wang Zhideng, a talented man from Changzhou?" ”

When the old man heard this, he gritted his teeth and said: "Don't mention Wang Zhideng's broken goods, poor Ma Xianglan has been waiting for him for more than 30 years, but in the end he still failed to do so. ”

When Bi Maokang heard this, he couldn't help shaking his head and sighing: "Alas, it's really pitiful, I was also fortunate to see Ma Siniang's paintings back then, what a generation of talented women, it's a pity, it's a pity." ”

The old man's anger did not subside: "Who said it wasn't, that Wang Zhideng simply has eyes and doesn't know gold and jade!" ”

Bi Maokang hurriedly comforted: "Brother Tai is angry, angry, I don't know what are the red cards in this Meixiang Building?" ”

Speaking of the famous prostitute in the song, the old man immediately put on a leisurely and fascinated look, and said intoxicatedly: "The ten golden flowers of the Li family in Meixianglou, those are all rare beauties, especially the eldest lady Wanjun, the fourth mother Wanrong, the sixth niang Xueyi, the eighth niang Zhenli, and the tenth Niang Xiangzhen is even more beautiful, and the name is shocking Qin Huai, and the brother will know it if you go to see it." ”

When Bi Maokang heard this, he arched his hand again and said, "Thank you Brother Tai for your advice, let's go and have a look." ”

The old man hurriedly bowed his hand and saluted: "You're polite, you're polite." ”

With that, he turned around and walked into the crowd.

Zhang Bin looked at the old man's back and couldn't help but be curious: "Brother Menghou, how do you know that this old man is a veteran of flowers?" ”

When Bi Maokang heard this, he said proudly: "The appearance is weak, the steps are vain, and at first glance he is a person who is overly drunk, he is no longer a veteran of flowers, and no one is a veteran of flowers." ”

Zhang Bin said with admiration: "Brother Meng Hou is not bad, you can see at a glance that he is a veteran of flowers." ”

When Bi Maokang heard this, he smiled awkwardly, and then, patted Zhang Bin's shoulder, and scolded with a smile: "You think it's all the same as you, I don't understand the amorous feelings, don't stand stupidly, let's go, let's go to Meixianglou." ”

With that, he took the lead and strode forward.

Zhang Bin touched the back of his head, and followed very innocently, it's not that he doesn't understand the amorous feelings, but there are really three delicate beauties in the family, where is he still interested in going to the kiln!

This guy also said that he has a few handsome maids, why is he so?

Zhang Bin caught up and asked curiously: "Brother Menghou, please forgive the little brother for being unreasonable, I remember you told the little brother last time that there are still a few handsome maids in the family, as well as a sister-in-law, why haven't any of them been brought to Jinling?" ”

When Bi Maokang heard this, he said a little lonely: "Your sister-in-law died of illness three years ago. ”

When Zhang Bin heard this, he hurriedly apologized: "Oh, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, my little brother doesn't know that my sister-in-law has ......." ”

Bi Maokang raised his hand and said: "It's nothing, your sister-in-law and I are just the words of the matchmaker of your parents, and those maids don't understand anything at all, boring tight, and it's not interesting to carry." ”

It turns out that Bi Maokang should be quite dissatisfied with his marriage, so he is obsessed with Qinglou, and he seems to be a poor person.

Zhang Bin shook his head and sighed, stopped speaking, and silently followed Bi Maokang forward.

The embroidery buildings on both sides of this street are big and small, the big ones occupy an area of more than ten acres, the golden drums are noisy, the lights are brilliant, the door is open, the small ones are at most one or two small buildings, the copper ring is half open, the bead foil hangs low, quiet and tranquil.

Not long ago, Bi Maokang first turned into a courtyard, only to see a plaque hanging on the embroidery floor of a entry, three big red characters, it is Meixianglou.

As soon as the two entered the door, a turtle man dressed in a soap shirt and wrapped in a green scarf greeted him, bowed and saluted: "Two masters, the lobby or the private seat?" ”

Bi Maokang said familiarly: "Let's sit down." ”

The turtle man hurriedly nodded and said, "Please come with the little one." ”

With that, he walked to the building first.

As soon as you enter the building, a huge lobby is presented in front of you, and the area is at least a few hundred square meters.

The lobby is divided into two parts, with more than a dozen tables on one side of the door, and a stage on the inside.

At this time, more than ten tables have already been seated, and several tables are drinking and chatting, so lively, and there are people on the stage babbling and singing.

Instead of leading them to the middle, Kameko turned to the left and led them up the stairs against the wall to the second floor.

The second floor is much quieter, but the area is only half the size of the first floor, and the so-called private seats are just a few tables separated by carved railings, facing the stage in front and a straight aisle in the back.