My Sister Insisted on Swapping Marriages, and I Became a Marchioness Instead

Chapter 639: Elder Sister

Qin Heng quickly waved his hand: "How could that be? Mr. Qi and I are both the type who like to befriend heroes of the world, it’s just a pity we’ve never had the opportunity until now. It’s fate that we meet today."

Reading stories about those great heroes roaming the Jianghu, drinking wine and eating meat in large chunks, making friends with heroes everywhere, being surrounded by a group of brothers, how joyful it must be, he was inwardly envious.

Gu Baoshu was also in high spirits, having never encountered such people since childhood, naturally wanted to use Qi Gu’s identity to meet them.

The four of them immediately hit it off and went to Tianxiang Building for drinks.

As they drank to their hearts’ content, the two began boasting about interesting happenings in the Jianghu. Gu Baoshu was listening with great interest when a female attendant lifted half of the bamboo curtain, peeped over with a joyful face.

Brother Ximen put down his wine cup and gestured: "Are you here looking for me?"

The female attendant hurriedly stepped forward, bowed, and said with a smile: "Mr. Ximen, you are hard to find. Didn’t we agree yesterday? Why didn’t you come after waiting left and right? My sister was anxious and sent me everywhere to find you."

Brother Ximen asked, "How did you know to find me here?"

The female attendant’s beautiful eyes sparkled, as she giggled and said, "Isn’t it because your dark-skinned brother kept mentioning all night about coming to Tianxiang Building for drinks? I first went to your lodging, and then asked around before thinking of coming here, and as luck would have it, I found you."

Seeing Qin Heng and Gu Baoshu staring at her blankly, she turned and smiled: "If you two young gentlemen don’t mind, you can come along too."

Gu Baoshu and Qin Heng exchanged a glance.

This female attendant spoke and dressed like someone from a wealthy family, yet her demeanor suggested otherwise.

Brother Ximen laughed: "These two are just half-grown boys, what do they understand? You need not bother."

The female attendant smiled: "I have no other choice. My sister keeps urging me to ensure Mr. Ximen comes back. If I don’t invite everyone, I’m afraid Mr. Ximen wouldn’t move, and should my sister blame me, I’d be troubled. I hope Mr. Ximen shows some mercy."

Qin Heng wasn’t pleased, so he said, "Since Brother Ximen has urgent matters, why don’t we just part ways for now."

Gu Baoshu was soon to leave the Capital City, and he still had much to say.

The dark, sturdy man immediately got up, glared with rounded eyes, spread his fingers, and was about to shove the female attendant out when Brother Ximen hurriedly pulled him back, scolding, "Did you forget what you promised me before heading out?"

The dark, sturdy man muttered but didn’t make a move again.

The female attendant, oblivious to her near-miss, persisted: "If it’s not urgent, Mr. Ximen should hurry to see my sister. She’s been eagerly waiting and didn’t even bother to groom herself this morning. Mr. Ximen should show some care for her."

By this point, Gu Baoshu and Qin Heng both realized that the sister mentioned by the female attendant was a courtesan, and they couldn’t help but feel awkward.

The dark, sturdy man was even more irritated: "You..."

Before he could finish, Brother Ximen laughed and said: "You go back first, the four of us will be there soon. We agreed yesterday to drink at your sister’s place, how could we not go? You go back and set up the drinks and food."

The female attendant hesitated to leave, sensing the murderous glare from the dark, sturdy man, she shrank back behind the curtain, not showing her face, but still not leaving.

Brother Ximen smilingly urged everyone back to their seats, accompanying them with a smile: "Dear young friends, since this is my first time in the Capital City, I inquired within and found out about two famously exquisite entertainers, so I asked someone to introduce me to Li Xingshou. We agreed yesterday to drink and feast today, why don’t you come along? In any case, let’s finish the wine in our cups first."

The dark, sturdy man, with a dark face, muttered quietly: "When we return, I’ll tell big brother you were bewitched by a little slut here and stop doing proper things."

Brother Ximen pretended not to hear.

"Li Xingshou?" Gu Baoshu exclaimed softly, "Brother Ximen knows Li Xingshou?"

Qin Heng also became interested but held back because of Gu Baoshu’s presence, so he said, "I didn’t expect Brother Ximen to be so capable. I heard Li Xingshou only associates with officials and nobles, and if not them, it’s wealthy merchants."

But Gu Baoshu hesitated not an instant and clapped his hands: "Then let’s all go see, I want to learn from my Sixth Brother too."

Qin Heng immediately nodded.

The dark, sturdy man also said: "Then let’s go, otherwise they’ll be playing music and laughing, and I’ll be sulking alone outside. Who wants to talk with those bawds?"

At this, they followed the female attendant to Li Xingshou’s residence, the courtyard was large, in an alley not far from the bustling market entrance, which made for a serene hideaway.

Willows drooped in front of the door, the door curtain adorned with glittering bead scrim, Gu Baoshu found it quite novel.

As they entered, turning past a screen, they saw lush flowers and trees in the courtyard, complementing the green silk windows, and white walls with blue tiles, which were truly delightful.

One courtyard after another, the fine sound of silk and bamboo instruments reached them, accompanied by a rich, lingering fragrance, truly enchanting to the core.

Qin Heng glanced around, murmuring to Gu Baoshu: "This is indeed a place where courtesans gather. I didn’t expect Brother Ximen to be so remarkable, able to become a close guest of Li Xingshou."

Gu Baoshu curiously asked: "Isn’t money enough?"

Qin Heng coughed: "Certainly not, those who can associate with Li Xingshou are people with some renown. I heard from Xu Tang that this Li Xingshou is a renowned courtesan, skilled in all eighteen arts. Her mother painstakingly raised her to be the darling of her heart and she is also favored by the current Emperor. Many officials and merchants seek her favor to gain some leverage with the Emperor."

Gu Baoshu couldn’t help but laugh and then whispered: "How dare they touch someone the Emperor favors?"

Maybe there’s something wrong with this old Emperor.

No wonder the female attendant acted like they were doing them a great favor by following Brother Ximen here.

Gu Baoshu grew more intrigued about this charming and alluring Li Xingshou.

Brother Ximen laughed: "It was by chance, a few days ago I was drinking at the end of the alley, and the tavern said the sister here was unmatched in beauty and talent, the Capital City’s top courtesan, and that her singing and dancing were truly mesmerizing.

Slightly emboldened by the wine, I audaciously requested to meet her, and to my surprise, Li Xingshou was at home, and we chatted for a bit.

We both share a love for music, and considered ourselves kindred spirits. We originally planned to come today to listen to some cloudboard ballads..."

Gu Baoshu laughed: "No wonder Brother Yuan suffered yesterday, I figured Brother Yuan and Brother Ximen must not have had an enjoyable drinking session here, so he wandered off alone and saw us playing soccer."

Brother Ximen also laughed, just about to speak when a charming voice came from behind the shrimp silk curtain, softening everyone who heard it: "Mr. Ximen, you finally arrived."