Now I really have to marry the princess.

Chapter 32 The sucker comes to your door willingly.

Just as the last drumbeat signaling the end of curfew fell, Yang Zhengdao and Tan Feng rushed into Pingkang Ward.

The two entered through the west gate and rode their horses along the cross street inside the neighborhood. The horses' hooves made a clear "clattering" sound as they trod on the bluestone slabs.

"Big Brother, you've come to your senses!" Tan Feng, standing beside him, beamed with joy.

Huh?! What? You've figured it out?!

Yang Zhengdao immediately realized that this guy had the same thought process as Li Hui.

When the original owner came to Pingkangfang before, Tan Feng was the most enthusiastic.

Because when the original owner went to meet Yingluo Niangzi in secret, he and Jiang Cheng could also invite one of them.

Moreover, these two individuals also had funds allocated by the Hundred Cavalry Division, which could be considered as using public funds for their business, or acting on imperial orders.

I had no choice but to do this without an imperial edict!

You think everyone's like you!

Yang Zhengdao said irritably, "You'd better bear with it for now. We'll talk about it after you're removed from the Hundred Cavalry Division. Su Hongniang won't come to Pingkangfang to cause trouble with you."

Tan Feng scratched his head and gave an embarrassed smile: "Then, Brother, where are we going?"

Yes! Where to?

Li Jing's residence as the Duke of Dai was located in Pingkangfang.

Kong Yingda, one of the eighteen scholars of the Qin Prince's Mansion, also lived here.

The residence of the great calligrapher Chu Suiliang was located next to the West Gate.

However, the original owner was not familiar with these people, so there was no reason for him to rashly ask them for lodging.

Yang Zhengdao sighed, his face full of helplessness, but in reality, he still longed for it very much.

Reliving the original owner's memories is nothing compared to experiencing them firsthand.

Although college students haven't studied professional music, dance, or performing arts, they still yearn for it, especially since it's authentic ancient costume cosplay.

Everyone loves beauty, and college students are no exception.

He spurred his horse forward and continued eastward along the side street within the neighborhood.

Tan Feng immediately understood, couldn't help but chuckle mischievously, and spurred his horse to follow.

The two traversed the entire Pingkang Ward, heading straight for the gentlest place in Chang'an City: Donghui Sanqu.

The East Market, just across the street, was closed, but the wine flags of Donghui Sanqu were still fluttering in the evening breeze.

Lights were already twinkling in the alley, and the air was filled with the aroma of wine mixed with a faint scent of rouge.

Tan Feng grinned as he looked at Yang Zhengdao's expression: "Big Brother, shall we go to Lady Yingluo's place again?"

Yang Zhengdao coughed lightly, glared at Tan Feng, and cursed Tan Feng inwardly for being so clueless. Why was he asking questions? Just lead the way.

Tan Feng then belatedly realized what was happening and suddenly understood.

Anyway, the palace should already know about this affair in Pingkangfang. Rather than adding new scandals, it's better to seek out this old confidant.

The two men led their horses along the familiar path towards Nanqu.

The beautiful figure from the original owner's memories slowly emerged, breathtakingly beautiful and indescribably wonderful.

Stepping into the alley of Nanqu, you'll find rows of embroidered courtyards and secluded residences on both sides.

Occasionally, I see flower branches peeking over the wall, and gradually, I hear the sound of a pipa playing from the pavilion.

At this hour, lanterns have been hung under the eaves of every house, some in plain gauze, others in light red, their soft glow spreading across the blue bricks.

Yang Zhengdao stopped at a courtyard gate, and Tan Feng, familiar with the place, stepped forward and knocked on the door, pausing after three knocks.

A moment later, light footsteps came from inside the door, and then the door was opened a crack about half a foot wide.

A round face peeked out; it was a little girl with her hair in two buns, about eleven or twelve years old. After a moment of stunned silence, she exclaimed, "Ah!"

"It's actually Young Master Yang!"

Yang Zhengdao nodded: "Achan, is Lady Yingluo here?"

The little girl was overjoyed and turned to call out into the courtyard, "Fake Mother! It's Young Master Yang!"

Then he led Yang Zhengdao and Tan Feng into the front yard.

A woman in her forties or fifties greeted them with a smile.

"So it's Young Master Yang. You've left without a trace, and you've stolen the heart of that silly girl, Yingluo. She's been like a lost soul all day, and she's even lost a lot of weight."

Yang Zhengdao was speechless for a moment, then shook his head with a wry smile.

The college students had never seen anything like this before.

Thanks to Tan Feng, a veteran of the pleasure quarters, he snorted coldly:

"Don't try to fool me, you fake mother! When my eldest son was away, all of Lady Yingluo's expenses were covered by the second son of the Wang family of Hejian. How could I have shortchanged you by even a penny?"

Tan Feng spoke with conviction, but to Yang Zhengdao, it still sounded somewhat harsh.

Although Li Hui is a good brother, what kind of behavior is it to let a good brother pay for your support?

It's not that I don't trust Li Hui's character...

Oh, okay! He just doesn't trust Li Hui's character.

After all, if things continue like this, there is always a risk of being attacked by the Minotaur.

We must be wary.

I imagine the first batch of dividends from the new tea business should be in hand soon.

Yang Zhengdao was not short of a hundred strings of cash to fix Yingluo's hair, but doing it directly would really damage his image as someone who was "devoted" to Chang Le.

If he were just an ordinary college student, he would need to make a choice.

But as a college student who transmigrated to the Tang Dynasty with the help of a system, he wanted both!

The best solution would be to open a hot spring resort in a secluded courtyard in Nanqu, using his two powerful weapons: gentle massage techniques and detailed explanations of hot spring spa treatments.

This way, it would be perfectly legitimate to arrange for Sakura to work as a manager at the bathhouse, or even directly as a fake mother.

However, acquiring a private residence to open a hot spring bathhouse is not something that can be done overnight.

Besides money and qualifications, the renovation and decoration alone will take a considerable amount of time.

Before that, what to do with the falling cherry blossoms was a tricky problem.

Yang Zhengdao decided to meet the Cherry Blossom Lady, who had haunted the original owner's dreams, first.

After being rebuked by Tan Feng, the fake mother was not annoyed at all, but simply covered her mouth with her handkerchief and laughed.

"Oh dear, Guard Tan, when did I ever say that the headband was too short? I only said that Yingluo, that silly girl, was worried about him, and that's why she's lost weight."

As she spoke, she led the way, taking Yang Zhengdao to the boudoir in the backyard where Lady Yingluo resided.

Yang Zhengdao followed his stepmother through the front hall, past a flower and pond platform, and arrived at the central courtyard.

Continuing along the bluestone path, as you pass the central courtyard pavilion, you can hear the sound of a pipa being played inside, accompanied by the laughter of women.

Just then, Yang Zhengdao bumped into two teenagers who came out of the attic.

It was none other than Fang Yi'ai and Du He.

The stepmother hurriedly bowed, both of them with haughty expressions.

Just as the two were about to pass each other, Fang Yi'ai pulled Du He to a stop and called out to Yang Zhengdao.

Yang Zhengdao thought to himself that he was not familiar with these two people and wondered what their intentions were.

Clearly, he was unaware of the literary gathering organized by Li Chengqian at Taiji Palace that day, and even less aware that he had been caught in the crossfire and was now the target of Fang Yi'ai and Du He's resentment.

Du He also saw Yang Zhengdao and sneered, "Who do we have here? It's just Yang Dalang. What a refined taste you have, coming to this gentle southern paradise to enjoy yourself."

Yang Zhengdao frowned, then smiled and said, "Likewise!"

Fang Yi'ai let out a cold laugh and stepped forward with his arms crossed: "Sui prince, I wonder if you brought any ghostwritten works with you today? Those former officials of the previous dynasty really went to great lengths to make you famous."

Although Yang Zhengdao did not know the cause, he could see the undisguised hostility and burning jealousy between the two.

You may not believe I can write poetry, but you cannot insult Li Bai, Du Fu, and Bai Juyi like this!

With tens of thousands of excellent poems in the Complete Tang Poems, why would I need someone to write them for me?

Immediately, Yang Zhengdao thought of Yingluo and had a wonderful idea.

Before the hot spring bathhouse opens, the two suckers who willingly offer themselves up will bear the cost of Yingluo's expenses.