This was the most famous flower street in Luoyang. As long as one made a trip here, they were guaranteed to find a girl they liked and spend the night with her.
However, the most famous person in Flower Street was not the courtesan with the most guests, but Ji Qingyan, who was known as the "Flame God".
Ji Qingyan was the rich man behind this street of flowers. It was said that his mother was the most beautiful courtesan back then. It was unknown which man gave birth to Ji Qingyan, so Ji Qingyan was born with an unknown father.
Ji Qingyan had inherited her mother's beauty and her own intelligence. In her early twenties, she had become the behind-the-scenes rich man of this flower street.
As for how he used his beauty and intelligence to make a name for himself, there were different opinions. Some said that he had accidentally obtained a gold mine, some said that he sold his body to please those dignitaries, and some even said that he had caught hold of those dignitaries and accumulated wealth through extortion.
In short, no one knew the truth. The only thing that was certain was that Ji Qingyan had indeed made friends with many dignitaries.
Strangely enough, those dignitaries did not come to Flower Street to look for those young and beautiful girls, but specifically to look for Ji Qingyan. This made people wonder what method Ji Qingyan used to make those dignitaries come to him one after another.
Just like today, the Tang Dynasty's bravest general, Du Jiyao, was in a hurry to find Ji Qingyan as soon as he arrived.
"Where's the Flame God?" Du Jiyao asked the brothel madame.
"General," the brothel keeper said after a pause,"the Flame God is not in a position to see guests."”
"Preposterous." Du Jiyao said angrily," I came all the way here just to see the Flame God. How can he send me away with the excuse that it's not convenient?!" Tell the Flame God that I have found out what he wanted me to find out.”
" But…" The brothel keeper was still hesitant.
Ji Qingyan's temper had always been volatile. If he was asked to meet a guest when he was in a bad mood, it was hard to guarantee that he would not lose his temper on the spot. Therefore, the safest way was to not let him meet General Du.
"But what? Tell the Flame God that I won't leave until I see him today.”Du Jiyao said.
"Yes."
Since Du Jiyao had said so, the brothel madame could only brace herself and look for Ji Qingyan.
Ji Qingyan was in an extremely bad mood.
However, it was probably impossible to find out why he was in a bad mood.
The brothel madame walked into Ji Qingyan's Flame Residence and happened to see him smash a precious vase into pieces.
"Flame God, General Du wants to see you.”The brothel madame said carefully.
"No." Ji Qingyan replied without thinking.
"But General Du said that he had something important to tell you. It's about the matter you asked him to investigate.”
"Alright, I'll go see him immediately."
Hearing this, Ji Qingyan changed her mind and immediately walked out of the hall.
"Flame God, I haven't seen you for many days.”Du Jiyao looked at Ji Qingyan with infatuation and asked.
Ji Qingyan was still as gorgeous as Du Jiyao remembered. He believed that no matter if it was a man or a woman, they would be mesmerized by Ji Qingyan's beauty. He was willing to die for Ji Qingyan's smile.
Ji Qingyan was expressionless, but she couldn't hide the impatience in her tone.
"Cut the crap, General. Did you find out what I wanted to know?”
"Of course, I spent a lot of effort.”Du Jiyao lifted Ji Qingyan's chin.
"Then quickly tell me." Ji Qingyan said.
"Don't worry, I'll tell you when I get the reward I want.”Du Jiyao said meaningfully.
"What do you want in return?" Ji Qingyan narrowed her eyes.
Du Jiyao didn't beat around the bush and said directly,""I want you."
"You can go now!" Ji Qingyan sneered." I, Ji Qingyan, will not be threatened.”
Anyway, there were many people who were willing to help him unconditionally.
Du Jiyao was stunned by Ji Qingyan's order to leave. He didn't want to turn against Ji Qingyan.
"Flame God, let's talk things out."
"There's nothing much to say."
Ji Qingyan turned around and wanted to leave, but Du Jiyao hurriedly pulled him back and begged,"
"Flame God, I was wrong. I'm willing to tell you unconditionally.”
"No need." Ji Qingyan said.
"No, I insist on telling you. You asked me to investigate Xu Qing's whereabouts. I've already found out that he changed his name to Xuan Qing and married Princess Yong Ping. They have a son named Xuan Lie.”
Du Jiyao seemed to be worried that Ji Qingyan wouldn't listen to him, so he told her the results of the investigation in one breath.
"He is Princess Yong Ping's son-in-law?" Ji Qingyan muttered to herself.
In fact, the reason why Ji Qingyan was so anxious to find out Xu Qing's whereabouts was because Ji Qingyan's mother had mentioned his father's name before she died. That's right, his father was Xu Qing who married Princess Yong Ping and changed his name to Xuan Qing.
Ji Qingyan wanted to find Xu Qing not because he wanted to reunite with him as father and son. On the contrary, he wanted revenge.
He wanted to take revenge on the heartless man who had abandoned his mother for more than twenty years and married the princess of the royal family.
He had to plan properly.
"Flame God, what is your relationship with that Xu Qing?”Du Jiyao asked curiously.
Ji Qingyan didn't answer his question. She only revealed a charming smile and said,"
"You don't have to worry about that. General, I'm very grateful for you telling me this.”
"You're welcome. We're 'friends'!”Du Jiyao stared at Ji Qingyan's smile and said.
He knew very well that no one could enter Ji Qingyan's cold heart. No one…
Xuan Lie was truly a proud son of heaven.
His father was a scholar and was an important official in the court. His mother was Princess Yongping, the current emperor was his cousin, and his fiancée was the only pearl in the palm of the current prime minister.
Such a young duke who was held in the palm of everyone's hands was not only not a spoiled child, but also knowledgeable and polite, the pride of his parents.
On this day, Xuan Lie's good friend Tao Zhongkai came to find him, saying that he wanted to take him to see someone, but he took him to Flower Street.
"Zhongkai, why did you bring me here?”Xuan Lie couldn't help but frown. He thought that Flower Street was a place of trouble, so he never set foot in such places.
"Of course I'm bringing you to meet someone!”Tao Zhongkai's eyes were filled with passion." You know the Flame God, right? He spread the word that he wanted to get to know you!”
"Flame God?" Xuan Lie had heard of the Flame God because he was the most famous person in Flower Street. However, what puzzled Xuan Lie was why the Flame God wanted to know him.
When Xuan Lie told Tao Zhongkai his doubts, he just shrugged and said,"Why do you care why the Flame God wants to know you? I'm just bringing you to meet him and see his appearance!”
To be honest, Tao Zhongkai was very curious about the mysterious Flame God. After all, it was said that he was very handsome, but few people had really seen his appearance. It was normal for him to be curious about him.
"Alright then! In order to satisfy your curiosity, I'll go with you to meet him.”Xuan Lie said.
Ji Qingyan finally met Xuan Lie, his half-brother.
Xuan Lie was elegant and handsome. His speech and actions inadvertently revealed a noble aura. One could tell at a glance that he came from a good background.
If Xuan Lie was light, then Ji Qingyan was shadow.
Xuan Lie had grown up under the care and respect of everyone, and he didn't know the sufferings of the world. However, Ji Qingyan had fought hard in the lowest corner of society to get to where she was today.
Ji Qingyan bit her lower lip, feeling that the heavens were really unfair.
However, Xuan Lie's days of being pampered and carefree wouldn't be long, because his revenge was about to begin.
Although he did not have any enmity with Xuan Lie, who told Xuan Lie to be Xu Qing's precious son!
Ji Qingyan hid in the dark and silently observed Xuan Lie until Xuan Lie lost his patience and said to his good friend,"
"Zhongkai, we've been waiting here for a while. Why hasn't the Flame God appeared?”
" This..." Tao Zhongkai was also very impatient, so he wasn't sure if they were fooled.
"Let's go back!" Xuan Lie stood up and prepared to leave.
Ji Qingyan, of course, would not let him leave just like that, so she appeared and said,""Young Master Xuan, please wait."
Xuan Lie first heard a very pleasant voice. When he turned around and saw the person who spoke, he could not help but be shocked.
What a beautiful person!
"You are the Flame God?" Xuan Lie felt as if his breath was about to be taken away. He was silent for a while before he could squeeze out these words.
Ji Qingyan revealed a faint smile, not letting go of Xuan Lie's shocked expression when he saw her. It seemed that it was too easy to tempt Xuan Lie and make him fall into the abyss of eternal damnation.
"That's right, I am the Flame God Ji Qingyan. Nice to meet you, Young Master Xuan. Or should I call you Little Marquis?”
"Just call me Xuan Lie." To be honest, he didn't like people calling him Little Marquis.
"Then you can also call me Qing Yan.”Ji Qingyan said.
"Alright, then I'll call you Qing Yan." Xuan Lie didn't say anything. "I heard that you want to get to know me?"
"That's right." Ji Qingyan replied.
"Why?" Xuan Lie asked.
Ji Qingyan raised her eyebrows.
"No reason. If there really is a reason, just take it that I admire you!”
"You admire me?"
To be honest, Xuan Lie didn't quite believe Ji Qingyan's words because Ji Qingyan didn't look like she admired him.
"Don't think too much." "I just like to make friends." Ji Qingyan shrugged. In order to prove my sincerity, you can choose any of the girls here. You can even have them spend the night with you.”
Ji Qingyan was very generous. Tao Zhongkai couldn't help but say,""Yay! Xuan Lie, you've really profited."
Did he make a profit? Xuan Lie didn't think so at all. He sneered and said,"I'm not interested in your girls.”
Xuan Lie was not a playboy, not to mention that he already had a beautiful and virtuous fiancée.
"If you're not interested in the girls here, then what about me?”Ji Qingyan asked half-jokingly.
"Ji Qingyan, if you're deliberately teasing me, you've found the wrong person.”Xuan Lie didn't think that he was being serious.
"What if I'm serious?" Ji Qingyan revealed that charming smile again.
Under such circumstances, there were probably not many people who could resist him!
"Ji Qingyan, please have some self-respect." Xuan Lie tried his best to restrain himself from being tempted by him.
"In that case, I won't force you." Ji Qingyan chuckled.”
Xuan Lie's will was much stronger than he had imagined, but this way, his game would be more fun.
"Zhongkai, let's go!" Xuan Lie said to his good friend.
However, Tao Zhongkai had no intention of leaving. Instead, he said to Ji Qingyan,"
"Flame God, I'm not like Xuan Lie, who is a willowy person, nor am I as ignorant as him. Can you entertain me?”
Ji Qingyan looked at the unhappy Xuan Lie with amusement, then deliberately said to Tao Zhongkai,""Of course you can."
" Zhongkai..." Xuan Lie didn't expect Tao Zhongkai to ask him to stay. He was so angry.
"Xuan Lie, don't worry and leave!" Ji Qingyan smiled at Xuan Lie. I will take good care of you."
"Humph! Up to you."
Xuan Lie immediately flicked his sleeves and left. Even when he walked out of the flower street, he still didn't understand why he was suddenly so angry.
"Lie, Father hopes that we can quickly arrange our marriage.”
The only daughter of the current Prime Minister, Xue Mingzhu, had come to the Xuan Mansion to discuss the marriage with Xuan Lie. Although marriage should be decided by the parents and the matchmaker, Xue Mingzhu could not wait any longer. She had to marry Xuan Lie no matter what because she thought that only Xuan Lie was worthy of her.
However, Xue Mingzhu realized that Xuan Lie was not listening to her at all. He seemed to be thinking about something else.
"Lie, are you listening to me?”
"Eh, what?" Xuan Lie said absentmindedly.
He was indeed thinking about something else. In fact, ever since he came back from Flower Street, his entire heart had been occupied by one person.
At this moment, Xuan Lie was only thinking about Ji Qingyan.
"Annoying, do I have to repeat myself? Alright then! I'll say it again. I don't think we're young anymore, especially since a woman's youth is limited. When are you going to marry me?”Xue Mingzhu asked.
"Mingzhu, I'm not restraining you. If you can't wait any longer, you can find someone to marry.”
The relationship between him and Xue Mingzhu was not so much love as habit. She was the best candidate for a wife that his parents had chosen for him. The union of the two families had great political significance.
Xue Mingzhu's eyes reddened when she heard Xuan Lie's words."Lie, how can you say such heartless words? I have always been wholeheartedly devoted to you. Other than you, I have never considered marrying anyone else.”
Xue Mingzhu believed that as long as she continued to wait, she would definitely become Xuan Lie's wife one day.
But what if Xuan Lie fell in love with someone else? What should she do then?
No, she, Xue Mingzhu, would never allow such a thing to happen.
Having made up her mind, Xue Mingzhu mustered up her courage and threw herself into Xuan Lie's arms.
"Lie, think about your parents. They must be anxious to have a grandchild. How can you disappoint them?”
As she spoke, Xue Mingzhu took the initiative to offer her red lips. She knew that she was more beautiful than the average woman. Although Xuan Lie was a little unromantic, as long as he tasted the sweetness, he would definitely fall in love with her.
Therefore, Xue Mingzhu kissed him and climbed up his chest, trying her best to seduce him, but…
Perhaps Xuan Lie was really a block of wood who didn't understand amorous feelings! Not only did he not look like he was infatuated with her, but he pushed her away coldly and said,"Mingzhu, you're a lady from a noble family. You should follow the etiquette. I know your feelings for me, but I can only say that if I want to marry, the person will definitely be you.”
" In that case, why don't we try to act like a real couple…" Xue Mingzhu boldly made a request.
"Unfortunately, I'm not in the mood for that right now.”Xuan Lie said.
It was good to say that he was unromantic. At this moment, Xuan Lie was indeed not interested in Xue Mingzhu's seductive figure.
" You..." Xue Mingzhu's face turned red with anger.
At this moment, a servant came to report that Tao Zhongkai wanted to see him.
"Humph! That guy still dared to come, chase him out!”Xuan Lie roared unhappily.
Xuan Lie's reaction made Xue Mingzhu very curious, because it was rare for Xuan Lie to express his emotions so clearly on his face. What did Tao Zhongkai do to anger Xuan Lie?
Before the servant left, Tao Zhongkai walked in.
"Xuan Lie, why are you so angry? I didn't provoke you, right?"
"You still dare to say that, you bastard who forgets friends when he sees women!”
That's right, Xuan Lie was still brooding over what happened that day, especially when it concerned Ji Qingyan.
"Xuan Lie, listen to me.!”
"Wait a moment." Xuan Lie stopped Tao Zhongkai from continuing and turned to Xue Mingzhu."Ming Zhu, you can go back first!"
"Oh!"
What would Xuan Lie and Tao Zhongkai say? Xue Mingzhu was really curious, so she pretended to walk out and hid outside the door to eavesdrop.
After Xue Mingzhu left, Xuan Lie said to Tao Zhongkai,
"Alright then! Now, I want to hear how Ji Qingyan 'entertained' you.”
"Xuan Lie, you saw Ji Qingyan with your own eyes yesterday, right? With his heavenly beauty, it wouldn't be strange if I fell for him!!”
Xuan Lie interrupted Tao Zhongkai," That's not what I want to hear!”
"Alright then! Let me tell you." Tao Zhongkai sighed and said," That day, Ji Qingyan called many beauties to accompany me, but he himself disappeared not long after you left."”
"Just like that?" For some reason, Xuan Lie felt relieved.
"Just like that? Do you think that the Flame God will personally entertain me? Don't be silly. His guests were all people with great backgrounds.”
Although Tao Zhongkai didn't have the habit of breaking his sleeves, if his partner was Ji Qingyan, he wouldn't mind having forbidden love. Unfortunately, even if he had this intention, that beautiful Flame God might not like him. Tao Zhongkai knew this very well.
"Ji Qingyan…is very popular?”
Xuan Lie couldn't help but frown when he heard Tao Zhongkai's words. However, he didn't seem to realize that Ji Qingyan, whom he had only met once, could already affect his emotions.
"Of course." Tao Zhongkai couldn't wait to tell Xuan Lie what he had heard."As far as I know, those who have contact with Ji Qingyan are all big shots. Recently, the one who often goes to find Ji Qingyan is General Du Jiyao!”
"Du Jiyao?" Xuan Lie and Du Jiyao had met several times before. He looked like a very serious person, but he didn't expect to meet Ji Qingyan…
"Xuan Lie, I'm here today on someone's request. The Flame God wants to see you.”Tao Zhongkai said.
Hearing this, Xuan Lie frowned again. "Zhongkai, when did you become Ji Qingyan's lackey?”
"He's outside the door now." Tao Zhongkai said indifferently.
"What?"
"It's up to you whether you want to see him or not." Tao Zhongkai was only here to pass on a message.
Xue Mingzhu, who was eavesdropping outside the door, could not suppress her curiosity. Who exactly was Ji Qingyan? She decided to find out.
This book comes from：m.funovel.com。