Lu Qing Wan finally understood.
"So this person is wary of you yet also despises you. Isn't this person suffering from split personality?"
Lu Qing Wan mused, uttering a word not of this era without realizing it.
Feng Xi Wu strangely understood the unfamiliar term "split personality" and chuckled, stroking his chin. "You know, this term really fits the Emperor Geng Shi's state."
The two of them talked about the Emperor sitting on the throne with unrestrained abandon, laughing and joking. In their merriment, the carriage came to a halt.
"Your Highness, we have reached Qing Yi River."
Si Han's voice rang out. Lu Qing Wan lifted the curtain and was greeted by an astonishing sight.
The Qing Yi River, about thirty feet wide, divided the bustling Central State into two. The east bank where they were was lined with elegant and luxurious mansions.
Near the riverbank were quiet bookstores, teahouses, and other serene establishments.
Across the green river, the west bank was a lively marketplace.
Though they could not hear clearly what people on the other side were saying, the continuous shouts and cries conveyed the liveliness of the opposite bank.
What most caught Lu Qing Wan's attention were the dazzling pleasure boats on the river.
Some were as tall as three stories, appearing like small buildings on the water, moored quietly.
Others were ordinary pleasure boats, gently drifting from north to south along the river.
These pleasure boats were like stunning beauties vying for attention, blooming in a riot of colors, each with its own unique charm, yet all undeniably eye-catching.
Lu Qing Wan found herself staring, mesmerized. "Are the people of the Central State all this fond of leisure?"
Li Jin quietly squeezed next to her. "Princess Consort, please look over there."
"What?"
Lu Qing Wan followed his gaze and, amidst the myriad of uniquely shaped pleasure boats, saw three glittering characters: "Bu Ye Zhou" (Never Sleeping Isle).
She turned back to Li Jin in surprise. "You're quick! I only asked you to scout ahead not long ago, and you've already set it up?"
Li Jin chuckled. "Wealthy individuals in the Great Qin enjoy pleasure boats. These are readily available and mass-produced, faster to build than houses.
When Wu Ying arrived, he immediately decided to use a pleasure boat as the Central State branch of Bu Ye Zhou, and it turned out to be quite effective.
It's only been open for two months, and its customer traffic has already caught up to the established pleasure boats on Qing Yi River. Would Princess Consort like to take a look?"
Lu Qing Wan readily agreed. "It's rare for you to be so dedicated. Of course, I must see it."
As they spoke, she turned to Feng Xi Wu and extended her hand. "Your Highness, please?"
Feng Xi Wu graciously took Lu Qing Wan's hand. Meanwhile, Si Han had summoned a ferry boat specifically for transporting guests from the shore to the pleasure boats.
The name "Bu Ye Zhou" seemed to possess a magical allure, drawing gazes wherever it appeared.
As Lu Qing Wan and her husband boarded the Bu Ye Zhou pleasure boat, they discovered that this vessel,
though nominally a pleasure boat, actually offered a complete package of dining, entertainment, and leisure, indistinguishable from the Bu Ye Zhou in Shangjing City.
As they didn't know many people in the Central State, Lu Qing Wan and Feng Xi Wu did not disguise themselves. Upon boarding, the staff of Bu Ye Zhou recognized Lu Qing Wan immediately.
A female attendant in a green *hezi* dress stepped forward. "Esteemed guests, are you here for a meal, lodging, or to enjoy music and entertainment? Bu Ye Zhou can arrange it all for you."
"Children make choices; adults choose all!"
Lu Qing Wan plucked a golden hairpin from her hair and expertly inserted it into the attendant's bun.
"There, now find us the most beautiful singer and the most melodious performer. Your elder sister has money to spare!"
After saying this, she didn't forget to playfully pinch the young woman's smooth, fair cheek.
The female attendant blushed but remembered her duties. "I understand. Please follow me!"
Lu Qing Wan started to follow the attendant, but just as she took a step, she was scooped up and held tightly.
Feng Xi Wu, his arms around her waist, gritted his teeth. "Enjoying music and beautiful women, Princess Consort, you have quite the taste for entertainment?"
Li Jin behind them stifled a laugh, while Si Han looked as if he had just gained new knowledge, his expression of shock lingering.
Lu Qing Wan smiled sweetly and appeased Feng Xi Wu. "When in Rome, Your Highness, don't take it too seriously!
If I were to truly appreciate beauty, who could compare to the beauty beside me!"
She then playfully squeezed Feng Xi Wu's fair cheek, finding it firm. Lu Qing Wan praised him without reservation.
"It feels so good! *Tsk*, if Bu Ye Zhou had a courtesan as stunning as you, Your Highness, why would it ever struggle to empty the purses of wealthy patrons?"
As she spoke, her eyes suddenly lit up. "Incredible, I think I've stumbled upon a brilliant idea!"
Feng Xi Wu's scalp tingled. He had a bad feeling.
Not long after, he watched his premonition come true, yet he was powerless to stop it.
He could only watch as Lu Qing Wan wreaked havoc upon his trigeminal nerve, causing him immense distress.
At that moment, Lu Qing Wan hadn't yet started her mischief. As she spoke, she followed the female attendant into a room.
As expected, it was a room that perfectly suited Lu Qing Wan's aesthetic tastes.
As they entered, the attendant respectfully served tea to Lu Qing Wan and Feng Xi Wu.
The staff of Bu Ye Zhou rarely had the chance to see Lu Qing Wan, and they were excited, but seeing a new face like Si Han, they prudently did not reveal Lu Qing Wan's identity.
They politely said, "Please wait a moment, esteemed guests. I shall have someone come to perform for you shortly."
Lu Qing Wan had other ideas and didn't truly hear what the attendant was saying. Feng Xi Wu, however, remembering that Lu Qing Wan hadn't eaten after a long day, ordered several dishes that she liked.
Their room was on the third floor, and from the window, they could see the performances in the main hall.
At that moment, a group of dancers in exquisite dresses were performing the Hu Xuan dance. The passionate and unrestrained dance, accompanied by lively and fiery music, had all the guests on the pleasure boat in high spirits.
Lu Qing Wan's attention, however, was drawn to the flickering figures in the opposite room.
Leaning against the window, she pretended to watch the performance in the hall below, but subtly tugged at Feng Xi Wu's sleeve. "Look at the people in the opposite room. Do you recognize them?"
Feng Xi Wu casually put his arm around Lu Qing Wan's shoulders, whispering in her ear, but his eyes were fixed on the room opposite.
After a single glance, he withdrew his gaze. "Since when did the Fan family and the Lan family become so friendly as to dine together?"
Thanks to his knowledge of noble genealogies, Lu Qing Wan indeed knew about the Lan and Fan families.
She asked in surprise, "You mean, the people in the opposite room are the maternal relatives of Consort Li and the Empress?"
To avoid being completely clueless upon arriving in the Great Qin, Lu Qing Wan had been studying the genealogy of the noble families of the Central State on her way.
She knew well that the Lan family, the Empress's maternal clan, and the Fan family, the maternal clan of Emperor Geng Shi's favored consort, Consort Li, had been locked in a fierce struggle for the throne.
Yet, on her very first day in the Central State, members of these two families were seated together. Lu Qing Wan was truly shocked.