At a local theatre behind the most popular brothel in the capital Měiróng yuàn.
Su Liya and Zhu Fengyin were seated at one of the single tables lining the upper level overlooking the wide stage. On the stage opposite them, the theatre troupe put up a musical.
The play was interesting and had most of the audience captivated, Zhu Fengyin included. Zhu Fengyin wanted to experience all the capitals attractions and so far they had done exactly that.
The theatre was their last stop before heading home. They have been seated for close to an hour, Su Liya could feel her leg getting numb. She excused herself and walked out to the balcony to stretch her leg.
The balcony faced the back entrance of Měiróng yuàn, Su Liya was a little curious about the brothel. In the novel, Měiróng yuàn was written as a gambling den of information disguised as a brothel, owned by Minister Zhu. The women collected information for the minister, who sold them for a fee.
