“Is Fuxiang your sweetheart at the Courtesans’ Quarter?” Zhong Li asked.
Xu Qi’an was surprised, “How did you know?”
Zhong Li nodded, slightly lowering her head, walking unhurriedly, “If you weren’t close, why would you ask me to check on her illness? And you’re a person of great fortune, you wouldn’t be like those men who become subservient to a courtesan.”
Fifth Senior Sister, you have potential as a detective… Xu Qi’an made an “mm” sound: “This Fuxiang, well, she’s my soulmate. In my youth, I was exceptionally talented, with a photographic memory, a born scholar.
“But Second Uncle planned my life early on, causing Great Feng to miss out on a poetic genius… That year, I was fourteen, and I took my cousin to a literary gathering organized by the Imperial Academy. That day, it was sleeting… Do you know what a literary gathering is? It was an academic exchange meeting where they invited some women from the Courtesans’ Quarter to play music for entertainment, and Fuxiang was among them.
“I made a splash at the gathering, everyone praised my poetry, and Fuxiang fell deeply in love with me then. Since then, we’ve often exchanged letters, embarking on a Platonic love affair. Platonic means spiritual love, absolutely no vulgar physical relationship…”
Zhong Li calmly interrupted: “Why are you telling me all this?”
“Promise me, don’t tell Caiwei.”
“Oh.”
Zhong Li turned her head to look at him for a moment, then withdrew her gaze and continued walking forward. As they approached the Shadow Plum Pavilion, she said, “I know the art of reading auras.”
“…”
Before they reached the Shadow Plum Pavilion, Xu Qi’an could already hear the sound of string and wind instruments.
Huh, the Shadow Plum Pavilion is hosting guests so early today? He led Zhong Li to the courtyard gate, seeing the two black-lacquered gates closed, with music coming from inside.
Bang bang bang… Xu Qi’an knocked on the gate.
“The Shadow Plum Pavilion is booked for a private party,” came the voice of a servant from inside.
“It’s me,” Xu Qi’an said.
The gate opened, and the servant’s face lit up with joy, saying repeatedly, “Young Master Xu, you’ve come! Tonight, the Courtesans’ Quarter has an extraordinary guest, he’s inside.”
Hearing this, Xu Qi’an frowned, “An extraordinary guest?”
In Xu Qi’an’s view, only those of Third Grade or above were considered extraordinary, but officials of that rank and status generally didn’t come to the Courtesans’ Quarter.
The court dignitaries had their standards.
“Yes, as soon as he arrived at the Courtesans’ Quarter, he came straight to the Shadow Plum Pavilion, saying he wanted to witness our mistress’s qin skills. Our mistress originally wasn’t planning to accompany us for drinks, so she politely declined.” The servant made a “heh” sound, and said mysteriously:
“Guess what happened?”
After receiving a stern look from Xu Qi’an, he answered honestly: “The madam personally intervened, speaking privately with Fuxiang for half a day. I don’t know what was said, but it somehow made our mistress reluctantly agree to perform.
“Most incredibly, twelve top courtesans from the Courtesans’ Quarter came uninvited.”
Xu Qi’an was shocked, thinking that even old Wang, the Prime Minister, didn’t get this treatment.
Of course, old Wang was advanced in years and probably lacked the interest and energy to seek pleasure at the Courtesans’ Quarter.
“Impressive, I didn’t know the capital still had such figures. This won’t do, the Courtesans’ Quarter must be my exclusive domain. I must meet this fellow.”
With this thought, Xu Qi’an nodded calmly: “Take me to see them.”
…
At this time, in the main hall where guests were being entertained with drinks, Fuxiang sat in the center, head lowered as she played the qin, graceful and beautiful, a picture of living charm.
When she played the qin, she had a special aura, not like a courtesan from the Courtesans’ Quarter, but more like a young lady from a noble family waiting to be married.
The guests sat at their tables, and except for the blue-robed man with a strand of white hair on his forehead, each guest had a courtesan accompanying them.
As the song ended, Fuxiang rose gracefully and bowed, saying, “Please excuse my poor performance.”
“Miss Fuxiang is too modest. In this capital’s Courtesans’ Quarter, there are hardly any who can match your qin skills,” said a man with a goatee, dressed in casual clothes.
“Please, take a seat. Our great swordsman Chu is waiting,” another portly man chimed in.
The guests all started to urge her.
Some even went further, teasing, “Since that plum blossom quatrain, Miss Fuxiang no longer accompanies guests for drinks. But since Brother Chu has returned, that’s another matter. Miss Fuxiang, don’t keep Brother Chu waiting.”
Fuxiang’s eyes swept over the guests. These people were all of no ordinary status, either officials with real power in the Six Ministries, Hanlin Academy scholars, or censors from the Censorate – all prestigious positions.
And that disheveled blue-robed man was even more extraordinary – the top scholar from the 27th year of Yuanjing, and now the capital’s top swordsman.
He satisfied both the courtesans’ admiration for talented scholars and their fantasies about martial arts heroes – a double halo. Therefore, as soon as news of his arrival at the Courtesans’ Quarter spread, twelve top courtesans came uninvited, volunteering to accompany him for drinks.
“Please forgive me, gentlemen. This humble woman is not feeling well today and shouldn’t drink,” Fuxiang smiled demurely, turning to an empty table.
Several officials frowned, displeased.
Although Fuxiang’s fame had spread far beyond the capital’s Courtesans’ Quarter, she seemed to think too highly of herself. They were merely asking her to accompany them for drinks, not asking for anything else.
However, the blue-robed swordsman laughed carefreely, unbothered.
The guests present were all scholars who had passed the imperial examinations in the 27th year of Yuanjing and were on very good terms with him. This visit to the Courtesans’ Quarter was partly to reunite, and partly to see Fuxiang, the courtesan famous throughout Great Feng.
In Top Scholar Chu’s view, her appearance was secondary. It was her reserved demeanor that he found quite admirable.
Ming Yan looked around, flashing a bright smile to warm up the atmosphere: “Our Miss Fuxiang, ever since she got involved with Lord Xu, no longer accompanies guests for drinks. She’s still waiting for Lord Xu to redeem her. Gentlemen, please don’t make things difficult for her.”
Although all present were officials wielding real power, they were all subordinate to the Constabulary. And before Xu Qi’an, this newly ennobled constable, they were the lowest of the low.
Sure enough, the guests suppressed their displeasure and lowered their heads to drink.
Top Scholar Chu raised an eyebrow: “Lord Xu? Which Lord Xu?”
For certain reasons, he was very sensitive to the surname “Xu”.
At the same time, he recalled what Number One had said in the Earth Book chat group when Number Two inquired about a bronze-badged constable surnamed Xu:
This man’s greatest weakness is his fondness for women, having affairs with several courtesans from the Courtesans’ Quarter…
Then, connecting this to Number Three, whom he had just met but who pretended not to know him, who had a poetically talented cousin – the one who had written “Faint fragrance drifts as the moon yellows at dusk,” establishing Fuxiang’s fame.
Ming Yan waited a moment, and seeing no one jumping in to answer, she smiled and said: “Speaking of that Lord Xu, he’s truly an incredible figure. He rose to prominence last October during the tax silver case…”
She went on to recount Xu Qi’an’s exploits in detail as if reciting from memory.
“In Yunzhou, he stood alone with a sword against eight thousand enemy troops, fighting single-handedly for half an hour…”
The courtesans had heard this story several times, but they still listened with relish, their hearts racing with admiration.
Fuxiang felt somewhat proud and pleased, raising her chin and saying softly: “When Xu Lang was at the point of exhaustion, he faced thousands of enemy troops.”
Seeing this, another courtesan, Xiaoya, quickly took over the topic, saying in a crisp voice: “Youthful heroic spirit, connecting with the five city heroes. Liver and gall are transparent, hair stands on end. In conversation, life and death are the same. A promise worth a thousand gold.”
“Excellent verse!” Top Scholar Chu praised loudly, while a question flashed through his mind:
Didn’t Number Two say that the rebel army besieging the Provincial Administration Commissioner’s office had over 400 men, and Xu Qi’an died from exhaustion after killing 200 enemies? How did it become 8,000 men?
An official said, “Indeed, it’s a good poem. Such great talent, it would be a shame if he didn’t study. That Xu Pingzhi is unfilial.”
The other guests nodded in agreement, then said, “It’s a pity that Xu Qi’an didn’t come to the Courtesans’ Quarter today. Otherwise, we’d certainly let him know about our Top Scholar’s talent.”
Hearing this, a series of “?” appeared in Top Scholar Chu’s mind.
Didn’t Xu Qi’an die in battle in Yunzhou? After more than a month, it’s impossible for the capital not to have received the news.
Just then, Fuxiang exclaimed joyfully: “Xu Lang!”
…
The servant led Xu Qi’an into the courtyard, walking towards the main hall, saying, “It’s not that I’m stirring up trouble, but that gentleman is much more popular than you.
“I’ve asked around with the sisters in the courtyard. This gentleman is quite a legendary figure. He was the top scholar in the 27th year of Yuanjing, but later, for some reason, he resigned from his official post and became a wandering swordsman.
“After that, he made a name for himself, establishing a great reputation in the capital. Minister Wei even praised him as the capital’s top swordsman.”
Xu Qi’an suddenly stopped in his tracks, thinking, “Damn, Number Four is inside?”
What’s with these top scholars of Great Feng, are they all regulars at the Courtesans’ Quarter?
Number Four knows I’m Third’s cousin who resigned, and he knows I supposedly died in Yunzhou… Now that he sees I’m not dead, once he mentions it in the Earth Book chat group… Li Miaozhen will remember how she was led to social death by “Number Three”… Xu Qi’an never imagined social death would come so quickly.
“Xu Lang!”
In Fuxiang’s joyful cry, Xu Qi’an realized that social death was coming even faster than he had imagined.
In the main hall, the guests and courtesans all turned their heads, their gazes falling on him.
Given the current tense situation between Number Four and Number Two, they probably won’t chat voluntarily. I need to play it cool… Xu Qi’an instantly suppressed all his emotions, entered the hall with a smile, and bowed, saying:
“Pardon my intrusion, everyone.”
The seated officials all smiled, calling out “Lord Viscount,” warmly inviting him to sit as if they were very familiar with Xu Qi’an.
The courtesans’ eyes showed even more delight.
“Xu Lang.”
Fuxiang smiled like a flower, leading him to a seat and attentively pouring him wine.
As Xu Qi’an sat down, he looked back and found that Zhong Li had disappeared.
She must have hidden somewhere… Don’t stray too far from me, or the Courtesans’ Quarter might be burned down tonight… Thinking this, Xu Qi’an looked towards Number Four, openly examining him.
Number Four was a handsome man, the strand of white hair on his forehead adding to his charm. His whole demeanor exuded a carefree air, without any sharp edges.
Top Scholar Chu was also examining Xu Qi’an. If nothing else, just his appearance made him believe that this constable was indeed Number Three’s cousin.
Both brothers were talented and handsome.
How did he survive… Top Scholar Chu nodded, “Chu Yuanzhen, courtesy name Zizhen.”
Xu Qi’an cupped his hands in greeting: “Xu Qi’an, courtesy name Ningyan.”
Next came a drinking game, with the literary courtesan Xiaoya acting as the game master. From couplet matching to poetry chain games, everyone was having a great time.
The only disappointment was that Xu Qi’an didn’t participate, instead letting Fuxiang beside him take his place. He just focused on drinking and eating.
Xu Qi’an had come to the Courtesans’ Quarter to check on Fuxiang. Seeing her in high spirits and with a rosy complexion, he finally believed it was just a minor cold, and he had worried for nothing.
“On such a beautiful evening, Lord Xu, won’t you compose a poem?” An official, unwilling to give up, encouraged Xu Qi’an to write a poem.
Xu Qi’an begged off, claiming his poetic inspiration had run dry.
Not only were the officials present disappointed, but the courtesans were also regretful.
It wasn’t that he didn’t want to compose a poem, but that he couldn’t think of an appropriate verse for the occasion.
Today, Wei Yuan had given him a task: to mediate and prevent Number Four and Number Two from fighting to the death, to ensure their confrontation would be just a light skirmish.
To do this, he needed to first raise his favorability with Number Four.
“Brother Chu, yesterday I heard from colleagues at the office that because the Heaven-Human conflict is imminent, Heaven Sect disciple Li Miaozhen will soon arrive in the capital. And you are a sword cultivator of the Human Sect…” Xu Qi’an paused, not continuing, but his implication was clear.
Number Four, Chu Yuanzhen, smiled and said, “I will represent the Human Sect and face the Heaven Sect disciple.”
He knew Xu Qi’an’s background well. This man had befriended Li Miaozhen in Yunzhou and was a bronze-badged constable valued by Wei Yuan. It wasn’t surprising that he knew these inside details.
Xu Qi’an smoothly looked at the sword leaning against the table, asking curiously, “May I have a glimpse of this sword’s edge?”
Chu Yuanzhen shook his head: “Since losing to Zhang Kaitai years ago, this sword hasn’t left its scabbard.”
“Oh no, this sword must be rusted inside its scabbard,” Xu Qi’an blurted out.
“What?” Number Four was taken aback.
“I mean, why doesn’t the sword leave its scabbard?” Xu Qi’an quickly clarified.
Chu Yuanzhen smiled warmly, without any airs, answering every question: “I’m nurturing the sword’s energy. When this sword doesn’t leave its scabbard, it’s fine; when it does, its edge is unmatched.”
Xu Qi’an nodded slowly, suddenly inspired. He held his wine cup, frowning, pretending to be deep in thought.
“Is something wrong?” Number Four asked.
Xu Qi’an said slowly: “Earlier, my poetic inspiration had run dry, and I couldn’t compose a good poem. But after hearing Brother Chu’s words, suddenly inspiration struck, and I can’t help but want to compose a poem.”
The guests and courtesans’ eyes lit up, looking at him eagerly.
Number Four was somewhat surprised and delighted. He sat up straight, saying, “I’m all ears.”