The balloon had flown up, and inadvertently flew above the cloud layer. The effect was extremely good, completely proving that people could fly to the heavens. Previously, only on Buddha’s murals could one see those beautiful beings holding various musical instruments, singing and dancing in the sky.
The flying celestials here meant dancing heavenly beings. In mystical doctrines that had been transmitted for a long time, “heaven” referred to the firmament, but it was also believed that heaven had will, called the will of heaven. The reason these people could dance gracefully in the air was because their wonderful dance had moved the heavens—this was a special case.
In Buddhism, the Saha World was composed of multiple layers, with the existence of many heavenly realms, such as the Thirty-three Heavens, Tushita Heaven, and others. The sentient beings of these heavenly realms were called “celestial beings” by Xuanzang, individually called celestial gods, often abbreviated as “celestials.” Flying celestials had this meaning. Daoism often called them heavenly immortals. In China’s long historical records, the king of celestial beings was also often abbreviated as “heaven,” such as “Great Brahma Heaven,” “Merit Heaven,” and so on. Flying celestials were mostly painted on Buddhist cave murals. Flying celestials were the incarnations of the song deity Gandharva and the music deity Kinnara. Originally they were song and dance deities and entertainment deities in ancient Indian mythology. They were a married couple, later absorbed by Buddhism as part of the eight groups of heavenly dragons.
The Tang people’s lively romanticism that loved fantasy really could kill people. The Zhangsun Family members had not yet been found—who knew where they had fallen? Half a month had passed since the incident, and those three people still had no news whatsoever.
But songs and dances about flying celestials had already appeared in the Court of Imperial Entertainments. Graceful women wore the most beautiful lantern-shaped foreign gauze trousers, using a pipa as a prop for their dance. Yun Ye most loved the backward-playing technique. If the performer was a woman with a full figure, it was even more exquisite. When the arms extended backward making the motion of playing the pipa, the full breasts would push the clothing into two alarmingly round shapes. Whenever the performance reached this moment, these dandies led by Yun Ye would immediately burst into thunderous applause, expressing their deepest reverence to these beautiful celestial entertainers.
Those dancers who had just finished performing the dance of Buddhism’s highest profound spiritual meaning would, as soon as the drumbeats paused, conveniently fall into the embrace of whichever dandy looked more pleasing to the eye. The beauties were drenched in fragrant sweat, and the dandies were also tender-hearted gentlemen who cherished the fairer sex, taking out handkerchiefs to help these dancers who had been working hard for half the day wipe their sweat. Naturally, no one would pay attention to those sweaty faces. They believed that pair of full breasts was the place that most needed their care.
This was not Yun Ye’s first time frequenting brothels. He very much disagreed with the saying “courtesans love beauty, madams love money.” Those who loved money the most were precisely these singing courtesans destined for a lifetime of loneliness and helplessness. Without fantasizing about love, there would be no love. He had never seen any poor boy win the favor of those beautiful singing courtesans. Generally, what they liked most were beasts like Li Dayin.
A young master from a wealthy family who had come from Jinyang was extremely wretched in appearance, but generous in spending. The courtesan who had fallen into his embrace expended great effort to use her tongue to extract from his mouth a pearl the size of a fingertip, showing off her achievement to all the other courtesans. As for Li Dayin’s mouthful of rotten teeth, naturally no one cared.
Li Dayin smiled and slapped the courtesan’s plump buttocks, signaling for her to leave. After seating himself properly, he cupped his hands toward Yun Ye and said, “I’ve long heard that Marquis Yun’s talent and wisdom are unparalleled. Meeting you today, you truly live up to your reputation. Temporarily borrowing Brother Pengcheng’s establishment, please allow this younger brother to toast Marquis Yun. To victory!” Having just finished speaking, he raised his wine cup and drank it all in one gulp, then showed the bottom of the cup to Yun Ye.
Today’s gathering was hosted by Li Pengcheng. Yun Ye originally had not planned to come, but couldn’t withstand Li Pengcheng’s threat of suicide. With no alternative, he came to this newly opened Wealthy and Noble Tower. Besides a group of familiar dandies, there was the additional treasure that was Li Dayin.
The man’s appearance was extremely wretched, but his behavior and conversation were extremely witty. Just look at how this stinking fellow with a mouthful of yellow teeth could discuss “Shao Music” with Zhangsun Chong for half a day, could debate classical studies with Xiao Rui for quite a while, and most remarkably, he could even discuss with Li Huairen some difficult points and key elements of generating force with fists and feet.
“Ugly people often act strangely”—this was Yun Ye’s assessment of Li Dayin. A fellow who could gather Li Pengcheng, Zhangsun Chong, Xiao Rui, and Li Huairen all together to perform—who knew what kind of sacred being he was.
Yun Ye smiled slightly and drank down the cup of wine before him in one gulp, but did not speak with Li Dayin. In Great Tang, as long as one was a noble, they dared not be too negligent toward people coming from Jinyang. These people were very troublesome—the people were very uncouth, but their influence was extremely vast. With Yun Ye’s current wealth and status, he could only interact with them with an attitude of respectful distance.
Li Er now most loved to employ people from Jinyang. Yan Song and He Tianshang both came from Jinyang. Although their official positions were not prominent, their actual power was astonishingly great. He Tianshang had not been visiting the Yun Family much recently. First, he seemed very busy. Second, according to Li Tai, in the Emperor’s eyes, Old He had already become a useless person because he had been tainted with too much mediocre temperament and was no longer pure. These were the Emperor’s original words. That is to say, He Tianshang had begun to have selfish private thoughts, and a person with selfish interests was not worthy of trust. This fellow’s best outcome would be to go to a Pacification Command and serve as a commandant.
“Marquis Yun, I, Li Dayin, am also someone who likes excitement. As long as you spend more time with me, you’ll understand that my character extends to all corners. I most love making friends. As long as we brothers work together with united hearts, we can definitely walk sideways through Chang’an.”
If Li Dayin had not said this sentence, Yun Ye would at most have categorized him as someone who had just arrived in Chang’an, wanted to quickly integrate into the dandy circle, and was wholeheartedly seeking pleasure. Once this sentence was spoken, the entire person changed flavor. This bastard had to be Li Er’s secret agent or it would be damned strange.
Even if he was a secret agent, he was not a qualified secret agent. Yun Ye had never seen a secret agent who could speak so bluntly. Seeing such a person, Yun Ye couldn’t help but think of that thin man selling mutton in the border town. After this affair ended, no matter what, he should give him an explanation.
Liu Jinbao was the person most familiar with his marquis’s temperament. Seeing the marquis stand up, he draped the cloak over his marquis. Yun Ye was planning to leave. This Li Dayin’s purpose was unclear—it was better to stay far away.
Li Pengcheng’s complexion changed. He hurriedly walked over and asked Yun Ye, “Marquis Yun is leaving already? I heard that Lady Huaihua’s ink dance is a rarely seen unique skill. Why not stay a moment longer, appreciate it, and then leave?”
Yun Ye patted his face and said with a smile, “I mainly don’t like walking sideways. Those who walk sideways are all crabs, and they all have two large pincers. I don’t have any, so it’s better to hide back home and discipline my son.”
Li Dayin’s smile was somewhat awkward, but Yun Ye didn’t need to give him face. A small sixth-rank Water Gate Supervisor, no matter how great his background, didn’t require leaving him any dignity. When it was time to deal with Yan Song, Yun Ye had never been soft-hearted. What did he amount to?
After the master and servant Yun Ye left, Li Huairen, Zhangsun Chong, and Xiao Rui naturally would not stay either. The atmosphere in the entire great hall became tense. Li Dayin smiled and grabbed at a courtesan’s chest. Those courtesans then all rapidly withdrew. They were all shrewd people—how could they not see that Li Dayin was already extremely angry?
After Yun Ye left, Li Pengcheng sat at his own table drinking wine. He couldn’t quite figure out the situation before him. An order from the Water Supervision commanded him to fully cooperate with Li Dayin, but he didn’t know what he was cooperating with him to do. From this short time, even a fool could see that Li Dayin was targeting Yun Ye. In Great Tang’s Chang’an City, besides the imperial clan, who had the qualification or the courage to walk sideways?
Wasn’t the Water Supervision supposed to be officials who managed water? Sixth-rank officials were as numerous as ox hairs in Chang’an City. Why could this Li Dayin show off his power before him, a marquis of the third rank?
“Brother Pengcheng, don’t overthink it. You’ll soon be joining our Water Supervision too. Yun Ye is actually also on the list for observation. Since he doesn’t like it, then let’s not bother with him. Sooner or later we’ll deal with him. Tell me, are there any other outstanding young heroes in the capital you can introduce to me?” Li Dayin put his arm around Li Pengcheng’s shoulder and resumed that smiling appearance.
“I haven’t planned to join any Water Supervision. You can get Duke Zheng to order me to fully cooperate with you. What I could do, I’ve done. What I shouldn’t have done, I’ve also done. Let’s be clear—this is official business. Our friendship is not good enough to call each other brothers.” After drinking two mouthfuls of wine, Li Pengcheng figured out what he should do. He stood up with a sudden movement, supporting himself on the table, and shook off Li Dayin’s arm. This was a person whose background was unknown, also a person without standing. Since Yun Ye, Zhangsun Chong, Li Huairen, and Xiao Rui—these people who were smarter than himself—all believed this person should not be befriended deeply, it was better to stay far away.
Before long, in the vast great hall only Li Dayin remained. This fellow sat in the empty hall looking at the scene of complete disarray, continuously muttering about these bastard scions who didn’t even leave one person behind to pay the bill. How could he, a sixth-rank official, afford these expenses? Fortunately, these women were all from the Court of Imperial Entertainments. Perhaps the Water Supervision’s official token could be used in place of silver coins. Thinking of this, Li Dayin slammed his fist on the table and said in a low voice to himself toward the door, “I’ve been gnawing on pickled vegetables in the wilderness for more than three years. Accomplishing nothing has already become the big joke of the Water Supervision. I don’t believe you’re an impenetrable wall. Even if I have to become a rat digging holes, I’m going to stick with you to the end.”
Yun Ye had a rest day today and should have returned home early. It was only because he couldn’t withstand Li Pengcheng’s bitter pleading that he went to sit briefly at the Court of Imperial Entertainments brothel. The women there were all family members of condemned officials. Yun Ye would never go there to seek pleasure. The place, occasion, and people were all wrong, so naturally he had to leave early.
Riding Wang Cai on the muddy path viewing the early spring scenery was far superior to hiding in a room bullying those courtesans. The impression Li Dayin left him was very bad. This was a super bastard. Next time if he dared to come pester him again, he would definitely break his legs. Damn it, looking at this old man with such greed—this fellow was the first one.