The first to go up was the oldest among them. The little girl timidly climbed onto the platform. The zither player seated behind her asked a few questions, probably asking what she could sing. The little girl hesitated for a long time before giving a title. After a while, when she stood at the center of the platform, she sang “Song of the Willow.”
“Song of the Willow” was a familiar tune, but singing it well was not easy. The girl’s voice was soft and melodious. At first, because of her timidity, her voice was somewhat tight, but later she gradually grew bolder, and her singing became quite good.
Yu Yin nodded. “Though not exceptional, it’s not bad either. With careful training, she could make a living from this.”
Qiu Xinran’s mind was elsewhere, and she only listened absentmindedly for a while. When the person on stage finished the song, several calls of approval came from the main hall, and some people applauded encouragingly. The girl’s face flushed slightly—whether from excitement or shyness was unclear.
The proprietor stood below the stage and seemed quite satisfied with her. After a while, another slightly younger girl went up. She also sang “Song of the Willow,” but was clearly inferior to the previous one. Not only was her voice small, but she also sang off-key. Light mocking laughter came from the diners in the hall. The little girl’s face burned with embarrassment. By the end, tears were about to fall, and she ran off the stage before finishing.
Most of these children had never studied books or learned songs. Although several had decent voices, seeing so many people below, when it came time to go on stage, they couldn’t make a sound. Several more went up after that. Some sang fairly well, but most were unsatisfactory. The customers dining in the main hall gradually lost interest and turned back to their conversations. Only Yu Yin held chopsticks and cheerfully listened attentively, occasionally offering commentary.
Qiu Xinran watched as all the others finished singing and came down, leaving only the last girl called Xiao Mei. She climbed up holding the ladder. When she stood at the center of the platform, no one paid her attention. Most customers glanced at her briefly, then turned back to their conversations. Probably in the entire main hall, only those at Qiu Xinran’s table kept their eyes on her.
She also sang “Song of the Willow,” making one suspect whether they had all been hastily taught by the same teacher just before going on stage.
The main hall was somewhat noisy. Xiao Mei stood on stage for quite a while before timidly producing the first note, which was quickly drowned out by the crowd’s clamor, making one wonder if she had merely opened her mouth without actually making a sound. Yuan Zhou turned to her strangely and asked, “Could this girl be mute?”
Qiu Xinran ignored him, only watching the girl on stage open her mouth and move her lips a few times, as if she had finally managed to sing out one line. Gradually, some sound could be heard below. At first, the sound was small, so faint that one might think it was an illusion. Slowly, that voice became clear—like a young phoenix’s first cry, clear and bright, refreshing to the ears. The main hall fell quiet at some unknown moment. Everyone involuntarily found themselves drawn by her singing and looked over with interest.
Her singing couldn’t truly be called perfect. One could tell at a glance that she hadn’t properly studied music or how to control her breath. But the girl’s voice was clean and ethereal, like a clear mountain spring or forest birds. This song spoke of the sorrowful parting between lovers, naturally carrying a melancholy and plaintive quality. Yet she was still young and didn’t understand the meaning of the song, singing with a pure and straightforward tone that unexpectedly created a fresh and refined charm.
Yu Yin’s wine cup had been empty for some time without him refilling it. Stroking his beard as he listened, his eyes brightened slightly. “Truly good material for studying music—the ancestors have blessed her with talent.”
Qiu Xinran didn’t understand music theory, but also felt she sang well, so she turned and asked, “Among these people, will the proprietor keep her?”
Yu Yin smiled. “If the proprietor doesn’t want her, I’d like to take her back and accept her as a disciple.”
Whether staying at the Drunken Spring Pavilion to sing or following Yu Yin, either would be a decent outcome for the current orphan girl. At least she could earn some money to support herself, which was better than not knowing where the broker might sell her next. Qiu Xinran felt somewhat pleased. In Yuan Zhou’s eyes, seeing his senior sister so happy, he could only think she was planning on this orphan girl having a skill to support herself so she could later repay her sister’s debt. Thinking of this, he felt somewhat moved and wistful.
The “Song of the Willow” on stage reached its conclusion, stopping abruptly at the line “willow catkins flutter everywhere.” The hall fell silent for a moment. Everyone curiously turned to look at the singer, only to see her face flushed red, standing in place at a loss, and realized she had forgotten the words.
Xiao Mei’s eyes were as red as her face, hands clutching the corners of her clothes, utterly flustered. She was still young and it was her first time on stage, but the customers in the pavilion were quite forgiving. Light laughter came from below, but they still applauded. The girl descended the stage with a red face, secretly wiping her face with her sleeve halfway down.
Yu Yin called the server over. “Discuss with your proprietor—the last girl who went up is a good seedling. I’d like to take her as a disciple.”
Yu Yin was a regular customer at this establishment, and the server clearly recognized him. Hearing these words, he immediately agreed readily. Qiu Xinran poured him a cup of wine. “Why did you suddenly think of taking a disciple?”
“People with exceptional aptitude who are willing to study music are too few. Moreover, I have no wealth or possessions—which ordinary family’s child would be willing to follow a destitute master?” Yu Yin said slowly. “That girl has good aptitude. I cannot guarantee she’ll become rich and noble in the future, but following me, she at least won’t have to worry about starving to death.”
Hearing that he genuinely wanted to take a disciple and carefully nurture her, Qiu Xinran felt relieved and comforted him, “These women are orphaned and helpless. If they can receive your careful instruction, sir, it would be mutually beneficial.”
While speaking, Qiu Xinran noticed a servant dressed as a page come down from the second floor and walk to the counter to say a few words to the proprietor. She saw the proprietor also treat this page with great respect and secretly wondered what kind of person was dining on the second floor.
After a while, she saw the proprietor’s face show difficulty after hearing the other party’s words. He looked toward their table and said something to that person. The other party also turned to look over, revealing some displeasure on his face, then said something with a cold expression. She had a bad premonition in her heart. Sure enough, before long, the server who had delivered the message earlier came to their table and said apologetically to Yu Yin, “Boss Yu, that girl has been taken fancy to by another distinguished guest who wants to take her into their household. I’m afraid she cannot go with you.”
Before Yu Yin could speak upon hearing this, Qiu Xinran asked first, “Which distinguished guest?”
The server showed some difficulty on his face and only said euphemistically after a long while, “Let me put it this way—our proprietor originally wanted to buy that little girl, but when he heard that distinguished guest wanted her, he settled for second best and bought another one instead.”
It seemed truly to be a guest with some background.
Yu Yin showed a trace of regret. “Is that distinguished guest also someone who understands music?”
The server’s eyes revealed some reluctance. He sighed and quietly told them, “Forget it, I’ll tell you. Do you know who the guest who reserved the second floor today is?”
Yuan Zhou joked, “Acting so ostentatiously, probably some young master from a prominent family in the capital?”
“The guest guessed correctly. It’s precisely the eldest young master of Minister Wu, Wu Peng.”
Hearing Wu Peng’s name, the other two at the table couldn’t help but frown. Only Qiu Xinran looked blank. “What about this Young Master Wu?”
Yuan Zhou’s expression was complex. “Young Master Wu doesn’t have a good reputation in the capital.”
“In what way?”
Yuan Zhou considered for a moment and said tactfully, “I heard he’s fond of women and loves to keep concubines outside, and there have been rumors of him abusing people to death.” Yu Yin also sighed. “That girl at such a young age falling into Young Master Wu’s hands, I fear…”
Qiu Xinran’s brow jumped as she said with a straight face, “That won’t do.”
Yuan Zhou was startled. “What else can you do?”
Qiu Xinran’s eyes darted around. She said to the server, “Go tell the broker that I’ve also taken a fancy to that girl. If he must have her, I can compete with him in a sleeve auction.”
In the private room on the second floor, hearing the words the page whispered in his ear, the brocade-clad man sitting at the wine table’s eyebrows shot up. He couldn’t help but say loudly, “What?”
This exclamation drew the attention of everyone else at the table. Li Hanxing sat not far from him. Hearing the commotion, he wore an expression of watching a good show. “What, some blind person downstairs wants to compete with our Young Master Wu for someone?”
With this remark, everyone became interested and looked over. Li Hantai sat in the seat of honor, speaking with the person beside him. Hearing these words, he also frowned and looked over. “What happened?”
Li Hantai had celebrated his birthday yesterday and held his coming-of-age ceremony in the palace. Wu Peng had been boasting outside about his close relationship with the First Imperial Prince. Several days ago, he had already made arrangements to host a banquet for him today at the Drunken Spring Pavilion. Although Li Hantai disliked this cousin, Consort Shu was happy to see him maintain close ties with her maternal family. When she heard about this matter, she agreed on his behalf.
Wu Peng was overjoyed to learn of this and sent invitations to several others in the palace. Li Hanyi had heard of his reputation in the capital and looked down on him greatly. When he received the invitation, he tossed it aside without even looking at it. Li Hanxing and Li Hanfeng did come, though. While it was unclear what Li Hanxing was thinking, Li Hanfeng’s attendance this time was entirely because of Xia Xiuyan.
When he received the invitation, he also didn’t plan to come. Who knew that when Xia Xiuyan learned it was Wu Peng hosting, he would suddenly seem to develop some interest and instead persuade him that since it was to celebrate the First Imperial Prince, if none of the imperial brothers attended, it might spread rumors that there was discord between the brothers. Li Hanfeng thought this made sense and ultimately agreed.
As a result, when several people arrived by carriage at the Drunken Spring Pavilion today, they discovered that Wu Peng had ostentatiously reserved the entire second floor and invited a bunch of ne’er-do-well friends—all famous wastrel sons in the capital. Li Hantai’s face darkened by half as soon as he got out of the carriage, but out of courtesy, he ultimately didn’t turn around and leave immediately.
Seeing his cousin’s displeasure, Wu Peng restrained himself considerably during the banquet and didn’t do anything excessive. The group ate and drank properly in the private room, remaining fairly peaceful. By the time the banquet was half over, Li Hantai’s expression had eased somewhat.
Before long, singing suddenly came from the main hall on the first floor. When someone went to inquire, they learned that the pavilion was selecting singing girls. Everyone in this room had been born with golden spoons in their mouths—what kind of songs, dances, and music hadn’t they seen? Naturally, they paid no attention to the singing below.
But imperceptibly, they heard the main hall gradually quiet down, and the singing voice also reached the room. The child’s voice was tender and clean, somewhat special. Even Li Hantai couldn’t help but set down his wine cup and listen attentively for a while.
Wu Peng was extremely skilled at reading expressions. “What does eldest cousin think of this woman’s singing?”
Li Hantai nodded. “Though lacking in technique, it has a certain unadorned simplicity.”
Wu Peng seized the opportunity. “If eldest cousin likes it, why don’t I buy her and send her to eldest cousin’s household?”
Seeing Li Hantai shake his head, Wu Peng was unwilling to miss this opportunity to impress and persuaded, “Eldest cousin said she’s an uncut jade. Your household has many musicians—take her back and train her. Wouldn’t that be better for her than selling songs in this wine house?”
These words made some sense. Li Hantai showed some signs of wavering upon hearing them. Seeing this, Wu Peng was delighted in his heart. He immediately summoned the servant at his side and instructed, “Go tell the proprietor that I want this girl—consider it a congratulatory gift for my eldest cousin.”
Buying a servant when out and about wasn’t anything extraordinary. Xia Xiuyan tasted the tea in his cup and sneered inwardly. This banquet was truly even more boring than he had imagined. Having long known that Wu Peng was a complete good-for-nothing, this trip could have been entirely avoided.