The horse felt a bit overheated under the sun, lowering its head and neighing softly.
Mo Zi felt puzzled inside but continued speaking, “Third Young Madam, your timing is truly unfortunate. The master has gone out to visit friends and won’t return for three to five days. However, he did instruct us that if you came, we should show you around the garden. The weather is rather stifling—Third Young Madam, please come inside first for a cup of cooling tea to dispel this early summer heat.”
The beauty still ignored her.
“Third Young Madam?” She asked again cautiously.
Qiu Sanniang seemed to suddenly come to her senses, her eyes becoming instantly clear. “Since your master isn’t here, I won’t go in. When he returns, just tell him I came by. I’ll have someone send over a calling card another day and visit again.”
After speaking, she called over Bai He and Xiao Yi to board the carriage, then turned to Xiao Min and said, “I must trouble Guard Xiao to lead the way to Songzhen Lane.”
Xiao Min thought to himself that this was for the best. Hearing Mo Zi mention “the master,” he guessed that this Third Young Madam was visiting a man. Xiao Sanlang had already lost two wives—he had to be careful that this one wouldn’t do anything that would invite gossip. He steadily acknowledged her request, mounted his horse, and ordered his subordinates to provide escort fore and aft.
One carriage and four horses—they just left like that.
Cen Er was dumbfounded, speechless for quite a while before finally saying, “Brother Mo, what show is this? Shouldn’t the master have entered the garden, had a cup of tea, taken a tour around, and then left?”
Mo Zi calmly withdrew her gaze, clasping her hands behind her back as she walked toward the main gate. “I don’t know what the master is thinking either. Perhaps having those four guards following made it inconvenient, or perhaps she got a clear look at the Lin Mansion’s location, thought it was indeed quite good, and was too lazy to go inside for a look.”
Cen Er hurried to catch up with Mo Zi’s steps. “The former possibility seems more likely. If it were the latter, given the master’s temperament, how could she pass by the gate without entering? She would definitely have to see it with her own eyes before feeling at ease. However, what I fear most is that the master didn’t even look because she’s dissatisfied with this place. We’ve already paid out all our silver, and the property deed has been transferred to her name—heaven forbid she says it won’t do at this point.”
“From the master’s expression, she didn’t seem dissatisfied. Wait until I return tonight to ask about it—let’s not scare ourselves. Eighteen hundred taels of silver—if we had to compensate for that, we’d be done for.” As Mo Zi spoke toward the end, she laughed heartily.
Cen Er patted his chest, exclaiming, “Oh my goodness, Brother Mo, I’m in awe of you—truly at ease, still able to laugh.”
Mo Zi restrained her laughter and replied seriously, “Would you prefer I cry for you to see?”
Cen Er rolled his eyes and had the attendants close the gate. “Brother Mo, I didn’t know you could clown around.”
“You flatter me, you flatter me.” Mo Zi cupped her hands. “I wouldn’t call it clowning—this is called finding joy in hardship, maintaining a positive attitude. Haven’t you heard? The more a person thinks themselves unlucky, the unluckier they become; the more they think themselves fortunate, the more fortunate they become.”
“I’ve never heard that.” Cen Er’s attention was pulled away by Mo Zi’s theory. “Is that really true?”
“Of course it’s true, otherwise why would we have the four-character phrase ‘wishes come true’?” Mo Zi planned to lead by example, beginning a grand campaign to change her fortune.
Cen Er rolled his eyes again.
However, Qiu Sanniang’s strange behavior still puzzled Cen Er. Before it was even time for the evening meal, he had the kitchen start cooking early, then urged everyone to eat as if his life depended on it. In the glow of the sunset clouds, he had Zan Jin escort Mo Zi back to Prince Jing’s mansion, repeatedly instructing that if anything changed, no matter how late, he must be notified so he wouldn’t lose sleep over it.
Mo Zi kept emphasizing that he should rest easy, but Cen Er didn’t listen at all, wearing an expression prepared to lose money.
Though Cen Er urged urgently, Mo Zi and Zan Jin rode their horses leisurely. After all, Mo Zi disliked being jostled until her whole body ached, and once she was out, she was reluctant to return, so naturally the later the better.
The two ambled to the most prosperous center of Yuhe Ward.
“Brother Mo, it seems lively over there—can we go take a look?” Zan Jin was curious and loved seeing new things.
Mo Zi saw from horseback that it was the large notice board where officials posted announcements. Having no particular interest herself, she said to Zan Jin, “You go look. I’ll walk my horse slowly, and you can catch up.”
“That won’t do—what if something happens to you?” Zan Jin flatly refused.
“Uh—how about you go look and I’ll just wait here for you?” She was definitely a better master than Qiu Sanniang, better than all the masters in the world.
Zan Jin assessed the distance on both sides, determining that if Mo Zi didn’t move, he only needed to look back frequently to monitor the situation around her. Only then did he feel at ease going to see the excitement.
Mo Zi waited on horseback, leaning against a wall. As dusk approached, many shops prepared to close, while the street vendors and peddlers carrying miscellaneous goods had mostly dispersed. Feeling her shadow suddenly cast obliquely in the opposite direction, she glanced to the side. Not far from where she stood, atop the two stone lions, eight brilliant lotus-heart treasure lamps lit up, made of colored glass and radiating splendid light. After a short while, activity began at the entrance, with clean-looking, agreeable young servants bustling in and out, and she could also hear sounds from within the walls.
Laughter, music, flirtatious words, coquettish voices.
Mo Zi squeezed her legs together, and the horse backed up a few steps. Her gaze crossed over the wall to see a brightly lit large red building, three stories high, perfectly square, with sixteen large carved and painted vermilion pillars on one face alone, topped with sixteen large corners, eight small corners, and decorated with flying beast treasures—quite imposing.
Curious about what this building was for, she had just decided to ride to the main entrance to read the plaque when she heard someone call out “Brother Mo” in an uncertain tone. Glancing over, she saw a small sedan chair carried by two people, its window curtain pulled aside.
It was indeed an acquaintance, and one she wasn’t particularly eager to see. However, having followed Qiu Sanniang to the capital, she had mentally prepared herself for the possibility of eventually running into him again.
She reluctantly dismounted and cupped her fists toward that person. “Mister Zhong An, have you been well?”
That person was none other than Zhong An, the strategist-like figure from the former trio who liked carrying a fan.
Actually, this person wasn’t bad—it was just that their acquaintance had been made under inauspicious circumstances, with both parties engaged in dubious activities, and with the beautiful hope of never meeting again. Yet they’d run into each other again so soon. That said, living in the same mansion, she hadn’t even seen Xiao Erlang.
Seeing he hadn’t mistaken the person, Zhong An was much friendlier than Mo Zi had imagined. He quickly ordered the sedan stopped, stepped out, and cupped his hands. “This Zhong has been quite well recently. How have you been, Brother Mo?”
“Quite well.” After these two words, Mo Zi didn’t know what else to say. She could hardly ask if the gentleman had recently taken on any secret jobs, could she?
However, just because she had nothing to say didn’t mean he had nothing to say.
“Has Brother Mo come to the capital on business, or to stay long-term?” Zhong An had always admired Mo Zi. Back then their positions had differed, but now it was easier to chat.
“I’ve relocated to the capital with my master.” Mo Zi considered lying, but thinking that lies were easy while covering them up was hard, and she would inevitably be walking around Yuhe Ward in the future with a high probability of running into him again, she decided to tell the “truth.”
“Brother Mo said back then it was the last time, and indeed you keep your word. At the feet of the Son of Heaven, it’s better to conduct proper business. Otherwise, meetings would be awkward, wouldn’t they?” Zhong An smiled. A pristine jade ornament at his waist emitted a faint glow—clearly a fine piece.
This Zhong An didn’t seem like Xiao Wei’s subordinate. Mo Zi thought to herself that he was most likely also an official.
“Mister Zhong An jests too well. Brother Mo’s master has always been a dutiful, honest merchant. Haha—” Mo Zi laughed it off. Regardless of whether the other party was sincere or not, she absolutely couldn’t admit to those dark dealings from before, even on pain of death.
Zhong An also laughed heartily. “Brother Mo speaks truly—dutiful and honest, just like this Zhong.”
The two played dumb together, as if erasing the past events.
“Is Brother Mo here to broaden your horizons?” Zhong An suddenly tapped Mo Zi’s shoulder with his fan.
A man in his thirties, and a refined-looking one at that, winking and making faces at her—Mo Zi couldn’t quite handle it and dodged to the side, causing the fan handle to miss. Internally she shouted: Just speak properly!
“Eh? Broaden what?”
“You have Wangqiu Tower in Luo Zhou, we have Wu You Pavilion in the capital, both filled with top-tier beauties. However, Ge Qiu can only be admired from afar but not approached intimately, while the young ladies of Wu You Pavilion can accompany you through a night of spring breezes, soul-stirring and bone-melting.” Zhong An’s face was full of suggestiveness.
Once again proving that any man, all men, appreciate beautiful women.
Mo Zi pointed at the outer wall, somewhat surprised. “This building is Wu You Pavilion?” Long have I heard its great name.
“Why must Brother Mo pretend? Seeing your young age, naturally your blood runs hot—there’s nothing wrong with finding a young lady who understands romance for a night. However, you’ve chosen an excellent place. The women of Wu You Pavilion differ from other pleasure houses. Though their prices are high, each one is versed in the arts. Those with reputations as talented women alone number seven or eight, not to mention the nationally famous, city-toppling Miss Mo Chou. She is truly a national beauty, her skill with the qin divine and transcendent—even the imperial qin masters bow to this clever woman in defeat.” As Zhong An spoke, his eyebrows danced with excitement.
Find a beautiful young lady for a night? Mo Zi laughed in shock. “I always thought Mister Zhong An was extraordinarily learned, never imagining you could speak so directly. At least use phrases like ‘spending a wonderful night together’ or such—you’ve made me embarrassed. As for Miss Mo Chou, how could someone like me, a common person, hope to meet her?” To be honest, first, she had never heard of this nationally famous Miss Mo Chou, and being a woman herself, she had no strange interest in another woman. Second, anyone with such a superlative title would most likely prove quite disappointing when seen in person, so she didn’t believe it.
“What’s there to be embarrassed about? We’re all men.” Zhong An laughed heartily. “However, you’re actually right. Miss Mo Chou truly cannot be met by common people. For her to see a guest, there’s one condition—not gold nor silver, but rather the other party must do something that makes her willing to show her face. For instance, compose a good poem or a good melody. There was once a bookish fool who got so nervous while composing poetry that he rolled down the stairs and broke his leg, and Miss Mo Chou came out and smiled at him. They say that fool was blessed.”
A bunch of lunatics, right? Come to a pleasure house, spend silver, and still have to play the clown?
And that Mo Chou—someone breaks his leg for her and she smiles? What a conscience!
Mo Zi saw Zan Jin coming over, giving her a perfect excuse to leave. “Unfortunately, today is inconvenient—my master is waiting for my report.”
“Brother Mo, if you miss today, it won’t be easy to see Miss Mo Chou in the future. When Young Master Bai Yu arrives, Miss Mo Chou has no conditions—she willingly comes out to play the qin and add to his entertainment. How about it, shall I take you along?” Zhong An enthusiastically invited her to join the “dinner party.”
“Mister Zhong An’s kind offer is appreciated, but tonight really won’t do. Another day perhaps.” Mo Zi absolutely refused to join.
This Xiao Erlang truly was a romantic figure indeed.