The East Market, being close to the Three Inner Palaces and surrounded by residences of high-ranking officials and nobles, primarily sold luxury goods. To fetch a good price for peonies, one naturally had to go there. Thus, after leaving Xuanping Ward, Mudan and her sisters-in-law headed directly to the East Market.
The East Market was divided into nine major areas by four wide, sturdy roads nearly 10 zhang wide, paved with stone and compacted earth, complete with drainage ditches and sidewalks. The central three areas housed the market administration, the Price Stabilization Office, and the Ever-Normal Granary for storing grain. The remaining six areas were occupied by various businesses: taverns, meat markets, restaurants, roadside shops, printing houses, silk and brocade shops, jewelry and antique stores, butcher shops, ironmongers, donkey rentals, brush sellers, miscellaneous performers, Hu fiddle players, and a pond for merchant use. These nine areas were further divided by numerous small alleys, with countless shops lining the streets. The roads were bustling with people, and the air was filled with the sounds of pipa music, laughter, and vendors’ calls, creating an atmosphere of vibrant prosperity.
Even to Mudan, with her modern perspective, the layout of the East Market as a commercial complex seemed quite reasonable, with complete facilities and convenient transportation. Following Zhang Shi and Sun Shi, she looked around curiously, almost forgetting herself in excitement.
Zhang Shi and Sun Shi, noticing Mudan’s wandering gaze, assumed she had been strictly controlled by the Liu family and was now like a bird freed from its cage, naturally curious about everything. They loosely held their reins, allowing their horses to stroll at will, giving Mudan ample opportunity to take in the sights. In her memory, the East Market was far less prosperous than the West Market, but visiting the West Market would be a matter for another day.
After wandering for about half an hour, Mudan remembered her original purpose: “Sisters-in-law, why don’t I see the peony market?”
Sun Shi smiled, “If Miss Mudan wants to see peonies, we should head towards the pond area.”
Peonies were mostly grown outdoors and bloomed seasonally. Those wanting to buy them usually visited private gardens, as there were no specialized shops. However, to facilitate purchases by the nobility and to compare prices more easily, flower farmers would bring selected blooms to the East Market. Since the entire East Market drew its water from the pond area, which was humid and shaded by tall willows, all flora-related goods were gathered there.
Upon hearing this, Mudan pulled her reins, turning her horse around. “In that case, let’s head there.”
This area was filled with taverns, mostly run by Hu people. Hu courtesans, dressed in colorful, fashionable thin silk dresses, with curled hair and green eyes, stood at the entrances holding wine cups, smiling and inviting passersby to drink. Inside the taverns, the sounds of flutes, songs, and toasts mingled together.
Passing by the largest tavern, Mudan noticed that its courtesans were younger and more beautiful than those of other establishments. Zhang Shi nudged Sun Shi with her whip, smiling, “I remember Sixth Brother loves coming here, doesn’t he?”
A faint anger colored Sun Shi’s face as she whipped back, saying, “It was Fifth Brother who brought him here first!”
Seeing her anger, Zhang Shi exclaimed, “Oh my!” and laughed, “Why are you upset? The brothers are so busy, they probably only come once a month or so. They can’t do much anyway, mostly entertaining clients and discussing business.”
A beautiful konghou melody drifted from above. Sun Shi snorted, her eyes darting around. She pointed her whip at a Hu courtesan leaning against a second-floor window, playing a Hu konghou. The woman wore a lake-green thin silk dress, had brown hair, and a melancholic expression. Sun Shi smiled, “Fifth Sister-in-law, look who that is. It’s Maya, right? The one who got Fifth Brother drunk last time?”
Now it was Zhang Shi’s turn to be displeased. She pouted, “I don’t think she’s all that. Her playing is awful.”
Mudan listened to her sisters-in-law’s banter with an amused smile, squinting up at Maya. She saw that Maya had snow-white skin, and full red lips, and her lake-green dress complemented her emerald eyes. One of her slender, pale feet rested on the windowsill, adorned with a delicate gold anklet. She truly exuded an exotic charm, beautiful and alluring. No wonder the hot-blooded He Wulang had been drunk under the table by her.
Noticing Mudan’s gaze, Maya suddenly stopped playing her konghou. Her melancholy expression vanished as she flashed a radiant smile at Mudan and waved. After a moment’s hesitation, Mudan returned a slight smile.
Yuhe exclaimed in surprise, “Oh my, she’s smiling at Miss Mudan. And Miss Mudan, why are you smiling back?”
Zhang Shi and Sun Shi immediately stopped their bickering and turned to glare at Maya, saying indignantly, “Mudan, these Hu courtesans are no good. Why are you smiling at her?”
Mudan lowered her eyes without responding and urged her horse forward. Was she supposed to glare back when someone smiled at her? It was just a smile; they’d never see each other again anyway.
Maya had noticed Mudan’s elegant attire and bright, curious gaze. Assuming she was a young lady from a wealthy family out sightseeing, Maya had decided to tease her a bit. She was surprised when Mudan returned her smile, albeit shyly, without a trace of disdain. Raising an eyebrow in amazement, Maya turned back inside and said softly, “There’s a little beauty outside with quite a charming smile.”
Two young men drinking inside perked up at her words. One, wearing a chestnut-colored robe with side slits, rushed to the window and peered out. He saw three elegantly dressed young women on tall horses, surrounded by servants and maids, gradually moving away. He urgently grabbed Maya and asked, “Who is it? Who’s the beauty?”
Maya, however, remained coy. With alluring eyes, she smiled at the man and said, “Pan Erlang, you’ve always boasted about your discerning eye for beauty. Why don’t you guess? If you guessed correctly, today’s wine bill will be halved. If not, you’ll have to come only to our establishment for your future drinks.”
Pan Erlang laughed, “What if your place closes down? Wouldn’t that mean I can’t drink at all? How about I come here for ten consecutive visits instead?”
Maya simply smiled and stepped aside with a bow, saying, “As you wish, young master.”
Seeing the beauties moving further away, and with Mudan flanked by Zhang Shi and Sun Shi, Pan Erlang randomly pointed at Mudan’s back and declared, “It must be the one in the lake-blue robe!” Without waiting for Maya’s confirmation, he put two fingers in his mouth and whistled loudly, shouting, “Miss in the blue dress up ahead, you’ve dropped your fragrance pouch!”
Hearing this, Mudan and her companions turned around, checking their fragrance pouches while looking towards the source of the voice. As she looked, Mudan couldn’t help but be both amused and exasperated. The man leaning half out of the window, his expression frozen in shock, was none other than Pan Rong.
No one had dropped a fragrance pouch; they had been teased. Yuhe spat and, pretending not to recognize Pan Rong, scolded, “What a shameless scoundrel! Are your eyes blind or have you gone mad? I think it’s your eyeballs that have fallen out!”
Zhang Shi and Sun Shi weren’t offended either, instead clapping and laughing heartily. “Indeed, his eyeballs must have fallen out!” The He family’s servants and maids all joined in the laughter, collectively brandishing their whips in a show of defiance.
Mudan smiled faintly, turned her horse around, and continued forward.
Pan Rong, dumbfounded, blinked his eyes in disbelief. How could it be He Mudan? Just days ago, she had been miserable, and now she had left her husband’s home, demanding a separation, yet here she was, carefree and happy, out enjoying herself. What kind of woman was she? Either heartless or completely disregarding her marriage and in-laws. Thinking this, he cast a sympathetic glance at Liu Chang, who was drinking with a gloomy expression.
The shrewd Maya immediately said with a smile, “So it’s someone you know, young master.”
Liu Chang, seemingly indifferent, asked, “Whose family member is she? You look like a stunned goose.”
Pan Rong lowered his eyes, thought for a moment, then grinned and waved Maya away. Sitting down beside Liu Chang, he said, “Guess who?”
Liu Chang impatiently replied, “What’s there to guess? Can’t you see I’m in a foul mood? Have you agreed or not?”
Pan Rong pouted, “You know Axin’s temperament. She says she gets annoyed just seeing me. She wouldn’t even let me in the door last night. How could she possibly agree to help persuade someone on your behalf? Don’t be in such a rush. We can try again in a few days.” Then, mischievously, he added, “Tell me, if your wife has returned home, how do you plan to treat her?”
Liu Chang’s gaze grew increasingly sinister. He swirled the dragon fat wine in his cup and sneered, “First, I’ll bring her back, then I’ll deal with her slowly. I’ll make her regret to her very bones! I’ll make her wish she were dead!”
Pan Rong slyly said, “For those who don’t obey, of course, they’ll be dealt with thoroughly! I can’t beat Axin, or I’d teach her a lesson too. Let me ask you this: if your wife were right in front of you now, what would you do?”
Liu Chang gripped his cup tightly and said coldly, “Hmph, who’d bother eating her? I’d strangle her!”
Pan Rong shook his head and said, “As you wish. That person just now was her! Indeed, she was smiling beautifully, carefree, and joyful. Anyone who didn’t know better might think she was some unmarried young lady. If you like her, you’d better hurry and propose.”
With a loud crash, Liu Chang overturned the table and rushed downstairs, hitching up his robe.
“Young master, please be careful!” Xixia cast a reproachful glance at Pan Rong before hurrying after Liu Chang.
Pan Rong tilted his chin, instructing his attendant to settle the bill, then hitched up his robe and followed. Another spectacle was about to unfold! He couldn’t be blamed for this – who told He Mudan to come out gallivanting at such a critical time instead of staying quietly at home? Oh my, would He Mudan whip Liu Chang this time? Pan Rong couldn’t contain his excitement.