“Could this be Young Master Xu?”
Xu Qi An heard someone call his name from behind.
Damn it, recognized by an acquaintance while visiting a brothel? He cursed inwardly while turning around, then let out a sigh of relief.
Behind him was a handsome young man wearing a cyan robe, dressed like the youths standing at the entrance of Yingmei Pavilion.
“Young Master Xu, my mistress Mingyan wishes to invite you for tea,” the handsome youth bowed, his smile fawning.
Mingyan… Xu Qi An searched his memory for a moment, realizing who this Miss Mingyan was. She was also a top courtesan, a great courtesan famous for her dancing, on the same level as Fuxiang from before.
Of course, after Fuxiang’s recent successful publicity, she was no longer the same as before, now surpassing all the courtesans in the Imperial Entertainment Bureau.
A dancer, huh… As everyone knows, the effects of dance and yoga are the same! Xu Qi An’s eyes lit up slightly as he smiled and said, “Lead the way.”
The handsome youth’s face immediately blossomed into a smile, bowing repeatedly, “This way, Young Master Xu, please follow me, this way please…”
Being able to invite Xu Qi An over would surely delight Miss Mingyan, and the reward would certainly be generous. If he returned empty-handed, he would undoubtedly face a scolding.
At the entrance of Yingmei Pavilion, the young doorkeeper who was about to come out to greet Xu Qi An saw this scene and his expression changed slightly. He opened his mouth, wanting to call Young Master Xu back and scold his colleague for poaching, but then thought better of it. His status was not enough to interfere in this matter, and he might even incur Young Master Xu’s displeasure.
He bit his lip, closed the door, and hurriedly ran into the courtyard.
“Sisters, something terrible has happened,” he entered the wine room, standing at the doorway, loudly warning the maids inside who were wiping tables and setting out cold dishes.
A tall, pretty maid frowned and looked over, her voice soft and gentle: “What’s the rush? What happened?”
The young doorkeeper, full of anxiety and indignation, said, “Young Master Xu has been snatched away, just outside the courtyard gate, taken by a servant from Mingyan’s courtyard.”
“What?”
“That little flirt, daring to snatch our mistress’s man.”
The maids were shocked. The tall maid suddenly threw down her wet cloth, lifted her skirt, and rushed towards the main bedroom as if reporting urgent military intelligence.
…
In the main bedroom, Fuxiang, wearing a plum blossom patterned long dress, was lounging lazily on the couch, holding a book in her hand, tasting purple grapes while intently reading a clichéd romance novel.
The fruit platter contained seasonal fruits like grapes, sugarcane, bananas, and jujubes.
The maid serving her was crouching by the bed, holding Fuxiang’s delicate white feet, massaging the acupoints on the soles.
“Mistress has been distracted lately, and not very happy. Are you thinking about Young Master Xu?”
“Why would I think about that smelly man?” Fuxiang shook her head.
“Then why do you have me check every night during the tea gathering if Young Master Xu has arrived?” the maid giggled.
Fuxiang frowned slightly, pointing at the fruit platter, “All men in the world are the same, just like sugarcane.”
“Sugarcane?”
“At first, it’s sweet, so sweet it melts your heart. But as you keep eating, you’ll find that the last bite is just pulp,” Fuxiang pouted.
Having shed her dignified and gentle demeanor, her expression became more lively and vivid.
The maid smiled, thinking to herself, even if it’s pulp, it’s truly sweet when it’s sweet. When you accompany him every night, your cries are so unrestrained.
Fuxiang had been fine before, but the maid’s words opened a floodgate of emotions, making it difficult for her to calm down. She pursed her lips:
“What do you think of Young Master Xu?”
The maid chuckled, “He’s exceptionally powerful, exhausting you every night until your whole body is tired and your legs shake when you walk.”
Fuxiang’s cheeks reddened, and she lightly kicked the maid, her charming eyes glaring with infinite allure as she scolded, “Don’t you think he’s different from other men?”
The maid looked thoughtful and agreed, “He is gentler than other men, without that arrogant attitude of looking down on us. However, when he stares at your chest, he’s no cleaner than those men outside.”
“All men are lecherous,” Fuxiang didn’t mind these things, popping a grape into her small mouth. “Recently, a half-verse of seven-character poetry has been circulating in the Imperial Entertainment Bureau, as brilliant as ‘Slanting shadows cross the shallow water, subtle fragrance floats in the moonlit dusk.’ It’s said to have come from the palace.”
The maid nodded, “I heard from customers at the tea gathering that it was composed during a drinking game by the princes and princesses. It’s just not known which prince has such poetic talent.”
At this moment, the tall maid ran in, slightly out of breath, her eyes urgent, and said, “Mistress, Young Master Xu just came to the Imperial Entertainment Bureau…”
Here, she paused for a few seconds to catch her breath.
Fuxiang made a sound of acknowledgment, not paying much attention, “Serve him wine and dishes, let him wait outside.”
This man, she hadn’t seen him for almost ten days. When they were together under the flowers and moon, he called her his little sweetie, but once his interest passed, he neglected her.
After all, he’s just a man, not worth worrying about.
The maid shook her head repeatedly, “Young Master Xu was snatched halfway by Miss Mingyan’s people, he’s already gone to her courtyard.”
“What?!”
Fuxiang stood up abruptly, causing waves in her chest. Her eyebrows furrowed, and she gritted her teeth, “Change clothes, we’re going to Qingchi Courtyard.”
…
In the elegantly decorated brocade hall, Xu Qi An smiled as he admired the dancing courtesan’s beauty.
She wore a goose-yellow gauze skirt, her appearance neither conservative nor vulgar. She had bright eyes and a pointed chin. Due to years of dancing, she had the vigor that other women in the Imperial Entertainment Bureau lacked.
Moreover, her figure wasn’t voluptuous, but her proportions were excellent. Her slightly protruding chest, though not large, must be perfectly perky.
“This servant has been noticing Young Master Xu for some time, but whenever Young Master Xu comes to the Imperial Entertainment Bureau, he always goes straight to Yingmei Pavilion,” Mingyan’s voice was gentle, seeming both resentful and joking, with a smile at the corners of her mouth:
“Today, I finally caught the opportunity.”
Xu Qi An smiled and said, “I was afraid of offending a beauty,” while inwardly calculating. This courtesan was of the same level as Fuxiang. At that time, Fuxiang’s price was thirty taels of silver for a night of spring passion. This one should be about the same, not counting the silver for the tea gathering.
I didn’t bring that much silver today, though I have plenty of gold. It’s just that it can’t be used as currency.
After chatting for a few sentences, a maid hurriedly ran in, lowering her head, “Mistress, Fuxiang is here, we… we can’t stop her.”
Mingyan raised an eyebrow, smiling, “It seems Fuxiang has deep feelings for the young master, considering you her exclusive property.”
Xu Qi An also raised an eyebrow. This statement, at first glance, seemed to be a compliment, but upon closer inspection, it was sowing discord.
Being considered the exclusive property of a courtesan, in the eyes of men in this era, was not something to be proud of.
Heh, so bitchy… Xu Qi An took a sip of wine, not feeling unhappy or annoyed. Different groups, different attitudes. Wasn’t it normal for women in the Imperial Entertainment Bureau to be bitchy?
Without some skills, how could one survive in such a place?
If we’re talking about the bitchiest place, the emperor’s harem is undoubtedly the industry leader.
Just as he was thinking this, Fuxiang had already entered with her maid. The courtesan’s face was solemn, her beautiful eyes flashing with sharp light. The moment she entered the room, her expression changed without warning to gentle and pitiful as she said:
“I heard Young Master Xu came to the Imperial Entertainment Bureau. This servant also wanted to join in and serve alongside Miss Mingyan.”
This level of speech was impressive. Coming to Qingchi Courtyard wasn’t to confront and quarrel, but to serve together.
She both declared her claim and put pressure on Courtesan Mingyan, while also pleasing Xu Qi An. After all, what man wouldn’t want to be served by two courtesans at the same time?
Mingyan put on an enthusiastic smile: “How could I trouble sister to come especially? I was having some private words with Young Master Xu but with my sister here… I feel a bit embarrassed to continue.”
Fuxiang pretended not to hear, lifted her skirt, and naturally sat down beside Xu Qi An, carefully pouring him wine, picking dishes for him, and tidying his disheveled hair.
“Has Young Master Xu been busy with official duties recently?”
“Mm,” Xu Qi An saw the courtesan leaning close and naturally put his arm around her slender waist.
“Then later, come to Yingmei Pavilion, and this servant will massage your shoulders and press your acupoints,” Fuxiang said softly.
Mingyan silently gritted her teeth, wishing she could take a broom and sweep this stinking woman out the door. She had already gotten such a great advantage, becoming a famous courtesan with a widespread reputation, she should be content.
There was no reason to keep men tightly bound to her, not giving her sisters in the Imperial Entertainment Bureau a share.
Hurried footsteps came again, it was the same maid from before. Her expression was strange as she looked at Xu Qi An and said in a low voice:
“Mistress, several courtesans have arrived…”
“What?” Mingyan and Fuxiang exclaimed in surprise.
Xu Qi An’s ears twitched, hearing the sound of women laughing and chatting. After a while, a group of beautifully dressed, but not gaudy, high-quality beauties filed in.
Some were charming and affectionate, some were alluring and passionate, some were as reserved as ladies from good families, and some were as delicate as Sister Lin Daiyu.
They had various styles, seven in total.
But whether in figure or appearance, they could all be called top-tier beauties.
“Greetings, Young Master Xu!” The courtesans lined up, bowing slightly, their voices pleasing to the ear.
In Xu Qi An’s mind, only four words remained: high-class escort service.
Fuxiang and Mingyan were inwardly furious but had to pretend to warmly welcome the other courtesans.
The brocade hall couldn’t accommodate so many people, so Courtesan Mingyan invited everyone to the outer hall, arranging for maids to bring fine wine and delicacies.
The nine courtesans chatted and laughed with ease as if they were truly good sisters, but the glances they occasionally cast toward Xu Qi An revealed the fact that they were secretly competing.
They were all shrewd, coveting Xu Qi An’s body, but not showing it outwardly. They maintained the status and dignity of courtesans.
However, Xu Qi An could smell the faint gunpowder in the air, especially from Fuxiang, who would reveal traces of restlessness in her glances.
What’s this, Do you want to have a Nine Yin Manual session?… It’s a pity there are no phones, otherwise, I could show off on social media… Xu Qi An bantered inwardly while exchanging glances with the courtesans.
A courtesan with a scholarly air suggested playing a drinking game.
After three rounds of drinks, Xu Qi An’s performance was unremarkable, with no popular poems emerging, which disappointed the courtesans who had come for him.
The scholarly courtesan who had suggested the drinking game smiled gently and said, “Do you know the half-verse ‘Drunk, unaware the sky’s in water, a boatful of clear dreams presses down on the starry river’?”
The courtesans suddenly became lively, chirping, “Of course, we know, what a beautiful line.”
Fuxiang smiled and spoke up, “It’s said to have come from the palace.”
The scholarly courtesan nodded slightly, “Then do you know who wrote it?”
The courtesans’ eyes lit up, and they all looked at her, “Does Aya know?”
Xu Qi An lowered his head to drink.
Courtesan Aya shook her head, “I don’t know, but I know some other things, things not known in the Imperial Entertainment Bureau…”
She deliberately paused, drinking slowly.
“Tell us quickly!” the courtesans urged anxiously.
Fuxiang’s attention was also drawn, her eyes bright and sparkling, a smile unconsciously curling her lips.
Xu Qi An had seen this expression before. In his previous life, his girlfriend and her best friends had similar expressions when discussing luxury handbags.
Aya was very satisfied with the women’s attitudes and smiled, “This poem was also born during a drinking game. Those participating in the banquet were all princesses.”
“Was it the Crown Princess?” the courtesans guessed.
If any of the princes and princesses could write such an excellent seven-character verse, it must be Crown Princess Huaiqing, known for her talent.
“That I don’t know,” Aya shook her head, looking at Xu Qi An with a bitchy smile, and said:
“Although it’s only half a verse, its level is not inferior to Young Master Xu’s plum blossom poem. But this servant feels that Young Master Xu’s poetic talent is unique. That half-verse was probably just a flash of inspiration, not comparable to Young Master Xu’s overflowing talent.”
“Yes, yes, does Young Master Xu have any new works recently? This servant has admired the young master for a long time,” another alluring and affectionate courtesan cast a flirtatious glance.
The other courtesans didn’t speak, but smiled, gazing at him affectionately.
They were both competitors and collaborators, attempting to extract something precious from Xu Qi An together.
Xu Qi An drank his wine and chuckled lightly, “My inspiration has been dry lately, I have no new works. After all, this official can’t compose a poem every three or four days.”
Hearing him say this, the women were first disappointed, their expressions dimming, but then they noticed something odd about his words.
Every three or four days? Wasn’t Young Master Xu’s latest work that plum blossom poem for Fuxiang, and before that “Who in the world doesn’t know you” for the Purple Yang Hermit?
They didn’t know about the poem encouraging study.
Both poems were quite old now, widely circulated, but their popularity had gradually waned. What did he mean by every three or four days… Was he saying he had a new work three or four days ago?
Aya remembered the half-verse of seven-character poetry that had come from the palace. It was from the day before yesterday. For a poem from the palace to reach the Imperial Entertainment Bureau naturally took some time. Calculating this way, the timing matched up.
She widened her beautiful eyes, her slender fingers tightly gripping her handkerchief. At this moment, she was so excited that her delicate body trembled slightly. She stared straight at Xu Qi An, her voice somewhat shaky:
“Young Master Xu… is your new work…”
Fuxiang reacted the fastest, suddenly turning her head, her watery eyes reflecting Xu Qi An’s image.
It was a kind of excitement and nervousness that wanted to speak but held back, like suddenly discovering that a cherished object was right beside you—joy and anticipation.
The laughter and chatter suddenly stopped, and the hall fell silent. The intelligent and quick-witted courtesans realized something and turned their heads, casting complex and indescribable gazes.
Some expectant, some surprised, some bewildered.