“You’re asking for suffering. Why torment yourself? With your current situation, wanting to rise in rank is simply harder than ascending to heaven.” Li Shiyan showed no mercy, directly pouring a bucket of cold water on him!
Luo Yang was no fool either.
Without power or influence, wanting to make a name for himself in Yanjing City was obviously harder than ascending to heaven.
But with his competitive nature and extremely strong self-respect, how could he endure the contempt of the Wen brothers? He had to roll up his sleeves and accomplish something great, to gain some face for himself.
He poured a cup of wine and tilted his head back to gulp it down, saying: “This is what the Wen family owes me, so of course I have to take it! Besides, it’s just a pavilion chief position. What if Heaven opens its eyes and lets me turn things around? Then I’ll be impressive, and we’ll see if the Wen family still dares to look down on me.”
Li Shiyan’s temperament was similar to his, so he naturally understood that feeling, but still wanted to help out of kindness: “How about this—I’ll arrange a position for you with opportunities for advancement.”
“Thank you for the young master’s kindness, but you don’t owe me anything.”
“You can’t put it that way. If everything had to be discussed in terms of owing, what would this world become? I consider you a friend, which is why I want to help you out. There’s no question of owing or not owing.”
Luo Yang’s eyes widened slightly. He swallowed and stared at Li Shiyan’s eyes in disbelief: “Young master, you really consider me your friend? When I went drinking with you last time, I thought you were just saying it.”
“What? Don’t you consider me a friend?”
“Of course not. It’s just that I feel someone with status like you—how could you be willing to befriend someone of my background?”
Li Shiyan’s face showed seriousness: “What’s wrong with your background? I’m not one of those snobs. The friends I, Li Shiyan, make must first and foremost be loyal. Back at the manor when you stepped forward to help me, I already recognized you as a friend. As long as I’m in Yanjing City for one day, you won’t starve! No matter what happens, I’ll go through fire and water for you!”
At that time, many people who were usually on good terms with him thought he had killed Wang Huai, and therefore avoided him from afar. No one was willing to help or speak up in his defense. Although he knew Luo Yang had stepped forward to help him at Ji Yunshu’s request, he had always remembered this kindness of sending coal in snowy weather. To have such a friend by his side—what more could he ask for!
Moreover, their personalities were similar and their interests were about the same, making them even more compatible.
Although Luo Yang was a rough man, hearing these words, his heart was moved like churning seas. Tears faintly swirled in his eyes, and his nose felt so sour it hurt sharply…
Finally he raised his sleeve and wiped them away.
An extremely carefree gesture!
Then he poured two cups of wine and raised his cup, saying: “Since the young master doesn’t look down on my background and considers me a friend, although I, Luo Yang, am not a good person and haven’t read many books, I know how to write the two characters for loyalty. From now on, you are my brother. Whatever happens, just call out and I’ll climb mountains of blades or descend into seas of fire without hesitation.”
Li Shiyan immediately raised the other cup of wine: “Good! From now on we share blessings and bear hardships together.”
“Bottoms up!”
The two tilted their heads back and drained their cups in one gulp.
Li Shiyan felt it wasn’t satisfying enough and drank several more cups in succession, having the waiter bring several more pots of wine.
Little Luzi in the distance looked worried, his hands clasped together as he silently prayed: “Heavenly Lord, you must protect us. Please don’t let my young master get drunk. I beg you to show your spirit. Amitabha, Amitabha…”
Across the way, Jiang Bin and the others took in all of Li Shiyan’s and Luo Yang’s actions.
One of them said: “Isn’t that kid the one who played the hero saving the beauty at the inn last time?”
“It’s him!”
“Jiang Bin, didn’t you say he was General Wen’s man? How is he also familiar with Li Shiyan?”
“Yeah, who exactly is he?”
Everyone spoke one after another, all developing strong curiosity about Luo Yang.
They withdrew their gazes from across the way and focused them one by one on Jiang Bin.
Jiang Bin squinted as he sized up Luo Yang. He was also puzzled.
Someone who could know the Wen brothers on one hand and be connected with Li Shiyan on the other—there were almost none in Yanjing City.
Previously he had thought that if he could befriend Luo Yang, he might even connect with the Wen family. But unexpectedly, Luo Yang was so familiar with Li Shiyan that his own plan had fallen through.
And was shattered!
He feared that instead of gaining a friend, he had gained an enemy!
Seeing Jiang Bin say nothing, the others stopped asking.
After the time it takes to burn a stick of incense, the Courtesan Selection officially began. People from the Ministry of Rites had all arrived and taken their seats on the first floor. Minister of Rites Zhu Tingzhi sat in the middle. On the table before him lay many booklets—all lists of women participating in the selection. He flipped through them a few times then set them aside, then exchanged a few words in low voices with officials beside him…
“Dong!”
The bronze gong sounded.
A civil official from the Ministry of Rites, wearing official robes, stood at the side of the circular stage. Holding a yellow silk booklet, he called out loudly: “Today, the floral record booklets submitted by various manors and prefectures total three hundred and three. Of these, seventy-six are aged fifteen, ninety-seven are aged sixteen, seventeen…”
The official announced each according to protocol.
Finally he closed the booklet and struck the bronze gong once more.
After this, the official read out the selection process: “According to protocol, we invite Miss Huazheng, the previous courtesan champion, to perform the opening dance.”
When the two characters “Huazheng” emerged, the crowd erupted.
Everyone knew that after Huazheng won the courtesan title three years ago, she became famous overnight. Her beauty could be called a celestial fairy descended to earth. Countless men would spare no cost and even come to blows just to see her dance once. However, just when she was at her peak of glory, she suddenly disappeared and never showed herself again! No one knew what had happened. As time passed bit by bit, Huazheng also became a thing of the past in people’s mouths, rarely mentioned again. Even when she was mentioned, it was mostly with sighs and regret.
And today, at the Courtesan Selection, they heard this long-absent name.
Although having the previous courtesan perform the opening dance was a rule of the selection over the years, they hadn’t expected Huazheng would actually come.
For a moment, countless pairs of eyes stared firmly at the direction of the warm pavilion in the back.
Nervous, excited, joyful, anxious… many emotions intertwined together, causing everyone to involuntarily hold their breath.
Slowly, a red silhouette emerged gradually from the warm pavilion. The woman wore a flowing red robe. Her waterfall-smooth long hair reached her waist. She wore a red veil over her face, faintly revealing hints of her features. Even with the deliberate concealment, those lively eyes still displayed her beauty without doubt. When her delicate willow-leaf eyebrows furrowed slightly, it seemed to carry an ethereal air, making people deeply entranced with just one glance…
For a moment, countless men went wild!
It was as if returning to that day three years ago when Huazheng won the courtesan title—exactly the same feeling.
But…
Shouldn’t she be bedridden with illness?
Even Divine Physician Wen had said it was impossible for her to wake up in these few days. Even the greatest immortal couldn’t do it.
Yet from the features of this woman in red robes, she was clearly Huazheng.
But if it wasn’t her, who could this person be?