“Physician Cui has taken several days off, claiming to be gravely ill. Yet, I saw him in Pingkang Ward last night. How could he have fallen ill overnight and refused visitors? Could it be…” The junior clerk trailed off, but everyone understood his implication. A mixture of pity and disdain flashed across their faces.
Mei Zhuyu, as always, paid no heed to such daily gossip. He calmly packed his things and prepared to leave the office.
However, his indifferent demeanor changed to undisguised joy when he saw who was waiting at the office entrance. Though his expression remained the same, the sudden brightness in his usually calm eyes betrayed his change in mood.
Today, Wu Zhen had forgone her usual male attire. Instead, she wore a snow-blue double-breasted blouse and skirt, embroidered with large calamus flowers along the hem. A yellow palace cord was tied around her waist, securing a round white jade pendant. Standing there so simply, her gentle elegance and natural charm shone like a bright pearl and exuded the fragrance of orchids.
Amidst curious glances, she walked towards Mei Zhuyu and extended her hand. Mei Zhuyu stepped forward and took it.
Wu Zhen: “My lord, come with me to a place.”
Mei Zhuyu: “Alright.”
Sensing the shifting gazes of the onlooking officials, Wu Zhen’s lips curled into a slight smile. She leaned close to Mei Zhuyu and whispered, “We’re going to a brothel.”
Mei Zhuyu: “…Alright.”
Wu Zhen broke into a smile and led him out. They walked side by side, close enough for their robes and skirts to occasionally intertwine. Wu Zhen deliberately spoke in a low voice, while Mei Zhuyu, with one hand behind his back and the other held by Wu Zhen, lowered his head to speak with her. His voice was much gentler than when addressing others. Their quiet conversation exuded a unique intimacy.
Some officials from the Ministry of Justice, who had never seen the two together before, began to doubt the rumors of Mei Zhuyu and Wu Zhen’s cold and loveless marriage. Looking at them now, they seemed nothing but affectionate.
Once outside the Ministry of Justice, Wu Zhen squeezed Mei Zhuyu’s large hand and tugged at his fingertips. “I’ve heard some unpleasant rumors lately. Has anyone been bullying you, my lord? Has anyone caused you trouble?”
Mei Zhuyu didn’t understand why she would ask this. No one had ever been able to bully him since childhood. Seeing Mei Zhuyu shake his head and deny it, Wu Zhen lovingly stroked his hand again. “You’re so good-natured, you probably wouldn’t say even if someone did bully you.”
Mei Zhuyu: “…?” But really, no one had.
Wu Zhen, unaware that she had overthought the situation, glanced at him again and said in a gentle, reassuring tone, “It’s alright. Such things won’t happen in the future.”
Changing the subject, she continued, “You played a crucial role in our good ranking at the Dragon Boat Race during the Dragon Boat Festival. Cui Jiu and the others want to celebrate with you. I’ve been busy these past few days and haven’t been home, but I have time today, so I arranged it for today. You don’t need to report for duty tomorrow, so we can stay out late tonight.”
Mei Zhuyu nodded, focusing intently on her. Wu Zhen tilted her head, noticing his unwavering gaze, and said with amusement, “You’re staring without blinking. Have you missed me that much after just a few days apart?”
Slightly embarrassed, Mei Zhuyu averted his gaze, but after glancing from the birds in the sky to the trees on the ground, his eyes inevitably returned to Wu Zhen. Accustomed to being looked at, Wu Zhen said nothing more, allowing him to look as he pleased, occasionally returning an indulgent smile.
Mei Zhuyu entered a brothel for the first time in his life, led by his wife. She was familiar with the place. Upon reaching Pingkang Ward, two servants waiting at the entrance respectfully approached and enthusiastically guided them to a courtyard. The yard was filled with flowers and trees, with water channels carved throughout. A floating platform on the water held a large hexagonal pavilion that could seat dozens of people. The pavilion had six red-lacquered stone pillars supporting an eight-treasure roof, with upturned eaves from which hung two-foot-long lanterns. Bamboo curtains and gauze hung between the red pillars. In the fading daylight, numerous lamps shone through the gauze, casting a hazy reflection on the water’s rippling surface.
The pavilion was furnished with small tables, soft cushions, and screens. Some familiar faces were already seated there: Cui Jiu, Mei Si, Lord Zhao, and others, along with Lady Sun. Seeing Wu Zhen and Mei Zhuyu arrive, they waved, “You’re finally here, come sit!”
As Mei Zhuyu was about to greet them one by one, Wu Zhen stopped him, pulling him to a seat. “No need for formalities, just relax.”
After speaking to Mei Zhuyu, she picked up a small hammer and struck a golden bell on the small table. Soon after the ding-dong sound, someone quickly entered the pavilion. Wu Zhen said, “Bring a cup of Silver Dragon Soup for my lord, with fine snow noodles. Remember, it must be made by your Madam Ma personally. Also, bring some Honey Immortals and Jade Dew Balls. I recall you make Ten Flower Soup on the fifteenth, right? Bring a portion of that as well.”
The servant noted everything down, nodded, and quickly left. Wu Zhen turned to Mei Zhuyu and said, “Have a light meal first. Madam Ma here has several specialties that I find quite good. I’m not sure if you’ll like them, but if you do, we can come back next time and order a full table.”
Although it was a brothel, Mei Zhuyu found it quite different from what he had imagined. The scenery was pleasant and soothing, and there were no powdered beauties for company, just their small group, each freely engaged in their activities.
Mei Si, after greeting him, had been hunched over a table behind a screen, engrossed in drawing something. Cui Jiu was tuning a zither, occasionally plucking a string. Lord Zhao was fiddling with a box of drinking lots, muttering to himself. Lady Sun sat by an incense burner, surrounded by various small boxes and bottles, occasionally adding some powder to the burner. Some were leaning against pillars drinking, while others played chess by lamplight. Everyone was absorbed in their entertainment.
Wu Zhen was using a small knife to cut melons. Her knife skills were excellent, deftly peeling the white-skinned jade melon and cutting it into pieces, which she arranged on a plate and pushed in front of Mei Zhuyu.
“Do you want to eat it as is, or shall we mix it with yogurt and honey later?”
“This is fine.”
Wu Zhen propped her chin on her hand, resting her elbow on the table as she watched him. “Don’t be so formal. I just brought you here to see what I usually do, so you’d know I’m not behaving recklessly as some people say. I generally come to the brothel just to listen to music and watch dances.”
She spoke frankly, and Mei Zhuyu nodded without hesitation. “I know.” He could read faces and observe auras. Wu Zhen’s aura was pure, and her eyes were clear and upright. She was an honest and righteous person.
“Don’t mind the rumors. They’re not to be believed,” Mei Zhuyu said.
Wu Zhen: “That’s what I wanted to tell you.” She realized she had overthought things. Her lord indeed didn’t care about those baseless rumors outside. She had even thought he might get a little jealous or upset, but her lord trusted her so much and was so broad-minded. Among Wu Zhen’s married friends, she found that almost everyone had small conflicts with their husbands or wives, usually due to minor misunderstandings or friction, and a few harsh words were normal.
But with Mei Zhuyu, Wu Zhen realized they had never had any unpleasantness or arguments. Not only had they never argued, but her lord had never said a single unkind word to her. No matter how she treated him, whether distant or close, he remained unperturbed. He was delighted to see her but wouldn’t actively seek her out if they were apart, making her feel as free as she had been before marriage.
Wu Zhen suddenly felt that with her lord’s mindset, he could become a Daoist cultivator. Such self-control and restraint would surely lead to great achievements.
The truly formidable Daoist, Lord Mei, finished the meal the servants had brought – the dishes Wu Zhen had ordered for him earlier. The taste was excellent, and even though Mei Zhuyu didn’t particularly indulge in food pleasures, he felt this level of culinary skill was rare in Chang’an.
After the meal, Wu Zhen chatted casually with him and ate some fruit. By then, night had fully fallen.
Servants came to light the lamps. Although there were already many lights in the place, over a dozen servants came to light countless small lamps in the corners and a large rotating lamp in the center. Additionally, they lit lamps on the water’s surface. The water wasn’t deep, only reaching mid-calf, and the lamps placed along the shore would all gather near the pavilion with the current, illuminating both inside and outside the pavilion as bright as day.
From afar came the tinkling of jade pendants and girdle ornaments. A group of dancers in light gauze pushed and shoved their way in, along with several ladies carrying musical instruments.
The leading lady had an extraordinary bearing, wearing a deep purple silk dress. After sitting down, she smiled and nodded at Wu Zhen. The dancers took their positions in the center of the pavilion, and as soon as the lady struck a note on her pipa, the dancers began to sway their hips.
A gentle breeze wafted through the pavilion, and the gracefully dancing ladies’ water sleeves waved, their shadows cast on the central lamp making them appear even more slender and graceful. Like green water plants stretching in the water, the tiny bells on their bodies chimed softly, flying with their light, floating skirts, as beautiful and hazy as flowers and mist.
The pipa lady’s music was exceptionally pleasing to the ear, almost merging with the night and the wind. Wu Zhen rested her chin on her hand, eyes half-closed as she listened, her fingers tapping on the white jade plate on the table, occasionally making a soft sound as if savoring the flavor. Everyone in the pavilion, regardless of what they had been doing before, was now listening intently to the music and appreciating the dance. Only Mei Zhuyu’s gaze remained fixed on Wu Zhen, not sparing even a glance for anyone else.
Such soft and beautiful songs and dances
couldn’t stir the rock-solid heart of this calm Daoist master. He remained focused on alleviating his lovesickness.
As the music ended, the pipa lady sighed and asked the group, “How was Wan Niang’s new composition?”
Cui Jiu praised, “It was excellent. Lady Wan, your skills have become even more exquisite.”
Everyone nodded in agreement, but Wan Niang’s face showed no joy. Instead, she looked worried and finally turned to Wu Zhen. “Second Young Lady, what do you think?”
Wu Zhen shook her head. “It’s not quite there. Some parts felt stagnant. This piece has a different intent from your previous ones, but you haven’t fully made the change. It ends up neither here nor there. It sounds fine on a casual listen, but upon closer inspection, it still needs work.”
Hearing this, Wan Niang’s eyes lit up, and she leaned forward eagerly. “Would the Second Young Lady be willing to offer some guidance?”
In the current trend of promoting dance and music, even the Emperor was immersed in these arts, and the common people were even more so. Wu Zhen’s appreciation skills were acknowledged even by the Emperor, so she naturally had some expertise. While she could offer critiques, opportunities to perform herself were rare. However, glancing at her lord beside her, she thought that since she had brought him here to enjoy himself, playing a couple of tunes to liven things up wouldn’t be amiss.
Wu Zhen stood up and sat down under the lamp. Unlike the other musicians who sat on soft cushions, she took the pipa Wan Niang handed her and sat on a folding bed. Her posture wasn’t particularly proper, quite casual in fact, but as she lowered her head to pluck the pipa, it was a sight one couldn’t look away from.
While the previous tune hadn’t caught Mei Zhuyu’s ear, this one caused a flower to bloom in the heart of Lord Mei, that man of stone.