The painted pleasure boat was brightly lit, with bustling figures and the soft sounds of silk and bamboo instruments drifting to the ear.
Jiang Si listened intently, clearly hearing a young man’s slightly frivolous tone: “Just keep a few male companions to serve us, send all those flower girls off the boat. With so many people, there’s no room to move.”
Jiang Zhan’s voice came, tinged with confusion: “Male companions?”
The young man who had spoken earlier laughed, “We’re just drinking today anyway. It’s not as enjoyable with women around. But Jiang, if you prefer flower girls, I can keep a couple for you.”
Hearing this, A Man couldn’t help but look at Jiang Si.
So these were the Second Young Master’s unsavory friends. Looked like even Young Master Yu was better than them.
Jiang Si listened with a straight face to hear how her brother would respond.
She suddenly felt that Father had been too lenient with Second Brother. This kind of child needed a good thrashing.
“No need, no need. Male companions are fine,” Jiang Zhan hurriedly said.
What a joke, was he the type to carouse? He was here mainly because Yang Shengcai had helped him out of a sticky situation, so he was doing Yang a favor by having a reconciliation meal with that Cui Yi kid. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have come to the Golden Water River with them at all.
Ahem, even if he did come, he’d be more relaxed coming alone.
Jiang Si’s mouth twitched as she listened.
What did he mean by “male companions are fine”? Her second brother was such an idiot!
Soon, several elaborately dressed women walked off the painted boat one after another.
Jiang Si had prepared two sets of clothes. One was a dress befitting a flower girl’s identity, while she wore men’s clothing.
In recent days, she had often come to observe the Golden Water River. This attire was exactly what the male companions on the Golden Water River commonly wore. Not the kind of male companion that would immediately attract everyone’s attention, but the kind suitable for serving tea and water without drawing notice.
Jiang Si’s face was painted and made up, turning her originally outstanding features into something plain, perfectly matching her clothes.
“Old Qin, give me a hand. Throw me onto the painted boat.”
“Young Miss, what about me?” A Man hurriedly asked.
Jiang Si, standing on the edge of the boat, looked back: “You and Old Qin stay on the boat, ready to assist the Second Young Master and me later.”
At this critical moment, A Man couldn’t set her mind at ease at all: “Young Miss, it’s too dangerous for you to be alone on the painted boat. Let this servant go with you. If anything happens, this servant can protect you—”
“Enough chatter,” Jiang Si’s face darkened. “More people will only cause trouble. I’ll be fine. Old Qin, do it now.”
Old Qin nodded, maneuvering the small boat closer to the back of the painted boat, then lifted Jiang Si and sent her onto the painted boat.
Watching Jiang Si nimbly flip over the railing and walk inside, a flash of light crossed Old Qin’s eyes.
He had always thought the young miss was just a weak girl who couldn’t even tie a chicken. But seeing her agile movements just now was quite interesting.
Of course, Old Qin didn’t care about these things. From now on, he would stay close to the painted boat at all times, ready to rescue the young miss at the first sign of danger.
“Old Qin,” A Man called out softly, gazing in the direction where Jiang Si had disappeared.
Old Qin didn’t respond, looking at A Man with a calm expression.
“Do you think the young miss is planning to knock the Second Young Master unconscious and carry him off the boat?”
Of course, Jiang Si’s true purpose for coming to the painted boat couldn’t be told to A Man.
“Don’t know,” Old Qin replied concisely.
A Man stared at the painted boat and sighed, “The young miss has it so hard.”
Jiang Si slipped into the painted boat, making her way to the main hall with practiced ease.
She had been to such painted boats several times before and was already familiar with their layout.
The main hall was as bright as day, with Jiang Zhan and the others already seated at the table.
Several male companions with unremarkable features came and went, carrying fruit, meat, and wine, while a few more extravagantly dressed male companions sat beside Jiang Zhan and the others, chatting and jesting.
Jiang Zhan frowned, “We’re here to drink. Why do we need these people sitting around chattering? It’s spoiling the mood!”
The Second Young Master Jiang was a “straightforward person” with absolutely no interest in male companionship.
Today, Yang Shengcai wore a thin purple robe that accentuated his jade-like complexion, red lips, and white teeth—truly a handsome appearance.
Jiang Si, blending in among the male companions serving tea and wine, coldly observed him, inwardly cursing him as a beast in human clothing.
Yang Shengcai, silently cursed by Jiang Si, was clearly in a good mood today and particularly tolerant of Jiang Zhan. Hearing his words, he immediately sent away the few flamboyantly dressed male companions.
Jiang Zhan felt much more at ease. His already clear and handsome features, now touched with a faint smile, appeared incomparably dashing.
Yang Shengcai’s eyes brightened, and he put his hand on Jiang Zhan’s shoulder: “Brother Jiang, I should thank you for giving me face today. Come, let’s have a drink first.”
Jiang Si stared at the presumptuous hand on her brother’s shoulder, wishing she could draw a knife and chop it off.
Yang Shengcai felt an inexplicable chill in his arm and shook his head unconsciously.
Hmm, must be his imagination.
The straightforward Second Young Master Jiang completely failed to notice anything amiss and readily clinked glasses with Yang Shengcai.
They both drained their cups in one go, and Yang Shengcai laughed heartily: “I like straightforward people like Brother Jiang. Not like some who hem and haw over a simple drink, so undignified!”
Apart from Jiang Zhan, among the four young men present, one was Yang Shengcai, whose grandfather was the current Minister of Rites and whose elder sister was the Crown Princess. Another was Cui Yi, whose father was a famous general of the current dynasty and whose mother was Princess Rongyang. The other two young men were the son of a Vice Minister of Rites and the son of Princess Danxia.
These four together formed the top circle among the young gentlemen of the capital, so Yang Shengcai spoke with great confidence.
Jiang Zhan smiled, “I like straightforward people too.”
Although he initially thought Yang Shengcai was a bit effeminate, he found him quite agreeable upon interaction. At least he was much better than Cui Yi.
With this smile, Yang Shengcai became even more enthusiastic.
Cui Xu, sitting nearby, raised his wine cup at Yang Shengcai’s subtle prompt: “Brother Jiang, I was thoughtless before. Please don’t take offense. After this cup of wine, let’s be friends from now on.”
Jiang Zhan was the type of young gentleman who was generous and made friends easily. Hearing this, although he still didn’t think much of Cui Xu, he held back for Yang Shengcai’s sake. He raised his cup, clinked it, and drank it down.
The other two young men slapped the table and cheered: “Brother Jiang is truly forthright! We brothers feel a connection with you at first sight. Come, let’s drain this cup!”
Jiang Si watched as Jiang Zhan drank cup after cup, left and right, and felt her teeth ache with anger.
Her foolish second brother needed to find a fierce tigress of a sister-in-law to keep him in line. Anyone who dared to run around with these unsavory friends should be beaten half to death first.
Seeing Jiang Zhan’s cheeks flush red and his eyes becoming unfocused, clearly affected by the alcohol, Yang Shengcai affectionately put his arm around his shoulders: “Brother Jiang, just drinking is boring. Let’s play something else.”
Jiang Zhan’s eyes, like black jade, widened slightly, showing youthful innocence and curiosity: “Play what?”
Yang Shengcai suddenly stood up and leaned close to Jiang Zhan, blowing gently into his ear: “You’ll know soon enough.”
While Jiang Zhan was still in a daze, Yang Shengcai opened his mouth and gently bit his earlobe.
Cui Xu and the others, including the male companions, all burst into soft laughter.