Chapter 250: Selling Swords, Painting, and Sleeping in the Brothel

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Xu Fengnian had gone to Liuxia City to kill, but he came to Feihu City to find someone. This was because Xu Xiao had a message for the Crown Prince to deliver to that person. Feihu City, while not truly large, was by no means small, and Xu Fengnian, being unfamiliar with the place, found it incredibly difficult to find a needle in a haystack.

The tavern business was quiet. Xu Fengnian noticed the inn's waiter, perhaps weary from watching the beautiful women pass by outside the window, dozing off at an adjacent table, head tilted, a damp cloth cooling his face. Just as Xu Fengnian was wondering if he should order another pot of tea to initiate a conversation, the plump innkeeper, ever observant, proactively brought over a new pot of tea and sat down. He smiled and said, "A guest is a traveler, and meeting is destiny. This pot of tea is on me; there's no charge. The tea leaves are pre-Qingming tea transported from the old Southern Tang region. I usually can't bear to drink it, and only two portions are left. But if I don't drink it now, it will go moldy. You seem like a kind gentleman; shall we share a few cups?"

The plump innkeeper spoke in a mix of colloquialisms and refined phrases. Xu Fengnian quickly responded with polite words of gratitude. Tao Manwu, the young maid from a rather good background, though shy, was well-mannered. Without needing a word from Xu Fengnian, she smartly got up and moved the long bench for the innkeeper. The innkeeper's mood brightened considerably. After sitting down, he poured three cups of tea, not forgetting to offer one to the sensible girl. Tao Manwu cautiously looked at Xu Fengnian, and only after he nodded did she pick up her cup and delicately sip the tea. Seeing her practiced manner, the innkeeper knew that this pair, one adult and one child, were not merely common folk pretending to be refined; they were likely scholars from Longyao Prefecture, either visiting relatives or on a study tour with family.

In business, it's essential to cast a long line to catch a big fish, a principle the innkeeper understood deeply. His establishment, operating as both an inn and a tavern, barely stayed afloat thanks to the support of regular customers who valued appearances more than money. Otherwise, his entire family would have starved long ago. Feihu City had an abundance of one thing: ruffians. Any household running a business open to the public had to concede a portion of their profits. It wasn't excruciating, but a small business couldn't withstand six or seven factions demanding a monthly cut. These troublesome ruffians, swaggering around like hell-spawn, were ungrateful even when placated; if not served to their liking, they would wreak havoc, causing endless annoyance. As for filing a lawsuit, the God of Wealth himself advised peaceful wealth acquisition, so who truly had the courage and financial means to deal with officials who were cold-faced and even colder-hearted? Previously, there was a tavern on the next street, opened by an outsider, that made a fortune daily. Relying on a powerful patron, reportedly a distant relative or fellow townsman of a border general's concubine, the business was so good that they were unwilling to part with the monthly ten-odd taels of "respect money." Subsequently, dozens of ruffians would loiter by their entrance daily; how could any customers visit? The tavern owner, in his youthful vigor, went to the authorities to complain, but the people of Feihu City were merely gathering in the sun, which wasn't illegal, so who would bother with him? Later, he and his family discreetly moved out of the city, only to be ambushed, bagged, and severely beaten by a group of masked men.

The innkeeper took a sip of tea and asked with a smile, "Judging by your accent, young master, you're not from around here, are you?"

Xu Fengnian nodded and replied, "I'm visiting from Gusaizhou. I told my family I was on a study tour, but in truth, it was just an excuse to see the world. As I happened to be free from nagging elders and had heard of Feihu City's great reputation, I secretly rushed over."

The innkeeper displayed a knowing smile that any man would understand, likely amused by his guest's frankness. He said, "Haha, young master, you are a man of character, very good indeed. Our Feihu City has four strange things, and one of them is that 'Feihu harlots are deep in loyalty.' It's a crude saying, but it's the absolute truth. There are at least seventy or eighty brothels and pleasure houses in the city, all money pits and bottomless holes. But you get what you pay for; the women of pleasure in Feihu City are worth their price. We local men simply can't afford them. I, Old Sun, went a few times when I was young, suffering for vanity, and almost went bankrupt.

"If you plan to go, I can recommend a few places. Jiangbo Tower is undoubtedly the most famous. It's easy to spend a hundred taels of gold and silver there in one night. Nobles and dignitaries from Longyao Prefecture love to frequent it for pleasure, and those who face trouble and can't find help through official channels usually go there to wait for opportunities. If you ask me, the large brothels in Jiaqing Bottle Alley are more affordable. The women are beautiful, skilled in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, but their prices are lower, mainly because their fame isn't quite there yet, so they don't have the confidence to demand exorbitant prices. Many talented young girls there, if they get good verses and songs, and scholars help promote them, might become famous figures in Fengbo Tower within a few years. I know an old brother who, six or seven years ago, spent forty taels to spend a night with a young woman from Bottle Alley. Guess what, young master? She's now a top-tier courtesan at Fengbo Tower! Never mind anything else, just seeing her and listening to a song with a group of people costs ten taels of silver. My brother, although well-off, can no longer afford her. If you have an acquaintance to guide you, a night there would only cost twenty or thirty taels of silver. Heh, look at Old Sun's blabbering mouth, what do I mean 'only' twenty or thirty taels? In short, if you want to leave satisfied and return content, Bottle Alley is your first choice. Once you understand the ropes there, and if you still have money, then go to Fengbo Tower; it's safer."

Xu Fengnian said with a cheerful smile, "Old Brother Sun, just for what you've told me, please don't insist on treating me to this pot of tea. I appreciate your kindness, but I'll pay for it. Consider it payment for saving me from wasting money. Tell me how much it is, and I'll pay."

The innkeeper didn't politely refuse; instead, he gave a thumbs up and praised, "One can tell at a glance that you, young master, are a sincere man."

Xu Fengnian continued, "Old Brother Sun, please don't call me 'young master'; it feels too formal. My surname is Xu; just call me Little Xu. My family deals in porcelain, so in a way, I'm in the same line of business as you; we're both merchants. On this trip, I didn't dare to bring too much money. If I had rashly gone to Fengbo Tower based on its reputation, I would have likely fallen flat on my face, and reaching Dongjinzhou comfortably would have been questionable. By the way, Old Brother, you mentioned Feihu City has four strange things. What are the other three?"

Innkeeper Sun didn't keep him in suspense and said, "Besides the fact that our local environment nurtures its people, and the women in the city are naturally beautiful specimens, if you enter the city through the main gate, you'll see the Hanging Sword Pavilion. It's said that every Double Ninth Festival, you can hear a hundred swords ringing simultaneously. We common folk can't go up to the city walls, so I don't know if it's true, but that's what everyone says.

"The third thing, well, Old Sun has to admit our shortcomings. In Feihu City, men are content with minor wealth, and they're quite unambitious. In a hundred years since the city was founded, not a single high-ranking official who could bring glory to their family has emerged. They're all petty officials, no bigger than sesame seeds or mung beans. I, Old Sun, think it's all because the women are too beautiful. With fair and tender young wives in bed at home, and so many brothels outside, men are exhausted at night. How can they have the energy during the day to compete with outsiders for official positions? Brother Xu, look at me, Old Sun. My whole life, I've been content with guarding this family business. As long as I have food and clothing, I'm happy. I have no ambition to earn big money. I just like to pick good teas to taste, drink a bit with my old friends, and chat about neighborhood gossip, just like women do. What prospects can there be in that? Outsiders say we lack ambition, and they're not wrong."

Xu Fengnian showed a faint smile of understanding, nodded, and softly said, "Peace is good enough; stability is a blessing."

From its grand city layout to its smallest pavilions and towers, Feihu City possessed a rare delicacy in Beimang. The women here far surpassed those in other prefectural cities of Longyao Prefecture in beauty. Nicknamed "Feihu'er," these young women possessed both the delicate beauty of Jiangnan ladies and the resilient spirit of Beimang, thus showing neither a frivolous demeanor nor a jaded air. They were renowned throughout Beimang's eight prefectures, and even a top courtesan from a Feihu brothel commanded a price more than double that of her counterparts elsewhere.

In contrast, the men of Feihu City had never made a name for themselves in either military or political circles, consistently being mocked as effeminate, their refinement cloyingly strong. The city was filled with delicate men boating in flower harbors to watch fish, or elegant scholars fanning themselves with sandalwood fans while sipping tea and discussing philosophy, priding themselves on their sophistication. No one from Feihu City had yet risen to the rank of a border official of the third rank or higher, much less a distinguished close minister who could secure a seat on an embroidered stool in the imperial tent and engage in discussions with the Empress. It was hard to imagine that this gentle, almost effeminate city, utterly devoid of heroic spirit, housed a pavilion where nearly a hundred top swordsmen from the Spring and Autumn periods had hung their swords in retirement. Among them was "Spring Gone," hung by a descendant of the Western Shu Sword Queen on behalf of her ancestor, and "Candle Dragon," a famous sword that had once clashed with Li Chungang's "Wooden Ox." In the Spring and Autumn period, there was a custom in southern villages to plant rows of feng shui trees at the village entrance; it was unknown whether the Hanging Sword Pavilion held this layer of homesick meaning.

Innkeeper Sun sighed with emotion, "Brother Xu, those eight words of yours elucidate a profound truth. You are indeed a scholar from a prominent family, unlike common folk like us who only see money. We've lived most of our lives and still can't utter such words."

Xu Fengnian merely smiled, long accustomed to such innocuous flattery and never taking it seriously. He merely asked out of curiosity, "Old Brother Sun, you seem to have missed one strange thing."

Innkeeper Sun came to his senses and chuckled, "Oh, right, right, right! About twenty years ago, a dashing swordsman came to Feihu City. Instead of hanging his sword, he rather spinelessly sold his treasured sword for a high price. It fetched an astonishing price of a thousand taels of gold! I was young then, but I remember everyone in Feihu City was stunned. I saw this handsome swordsman from afar amidst a throng of women; he was indeed a rare beauty of a man. Later, he used the gold from selling his sword to live in Fengbo Tower for a whole year, which was another sensation throughout the city.

"What happened when the swordsman spent all thousand taels of gold and had nothing left? He became a painter, specializing in portraits of women, and spent the money he earned like water. At first, he lived joyfully and freely, and even noble ladies were happy to patronize him—heaven knows if they were drawn to him or his paintings. However, his business grew increasingly quiet, and later, no one ever saw this man, who had traded swordsmanship for painting, again. But this strange tale of the extraordinary man who sold his sword, painted, and lived in brothels, has been passed down ever since."

Xu Fengnian asked, "What kind of sword could sell for such an astonishing price of a thousand taels of gold?"

Innkeeper Sun looked troubled and said, "Old Sun here doesn't know. I only heard it was sold to the City Lord, and later, when the City Lord's son came of age, it was gifted to the Crown Prince. Brother Xu, Old Sun isn't just praising him idly. This son of the City Lord is unlike ordinary men in Feihu City. He's valiant and brave, his swordsmanship is taught by a top master, he can draw a three-stone bow from horseback, and his close-quarters combat with a 'mang' saber on foot is exceptional. Rumor has it that in a few years, he'll go to the northern imperial court to become a 'Bell Bearer' for His Majesty the Emperor, which is an immense honor.

"Old Sun has two daughters. The elder, needless to say, is at the age of blossoming romance. Even the younger one, just over ten, is desperately infatuated. Every time the Crown Prince makes an appearance, she and her sisters run off, screaming, 'I won't marry anyone else in this life!' It makes my blood boil! You tell me, what business does a girl not yet eleven have getting excited like that? She's dark-skinned like her mother. Even when her face and figure develop, even if a girl changes eighteen times, at best she'll be delicate. How can she possibly aspire to the City Lord's son? Brother Xu, don't you agree? The moment I scold her, she, her older sister, and even my old, fading wife, all join forces to make trouble for me, ganging up against me, and the three of them can ignore me for days. Alas!"

The old man's sigh came from the depths of his heart, how utterly sorrowful and miserable it sounded.

Xu Fengnian did not agree, but kept his gaze steady, sipping his tea. He simply said to Innkeeper Sun with a smile, "Old Brother Sun, I think your niece may not seem remarkable now, but in the future, there's no telling if she might grow into a graceful and beautiful young woman. Furthermore, that son of the City Lord clearly seems to be an extraordinary man of profound character. Life is unpredictable; who knows if my unseen niece might just find a match made in heaven?"

Innkeeper Sun was puzzled, but seeing the subtle hint from Brother Xu, he immediately understood and quickly nodded earnestly, saying, "Indeed, indeed. Don't mind me always complaining about my daughter, Old Sun here actually cares for her deeply as a father. Heh, I dare not insist on the City Lord's son as a son-in-law, but at the very least, he must be a man as upstanding as him to enter my family's door. Otherwise, I'll sweep him out with a broom! Hmph, I won't allow my daughter to be wronged!"

Standing behind Innkeeper Sun was a girl around ten years old, who had been simmering with anger. Upon hearing his last words, her face instantly transformed from gloomy to bright and sunny. She sweetly called out "Daddy," then sat in Innkeeper Sun's lap, her little face beaming with a flower-like smile, and said, "Daddy, tonight tell Mommy to make your favorite Dongling meat!" Innkeeper Sun, having narrowly escaped disaster, wiped cold sweat from his brow. He stroked his little daughter's head, said "Good girl," then secretly gave Xu Fengnian a thumbs up, profoundly grateful, feeling he shouldn't charge for the tea anymore.

Xu Fengnian smiled softly and said, "This must be your niece, right? She certainly has a radiant charm; she'll definitely grow into a great beauty who overshadows the moon and shames the flowers."

The little girl gave a definite hum. Then she happily giggled, "Too bad you're too old, and you're not as handsome as Young Master Tantai. I don't fancy you, you know."

Xu Fengnian fell silent. The Crown Prince felt as if ten thousand arrows had pierced his heart.

(It's a bit late. There will be one more chapter before midnight.)