Chapter 499: 斫琴

This chapter is 9,000 characters long. Although only 18 chapters have been updated in the 17 days of this month, this only makes up for one of the five chapters owed from last month. However, these 18 chapters total 90,000 characters, with each chapter averaging nearly 5,000 characters. I believe that making up for overdue updates is a necessary effort, and doing so without deliberately splitting chapters just to increase the count is also a form of effort. From now on, I won't discuss updates within the chapters; I'll keep it in mind.

***

After nightfall, Hong Shuwen excitedly followed Wang Tongque to fish with nets. The other two Fengzi Camp members stayed in the courtyard. Xu Fengnian left the courtyard, bringing only Xu Yanbing and Huyan Guanyin, who was disguised as a young page. They arrived at a place that would make a moral gentleman both spit in disgust and swallow in desire: a brothel. It happened to be next to the brothel alley where the net was cast in Huangnan County. Lingzhou was prosperous, and patronizing prostitutes was prevalent, so much so that many "Bodhisattvas and celestial maidens" (high-class courtesans) heavily funded by merchants were all curvaceous and alluring, lingering with their gazes. Many monks, after seeing the sculptures and murals, sighed, lamenting the decline of morality.

Walking through the brightly lit, heavily perfumed pleasure quarter, most patrons were proud, fur-clad big spenders. Huyan Guanyin followed closely behind Xu Fengnian, afraid of getting lost. Xu Yanbing, regardless of the situation, maintained a mind as calm as an ancient well; he probably had the same demeanor even when achieving enlightenment through the heavenly gate. As the former leader of the Beiliang wastrels, Xu Fengnian was well-versed in such affairs. He chose Taosai Tower, the most brightly lit establishment. The embroidered building was three stories high, with lanterns hanging high. Unlike neighboring brothels that sent out heavily made-up women to solicit business, it had a grand air about it. Xu Fengnian, with a wave of his hand, tossed a silver ingot to the brothel's "tortoise leg" (a doorman) at the entrance, who handled all manner of powerful and wealthy clients. The silver, without needing to be weighed, instantly slid into his sleeve. The young man's smile immediately turned obsequious. Such individuals were not simple; they had good eyesight, clever tongues, and strong bodies. He scrutinized Xu Fengnian from head to toe, concluding that a few high-spending guests had arrived. He immediately shouted loudly, but it was actually a secret signal to the madam. As expected, a woman soon emerged from the building, gracefully. However, unlike most brothel madams who were past their prime, this woman was young. Xu Fengnian, with his keen insight, saw that she was the brothel owner's daughter, commonly known as the "Little Manager." Upon seeing Xu Fengnian, she became radiant and meekly leaned close to him. Xu Fengnian did not take advantage of the situation. He pinched a banknote between two fingers and dropped it into the tender cleavage between the woman's red silk bustier, smiling as he said he wanted two "qing guan'er" (virtuous courtesans who perform music/arts), who could play music, and not any "flower queens" (top courtesans).

The Little Manager was in a great mood. In her line of work, she most feared encountering two types of scoundrels. One type had middling wealth—not exceptionally rich but enough to afford a fortnight of unrestrained pleasure. They were "half-filled buckets," showing off as soon as they entered the brothel, wishing they could buy all the girls in the establishment. The other type had shallow pockets but were sons of officials, not immensely powerful. They would brazenly eat and drink for free, stir up trouble, and ultimately couldn't resolve the problems they created, only causing trouble for the brothel. This gray-haired young master, currently before her, was very reassuring: generous and tactful. Hiring qing guan'er actually cost not much less than the top "flower queens," and it could also boost the qing guan'er's popularity. If a well-known poet or scholar exchanged poems and songs with the girls a few times, these qing guan'er would truly rise to prominence. Without Xu Fengnian needing to say more, she led him to a private room on the third floor. As they ascended, the graceful Little Manager swayed her slender waist with more effort than usual. In her mind, if this elegant young master were to ask for her company, even a lower price would be acceptable. Most men from Beiliang were strong and rugged; someone with his refined appearance and demeanor, like a scholar from Jiangnan's powerful families, would surely be a pleasant change for her in the end. When the young master reached the third floor, he requested a room facing the street. She kindly reminded him that it might be a bit noisy there. But he simply smiled it off, and the Little Manager was happy to go along with it. If a guest wanted to spend money unnecessarily, she couldn't possibly cry and stop him. Pushing open the door, there was already a young qing guan'er waiting for business. The young master with phoenix eyes, before she left to call another qing guan'er, subtly tugged her sleeve, letting her discreetly hold a banknote, and smiled, asking, "What's the meaning of 'riding a donkey to find a donkey'?" The Little Manager's eyes twinkled with delight, and feigning ignorance, she coyly asked the young master what he meant by "riding a donkey to find a donkey." But the young master stopped short, not saying the word "riding," teasing her heart a little. However, such small ripples came and went quickly, certainly faster than many "silver spear wax poles" (impotent or quick men) could get their pants on and off. Xu Fengnian did not sit down. Xu Yanbing exited the room, closed the door, and stood by the entrance, eyes closed in contemplation. Huyan Guanyin's back was almost pressed against the wall. Wearing a large mink hat, she stared intently at her boots. The Little Manager, with her sharp eyes, would certainly recognize that this was a woman. Beiliang had always had an open atmosphere; women were not only experts at riding horses and hunting with bows, but some bold and uninhibited women would not only pay to invite "flower queens" to their residences to perform, but also dared to visit brothels themselves. Larger brothels were long accustomed to wealthy women with unique preferences and a craving for other women. A slightly aging "flower queen" at Taosai Tower would occasionally be invited by a widow from Lingzhou to "grind mirrors" (lesbian acts), and each time she returned, she would still be radiant. The Little Manager privately asked what it was like, and the "flower queen" replied with "extremely wonderful," leaving everything unsaid, almost stirring the Little Manager's own desires to try it. Unfortunately, the "flower queen" said that the unapproachable widow preferred women of her own age, so the Little Manager reluctantly gave up. While the slender and handsome young master admired an elegant "gallbladder vase" with a few sprigs of winter plum, the Little Manager introduced herself by her professional name, Cao Zun, a vulgar name that would be rare anywhere, not just in a brothel. She also introduced the qing guan'er she had a good relationship with, named Xueyi. Inside the room, there was a bamboo cage with a parrot whose feathers were as white as snow.

While Cao Zun was speaking, Xu Fengnian touched the mouth of the gallbladder vase, then tilted his head and lightly tapped its secret celadon body, which resembled the sky after rain. This not only amused Cao Zun but also brought a hint of surprise to Xueyi's eyes and a slight curl to her lips, despite her apparent unfamiliarity with serving guests. Working in a brothel, they had seen countless rough, liquor-reeking men, old lechers with flabby bodies, and even scholars who were refined when they entered but impatient once the door closed. A young master who, after the door was closed, still had the patience to fuss over a cheap gallbladder vase was quite amusing to them.

Huyan Guanyin extended a finger and lightly lifted a bit of her mink hat. Seeing that he wasn't engaged in any behavior that could be described as either refined or vulgar, though still sullen, she hummed softly through her nose, feeling a little better.

Xu Fengnian, who had been fixated on the vase since entering, let out a breath. He winked at the three women in the room, then tapped the slender neck and the rounded body of the vase, and smiled at Cao Zun. "Listen," he said, "a bell and a chime. If you listen carefully, you'll hear the distinct sounds. It's a gallbladder vase produced by the East Yue Imperial Kiln. Forget the whole vase; even a fragment the size of a fingernail is more precious than gold or fine jade. The reason it's so priceless, besides the rarity of ceramics from this kiln, is its bell-like and chime-like sound. Because Saint Zhang, when writing the 'Book of Music,' said something famous: 'When a gentleman hears the sound of a bell, he thinks of military officials who help those in peril; when he hears the sound of a chime, he thinks of ministers who protect the borders.'"

How could Cao Zun believe in any East Yue Imperial Kiln gallbladder vase? She also didn't understand any of that high-minded talk about gentlemen, bells, and chimes. She simply thought he was a man feigning refinement and showing off his knowledge. She cast a flirtatious glance and playfully giggled, "Young master, have you come to visit the brothel, or to tap on a vase? If you want it, just take it. If Cao Zun so much as frowns, then next time you come to Taosai Tower, not only will Cao Zun and Xueyi offer themselves to your bed, but we'll pay you every time!"

Xu Fengnian smiled and shook his head, pulled out all his banknotes, wadded them up, and lightly tossed them into another vase's interior. "Believe it or not," he said, "I only brought this much silver with me. If I take the vase, my conscience will be clear."

Cao Zun's eyes suddenly widened. "Young master, you're not joking?"

Xu Fengnian sat down and asked with a smile, "Having second thoughts?"

Cao Zun hesitated for a moment, then laughed heartily. "Second thoughts about what? If you hadn't mentioned it, it would have been clumsily broken by some maid sooner or later, and then simply swept into the street with a dustpan, perhaps even becoming a nuisance to passersby. But since you're now penniless, Cao Zun won't ask for another copper coin tonight. However, young master, you must promise to visit my sister Xueyi at Taosai Tower often in the future, alright?"

By the end of her speech, Cao Zun was practically clinging to Xu Fengnian. They sat on the same chair, he on the seat and she on his lap, without hindrance. Cao Zun had a graceful figure, and her full buttocks rubbed subtly, her pretty face filled with allure. Xu Fengnian patted her leg, gently indicating for her to get up without offense, and squinted with a smile, "I'm not from Lingzhou, so it'll be hard for me to come to Taosai Tower again. However, I have some friends who are doing well in Lingzhou. If Taosai Tower wants to open a branch in the county seat, or if you encounter minor trouble in Huangnan County, I can ask them to put in a good word. Of course, you didn't believe me when I said the porcelain vase was worth a thousand gold pieces earlier; you don't have to believe me this time either."

After standing up, Cao Zun disregarded any pretense of modesty, fearing that if she missed this chance, she wouldn't get another. She quickly asked cautiously, "Young master, as for your friends in Lingzhou's county seat, Cao Zun wouldn't dare hope to associate with them or trouble them. But may I ask who the noble young master from Huangnan County is? Our Taosai Tower would be a hundred, a thousand times willing to treat him like a revered Bodhisattva."

Xu Fengnian glanced out the window with the corner of his eye. Taosai Tower was only slightly shorter than the largest brothel on Lingzhou's main street, and from this vantage point, everything was clear. That porcelain vase, if it fell into the hands of someone who knew its value, couldn't be bought for less than two or three thousand taels of silver. Xu Fengnian was always in a good mood when a business deal resulted in a profit, whether it was a large deal that filled his coffers or a small one that earned him a paltry few coins. It had been several years since he had frequented a brothel. For so many years, his romantic escapades had only led to extravagant waste. Earning money was a first, a good omen. This meant Xu Fengnian harbored no ill will towards Cao Zun's subtle machinations. He quickly scanned his mind, knowing that with the Little Manager of Taosai Tower's limited perspective, any low-ranking scions from Lingzhou whose families happened to be in Huangnan County—even if Xu Fengnian mentioned a few names he didn't know—would only be laughed at by her. However, someone truly presentable was the notorious young master Li Hanlin, who grew up in Huangnan County. Even he wouldn't dare bring a few embarrassing individuals before Xu Fengnian back then. The few he *did* bring to Liangzhou were more delicate and charming than women, all old flames of Young Master Li. This left Xu Fengnian in a dilemma: must he resort to mentioning Sir Song Yan? But if he did, it would be quite amusing if the story got out. He believed that even if it reached Prefect Song's ears, the newly promoted Assistant Prefect of Lingzhou would have no choice but to begrudgingly accept it. Xu