Chapter 121: Adding Trouble

Who exactly is that...?

“I’ve never seen her before…” “Is she new?”

After the performance of 'Prelude to Water Tune' ended, a chorus of whispers arose. Had anyone else sung that song, the performance would likely have been deemed either unremarkable or unconventional. Yet, at that moment, no one questioned the singing style. All that could be felt was the immense captivating power imbued in the gentle melody they had just heard.

Three years prior, Nie Yunzhu had been one of Jin Feng Lou's premier performers. Born into an official's family, she was renowned in her youth as a gifted scholar. Later, at Jin Feng Lou, her mastery of the zither and singing became exceptional. While she still retained some distinctive qualities and sharp edges, her artistry in Jiangning was already among the very best. Had she not deliberately held back and avoided contention, she might well have competed for the titles of the Four Top Courtesans or even the Jiangning Flower Queen herself.

In contrast, Lü Xia, despite being Yan Cui Lou's star performer now, only ranked in the top sixteen during the courtesan competition, significantly outshining Nie Yunzhu's status three years prior. Over the past three years of introspection and cultivation, Nie Yunzhu had shed her former allure and cast off her inner burdens and restraints. Her artistry in music and song had undergone an even deeper transformation. Such a profound evolution is rarely seen within the pleasure quarters; it was only after she found support and a sense of belonging that she truly found inner peace and tranquility. Therefore, performing now at Yan Cui Lou, there was simply no question of who was superior.

Only on the second-floor platform, in the corridor, did Xue Yan, Liu Qingdi, and the others, having listened to the song, finally voice their question, "Who... is that?"

Lü Xia shook her head, her voice a mere whisper. "I haven't seen her either," she murmured, then couldn't help but glance at Ning Yi, who stood nearby with a slight furrow in his brow. The woman had sung 'Prelude to Water Tune,' which implied some connection to him, yet Ning Yi's expression was puzzling.

As they spoke, the woman who had so serenely concluded her song on stage, captivating everyone like a lily or a dark lotus, had already poured herself a cup of tea. Holding it with both hands, she quietly ascended the stairs and began walking towards them. Moments later, the crowd instinctively parted, and everyone, including Lü Xia, watched as the woman approached, stopped before Ning Yi, gracefully curtsied, and with a gentle smile, offered him the teacup.

Just moments before, downstairs, Lü Xia had, with a similar gesture, presented a wine cup to Xue Yan. But now, with both women upstairs and in close proximity, Lü Xia, in her red attire, possessed a vastly different presence compared to the woman in white. The woman in the white dress had become the undeniable focal point. Within this spotlight, Ning Yi smiled, reached out to take the teacup, emptied it in a single draught, and then returned the cup.

Behind them, Li Pin began to applaud, soon followed by the entire Su family. The sound of applause resonated through the hall.

By now, it was abundantly clear to everyone that this woman, evidently displeased with Lü Xia's choice to side with the Xue family, had come forward to make a statement to Ning Yi, a fact evident from her very selection of music. While an ordinary woman attempting such a display might seem petty or ill-advised, this woman's song had completely eclipsed everyone else's presence. Even if she had been invited by the Su family, the immediate curiosity of the crowd was focused on her identity.

Up on the second floor, amidst the resounding applause, Ning Yi and the woman were quietly conversing.

“You didn’t need to go to such lengths…” Ning Yi smiled and shook his head during the brief exchange of the teacup. “Yuan Jin’er already told me what happened; it’s really not a big deal.”

“I know you have a tranquil disposition and might not deem this a major issue,” Yunzhu said, a smile playing behind her veil. “But I simply couldn’t tolerate it.”

Her words were simple, yet imbued with an unspoken power. Ning Yi, who had initially intended to say more, merely summarized: “Regardless, thank you.” She replied, “I don’t have many talents, but what I can offer is likely just this.”

“You truly amazed me.”

“Oh?”

“It wasn’t just a few stories high; it felt like dozens.”

“Haha…”

Their hushed conversation continued for a moment, and the applause gradually died down. The crowd watched Ning Yi and Nie Yunzhu standing in the corridor, anticipating their next move. Ning Yi glanced around, contemplating whether he should invite Nie Yunzhu to sit down. Nie Yunzhu herself was now looking around, a blush creeping onto her face. She lowered her head and softly prompted, “You ought to give me a reward.”

“Hmm?”

“Ah… right, a reward.”

Her words became even softer, almost a silent mouthing, as everyone nearby was watching. Only then did Ning Yi register what she meant. “Oh,” he uttered, reaching for his money. “Yes, that’s right… I have five hundred taels… Thank you, madam, for your wonderful performance.”

Just moments before, the combined reward from the Su and Xue families for Lü Xia had amounted to five hundred taels, making this current sum truly astonishing. Ning Yi, with a perfectly straight face, loudly expressed his gratitude for the performance, ensuring those around him could hear. Then, he added in a softer voice, “I won’t write a poem for you.” The sensible thing now was to minimize the impact, not escalate it further. However, after he spoke, Nie Yunzhu appeared slightly flustered, not taking the banknote he offered, creating a somewhat awkward moment. Li Pin, from his position, rolled his eyes, and a ripple of soft laughter emerged, making Ning Yi realize his misstep.

Nie Yunzhu, blushing, lightly stamped her foot, then gave Ning Yi a slight wink from his side. Ning Yi, with a resigned expression, placed the banknote onto a small wooden tray held by a Yan Cui Lou attendant behind him.

“Then I’ll be going,” Yunzhu said with a smile, hearing the laughter around her. She lowered her head and moved out of the crowd, heading towards the staircase. Ning Yi exhaled; the Su family likely no longer felt outmaneuvered by the Xue family. Of course, there were probably still many implications to consider. Nie Yunzhu had been out of the public eye for three years; becoming a topic of public discussion again because of this would undoubtedly be problematic. However, she had performed for his sake, so no matter the reason, if any trouble arose, he knew he would have to resolve it.

While Ning Yi pondered these matters, Nie Yunzhu reached the staircase. Many eyes still lingered on her, and whispers continued. Yet amidst these, another, rather discordant, murmur began to rise, imperceptible at first. Then someone exclaimed, "Huh!" Liu Qingdi, who had been watching Nie Yunzhu, now turned and suddenly widened his eyes, whispering aloud. Only then did Ning Yi turn his head to look at the stage below. Yunzhu, who had been the focus of everyone's attention and had kept her head down, also turned around at the sound and glanced at the stage. After that glance, she was abruptly stunned.

Music now filled the air. A woman in a green dress stood on the stage, elegantly adorned, with a tall, lithe, and supple figure clearly suited for dance. At that moment, the young woman swayed her waist gently, holding a flower in her right hand, which she lightly pressed against her delicate lips. Her gaze drifted towards a point on the hall's dome, a subtle allure and tipsiness evident in her eyes. As she slowly turned, her gaze swept across the second-floor area.

This was the very beginning of the dance. The woman’s figure was exquisite, and even her initial simple movements clearly bespoke a master performer. However, what truly astonished the audience was not these graceful gestures, but the shouts already erupting from the hall.

“Yuan Jin’er…”

“It’s Yuan Jin’er…”

“She’s actually here…”

Up on the second floor, Ning Yi’s mouth fell open in astonishment. “This is far too reckless!” he exclaimed. In the corridor, Nie Yunzhu was equally stunned, instinctively glancing at Ning Yi, who happened to meet her gaze.

Had this not been in a pleasure house, but rather a typical morning scene between them, the two would likely have been sitting on the steps, side by side, heads in hands.

Yuan Jin’er possessed a graceful figure and an often lively and spirited demeanor, yet her foundation in dance was truly exceptional. Her body was incredibly supple, and at this moment, she began to slowly twist as if winding up. The instant the main melody swelled, her entire form exploded into movement, her gown unfurling like lotus petals on water, continuously swirling in the air. Amidst her wild, dancing hair, a fleeting glimpse of her beautiful face occasionally appeared. Throughout her movements, her gaze remained serious and intensely focused.

The dance… had begun…

Ning Yi stepped back a few paces and settled into his seat, gently rubbing his forehead. After a moment, he finally let out a helpless sigh, then craned his neck to watch the stage below.

All in all, the dance was quite captivating.

For now, he could only enjoy it. As for what came next, he would deal with it later.

No one knew why Yuan Jin’er had suddenly appeared, but once her name was called, the hall erupted with people either in shock or captivated by her dance. For a time, virtually no one remembered Lü Xia's recent performance. Lü Xia had been intended as the evening's main attraction, but now she was utterly eclipsed.

The dance began with a vibrant tempo, Yuan Jin’er unfolding a series of astonishing movements as if on a tightrope. Moments later, the rhythm began to soften, creating an ambiance of both grace and vigor. The reputation of the Four Top Courtesans was certainly not exaggerated; Yuan Jin’er herself possessed immense talent and mastery in this art. When the dance finally concluded with a graceful bow, Yuan Jin’er revealed a smile with a slight tilt of her head, and the applause in the hall erupted like thunder.

“Yuan Jin’er, well done!”

“Miss Jin’er…”

Various shouts and praises filled the air. Yuan Jin’er stood on stage, smiling as she gracefully accepted the crowd's applause and admiring gazes for a while. Then, tilting her head, she ran a hand through her hair and offered a small smile. After her gaze swept across the hall several times, she said nothing. Her eyes darted around a few more times before she walked to the side of the stage and lightly stepped off.

Everyone watched in astonishment as she poured a glass of wine, then, holding the cup with both hands, walked upstairs with her head slightly bowed.

It was almost the identical route and expression as the woman in white had taken moments before. Many turned to gaze at Ning Yi, who was still seated. Li Pin looked from one to the other, then back at Ning Yi, and couldn’t help but chuckle softly. Apart from a few knowing or astonished laughs, the hall remained quiet, as everyone simply observed Yuan Jin’er’s actions. Ning Yi sat there, his expression a mix of twitching and complexity. Just a moment ago, Nie Yunzhu was in a white dress; now Yuan Jin’er was in lake green. Perhaps the legend of Bai Suzhen and Xiao Qing stemmed from these two…

As he mused, Yuan Jin’er’s gaze found his before she even reached him. Ning Yi met her eyes. Yet, mere glances, of course, were harmless. Then, everyone in the hall watched as Yuan Jin’er approached Ning Yi, gracefully curtsied, and with a smile, presented the wine cup to him.

“You think it’s not chaotic enough, do you…?”

“Hmph, I’m helping you cover your tracks.”

“You’re just looking for trouble…”

“None of your business… hurry up and give me a reward!”

“You’re robbing me, aren’t you?”

“Better than robbery.”

“Alright, I concede today… but,” Ning Yi sighed, reaching into his clothes for money. After a moment, he pulled out some loose silver. The man and woman exchanged glances in the ambiguous space between them, their expressions complex. “I only have four taels of silver left…”

Yuan Jin’er instinctively glanced around; people nearby had already gathered, their expressions a mix of curiosity and amusement…