QYT - 23

Three days later.

“Derong, where’s the twelve-year-old bamboo leaf green I buried under the tree? Bring the bamboo leaf green!”

“Chaotian, get my fan. Not this one, this jade-inlaid-gold one is too gaudy. I want the one with the green bamboo ribs.”

“This carriage is too plain; it spoils my imposing aura. Switch to the domed one. Change the horses, too, all of them to the black horses of the Xuan Ying Division!”

It was early evening, and Jiang Cizhou stood in the courtyard, instructing his servants on their departure. Before long, Derong hurried over, a pot of bamboo leaf green in hand and sweat on his brow. “Young master, please keep your voice down!”

Jiang Cizhou seemed puzzled. “Why?”

Derong glanced toward the east wing. “The young madam is still inside.”

All things considered, the young master and young madam had only been married for ten days. His previous visit to He Hongyun’s estate for drinks was already preposterous. Tonight’s banquet at Donglaishun was clearly for Miss Fudong, a fact known to all.

Given this, his lack of restraint made Derong worry. “If the young madam finds out about tonight’s events, she’s likely to get angry.”

Jiang Cizhou just smiled at this.

Soon, Chaotian also came out. He handed the folding fan to Jiang Cizhou and urged, “Young master, let’s go.”

Jiang Cizhou asked, “Have the horses been changed?”

“Qi Ming and the others have already changed them.”

Besides Derong and Chaotian, three other Xuan Ying guards, including Qi Ming, were accompanying Jiang Cizhou to Donglaishun tonight. The reason was simple: a few days ago, Jiang Cizhou was attacked at He Hongyun’s estate, so he had Xuan Ying guards with him whenever he went out. However, a banquet was a private affair, and Jiang Cizhou couldn’t openly use public resources for personal matters. He had Qi Ming and the others change into black robes and wear veils, pretending to be guards hired from a security company.

The group arrived at the mansion gate together. Chaotian saw Jiang Cizhou pause again and couldn’t help but ask, “Young master, aren’t we leaving?”

He and Derong were equally anxious, worried that Qingwei would discover Jiang Cizhou was visiting courtesans under the guise of hosting a banquet. Ever since Qingwei had dirtied his new blade, Chaotian felt a strange fear of the young madam, sensing she wasn’t as easygoing as she appeared.

Jiang Cizhou said, “No rush, let’s wait a bit.”

“Wait for what?”

“Someone.”

Derong and Chaotian were wondering who else was joining them when they saw a person in the front courtyard wearing a black robe and a black veil, dressed exactly like Qi Ming and the other Xuan Ying guards.

As she approached, Jiang Cizhou looked her up and down and chuckled, “It fits you well.”

Qingwei “hmm”-ed and put on the black robe draped over her arm. “You can’t tell, can you?”

“You can’t.”

Qingwei nodded, took the lead, and walked toward the carriage. “Let’s go then.”

Derong, Chaotian, and even Qi Ming, who had seen Qingwei at the Xuan Ying Division a few days ago, were all dumbfounded. Was the young master... taking the young madam to see courtesans?

Qingwei walked a few steps but heard no movement behind her. She turned around and found Derong, Chaotian, and the Xuan Ying guards all standing frozen with strange expressions. She asked in confusion, “Aren’t we going for drinks? Let’s go.”

Chaotian and Derong both swallowed hard and looked at Jiang Cizhou.

Jiang Cizhou smiled. “Let’s go.”

Donglaishun’s business had been good lately. Since the ninth month began, it had hosted several large banquets. Today was a lucky coincidence, as both the young master Zhang and the young master Jiang were hosting banquets here. The owner had been waiting outside the main entrance all morning to greet guests.

As dusk fell, a wide, domed carriage drove up. The lantern on the front of the carriage had the character “Jiang” written on it. The owner hurried over to greet them. “Young Master Jiang, you’ve finally arrived.”

Jiang Cizhou was a little late. He got out of the carriage and asked, “Have all the guests arrived?”

“Quite a few have arrived! Young Master Xu, the fifth young master of the Qu family, and Young Master He are all here!” The owner smiled warmly. “Young Master He even arrived early and helped with the arrangements! Young Master Jiang, you have great face!”

Jiang Cizhou said, “That’s Young Master He doing me a great honor.”

The owner agreed repeatedly and welcomed the group inside.

Qingwei had only ever bought wine at the front of Donglaishun. As she followed Jiang Cizhou into the inner courtyard, she realized there was a whole new world inside. They walked down a winding path, with several forks leading to different courtyards on either side of the bamboo forest. There were elegant courtyards, grand and opulent ones, and even some that were mystical and enchanting. The courtyards were varied, with both refined and common styles.

The owner led Jiang Cizhou’s group to a courtyard called “Fengya Jian” (Elegant Stream). “This is it,” he said.

The courtyard was not large, and there weren’t many tables. The tables were separated by bamboo screens, and a small stream meandered through the middle. The main table was in a bamboo hut that had its own private room. It lived up to its name and was very elegant.

There were already quite a few guests in the Elegant Stream. The man in the blue robe who had spoken up when Qingwei spilled Jiang Cizhou’s wine was also there. This man, Fifth Young Master Qu Mao of the Qu family, whom the owner had just mentioned, had been a drinking companion of Jiang Cizhou’s for years. Seeing Jiang Cizhou, he skipped the pleasantries and his first words were, “Zhang Ting is hosting a banquet in the ‘Qingyu An’ next door. Did you know?”

Jiang Cizhou said, “I heard the owner mention it.”

Qu Mao’s face was full of sarcasm. “I ran into him just now and said hello. His eyes were practically on the top of his head. Then I went over to see, and guess what? His banquet is for all the new scholars from this year’s imperial examinations. He’s always like this, he loves to befriend scholars and looks down on us who got our positions through family connections. What’s he so proud of? He’s only so successful because he has an empress for a sister. Otherwise, who would want to deal with his temper? If he respects scholars so much, he should have the guts to pass the imperial exams himself, like the young King Zhao!”

Jiang Cizhou laughed. “Where’s Nianxi? Didn’t you say he arrived early?”

“Ziling,” He Hongyun called out loudly, walking over and hearing Jiang Cizhou ask about him.

He was wearing a purple robe today and looked very refined. “I just settled the Zou Ping table and saw you arrive.”

Jiang Cizhou said, “I’m the one hosting the banquet, yet I’m late. You, a guest, are busy helping me arrange things.”

He Hongyun said, “I didn’t take good care of you when you were at my estate a few days ago. Coming early today to get things in order is my way of making amends.” He then instructed his attendant, Liu Chang, who was following him, “Bring Fudong and the others over.”

Liu Chang agreed and, before long, brought Fudong, Mei Niang, and a few other courtesans from the Shifang Pavilion to Jiang Cizhou.

Qingwei was slightly taken aback when she saw Mei Niang.

Logically, He Hongyun was already suspicious of her and should have found out that Mei Niang knew her. So why was he not interrogating Mei Niang, but letting her appear here instead?

Qingwei knew something was amiss. She glanced at Jiang Cizhou without showing any emotion.

Jiang Cizhou’s expression was hidden behind his mask, so she couldn’t see anything unusual. He simply said, “Didn’t you say only Miss Fudong was coming? Why did you send a few more?”

He Hongyun smiled and didn’t answer him. Instead, he said to Mei Niang and the other courtesans, “Look carefully, this is Young Master Jiang, the Deputy Commander of the Xuan Ying Division. He was the one who was lenient and let you out of the copper prison. Not only is he your savior, but from now on, he is also a distinguished guest of the Zhuning estate. When you see him, you must serve him carefully.”

Mei Niang and the courtesans responded softly, “Yes,” and all curtsied to Jiang Cizhou. “We thank you, Young Master Jiang.”

After they paid their respects, He Hongyun sent them to sing with Fudong. Just then, Derong welcomed the last group of guests at the door, and the banquet began.

The sounds of music started at the banquet. Fudong’s singing was melodious and graceful. Everyone raised their cups and toasted, and before long, they were all in high spirits.

He Hongyun, Jiang Cizhou, and Qu Mao sat at the main table in the bamboo hut. After a few rounds of drinks, He Hongyun raised his cup and stood up, looking a bit troubled. “Ziling, you go on eating. I’ll be right back.”

Jiang Cizhou was surprised. “What’s wrong, Nianxi, do you have something to do?”

“You know that Zhang Ting is hosting a banquet next door. Our two families have a history, and if I don’t go over and offer a toast, it wouldn’t be right.”

The rivalry between the Zhang and He factions was ultimately a matter of government affairs, and they hadn’t completely fallen out with each other in private. Zhang Ting was a proud man and usually didn’t have a kind word for He Hongyun, but He Hongyun was always polite and felt that a greeting was necessary.

He Hongyun then asked, “Ziling, are you coming with me?”

Jiang Cizhou laughed. “Zhang Ting has always looked down on me, so I won’t go. Nianxi, when you go, just offer a toast for me.”

He Hongyun smiled but didn’t leave immediately. He waited until Fudong finished her song and waved her over. “The few of you, come here.”

He then instructed Fudong, “This banquet tonight was specially arranged for you by Young Master Jiang. I’m going to the ‘Qingyu An’ next door to offer a toast. You must serve Young Master Jiang well.”

Fudong curtsied and softly replied, “Yes.”

When He Hongyun said this, Qu Mao and the others, who were all worldly men, knew exactly what “serve well” meant. They all got up and said they were going to offer toasts next door, and as they left, they also closed the door of the bamboo hut.

With the door closed, the only people left in the room were Jiang Cizhou, a group of courtesans, the Xuan Ying guards, Derong, Chaotian, and the young madam of the Jiang family, Qingwei, disguised as a Xuan Ying guard.

Chaotian and Derong stood perfectly straight, their feelings indescribable. At that moment, they felt a bead of sweat the size of a bean slide down their foreheads.

Jiang Cizhou glanced at Fudong and said gently, “Why are you standing there? Come sit down. Derong, go get my bamboo leaf green.”

Derong said, “Huh?” and swallowed hard. “Okay.”

The bamboo hut was very quiet. Fudong and a few courtesans sat on either side of Jiang Cizhou. Chaotian raised his hand and wiped the sweat from his forehead.

Fudong remembered He Hongyun’s instructions, picked up the bamboo leaf green that Derong had brought, poured a cup of wine, removed her veil, and said in a soft, gentle voice, “Young Master Jiang, I toast you.”

Qingwei looked at Fudong. That day at the Zhuning estate, she was in a hurry to hold Jiang Cizhou hostage and hadn’t looked at her closely. Now, in the light of the room, she saw that Fudong was indeed very beautiful, no wonder she was a courtesan.

Fudong’s hand holding the wine cup was fair and delicate, as if it had no bones. Jiang Cizhou looked down at it for a moment, then reached out, wrapped his hand around hers, and held the cup. He slowly drank the bamboo leaf green, and said in a low voice, “With Fudong’s soft hand holding it, the taste of this wine is different from before.”

Derong almost choked on his own saliva and coughed out loud.

Fudong couldn’t help but cover her mouth and laugh. “Didn’t Young Master Jiang just get married? Is the wine poured by your wife not good?”

Jiang Cizhou also smiled. “How can a home flower compare to a wild one? I’ll get tired of it in a few days...”

Derong bent over coughing, and the coughing grew louder.

Fudong seemed a little sad. “Young Master Jiang, you’re so fickle. You’ll get tired of me in a few days, too.”

Jiang Cizhou used his fan to lift Fudong’s chin and stared at her intently. “You’re right, I’ll get tired of you eventually, but I haven’t even tasted you yet. What’s the point of talking about getting tired? Let me taste you first...”

Derong was on the verge of crying from coughing. He trembled as he placed a hand on the back of Jiang Cizhou’s chair. “Young master, young master, give me... give me a cup of water...”

Jiang Cizhou seemed annoyed that he had ruined the mood. He glared at him, then looked at the table. There was wine all over the table, but where was the water?

His gaze fell on the soup bowl on the table. He pointed at Chaotian. “You, give him a bowl of soup.”

Chaotian agreed and, with a forehead full of sweat, went to ladle soup for Derong.

The soup bowl was very close to where Mei Niang was sitting.

This was the chance! Qingwei seized the opportunity. A small stone hidden in her sleeve instantly fell into her palm. She discreetly flicked it with her fingers. The stone hit Chaotian’s knee. Chaotian, who was already distracted, twisted his foot, and his hand became unsteady. A bowl of soup spilled all over Mei Niang.

Jiang Cizhou stood up in a fit of rage. “What’s going on?”

Mei Niang patted her clothes several times. A person like her was not worth the Deputy Commander of the Xuan Ying Division’s anger. She said repeatedly, “Please don’t be angry, Commander. It was my carelessness. I’ll go and change.”

Jiang Cizhou, however, said, “You were brought here by Young Master He. If I neglect you, it would be my fault.”

He looked at the Xuan Ying guards standing behind him, and his finger landed on Qingwei. “You, come here. Take Mei Niang to the private room to change into some clean clothes.”

Qingwei looked at Jiang Cizhou. She didn’t know if she was seeing things, but she thought she saw a fleeting, almost imperceptible smile at the corner of his mouth.

Qingwei bowed, and under the black veil, the corners of her lips also curled up. She lowered her voice and said, “Yes.”