SWDnovel Chapter 10 A beautiful woman uses poetry to find a husband; a handsome young man makes a silent move
Chapter 10 A beautiful woman uses poetry to find a husband; a handsome young man makes a silent move
"What are you doing standing here, Mr. Guan? Did your legs go weak before you even got inside? I have a few plasters here that might help you regain your vigor," Qiu Daochen said with a smile, patting Guan Zhong on the shoulder.
"Perhaps it's a difference in customs. The brothels in Zhong's hometown aren't this... ostentatious." Guan Zhong squinted and finally spotted the plaque with the three crooked characters "Pillow Dream Tower" hanging in the corner of this magnificent building, and murmured.
"This was designed by me personally. That brothel madam is truly hateful. She stole their young ladies and dared to come to my house to beg for them. Fortunately, I am a magnanimous person and even renovated this brothel for them. Right, Madam Qin?" Liu Xiao abandoned his humble demeanor at home and swaggered with the air of a young master, raising an eyebrow provocatively at the fat madam who hurriedly came out of the brothel to greet him.
"What you say is true, Your Highness. It was my few ignorant and foolish subordinates who offended you. They have no idea that Fu Xiang is so fortunate to have you by her side. They were just worried that Fu Xiang might neglect you because she doesn't know proper etiquette, so they just wanted to teach her a few manners in front of her."
"And you're telling me, Fu Xiang didn't even let me know she was coming back. Your sisters are missing you terribly." Seeing that Liu Xiao ignored her, the madam fawned over Fu Xiang, who was being held by the arm by Liu Xiao.
"Mama Qin, I heard that my daughter-in-law was coming today, so I rushed over in a hurry." Liu Xiao suddenly turned from gloomy to cheerful, looking at the madam who was sticking up to him.
Qin Mama's expression changed drastically, but she quickly put on a fawning smile: "Look at what the young master is saying. The young lady here today who is seeking a husband is a famous talented woman in the Great Zhou Dynasty, known as the 'Oriole's Song That Moved the Capital'."
"Liu Xiaoying Tiwan, Madam Qin, I've always known you're a fair person. Tell me, our names are such a perfect match, and I heard she has some kind of treasure chest. I also happen to be in dire financial straits. Aren't we a match made in heaven? I think you shouldn't ask her to find a son-in-law. It'll only affect your business, won't it? I'll take her home myself; it'll be like getting rid of a burden for you." Liu Xiao quickened his pace, shamelessly.
"Your Highness, Your Highness, that girl said that to marry her, one must have a grand sedan chair carried by eight men."
"Oh dear, I know all that. With her battle-hardened background, she'll definitely have to be humble and subservient."
"The treasure chest only contained some yellow and white items; there were no treasures that the young master would be interested in."
"How do you know that the guards in my manor haven't been paid for two months?"
"Oh dear, we really can't be rough with them. All those young masters and nobles have come to show their support today."
"How did Qin's mother know I've been having itchy hands lately?"
"Today is a test of your poetry and literary skills. Each gentleman will recite a poem, and in the end, the young lady will personally choose the winner."
Liu Xiao suddenly stopped, pulled out a folding fan from somewhere, unfolded it with a snap, tilted his head and laughed, "Then this young master is definitely going to get involved in this fun. Second floor, my private room, call the girls up to serve me."
As Liu Xiao strode into the building, the lively atmosphere suddenly fell silent. Qin's mother covered her forehead, looking as if she had eaten shit.
"Girls, Young Master Liu is here! Hurry up and come down to greet him!" Mother Qin called out to the upstairs, utterly dejected.
"Your Highness, I've missed you so much!" "Your Highness, I've composed a new song especially for you." "Are you hungry, Your Highness? I've put on some new rouge today." A group of beautiful women came over to greet him. Some of them smiled charmingly, while others fawned over him. Their eyes were full of fervor and flattery when they looked at Liu Xiao, but when they looked at Fu Xiang, they were full of envy and jealousy.
The loss of a renowned courtesan in the capital was a great loss to Pillow Dream Pavilion, but for the individual, it was like a rebirth after escaping a den of iniquity.
A moment of silence was followed by an even more heated discussion.
"Hey, taking a courtesan to a brothel, this guy is quite something."
"Not only is he an extraordinary person, but he's also ruthless. Zhou Yan, relying on His Majesty's favor towards his daughter, offended this Crown Prince some time ago. People were defecating outside his house, and it's said that this Crown Prince was the one who ordered it."
"The Imperial Censor impeached the Crown Prince with a few words, and I heard that the next day his affair with the Emperor's father-in-law became known throughout the capital, and within a month, a painting of it was published."
"Many important figures have come today, including Consort Zhou's nephew, members of the Zhong family from Yingchuan, and even General Dou's only son."
……
Suddenly, a string melody silenced all the noise, and melodious music drifted from the third floor of the Pillow Dream Tower.
Liu Xiao, who was sprawled out on the soft couch, straightened up and exchanged a glance with Guan Zhong, who was being fed grapes by a top courtesan. The show was about to begin!
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In Youzhou City, Youzhou Road, an elegant little courtyard sits in a secluded spot in the Youwang Mansion. Inside the pavilion by the river, two figures, one in black and one in white, sit facing each other playing chess. Rather than playing chess, it's more like the white-clad man is reaping the benefits unilaterally.
This handsome, fair-skinned young man moved with lightning speed and steadiness, each move causing the burly man in black to frown repeatedly. He appeared to be locked in a fierce struggle with the man in the northeast corner of the chessboard, but in reality, he had already completely devoured the southwest corner. By the time the man in black realized what was happening, he had already been dragged into the quagmire in the northeast corner and had no time to spare.
"Mr. Yin is indeed a worthy disciple of Confucianism. I am truly convinced." The dark-faced man frowned and struggled for a moment before decisively abandoning his piece and admitting defeat.
"Brother Liu, what are you saying? You are so young, yet you have been entrusted with such an important task by the Prince, while I am still just a commoner." The young man in white smiled calmly, giving people a humble and elegant feeling.
"Throughout these ten dynasties and nine provinces, which one wouldn't entrust Mr. Yin with an important task if he expressed his opinion? It's just that Mr. Yin has lofty aspirations and refuses to be confined by such constraints."
Yin Junzi remained calm. A maidservant served him tea, and the two savored the aroma. They then began to discuss the matter, quoting classical texts and expressing their own opinions.
As dusk approached, Liu Yu rose to take his leave. Yin Junzi rose to see him off, and after they parted, Liu Yu fell into deep thought again. This Yin Junzi truly lived up to his reputation as one of the Nine Steeds of Yunzhang, and his adoptive father's judgment was indeed astute. He must cultivate a closer relationship with him in the future to fulfill his adoptive father's request and recruit him into his ranks. As for whether Liu Yu truly intended to recruit him into King You's service or to serve under him, that remained unknown.
After seeing Liu Yu off, Yin Junzi sat blankly in the pavilion, watching the river flow by, and then began to plot again.
The Nine Steeds of Yunzhang are the nine most outstanding and renowned rising stars in the Confucian school today. Li Chunqiu, a military genius; Xu Zhongyi, brave and invincible; Gu Baiyi, virtuous and talented; and Qiu Wendao, full of ingenious strategies—these individuals will live up to the name Yunzhang. They hang high in the sky of history like colorful clouds, and their stories will appear in the writings of emperors throughout the ages. But the most dazzling and radiant of them all will be him—the head of the Nine Steeds of Yunzhang, a man of both literary and martial prowess, who will later be known as the Prime Minister of Qinghuan, Yin Junzi.
As the sun and moon changed, the fiery clouds on the horizon were most dazzling. That unusual red fell on the unfinished chess game that Yin Junzi had been staring at for so long; it was so vivid, yet so glaring. A soft, soliloquy voice drifted out.
"Not wanting to be confined?"