Di Huang Shu Chapter 18
At the Lingxiang Tower on a night of revelry, with singing and dancing in full swing, cups and plates were clinking in harmony. It was because today was the day of the performance by the top courtesan Lin Lang, which attracted a full house of guests including many dignitaries and rich people. Long before the setting sun, the most luxurious private room in this golden cage had already been reserved by the wealthy and powerful. An Ning spent five hundred taels of silver, plus half of the broken ear of the stone lion at the entrance of the building, just to forcibly grab a seat from the hands of the madam of the Lingxiang Tower.
After flattering and sending away the destitute gentleman who had reserved the private room, Madame Yu, the owner of Lingxiang Tower, waddled into the Peony Pavilion. When she saw the two half-sitting Buddhas on the armchairs, her eyes widened, and she turned to the side to address brothel-keeper, "Are these the two guests you were talking about?"
They were clearly two delicate and beautiful young ladies, but the way the rumor mongers talked about them made them seem like evil spirits descended to earth.
The brothel-keeper sighed and nodded reluctantly, silently retreating to the side.
Although eccentric, Madam Yu had been in the courtesan industry for decades, and there was no strange quirk she had not encountered from her customers. She looked at An Ning's long skirt made of flowing clouds and satin patterns, and her face was filled with a brilliant smile. She twisted and approached them, saying, "Oh, you two young ladies have come to the right place. Our Lingxiang Tower is one of the best in the capital. Come on, why don't you change to some smart young men to serve you?" Seeing that the two did not object, Yu Daniang was certain in her mind and said with a smile,"Do you two young ladies have any other requests?"
"Yu-Daniang, I heard that the leading lady of your establishment, Lady Linlang, is more beautiful than Diao Chan. Name your price, and this young lady will hire her for the entire night."
大娘 (dà niáng) is a Chinese term of address for a middle-aged or older woman, especially one who is respected or considered as a motherly figure. It can be translated as "Madam" or "Auntie".
貂蝉 (diāo chán) a famous beauty in Chinese history
As soon as An Ning finished speaking, Madam Yu stumbled and quickly exclaimed in a sharp voice, "The entire night? Miss... please spare me. You seem wealthy and noble. If the elders in your household find out, they will surely tear down my Língxīang Tower!"
The embroiderer from Jiangnan spent a year embroidering the flowing clouds and brocade patterns on the skirt. It is so precious that it is hard to come by with a high price. She's not so ignorant as to lack appreciation for it.
An Ning furrowed her brows and met Ren Anle's teasing gaze with an awkward expression. "Don't talk nonsense," she said. "I have heard that Miss Linlang's skills in playing the qin are exceptional, which is precisely why I have brought my friend here to listen to her music."
琴 (qín) is a specific type of traditional Chinese stringed instrument, also known as the "guqin". It has seven strings and is played by plucking the strings with the right hand while using the left hand to press and stop the strings to produce different notes.
"Oh," sighed Madame Yu, meeting the gaze of Ren Anle as she turned, suddenly startled by the fierce and imposing young woman. After a moment's hesitation, she swallowed and said, "Miss, if you just want to listen to the music, it's easy. Linlang will be performing on the stage tonight, so the two ladies just need to enjoy the music."
"I said I would cover the cost for the whole night, so of course, she should perform in front of me."
An Ning spoke decisively, causing Madam Yu's expression to change. She finally realized that two evil spirits had indeed been released. She said with difficulty, "Miss, tonight is the day of Linlang's regular performance. There are many dignitaries and nobles outside, and I cannot afford to offend them."
She spoke the truth. The reputation of Lingxiang Tower was almost entirely built on the performances of Linlang. If they angered the guests in the entire building, they would probably have to close their doors tomorrow.
An Ning casually tossed a stack of silver notes onto the table and smiled, "Madame Yu, here are ten thousand taels of silver notes. As I said, I want to hire Linlang for the night. Do you think this is enough?"
The courtesan Linlang of Lingxiang Tower only charges one thousand taels of silver for her appearance. If it weren't for the fact that Linlang does not sell herself, this ten thousand taels of silver would probably be enough to buy her. Madam Yu gasped and her eyes were glued to the stack of dazzling banknotes from the money bank. She hesitated and said, "Miss, please forgive me. It's not that I don't know how to appreciate your kindness, but there are just too many distinguished guests here today..."
With a crisp sound of "clang," a green badge was thrown onto the table and spun around.
An Ning raised an eyebrow and said, "Go and take this thing and go around to every private room in the building. If anyone dares to challenge, let them come to me and say it to my face."
Upon hearing this, Madam Yu's expression froze. She carefully examined An Ning and quickly picked up the green badge before bowing and leaving the room.
Having the guts to say this, I'm afraid this young lady is more than just wealthy.
Ren Anle comfortably rubbed against the armrest of the chair and tossed a grape into her mouth. "An Ning, I have to say, the green badge on your body looks quite worn out today."
An Ning snorted lazily, "If it weren't for the fact that it still has some use now that it's returned to the capital, I would have disposed of this piece of showy but worthless thing back when I was in the northwest."
The piece in question was a rare and precious Hetian jade carving of two phoenixes and auspicious clouds, which was the personal emblem of the princess of the current dynasty. Ren Anle blinked in skepticism and asked, "Even if you wanted to dispose of it, no pawnshop would dare to accept it. How is it that a princess like you is short of money?"
"Northwest battles continuously, and my meager salary is far from enough to compensate the fallen soldiers...," muttered An Ning before quickly changing the topic with excitement, "Bringing you to the Jucailou today was indeed the right choice. Jin Tong has exceptional gambling skills and profound internal strength. If it weren't for you, we wouldn't have won so much silver."
Controlling the dice with inner strength from a distance was beyond her abilities.
Ren Anle smiled and glanced at the luxurious and grand private room. He raised his eyebrows and said, "So you are returning a favor?"
An Ning nodded repeatedly and, in the midst of speaking, the door of the private room was pushed open. Several handsome young men followed behind Madam Yu as she walked in. Madam Yu was very polite this time and smiled as she handed the green jade pendant to An Ning, saying, "Miss, Linlang will be here soon. After all, it's just the sound of playing the qin. There's not much difference between playing it in the Peony Pavilion or on the high terrace."
Hearing Madame Yu's drastically different tone, An Ning spoke up, "Alright, you can leave now." Seeing that Madame Yu was staring fixedly at the silver notes on the table but hesitated to take them, An Ning waved her hand and said, "Take it, you deserve it."
Madame Yu was overjoyed and quickly hid the silver notes in her sleeve before leaving, wiggling her hips.
Shortly after, news of an important guest arriving at the Peony Pavilion spread throughout the Lingxiang Tower. In fact, everyone seated inside was considered an important guest, as they were able to have Linlang, the top performer, play for them exclusively all night long. The fact that no one in the other private rooms objected to this made it even more special.
As everyone speculated about the identity of the guest, their curiosity made them forget about leaving. After all, it was just listening to the music, and it didn't matter where Linlang performed
Peony Pavilion's door was pushed open, and Lin Lang walked in with a guzheng in her arms. She was also taken aback when she heard that two young ladies had rented the entire private room for her for the night. She originally thought that there would be a scene of debauchery inside the room, but to her surprise, a group of servants stood quietly beside the two ladies, pouring tea and wine with extreme propriety, without any disorderly behavior. It was only when she turned around and saw the appearance of the two ladies that she understood what was going on.
古筝 gǔ zhēng - a traditional Chinese musical instrument. The Guzheng is known for its beautiful, ethereal sound and is often used in traditional Chinese music.
Their refined demeanor must be that of young ladies from some noble family. Lin Lang remained calm and courteous, and bent her knees in greeting, saying, "Lin Lang greets the two young ladies."
Not surprisingly, she was the top beauty of Lingxiang Tower. Her face was extremely beautiful, her temperament was gentle, neither humble nor overbearing. It was no wonder that she attracted the attention of countless young gentlemen in the city. The two women exchanged a glance, very satisfied.
"I've just returned from the frontier, not having seen a beauty for many years. The renowned and lovely Miss Linlang is indeed worthy of her reputation. Come, play a few pieces for me to listen to," said An Ning, grinning and squinting her eyes as she looked at Linlang.
Ling Lang nodded her head, with a faint smile on her face, she walked gracefully towards the shelf and arranged the guzheng carefully. She took a deep breath, lightly moved her fingertips, and a solemn and cold melody flowed out.
The two of them were slightly surprised. The sound that fell on their ears was sonorous and ancient. Linglang was playing the "Requiem", a song commonly heard in the border military camps. They realized that she must have chosen this song because of An Ning's recent return from the border.
安魂曲 (ān hún qǔ) is the Chinese term for "Requiem," a musical composition that is often played at funerals or in memory of the dead.
Majestic and heroic, with a hint of tenderness and gracefulness, the two closed their eyes and seemed to see a young bride bidding farewell to her husband with tears in her eyes, longing for his safe return, in a painting from a distant time.
In the prosperous and peaceful capital, such a tragic and solemn overture is rarely heard. The entire Lingxiang Tower fell silent because of the sudden and unusual sound of the melody.
As the melody came to a sudden stop, there was a sense of unfulfilled longing in the air.
An Ning and Ren Anle opened their eyes at the same time, both filled with emotion.
"Linglang is truly a master of the qin. The Requiem you played is rare in this world," An Ning said with a serious expression.
"Miss, you flatter me. Linglang only thought that you two deserved to hear this piece," Linglang replied softly. "Although I have never been to the borderlands in this lifetime, I have witnessed the helpless scenes of sending husbands and sons to the frontier. Sending loved ones away, hoping for their safe return. If there could be fewer wars in summer, it would prevent these tragedies."
Currently, the emperor's fondness for war is indeed fully known throughout the country.
Ren Anle's eyes were dark and deep, and her gaze was somewhat distant. She sat up straight and said, "The day that the young lady seeks will not be too far away."
An Ning turned her head abruptly and looked at Ren Anle, catching a glimpse of the determination in her expression. She felt a slight resonance within her.
"Thank you for your kind words, Miss. Linglang will offer a few more pieces," Linglang said with a slight smile on her face, bowing her head as the sweet melody rose again.
Almost all the guests in the Lingxiang Tower today noticed that the performance of the top performer, Linlang, was completely different from the past, which made everyone even more curious about the identity of the guest in the Peony Pavilion.
Alas, this night was destined to be restless. As the orderly sound of galloping horses echoed through the deserted streets, even the dignitaries of the imperial city were momentarily stunned. It wasn't until armored soldiers marched into the Língxiāng Tower one after another that they were forced to accept the almost absurd fact - just moments ago, the Crown Prince issued an edict to rectify the capital, strictly ordering all brothels and pleasure houses to close for a month.
Who can tell them how the Crown Prince, who has always been diligent in state affairs, could issue such an abrupt and out-of-place decree, and even send soldiers from the western military camp to enforce it?
Amidst the noise and commotion, the sounds from outside also reached the Peony Pavilion. Ren Anle's lips curled up in surprise. It was no wonder that he was the crown prince of Great Jing. He usually remained silent and did not make any moves, but when he did, he acted decisively and with great flair.
An Ning stood up and smiled bitterly. "I guess we've been discovered," she said, then turned to Linlang. "Thank you for playing for us today, Miss Linlang."
"To be able to play music for the two young ladies is a great honor for Linlang." Linlang stood up and returned the gesture, escorting Ren Anle and An Ning to the wooden stairs.
Within the hall, the soldiers stood holding their halberds, solemn and unusual. The guests who had not yet left the hall were surprised to see two women walking out from the Peony Pavilion, their eyes wide open in astonishment.
By paying ten thousand taels of silver to hire a courtesan to perform a musical piece, the distinguished personage who silenced all the guests on the floor is actually two women?
Although she possessed extraordinary grace and bearing, her manner and demeanor while visiting the courtesan house were a disgrace to proper etiquette and culture!
The guests in the building were not fools either. They could sense that the generals in the hall had visibly relaxed upon the arrival of the two individuals. Immediately, they lowered their heads and made way for them.
The guests in the hall can't help but wonder about the identity of the two women who can make the Crown Prince mobilize the West Suburb Garrison. They recognize Princess An Ning, known for her bold and unrestrained character, but they are surprised to see her behaving so outrageously. Even those who have the courage to be reckless wouldn't dare to stroll around a brothel so brazenly! As for the other woman next to her, she appears even more free-spirited than Princess An Ning, judging by her posture and demeanor.
"Thud!" A muffled sound broke the suffocating atmosphere and successfully stopped the footsteps of the two about to leave the Língxiāng Tower . The crowd sighed in lament and raised their eyes, looking towards the wooden stairs.
A young girl of about fifteen or sixteen years old, dressed in a green long dress, tumbled down from a wooden ladder and quickly crawled to the front of Ren Anle. She grabbed the hem of Ren Anle's skirt anxiously and cried out, "Miss, save me!"
Ren Anle looked down and frowned at the girl, who was sobbing and tears streaming down her face, and asked, "What's the matter?"
Meanwhile, An Ning turned around and watched the scene play out with her chin resting on her hand.
"Miss, please redeem me and let me go out. I am willing to work like a cow or a horse."
做牛做马" (zuò niú zuò mǎ) is an idiom that means "to work very hard" or "to work like a slave". Literally, it means "to work like a cow or a horse"
The little girl was sobbing uncontrollably, but it was clear that no one could understand the whole story from her fragmented words. Yu Daniang ran down the wooden stairs with her agile and plump body, and hurried to Ren Anle's side, apologizing awkwardly, "Miss, this girl was bought a few days ago and doesn't understand the rules. She has disturbed you. Please forgive her." Then she scolded, "Hongxiu, hurry up and go inside."
The girl known as Hongxiu remained motionless, only holding tightly onto the hem of Ren Anle's skirt.
It was apparent that Ren Anle and An Ning came from distinguished families, and since it was a girl who had caused such a commotion, it was hoped that the two would have a compassionate heart and redeem her. Almost everyone had guessed the outcome, after all, redeeming a girl from a brothel would be considered a virtuous act and could earn them a good reputation.
Ren Anle bent down and helped Hong xiu up. The young girl's eyes showed a hint of surprise as she quickly released Ren Anle's skirt and stood weakly to the side.
"Hongxiu, how did you come to be in Lingxiang Building?" Ren Anle asked calmly.
"Half a month ago, my father passed away. I sold myself to the Lingxiang Pavilion, and Madame Yu bought me for one hundred taels of silver," said Hongxiu. Her eyes turned red, causing many guests to feel sympathy for her filial piety.
"Well, did you voluntarily sell yourself to Lingxiang Pavilion?"
Madam Yu was full of anger: "Miss, I bought her for one hundred taels of silver because of her good looks and her skill in playing the erhu. I did not force her to sell herself, nor did I mistreat her. This little brat has repaid kindness with enmity!"
Erhu, a traditional Chinese stringed instrument.
Ren Anle waved her hand and continued, "Did Madame Yu arrange for your father's burial?"
Hongxiu felt a little uneasy but still nodded her head. She looked up at Ren Anle with pleading eyes and said, "Miss, you are a kind person, please help me."
To her surprise, Ren Anle turned around and didn't look at her again.
"Hongxiu, you entered the Lingxiang Pavilion voluntarily, and Yu Daniang bought you for a hundred taels, burying your father and fulfilling her righteousness. She has already done her duty as your benefactor in times of danger. If you want to leave, you can sell your skills here and earn a hundred taels to redeem yourself."
As soon as the words fell, Ren Anle had already stepped out of the door of the Lingxiang Tower, and An Ning shook her head with a bitter smile and followed her. The crowd thought that the matter had been settled, but they did not expect such a result. Looking at the red-faced Hongxiu, the guests also felt that she was right. They sighed a few words and left together.
The streets of the imperial capital were deserted and quiet at night. Ren Anle and An Ning walked side by side along the streets, followed by a row of soldiers not too far behind.
"If you don't return to the palace, they will not give up. It seems that your imperial brother is very worried about you," teased Ren Anle.
"An Ning raised her eyebrows and pretended to be surprised, saying: "I thought you knew..."
"What do you know?"
"I have a bad reputation in the capital, everyone knows it, and it's not the first time I've visited a brothel. But my brother has never sent soldiers from the western camp to catch me and bring me back! Oh, the ladies in the capital must be heartbroken!"
Facing the particularly meaningful look from Anning, Ren Anle shrugged, accepting her veiled compliment.
At the end of a dimly lit street, there was a small distillery emitting the fragrant aroma of wine. Two individuals exchanged a knowing glance and silently walked towards the distillery.
A simple wooden table and chair, rough utensils, and an elderly couple - everything made the streets of the capital city distant from the hustle and bustle, suddenly becoming peaceful and quiet.
"Ren Anle, you... remind me of an old friend I once knew."
Not far behind them, Han Ye stood quietly in a light yellow ceremonial robe, with deep and intense eyes.
❊𑁍❊𑁍❊𑁍❊
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