Chapter 293

On the second floor of Yuehua Pavilion, the lights were dim.

If Sister Wu Tong were here, she would have been able to recognize two people among the crowd leaning on the railings on the second floor.

Zhang Yuanlai and He Xiao.

The two reading teachers Xie Yuan found for Xie Guan; after the reading ended, He Xiao had no contact and had never come to Xie Guan's small courtyard.

On the contrary, Zhang Yuanlai had become a frequent visitor, often visiting Xie Guan.

Zhang Yuanlai's figure was slightly plump, and his round face was full of harmony.

At this moment, he was accompanied by a pretty woman with a beautiful face.

Zhang Yuanlai, however, appeared quite restrained, his two hands as if nailed to his trousers, sticking straight, and there was not the slightest expression on his face.

He Xiao found Zhang Yuanlai's appearance quite funny.

He hugged the waist of the Yuehua Pavilion "Powder Butterfly" beside him with his big hand; although she couldn't compare to the "Clear Courtesans," "Head Courtesans," or "Red Powder" among them, she was far from the mediocre beauties of the brothels in the West Chamber Tower.

It was just that the price of this "Powder Butterfly" was also not cheap.

Just the cost of one night recorded on the "flower case" required more than twenty taels of silver, which was staggering.

Even worse, the women in this building sold their arts but not their bodies; if someone with heart wanted to "blow the flower" or "sit on the bed."

That was another "price"!

Of course, if the woman was willing, it could also lead to a "cloud and rain" affair.

"Brother Zhang, coming here to seek pleasure, one should naturally be happy; don't let this beautiful scenery go to waste."

"No need to be so restrained, look, even this girl hasn't been nervous at all; you are a dignified seven-foot man, why do you look so awkward?"

The woman beside Zhang Yuanlai covered her mouth and chuckled, her eyebrows curved, carrying a bit of the gentleness of a small-family girl.

The woman beside He Xiao appeared quite plump, and her every gesture revealed a mature charm.

He preferred the style of married women, but it was a pity that the girls in this Yuehua Pavilion were all young girls who had not yet married.

It was a pity!

"Brother He, don't tease me anymore."

Zhang Yuanlai's face was helpless, and his bitter smile carried a bit of embarrassment.

He was stepping into this pleasure quarter for the first time and was quite uncomfortable.

You must know, those who lived in Bianjing for a long time were mostly scholars and poets, and more or less had all appreciated the style of this West Chamber Tower.

And he, however, was a unique existence.

He came from that remote place of Jiannan Dao; having just arrived, after so many years, he still hadn't fully adapted to the prosperity and noise of Bianjing.

Every year, just running around for the imperial examinations was enough to make his pockets shy.

In this Bianjing, the place where the powerful and influential were the richest in the world had endless human nobility; if one had "nothing to his name," one was trapped in a small rented room.

Living in Bianjing is not easy.

Today, it was because a friend he and He Xiao both knew had passed the provincial examination; on the day the autumn examination results were released, he had originally failed, but it happened that someone resigned from office, and the friend was able to fill the vacancy, which was truly lucky.

Thirty years old to understand the classics, fifty years old to be a scholar!

The friend was nearly forty years old when he got this, which was not too late.

Zhang Yuanlai was happy for his friend in his heart, but inevitably felt lonely for his own situation.

Time flies, old age is approaching, yet he had achieved nothing.

This friend was also a guest of the Xie Fu; this time passing the examination, the Xie Fu naturally rewarded him generously, Lady Zhao of the second courtyard also took out silver, and Young Master Xie Yuan was even more generous.

Among them, there was naturally the sentiment of incense and fire; only great clans could last long without falling.

Those who pass the examination are proud and the horse's hooves are fast!

Many elderly scholars, on the day the results were released, were almost crazy with joy.

Passing the examination not only meant hope for an official career but also allowed one to start cultivating using the national fortune of the Great Qi, which could be called "ascending to heaven in one step."

Today, the friend held a banquet to invite them, and they gathered here; in one day, they actually spent more than a hundred taels of silver, and could only move on the second floor of Yuehua Pavilion.

If one wanted to go upstairs, one needed to change the "water plate" and add more silver.

These five floors were just like the grading of the women in Yuehua Pavilion.

The second floor was where the Powder Butterflies were, and further up were the Clear Courtesans.

The highest fifth floor was where the top courtesan was; seeing her once was something one could only hope for but not ask for.

"Brother Zhang, why don't we go to the third floor? Anyway, Brother Wang is in high spirits today because of the happy event, and he's already drunk; we're bored anyway. This silver should be spent on the blade."

Zhang Yuanlai waved his hands repeatedly; he was unwilling to squander his silver here.

As a guest of a great mansion, he was already considered a "good job" among scholars, and he could still save some silver every month for other uses.

Spending it here was truly a pity.

Seeing this, Zhang Yuan did not persuade him again; in fact, he also knew in his heart that his pockets were shy and he was quite conflicted.

He had to come to the West Chamber Tower several times every month, and there was a mistress outside who needed support.

Over the years, he had almost never stepped into this top-tier place of "Yuehua Pavilion"; if it weren't for his friend hosting today, he might have chosen to "make do" in another brothel in the West Chamber Tower.

He Xiao's gaze fell on the lobby on the first floor, only to see drums and gongs beating there, lively and extraordinary.

The banner of "Caotang Poetry Society" was hung high.

The scale was so large that it almost occupied the entire open space on the first floor.

He Xiao couldn't help but yearn and sighed: "This Young Master Su Yun is really generous; this scene today, I'm afraid the cost is more than ten thousand taels of silver."

The woman beside him covered her mouth and chuckled, saying: "Young Master Su comes from the Su family, how could he worry about money? He has sat on a mountain of gold and silver since he was a child, only seeking pleasure."

Zhang Yuanlai looked down, only to see several noble sons from the nine great clans walking slowly onto the stage, with Su Yun leading and Xie Xuan and others following closely behind.

A servant held up a plaque high, on which was written "Caotang Poetry Appreciation Society."

Xie Xuan, Zhang Yuanlai, and He Xiao naturally knew each other; he was a young master of the Xie Fu.

The second floor was suddenly full of discussion.

"This Caotang Poetry Society is just a superficial display piled up with silver; it's tossed about like this every month, it's really tiring to watch. A good literary gathering was hardened into something vulgar by them."

"Young masters of the nine great clans, why bother like this, isn't this asking for trouble?"

Zhang Yuanlai looked around, his ears filled with the cold words of the people around him, mostly mocking remarks of this kind.

"Brother He, what do you think of this Caotang Poetry Society?"

He Xiao smiled slightly, envy in his eyes.

"Not to mention anything else, the treatment of one hundred taels of silver per month for joining the poetry society is enough to make people jealous. Moreover, as long as you participate in a poetry society once, all expenses such as carriage fees, hotels, and food for people and horses are covered by Young Master Su."

Saying this!

He Xiao's hand involuntarily touched the plump part of the woman's waist beside him, but was gently pushed away by the woman.

He Xiao didn't care, the smile on his face didn't decrease, and he continued:

"I don't know how many people squeezed their heads to get into this poetry society; some people, saying they look down on it with their mouths, but their bodies are very honest."

"In this day and age, if you can't take off this Confucian robe, how can you exchange it for gold and silver? A few pounds of backbone can't be sold for money."

At this time, movement had already come from downstairs.

Su Yun's cliché opening, everyone was already accustomed to it.

But immediately after.

With the slow entry of a woman, the men on the second floor couldn't help but stop and look up.

"This is!"

"Hu Yunniang!" someone exclaimed.

"The top courtesan of Yuehua Pavilion, one of the eighteen beauties of Bianjing."

He Xiao looked at that slender figure, a trace of obsession flashing in his eyes, and sighed:

"The name of the top courtesan is indeed well-deserved."

"No wonder the ancients said, a moment of spring night is worth a thousand gold; dying under the peony flower, one is romantic even as a ghost. Seeing it today, I know this is not false."

Xie Xuan stood on the stage, his face full of pride, and smiled:

"Yunniang has also joined the Caotang Poetry Society."

Hu Yunniang performed a light salute on the stage, her posture graceful, like a fairy.

Bursts of cheers and applause erupted in the venue.

At this moment!

Inside a private room on the fifth floor of Yuehua Pavilion, several women were leaning on the window looking out, their delicate hands cracking melon seeds, their faces beautiful, not at all inferior to Hu Yunniang.

The curtains hung low, and whispers came faintly.

"She is willing to show her face; it seems she has completely relied on the young master of the Su family."

"With the help of Su Yun, the top courtesan selection this year is afraid to cause waves again."

"These sisters are really harder to deal with than one another."

On the stage on the first floor!

Hu Yunniang only appeared for a moment, nodded to Su Yun, and walked off the stage gracefully.

Under the gaze of everyone, she walked behind the scenes, causing everyone to look sideways and feel regret.

Top courtesans were all on the fifth floor, and ordinary people were hard to see their faces.

Although everyone didn't have much hope for the "Caotang Poetry Society," they were more willing to see the beauty's style a few more times.

However.

Hu Yunniang's appearance made the venue hot.

Seeing this, Su Yun took the opportunity to order the servants to display the poems of the poetry society.

One after another, excellent works leaped onto the paper and were held high by wooden boards, all of which were carefully selected by Su Yun from the poetry society recently.

Covered with red cloth, it had a sense of solemnity like the release of examination results.

Zhang Yuanlai smiled and said: "It seems that this Young Master Su has indeed put in a lot of effort and is well-prepared."

He Xiao held a different view; he knew that although the Caotang Poetry Society was founded by Su Yun, the trend of poetry societies had long been prevalent.

Many sons of the nine great clans followed suit and formed poetry societies; Su Yun was just a latecomer. Those who loved to chant poems and write essays and advocated literature had long joined the old-brand poetry societies.

The Caotang Poetry Society had no excellent works spread for a year, and could only rely on silver to support it, gradually falling into the name of "Straw Bag Poetry Society."

You must know, excellent works are hard to come by, and there are many scholars in the Great Qi, but there are also many who "moan without illness."

Su Yun was extraordinary, leaving something out for the guests on the second, third, and even fifth floors, specifically sending servants to deliver a pastry and notebook gift to each person.

The red cloth was uncovered, and each time a poem was displayed, servants ran up and down to offer the copied original text.

The theater troupe sang loudly: "'Ode to Autumn,' written by Master Hu!"

Upstairs and downstairs, everyone heard this and couldn't help but lower their voices.

"'Chatting about autumn often brings sorrow, I say the golden wind has never opened. Leisurely clouds and warm sun are both suitable, where does the warmth of Bianjing come from?'"

The voice of the singer was rhythmic.

After listening, Zhang Yuanlai couldn't help but sigh: "This Master Hu is truly proficient in zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting. This poem's artistic conception is high-spirited and refreshing."

Afterwards, another board was uncovered, revealing the poem inside, and the singer continued to chant.

This poem was also an excellent work, winning everyone's nods.

He Xiao patted the railing and smiled: "This Young Master Su is making such a big scene today, he is indeed well-prepared."

Then, the singer's chanting came from below again.

"'Ode to Spring,' written by Young Master Xie Xuan of the Xie family—'Sparrows are lazy to fix their feathers, white magnolia fragrance condenses. The temple dragon sneezes once, old leaves glow with new branches.'"

Everyone in Yuehua Pavilion was a Confucian disciple, or had a high background, and had always read a few poems, so they naturally had ink in their chests.

"This poem is okay; Xie Xuan of the Xie family looks like a person who has read a lot of books."

"The Xie family has produced a master like Mr. Xie, which is not a loss of prestige."

Xie Xuan stood in front of the stage, although he tried his best to hide it, he still couldn't hide the pride on his face.

Becoming famous is what a man should do.

The singer paused for a moment, then sang loudly: "'Ode to Brightness,' written by Young Master Su Yun—'Who holds the moon in the clouds, should chase the flowing light. Leaning on the lake and posing, the green cup waits for the wine to open.'"

Zhang Yuanlai held the paper handed by the Su family servant, carefully savoring the poem on it, while listening to the singer's chanting, and couldn't help but praise:

"This Su Yun indeed has some poetic talent; this poem is written very well."

"This poem should be the best of today's poetry society gathering."

The singer was about to continue, but Su Yun stepped forward, personally uncovered a red cloth, and revealed the next poem.

"Written by Li Shuwan, a talented woman of the Li family."

"But it is a pity that there are only four lines of incomplete poetry."

The singer then chanted these four lines of poetry:

"'Flowers on the connected branches are blooming, jealous wind and rain urge them to wither. I wish to let the Green Emperor always be the master, do not let them scatter and dot the green moss.'"

The venue suddenly fell into silence.

"'... I wish to let the Green Emperor always be the master, do not let them scatter and dot the green moss.'" Many women repeated these two lines in low voices, as if savoring the deep meaning within.

Isn't this poem the inner voice of the women in Yuehua Pavilion?

The flowers on the connected branches are blooming, but they have been subjected to the jealousy and destruction of wind and rain, urging them to wither at all times. How they wish that the god in charge of spring could keep spring forever, not letting these delicate and lovely flowers fall on the green moss.

Life also has joys and sorrows, and everything in the world is like this, hard to be perfect.

They are in this "bird in a cage," youth passes easily, and the prime of life is hard to return; the artistic conception in this poem touches the depths of their hearts.

The voice fell.

Perhaps the women in the dust are the most "sad about spring and autumn," and low sobs actually sounded in the building.

Zhang Yuanlai looked at the woman accompanying him, who was also lowering her head and shedding tears, and couldn't help but be at a loss.

He had never encountered this scene and didn't know how to comfort her.

He Jin kept winking, asking him to look at the people around him, all men taking the opportunity to pull women into their arms.

Zhang Yuanlai still didn't dare, so he had to cough.

"Talented woman of the Li family? Written really well, although I can't understand it, this work should be the best today, I'm afraid it will spread in the West Chamber Tower."

"This Caotang Poetry Society really gained momentum today, if it comes a few more times, I'm afraid it will take off the name of the Money Bag Poetry Society."

Seeing the scene in the building, Su Yun couldn't help but take a deep breath; making a name for the woman he loves is the pleasure in a man's heart.

And there were two more poems to follow, which were also the key to the Caotang Poetry Society's fame today.

He personally uncovered the last red cloth, revealing a manuscript carefully mounted inside.

It was exactly what Xie Guan wrote that day!

Su Yun looked at the flying handwriting on the paper and still felt amazed.

"This is the last one of the Caotang Poetry Society today."

"It's a pity it's also an incomplete sentence."

"Presented by Su Yun!"

The singer looked at the words above, and seeing Su Yun bowing to the four directions, she didn't dare to be slow, and hurriedly chanted loudly.

"'When the name is not clear, the heart is not rotten, light the lamp again to read the article.'"

"'Peng to the Su Beihai, Phoenix to the morning sun, carrying books and swords on a vast road.'"

The voice was not loud, and the venue became quiet again.

As the servants handed the copied original text to everyone present.

Zhang Yuanlai looked at the words on the paper, his hands tightly gripping the railing.

His eye sockets gradually turned red, and he couldn't help but feel sour in his eyes, finally shedding tears.

More than thirty years, hard work, clapping the railing everywhere, no one understands the intention of ascending, isn't it the road of studying and passing the examination.

When the name is not clear, the heart is not rotten!

Living in a foreign land, burying his head in white hair, isn't it for ten years of cold windows, fame and status.

Light the lamp again to read the article!

Even if it's bitter, he yearns for it, "Peng to the Su Beihai, Phoenix to the morning sun, carrying books and swords on a vast road."

Dare to ask if the original intention is still there?

Most of the people in the building were also those who were not smooth in their official careers and imperial examinations; the ambition of a great man was naturally not like this, most of them were people who were not successful, otherwise they would not be mixed in the brothels and pleasure quarters.

The building was quiet for a while.

Someone shouted loudly:

"May I ask Young Master Su, who wrote this?"

Su Yun said loudly:

"Caotang Poetry Society, Xie family, Xie Guan."

Zhang Yuanlai suddenly raised his head.

"Xie family, Xie Guan!"

【It was already afternoon, and you slowly got up, your dizziness and headache slightly relieved.】

【You put on a piece of clothing, walked into the courtyard, and couldn't help but sneeze solidly.】

(End of chapter)