Chapter 605: The Flower Queens of Three Families—Su Yun

You watched Li Yutong and Xie Renfeng leave.

You were now certain that Shen Kuan's appearance at the carriage pavilion was connected to this man.

You understood it was due to the relationship between Xie Hong and his son—he was taking out his anger on you.

There is no such thing as guarding against thieves for a thousand days.

Moreover, this man had previously harbored ulterior motives toward Wu Tong; you had already made up your mind.

At that moment, Xu Xiyue walked over gracefully and said softly, "Lord Guan, I shall go ahead to the Qunfang Banquet, lest my lord grow worried."

"Lady Xu, farewell!"

"Lord Guan, should you encounter any trouble, do come find me—I will spare no effort."

The three guards also hurried forward and bowed respectfully, "Lord Guan, we take our leave."

Xu Xiyue and Sima Muqing departed first.

Zhang Yunzhi watched this scene in silence, silently sighing. She had never seen Lady Sima treat anyone so gently, let alone a young junior like Xie Guan.

She could not help recalling the first time she met Xie Guan in the small courtyard—he had been merely a boy reading books, yet now he was beginning to reveal his edge.

Xie Yuan hurried over and said, "Brother Guan, we must depart—the Qunfang Banquet is about to begin."

The several of them had indeed wasted considerable time waiting here for Xie Guan.

Among those present, aside from the Eleventh Prince Chen Yong, none had the qualification to enter the Yaoxian Tower.

Originally, the Qunfang Banquet had no Yaoxian Tower—only the front area's seating zones labeled Jia, Yi, Bing, and Ding, totaling just nine hundred seats.

These seats allowed close viewing; in past years, only high officials and wealthy merchants from all regions could afford the exorbitant price for entry.

The Jia zone was the most prestigious.

Previously, Xie Yuan and Xie Qiyue had been seated in the Bing zone.

This year, they were moved to the Jia zone.

This year, with the Yaoxian Tower added, the lower seats were left vacant; most could now be purchased with gold, with all proceeds used to aid famine victims in Jiangnan Circuit.

All proceeds from this year's Qunfang Banquet were designated for repairing the Yellow River and aiding famine relief in Jiangnan Circuit.

The advantage of this zone is that if invited by a senior within the Yaoxian Tower, one may ascend directly.

Li Shuwan, as the daughter of the Li family and the daughter of the current State Guardian, was entitled to enter the Yaoxian Tower—but for years, the Li family had maintained a low profile.

Xie Qiyue had long wished to see the Flower Queen, clapping her hands and saying, "They say the opening performance will be by Ni Huang from Yuehua Pavilion. She has held the top Flower Queen position there for ten straight years and hasn't performed on stage in a decade."

"This time, she dances only because Third Master is attending the Qunfang Banquet—we cannot miss it."

Xie Yuan naturally knew that Ni Huang of Yuehua Pavilion was famed far and wide; though past thirty, her charm had only deepened, becoming even more captivating.

In the past, when she stirred the capital, the Third Master—renowned as "who spoke thirty years of grand enterprise to mountain ghosts, and wore seals of multiple states"—arrived at Yuehua Pavilion, drunkenly reclined there, and Ni Huang attended him all night, singing and dancing. When he awoke, he left behind a single poem.

The poem read: "Like the bright moon floating on a river, her body moves like a light breeze stirring ripples."

"A thousand songs, ten thousand dances—none can be counted, yet among them all, I love Ni Chang's dance most."

Instantly, Ni Huang's name echoed throughout the capital; the people of Bianjing regarded her as the Third Master's beloved companion, turning it into a celebrated tale.

Thanks to the Third Master's prestige, Ni Huang became an overnight sensation and held the top position at Yuehua Pavilion for a full decade.

Eleventh Prince Chen Yong sighed in awe: "A single poem can carry a thousand taels of gold and be passed down through generations—truly refined elegance!"

Li Shuwan nodded in agreement; in Bianjing, many revered the Third Master, and Ni Huang's fame had risen with the tide.

Xie Yuan chuckled: "Today, we shall see the top Flower Queen of Zixiao Pavilion—Lady Gongsun—whether her sword dance will stir Bianjing."

Lady Gongsun, head of the Jian family—the foremost of Bianjing's eighteen houses—was once praised by Old Master Jinzi Tan: "Once there was a beauty, Lady Gongsun; one sword dance moved all four corners."

"Her attack came like thunder ceasing its rage; her retreat, like the sea and river holding still, gleaming with pure light."

"Lady Gongsun has not appeared in five years; today at the Qunfang Banquet, she vows to claim the top title."

Zhang Yunzhi looked toward Xie Guan, as if seeking his opinion, then turned to Li Shuwan and asked, "Shuwan, which Flower Queen do you most long to see?"

Li Shuwan smiled gently and said, "You've mentioned the Flower Queens of Yuehua Pavilion and Zixiao Pavilion—how could I not speak of Su Shi from Qimochun Fang?"

Su Shi's name surpassed even Ni Huang and Lady Gongsun.

When she first became a courtesan, her breathtaking beauty shook Bianjing.

It was said: "Her brows like distant mountains, her waist slender as willow branches; one smile topples a city, a second topples a nation."

The people of Bianjing called her "Immortal," saying she seemed to step from a painted scroll, otherworldly, not of this mortal realm.

Even more astonishing: Zhuge Ziqing, the Zhuge family's androgynous, noble-born scion, sought to visit Su Shi—but was politely refused.

This woman never received guests, rarely appeared in public, and never engaged in tea gatherings; yet all who saw her once were utterly captivated.

Among them were high officials and even the greatest talents of the age.

Chen Yong laughed: "Shuwan, you've voiced exactly what I feel."

"Even my second brother is utterly obsessed with this Miss Shi. Though the Empress Dowager arranged his marriage to my brilliant sister-in-law, they've lived in respectful harmony for over three years—and still, no child."

As Chen Yong spoke these words, his tone carried an unspoken weight.

As the saying goes, every household has its own hard-to-recite scripture—how much more so within the deep palace walls, where power struggles reign?

In today's Great Qi, imperial authority has weakened; the deposition and replacement of the Crown Prince has become commonplace. In ten years, the Crown Prince's position has changed more than four times.

The current Crown Prince and the Second Prince now hold equal power in court, evenly matched.

The stance of the Nine Great Families will determine which side the imperial throne tilts toward.

As the Eleventh Prince, Chen Yong's mother, though from one of the Nine Great Families, was not of the direct bloodline. Born into the imperial house, the dragon throne—symbol of supreme power—was as distant to him as moonlight on water.

To others, Chen Yong was merely a frail, sickly man with no ambition, content to be a carefree prince, waiting until his imperial term ended so he could leave Bianjing and be enfeoffed somewhere across Great Qi.

After hearing Li Shuwan's words, Zhang Yunzhi turned to Xie Guan: "Lord Guan, which Flower Queen do you most look forward to?"

Xie Guan, upon hearing this, shook his head lightly: "I've never had one in mind."

Xie Yuan teased: "Brother Guan, you've only just stepped into the Western Pavilion today, never even seen a Flower Queen's true face—how could you have one in mind?"

"You've probably only ever known the beauties from books, and Shuwan and Fourth Cousin." Xie Guan smiled.

Zhang Yunzhi's cheeks flushed slightly at this.

Just then!

Two luxurious carriages rolled slowly toward them, hooves clattering urgently!

The curtain parted, revealing the occupant inside: Su Yun.

Chen Yong stroked the cat in his arms; Su Yun's arrival had drawn his attention. As the only male of the Su family's generation to walk openly in the world, even the Second Prince and other princes dared not offend him lightly.

Li Shuwan slightly furrowed her brows.

Su Yun pulled up his robe, ignoring his servants' offers of help, and stepped down quickly from the carriage. His eyes caught sight of Li Shuwan, and his face brightened: "Shuwan, you're here too!"

Li Shuwan merely gave a polite greeting.

After Su Yun stepped down, another person emerged from the carriage.

They all recognized him: Xie Xuan, Seventh Brother of the Xie family compound.

Xie Xuan looked at those present, his expression darkening.

Behind Su Yun's carriage, the second carriage also came to a slow stop.

The driver pulled the reins tight; two women lifted the curtain, revealing two beautiful faces.

The two women stepped down gracefully, accompanying Su Yun.

One woman wore a peach-colored satin jacket over a bright red fur coat, beneath which was a yellow embroidered long skirt. Her narrow shoulders, slender waist, oval face, and eyes—soft as water, yet brimming with allure—were unmistakable.

You recognized her immediately: Hu Yunniang, the Flower Queen of Yuehua Pavilion who had accompanied Su Yun to Hongjing Courtyard that day.

The other woman wore a green silk robe and skirt, her figure graceful, her features strikingly beautiful, yet her aura was entirely different from Hu Yunniang's—her eyes held a touch of coldness.

Zhang Yuzhi instantly recognized the green-robed woman: she was "Chenxiang," one of Yuehua Pavilion's Flower Queens.

One in red, one in green—both Flower Queens possessed unique charms.

By all logic, these two should have been busy preparing for their performances at the Qunfang Banquet—why were they here?

After stepping down, Su Yun walked straight over, as if oblivious to everyone else—not even acknowledging Eleventh Prince Chen Yong. He hurried to Xie Guan's side, his tone urgent: "Lord Guan, you've finally arrived?"

Xie Guan's eyes flickered with confusion—he noticed that Chen Jiuyan, the skilled chess player who had accompanied Su Yun last time, was not with him.

Hu Yunniang and Chenxiang also approached, bowing respectfully to Prince Chen Yong and greeting the others one by one.

As Flower Queens of Yuehua Pavilion, they were well-acquainted with the sons of the Nine Great Families; they showed no fear, their manners poised and dignified.

Chen Yong watched Su Yun, curious: why had Su Yun come here specifically to find Xie Guan? What did he want?

He smiled and greeted: "Yun-ge, it's been a while since you've visited the palace—Grandmother often speaks of you."

Su Yun was the grandson of Su Jing; as a child, he had lived within the imperial palace's inner cabinet, and even been raised for a time by the Empress Dowager.

The Zhuge and Su families were inseparable.

"Yun-ge, why are you here? Didn't you go to the Yaoxian Tower?" Chen Yong asked, probing for his intent.

Seeing Xie Guan, Su Yun's urgency faded; he held a favorable impression of Chen Yong—a prince of the imperial house who cared little for power struggles, instead devoted to poetry, much like himself.

"Your Highness, I've been terribly busy lately—I'll pay my respects to Grandmother soon."

"Huh!"

"This Beiluo Master, haven't seen you in a while—how did you get so fat?"

Beiluo Master was the name of the cat Chen Yong held.

The golden-furred cat mewed unhappily, as if understanding.

Chen Yong stroked the cat's soft fur and laughed: "It's winter—put on a bit of autumn fat."

Su Yun paid no mind to the cat's weight; he turned serious: "I came here today primarily regarding the Poetry Society."

Chen Yong's expression turned puzzled—he knew Su Yun had long sought to revive the Poetry Society, tirelessly working for it these past years.

The Qunfang Banquet was undoubtedly an excellent opportunity to gain fame.

At the Qunfang Banquet, each Flower Queen who performs selects a poem to conclude her act.

After the performance, the courtesans will pose questions on the spot, inviting the scholars in the audience to compose poems in response.

Thus, besides the beauties' performances, the focus is on poetry appreciation.

There is actually a strategy behind this: most courtesans reveal the theme in advance, inviting favored scholars to compose poems ahead of time, just in case.

In years past, a woman of modest beauty and talent rose to become a courtesan after a scholar's brilliant opening poem, becoming the dark horse of that gathering of beauties.

Beauty resides in skin and bone, and will eventually fade, in a nation like Da Qi, long steeped in poetry, books, rites, and the Book of Changes.

A beauty is made more enchanting by poetry; the two complement each other perfectly.

The Gathering of Beauties, as an annual grand event, is not only a stage for courtesans to display their talents, but also an excellent opportunity for scholars and literati to secure their status and gain fame.

Therefore, each year's Gathering of Beauties produces several outstanding poems, which circulate widely and are annotated with the author's name and the name of their poetry society.

Su Yun recognized this precisely, and chose the Gathering of Beauties to promote his poetry society.

Once an exceptional poem circulates and bears the name of a poetry society, that society often becomes known throughout the land overnight, gaining immense renown.

Yet Chen Yong still did not understand how this connected to Xie Guan; he looked at Su Yun in confusion.

Su Yun turned to face you and said with sincere eyes: "This matter of the poetry society—I beg your assistance, Young Master Guan."

"Su Yun, this time I have a reason I cannot afford to lose."

Only then did Chen Yong realize: Su Yun wanted Xie Guan to compose the poem for him.

Could this illegitimate son of the Xie family truly possess extraordinary poetic talent, worthy of Su Yun's high regard?

Zhang Yunzhi and Li Shuwan had already anticipated this—last time, Su Yun had earnestly invited Xie Guan to his courtyard.

Xie Qi Yue felt a flicker of curiosity: this ninth cousin of hers seemed truly gifted, otherwise her father would not have summoned him alone.

Otherwise, why would the son of the Su family come rushing here so urgently?

Xie Yuan stood beside them, his expression pleased, as if this were only natural.

Hu Yunniang wore an anxious look; she had already chosen an opening poem, yet still felt it was inadequate.

The Gathering of Beauties was about to begin, and she had yet to settle on her opening poem—how could she not be frantic?

The green-clad courtesan Chen Xiang, also of Yuehua Pavilion, knew everyone present, yet found this Xie family illegitimate son, Xie Guan, unfamiliar.

Su Yun held him in the highest esteem, yet she found this hard to believe.

Though she had recently heard whispers of Xie Guan's name, she dismissed him as merely a bookish scholar who had stumbled upon a few fine lines.

If Xie Guan truly possessed talent and ambition, why would he need to be invited to compose poetry?

A powerless illegitimate son—what kind of mire could he possibly wish to escape from, if not the cage of a great household?

How could he possibly miss such an opportunity!

He's nothing but a pretender, afraid to reveal his true ability, hiding his head and tail!

(End of Chapter)