Chapter 392: The Guest Attendant of the Grand Courtesan

I originally wanted to do something refined, but I ended up in a pleasure den.

Heng Xian doubted he was a refined person deep down; seeing the eager madam nearby and the men in pairs amusing themselves with the courtesans, he couldn't help but say in a low voice: "Give me the most cultured, prettiest girl—money is no object!"

The madam blinked, then looked at Heng Xian's age and appearance, covered her mouth and smiled, already treating him as a naive youngster from a noble family just out to mingle: "Okay, okay, okay, come with me, young master!"

She said, twisting her waist and swaying her hips as she led the way.

Passing through what seemed an elegant pavilion and courtyard, they finally reached a separate compound; the madam was still at the gate and laughed, calling out: "Cui'er, distinguished guests have arrived!"

The house door creaked open, and two maidservants attended a young lady holding a silk handkerchief as she came out.

That young lady pinched the handkerchief half-covering her face, gave a hehe laugh, and said: "Young master!"

So pretentious!

Heng Xian instantly lost interest: "Change her!"

The young lady froze.

The madam stammered: "Cui'er is our finest pure courtesan here, young master..."

Before he finished speaking, a noisy clamor arose nearby; a group of richly dressed, either wealthy or noble people surrounded an exquisitely designed pavilion, their expressions excited.

Seeing this, the madam instantly panicked: "Mo Dajia!"

She hurried over.

Heng Xian glanced over in surprise and followed.

Reaching the edge of the crowd, he saw the madam already surrounded by a group of people, emotions high, shouting and cursing.

"This is outrageous! Today marks the 365th day since Mo Dajia entered the pavilion—I've kept track!"

"Three hundred sixty-five days make a year! Mo Dajia personally promised a one‑year term to take on a guest attendant, so why aren't we here today?"

"Exactly! Could it be you want to go back on your word?"

"Ask if the money in our purses agrees."

"Lords and young masters!" the madam waved desperately, "Mo Dajia's recruitment of a guest attendant was actually my idea; this past year she truly achieved conversing with erudite scholars and having no dealings with vulgar folk, her fame spread throughout the capital, countless officials and nobles are her patrons and friends—so the matter of taking on a guest attendant can only be discussed later!"

Moreover, Mo Dajia has been invited to Splendid Courtyard Lake and is about to leave.

"We don't care!" a three‑hundred‑jin fatty roared, cutting him off, "I've already taken my bath, I want…"

"Rude!" a square‑faced man interrupted him, picking up his knife, "I'm a Captain of a Hundred of the Five City Military Command—who dares not give me face?"

"We're not made of clay!" the other guests shot cold looks.

"Wait another half incense stick; if Mo Dajia doesn't come out to pick a guest attendant, we'll charge in!" declared an elderly man, settling the matter.

Everyone praised: "Old Ox, stubborn as ever, full of ox spirit!"

Just as the madam was anxiously busy, the window on the second floor of the pavilion suddenly opened, revealing a figure.

Downstairs fell silent in an instant.

He saw that the figure was a girl about sixteen, tall and slender, with black hair pulled up into a high bun, almond eyes, jade‑like nose, cherry lips, a face like flawless porcelain—a natural beauty.

At this moment her expression was solemn, giving off the dignified air of a lady from a prestigious family.

"Mo Dajia!" the crowd below bowed, instantly becoming polite.

He saw the girl frown slightly and say: "Since you already agreed last year, Xianglian will naturally keep her promise!"

She spoke while scanning the crowd with her gaze.

Her eyes landed on Heng Xian; among a crowd full of greedy, vulgar people, he stood out—his bearing was exceptional, like a handsome young gentleman, and he was extremely good‑looking, truly a crane among chickens.

The key was he didn't look like someone come to brothel for fun; he seemed more like he'd come… to eat!

The girl blinked in surprise, then lightly laughed and pointed: "It's this young master!"

"Swish…"

The crowd all turned to look at Heng Xian.

"Why him?"

"This sort of thing depends on fate; you can't force it!" the girl said calmly.

"Alas!" the crowd could only sigh.

Heng Xian himself was also a bit surprised, pointing at himself: "Me?"

The girl smiled faintly, performed a salute, and said: "It's you, young master!"

Heng Xian thought: he'd visited brothels many times, but being played by a lady was his first time—how novel: "You've got good taste!"

He lifted his foot and went up.

The pavilion's interior was exceptionally fresh and elegant; the second‑floor curtain opened, a few pretty maidservants looked him up and down, lightly laughing as they made a gesturing invitation.

Heng Xian went up to the second floor; the girl who had just been at the window now closed it, came forward, and bowed deeply: "Mo Xianglian greets you, young master!"

Don't even mention it—there's a certain flavor to it.

Heng Xian nodded: "Your manners are proper!"

Mo Xianglian rose, looking at him with a hint of shyness and embarrassment: "Since I have chosen you, young master, I ought to accompany you—but today… there is an outside invitation, and it is extremely important to Xianglian, so I cannot fulfill being your first guest attendant, and perhaps never will; I hope you will forgive me."

Heng Xian glanced at her, fully adopting the role of a drifter: "What's the deal? You picked me, and my pants are almost off—are you giving me this run‑around?"

Seeing Heng Xian speak rudely, Mo Xianglian's face first showed disappointment, then a hint of disdain, and she said: "Fine, Xianglian's taking on a guest attendant—she had said beforehand that one must be able to compose poetry; young master… can you? If you can compose a poem that satisfies Xianglian, she will do anything."

Heng Xian looked her up and down: "Anything?"

Mo Xianglian nodded: "Exactly!"

Heng Xian waved his sleeve: "Give the topic!"

Mo Xianglian blinked slightly, then waved her hand: "Bring the brush, ink, paper, and inkstone!"

The pretty maidservants behind her immediately readied everything.

Mo Xianglian clasped her hands behind her back: "Topic one, a drinking song!"

Heng Xian thought, picked up his brush and began writing, while writing he asked: "First, what can you do?"

Mo Xianglian's face flushed slightly, a hint of pride rising: "I'm versed in music, chess, calligraphy, painting; within a radius of ten thousand li I can also speak some rustic local talk; I began learning to serve men at eleven, young master, you can relax!"

As her voice fell, Heng Xian put down his brush: "All right!"

"This… is it done?"

Mo Xianglian somewhat disbelieving, hesitantly stepped forward to look; at first sight the characters seemed a little ugly, but upon careful perusal she couldn't help being greatly startled, abruptly turning to look at Heng Xian: "Sir, sir, may I ask your esteemed surname and where you come from?"

Heng Xian didn't even think: "Dong Lan Heng Xian!"

He frequents brothels yet dares not use his real name, merely playing with a hammer!

Mo Xianglian thought back carefully, with no recollection; she cautiously folded the paper covered in verses and slipped it into her bosom, a hint of respect appearing on her face as she affected composure: "Topic two, a poem on mountains and waters!"

Heng Xian wrote another poem.

Mo Xianglian looked again, and was again greatly startled, her body trembling slightly; she once more carefully folded it, set it down, and her words stumbled: "Topic… topic three, a fu on the battlefield troops; … thank you, young master!"

Heng Xian wrote another poem with a swish-swish, thought a moment, then wrote a third: "I'll send you one poem, that's about enough!"

Mo Xianglian stepped forward again to look, unable to keep her body from trembling, her eyes reddening; she likewise folded it, put it away, turned to face Heng Xian, and bowed deeply: "Xianglian is blind and ignorant, not recognizing a great scholar's arrival; if the young master does not disdain her, Xianglian wishes to redeem herself and serve him forever… Xianglian, Xianglian now will change your clothes!"

Saying this, she was about to draw near.

"No need!" Heng Xian waved a hand to cut her off; this girl, even if she had some looks, compared to Ji Yaoyue was just vulgar flesh and powder, failing to interest him; he narrowed his eyes slightly and said in a low voice: "You can do anything, as you said—let's try a different item!"

(End of chapter)