Chapter 8: Listening to Melodies at the Brothel, Returning at Twilight

The wheels rolled over the blue bricks outside the Shao residence gate and finally came to a stop.

Xiangjun Shao cradled a fluffy bird in her arms, standing beneath a lantern like a virtuous lady awaiting her husband’s return, gazing into the distance.

Jingtang Ye stepped down from the carriage, and Xiangjun Shao smiled warmly:

“Jingtang, how did the negotiations go? Yang Guan didn’t give you any trouble, did he?”

“Third Madam, why are you waiting here?”

Jingtang Ye ascended the steps and gently stroked the bird, which seemed to enjoy itself more than he did.

“No trouble at all. After much discussion, I finally clarified matters with Mr. Yang…”

“*Cough cough*—”

Chen Biao and the two unfamiliar escort guards who were unloading the carriage staggered slightly at these words and glanced back at Jingtang Ye, silently thinking:

“You spoke barely five sentences and call that ‘much discussion’?”

“As for Yang Guan not giving you trouble, you know best yourself.”

The old servant Yang Chao and Liuzi remained calm. In their eyes, the young master had indeed put in considerable effort today.

In a lawless border town, when encountering such ruffians, the young master would never waste words—he would solve the matter swiftly and leave.

Ignoring everyone’s gaze, Jingtang Ye continued to explain the situation gently, so as not to startle Third Madam.

Xiangjun Shao followed quietly, never showing panic. Like a gentle wife, after Jingtang Ye finished, she bit her lip lightly, admiration sparkling in her eyes:

“Truly remarkable. Having a man in the family does make a difference~”

The power of a beauty’s admiring gaze was not to be underestimated.

Though Jingtang Ye was indifferent to fame and fortune, under Third Madam’s look of admiration, he felt somewhat elated. With masculine pride, he waved a hand:

“It was but a trivial matter.”

“Just now, I discussed with your aunt, and we decided to appoint you as the young master of the Shao family, with a monthly salary of one hundred taels of silver. Surely you don’t find that insufficient?”

The title of young master was roughly equivalent to vice chairman of the Shao Group, with authority enough to open the treasury; a hundred taels monthly translated to a salary of over one hundred thousand in today’s currency.

Such generous treatment would unsettle Jingtang Ye, so he shook his head:

“Third Madam once said a man should be self-reliant. To then grant me such a salary would surely displease the shopkeepers on the street. Let it be the salary of a head escort.”

Chen Biao quickly shook his head upon hearing this: “Young Master Ye, you are too humble. Today you resolved the matter with Yang Guan, saving far more than that amount. Besides, a head escort’s salary is twelve taels a month—what is that to you? When the young master goes out drinking, he spends more than that…”

Xiangjun Shao nodded in agreement: “Indeed. Being the young master is no light responsibility. There are many social occasions—if you drink and listen to music with the officials’ sons from Wende Bridge but can’t even afford a tip for the women, wouldn’t that disgrace the Shao family? Consider this money your pocket allowance. If you feel embarrassed, simply devote yourself wholeheartedly to the family’s affairs.”

Seeing this, Jingtang Ye no longer refused:

“Then I shall follow Third Madam’s arrangement. The matter at Green Lotus Manor is settled. Are there other family business matters requiring my attention?”

Xiangjun Shao’s hands were full—her elder brother had died in the martial world, his title of ‘Gun Leader’ lost and the grudge unavenged; many martial factions vied for financial routes with no one to mediate; several restless leaders of the Red Flower Tower pressed for her to yield.

Yet these were all matters of the martial world, and Jingtang Ye was not yet suited to intervene. Smiling, she said:

“There are many shopkeepers under my command; the young master need not personally handle every matter. It rained today and there are no social obligations. You should rest first and let Chen Biao take you around the capital.”

As she spoke, Xiangjun Shao stepped closer and slipped a silver note quietly into Jingtang Ye’s bosom:

“After all, they are your men now. Occasionally taking them out to dine and drink is part of the young master’s duty.”

Chen Biao immediately perked up at this and quickly returned the horses to the stables.

The bird, sensing a trip to the tavern, became restless in Xiangjun Shao’s arms, leapt onto Jingtang Ye’s shoulder, and flapped its wings at her as if bidding farewell: “Chirp chirp~” — as if saying, “Goodbye, big-chested sister…”

Jingtang Ye first went inside to change into casual clothes, then set out with several escort guards.

But just as they were about to leave, Xiangjun Shao noticed the sly smile on Chen Biao’s face and warned:

“Chen Biao, don’t take him to the wrong places. Jingtang has just returned from outside and hasn’t experienced the capital’s splendor. If you turn him into a playboy like Shao Luo…”

Chen Biao’s sly grin vanished instantly and he feigned solemnity:

“Madam, do I look like that kind of man?”

“Rest assured, Third Madam, I know my limits.”

With that, Jingtang Ye responded briefly and departed with his men down the alley.

Half an hour later, on the second floor of the Chunxiang Pavilion.

A musician cradling a pipa sang a melodious tune on stage.

Three brightly dressed dancers moved gracefully with the music.

Seven or eight robust escort guards stared wide-eyed out the window at the women below, too distracted to even pick up their food.

Jingtang Ye sat in a private room, raising his cup in a leisurely drink, while the bird bobbed its head beside him, seemingly drinking even more than he.

Chen Biao lifted his cup and toasted Jingtang Ye:

“Young Master, you truly know how to show restraint!”

Following orders to bring his men out for team building, Jingtang Ye naturally did not go cheap:

“It’s just listening to music, not visiting a brothel. Honestly, the women in the borderlands are far inferior to those in the capital—most are even sturdier than I am. If I hadn’t learned some martial arts, I’d have been married off against my will at fourteen…”

Chen Biao blinked and leaned in to ask:

“Young Master, you don’t still…”

Jingtang Ye found it difficult to answer.

The drunken Yang Chao beside him chimed in:

“Judging by your expression, with the young master’s looks, if you went out for women, they’d have to pay you to take them. A losing proposition like that—would you do it?”

“Indeed. The only woman worthy of matching the young master, in my opinion, is the young lady from Wende Bridge. If those common girls tried to climb up, I’d be the first to object…”

“Heh heh…”

Listening to music in the pleasure quarters and enjoying good food.

Just as the group was drinking merrily, suddenly loud commotion erupted on the street outside.

Pitter-patter—pitter-patter—

The sound of a troop of foot soldiers running.

Several frowned and rose to the window to look. They saw numerous imperial guards and Black Bureau captains hurrying through the rain, headed toward the vicinity of the Mingyu Tower.

“What’s happening?”

“With such a commotion, it’s likely trouble at the Prince Jing’s mansion. The Black Bureau holds many martial world figures, and Mingyu Tower hides numerous martial manuals. Reckless martial folk often cause disturbances there. Usually, the matter is settled within an hour or two.”

Unconcerned, Jingtang Ye paid it little mind and continued drinking.

The warriors had strong constitutions and were drinking high-quality wine, fragrant but not harsh. Not a single one had fallen drunk by noon, and time slipped unnoticed into afternoon.

After eating and drinking their fill, a lecherous escort guard hinted at going to a more risqué venue for the next round.

But Chen Biao knew his limits. Listening to music and watching the dancers was fine, but if he dared to take the young master to such places, Third Madam would surely kick them all out. So he kept silent, and everyone dispersed.

As dusk fell, Jingtang Ye, alone with his horse and bird, returned to Dye House Street.

The silver note given by Third Madam today was equivalent to an advance on a month’s salary—one hundred taels, enough to rent a spacious courtyard house, and with luck, to buy a young maid to warm the bed and ease the loneliness of night.

Though Jingtang Ye was not picky about lodging, he disliked hardship. After a day of rain, a house with such a gaping hole would be unlivable.

He had returned now to gather his belongings, greet the landlady, and find a better place to stay.

Creak—

The unlocked old courtyard gate swung open, the interior unchanged.

Jingtang Ye tethered his horse beneath the kitchen eaves, closed his umbrella, and entered the main room, still speaking to the bird:

“Behave from now on. Don’t always crawl into women’s arms…”

The bird pretended not to hear and chirped on his shoulder:

“Chirp chirp~…”

But the next moment, both man and bird froze.

The room was empty—there had never been many possessions, so any change was obvious. The hole in the roof was now covered by a straw raincoat.

Yet neither Jingtang Ye nor the bird noticed this, their eyes fixed blankly on the bed.

Beneath the dark gray sheets of the double bed lay a neat pair of blue embroidered shoes adorned with bamboo leaves.

A stranger sat on the edge of the bed—a young woman with her hair styled in a married woman’s bun, a jade hairpin slanting through it, appearing to be a young married lady.

Her skin was extraordinarily fair, with beautiful peach blossom eyes and eyebrows like willow leaves in early spring. Her small cherry mouth bore no rouge yet was naturally red and full. Her beauty transcended even the most celebrated beauties of the land—she resembled a fox spirit seeking repayment at a farmhouse, or a celestial maiden wed to a mortal, exquisite and otherworldly.

She wore a pale green cloak, her fair hands folded over her abdomen, performing the Ziwu hand seal, her posture that of an enlightened recluse. Drops of fragrant sweat stood on her forehead, and faint mist rose from her hair bun, as if burning with fever.

“Chirp?”

The bird stood at Jingtang Ye’s feet, tilting its head and peering under the bed, as if searching for a steaming basket.

Jingtang Ye felt inexplicably confused and had not even noticed the young woman’s peerless beauty, only wondering if he had come to the wrong place.

But a house with such a large hole in the roof was surely unique in the capital.

“Miss...?”

Finding his home occupied, Jingtang Ye could not simply turn away. He called out at the door but received no response. After a moment’s thought, he gripped his knife and approached the bed.

The bird, meanwhile, crouched behind the door, peeking out nervously…