128. Jiang Yunyan, the Courtesan of the Pleasure House (Wishing You a Happy New Year)

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Jiang Yunyan rose and stepped out from behind the curtain.

Lu Jin looked over and saw a woman of medium height. Her long black hair was coiled into a drooping horse-bun, with a jade hairpin laid crosswise through it. She had delicate features and arched brows, while her beautiful eyes were like a misty dreamland veiled in spring rain, carrying a faint air of distance and melancholy. A white silk veil covered the lower half of her face, lending her an even greater air of mystery.

She wore a pink, patterned, wide-sleeved jacket fastened at the front, with a white cloud-patterned skirt beneath it and a pink sash around her waist. Her elegance was quiet, but never bland.

Lu Jin’s eyes brightened slightly. It seemed the chief courtesan truly was different. Though she lived in a place of pleasure, she possessed the air of a frustrated young lady from a noble household. Jiang Yunyan’s name suited her perfectly.

“Elder Sister Fanhua, the gentleman is here to amuse himself. Why disturb his enjoyment?”

Jiang Yunyan was speechless as well. She did not even know the gentleman’s name or where he came from, yet this elder sister dared to say anything and everything. If he did not fall for it, who would?

“Yunyan, I’m only making casual conversation with the gentleman,” Fanhua said, tugging at Jiang Yunyan’s sleeve.

If Jiang Yunyan had not been treated with such care by this older sister, she would have long since flung away her sleeves and left. How could anyone fail to learn after being taken in once already?

Lu Jin awkwardly scratched his brow and took another sip of tea. One of them trusted completely, while the other trusted not at all, and yet they were tugging at each other right in front of him. Did they spare any thought for his feelings?

“Sister, why make things difficult for Miss Yunyan? We are merely strangers who happened to meet. Let everyone do as they please.”

Now that Lu Jin had Shen Yanxi, a wife of unparalleled beauty, he had developed considerable immunity to feminine charms. When he encountered a beautiful woman, at most he would find her pleasing to the eye. Nothing more.

Besides, he had only come to experience the place casually. He was not some neighborhood official making rounds to inquire after the common people. If she wanted to speak, she could speak; if not, so be it.

“Nan Yan thanks you for your understanding, sir,” Jiang Yunyan said, dipping her knees slightly.

“Mm.”

Mm?

Jiang Yunyan froze. Should he not have shown a little more enthusiasm and asked her some questions? Or at least invited her to sit? Her fingers were nearly numb from playing.

It was not that she was being coy. She was, after all, the most celebrated courtesan of the moment. Every man who came to see her tried his utmost to show off. Lu Jin was the first she had ever met who ignored her so completely.

“Miss Yunyan, the piece you played was quite good. Do you know any others?”

“...”

Behind her veil, Jiang Yunyan bit down on her teeth. What sort of immortal had wandered in here? Should he not have shown some concern for her and let her rest?

“What would you like to hear, sir?” she asked after composing herself.

He was acting as though he knew anything about music. Let us see whether he could name even one or two pieces.

“Since you know Lu Jin’s compositions, how about playing ‘The Butterflies’?”

“...”

Jiang Yunyan was thoroughly vexed. Of all the things he could have said.

“You know ‘The Butterflies’ too, sir?” Fanhua asked.

“Mm. I’ve heard of it.”

“Then you must be a sentimental man as well. I have heard of ‘The Butterflies,’ but Zhichun Courtyard cannot play that piece for you.”

“Why not?” They had played several pieces, including “Birdsong in a Quiet Mountain,” without the slightest hesitation. Why could they not play this one?

“You do not know, sir, but ‘The Butterflies’ is the love song of Lu Nanqing and the Second Miss. Lu Nanqing wrote it especially for the Second Miss. No outsider is permitted to play it.”

“Miss Yunyan personally went to ask the steward several times, but was turned away each time. It is not merely that we do not know the piece. Even if we did, we would not dare play it without Second Miss Shen’s permission,” Fanhua said aggrievedly.

Lu Jin, however, was delighted. Once again, the peerless beauty of his wife rose before his eyes. To have such deep love returned was a joy beyond measure.

“All right, then. Miss Yunyan may play a few pieces of her choice.”

Jiang Yunyan: (⊙ꇴ⊙)

“Sir, why not let Pan’er play something for you?” Fanhua suggested with a smile.

She naturally knew that Jiang Yunyan had already played several pieces. That was not how music was meant to be performed. She had no idea whether this gentleman was doing it deliberately.

Lu Jin truly was not. He had simply been listening to the music as background accompaniment and had not realized her fingers had grown numb.

“Either is fine. Sister, arrange whatever you like.”

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“All right, all right. Pan’er, go play a few pieces for the gentleman,” Fanhua hurriedly instructed.

Jiang Yunyan stood awkwardly to one side. What was she supposed to do now? Usually, the renowned courtesan remained behind the curtain, conversing with guests about the affairs of the world or discussing music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. She had come out today only to stop Fanhua. Besides, no guest had ever come to a pleasure house merely to chat about household matters as this gentleman had.

“If you wish, Miss Yunyan, you may sit down as well. We can all talk casually.”

“Yunyan, come sit. The gentleman is a very good man.” Fanhua pulled Jiang Yunyan down onto the seat opposite Lu Jin. Naturally, the chief courtesan could not sit too close to a guest.

“Would you care for some wine, sir? This Spring of the Lan River is difficult to purchase elsewhere.”

“Tea will do for me.” Lu Jin had never possessed much of a fondness for wine.

Fanhua said no more. The group chatted casually and occasionally played a few little games. To Lu Jin, a man from a later age, none of it was particularly interesting. Jiang Yunyan remained mostly silent, and Lu Jin did not mind.

“Where are you from, sir?”

Lu Jin looked up at Jiang Yunyan. Why had she suddenly thought to ask after all this time?

“I’m a local of Jianglin.”

He was not lying. Had they been in any other place, he could have invented some story and passed it off. But this was an establishment owned by the Shen family.

“You look like a fine and accomplished gentleman. I doubt you come from an ordinary household,” Fanhua continued.

“I am the very Lu Jin, Lu Nanqing, you have been speaking of.”

Lu Jin gave his name directly. They were clearly trying every possible way to find out who he was.

“Heh. The gentleman is joking,” Fanhua said with a laugh.

“Then why not ask the attendants and guards outside?”

“You truly are the Shen family’s son-in-law?” Madam Jiu exclaimed first from the side. She really could not believe anyone would be bold enough to impersonate the Shen family’s son-in-law at Zhichun Courtyard.

“Genuine beyond doubt.”

“Son-in-law, then... why have you come here?” Fanhua asked in astonishment.

The Shen family’s son-in-law had come to their own pleasure house to amuse himself. This was no small matter. Did the Second Miss know?

“I had never seen what a pleasure house looked like, so I came to take a look.”

“...”

His answer left everyone bewildered. He was truly frank. No wonder he had behaved so properly since arriving. With a wife like the Second Miss, how could any of them hope to catch the son-in-law’s eye?

“Son-in-law, could you write me a poem, a lyric, or perhaps a song?” Pan’er, who had been playing the zither, had long since forgotten the instrument and hurried over.

The dancing girls joined her. In an instant, more than a dozen women had surrounded Lu Jin completely, calling out over one another until his head felt ready to split.

“You little hussies, have you gone mad? Scatter, scatter! Do not crush the son-in-law!” Fanhua shouted angrily.

Was there no discipline at all?

“You want poems? That is simple. Each of you show me the skill you are best at. If I am satisfied, you will each receive a poem.”

The room grew even livelier. The atmosphere in the pavilion, which had been somewhat awkward because of Lu Jin’s lackluster presence, finally regained its vitality. Lu Jin himself began to enjoy the occasion, appreciating the women one by one as they danced or played their instruments.

For those whose performances were especially good, Lu Jin did not hold back. He casually wrote several poems and lyrics, and awarded the best performer an original zither composition. Everyone went away pleased.

“I did not know the son-in-law was visiting. This servant, Yu Qingmei, has failed to welcome you properly.”

Lu Jin looked up and saw a woman in her thirties. She appeared even more capable and seasoned than Fanhua, and several maids followed behind her.

“Son-in-law, this is Sister Qingmei, the steward of Zhichun Courtyard.”

“So you are Madam Yu. I have caused you trouble,” Lu Jin said.

Now that their relationship had been made clear, he could no longer casually call her “Sister.”

“Whatever do you mean, son-in-law? Every girl in the courtyard regards you as the lover of her dreams. None of us ever imagined you would come here. The girls do not know the rules; please do not take offense,” Yu Qingmei said courteously, personally attending to Lu Jin.

“You had better not let your Second Miss hear you say such things, or you will be in trouble,” Lu Jin replied with a smile.

“How could she? Even I find it difficult to see the Second Miss,” Yu Qingmei answered with a smile of her own. She had not expected the son-in-law to be so easygoing.

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With Yu Qingmei’s arrival, the lively scene gradually quieted, and the dancing girls were all dismissed.

Several exceptionally beautiful women now sat beside Lu Jin. As Yu Qingmei introduced them, he exchanged greetings with each in turn. Across from him, Jiang Yunyan had removed her veil, revealing exquisitely delicate features. Unlike the aloof reserve she had shown earlier, she now possessed a touch of gentle grace.

Jiang Yunyan sat down behind the zither once more. Music began again, and the newly arrived dancers slowly took to the floor. Among them, one woman stood out like a crane among chickens, radiantly beautiful and possessed of extraordinary charm.

At last, Lu Jin felt he was experiencing something worthwhile. This had to be Zhichun Courtyard’s true trump card, surely. Yet he could not help sighing inwardly. In either his former life or this one, many services could not be bought with money alone. But now, with nothing more than the status of the Shen family’s son-in-law, everything naturally became the finest available.

“Son-in-law, the woman in the center is Nie Wuci. She is the leading performer in our courtyard, and she is the equal of Jiang Yunyan in both zither and dance.”

Yu Qingmei had arranged all this for more than merely the fact that Lu Jin was the Shen family’s son-in-law. Had he been nothing more than an ordinary live-in husband, he would never have received such treatment. Compared with the rumors circulating outside, Yu Qingmei knew far better the position Lu Jin held within the Shen family—and the extent of his own talent.

“You have gone to a great deal of trouble, Madam Yu.”

Lu Jin watched the dance as they spoke. It was clearly several grades above what he had seen earlier, whether in the choreography or in the dancers themselves.

Lu Jin glanced at Fanhua, who looked rather embarrassed. She was no Yu Qingmei; how could she summon such excellent resources? The only reason she had been able to bring Jiang Yunyan over was their close personal relationship and the fact that the timing had happened to be convenient.

“Madam Yu, do you have performances here that involve acting? I mean, the girls dressing up as characters from a story and performing the tale itself...”

“You mean something like The Butterfly Lovers?” Madam Yu understood at once.

“More or less. But you cannot perform this one,” Lu Jin said with a smile.

Madam Yu could only sigh inwardly. Her own Second Miss truly was blessed. The son-in-law thought of her at every moment.

“We have nothing of that sort here. We place importance on elegance. Performances that rowdy belong in the pleasure quarters and street theaters...”

Only after listening to Yu Qingmei’s explanation did Lu Jin gain a general understanding. Dramatic performances did exist, but they were much like the comic folk shows of a later age, meant primarily for amusement. As the foremost pleasure house in Jianglin, Zhichun Courtyard naturally could not put such vulgar entertainment on its stage.

“Madam Yu, have you ever considered that such dramas might also be worthy of refined society?” Lu Jin asked.

The reason Lu Jin had revealed his identity, aside from the fact that the establishment belonged to the Shen family, was that he had many ideas in mind. He was willing, whenever possible, to leave something of value behind in this world.

Yu Qingmei grew excited. This son-in-law was truly a star of literature. Every song or poem he casually produced was destined to become a classic of the pleasure quarters. If he were to offer them even a little guidance, who knew what delightful surprises might follow?

“Please enlighten me, son-in-law!”

“Enlighten you is too strong a phrase. Let us simply discuss it, and you can decide whether it has merit.”

“From what you said just now, those performances are too noisy and crude. But one should not judge every affair or performance by the same standard. Take the girls of Zhichun Courtyard, for example. Can they truly be compared with women from other establishments? Do the girls here have rabbit ears or fox spirits’ tails?”

“Pfft!”

His words made several beauties nearby tremble with laughter. None of them had expected the son-in-law’s thoughts to take such a turn.

“The reason the girls of Zhichun Courtyard are incomparable is not merely their beauty. More importantly, their talent and refinement surpass those of women elsewhere. Zhichun Courtyard itself cannot be compared with ordinary pleasure houses and street theaters.”

At those words, the girls around them were moved. Given his status, the son-in-law had no need to flatter them deliberately. Even if he demanded that they spend the night with him, they would have no choice but to comply. What did it matter that they were only untouched courtesans? Yet instead, the son-in-law was praising their talent.

“Drama is the same. What if we use more exquisite costumes, more lifelike props and scenery, more earnest and committed performances, and more moving vocal melodies to stage a grand production here at Zhichun Courtyard?”

“And what if we performed such dramas in a large venue for several hundred or even a thousand spectators, charging admission by the seat?”

Lu Jin’s words were like a pebble dropped into still water, sending ripples through Yu Qingmei’s mind. Yet her knowledge and experience were indeed narrower than those of a man from a later age like Lu Jin, and she still found it difficult to imagine.

“This servant is dull-witted. Please enlighten me, son-in-law.”

“...”

This was not something that could be explained in a moment or two. Besides, he could hardly spend every day running to a pleasure house.