Chapter Seventeen: The Courtesan Queen

Within the Duan residence, a grand round table was laden with an array of sumptuous dishes, their colors, aromas, and flavors so enticing that even a mere whiff would make one’s mouth water. Every dish had been personally prepared by Feng Baobao, with Wu Yiyi lending a hand at her side. Once the meal was ready, Li Hu and Li Pingyang took charge of serving it.

Unlike previous occasions, several extra chairs had been set around the table this time. Even the household servants had been invited to dine together. Old Huang, the loyal steward who had dutifully served the Duan family and accompanied the simple-minded Young Lord for nine years, was also among the guests, his seat placed right beside Duan Zhentian.

In front of Li Hu sat a white, intricately carved plate bearing the renowned Drunken Crispy Fish, a local delicacy that drew countless outsiders to Tianyu City just to sample its fame. Suppressing his own hunger, Li Hu inhaled deeply, his face awash with delight as he savored the aroma, the distance between him and the dish doing nothing to lessen his enjoyment.

In all his years serving the Third Prince, Li Hu had rarely tasted such delicacies, usually left to watch as others feasted. The days spent with Li Pingyang, in contrast, had allowed him to enjoy pleasures he had never known before, and he found himself inwardly grateful for making the right choice this time.

Beside the famed fish sat other mouthwatering treats: Granny Cao’s Meat Pies, Tianyu Roast Chicken, Grilled Lamb, and glutinous rice balls wrapped in honey, sprinkled with sesame seeds, their sweet fragrance soft and inviting. These were the favorite of the young lord, Duan Yanlong. Worried he might get a toothache from eating too many, Feng Baobao had always limited him to just one. But today, an entire bamboo basket of rice balls was set before him.

The simple-minded Yanlong’s eyes widened in delight. He reached for one but was promptly checked by a stern glance from Old Huang. Hastily, he offered greetings to his father and mother, then handed the treat in his hand to Li Pingyang.

Smiling, Feng Baobao stroked his head and picked the largest rice ball from the basket for him. He accepted it eagerly, taking large bites as she sat nearby, gently cooling it with her breath and urging him not to eat too quickly, lest he burn himself.

Li Pingyang, curious, took a tentative bite. The rich, sweet honey burst forth, its fragrance filling his senses and sweetness warming his heart. A larger bite revealed a texture both crisp and soft, delightfully chewy, and he soon finished the whole treat. Even Li Pingyang, who had never been fond of sweets, found himself utterly conquered by this delicious snack.

With that, everyone began to eat, each reaching for their favorite dishes. Li Hu, no longer standing on ceremony, seized a roast chicken and tore off a generous chunk to devour. All the while, he lifted his cup to drink. When Old Huang saw his cup empty, he filled it from the wine pot, the two of them toasting each other as they drank.

The two men, having hit it off, were soon deep in conversation. Li Hu regaled Old Huang with tales of his own exploits and the colorful adventures of his life, eliciting gasps of amazement and peals of laughter from his companion.

Laughter rang around the table, and the servants, shedding their reserve, mingled freely with the masters and guests, arms around each other’s shoulders, exchanging toasts. Before long, everyone’s faces were flushed with drink, a heady haze settling over the room as jar after jar of wine was emptied.

Duan Zhentian, for once, did not use his inner energy to dispel the effects of the alcohol. It had been so long since he had felt such joy—this was the most unrestrained he had ever been.

“I shall take my leave for now. Enjoy yourselves—I’ll see him back and let him rest,” said Feng Baobao, seeing that Duan Zhentian, his face red and eyes half-closed, was already sprawled over the table in a drunken stupor. She draped his arm over her shoulder and gently supported him out of the room.

No sooner had they stepped outside than a burst of sound echoed across the sky. From the direction of the bridge at the heart of the lake, fireworks were being set off. Feng Baobao exclaimed, suddenly recalling that today was the Fireworks Festival!

The annual Fireworks Festival was the liveliest time in Tianyu City, when everyone would gather on the lakeside bridge to admire the dazzling display in the sky. Stalls selling all manner of novelties and delicacies would line the streets.

But the highlight of the festival was the enchanting performance given by the city’s famed courtesan at Drunken Moon Pavilion—her singing and dancing were legendary. If one wished to see her on any other day, it would require a lavish appointment fee, and even then, she might refuse to receive you on a whim. Many young gentlemen longed for a chance to converse with her or hear her play the zither, but such opportunities were few and far between. Some even claimed that to share a drink with her, or better yet, to marry her, would be worth dying for.

Duan Zhentian, too drunk to stand, was in no state to attend, and Feng Baobao was obliged to stay and care for him, missing the festivities herself.

Li Hu and Li Pingyang, however, upon hearing of a peerless beauty singing at the festival, sobered up instantly. With a single, knowing glance exchanged between them, they reached a silent agreement, as if recognizing a kindred spirit.

Of course, the courtesan herself was of little consequence—they were only going to see the fireworks!

Unfamiliar with the route, they decided to bring Old Huang along, slipping some silver into his hand. No one in any era would refuse money, and Old Huang’s eyes crinkled with delight—the sum exceeded several months’ salary as steward. Truth be told, he too was eager to catch a glimpse of the famed courtesan. Last year, the crowds were so thick that just as he managed to push his way to the front, two quarrelsome young lords started a fight, and he caught a punch for his trouble. The courtesan had retreated amid the chaos, and not only did he miss seeing her, but he was left with a black eye for his efforts.

After carrying the simple-minded Young Lord back to his room and tucking him in, Old Huang quietly closed the door and tiptoed away. Wu Yiyi was seen to her room by Li Pingyang, who made sure she was settled before joining the others. The three slipped out the front gate, boarded the carriage, and with Old Huang at the reins, set off toward the lakeside bridge.

The carriage rolled smoothly down the avenue before the Duan residence, recognized by all, and met with no obstacles. In no time, they reached the bustling bridgehead.

Both sides of the bridge were lined with stalls. Li Pingyang stopped at a mask vendor’s booth, picked up a monkey-face mask, and put it on with a grin. Finding it amusing, he chose a Pigsy mask for Li Hu and a fox mask for Old Huang. Donning their disguises, the three used Li Hu’s strength to push their way to a spot near the front of the crowd.

Bang! Another firework soared into the sky, illuminating half the heavens. As the sparks faded, the gauzy curtains of a pavilion on the far side of the bridge were drawn back in unison.

There, a woman dressed in pale pink finery, her face veiled with a translucent scarf, revealed a neck as graceful as a swan’s and skin as fair as snow. She extended slender, jade-like fingers and began to pluck the strings of the ebony zither before her.

The melody twined through the air, her clear song echoing far and wide. At the very first glimpse of her, Li Pingyang felt as though struck by love at first sight, his heart stirred beyond measure.