Chapter 89: Saving Dust in the Wind*
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*reference to drama script
After having their meal, He Yan leaned on the railing as she ascended the stairs.
The dishes were undoubtedly delicious, but having to eat every single grain of rice left her feeling satiated to the point that even the most exquisite delicacies became hard to swallow. Despite managing to finish her meal and securing the right to eat the next day, she was still subjected to a mocking glance from Second Young Master Xiao, who casually remarked, “Indeed, twice a person’s limit.”
Had he not been the one who brought up the idea of not wasting food, she wouldn’t have become such a “food tank” in front of everyone. The other patrons in the restaurant were giving her odd looks, and He Yan couldn’t help but feel embarrassed.
She was feeling too full to engage in further conversation with Xiao Jue, so she followed the waitstaff up to her room. Surprisingly, Fei Nu hadn’t followed her. She couldn’t be bothered to worry about it, and as soon as she entered the room, she laid down on the bed.
This, really, she can’t walk anymore because of being too full.
The soft and cozy sensation beneath her made He Yan couldn’t help but roll around on the mattress. This was why they said having money was good. Even when you were traveling, you could enjoy such luxury. Xiao Jue’s room was right next door, and she pressed her ear against the wall, trying to eavesdrop on what he was doing. She wondered if the room walls were too thick, or perhaps there was nothing to hear at all.
As she continued to listen, He Yan eventually fell asleep.
After a day of traveling, followed by a hearty meal, and with such a comfortable bed, it was hard not to fall asleep. When she woke up, the sun had completely set, and the moon was out. She opened the window, and lanterns were already lit downstairs. Not far away, there was the sound of songstresses singing in a restaurant.
He Yan rubbed her eyes, had a drink of water, got up, pushed her door open, and walked to Xiao Jue’s room, where she knocked on the door.
After a moment, a voice from inside said, “Come in.”
He Yan walked in, and the room was lit with a lamp. Fei Nu was standing by the door, while Xiao Jue sat at the table, engrossed in reading a book.
Could he not feel tired? She never saw him work this hard when they were back at Xianchang Academy. Now, he seemed to be quite diligent. He Yan felt a sense of guilt, realizing that learning truly had no limits. She stretched her neck to catch a glimpse of what book he was reading, but he closed the book, so she couldn’t see anything.
He raised his gaze, his expression chilly. “What do you want?”
He Yan asked, “Commander, what are you doing tonight?”
“Nothing.”
“Are you not going out?”
“What are you trying to say?”
“I was just thinking,” He Yan smiled, “if you have nothing to do, I’d like to go out for a walk. It’s my first time in Liangzhou City, and I want to explore the surroundings and maybe find some interesting trinkets. And, if I find something suitable, I might buy it and bring it back as a gift for my fiancée.”
Xiao Jue didn’t seem particularly interested in her plans. He said, “Do as you wish.”
He Yan was overjoyed and said, “That’s great, Commander. I’ll be on my way!”
She practically skipped out of the room. Once she left, Xiao Jue said to Fei Nu, “Fei Nu.”
The guard understood his intention and replied, “Young Master, I’ll follow him discreetly.”
“Don’t get too close,” Xiao Jue cautioned, “and be careful not to be discovered.”
“Understood.”
…
He Yan left the room excitedly.
Yuan Baozhen hadn’t reached Liangzhou yet. For the next few days, they would be staying at inns. Since they hadn’t informed the magistrate of their early arrival, Xiao Jue probably had other matters to attend to in addition to tuning his zither. He Yan didn’t intend to tag along; at least for now, Xiao Jue had shown no signs of trusting her. There was no need for her to seek his company when he was engrossed in reading at the inn. She wanted to avoid reminding herself of the terrifying memories of studying at Xianchang Academy.
The night was just right, and she decided to take advantage of this time to explore the area. Although Yuan Baozhen hadn’t reached Liangzhou yet, finding out about the He family’s situation wasn’t limited to this single method. In any place with taverns or teahouses, all she had to do was shout, “I know Flying Phoenix General has been…” and it would easily spark numerous conversations. She wasn’t boasting, but during her most renowned years, many storytellers in various places would talk about Flying Phoenix General in their stories.
Of course, she’d have to mention General Fengyun as well.
In the nighttime of Liangzhou City, there were fewer people on the streets compared to Shuo Jing, but it wasn’t considered desolate. Street vendors were selling local products here as well. He Yan walked along, glancing around. All she had on her was a single silver tael she had received during the flag capture.
Although Xiao Jue was now her “uncle,” he hadn’t shown any intention of giving her money to spend. Fortunately, He Yan was already full and didn’t intend to spend any money, so she merely looked around without purchasing anything.
Several steps behind her, Fei Nu followed closely.
Xiao Jue suspected that He Yan’s identity might be different. Bringing her to Liangzhou City this time, he needed to keep an eye on her to see if she was secretly in contact with Xu Jingfu’s people. Fei Nu was doing his job diligently, but there was still a hint of confusion.
This young man, walking and looking around, seemed as though he had never been out on the streets before, finding everything novel. He talked about buying trinkets for his fiancée, looked at numerous items, yet didn’t buy a single thing. It was either because he was stingy, unwilling to spend even a single silver tael on cosmetics for a young lady, or he was lying, putting on a façade.
He Yan turned onto a different street and walked into an alley. Fei Nu remembered Xiao Jue’s words and didn’t follow too closely. He estimated when He Yan was nearing the end of the alley and then followed, turning into the alley shortly after she did. However, when he entered, he was taken aback. The alley was empty, a few lanterns swinging in the wind, but there was no sign of anyone.
Fei Nu thought, “This is bad,” and hurriedly walked to the end of the alley. There, he found a major street, bustling with people on both sides. However, the young man was nowhere to be seen.
Discovered… Fei Nu clenched his fists and thought, “Not only that, I lost him.”
He Yan flicked her sleeve and continued walking forward.
Liangzhou City didn’t seem particularly peaceful at night, with no shortage of ruffians. She had just arrived and hadn’t yet familiarized herself with the place, yet someone was tailing her. Considering she hadn’t offended anyone recently, it was likely they were trying to take advantage of her. But now, she was still focused on maintaining her identity as Cheng Lisu, and Xiao Jue was still at the inn. It would be better to avoid trouble. Therefore, she didn’t make any moves, even avoiding direct confrontation with the person tailing her. She discreetly shook off her pursuer.
Now that she had shaken off her tail, she felt much more at ease exploring. But this wasn’t a long-term solution. He Yan signaled a passerby on the street and asked with a smile, “Excuse me, sir, do you know where the largest tavern in the city is?”
The man sized her up and down, recognizing her attire and noble bearing, and figured she must be the young master of some wealthy family. He replied with extra politeness, “The largest tavern would undoubtedly be the ‘Myriad Blossom Pavilion.'”
“Thank you,” He Yan said, then asked, “Could you please tell me how to get to the Myriad Blossom Pavilion?”
“It’s not far. Just follow this street straight ahead until you reach the end. You’ll see a rice shop, take a left turn there, and it’s not far from there.”
“Thank you very much, sir,” He Yan expressed her gratitude with a nod and a hand gesture before continuing to walk forward with a beaming smile.
As the man had described, not long after walking down the street and taking a left turn by the rice shop, she could hear the sound of a pipa being played. Many people dressed in luxury were heading in that direction. There was no need to say more; it was indeed the Myriad Blossom Pavilion.
He Yan continued walking following the crowd.
Before she even reached the entrance, a gust of fragrant breeze wafted towards her. He Yan paused her steps, finding it a bit odd. Just then, a burst of red fragrance suddenly appeared before her eyes. Snow-white arms reached out and embraced her shoulders. The woman’s flirtatious laughter carried a hint of teasing, “Young master, it’s your first time at our Myriad Blossom Pavilion, isn’t it?”
He Yan: “…”
Wasn’t she asking for directions to the largest tavern? Could someone please explain why the “Myriad Blossom Pavilion” mentioned was actually a brothel!
He Yan said, “I’m not here for this.” She tried to remove the woman’s hands from her shoulder, but the woman tightened her grip instead. He Yan’s arm brushed against something soft, making her feel rather embarrassed.
Even though they were both women, this level of intimacy was still quite awkward!
The girl in the red dress embraced He Yan and walked inside, saying as they went, “Even if you didn’t come for this, you could still come in for a look. Our Myriad Blossom Pavilion is so much fun.”
The other party was a woman, and He Yan couldn’t use the same method to deal with her as she did with Wang Jiugui. Helpless, she could only say, “Miss, I don’t have any money, I’m very poor.”
The woman glanced at He Yan from head to toe and giggled, “Young master, you really know how to joke. You’re not that stingy. If you were, it wouldn’t matter. Yun Yan invites you to have a drink today, free of charge, how about that?”
The heavy scent of perfume on her body was overwhelming, making He Yan feel dizzy. Without paying attention, he was pulled into the Myriad Blossom Pavilion by this woman named Yun Yan. As soon as he entered, he felt warmth and a fragrant breeze. On the stage, young women in thin clothes were playing musical instruments and singing. A group of gentlemen and scholars sat below, applauding and presenting couplets, lost in a world of paper and gold.
The place was crowded with people, and He Yan hadn’t seen such a scene in a long time. He paused for a moment, unsure where to go. Yun Yan noticed and covered her mouth as she chuckled. She then tugged at He Yan’s arm and said, “Young master, let’s go upstairs. It’s too crowded here. You’re so handsome; I’m afraid someone might try to steal you away.” With that, she even touched He Yan’s face.
He Yan felt a chill run down his spine, as if a rabbit had entered a wolf’s den. He felt extremely uncomfortable. However, Yun Yan was fiery and passionate, paying no attention to He Yan’s discomfort, and she continued to lead him upstairs.
The Myriad Blossom Pavilion had several floors. The lowest floor was the main stage where courtesans performed. Above that were elegant rooms, meant to entertain wealthy guests. Even higher up were the rooms where the courtesans resided.
Yun Yan’s looks weren’t exceptional, and she didn’t have many patrons looking after her at the Myriad Blossom Pavilion. Today, she had finally caught a wealthy young master like He Yan at the entrance. How could she let go easily? Besides, He Yan was quite handsome. If other girls saw him, they would definitely try to compete. With limited resources, seizing the opportunity was a must. She would lock him in her room first.
She held onto He Yan’s arm tightly, and He Yan was unable to find a way to deal with her since she was a woman. When they reached upstairs, she didn’t see any patrons hugging other girls anymore.
“There’s no one up here?” He Yan asked.
Yun Yan chuckled, “Not just anyone can enter a girl’s chamber, young master. Don’t act coy after gaining an advantage.”
The courtesans here were bold and daring. He Yan didn’t know how to handle the situation. As they passed by a room, the door suddenly swung open. A person with disheveled hair rushed out of the room, only to be grabbed by their hair and dragged back inside just as they reached the door. He Yan hadn’t had a chance to get a clear look before the door slammed shut with a loud bang, almost hitting her nose and sending her fan flying.
Everything happened so quickly that He Yan was momentarily stunned. Yun Yan hurriedly stepped forward and asked, “Young master, are you alright? Did you get hurt just now?”
Shaking her head, He Yan bent down to pick up her fan. Then, she looked sideways at the tightly shut door, her exceptional hearing picking up faint sounds of sobbing from inside, followed by a Momo scolding.
“There…” He Yan reached out to push the door.
“Young master, you can’t!” Yun Yan stopped his movements. “What are you doing?” There was a hint of caution in her gaze.
A thought flickered in He Yan’s mind. When she looked up again, her gaze was filled with curiosity. “Who is inside? What were they doing just now?”
Being a newcomer to the brothel, He Yan didn’t know much. Yun Yan felt a trace of contempt, but she maintained her smile, once again linking her arm with He Yan’s. “It’s a new girl in our establishment. She’s not familiar with the rules and accidentally offended a guest. The Momo is teaching her a lesson.”
“Your establishment also has girls who are unfamiliar with the rules?” He Yan asked nonchalantly, “I thought all the girls were as understanding as you.”
He Yan’s words made Yun Yan smile with delight. She playfully scolded, “Young master, you have a sweet tongue. We’ve grown up in the brothel since childhood and know better than to offend our guests. However, some people are different. They’ve never experienced hardship and, when faced with a sudden change, they still think they’re the same as before, acting spoiled and willful. They inevitably end up suffering. After a few times, they come to understand.”
He Yan raised an eyebrow, “So, they’re from respectable families?”
“Young master,” Yun Yan pretended to be angry, lightly tapping He Yan’s chest with her delicate fist. She said, “Does that mean you look down on us girls from the brothel?”
He Yan chuckled softly, “How could I? Compared to wild cats with claws, obedient girls are naturally more endearing.”
She was naturally attractive, dressed in elegant attire, and looked like a dashing young man. If she deliberately acted more charming and debonair, she could captivate a large group of young women. Indeed, Yun Yan was momentarily distracted by her smile, and her words flowed more freely.
“Even so, some people prefer these spirited wild cats. Don’t let appearance fool you. Although some girls here might not understand the rules, the young master from the County Magistrate’s Manor in Liangzhou specifically asked for her. It’s quite unbelievable how lucky she is.” Speaking to this point, Yun Yan’s jealousy became apparent.
“The young master from the County Magistrate’s Manor?” He Yan’s thoughts whirled, and his expression didn’t show any hint of flaws. He looked at Yun Yan with surprise. “Even the young master from the County Magistrate’s Manor in Liangzhou is interested in the girls here?”
“It’s not that he’s interested,” Yun Yan said dismissively. “This girl just arrived at our establishment. Mother wanted her to serve guests, and she was assigned to Young Master Sun. Who would have thought she would be so fierce? Not only did she refuse to serve Young Master Sun, she even used a hairpin to stab his arm.”
“Young Master Sun is the only son of the County Magistrate, how can that be overlooked? Mother wanted to train her for a few days and send her once she’s obedient.”
Yun Yan continued walking forward and said, “But this girl has quite a backbone. It’s been three full days, and as you saw just now, she’s still the same. In our Myriad Blossom Pavilion, it’s been a long time since we’ve seen such a resolute girl.”
“What should be done?” He Yan fanned himself, expressing his concern. “If she’s not properly trained, how will you all explain to Young Master Sun?”
“Young master jests; there’s no girl in Myriad Blossom Pavilion who can’t be trained. Even the most resolute girl, a little drugged, won’t be able to do anything. I think this girl is just asking for trouble. If she obediently follows orders and pleases Young Master Sun, she might even become a concubine. But in her current state, even if she gains Young Master Sun’s favor, her future might be quite tragic.”
As she spoke, mixed with jealousy, Yun Yan also felt a bit of sympathy.
“Perhaps in these few days, she’ll come to her senses,” He Yan reassured, “There’s no need to worry too much.”
Yun Yan shook her head, “I’m afraid there’s no more time. Young Master Sun’s people will come to pick her up soon. What happened just now was likely her preparing for the encounter.”
He Yan remained silent.
Yun Yan seemed to realize that she had spoken too much, so she once again revealed that graceful smile and led He Yan to the end of a room. She pushed He Yan inside and said, “Look, how come we always talk about others’ affairs? Young master, why don’t we talk about ourselves?”
This was a boudoir for women, not very large. There was a dressing table with cosmetics, and the crimson curtains created an atmosphere of fleeting romance.
Her hands encircled He Yan’s neck once more.
He Yan’s scalp tingled, but he maintained the posture of a flirtatious young master and smiled, “Having a beauty in my arms is naturally wonderful. However, don’t you think something is missing, my lady?”
Yun Yan asked, “What is missing?”
“Of course, it’s fine alcohol. Our instant connection and this scene call for a toast.” He Yan thought of the scenes where she had seen He Yuanliang and the maidservants play in the mansion before. She lightly tapped Yun Yan’s nose and continued, “Weren’t you planning to treat this young master to a drink? Don’t tell me you’re deceiving me?”
A beautiful young man like him flirting with her made the heart of a courtesan flutter. Yun Yan stamped her foot and said, “How could I? Wait for me, I’ll go get some alcohol now. Tonight… let’s get thoroughly drunk together, young master.”
With a seductive wink, she swayed her hips and left the room. Once Yun Yan was gone, He Yan slumped onto a chair, finally heaving a sigh of relief. Whether in the past or the present, she was utterly unskilled at playing the role of a man in a brothel, and it felt like a disaster. It was even scarier than entering Xuanchang Academy.
She then swung her sleeve, and from within it, a small crumpled piece of paper rolled out.
When she had passed by that room earlier, someone suddenly rushed out, only to be dragged back in. In that short moment, a piece of paper was thrown out. She had been afraid Yun Yan would notice, so she pretended to drop her fan and used it to cover the paper. When she bent down to pick up the fan, she also retrieved the paper.
She had been wary of Yun Yan noticing the whole way until now when she finally dared to take it out. The paper was crumpled and a bit messy, but He Yan unfolded it and saw two words written on it.
“Save me.”
The handwriting was done with eyebrow pencil, a bit blurred. The writer must have been nervous, yet the calligraphy was especially beautiful, akin to delicate hairpins.
In that room, a girl was imprisoned.
Despite Yun Yan’s grand explanation, it ultimately boiled down to forcing people into the brothel. He Yan should have stayed out of this, given her position by Xiao Jue’s side, to avoid trouble. However, since she had become aware of this matter, a surge of indignation had built up within her, making it impossible for her to stand idly by.
He Yan carefully tucked the paper back, stood up, and left the room.
By the time Yun Yan returned with the alcohol, the room was already empty. She stood there for a while, stamped her foot, and cursed, “Liar!”
…
The night grew deeper.
Inside the Myriad Blossom Pavilion, the singing became increasingly seductive and ambiguous. Men and women were intertwined, displaying intimacy and laughter. It was difficult to determine whether it was all a performance for the moment or if genuine emotions were involved.
The moon here wasn’t as bright as when she was at the garrison, perhaps due to the absence of a mountain backdrop and a river nearby. It lacked some openness and gained a bit of mystery.
Across from the Myriad Blossom Pavilion, in a tea house, a young man dressed in luxurious garments was sipping tea.
Reluctant to spend the entire silver tael, He Yan plucked a button from Cheng Lisu’s attire. The button was even decorated with gold. He Yan used it to buy a cup of tea, the cheapest option available.
The teahouse owner probably hadn’t encountered such an oddity, a lavishly dressed individual resorting to paying with a button. Looking at her with a puzzled expression, he said, “Young sir, you better keep that button. This cup of tea is on the house, no need for money.”
He Yan said, “…Thank you.” She carefully tucked the button away again, thinking that she’d sew it back onto Cheng Lisu’s clothing later. Why wait? Well, she was planning to go out again in the next few days. Just in case she needed another cup of tea, she didn’t want to have to rip it off a second time.
If Cheng Lisu were to find out that He Yan had such thoughts, he would probably regret lending his clothes.
As the night grew deeper, Myriad Blossom Pavilion became more lively instead. More and more guests entered the building, and rarely did anyone leave to return home. With warm fragrance and tender beauty in their embrace, people naturally lingered. At this moment, anyone coming out from the Myriad Blossom Pavilion could be seen clearly.
A carriage stopped in front of the Myriad Blossom Pavilion.
Two plump momos supported a woman, who leaned heavily on one of the maids, appearing somewhat intoxicated. He Yan looked carefully and realized that it wasn’t so much the two maids supporting her as it was her being carried by them.
This was probably the resolute young lady mentioned by Yun Yan who had caught the eye of Young Master Sun.
The resolute young lady was helped into the carriage, and the carriage departed with her. Apart from the coachman, there were two guards on the side who looked like escort guards. He Yan sneered inwardly; they were blatantly treating her like merchandise.
Setting down the teacup in her hand, He Yan stealthily followed.
There weren’t many lanterns along the streets of Liangzhou City, making the night appear even darker. Several times, He Yan felt the carriage was about to merge into the long night.
The two guards sat on the carriage’s wheel tracks, chatting.
“She’s been surprisingly obedient today, not making a peep.”
“Entering the Myriad Blossom Pavilion, does she really expect to find something good to enjoy? This girl is really clueless. If she had listened earlier, she wouldn’t have suffered so much.”
“She claimed to be from a wealthy family, didn’t she? It’s not uncommon for her to be unwilling to accept reality. But this works out just fine; since the young master isn’t fond of her, perhaps you and I will benefit after tonight.”
They exchanged a glance, both laughing with a vulgar tone.
Suddenly, the carriage jolted forward, nearly tossing them off. One of them yelled, “Hey! What’s going on?” as they looked up.
Beneath a low eave, sat a person. Dressed in brocades with their hair tied up, half their face was covered with a sweat towel, only revealing a pair of eyes. Those eyes seemed to be smiling, shrouded in the darkness of the night, making them hard to see clearly. The person was tossing several stones up and down in their hand. The reason the carriage had stopped was due to a stone tearing through a wheel, rendering it immobile.
“Who are you?” one of the guards got off the carriage and demanded harshly.
“Do you have a mental problem?” the person spoke, their voice low and somewhat muffled, but their arrogance couldn’t be concealed. Pointing at themselves, they said, “Given my appearance, of course, I’m here to rob you.”
Robbery?
In broad daylight, or well, at this time it was a moonlit and windy night, but the term hadn’t been heard for a long while in Liangzhou City. More importantly, that there would be someone daring enough to rob them in Liangzhou City was astonishing.
“Do you know who we are?” the guard sneered.
“I do,” the person lazily replied, “The Sun family, from the magistrate’s residence.”
“You actually dare to…”
“I dare!” Their words were interrupted, and the next moment, the person leaped from the roof and rushed forward.
In the deep night, the road was deserted. The coachman had long abandoned the carriage, fleeing far away in fright. The two guards, however, couldn’t back down. In an instant, all three were entangled in a fight.
The commotion seemed to disturb the person inside the carriage. It emitted rustling sounds, and the person seemed like they wanted to come out. He Yan raised her voice, “Stay inside, don’t move!”
Suddenly, that voice subsided completely, and there was no further movement. One of the guards seemed to realize something, “You’re her lover! Well done, claiming to rob while being accomplices!”
“You Sun family members are all confused in the head.” He Yan marveled while delivering a punch to his face. The guard was sent tumbling to the ground and struggled to get up for a while.
The other guard rushed over with a blade, but his strength was insufficient. It might have been enough for ordinary people, but he fell short against He Yan. She smiled faintly, grasping his wrist. The guard only managed to let out a scream before the blade fell from his hand due to her kick, sending him several meters away.
Though these two guards were supposed to be Young Master Sun’s protectors, He Yan hadn’t noticed their exceptional skills. They were probably just sent out to pick someone up. Who would have thought that within Master Sun’s territory, someone would dare to be so bold, intercepting them without any fear?
He Yan bent down and picked up the blade that had fallen to the ground.
The two guards were completely outmatched and found themselves unable to resist. Seeing the masked figure approaching step by step, they unconsciously retreated. One of them said in a conciliatory tone, “Let’s talk things out. No need to be impulsive, hero? Hero!”
One of them was using a soft approach, while the other showed no fear. He looked at He Yan with a cold smile and said, “You brat, you’re quite audacious to dare to touch someone from the Sun family. You should know that tonight you intercepted someone, but tomorrow it might be your turn. You… you’re in big trouble now!”
He Yan didn’t even spare them a glance. Approaching step by step, she made both of them turn pale. She slashed at the rope connecting the carriage to the horses with her blade.
“Would I be scared?”
Having said that, she directly reached in and pulled the person from the carriage. The woman had been drugged and was completely powerless. She stared at He Yan with wide eyes.
He Yan helped her onto a horse and mounted one herself. With a flick of the reins, they vanished into the night at high speed.
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