When I entered Hong Gu's room, the serving girl had already finished setting up the bowls and chopsticks, upon seeing me, Hong Gu grumbled, "What are you doing? If you don't come too, I'll eat first and leave the rest of the dishes for you".
While washing my hands I said "I'm talking to Li Yan so it's a bit late".
Hong Gu tilted his head, as if remembering something, from his chest pocket he took out a silk handkerchief and handed it to me, "I just happen to be talking about her".
I looked at the handkerchief, it should have been green like bamboo, but because it had been used for so many years, the color had faded to a whitish color, it looked memorable. The handkerchief worn by a woman is usually embroidered with flowers or grass, but this handkerchief embroidery looks unique, at first glance it looks like vines hanging over a cliff, but is actually the letter 'li'. The letters were like silk, elegant and beautiful, the stitches were meticulous, yet sharp as cold blades.
I looked at Hong Gu in surprise, he explained, “This handkerchief was accidentally picked up by Third Young Master Li in the courtyard, he gave it to me and asked, who owns this handkerchief? Such a special handkerchief must have belonged to Li Yan. Since I don't know what your plans are for him, I dare not tell Young Master Li, and only said that I will find out first."
I toyed with the handkerchief without saying anything, after a while Hong Gu spoke again, “Third Young Master Li's father is General Li Guang, one of the nine ministers, Duke Anle Li Cai's uncle is even higher. high-ranking family, but he is not at all like Young Master Huo, not arrogant at all, his literary and military skills stand out among the young masters of Chang'an. a duke or a general. A single letter 'li' can make her fall in love, if she sees Li Yan's outstanding face and graceful demeanor, perhaps she will willingly surrender her soul to Li Yan, there is no better way out than to marry him ". With a smile, Hong Gu shook his head, "A woman with looks like Li Yan is hard to find in this world, as long as she is willing to use her face to attract him, who can fight against her?"
I originally intended to give the handkerchief to Third Young Master Li, but after hearing that, I changed my mind and put it in my waist pocket, “Find any Li surnamed Miss, then let Young Master Li have a look, just say that the handkerchief it's hers." After finishing speaking, I lowered my head and started eating. From the writing on the handkerchief, Li Gan felt that the maker was a graceful woman. Of course, he had high hopes, but once he saw her, he would definitely be disappointed. If he fell into despair, this would be a good thing.
For a moment, Hong Gu was stunned, seeing me just eating, he shook his head as he sighed, "I really don't understand what you guys mean, seeing the way you treated Li Yan, you must have wanted to bring it up, but until now you haven't done anything. If Mr. Young Li doesn't count, in Chang'an it's really hard to find a better candidate".
After Hong Gu finished speaking, he picked up chopsticks and started to eat, but suddenly he stopped and looked at me intently, his face full of shock, I nodded and looked down again to eat. With his mouth full of food, he was stunned for a long while, then finally heaved a soulful sigh and said, “You two, you two.”
After we finished eating, Hong Gu and I talked about the business of the entertainment house, then I quickly returned to my room.
The moon was already above the top of the liu tree, but Xiao Tao and Xiao Qian had not returned, but when I couldn't wait anymore, Xiao Qian landed on the window sill, I waved my hand and she landed on my arm, smiling, I unrolled silk tied at his feet, the silk scroll was written in very small letters.
'Xiao Dao why? Why did you turn into a black crow like this? If you guys fight, I'm the one who suffers. Today I was wearing a white robe and Xiao Tao landed on my body. Although the ink was half dry, I was still splashed with ink. My white robe was destroyed. I had to take great pains to wash it. Yesterday he said your throat is not good, have you boiled the medicine according to the recipe I gave you?'
I took a piece of silk that had been cut before, then wrote on it, 'You must not spoil him, now he is not afraid of me at all, even a little scolded he runs away. My throat is much better, it's just that the huanglian is a bit bitter, so I reduced it in the second stew'. After I finished writing, I tied the piece of cloth around Xiao Qian's leg, then threw it to make her fly away.
After watching Xiao Qian disappear into the darkness of the night, I looked down at the clay pot in front of me. Jinyin flowers floated on the water, white and gold alternately. took another piece of cloth, then returned to writing, “After reading the book, I just found out that the jinyin flower actually has another name, namely Yuanyang Teng. , when it is yellow like gold. Gold and silver contrast each other very beautifully, hence the name jinyin flower . Because in one stalk there are two kinds of flowers, their stamens stick out in pairs, always together, like a male and female in a pair, and like a pair of mandarin ducks dancing, therefore they are also called Yuanyang Teng ……..Today I have decided that I will enter Li Yan into the palace, I am only following his whim to seize the opportunity, I can't block his steps, after all he has dared to tell me his identity, I can't just refuse him. Since this matter is already irreversible, before I know your identity and intentions, it wouldn't be bad to let him owe me a debt of gratitude. In the future, maybe our goals will be the same, maybe not, today I didn't promise him, and he didn't push me either. It seemed that all he wanted was my help, and if I promised to help him, he would be in my debt. Actually I don't know whether what I'm doing is right or not, but my feelings for Li Yan are complicated, apart from admiration but also sympathy, and maybe I also feel disappointed in myself, as someone said to me, he really is stronger than me.”
My heart aches, I find it difficult to draw my writing brush, it's better if I just put it down, I take a bamboo box full of pieces of cloth, and after writing the date on the piece of cloth, I put it in the bamboo box. Since I decided to write down my experiences, it doesn't feel like I've written so many pieces of cloth.
Xiao Qian perched on the table, I quickly put the bamboo box in the cupboard and locked it, then unraveled the piece of cloth tied to Xiao Tao's feet, “Huanglian two qian, sheng zhizi two and a half qian, sheng gancao half qian, boil with small fire, drink the water. The dose of Huanglian is already the smallest, can't be reduced anymore, if it still tastes bitter, add a little honey. Xiao Tao doesn't want to go home, and lest Xiao Qian doesn't want to go home either, go to bed a little early.”
My finger stroked Xiao Qian's head, “You have no attitude”. Xiao Qian tilted her head and looked at me, I waved my hand, "Find your beautiful wife over there!" Xiao Qian spread her wings and left.
I bowed down to Princess Pingyang who was sitting upright on the bench, the princess raised her hand to ask me to stand up, "You came here to beg to see me on purpose, what's wrong?"
I knelt to his right and said, "I would like to ask gongzhu about something." After speaking, I sat quietly with my head down, looking down, the princess drank a sip of tea, then waved her hand to send the maids in the room out.
"Speak!"
"There is a woman who looks far beyond me, very good at dancing, smart and good at singing," while bowing I replied.
The princess smiled and said, "Now you run four entertainment houses, there are very many beautiful women in the entertainment house, the women who get your praise are certainly not ordinary women."
I said, "She is Li Yannian's younger sister, gongzhu has never heard of Li Yannian's qin playing. Although this woman's qin playing is not as good as her brother's, it is also extraordinary."
The princess said, "As long as he has only six or seven parts of Li Yannian's intelligence, he will become famous in Chang'an."
I replied "I think he has eight parts of his brother's intelligence".
The princess nodded, after a moment of silence she said, "Bring him to see me".
I said while placing a pair of hands on the floor to bow down to the princess, "Please gongzhu give me a little time, I would like to polish that beautiful jade stone, to ensure that it is perfect".
The princess said, "What are you in such a hurry to tell me for?"
I said, “According to the books of warfare, 'A victorious general calculates everything carefully in his headquarters; loser generals don't do it!' I can only prepare weapons, but the execution is entirely in the hands of gongzhu.”
"You're very straight forward, a bit Qubing style."
"Gongzhu is indeed wise and considerate, so I don't need to talk in roundabout ways, and instead make gongzhu look down on me."
The princess thought quietly for a moment, then said, “It is said that half of the money you used to buy the entertainment houses came from the loans of the girls in your entertainment house, and it is said that you have made a written agreement that you will pay it back within a year. , and give twenty percent interest, whereas if you return it in two years, you will give fifty percent interest”.
"That's right, I can't collect that much money right away, but I also can't pass up such a good business opportunity, so I have to do that."
The princess said, “This forced move of yours is brilliant, Luoyu Fang's business is thriving, after seeing it, girls in other entertainment houses will bet their fortunes on you, the word 'profit' gathers scattered sand together to achieve a common goal, after this they will inevitably support you, as long as support is obtained, your efforts are half successful. Go! Seeing the way you're acting, I'm sure you won't disappoint me, I'll be waiting to see your beautiful gemstone.”
Translator Footnotes
Ancient stringed musical instrument.
Means White Dragon Hill.
Bao Si was a concubine of King You of the State of Zhou (- BC), and is considered one of the most beautiful women in Chinese history. To please Bao Si, king You often lit torches that should only be used to summon troops in times of danger. Because he did it too many times, the troop commander no longer trusted the king. After Baosi gave birth to a son, King You impeached the queen and her crown son, resulting in the queen's father attacking him. When the king was about to call for reinforcements with torches, no troops came and he was killed.
***
Outside the room dark clouds filled the sky, thunder rumbled, rain fell heavily, inside the room, under the light of a large candle, three people sat around a table.
With a serious face I said to Li Yan, "A few days ago, I have seen the princess, starting today, in a short period of time, you must learn everything I taught you to the end". Li Yan nodded "I wonder what I should study".
I pointed at the bookshelf on my left, "This is Sunzi's Book of Martial Arts, all of which consist of seven thousand four hundred and seventy-six letters, divided into thirteen chapters, namely Planning, Carrying out War, Preparing for Attack, Placing Troops, Using Force, Point Weak and Strong Points, Moving Troops, Different Strategies, Troop Movements, Different Terrains, Nine Situations, Assault With Fire, and Using Spies, I want you to memorize them. Today we are going to read Making a Plan. Your battlefield is in in the palace, you must fight against the emperor, and against other beauties, this is a war without dust and smoke, but it is no less dangerous than the war between countries. The emperor has been on the throne for sixteen years, this year he is thirty-six years old , the peak age of a man in all respects, his literary and military prowess was by no means weak, his way of acting was extraordinary, sometimes cold-blooded, sometimes refined and loving. His mother, Empress Wang, before marrying the previous emperor had already given birth to a daughter to the Jin family, even the empress herself didn't like to talk about it, however, after hearing about her, the emperor personally looked for her father's other sister, and regardless of the ministers' protests gave her a peerage. ".
Li Yan calmly looked at the bamboo scrolls on the bookshelf, after a while, he nodded slowly and steadily, then said, "Since the emperor is the enemy I want to conquer, and also the only ally I can rely on, the war between us is the war of the hearts of men and women. I have never had an intimate experience with a man, whereas he has tasted a thousand women, in this war of hearts, if I lose my own heart, I will already lose, am I right?"
I took a deep breath, then pointed at the bookshelf on my right, “This is the Yellow Emperor Medicine Book, Sunu Book, Ten Questions, Ways of Yin and Yang Harmonization, and Tianxia Zhidao Tan”.
Li Yan was somewhat surprised, "It seems that the Yellow Emperor's Medicinal Scripture is a medicinal scripture, while the others I have never heard of, should I study medicine?"
I said "Beauty diminishes with the passage of time, we can't escape age, but we can try our best to delay it, the Yellow Emperor's Medicine Book specifically explains about the female body, you can use it to treat yourself, but the most important thing is", I cleared my throat, all the while
looking at the table I said, "The most important thing is the books
another book about……about…….” Hong Gu who had been sitting at the side silently smiled and spoke for me, “About the ‘Art of the Bedroom’ and the ‘Path of Connecting with Yin '".
My face and Li Yan's face became bright red, while looking at the dishes on the table, Li Yan softly asked, "Xiao Yu, have you read it?"
Haltingly I said, "Not yet". When I think about it my heart flutters. Basically books are rare things, and books like that can't be bought anywhere. Although Hong Gu had heard of those books, and wanted me to buy them, he had actually never seen them, and only told me that they were kept in the library of the Chang'an nobles' house. I thought that the most complete library was in the palace, so I had no other choice but to look for Huo Qubing.
...............................
"I need your help to find some books", I said while looking at the mat beneath me.
Huo Qubing was leaning on the cushions, lazily asking, "What book? Could it be a war sciences book?"
My head lowered deeper, my voice became as low as a mosquito's, "No".
Confused, he asked, "What's wrong with you today? If there's a problem, why can't you just say it right away? Why are you muttering about it?"
I took a deep breath, then said in a very low voice, “There's…there's something to do with
problem...man. man and woman".
Huo Qubing suddenly sat up straight and looked at me dumbfoundedly, my head lowered deeply, my eyes stared at the floor mat, I didn't say anything, but I felt that even my neck was burning hot, my face was naturally bright red.
Suddenly he tilted his head with a smile, grinning he said, "That? What's that? I don't understand what you're talking about. Say it one more time with a bit more clarity".
I immediately got up, about to leave, "Forget it!"
Grabbing my sleeve, he smiled and asked, "For you to read for yourself, or for someone else?"
I didn't dare turn my head to look at him and kept my back to him, while looking down I said, "For someone else".
While laughing he said, "That kind of book, lest there is only one in the palace, I have to find someone to copy it first, I will give it to you in a few days. You also read it, in the future there will be many benefits, if you have one what you don't understand, I got……” Before he could finish his words, I had grabbed my sleeves tightly, then quickly left.
...............................
Li Yan and I sat down with our heads down, smiling mockingly at Hong Gu saying, "You two rarely look shy, you're always smart and calm everyday, but now you haven't said a word. Li Yan you should start soon, still we have so much to do."
In a low voice Li Yan said, "I will read it, thank you for Hong Gu's efforts".
Hong Gu smiled as he nodded, "I will also go to the brothel with lots of money to ask some women who are most proficient in this art to come teach you a lesson. Before the lesson starts, I will have someone cover you with sketches, first, so they don't know who their students are, and secondly, so that when listening to lessons alone, you don't get too embarrassed, you have to study it seriously". With a beet red face, Li Yan nodded.
Hong Gu looked at Li Yan, then looked at me, he smiled slyly, seeming to be very satisfied to see our embarrassment, “Yu er, you better study with Li Yan! After all, sooner or later it will come in handy.” I glared at Hong Gu, but Hong Gu said with a smile, “Did I misspeak? There will be no man you like in the future? You won't…”
Today Hong Gu was determined to tease me, I no longer dared to let him continue talking and immediately cut him off, “Hong Gu, I want to talk to Li Yan alone”. Hong Gu immediately stopped grinning, then got up and left.
I took out a copper mirror and put it in front of Li Yan, “Your mother taught you to dance and sing, and taught you to act and move gracefully, but she neglected to teach you a few things. Your eyes can be teasing, you can be jealous, you can be sad and grieving, but you can't be cold, and moreover you can't be cold like a sword, if you can't even hide your intentions from me, how can you hide them from his majesty? Go for a walk in the fields and look into the faces of the country girls aged six or seventeen, look into their eyes, then look into your own eyes. I'm also not an ordinary six or seventeen year old girl and can't help you with this, you have to study hard on your own.”
Without saying anything, Li Yan thought for a while, "I will definitely do it".
I said, "Your mother didn't let you cry, but from now on I want you to cry, want you to be able to shed tears at any time, you must not only cry, but also cry charmingly, cry beautifully, like a pear in the rain or a flower dew-soaked apples. Reportedly, when the emperor first brought Wei Zifu into the palace, because Empress Chen did not agree, and was hindered by A Jiao's mother and Princess Guantao's powerful family, for more than a year, the emperor did not see Wei Zifu, after they met again, Wei Zifu cried begged the emperor to let him leave the palace. I'm sure that you must have heard this story, what happened next, we all know by now. Tears and smiles are your weapons, you have to learn to use them.”
Li Yan took a deep breath, then nodded his head.
I pondered for a moment to think about whether there was still anything to add, "Broadly speaking, other things can be said lightly, every day when I have free time, I will tell the stories about the emperor from childhood to adulthood that I heard from people, Even if you have heard of it, you can research it and combine it with the martial arts you are studying, to understand the emperor's character thoroughly.”
After he finished listening to me, Li Yan stood up, carefully tidied his clothes, then solemnly knelt down to pay respects to me. I was about to pull him up, but he grabbed my hand and said, "Let me finish my bow since later you will have to kneel to me, only by doing this can I show my gratitude, to you”. So I took my hand and wordlessly accepted his salute.
As soon as the ripe jinyin flowers came, I told the gardener to plant them in the small garden I had just made, next spring they would sprout. I want to take you to see it when the flowers bloom, will you come? Do I also have to plant it in the Shi Mansion? You treat me so well, every question I have you answer thoroughly, all my requests, as long as they have nothing to do with the Shi Company, you always grant them. But, where is my place in your heart? Sometimes I feel you are walking further away, but when I was about to offer my hand, you suddenly turned around and left me farther away, why?
I stopped drawing my writing brush and pondered for a moment, right! Why? Do I have to forever guess his heart? I took the bamboo box, carefully placed the silk scraps inside, then got up and walked out of the bedroom.
Inside the study room, Li Yan was reading a book by the light of a lantern. After I stood in the doorway for a while, he only startled to notice my presence and looked up at me, “Do you want me to memorize the contents of this book?” I shook my head, then went inside and sat across from him.
I said, "May I invite you to accompany me to ask Li Master something?" Li Yan said, “About what? I know all my brother's business, just ask me, it will be faster than asking him”. I played with my own sleeve, "A man's heart must be said by a man himself, a woman's thoughts don't necessarily match those of a man's, after all your sister just happens to be……." I held my tongue and looked at Li Yan, "Are you going to accompany me or not?"
Li Yan smiled and said, "If you can slack off, why not?" After speaking, he threw the book and got up, while locking the door I said,
"After you leave, I'll clean up these things, don't bother like this". Li Yan's face flushed red.
I suddenly felt very curious, while holding her hand, I walked over while whispering in her ear, "What exactly did you study?" Li Yan pushed me back, then stepped quickly, I quickly caught up with him and waved his hand, "Let's say it!"
Li Yan said in a low voice, "If you are so curious, come listen to the lesson, won't you know?" While holding back my laughter I said, "I don't have time to do it, I just want to learn the basics, after you finish studying, tell me".
Li Yan waved my hand, “You are really shameless! Even the mothers don't talk about it, just think about it, if you get caught, you won't be able to marry.” I cleared my throat, didn't answer.
After walking silently for a while, Li Yan grabbed my hand, "Although you don't know your own age exactly, I think it's almost the same as me, you don't have to take care of business too long, you also have to plan the rest of your life carefully, you don't have father and mother arranged it for you, and you yourself are also indifferent, do you want to wait until you are old? I've never seen Shi Company's master, but I see you're being very careful with him, surely he's not an ordinary person, if he's the right age, and he hasn't taken a wife yet, you better……”
I pinched her cheek gently, "Good girl, you're getting married yourself so it's not nice to see other people free". Li Yan snorted coldly, "Breastfeeding water!"
As we entered the door, Fang Ru was just about to leave, when she saw the two of us, she lowered her head and said softly, "I came to ask Li Master to teach me a song."
I shook my head as I said, "I didn't ask at all, but why are you rushing to make excuses? It seems a bit......" In the darkness, Li Yan pinched my arm, after silently saluting Fang Ru, he pulled me to make way for Fang Ru, then held out his hand to let Fang Ru go first.
Fang Ru bowed to me, then quickly left, I wrinkled my nose at Li Yan, "She's not your sister-in-law yet! Never mind, with your support, one day our entertainment house will have a queen mother".
Li Yan glared at me “Fang Ru and my brother are both refined and graceful people, unlike you rascal.”
From within the room Li Yannian asked, "Junior Brother, are you home yet?"
Li Yan replied, "It's me! Brother, there's Yu Niang too". Upon hearing this, Li Yannian immediately came out to greet me.
Li Yannian poured water for me, then modestly said, "I don't drink tea, only drink water, thus I can only serve water to guests."
With a smile Li Yan said "Big brother, he wants to talk to you".
Li Yannian calmly looked at me, waiting for me to speak. I looked down, subconsciously, my fingers made circles on the mat. "How did the courtiers respond?"
Li Yannian said, "Because it was recommended by Princess Pingyang, they were all very polite to me".
"Reportedly, after listening to your qin playing, His Highness was very amazed".
Smiling faintly, Li Yannian said, "He gave me a present, but I don't know whether he admired my playing or not."
I said, "Do you find it bothersome to live here and have to commute to the palace?"
Before Li Yannian could answer, Li Yan impatiently cut him off, "Jin Yu, what exactly do you want to ask? Don't you want to ask what my sister eats every day?"
Li Yannian glanced at his sister, then patiently replied, "There's a train going to and from there, it's easy."
I poured the water, took two sips, put the cup on the table, then looked up at Li Yannian, "You see, there is a person who is very introverted, but loves music, and there is a girl who wants to tell him what's in her heart, but she doesn't know what to do." was in the man's mind, so he didn't dare to speak directly. In Li Master's opinion, how could the girl express her feelings, and how could the man accept it?”
For a moment Li Yannian's face was stunned, then she lowered her head without saying anything. Li Yan, who was by his side, laughed and grabbed his brother's sleeve, while laughing he rubbed his belly, but I ignored him and kept looking at Li Yannian.
"Jin Yu, you are so funny, what about your Sunzi Martial Arts? Your endless theories? Now even for trivial things like this you have to ask people. It turns out that you are Zhao Kuo who is only good at scheming in the recliner I will reconsider whether the things you taught me are of any use or not".
I looked at Li Yan and said calmly, "I don't see this matter as a war, so I opened my heart wide open at first and didn't build a fort at all. I wasn't afraid that he wouldn't enter, instead I was afraid that he wouldn't enter." . I don't think calmly and rationally, just have a heart".