Un joven errante

Capítulo 5

He forcibly dragged her to Pengjulou, the best restaurant in Jiankang City.

I found a private room and was about to go up when suddenly a young man appeared and tried to snatch it from me. I saw him whispering something to the restaurant owner, whose face changed, and he turned to me apologetically, saying, "Young master, I'm so sorry. That private room was reserved for that gentleman. I thought he wasn't coming, so I—I'm truly sorry, sir."

A servile and obsequious scoundrel.

I looked coldly in the direction he indicated, staring disdainfully into the depths of the pupils of the young man I had assumed was a spoiled brat. But as soon as I noticed the eerie color of his eyes, I knew I was terribly wrong. A bewitching pale purple, an unsettling silver. What kind of eyes were these? Dark as whispers at dusk, clear as if emanating from within. He wore a seemingly ordinary dark robe, but around his waist was a rare gold-inlaid jade belt adorned with strange patterns. His handsome face featured thick, elegant eyebrows that swept across his casually flowing hair. A pair of obsidian-black eyes scrutinized me with a domineering yet curious gaze. He exuded a noble aura, and a dangerous presence emanated from him.

I was slightly taken aback, but quickly regained my composure and said indifferently, "All men are brothers under heaven. I believe this young master knows the order of arrival, so let's not hurt each other's feelings."

The young man who had just stopped us also looked at us sternly with a cold face and threatened, "My young master is of such high status that he would never give up his seat to a kid like you. I advise you to be sensible, or I'll have to take action."

Instead of getting angry, I laughed, a strangely alluring smile spreading across my face. I said coldly, "Is that so? What if I insist on not giving way? I don't care who this gentleman is. As the saying goes, all guests are guests, regardless of status. Besides, friends gather, friends gather. If we still distinguish between high and low status, do we still want to do business here?"

Seeing my resolute attitude and troubled expression, the shopkeeper could only look at the cold-looking guard-like figure. He angrily said, "You brat—" and was about to draw his sword and charge at me. I smiled disdainfully, thinking, "What an ungrateful fellow."

Just as I was about to teach this arrogant fellow a lesson, the man suddenly spoke up: "Shen Qing, don't be rude." He then smiled at me—a smile that was chillingly cold, devoid of any genuine amusement. I felt a chill run down my spine; this man's aura was intimidating. I wondered who he was. "This young master just said that all men are brothers. If you don't mind, why don't we have a drink together?"

I looked at him and replied softly, somewhat hesitantly, "Then I shall respectfully accept your offer."

"Young Master—" Yunying tugged at my arm with some concern. I smiled reassuringly at her. Turning back, I stubbornly stared into the man's dark eyes. I didn't notice the growing interest that was slowly rising in his eyes.

Fortunately, he was quite skilled and elegant, pleasing to the eye, and easier to get along with than I had imagined. Once in the private room, he dismissed the man named Shen Qing, and Yun Ying reluctantly followed suit. After a few cups of osmanthus wine, we had become quite familiar with each other, and his guardedness and coldness gradually disappeared. It just goes to show the old saying, "No discord, no concord!"

Finally, someone brought it up first, saying that it was fate that we were destined to be together, so why not become sworn brothers? Actually, this swearing-in-arms agreement was mostly a joke at first. None of us took it seriously back then.

I took a big gulp of wine and laughed, "My name is An Jin. I'm 15 this year. What about you?" Because I didn't want him to call me "kid," and also because of my natural wariness, I didn't want him to know I was younger than him or older. Everyone has secrets, and I think he kept the same for me.

He raised his bowl to toast me, his voice cold, but a smile was beginning to appear in his eyes. "I am Sima Langya. I am five years older than you. From now on, I will be the elder brother, and you will be the younger brother."

"Great! Brother Sima, not bad, not bad. Hehe." After drinking for a while, we were both a little tipsy.

“Brother, let this wine be our witness, from this day forward we are brothers.”

Volume 1, Chapter 8: Brothel Visit

That meal lasted a full three hours. When we left Pengjulou, the sky was beginning to darken, night had fallen, and the streets seemed even more lively. The cool night breeze sobered us up, and we both felt a little awkward.

After a long silence, he calmly asked, "Where are you going, my dear brother?"

I smiled faintly, "I've heard that the most beautiful courtesan in Yichun Garden is as beautiful as a fairy, and I'm just thinking of going there to feast my eyes on her."

His eyes sparkled with laughter. "Really? I was thinking the same thing. How about we go listen to that peerless beauty's little tune and continue drinking to our hearts' content?"

"Great minds think alike. Let's go."

It seems someone nearby is more anxious than the emperor.

Yunying gently tugged at my sleeve and whispered, "Young master, it's getting late..."

The annoying Shen Qing also said to Sima Langxie in unison.

We exchanged a smile, ignoring everything they said. We walked side by side toward our destination.

After walking for a while, I finally saw the legendary brothel. And it was the largest brothel in Jiankang City—Yichun Garden. I noticed that all these brothels used the same name, "Springtime Beauty," a common practice across dynasties—a rare commonality. Honestly, I'd wanted to see it for a long time, but I'd always been tied up with other business, never having the time. Even at the entrance, a group of beautiful women were already soliciting passing gentlemen. I wondered if it was even more classic and intoxicating inside. Hehe, in modern times, time-travel novels always say that a trip to ancient times isn't complete without visiting a brothel. Of course, I wouldn't miss such a fun place, and I was extremely curious about the allure of those top courtesans who captivated the high-ranking officials and nobles of ancient times. Even now, the patriarch has a wife who is a famous courtesan—the currently favored Fifth Lady.

Although rumors say that part of the reason she was favored was because she looked like my mother.

This explains why she and her fifth brother tried every means to embarrass Wei Ying and even wanted to kill her.

A woman's jealousy can destroy a city. That's why they say, "femme fatale."

I strode confidently through the gates of Yichun Garden with this newly-acquainted "big brother," attracting many admiring glances—all thanks to his good looks. Yunying, following behind, tried several times to warn me, but I knew she was going to say how a girl could enter such a place. I really wanted to smash her head open and tell her I was now the businessman An Jin, a genuine handsome man. A casual glance revealed Shen Qing's brow furrowing involuntarily, his pupils deepening. What? In this era, a man who doesn't frequent brothels is a freak. Of course, except for my darling son—Xiao Qi.

Soon the madam came up to them with great charm, "Oh, gentlemen, come in quickly. All the girls here are beautiful as flowers, and they are proficient in everything from music and chess to calligraphy and painting."

I was a little dizzy from the strong fragrance emanating from her. I steadied myself and said loudly, "My brother and I have come here today for your new courtesan," and tossed her a silver ingot. "We are honored guests, so please take us to see the legendary beauty." I smiled ambiguously and looked at her with a somewhat lustful gaze.

She smiled knowingly and charmingly, but the powder on her heavy makeup was almost smeared all over her old face. I smiled awkwardly and glanced to the side, where Sima Langxie's brows furrowed impatiently.

"My lord, it's not that I don't want to grant your request, but I can't make the decision myself. My daughter is too ashamed to be seen by anyone, so she set up a contest, and only the winner can enter her room to see her." She sighed, feigning helplessness.

I felt disdain. It's the same old routine again. Boring.

But then Sima Langxie chuckled softly and said, "Is that so? Why don't you introduce us, Mother? My brother and I are very sincere." As he spoke, he gave a wink, and Shen Qing, who had been silent, also gave the woman a silver ingot.

The auntie was delighted, but she forced herself not to show it. She led us to the inner hall, and it was then that I realized how many people had come today; it was unusually crowded.

I followed the gaze of most of the onlookers and saw a maid-like figure on the platform in the middle giving instructions. Some people were already discussing how beautiful even the maid was, wondering what the master must be like.

Hmph, I have absolutely no interest in this kind of competitive stuff. I was just about to head home.

Sima Langya was already looking at me with a smile, and said slowly and calmly, "Brother, would you be interested in seeing the beauty and enjoying the sight of her today? Let's have a few drinks together."

I thought to myself with disdain, "Vulgar, pervert. It's you who's interested, not me." But shouldn't any normal man be interested in beautiful women?

After thinking it over, I forced a smile, knowing it looked terrible, but pretended to be excited and said, "Not bad, not bad. To have a beauty's affections is a great fortune in life. Why don't you go, brother?"

"How can that be? Good things should be shared among brothers. Why don't we go together?"

"Let's go together, um..." I stammered a little, "Okay, okay. Good brothers are loyal!" I was going to take the plunge, I didn't care what happened, as long as I didn't embarrass myself.

As we were talking, the stage had already become a scene of singing and dancing. Many beautiful dancers swayed their long, flowing sleeves and danced to the music, their butterfly steps graceful and their figures appearing mesmerizing in the light. The men all looked like they were completely mesmerized. No kidding, modern stage effects are so advanced, and with such exquisite dance skills, it's a hundred times better than this. If I were to still look like a lovesick fool, I would be letting down my fellow villagers.

Sima Langya, seemingly oblivious to his surroundings, watched the frenzied crowd with a hint of mockery. He was probably already used to this kind of situation.

Finally, the protagonist of the evening silently played a tune behind a thick jade beaded curtain.

This music should only exist in heaven. I'd like to say... well, that's a bit of an exaggeration. It's far from the famous "Spring River Flower Moon Night." But since arriving in ancient times, I haven't heard any music more beautiful than this.

Sometimes her voice was high-pitched and soaring, sometimes soft and gentle. Her voice was mournful, like a lament, like a sob, like a complaint, its lingering notes delicate and persistent. Truly worthy of being called the queen of flowers.

What surprised me even more was that courtesans usually didn't show their faces in public so casually, but this woman, who was said to be from the Xianbei region, didn't seem as affected as women from Jiangnan. She quickly and slowly emerged from behind the layers of gauze curtains.

What beauty she possessed! A beauty that could topple kingdoms. The moment she stepped out, I was stunned. Speechless, I was speechless. I imagine everyone around us felt the same. Sima Langya's expression was also somewhat dazed, his gaze turning strange.

She wore a simple white long-sleeved floor-length dress; the color was so muted, the attire so understated, yet it only accentuated her stunning beauty. Her cheeks were rosy, as vibrant as peach blossoms, and a rare jade-inlaid gold bracelet adorned her jade-like wrists. Her eyes shimmered like autumn water, captivating like peach blossoms. Yet, her expression remained serene, seemingly indifferent to the astonished and adoring expressions of the onlookers.

Her smile, as delicate as a daisy, was also elusive.

Absolutely stunning! I'm inexplicably excited. Ugh, ugh, I'm a beauty myself, I can't just fall for anyone! But what's that drooling stuff coming out of my mouth?! So embarrassing… I quickly wiped the drool from my lips…

Volume 1, Chapter 9: Breaking Through

If among men, the Third Brother is the epitome of masculine handsomeness, Huan Wen the epitome of纨绔 (playboy), the Demon Child the epitome of stunning beauty, and Sima Langya the epitome of noble bearing, then among women, the Second Sister is the epitome of graceful beauty, and I, being still developing, can only be considered a delicate beauty. This courtesan, however, possesses an exotic allure that makes her alluringly wicked.

However, I like it. My earlier listlessness vanished, and my eyes lit up with interest. Brother Sima's suggestion is quite good. Having such a beauty playing the zither as an accompaniment to wine would surely be an unforgettable experience.

Sima Langya looked at An Jin, who had just seemed bored, and suddenly became radiant. He had this strange feeling that although the courtesan who had appeared earlier was breathtakingly beautiful, and he himself had been speechless for a moment, nothing could compare to the amusement he found in his newly sworn brother. And now, he was already anticipating the surprises this younger brother would bring.

I was waiting for the courtesans around me to bring out something new to compete with when I noticed Sima Langye's burning gaze on my left. I looked at him, puzzled, and he smiled at me gently, like a spring breeze. Unfortunately, I was distracted.

Just then, the beauty on the stage said coldly, "The rules are simple. Several friends have been invited to tea in the first to third floors of the right side room. As long as your poetry skills can impress my friends, you will be able to meet Danyi. Alright, everyone, I will be waiting for the successful young master in the left room on the third floor. I will tell you the details later. Danyi takes his leave."

So her name is Danyi. That sounds lovely.

We and the others rushed to the side room on the right side of the first floor, very curious about what mysterious person was inside.

At this moment, the aunt spoke up: "Quiet, quiet. I'm so sorry to have kept you gentlemen waiting." She flashed a few soothing, charming smiles: "Let me introduce you first. The lady on the first floor is the renowned talented woman of Jiankang—Mu Wanyan. I'm sure you all know her background. The rules are simple: you all just need to play and sing a song in public. If you can lure the talented Mu Wanyan out of her pavilion, you'll pass this test. Are you ready? Each gentleman can pay 5 taels of silver to begin."

What a clever way to make money! The real purpose of this competition isn't the bar itself. Seeing the courtesan is a pretense; making money is the real goal. Who knows if the people behind the scenes will actually come out? Yet, driven by their fervor for the courtesan, many still rush to pay their dues and queue up for the competition.

I wasn't in a hurry. I had the servants bring out the finest tea and pastries, then sat down at a carved wooden table. I invited Yunying to sit with me and enjoy the tea, closing my eyes to rest. Sima Langya had the same idea and leisurely sat down as well. That brat Shen Qing, for some reason, refused to sit, standing obediently to the side—the abyss of feudalism! Sima Langya sat there coldly, completely ignoring Shen Qing.

But who is this Mu Wanyan? Without me even asking, several onlookers were already whispering amongst themselves.

"Mu Wanyan, the talented young woman, became famous in Jiankang by defeating the arrogant and presumptuous top scholar, Li Jiucai. It is said that when that scholar came to Yichun Garden to enjoy himself, he looked down on Mu Wanyan's talent and challenged her. So the two held a competition here in front of the guests. In the end, Mu Wanyan won. It is said that the arrogant top scholar then restrained his unruly nature, became indifferent to officialdom, and disappeared. No one has seen him since."

They spoke with great interest, and I listened with equal fascination. So there was such a legendary tale behind it all! This Mu Wanyan is truly a genuine talented woman; impressive, truly admirable.

Before a cup of tea had been brewed, the crowd that had been thronging in front had unknowingly dispersed, and many people walked to the nearby table with a sigh, shaking their heads in disappointment.

I figured it was about time. I turned to look at Sima Langya and asked, "I wonder what musical instrument you're good at, or what kind of songs you're good at singing?"

He smiled and said, "I often play the flute, but I'm not good at singing. So, have you thought of anything, my brother?"

“Since I said that good brothers are loyal and we agreed to go through the challenges together, how about we have a duet of qin and xiao? I’ll sing the song. I just don’t know if your xiao will be able to match.”

His eyes darkened, and he calmly said, "I will do my best."

"Let's go then." I took a sip of her cold tea and stood up.

Shen Qing had already paid the silver for passing the test as instructed by his master.

I glanced at the victor's lounge, where a dozen or so scholars and gentlemen sat drinking tea. In truth, none of their songs had actually drawn out the legendary talented woman. It seemed that, fearing that no one would pass the first round and the rest would be uninteresting, the wooden-faced woman simply said "passed" to those decent pieces. So, I still haven't seen her true face.

I learned the guzheng in modern times, but I don't know if I can pass the test. I walked over and sat down on the ground in front of the table where the instruments were set up. I casually tested the sound. At this moment, Sima Langya calmly took out a jade flute from his sleeve.

I got ready, looked at him questioningly, and he nodded knowingly. Then I began to sing.

Although it was hard to get used to the voice being male, the deep, magnetic male voice was still very alluring. Seeing the stunned group of people, they understood.

According to a man who was present that day, there were two handsome young men who participated in the challenge that day. No, one of them was an exceptionally handsome young man, and the other was surrounded by an aura of nobility and was in no way inferior.

In the first challenge, the peerless youth sat cross-legged on the ground, playing the zither. As the melodious strains of the zither, like a clear spring, and the sudden, soaring notes of the flute rose, the youth softly sang:

The east wind at night releases a thousand trees of flowers.

The wind blew down stars like rain.

BMW's sculpted carriages fill the road with fragrance.

The sound of a phoenix flute stirred.

The light of the jade pot turns,

A night of fish and dragon dance.

Moths, snow willows, golden threads,

A smile lingers, a subtle fragrance lingers.

I searched for him a thousand times in the crowd.

Looking back suddenly,

But that person was there.

Where the lights are dim.

Almost everyone present saw, amidst the perfectly harmonious sounds of the zither and flute and the singing, a noble woman, extraordinary and content with solitude, standing apart from the bustling scene on this luxurious Lantern Festival night. She stood alone in the dim light, enjoying a refined and elegant realm by herself, yet also feeling a sense of aloofness, as if she had never found a kindred spirit.

Just as everyone present was still deeply immersed in the moment, a woman suddenly emerged from behind the beaded curtain of the side room. Though her face was streaked with tears, her stunning beauty and unparalleled elegance were still undeniable. This was Mu Wanyan. Ignoring the gazes and speculations of the crowd, she hurriedly approached the extraordinary young man and said emotionally, "Life is unpredictable, and finding a true friend is rare. Wanyan thanks you, sir, for helping me resolve the knot of my long-standing depression. From now on, Wanyan will travel the world in search of a soulmate. Now, sir, please ascend to the second floor."

The peerless youth simply said, "A bosom friend afar brings a distant land near. Miss Mu, there's no need for such formalities. Miss Mu, your brilliance is unparalleled; who in the world doesn't know you?"

The talented young lady was moved to tears again. Only then did everyone realize that the two young men were hiding their true talents and were not to be underestimated. The few scholars who had managed to escape with their luck now looked ashamed.

Because tonight was a legendary night, even those young masters who hadn't passed the test rushed up to the second floor. The garden matrons, unable to contain the onlookers' curiosity, had no choice but to follow. This persuader hid in the crowd and went upstairs with them.