White Robe - Chapter 5
One falling leaf heralds the arrival of autumn.
Ye Zhi Qiu.
This elegant and refined name is widely known in textile workshops both in the north and south.
Everyone knows Ye Zhi Qiu, the owner of Qiuye Pavilion in Hangzhou, Jiangnan.
Hangzhou silk is renowned throughout the world, but Qiuye Pavilion's Qing Si Xue silk is the most famous in Suzhou and Hangzhou. Wealthy families considered it an honor to wear clothes sewn by Qiuye Pavilion, using it to flaunt their wealth. The finest Qing Si Xue silk was always presented as tribute to the imperial court by Qiuye Pavilion every year, but even the leftover scraps of silk from Qiuye Pavilion, when sewn, often fetched prices exceeding one hundred taels of silver.
Qiuye Pavilion's silk products became royal offerings and were highly respected. In just a few years, Qiuye Pavilion became famous throughout the world, not only for its excellent silk products produced every year, but also because of the current owner of Qiuye Pavilion: Ye Zhi Qiu.
A single falling leaf heralds the arrival of autumn.
Some say: If Ye Zhiqiu said, "Today is autumn," then by the next day, everyone in the world would have to put on their autumn clothes.
Simply because he is Ye Zhi Qiu.
But no one had ever seen the true face of this spirited and exceptionally talented merchant.
His personality is as mysterious and aloof as his name.
I frowned as I flipped through the papers in my hand, then looked up at Yun Yiyang standing beside me and asked:
"Is this all the information we have about Ye Zhi Qiu...? Where did he come from? How did he rise to power? What are his hobbies? How old is he? Even if we don't have that, we should at least check which businesses he's interested in, who he associates with closely, and whether he has royal support behind him. Knowing yourself and your enemy is the key to victory in every battle. This information is far too little to describe a person."
Yun Yiyang replied, "Ye Zhi Qiu is an extremely mysterious person. He has only risen to prominence in Jiangnan in the last two or three years. However, his business dealings and public appearances are all handled by his subordinates. He never appears in public. When necessary, he hides behind many curtains, claiming that he has a chronic illness and cannot appear in public. Therefore, all the big merchants have dealt with Ye Zhi Qiu, but no one knows whether Ye Zhi Qiu is old or young, male or female."
"Having a chronic illness?" I couldn't help but cover my mouth and chuckle. "That's a lame excuse. I, Baiyi, am the first to not believe it."
Yun Yiyang laughed loudly, "Yes, yes, this Ye Zhi Qiu is definitely not as smart as Sister Bai. She made herself look so scary that she could scare people into fainting, so no one would suspect that Sister Bai is a woman!"
I was taken aback, and seeing Yun Yiyang's mischievous expression, I couldn't help but burst into laughter! He was referring to the summons from Prince Ning. Prince Ning, Zhao Sheng, was enfeoffed in Shanxi. He was in his thirties, with a refined appearance and elegant speech. Although a prince, he loved to associate with scholars, gentlemen, and people from all walks of life. I don't know where this charming prince heard of my great name, but he insisted on inviting Yun Yiyang and me to his residence for a gathering. At the banquet, we drank and chatted, and it was quite enjoyable. But after a while, when things got a little too lively, Prince Ning insisted that I remove my hat so he could see my true face: "I've long heard that the White-Robed Minister, who assisted the young master of Guiyun Manor and made Guiyun Manor soar like a dragon in the sky, is renowned throughout the twelve states of the north and south. He must also be a shrewd and charming person. Would you be so kind as to remove the black veil for me so that I may have a look?"
I rose and bowed, slowly saying, "Your Highness has given the order, how could I, in white robes, dare disobey? It's just that my family suffered a great fire when I was young, and although my lowly life was spared, my appearance was disfigured. I was afraid of frightening others, so I covered myself with a black veil. This humble subject dares not disobey Your Highness's wishes, but I'm afraid that if I frighten Your Highness's noble body, I will be guilty of a hundred deaths." I spoke at length, barely managing to hold back my laughter. Now I realized that I had gained another skill: flattery.
Prince Ning stroked his beard and laughed loudly, "What haven't I seen? A true man stands tall and upright; appearance is merely superficial. Take off your white robe and black veil." I said nothing more, and reached out to lift the black veil from my hat—
Suddenly, seven or eight screams rang out from the banquet! Then came the sounds of shattering cups and plates, breaking wine jugs, and gasps of breath... The Prince Ning's mansion was suddenly filled with chaos.
Seeing the scene descend into chaos, Prince Ning turned to comfort his beloved concubine while hurriedly calling out to me, "Why aren't you putting on your bamboo hat—" A faint smile appeared on my lips as I slowly put the black veiled bamboo hat on my head.
Thinking of this, Yun Yiyang and I couldn't help but exchange a hearty laugh! Wearing a bamboo hat to cover my face was a last resort. My appearance lacked majesty, being more handsome than imposing. If I were to dress as a man, I wouldn't look convincing at all. I had no choice but to cover my face with a black veil so I could enter and leave the market as a man. But people always like to be suspicious. There were bound to be curious people like Prince Ning who wanted to see my true face. So, before going to Prince Ning's residence, I smeared my face with butter and face powder, squinted my large eyes, and drew a few scars on them, making myself so ugly that no one wanted to look at me a second time. As it turned out, this plan couldn't be better. After this incident, all the merchants knew that although the man in white was dashing, he was actually an ugly monster beyond compare.
I smiled smugly and said to Yun Yiyang, "How about that, you little rascal? Your sister Bai is really something! If Ye Zhi Qiu had my skills, even if he dressed up as an ugly monster that everyone was afraid of, he wouldn't be so frustrated!"
Yun Yiyang didn't answer. He suddenly stared at me intently and slowly said, "Even if Sister Bai is really ugly, she is still the most beautiful woman in my heart!" He said these words one by one, and his tone was unusually firm.
A thought struck me, but I still smiled and said, "This time, Ye Zhi Qiu has invited the five major weaving workshops of Shanxi to his villa for a gathering. Gui Yun Manor should prepare well, after all, he has mastered the best weaving and dyeing techniques in Jiangnan. It is our good fortune that Gui Yun Manor can associate with such a merchant. If we don't seize this opportunity to cooperate with Ye Zhi Qiu's Qiu Ye Pavilion, when will we?"
Yun Yiyang laughed and said, "With Sister Bai here, Guiyun Manor's brocade and embroidery have been able to revive so quickly in Shanxi. If it's another two years, even Qiuye Pavilion will probably have to give way to Guiyun Manor! I'll go prepare now." He turned and walked towards the weaving workshop.
As I watched Yun Yiyang's retreating figure, the smile in my eyes slowly faded.
The way he looked at me just now wasn't the way he would look at a sister; it was the way he would look at a woman.
Willow branches and dew gently comb the moonlight, while poplar leaves, adorned with frost, sweep across the pavilion.
Led by a servant, Yun Yiyang and I strode confidently into Heyue Villa, Ye Zhiqiu's villa in Jiangzhou, Shanxi.
I walked behind Yun Yiyang, like a faint shadow.
The exclamations, shouts, gasps of surprise, and whispers around me were all irrelevant to me; all I saw and all around me was darkness, like night.
But in the darkness, through the hazy black veil, I saw Ye Zhi Qiu, who is known as "one leaf falling tells of autumn's arrival"!
He leaned back on a wooden couch, raised his hand slightly, and said leisurely, "I am very grateful for the kindness of you all during my visit to Jiangzhou. Today, I am here as your host to express my gratitude. I hope you will all forgive my shortcomings." His voice was deep and gentle, and he did not sound very old, but his tone was intermittent and weak, as if every extra word he spoke would be a waste of energy.
The wealthy merchants around him eagerly bowed and chimed in, saying, "No, no, Brother Ye, what are you saying!" "It's our good fortune that Brother Ye invited us." "It's our honor to have Brother Ye grace Jiangzhou with his presence..." Flattery poured in, and the scene was chaotic... I stood quietly to the side, the words of the crowd seeming to pass by like a gentle breeze. I opened my eyes wide, trying my best to see this legendary Ye Zhi Qiu clearly.
But I can't see clearly.
Two fine white silk curtains shrouded Ye Zhi Qiu and the others, his slender figure faintly visible in the white mist.
Ye Zhi Qiu has always been mysterious, and this time is no exception.
Amidst the clinking of glasses and the lively exchange of toasts, the flower hall of Heyue Villa was bustling with activity. Ye Zhi Qiu, however, remained behind the white curtains, appearing from the outside as if drinking alone.
I rubbed my aching forehead. Most of the drinks offered to me were deflected by Yun Yiyang. That kid, it's a good thing I didn't spoil him for nothing. I put down my glass and quietly glanced around from behind the black veil.
I wonder if Ye Zhi Qiu was also secretly watching the person outside the white curtain?
As I was silently chanting in my heart, a rough voice suddenly rang in my ears: "I heard that Young Master Ye has invited the most popular courtesan from Biyun Tower in Jiangnan to entertain us at this banquet! Quickly let this young lady Youhua come out so we can have a look at her. Why isn't she coming out yet? Is Young Master Ye keeping her hidden away like a mistress?" It was Qian Dakuan, a famous silkworm merchant from Shanxi, who had a loud and hoarse voice. These words he shouted were even more resounding.
Ye Zhi Qiu didn't answer, but simply clapped his hands softly from inside the curtain.
As soon as the sound faded, a series of tinkling sounds came from outside the flower hall, growing louder as they approached. From the bamboo curtain on the right, a slender, white hand slowly emerged, its fingernails stained with balsam juice.
That hand alone is enough to make her an absolute beauty!
The clamor of voices suddenly ceased, becoming so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Everyone present, young and old, men and women, held their breath, waiting for Youhua, the top courtesan of the thirty-six brothels in Jiangnan and the most popular courtesan of Biyun Tower, to appear.
A hand lifted the bamboo curtain, revealing the graceful figure of a woman carrying a zither. Her robes were white, her hair flowing, and her high bun adorned with wide sleeves. Her jet-black hair, coated with the finest orchid ointment, cascaded down to her waist like a waterfall, adorned only with a single, translucent jade hairpin. Her white dancing skirt billowed gently, like clouds drifting across the ground. In her slender, white hands lay an antique zither. The moment this renowned courtesan from Jiangnan appeared in the hall, the room was instantly filled with a faint, unnamed floral fragrance.
Her face was also covered by a white veil.
Those who knew their stuff immediately exclaimed, "Azure silk! She's wearing Azure Silk from Qiuye Pavilion!"
The Qing Si Xue Silk was a renowned fabric of Qiu Ye Pavilion, so much so that even princes and nobles would find it difficult to obtain a single bolt to make a garment. That this courtesan of Bi Yun Lou would actually use it to make a dancing skirt was a great surprise to everyone. Someone exclaimed, "Young Master Ye is incredibly extravagant, even giving away such a fine item! Truly..." They couldn't quite put their finger on what it meant.