The madam immediately stepped forward and loudly reprimanded, "Quiet, quiet, let the second young master finish speaking."
Upon hearing this, Gongzi Yi laughed and said, "If you want to serve my friend, it's not impossible, but it depends on whether you have the charm." The woman in white spat at him, but Gongzi Yi didn't seem to care at all, and even seemed to enjoy her annoyed expression. He continued, "You've all seen it, my friend is no ordinary person. Tonight, everyone can use their unique skills. Whoever can make my friend laugh will be rewarded with one hundred taels of silver! Tonight, he will be your God of Wealth."
As soon as Gongzi Yi finished speaking, all the women in Xinghua Chunyu's eyes lit up, looking at Song Zixing with the same fervor that of a beggar who hadn't eaten for days and was now faced with freshly cooked braised pork. Despite the many predatory gazes, Song Zixing remained unfazed, standing in the hall with a half-smile, seemingly unconcerned by Gongzi Yi's deliberate teasing and ambiguous words.
At this moment, dozens of girls in the hall were scrutinizing Song Zixing from head to toe, their lips hidden behind silk fans as they whispered amongst themselves. Then, Gongzi Yi said, "Brother Song, let's ignore them for now. I'll take you to see an old friend."
To avoid being too ostentatious, Song Zixing had Gongzi Yi drop the title "General" before entering.
"An old friend?" Song Zixing looked puzzled. When did he have an old friend amidst the apricot blossoms and spring rain?
Upon seeing this, Gongzi Yi laughed and said, "Brother Song, have you forgotten the bib that I gave to Miss Qianqian?"
Song Zixing smiled upon hearing this and nodded impassively. How could he have forgotten that undergarment? He had simply forgotten an excuse he had used before.
Du Qianqian had indeed been to Jiangling, but she did not participate in the Phoenix Boat Race. Naturally, she did not enter the palace to become a courtesan. The reasons for this are varied. Some speculate that Xinghua Chunyu (a courtesan company) feared losing its prestigious reputation would affect its business and intentionally prevented her from participating. Others say Du Qianqian herself was unwilling to participate, while still others believe she planned to leave the courtesan profession. In any case, Du Qianqian remained at Xinghua Chunyu, still the top courtesan in the capital.
Legend has it that Du Qianqian has powerful connections; guests she doesn't want to see are never seen, and those she does want to see are all captivated by her. And fortunately, Gongzi Yi is one of her honored guests. This is common knowledge in the capital. Although Song Zixing once boasted to all the young masters that Du Qianqian had given him a bib, and he excitedly made it into a kite and flew it on the city walls of Jiangling, in reality, he and Du Qianqian had never met.
Du Qianqian is very beautiful, the kind of beauty that will amaze you at first sight; the tea she brews is very fragrant, and drinking her tea is more intoxicating than drinking alcohol; Du Qianqian doesn't talk much, but the words she utters are like pearls falling on a plate, each word touching the heartstrings.
When Du Qianqian first saw Song Zixing, she was slightly surprised, likely recalling the rumor from Jiangling. It was said that this young master Song—no, General Song—had once been infatuated with her, turning her undergarment into a kite and openly flying it on the walls of Jiangling. While this rumor was untrue, Du Qianqian had never denied it. Song Zixing's name was known throughout Jiangnan, and his infatuation had solidified Du Qianqian's position as the top courtesan, even surpassing Ding Qiao'er of Mingmei Xiaozhu.
While serving the tea, Du Qianqian took a close look at Song Zixing. Although Song Zixing knew what Du Qianqian was thinking, he paid no attention to it. He simply took the tea from her hand, sipped it lightly, and his expression was a mix of amusement and indifference.
Du Qianqian played the zither beside her, the music soothing and captivating, like a flowing stream or a lover whispering sweet nothings.
The attic window was opened, and moonlight streamed in, with the faint sounds of noise and bustle coming from the front yard.
Gongzi Yi suddenly said, "Qianqian, the tea is too weak. Why don't you go and get some fine wine?"
Du Qianqian nodded and quietly left.
Young Master Yi reclined on the soft couch, propping his forehead with one hand. He listened to Du Qianqian's footsteps disappear at the top of the stairs before teasing her with a smile, "Brother Song, do you still remember that bib from Jiangling?"
Song Zixing nodded with a wry smile, seeing that Du Qianqian had no reason not to remember.
Gongzi Yi put down his teacup and said, "Actually, Brother Song knew back then that my sister was an imposter, didn't he?"
Seeing that Gongzi Yi brought it up, Song Zixing no longer needed to pretend he didn't know, so he nodded again.
Gongzi Yi said leisurely, "So Brother Song already knew her true identity all along."
Song Zixing smiled faintly and remained silent.
Gongzi Yi asked, "What does Brother Song think of her?"
Song Zixing said, "She lived a very simple life. This simplicity was hard-won and extremely rare, yet it is also quite regrettable because it was her."
Upon hearing this, Gongzi Yi smiled and said, "Yes, she is destined not to, and should not, live such a simple life."
Song Zixing gave Gongzi Yi a meaningful look and said calmly, "It seems that we think the same way."
Gongzi Yi smiled faintly and said, "Yes."
The moonlight in early winter was particularly cool, casting a chill on the table in the room, carrying an indelible sense of desolation even in this place of laughter and revelry. Song Zixing's words plunged them both into silence. They were alike, yet different, and only they themselves could understand their own thoughts.
Gongzi Yi broke the silence first, smiling faintly, "To be honest, Brother Song, Wuduo and I once had a written life-and-death contract. It stated that if I died, she could not live on either. The time limit was a lifetime." As he said this, Gongzi Yi's eyes were full of mockery.
Song Zixing raised an eyebrow and gave a soft "oh," seemingly not entirely convinced.
Gongzi Yi laughed and said, "Indeed, it was a play contract, but she still put her handprint on it in the end."
Song Zixing asked, "How did you manage to trick her into pressing it?"
Upon hearing this, Gongzi Yi laughed heartily and said, "Brother Song understands me best."
Song Zixing also laughed heartily. At this moment, both of them heard footsteps coming from the stairwell; it wasn't just one person, but dozens of people.
Gongzi Yi's eyes flickered, and he said with an ambiguous smile, "The fun is finally about to begin tonight."
Song Zixing smiled and said, "If I laugh too much tonight, wouldn't Young Master Yi be wasting his money?"
Gongzi Yi said, "If Brother Song laughs so hard that I go bankrupt, I will have no choice but to pawn Brother Song here."
Song Zixing burst into laughter upon hearing this.
Leaving Beijing
Before the laughter had subsided, a woman pushed open the door and said, "Oh dear, gentlemen, what a lively scene you're having! What are you laughing about?" She then revealed herself, wearing a wooden mask shaped like a large-headed doll, and a waist drum around her waist. The two men were startled. Seeing them, the woman jumped up, gesturing wildly, beating the drum and shaking her head. The two men watched for a while; Young Master Yi shook his head and chuckled, but Song Zixing seemed to be smiling in a half-smile. After jumping around for a while, the woman, seeing this, relentlessly approached Song Zixing, grabbing his arm and saying, "Oh dear, why aren't you laughing, young master? Yi Cui is already sweating from jumping! Yi Cui won't stop! Young master, smile! Smile!"
Song Zixing casually brushed away the woman's hand that was gripping him, smiled, and Gongzi Yi glanced at him before tossing out a silver note without a word. Yi Cui quickly removed the large-headed doll mask from her head, curtsied in thanks, picked up the silver note, and left with a radiant smile.
She had just gone out when the second one came in.
After watching the various amusing performances of a dozen or so women, Song Zixing drank some wine and then left Xinghua Chunyu with Gongzi Yi. Behind them, a line of women waved handkerchiefs, reluctant to part. Gongzi Yi smiled like a spring breeze.
This was the first time Song Zixing witnessed Gongzi Yi's extravagant spending. He certainly lived up to his reputation as the number one playboy in the capital, but the claim of him being lecherous was an exaggeration. While Gongzi Yi's gaze towards women was charming, it wasn't vulgar, even towards someone as stunning as Du Qianqian.
When Song Zixing arrived in the capital, he strolled through the apricot blossoms and spring rain and met Du Qianqian. This news later spread throughout the capital, naturally reminding people of the incident with the paper kite in Jiangling. It seems that Song Zixing and Du Qianqian's relationship is indeed quite close.
The bright moon was occasionally obscured by thin clouds. The group rode their horses down the street. Song Zixing was accompanied only by Wu Zheng, while Gongzi Yi was followed by nine people.
The two had a very pleasant time together today. When they parted, they agreed to go to Nanshu Academy together the next day, and then each returned to their own residence.
Gongzi Yi returned to Daming Prefecture. The steward told him that Gongzi Qi had waited for him for several hours but had not seen him return, so he had gone home first. Gongzi Yi nodded and went back to his room to rest.
The next morning, Gongzi Yi went to the General's Mansion to look for Song Zixing, only to learn that Song Zixing had received an imperial edict and entered the palace early that morning.
Young Master Yi waited until nearly noon before Song Zixing returned. After having lunch together at the General's Mansion, he and Song Zixing went to the Nanshu Academy.
During lunch, Song Zixing had already mentioned that he had met the Emperor and would be setting off back to Jiangnan soon. Gongzi Yi insisted on personally seeing him off, and although Song Zixing declined several times, he eventually agreed.
After visiting the academy and meeting with his teachers that day, he returned home to prepare for his departure.
The following day, Song Zixing and his entourage traveled lightly and returned to Jiangnan, seemingly without any haste.
When Song Zixing and his party of several hundred people left the capital, the city guards conducted an extremely thorough and strict interrogation of Song Zixing and his party under the pretext of apprehending the bandits depicted in the portrait. Even Song Zixing's personal guards were examined one by one, including their necks, wrists, and fingers. The gifts given to Song Zixing by Gongzi Yi and the two carts of Song Zixing's belongings were all unloaded and checked to see if anyone was hiding inside. The carriages were even turned upside down for a very thorough inspection.
Gongzi Yi watched as Song Zixing calmly and composedly underwent the inspection. Only a few of his subordinates grumbled and cursed, but Song Zixing stopped them.
Gongzi Yi escorted Song Zixing all the way to the Shili Pavilion south of the city before stopping.
After the two shared a few cups of wine, Gongzi Yi laughed and said, "Brother Song, you came and went in such a hurry that you didn't even take any local specialties back with you. That's really convenient."
Song Zixing smiled and replied, "I'm sure there will be another opportunity to come to the capital. Besides, Young Master Yi gave me a cartload of local specialties, which is more than enough."
Gongzi Yi clasped his hands in a salute and said, "Even after a thousand miles of seeing you off, we must part ways. May you have a safe journey, General. I will see you off here."
Song Zixing clasped his hands in thanks and said, "Young Master Yi is so kind. If you have time to visit Jiangnan in the future, I, Song, will certainly do my best to be a good host."
Gongzi Yi said, "General Song, I have a few more words to say to you."
Song Zixing said, "Young Master Yi, please feel free to speak your mind."
Gongzi Yi put aside his usual arrogance and said, "Wu Duo is simple, innocent and kind by nature, like a piece of uncut jade, waiting for a skilled craftsman to carve it so that it can shine. I know that your feelings for her are no different from mine, but if you and she are more destined... I hope that the general will do as you said the other day, and spare no effort to protect her."
Song Zixing smiled faintly, neither answering yes nor no.
Gongzi Yi said no more, cupped his hands and said, "Farewell."
Song Zixing clasped his hands in greeting and said, "Farewell." After saying this, he saw Gongzi Yi leave the Shili Pavilion, mount his horse, and ride away.
When Hua Wuduo awoke, they were already hundreds of miles away from the capital. Hua Wuduo was not in Song Zixing's entourage; Song Zixing had sent someone to escort Hua Wuduo out of the city two days prior. Song Zixing had brought about three hundred men with him to the capital, but only one hundred had entered the capital with him. The rest were scattered and settled in various locations on the outskirts of the capital. About ten men, disguised as merchants, had escorted Hua Wuduo out of the city and had reached the border of the capital yesterday to meet up with the others.
After leaving the capital, Song Zixing and his entourage continued south without stopping. At this time, Song Zixing was accompanied by nearly a hundred men, all of whom were his personal guards. They were soldiers, skilled in battle, and more resilient than ordinary people. That very night, the group arrived at the border of the capital and met up with the dozen or so men who were escorting Hua Wuduo and the remaining two hundred personal guards.
The group of three hundred people found a secluded place, set up camp for the night, and planned to continue their journey the next morning.
This place was carefully arranged by Song Zixing's men beforehand. Surrounded by thickets and situated on a mountaintop, it offers a clear view of all directions. It is easy to defend and difficult to attack. It will take another seven or eight days to reach the Jiangnan region, and we cannot be careless until then.
After Song Zixing met up with the caravan that had escorted Hua Wuduo ahead of him, he pulled a woman out from between the carriages and settled her in his tent.
Seeing that the general was traveling so quickly and cautiously since leaving the capital, Wu Zheng and Xu Qing were both somewhat uneasy. There was also a woman tucked in the crevice of the luggage cart, and the identity of this woman was very suspicious. It wasn't until they sat down to rest that Xu Qing finally spoke up with some hesitation.
Song Zixing did not hide anything and explained the reason to them in general terms.
Xu Qing and Wu Zheng became increasingly alarmed as they listened. Xu Qing was relatively calm, but Wu Zheng became more and more confused. It wasn't until Song Zixing mentioned that she was skilled in disguise that they understood.
Xu Qing asked, somewhat surprised and puzzled, "The one from last time..."
Song Zixing glanced at Xu Qing, knowing what he was asking about. Xu Qing was asking about the woman he had carried on his back that night outside Luoyang. He smiled and said, "It was her."
Wu Zheng suddenly remembered something from long ago and asked, "The one who caused such a ruckus at the General's Mansion..."
Before Wu Zheng could finish speaking, Song Zixing interjected helplessly, "It's her too."
Wu Zheng hurriedly asked, "Fight me..."
Song Zixing said, "It's her."
Wu Zheng's expression changed repeatedly.
Song Zixing smiled helplessly, and before Xu Qing could ask, he said, "It's all her fault." Xu Qing's words were immediately cut off. He swallowed hard before asking, "General, why are we in such a hurry? Is someone trying to harm Miss Fang?"
Song Zixing said, "It's not just her. We've already been in danger since we came to the capital. Given my status, it would have been difficult for me to enter the capital if I hadn't received an invitation from the Liu family. Staying in the capital is fraught with danger. We need to get back to Jiangnan as soon as possible."
That night, Song Zixing ordered Xu Qing to impersonate him and lead a hundred men to continue along the official road the next day.
Song Zixing and Wu Zheng led the remaining two hundred men in two separate groups towards Jiangnan. This arrangement was clearly a feint by Song Zixing, but Xu Qing was in a dilemma. Although he was somewhat similar in height and build to Song Zixing, their appearances were quite different. How could he possibly impersonate him? Unexpectedly, Song Zixing took out a mask from his pocket and said, "Put this on."
This mask was made by Hua Wuduo in Jiangling. Hua Wuduo himself couldn't remember when he lost it, and because he hadn't been able to find it, he had almost forgotten about it. Unexpectedly, it ended up in Song Zixing's hands. Now that Hua Wuduo is unconscious, he naturally doesn't know how the mask ended up in Song Zixing's possession.
This story leads us to the incident in Jiangling, where Hua Wuduo, disguised as Song Zixing, flew a peony-patterned kite on the city wall. Hua Wuduo was flustered because her kite-flying act was somewhat dishonest, and in her haste to change clothes afterwards, she left the mask behind. Song Zixing and Wu Zheng happened to witness this from a corner of the street. Wu Zheng was furious and, ignoring Song Zixing's attempts to stop him, tried to chase after Hua Wuduo to seek justice for the general. However, Wu Zheng was somewhat slow-witted; although he caught up with Hua Wuduo, he didn't recognize her immediately because she had changed her clothes. He only realized his mistake when he found the mask on the ground. But by then, Hua Wuduo had vanished, and the mask ended up in Song Zixing's possession. Song Zixing has always carried the mask with him. Today, he gave it to Xu Qing.
After arranging the itinerary for tomorrow, Song Zixing went to his tent to rest.
A guard brought in a bowl of chicken soup. Song Zixing picked up Hua Wuduo, who had been drunk for three days, and carefully fed her the soup little by little. Although she hadn't woken up, she seemed to have an innate sensitivity to food; as long as she tasted a little, she would drink some on her own. Though small, it was better than nothing. He massaged her blood and checked her pulse; it was steady and healthy, which reassured Song Zixing somewhat.
There were no women in the army, and he had been taking care of her personally ever since she left the capital. But after all, men and women are different, so these past few days, he had only done simple cleaning and wiping for her.
Song Zixing laid her down, covered her with a blanket, and then lay down beside her, gazing at her sleeping face. At this moment, he couldn't bear to close his eyes and just stared at her so boldly.
From the moment she appeared, she captured his entire attention; every move she made, every smile, whether good or bad.
He couldn't resist gently tracing the surface of her sleeping face with his fingers; the slight blush on her cheeks added to her charm. When did it begin that not only his eyes but also his heart were filled with her? He missed her when he couldn't see her, wanted to touch her when he did, and longed to be closer when he touched her; even possessing her entirely seemed insatiable. When did his feelings for her become so complex? When she looked at others, he only wanted her to look at him; when she looked at him, he wanted to be different in her eyes. When did he begin to feel such longing and yearning for a woman? He felt resentful that he couldn't be her entire world, and jealous when she was with others. He longed to plant himself in her heart, to completely occupy it, to eliminate everything else, to become the only one, to become her everything.
He couldn't help himself and pulled her into his arms.
Her hair fell loosely over her shoulders, her breath tickled his chest, and he stroked her long hair again and again. Gongzi Yi's words still echoed in his ears: they were both the same, willing to protect her at all costs, even willing to eliminate anyone who coveted her, including each other.
However, they all wanted to know who she truly loved. Perhaps, as Gongzi Yi said, he was simply more destined to be with her.