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If among men, Brother Three embodies masculine charm, Huan Wen represents a life of indulgence, Demon Child possesses an exquisite beauty, and Sima Langye exudes noble presence; then among women, Second Sister showcases graceful beauty, while I, still in my undeveloped stage, can only be considered a Jade beauty. This Courtesan, with her exotic allure, becomes Seductive in her wickedness.
However, I liked it. I shook off my earlier lethargy, and interest sparked in my eyes. Brother Sima's suggestion was quite good; having such a beauty by my side playing the lute as a companion for drinks would surely be unforgettable.
Sima Langye looked at An Jin, who had just moments ago appeared bored, and for some reason, he suddenly seemed invigorated. I felt an odd illusion; although the recently revealed Courtesan was breathtaking enough to leave one breathless, it was nowhere near as intriguing as the newly sworn Brother beside me. I found myself eagerly anticipating the surprises this younger brother would bring.
As I waited for the Courtesans around to present something novel to compare, I noticed Sima Langye's intense gaze on my left. Confused, I looked at him; he smiled lightly at me, like a gentle spring breeze, and unfortunately, I lost my focus.
At that moment, the beauty on stage coldly announced, "The rules are simple. In the right-side room on the second floor, several friends have been invited to enjoy tea. If any of you can impress them with your poetic skills, you will get to meet Dan Yi. Now then, I will be waiting in the left room on the third floor for those who succeed in this challenge. The specifics will be explained by my mother. Dan Yi departs."
So her name is Dan Yi. What a lovely name.
We surged toward the right-side room on the first floor, curious about the mysterious individuals inside.
At that moment, Aunt spoke up: "Quiet down, quiet down. I apologize for keeping you gentlemen waiting." She flashed several charming smiles to soothe us. "Let me introduce our guest on the first floor—known throughout Jiankang as a talented woman—Mu Wanyan. I'm sure you're all familiar with her background. The rules are easy: each of you must perform a piece publicly. If you can entice Mu Cai Nu out of her small pavilion, you will pass this round. Are you ready? Each gentleman must pay five taels of silver to begin."
What a clever way to make money! This contest is clearly more about profit than pleasure. Who knows if any of those behind-the-scenes figures will actually show themselves? Yet driven by enthusiasm for the Courtesans, many rushed to pay their silver and queued up to compete.
I wasn't in a hurry; I had my servant bring out fine tea and pastries and sat down at an intricately carved wooden table, inviting Yun Ying to join me for tea while I closed my eyes to rest. Sima Langye seemed to have the same idea and leisurely sat down as well. That brat Shen Qing stubbornly refused to sit beside us and stood rigidly aside—what a pitiful reflection of feudal constraints! Sima Langye remained indifferent to Shen Qing's presence.
But who exactly is Mu Wanyan? Without needing to ask, several spectators began whispering among themselves.
"Mu Wanyan is the talented woman who defeated the young and arrogant Golden Scholar Li Jiucai and made a name for herself in Jiankang. It’s said that when that top scholar visited Spring Garden for leisure and dismissed Mu Wanyan's reputation with disdainful words, they held a contest witnessed by all present. In the end, Mu Wanyan triumphed. Rumor has it that after that encounter, the proud Golden Scholar reined in his reckless nature and withdrew from public life; no one has seen him since."
They spoke with great enthusiasm, and I listened with equal interest. So there’s such a legendary story behind Mu Wanyan! She truly is an exceptional talent—impressive indeed!
Before the tea was ready, the crowd that had been gathered in front gradually dispersed, many of them shaking their heads in disappointment as they walked to the nearby tables to sigh.
I glanced at the time and thought it was about right. Turning to Sima Langye, I asked, "I wonder what instruments you excel at, or if you have any favorite songs?"
He smiled and replied, "I often play the xiao. Singing is not my strong suit. Why do you ask, Brother? Have you thought of something?"
"Since I've said that good brothers should support each other and that we would face challenges together, how about a duet with the qin and xiao? I can sing a song. I just hope your xiao can keep up."
His gaze deepened as he calmly said, "I will do my best."
"Then let's go." I took a sip of the cool tea and stood up.
Shen Qing had already paid the entrance fee early on as per his master's request.
I looked over at the resting area for those who had succeeded; there were about a dozen young scholars sitting there sipping tea. In truth, none of their songs had drawn out the legendary talented woman. It seemed she only acknowledged those who passed the first round with a simple "passed," so I still had not seen her true appearance.
Having studied the guqin in modern times, I wondered if I could pass this round. I approached the platform where the instrument was set up and sat down on the ground. I casually tested the sound. At that moment, Sima Langye calmly took out a jade flute from his sleeve.
I got ready and exchanged glances with him; he nodded in understanding. I began to sing.
Although it felt strange to hear my voice transformed into a male tone, the magnetic deep voice was still quite captivating. Looking at the captivated audience made it clear.
According to a man present that day, during this challenge, there were two handsome youths—one could be called Peerless Youth, while the other exuded an air of nobility that was equally impressive.
In the first round, Peerless Youth sat on the ground playing the qin, accompanied by a melodious sound like a clear spring and suddenly rising full notes from the xiao. The young man sang lightly:
The east wind blows gently, scattering the petals of a thousand trees,
And the stars fall like rain.
The fragrance of the carriage fills the road.
The sound of the Phoenix Flute resonates,
As the light from the Jade Pot shifts,
In a night of the Fish-Dragon Dance.
Moths, Willow Snow, and Golden Thread,
With smiles full of hidden fragrance, drift away.
In the crowd, I search for him a thousand times,
Suddenly turning back,
There he stands,
Amidst the flickering lanterns.
Everyone present seems to witness, in perfect harmony with the sounds of the zither and flute and the songs sung, a woman of extraordinary grace and self-imposed loneliness. She stands apart from the bustling scene of the Lantern Festival night, isolated among the flickering lanterns, savoring a realm of freshness and elegance, yet exuding an air of proud solitude that makes it hard to find a kindred spirit.
As everyone present was still deeply immersed in the moment, a woman suddenly emerged from behind the beaded curtain of a side room. Despite her tear-streaked face, she could not hide her stunning beauty, which was unparalleled. She was Mu Wanyan. Ignoring the gazes and speculations of the crowd, she hurried to the Peerless Youth before her and said with emotion, "Life is unpredictable, and finding a confidant is rare. Thank you, my lord, for helping me uncover the knot of melancholy that has lingered in my heart. From now on, I shall wander the world in search of true companionship. Please, my lord, ascend to the second floor."
The Peerless Youth replied calmly, "A true friend exists even across great distances. Miss Mu, there is no need for formality; your brilliance is known far and wide."
Mu Cai Nu was so moved that tears filled her eyes again. At that moment, everyone realized that these two young men were not to be underestimated; they were filled with hidden talents. The few scholars who had barely passed were now filled with shame.
Tonight was a legendary night; even those who had not succeeded rushed to the second floor. The matron in the garden found it hard to contain the curiosity of the onlookers and had no choice but to follow them upstairs. The speaker also blended into the crowd and ascended.
As they reached the top, a man playing the flute suddenly turned to the Peerless Youth who was playing the zither and said, "Brother, you have opened my eyes today; it reminds me of that saying, 'This melody should only exist in heaven.'" Many nodded in agreement.
However, they would later realize that this tune was far from being unparalleled.
The Peerless Youth smiled lightly and replied nonchalantly, "Brother's flute is truly flawless. I merely play for leisure; since we agreed to enjoy the music of the Dan Yi Girl together while drinking today, I can only bring out these trivial skills to amuse you. I hope you find it entertaining."
It was at this moment that everyone understood that these two had participated in this competition solely for the sake of enjoying music and drinking—how carefree and unrestrained! Those who had lost were left seething with frustration, wondering how such arrogance could exist. Some felt resentful as they followed along, eager to see these two fail.
Upon reaching the competition venue on the second floor, everyone speculated about who the mysterious person inside might be.
At that moment, the matron who had been trailing behind finally pushed her way forward and cleared her throat. In her melodious voice, she announced, "Congratulations to both young gentlemen for passing the first round. Now let me introduce you to the esteemed individual inside—he is known as Young Master Shun." As soon as she spoke, a buzz spread through the crowd like a beehive being disturbed. It was said that Young Master Shun enjoyed wordplay and occasionally composed poetry for fun, unmatched by anyone else in the world.
After a brief pause, she continued, "The two young gentlemen only need to face Young Master Shun in a contest of wit—if he deems himself defeated, he will come out to meet you."
Everyone present began to worry that these legendary young men might lose at this point; however, they saw that the Peerless Youth remained calm and smiled as he casually said to his companion, "Brother, I'll leave this round to you; my skills are lacking and I wouldn't want to complicate things."
"Is that so?" The Noble Man leisurely played with his jade flute and replied nonchalantly, "Very well then; I shall do my utmost."
At that moment, a calm voice emerged, "Are you both ready? Then let's begin. I will present the first line."
"Pearl Tree, entwined with colors of the ages."
The response came, "Brush Flower, blooming through the four seasons of spring."
Another line followed, "Lotus on all sides, willows on three sides."
The Noble Man slightly pursed his lips and replied, "A city of mountains and half a city of lakes."
"Good couplet! I haven't encountered such a worthy opponent in a long time. Next: the waterwheel moves with the water; when the wheel stops, the water ceases."
The man pondered for a moment, elegantly unfurling his ink fan, and calmly responded, "Fan stirring the wind; when the wind emerges from the fan, it creates a breeze."
"The sun rises over the mountain, the moon rises over the mountain; on the mountain, sun and moon shine bright."
"Qinghai Lake, where water meets sea; in this lake, the azure waters are clear."
Then he continued, "Silkworms spin cocoons to draw silk, weaving warm brocade for the world."
The man smiled slightly at the youth and replied, "Wolves give birth to fine pens; they write splendid articles to be shared across the land."
"Heavenly Chessboard and Star Maker—who dares to play?"
Before anyone could fully grasp what was happening, a response came: "Earthly Pipa; along the road of silk—who can play?"
"Good, good couplet, let's continue.
Tuning the strings, a new melody comes forth, enchanting and delightful.
Planting flowers, cultivating well, each seed blossoms into fragrant blooms.
The vast sea's sun, the red city's mist, the snow of Mount Emei, the clouds of Wuxia, the moon over Dongting, the smoke of Pengli, the rain of Xiaoxiang, the peaks of Wuyi, the waterfall of Lushan—together they form a cosmic wonder, painting my study wall...
Shaoling Poetry, Mo Jie Painting, Zuo Zhuan Wen, Sima Shi, Xue Tao's Letters, Right Army Calligraphy, Nanhua Classic, Xiangru Fu, Li Sao—collecting the exquisite arts of ancient and modern times to adorn my mountain window.
In this world where I am slandered, deceived, insulted, laughed at, belittled, scorned, hated, cheated—how should I avoid such encounters?"
At this couplet, the people present began to stir; wasn't this a timeless masterpiece? Perhaps even the author himself wouldn't know how to respond. Wasn't this intentionally putting him on the spot? The crowd rallied in support of the two.
The man who had been responding fluently also paused slightly.
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