Ling Zhenli changed into simple yet elegant clothing, took a few silver notes and pieces of jewelry, and stepped out of the door to go to the Madam’s room in the Drunken Immortal Pavilion.
The Madam had also just been watching the wedding procession. She even saw Xiao Chongheng specifically turn his head and look toward the Drunken Immortal Pavilion, his gaze lingering for a long time as if searching for someone. He kept looking back until the procession had passed.
Good heavens, who else could the Duke of Yan be looking at besides the woman he had kept in that building for so long? Yet, before he left, he had specifically instructed no one to tell that woman his identity.
The Madam was immersed in the shock of this matter and did not notice Ling Zhenli pushing the door open and entering.
“Mama.”
Ling Zhenli waited until the Madam finished watching the wedding outside, and after a long time, she called her with a smiling face.
Then, without waiting for the Madam to speak, Ling Zhenli handed over three or four silver notes and a few hairpins and necklaces, proactively speaking with a sweet smile still on her face: “That previous lord who booked me won’t be coming back. I must trouble Mama again to give me a good opportunity to attract a distinguished guest, so as not to waste this face of mine.”
The Madam turned her head and examined Ling Zhenli from head to toe. In the past, she was kept by Xiao Chongheng, the Duke of Yan, and waited upon by people sent from the Duke of Yan’s residence. The clothes and items she used were comparable only to those of the nobles in the palace, and she was decked in dazzling gems. Now, she was dressed plainly.
Although her attire was ordinary, it could not hide her beauty. Ling Zhenli’s face was breathtakingly beautiful, making people instinctively feel that the clothes on her body were unworthy of her appearance, and that all the beautiful things in this world should be presented to her, offered up for her.
The Madam had initially thought that Ling Zhenli would be defiant and disobedient once the Duke was gone, and would cause a scene. The Madam had even prepared how to punish her, but she did not expect her to be so compliant, and to have so many silver notes in her hand.
“What a good child. Mama’s love for you was not wasted,” the Madam walked over, held Ling Zhenli’s hand, smiled kindly, and spoke kind words, “You are beautiful, and even without that lord, you won’t lack for noblemen to admire you. You go back and rest today. Our establishment will host a banquet in a few days, and there will definitely be distinguished guests. You must dress up well then. Maybe you will catch the eye of some young lord.”
Ling Zhenli smiled and pulled out another silver note: “Thank you, Mama. It’s just that I don’t want my talent to go to waste. Could I trouble Mama to prepare a fine pipa for me? I will return to my room and practice more, so I can perform with the other sisters then.”
“Since you are so sensible, Mama is naturally happy to help you with this favor.” The Madam tucked the silver notes into her pocket. “Go back to your room. Mama will have someone send one to you shortly.”
“My thanks to you, Mama.”
Ling Zhenli finished speaking and exited the Madam’s room.
With the “large sum” of money Xiao Chongheng gave her in hand, she could wait a few more days even if she didn’t want to receive guests. This money was enough for her to get by for a few years. But she couldn’t wait; waiting would only lead to her aging and eventually dying of illness in this soul-devouring Drunken Immortal Pavilion.
As the lanterns were first lit, the Chang’an night market was as bright as day.
Several colored glass lanterns hung high above the vermillion-painted gate of the Drunken Immortal Pavilion. Inside the building, silk and bamboo music played, and cups and goblets were exchanged. On the carved exterior walls hung poems written by literati who got drunk and inspired there. Outside the building, many scholars stood holding fans, pointing and commenting on the riddles and poem scrolls in the corridor.
The front of the building was packed with various carriages, among which the gold saddles and jade trappings of the Prime Minister’s carriage were particularly eye-catching and the envy of all.
Xue Haoting, the son of the Prime Minister, dressed in a robe of brocade, stepped inside the building and ascended the stairs, surrounded by three or five friends. He was in high spirits, and the jade pendant at his waist lightly swayed as he walked, displaying his status.
In the main hall on the second floor, a screen placed in the center was painted with scenes of men and women intimately entwined. In front of the screen was a Suanni incense burner. As the light smoke curled up, the faces of all the guests in the hall were shrouded in an inviting mist, and a luxurious air wafted over them.
After Xue Haoting took his seat, people immediately gathered around to flatter and compliment him. He had long heard that the Duke of Yan secretly kept a beauty here, spending every night with her before his marriage, which caused the Commandery Princess’s displeasure. Even after cutting off contact after the marriage, he still missed her. If it weren’t for the repeated admonishments of Princess Wuyang, Xiao Chongheng might have divorced the Commandery Princess and brought that courtesan back to the Duke’s residence to be the mistress.
Xue Haoting’s purpose for coming today was to meet this woman who had so captivated Xiao Chongheng.
Amidst the laughter and talk, the pearl curtains on the third floor suddenly rustled. Beauties emerged from behind the curtains, six in a row on each side, holding lotus palace lanterns, and descended the stairs gracefully. Everyone downstairs was drawn in by this beautiful sight and immediately fell silent.
The lotus palace lanterns in the hands of the beauties cast a soft light. Just as it was quiet, a clear sound of a pipa was suddenly heard, like a silver vase suddenly shattering, drawing the eyes of all the guests to look around, searching for the source of the sound.
Ling Zhenli emerged from behind a screen, holding a mother-of-pearl sandalwood pipa. Her purple gown with gold embroidery shimmered under the light. Her cloud-like hair was swept up, a begonia flower pinned at her temple, and the jeweled hairpin on her head cast fragmented light spots on her jade neck. As she walked, it trembled lightly. Although her face was veiled, obscuring her appearance, her stunning beauty was still hard to conceal.
As her fair hand plucked the strings, the jade bracelet on her wrist struck the strings, producing a clear, melodious sound.
With this appearance, everyone was utterly captivated.
Ling Zhenli continued to pluck the pipa, her eyes cast down, her steps turning. Her fingertips lightly gathered and twisted the strings, and then suddenly plucked, letting the music pour out.
In the private box, the wine cup in Xue Haoting’s hand trembled slightly.
She looked so similar, too similar—those eyes and eyebrows were practically carved from the same mold! In a trance, Xue Haoting thought he was seeing his beloved younger sister!
This woman was so breathtakingly beautiful. She must be the beauty Xiao Chongheng had secretly kept. What a twist of fate—the eyes and eyebrows of Xiao Chongheng’s favorite courtesan were almost identical to those of his sister, whom he had loved for a long time but could not confess to due to their familial bond.
The pipa player happened to meet his gaze as she lowered her eyes, a look of subtle intimacy passing between them. Her deep eyes seemed to hold a thousand unspoken words, making one irresistibly want to explore them.
Xue Haoting waved his hand to summon the Madam and frowned as he asked, “Is that pipa player the one the Duke of Xiao previously kept?”
The Madam quickly replied, “Precisely that woman.”
Having received a satisfactory answer, Xue Haoting ordered, “Have her come to my room tonight.”
The Madam was delighted and repeatedly affirmed, but then nervously added, “However, the Duke said that no one is allowed to tell this woman his identity. I must trouble you, young master, to help with this. After all, the Duke has Princess Chang Wuyang behind him.”
“Fine, I know,” Xue Haoting impatiently waved her away.
The Madam had already told Ling Zhenli that among the distinguished guests tonight, Xue Haoting was the most noble and told her to seize the opportunity. It seemed she had not been wrong to cultivate her.
When the music ended, their eyes met again. Ling Zhenli quickly retracted her gaze. As her performance finished, a young attendant of the Drunken Immortal Pavilion took the pipa away.
As Ling Zhenli handed over the pipa, her eyes glanced toward Xue Haoting again, full of seduction. Xue Haoting wasted no more time. Disregarding the astonished looks of those around him, he rose and came to her side.
“I will buy you.”
Xue Haoting leaned very close, their breaths intermingling—a profound intimacy.
“What if it costs a thousand gold pieces for one night?” Ling Zhenli’s eyelashes fluttered as she raised her eyes to look into his.
Upon hearing this, Xue Haoting picked her up horizontally. Ling Zhenli was startled and instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck.
Eager to possess her, Xue Haoting pulled her tighter into his embrace and whispered in her ear, in a voice only the two of them could hear: “Ten thousand gold pieces are nothing compared to you.”
“Since this humble woman is worth ten thousand gold pieces in your heart, Young Master, you must cherish me.”
Ling Zhenli knew she had successfully climbed a high branch and obediently leaned her head on his shoulder. Xue Haoting also had a comforting scent that was different from Xiao Chongheng’s—this scent was more intoxicating.
Xue Haoting carried Ling Zhenli all the way back to her room.
Once inside the room, Xue Haoting immediately changed his expression. Without any tenderness, he threw Ling Zhenli onto the bed and roughly pulled off her veil. After seeing her face clearly, he sneered, “You are truly beautiful, you courtesan, but besides your eyes, the rest of your face doesn’t resemble my sister.”
Revealing her true face, the woman in front of him only had similar eyebrows and eyes to his sister; the rest of her features were distinctly her own. He felt somewhat disappointed.
And when Ling Zhenli heard this sort of taunt, she felt a slight fear in her heart. She didn’t know if the sister he spoke of was his blood sister. If she was… she feared that her first night of business had brought her a pervert.
Although the man was there to humiliate her, his status was noble, and she had no choice but to comply.
Ling Zhenli gritted her teeth and forced a smile: “My lord, you must be joking. Your concubine…”
Xue Haoting was too impatient to watch her act and told her directly: “You don’t need to pretend with me. I bought you because you look like my sister. And I want to taste what my sister is like.”
With that, Xue Haoting forcefully pressed Ling Zhenli onto the brocade quilt and roughly untied her belt with his fingertips.
She closed her eyes, her eyelashes trembling, her lips bitten white, allowing him to take what he wanted without uttering a word.
“What, are you still thinking about another man?” Xue Haoting sneered, his thumb pressing heavily into her neck, gripping it fiercely, his movements completely devoid of pity. “The person who possesses you now is me, Xue Che. Remember my name.”
Upon hearing these words, Ling Zhenli’s eyelashes fluttered, but she still didn’t open her eyes, only slightly turning her head, exposing the slender, vulnerable curve of her neck.
Xue Haoting’s gaze darkened, and he abruptly ripped away her last piece of covering clothing.
Skin like snow and bones like jade, with a slender waist. However, she was not a maiden. Xue Haoting was furious. Looking at her body, he felt he could see her and other men from the past, intertwined in their passionate lovemaking.
A surge of nameless anger instantly rose in Xue Haoting. He pinched Ling Zhenli’s chin, forcing her to look him in the eye: “Look at me! You are my person now! You are beneath me!”
Under his coercion, Ling Zhenli finally opened her eyes. The eyes, almost identical to his sister’s, glistened with moisture, yet were hollow like stagnant water in a cold pool.
Xue Haoting bent down and bit her collarbone in a fit of jealous hatred, his palm roaming wantonly. Yet, she only clutched the brocade comforter beneath her, trying desperately to suppress even her breaths.