"There are thousands of people in the world and tens of thousands of businesses, everyone has a way of living. As for me, one does not find that a female from a brothel is cheaper than others but the world views it as such." Shen Miao said, "Like my Guard Mo, he is a servant but no one will look down on him. My personal servants even have people who would envy them. The matter of the world is such and people are separated by three, six and nine ranks. Who does not want to be a person on top of others, and who is willing to be trampled everyday by others?"
"You!" Liu Ying most hated others bringing up the matter of her being debased to prostitution and would always become angry.
Shen Miao said, "You may wish to consider it."
"Since Xiǎojiě looks down on people who are reduced to dust, then why the need to say these words to me." Liu Ying retorted with a laugh.
"What I look down, is people who are willing to be reduced to dust." Shen Miao stood up and said, "After a few days, Guard Mo will come again so Liu Ying Gūniáng does not need to be in a hurry to answer me. But… Usually, there would not be a good ending for those who treat others according to appearances."
Shen Miao gave a look to Mo Qing and he quickly took out a piece of tael and placed it on the table. Liu Ying swept her eyes at him with some anger on her face. Mo Qing was very embarrassed and Shen Miao did not plan on staying any longer, so she nodded her head to Liu Ying and left. One did not know what kind of expression Liu Ying had on when Shen Miao left.
Only when they were out of Bao Xiang Lou's doors, Jing Zhe said indignant, "Xiǎoj… Shàoyé had good intentions to redeem her but she did not appreciate it. Good intentions do not meet with recompense."
Mo Qing wanted to say something but at the end endured it.
Gu Yu asked, "Xiǎojiě, are we going back now?"
Shen Miao did not reply and did not move her body at all. Gu Yu felt somewhat strange and seeing that Shen Miao was seemingly looking at something, she followed her gaze and saw that across the street corner there stood a green-clad person, who was looking at the little building of Bao Xiang Lou.
Before Gu Yu had time to speak, one saw Shen Miao lifting her feet to walk over.
Under the eaves, a green-clad male was standing straight and closely staring toward the direction of Liu Ying's building. He was so entranced that he did not know that people had walked to his side. Only when a cough interrupted his thoughts, then he saw four people standing in front of him. The one leading was a youth clad in moon-white robes with clear and delicate brows and looking like a carved jade, he was unsure which family's young gentleman did he belong to. At that moment when he was looking, there was a faint smile on his lips.
Pei Lang was stunned and just thought that this youth was seemingly familiar. The youth nodded towards him, "Pei Lǎoshī."
"Shen Miao!" Pei Lang stared back with large eyes. He looked at the attendants and guards behind Shen Miao before looking back at her. Most likely he was somewhat shocked, "You… Why are you dressed like this?"
It was no less common for a female to dress as male in Ming Qi as for conveniences, many young ladies would occasionally don male clothes, and sometimes it was done pretty good. But Shen Miao… Pei Lang looked at the jade-like youth and did not know what to say at that moment.
"I just came out from Bao Xiang Lou." Shen Miao said.
All of a sudden Pei Lang started coughing till his face was somewhat red. It was already unusual for a female to dress up as a male, but it was his first time hearing of a female dressing up as a male to visit a brothel. But Shen Miao still had a magnanimous look on, without a trace of embarrassment.
Shen Miao suddenly stood forward and approached Pei Lang. With a 'pa' sound that sounded from opening a fan that blocked both their faces, a soft voice sounded at one side of the folding fan, "Everyone says that Bao Xiang Lou's ladies are stunning beauties in the human world, so I specifically went to visit. Recently, there are a number of new Persian dancers that are matchless in beauty."
From the outside Pei Lang looked calm, he was highly competent in the face of dignitaries and officials, but when facing Shen Miao's slightly ambiguous actions, he was somewhat overwhelmed. Not to mention the nonsense stuff that Shen Miao said that let him have a wrong illusion as if the person in front was really a gentleman who visits brothels on horseback, and was discussing which brothel has better dancers.
"Nonsense!" Thinking of his identity as a Lǎoshī, that word burst out from between Pei Lang's teeth.
Shen Miao smiled gently and her eyes became curved like crescent moons, almost like one who was laughing, "But I picked Liu Ying's place card."
When the words were spoken, Pei Lang's body stiffened.
Shen Miao kept the folding fan and smiled towards him, "I see that Pei Lǎoshī had been here looking at Liu Ying's little building for quite long, is it that one is filled with longing for Liu Ying
Gūniáng?"
Pei Lang stared at Shen Miao and his usual bland expression suddenly became fierce.
Shen Miao was however unmoved and still laughing as she pointed to Kuai Huo Lou, "Since Pei Lǎoshī is also interested in Liu Ying Gūniáng, it will be better to come in with me for a drink and discussion about the beauty." She clearly behaved frivolously but there was a kind of irresistible majesty to it. She crossed the fan in front of her chest and walked up herself before throwing a sentence, "Fine wine and discussion about beauties, it is the finest thing in life."
Even though the three of them, Jing Zhe, Gu Yu and Mo Qing, did not understand the meaning of Shen Miao's words, they had never refuted any decision of Shen Miao so they immediately followed her.
Pei Lang stood on the spot alone and paused for a moment before making the decision to follow.
Upstairs at the position against the window, Ji Yu Shu jumped up quickly, "Look! I had said that Shen Xiǎojiě is interested in that Pei Lang and she went around in a big way to pick Liu Ying, just to speak to Pei Lang today!"
Gao Yang could not be bothered about him and speculated, "Just now she used the fan to cover her face. What exactly did she say to Pei Lang?" Gao Yang shook his head, "To use the fan to block, can it be that she knows that you know how to read lips?" When saying these words, Gao Yang was looking at Xie Jing Xing.
Xie Jing Xing shrugged his shoulders, indicating a decline to comment.
"Speaking of which, just now how Shen Xiǎojiě made that action with the fan was just like a Casanova, it was even better than me." Ji Yu Shu lamented, "How such a beautiful person fell for such a poor scholar. Even if one were to follow this lord, it is better than following a pretty boy that cannot afford to visit a brothel."
Xie Jing Xing stood up and Ji Yu Shu asked, "Where are you going?��
"Of course to listen to what they are talking about." Xie Jing Xing smiled meaningfully, "I'd like to see exactly what kind of chess piece Pei Lang is."
In the elegant room of Kuai Huo Lou, Mo Qing was guarding by the door as Jing Zhe and Gu Yu stood at the sides with their heads down, as if they were not there.
At the table, Shen Miao was pouring wine.
This was Lu wine, amber in colour and had a light fragrance to it. This wine was not intoxicating and as long as one's alcohol capacity was not lousy, drinking a little more would not cause anything.
Shen Miao poured two cups. Her pouring actions were extremely beautiful, with one hand holding the flagon handle as the wine flowed into the delicate crystal wine cup, that even the sound was pleasing to the ears.
Pei Lang watched as Shen Miao pushed a cup of wine to him and smiled, "Lǎoshī, please have it."
"Shen Miao." Pei Lang directly called out her name. His expression from when he came in till now was not relaxed as he continued, "What exactly do you want?"
"Pei Lǎoshī is unexpectedly anxious. Is it not like a cow chewing peony if one discusses a beauty without wine?" Shen Miao looked at him calmly and unruffled in the midst of chaos.
Pei Lang felt blocked up with her words. He had been in Guang Wen Tang for several years and the people he had encountered all respected him, even the most unruly student would not use such a frivolous tone when speaking to him. If it was someone else, one could let it be but unfortunately, it was Shen Miao. Pei Lang had always felt that Shen Miao was not a frivolous person, so he was unable to tell how things stood when she spoke like this.
Seeing that Pei Lang did not speak, Shen Miao lightly laughed. She said, "Only joked with Pei Lǎoshī. Why is Pei Lǎoshī this nervous?"
When she spoke those words, her eyes were clear but her gaze seemed to be teasing, it was clearly an innocent young girl appearance, but at that moment there was actually a kind of unconscious seduction that made Pei Lang's gaze pause.
"This is Lu wine." Shen Miao picked the wine cup up and raised it towards Pei Lang and the colour on Pei Lang's face changed. Shen Miao seemed to have not noticed his expression and slowly said, "In the land of Qi Lu, the wine is also brewed amber in colour. The wine in Kuai Huo Lou most likely was shipped over from Qi Lu."
Pei Lang looked at her and suddenly picked up the wine cup from the table and drained it of its content.
"This wine is not intoxicating." Shen Miao spoke with a quiet smile, "Otherwise if others see this, they would think that Pei Lǎoshī is an alcoholic." Her words were delicate but the words said made Pei Lang's hands tremble slightly. She said, "Speaking of which, Lu state people are good at drinking and would use jugs to drink most of the time. Pei Lǎoshī just now seemed to be like a Lu person."
Pei Lang pursed his lips and did not speak but his warm brows slightly twisted up.
One of Shen Miao's hands was on her cheek as alcohol slowly crept to her face. Even if one did not fear of being intoxicated, there would still be a slight redness on one's face. When the eyes slightly squinted, it was as if a Begonia was asleep but because of being clad in male garb, it was refreshing and a different kind of amorous feeling. She said, "I remembered tens of years ago, there was a Prefectural Magistrate in Lu state that seemed to also have the surname Pei. If one did not know about it, one would think that Pei Lǎoshī belongs to the same family as that person."
All of a sudden Pei Lang put the wine cup down on the table, at the same time Mo Qing glared like a tiger and his right hand was on the sword around his waist.
"Unfortunately, that Prefectural Magistrate Pei's residence was involved in an old matter and Huángshàng beheaded the entire family. In the entire residence, all sons were executed and daughters became prostitutes." Shen Miao seemed to be unable to suppress a smile, "One heard that Prefectural Magistrate Pei had a pair of outstanding children, a girl and a boy who were still young but died in that storm."
Pei Lang's lips were slightly trembling as he asked a word at a time, "Who are you exactly?"
Shen Miao made a sighing sound and served herself another cup of wine, as two round blushes appeared on her fair face, "Actually, I was fortunate to hear another secret. Seeing that Pei Lǎoshī also has the surname Pei, one will share it with Pei Lǎoshī."
"That Prefectural Magistrate Pei's residence had the ability to send the pair of children away from the scourge. But unfortunately, due to the intense chase by the officials, only one can be protected, so… The Prefectural Magistrate Pei's residence shielded the son but the daughter was caught by the officials." She shook her head regretfully, "Those officials were like wolves and tigers and would not have any mercy to the criminal family members. How would there be a good ending for the little girl that was caught?" Shen Miao lamented, "I say that Prefectural Magistrate Pei's residence obviously knew that it would be best dead than alive for the daughter than to fall into the tiger's mouth but still pushed the daughter in. It was indeed somewhat ruthless."
Pei Lang closed his eyes as a pained expression appeared on his face.
"Pei Lǎoshī is so nostalgic. One thinks that one is filled with empathy." Shen Miao smiled cheekily as she looked at him, "But one thinks that this has nothing to do with Pei Lǎoshī because Pei Lǎoshī is not a Lu person as Pei Lǎoshī was born in a merchant household in the capital city. One only spoke about this because this wine is intoxicating and had a moment of emotions."
Pei Lang's gentle expression was no longer there and what replaced it was a strong vigilance and defence as he said, "Is this General Shen's intention?"
Shen Miao shook her head.
"My Fùqīn loves me and gave me an embroidery workshop, but is short of an embroidery manager. And what a coincidence, this Liu Ying Gūniáng of Bao Xiang Lou also know double-sided embroidery, so I thought that since both were reduced to prostitution and both knew double-sided embroidery, it might be that Liu Ying Gūniáng and that criminal official's daughter have a few points of commonality. So I sympathised and wanted to save her." Shen Miao looked at Pei Lang and said, "Pei Lǎoshī, do you think this xuéshēng is correct in doing so?"
She called herself as 'xuéshēng' with her headful of black hair, that was tied up in a male manner in an official hat, looking over with all smiles, seemingly having some air of a jaded youth. But in that clear pair of eyes, the bottom line and intentions were deeply hidden that one would not be able to guess. In this quick-witted feigned charm and tenderness, there was a hidden knife like a vivid scene between officials of the court.
(E/N: 学生 Xuéshēng - Student. The author also used 先生 Xiānshēng in the original text - Can be used for Mister or Sir and even Teacher. But since Translator Zaza originally used Teacher to address Pei Lang in the dialogue, to fit the modern audience, I used 老师 Lǎoshī in my edition instead)
Dealing with her was like walking on a wire at the cliff. There were hidden meanings behind the words, and it was difficult to differentiate enemies and friends.
Pei Lang turned his head to the side, "What do you think?"
Shen Miao smiled. Her smile was pure as if she was happy that she had done something good. She said, "I think it is good. Even if that Prefectural Magistrate Pei's son knew about the jiějiě's whereabouts, he would personally redeem the jiějiě. But one fears that Pei Gūniáng would resent what the Prefectural Magistrate Pei's residence had done that year and will not be willing. On the contrary, would even waste her entire life."
Pei Lang did not speak.
"In this world, there are people who are originally jade but after being mixed in the stone heap for too long, will then become a stone. But there are some people whose aspirations are hidden in their bones, that even if others were to crush or smelt, the arrogance in one's bones will not change one bit. One heard that even though that Prefectural Magistrate Pei committed a crime, in the beginning, he had an air of arrogance and one thinks that the pair of children that were raised by him, would not be inferior in any aspect. "You say," Shen Miao looked at Pei Lang, "is that gūniáng willing to live with the identity of a nobility who was reduced to windblown dust (aka prostitution) or start living with the identity of clean washed pleasure house lead?"
"After saying so much," Pei Lang sneered, "What do you want me to do?"
"Pei Lǎoshī is exceedingly intelligent. I just know that this cannot be hidden from you. The saying of one tiny clue reveals the general trend, and that one will be able to tell the elegance of the song by hearing a string accompaniment, comes as such." Shen Miao was not stingy and complimented Pei Lang before saying, "Pei Lǎoshī is filled with talents and have the broader picture in mind, why not enter officialdom?"
"Shen Miao!" Pei Lang's voice suddenly raised up. One did not know which of Shen Miao's words poked his anguish that he became agitated so suddenly, that even Jing Zhe and Gu Yu cast sidelong glances. Pei Lang spoke angrily, "Do not think of that!"
"Pei Lǎoshī must not be impatient and may even wish to calmly listen to my words first." Shen Miao smiled, "Perhaps Pei Lǎoshī was frightened by the story I just told. One felt that in the officialdom field, one would accidentally implicate the entire residence, and it would be filled with treachery and misfortune. After entering officialdom, Pei Lǎoshī will probably have less freedom than now."
Pei Lang's facial colour gradually restored, as if returning back to the distinguished look of a Lǎoshī.
"But now Lǎoshī is alone, with neither a spouse nor a family, thus one does not need to worry about getting others implicated. Moreover… In this world, those who stood up high can see far and also do more. In order to protect those who needed protection, being a pure Lǎoshī is not enough. Admittedly it is true that Lǎoshī is able to have students all over the skies, but…" Shen Miao lifted the cup calm and composed, clearly smiling but at that moment her voice was cold as she said, "When trouble really happens, the nobles would all stay away and would not spare any effort."
"Only when one is stronger, will it be the right way." Shen Miao's voice was bewitching, even more understanding of one's conscience than Bao Xiang Lou's music.
"Who taught you these words and what is your purpose? What benefits does he have if I were to enter officialdom?"
Shen Miao smiled gently. This Pei Lang seemed warm and gentle and was indeed a Lǎoshī who taught without paying any attention to outside matters, but every time when it comes to debating would always be able to ask the key questions in a moment. In the previous life, Fu Xiu Yi thought of all sorts of ways to draw Pei Lang over to his side, and afterwards even gave him a position of National Advisor and it was not accidental but by virtue.
"Why does Pei Lǎoshī asked about the benefits to others, but not ask about what good does it do to you?" Shen Miao did not answer him but cleverly went around and asked, "Being promoted, gaining wealth and marrying a wife, all this are of advantage to Lǎoshī. When doing business, how would someone ask others how much they profit but do not mention how much one gain?"
"How would I gain?" Pei Lang said lightly.
"Lǎoshī will not gain anything but Liu Ying is the one who will." Shen Miao smiled as she looked at him, and her bright eyes were shining, "For a female to leave one's trade meant that there would be steady support in the second half of one's life. This is considered as saving another's life."
Pei Lang stared straight at Shen Miao. If at this time he still did not understand Shen Miao's intention then he would be a real idiot.
"What do I need to do after entering officialdom?" Pei Lang asked.
Shen Miao looked at him in satisfaction. Using the shortest possible time to weigh the pros and the cons before making the most favourable choice, had always been Pei Lang's style. But… Her mind could not help but remember the time when Fu Xiu Yi deposed the Crown Prince. At that time, she went down on her knees to beg Pei Lang but his tone of voice was just like now; rational and emotionless. Now that she had the leverage and this aloof National Advisor could only be fiddled by her, this made a trace of happiness appear in Shen Miao's heart. This happiness appeared quickly on her face and became joyful.
"Actually, it is nothing much." Shen Miao said, "Lǎoshī is talented and would not actively enter officialdom. One year later, naturally, there would be an eminent person who will be attracted. One hope that at that time, Lǎoshī would not refuse the eminent person and think of ways to go along with him. But of course, only agree on the surface but is in fact employed by me."
"You want me to be a planted agent?" Pei Lang looked at Shen Miao incredulously.
Shen Miao shook her head, "How could this be considered as a planted agent? Lǎoshī can be promoted and gain wealth, and I promise that Lǎoshī's identity will not be exposed. It is just that, at some times, one needs to tell me some information."
Pei Lang was silent for a moment before looking at Shen Miao, "The so-called eminent person is who?"
Shen Miao gently smiled, "Ding Wángzǐ, Fu Xiu Yi."
Pei Lang was frightened and involuntarily looked at Shen Miao again. He knew that Shen Miao had previously admired Prince Ding, that it almost became a joke in the capital and also knew that Prince Ding, who had read knowledge and was not showy, disdained Shen Miao as beneath contempt. But one did not know from when onwards, Shen Miao seemed to have changed and Pei Lang had all along thought, that there was someone behind Shen Miao that was guiding her, but now thinking about it, one could not help but guess that it could be that love turned into hate, thus she would scheme against Prince Ding?
But if it was only because of being unable to receive the love, how would it be like this?
Pei Lang was somewhat confused. The young female in front was pretty in male's clothes and after drinking, was slightly red. She was exactly at a blooming age and was fair and adorable, with a pair of eyes that were as clean as a young cub's, but in her gestures seemed to have some frivolous air. Pei Lang felt somewhat uncomfortable.
When those young ladies like Shen Miao's age spoke to him, it was like the younger generation speaking to an elder or the very least like a younger sister speaking to an older brother but at this moment, it seemed that he was the one in a disadvantaged position. Every single move was led by the other through the nose, unable to resist at all.
"What exactly do you want to do?" Pei Lang had asked this question many times, and till now he was still unsure whether the person doing these things were others or Shen Miao herself. It was like Shen Miao had seen clearly his last cards but he could not even see Shen Miao's initial purpose.
He was absolutely suppressed.
"I do not want to do anything, just want to make a decision that is beneficial to me and Lǎoshī." Shen Miao smiled as she tucked a lock of stray hair behind her years, making her neck as fair as jade. She said, "Lǎoshī, will one agree or disagree?"
"I can only answer it here?" Pei Lang asked.
"You have…" Shen Miao pointed to the wine flagon, "The time of this wine flagon. Once this flagon is finished, Lǎoshī will tell me the answer."
"No need." Pei Lang interrupted her words, "If you can do as you promise, I will agree."
The room became silent. After a moment, Shen Miao smiled as she got up. She lifted the flagon and filled up the empty cups with wine and picked up the cup in front of her to toast to Pei Lang.
Pei Lang hesitated a moment before raising his cup. A strange feeling rose from his heart as he drank with his student in a restaurant… His heart was even feverish.
"Wishing Lǎoshī's future prospects be brilliant and infinite." Shen Miao smiled as she downed the cup in one gulp. She drank it so very quickly that a trace of wine flowed out from the corner of her mouth, drawing a line down to her chin and going down to her white clothes.
Pei Lang looked away, no matter how pretty a blooming lady was, she was young and inexperienced, especially people like Shen Miao who was delicate and attractive, would be even more reserved and composed. It was not that Pei Lang did not like beautiful people, but there was a slight moment in that his mind was slightly chaotic, and felt that it was an extremely wrong thing to do.
There was a flash of carefreeness in Shen Miao's eyes.
Most likely it was because one had drunk some wine and some of the emotions that had been hiding in one's heart escaped. She remembered Pei Lang's upright behaviour and his particular attention to reasoning. In front of Pei Lang, she had interpreted the six words 'Mother of all under the Heavens' vividly and thoroughly but at the end was defeated by Pei Lang's list of merits and drawbacks.
That was the National Advisor of the last lifetime that could determine life and death, but now she was holding on to his weak spot. She had to put on the bearing of an Empress in front of Pei Lang and could not cry for Wan Yu who would be in a marriage alliance. Now… She did not have the Empress's composure and did not have to follow the strict virtues of a married woman. Dressing in a male outfit, visiting places of pleasure, drinking with a Lǎoshī, such frivolous actions and abandonment of all restraints. And what could Pei Lang do?
He could not do anything to her.
But that carefree feeling was for just a short moment.
When Pei Lang agreed to it, she knew that there was no need to continue to be entangled.
The tipsy look in one's eyes faded, and little by little she sobered up. She stood up and slightly raised her chin returning to the stern and prestigious Shen Miao.
"Once Liu Ying has settled down, one will inform Lǎoshī of the embroidery workshop address." Shen Miao nodded her head, "The bill has been settled, Lǎoshī can slowly drink the Lu wine as one could not often drink it."
One did not know if the last sentence was sarcasm or polite, and Pei Lang's brows slightly wrinkled as he watched Shen Miao leave with the few people.
He took a mouthful of wine but the originally mellow wine was very harsh in his mouth.
As they walked out the door, Jing Zhe and Gu Yu did not dare to speak as they could tell that Shen Miao's mood was unexpectedly good, and they had heard Pei Lang's words but were puzzled like being amidst the clouds and mist. They felt that this was no trivial matter, so they dared not speak of it lightly.
Once the cold wind blew, the reddish tint on one's face cleared up. Shen Miao closed her eyes and when she opened them again, there was only coldness in them.
Towards Pei Lang, one had, after all, resented how he stood by the side and no matter how it was hidden, a shred of it would be revealed.
However, the goal was achieved.
"Return to the residence." She walked towards the horse carriage.
*****
At the adjacent room of that room in Kuai Huo Lou was a secret room and the few people inside were silent.
One had seen a good show just now and at first glance, one would feel that it was endlessly interesting, but now since the people were gone and the tea has cooled, it was especially astonishing and frightening when one thought about it.
Ji Yu Shu swallowed his saliva and seemingly wanted to break the heavy atmosphere, "This floor is really good, at least it is very convenient to eavesdrop. Not only one can listen, but one can also see. It is rather good."
Behind the carved pillar, there was a huge glass which was set by the bannister. It was said to be glass that came from the West that allows this side to see that side, but the other side is unable to see here. Together with the bronze pillar filled with holes, one could hear everything clearly when others were speaking.
But when Ji Yu Shu finished this sentence, the other two people in the elegant room did not answer him. Gao Yan propped his chin with the fan and this was a common posture he did when thinking. Xi Jing Xing supported his head with a fist and his other hand was playing with the teacup as he was thinking.
Unable to withstand such an atmosphere, Ji Yu Shu opened his mouth to say, "Both of you do not be silent any more. This is just about the matter of the Prefectural Magistrate Pei's residence of the Lu state, and Pei Lang is Prefectural Magistrate Pei's son!"
Shen Miao spoke of the story easily and that was because Pei Lang could understand, and because the three of them here were not stupid, they were able to understand it with little thoughts.
In the criminal Prefectural Magistrate Pei's residence of the Lu state, there was a pair of children, the older sister was Liu Ying and the younger brother was the current Pei Lang. During the escape, in order to safeguard Pei Lang, the people that the Pei family arranged, abandoned Liu Ying and afterwards Liu Ying was debased to prostitution. But the Pei family have long arranged an escape route for Pei Lang and turned him to a Ding Capital City figure. He had been living here since childhood with a merchant family background, and both parents had passed on a few years back, thus he was currently alone.
This kind of highest quality of life experience, no one found it out for so many years.
However… Xie Jing Xing's lips hooked up, "So, how does she know about the background information that Bai Xiao Sheng is unable to investigate?"
When he reached the end, his voice turned cold and there was a murderous air in that pair of peach eyes.