Very soon, the performance concluded.
Li Yue glanced at the audience below, stood up, and bowed, saying, "Li Yue thanks everyone for your grace tonight."
Her voice was clear and pleasant, with a hint of charm.
"Miss Li Yue, you're too kind."
"Yes, truly too kind."
......
Everyone courteously raised their glasses in response.
Even though their hearts were itching immensely, they still maintained the façade of gentlemen.
"Wonderful! Splendid! To hear Miss Li Yue's 'Guan Mountain Moon' is an honor for us, a blessing for our lives!"
At this moment, a loud voice resounded in the painted boat.
The speaker was none other than Zhou Xianming.
Zhou Xianming's face was flushed, his expression passionate and enthusiastic.
Was that reaction really necessary.....
An Jing was almost startled into spilling his glass by the sudden shout. To those who knew, it was clear he was cheering for a singer, but to those who didn't, it might seem like he'd just become a top scholar.
Li Yue covered her mouth and laughed softly, saying, "Young Master Zhou, you overpraise me. I am unworthy of such praise, feeling deeply ashamed. Thank you, Young Master Zhou, for coming again. If you have time, please have a small drink with me sometime to show my gratitude."
Every frown and smile stirred one's heart.
It made Zhou Xianming's heart race uncontrollably.
"Brother Zhou, she's left."
After a while, An Jing patted Zhou Xianming's shoulder.
"Doctor Xiao An."
Zhou Xianming came to his senses, excitedly saying, "Did you hear that?"
"Hear what?"
"Among all these people, Miss Li Yue only spoke to me. Didn't you hear that?"
"I heard it."
An Jing gave Zhou Xianming a look.
Old fool in love.....
He seemed unwarranted in believing in this unknown opportunity, but having spent two taels of silver, he was unwilling to leave without seeing it through.
"Her words definitely have a deeper meaning, definitely."
Zhou Xianming clenched his fists.
"Don't think too much," An Jing sighed. "This won't end well."
"Think about it, why didn't she say it to others, why only me?" Zhou Xianming said solemnly.
"This....."
An Jing felt speechless. At that time, it was your loudest shout, the most bizarre words. What could she possibly see in you, a poor old man in his thirties?
Of course, he couldn't say these things out loud.
"She was hinting at me."
Zhou Xianming suddenly slapped the table and realized something.
"Hinting at what?"
"Undying love, always difficult and not accepted by the world. She must be troubled; unable to openly express her feelings to me."
"You're really overthinking it, Mr. Zhou."
"How much silver does it take to redeem a courtesan?" Zhou Xianming didn't listen to An Jing's words. His mind was filled with what Li Yue had just said to him.
He felt Li Yue's words were directed solely at him.
"You want to use public funds for personal gain?" An Jing exclaimed.
Indeed, the old saying holds true: love can cloud one's mind. But Zhou Xianming seemed overly clouded; it looked like his blood vessels were about to burst.
Even though a courtesan's background was not good, Zhou Xianming seemed to be a scholar, if not a full-fledged examination candidate, with a title that held significant status in the Yan Dynasty.
Historical records or anecdotes often spoke of scholars falling in love with courtesans, but the reality was often too scandalous to bear.
"What public funds for personal gain?" Zhou Xianming glared angrily, looking ready to overturn the table.
"Redeeming oneself is quite expensive. Li Yue is an Oiran, and this entire boat is supported by her. The base price would be at least several hundred strings of cash."
An Jing shook his head. You, a poor man, forget about it. Even if you redeem her, you won't have money to support her.
"Brother An, talking about money is too vulgar. Besides, that's small change."
Zhou Xianming shook his head, "True love is priceless."
"Alright."
An Jing didn't want to argue with Zhou Xianming about these futile things.
"Get another round, I'll repay you when I have money." Zhou Xianming poured himself a drink.
A man who couldn't come up with one string of cash, confidently thinking hundreds are small change...
An Jing took out a tael of silver and tossed it to the maid beside him, then walked out to get some fresh air.
Night fell, the moonlight spread out, spilling over the river.
Surrounding painted boats were bustling with lively activity.
"Hint three: the unknown opportunity has been unlocked. There is a green opportunity in the painted boat, acquiring it can enhance your root bone."
"Hmm? Enhance my root bone!?"
An Jing was greatly shocked upon hearing this.
One must know, achieving first-grade cultivation in such a short time was mostly due to his extraordinary root bone, a rare gift.
Such a root bone promised a future as the leader of a top sect.
This root bone was one of a kind in the world, exceptional.
Now, there was an opportunity to further enhance it.
This was indeed a massive opportunity!
An Jing's heart sank, scanning his surroundings. The Earth Book detected an ordinary-looking painted boat.
An Jing returned to the boat and sought out Man Yue.
"Here are five taels of silver, arrange a room for me."
"Certainly, young master, I'll do it right away." Man Yue responded happily.
........
The boat rocked gently, flowing with the current.
Inside the painted boat, there was only a table, a pot of tea, four cups, and a few cushions, quite simple.
Seated at the table was a middle-aged Taoist in black. His face looked stern; if An Jing were here, he would surely recognize the person as the fortune-teller Jiang Sanjia.
Opposite him was a beautiful mature woman, whom An Jing had also met.
The beautiful mature woman smiled softly, "It's been decades since we last met. The last time was at the Peach Garden in Yujing City; your hair wasn't so gray back then."
"Better not to meet than to meet." In contrast to the beautiful mature woman's enthusiasm, Jiang Sanjia was very aloof.
"Your words hurt me." The beautiful mature woman pouted, "You weren't like this before. You were very warm towards me for the sake of my sister, have you forgotten...."
"Shut up!"
Jiang Sanjia frowned and shouted coldly, "Mu Xiaoyun, just tell me what you want."
Mu Xiaoyun, this name was renowned in Jianghu.
Mu Xiaoyun was from the Mu Family in Jiangnan Dao. She was a famous beauty when she roamed Jianghu. Countless young heroes and vagabonds had pursued her, falling under her spell. She later married Cao Gang's gang leader Liu Qingshan, helping him manage the gang. Due to her ruthless and sinister methods, she was known as the Viper Beauty.
Mu Xiaoyun was famous, but her sister was even more so, being an Imperial Concubine of the Great Yan.
The Mu Family itself dominated Jiangnan's commerce. Coupled with royal connections, their influence in Jiangnan Dao was unmatched.
Jiang Sanjia and Mu Xiaoyun's sister once shared a romantic relationship. It was a celebrated tale of the time; a prodigy from Ghost Valley, a rising court favorite, and a peerless beauty from a distinguished family seemed perfectly matched.
But it ended with Mu Xiaoyun's sister becoming an Imperial Concubine, and Jiang Sanjia resigning and retreating into Jianghu.