The hour was just evening, yet the street lights of the sea market were already brilliantly ablaze.
At the back gate of a high-walled compound in the wind and rain, a carriage went straight through the back gate into the garden of Jinghong Hall. The gate opened and closed to let it pass, with perfect coordination.
Although it was only evening, impatient pleasure-seekers had already arrived early, and the drifting sounds of song and dance had already begun.
The carriage stopped under a covered corridor. Qingya lifted the curtain and stepped in, his wooden clogs clacking. He took peanuts from his trouser pockets, crushed the shells, peeled off the skin, threw the peanuts into his mouth to chew, and casually tossed the shells onto the ground wherever he walked. His behaviour was eccentric.
His two trouser pockets seemed forever bulging. The reason he had two such strange pockets on his trousers seemed to be specifically for holding snacks.
His trusted subordinate Pang Chengqiu followed behind, looking left and right and sizing up the surroundings all the way, his intention to remain vigilant obvious.
The maids and servants on the path all made way for Qingya, stepping aside and saluting when they saw him, because everyone knew the proprietress had good relations with this local snake. As for why the relations were good, that was understandable too. For Jinghong Hall to conduct this kind of business, it would not be suitable to have bad relations with the local snake.
On the way, Qingya asked where the proprietress Gu Qingzhao was, then headed towards the venue.
Before long, he arrived outside a pavilion, hearing the laughter of men and women inside. Qingya cracked open a window and saw Gu Qingzhao, who was attending to a group of women entertaining guests, being hugged around the waist by a male guest. The male guest’s hand was not very proper, sliding down to pinch Gu Qingzhao’s bottom.
Gu Qingzhao immediately pushed him away with a look of mild annoyance, feigning anger, repeatedly beating him with the round fan in her hand, causing a wave of laughter at the scene.
Qingya outside the window also smiled. Turning back, he saw a maid carrying a fruit tray pass by. He threw the peanut shell in his hand, hitting the maid in the face. The maid turned to look at him, and he tilted his head to indicate the room inside.
The maid understood and nodded, quickly entering the room.
Before long, Gu Qingzhao came out of the room, straightening her clothes which had been disheveled by someone taking liberties all the way.
There was no helping it in this line of work. One always encountered individuals with unclean hands and feet. One could only respond with measured flexibility. She was already used to it.
Passing by Qingya, she complained, “Why look for me at this hour? As soon as it gets dark I have to start getting busy. If you have something to say, say it quickly. I have no time to attend to you.”
Qingya followed her, and waved his hand to signal Pang Chengqiu and Gu Qingzhao’s attendants not to follow.
After the two found a secluded pavilion, Qingya said, “The person Wang Wentian wants to deal with has already come out of the Zhenhai Office prison. He will bring the person here shortly. The matter I asked you to handle last time must continue. Hurry up and rearrange the venue and people.”
Gu Qingzhao was startled. “Now?”
Qingya nodded. “He said the person will arrive immediately.”
Gu Qingzhao: “Is there a need to be so urgent? Right now, immediately, I can’t even explain things clearly to the girls. Won’t tomorrow do?”
Qingya chuckled. “I also said it was too urgent. However, that fellow Wang Wentian is truly impatient. He is unwilling to wait even one more day. He wants to see the other party ruined today.”
Gu Qingzhao was silent for a moment, then suddenly asked in reply, “Do you know what kind of person he wants to deal with?”
Qingya peeled a peanut, tossed the shell and ate the nut, shrugging. “Not clear for the time being. All parties are being secretive. I estimate it’s not an ordinary person.”
But Gu Qingzhao said word by word, “That Tanhua scholar from the Jin Kingdom, the one known as the world’s number one talent!”
Qingya was astonished, then surprised. “A Shiheng? He wants to deal with A Shiheng?”
Gu Qingzhao: “It’s him.”
That she could know the answer, Qingya was not surprised at all. This was the sea market’s largest pleasure venue. High-end figures often came here. So it was not strange that this woman could obtain some unusual information.
After pondering for a while, he said thoughtfully, “I understand. No wonder he is in a hurry to deal with him. No wonder he wants to ruin him. So it turns out to be a rivalry in love.”
Gu Qingzhao: “Yes, it should be for that female disciple of the Earth Mother. Otherwise there is no reason to do this. This is already not merely a rivalry in love. It should already concern the interests of the Wang family. Everyone knows that the Earth Mother’s disciple was dumped by the Tanhua scholar. The best way to regain face is for the Tanhua scholar to recognise his mistake and turn back to beg for reconciliation. The Wang family has contact with the Earth Mother. They might have already detected something. The Wang family probably does not want to see that scene of reconciliation, so they want to ruin that Tanhua scholar.”
Qingya twisted his mouth in amusement. “For this kind of matter, he could just hide behind the scenes and let others handle it. He actually wants to do it personally, face to face. It can be seen that fellow Wang Wentian is not broad-minded. He is someone who cannot let a grudge pass the night.”
Gu Qingzhao: “Don’t mind him for now. The one being targeted is that Tanhua scholar. After all, he is not an ordinary person. Shouldn’t we first inform godmother about this?”
Qingya popped another peanut into his mouth. “Even you know. Do you think godmother could not know that Tanhua scholar’s identity? Do you think Zhu Xuan’s side could not know? Everyone knows. Zhu Xuan wants to see them fight, letting me secretly stir things up. Godmother also wants to see them fight, letting me go with the flow. There is definitely some trickery in this. No need to ask more. Just do as instructed.”
Gu Qingzhao thought about it and agreed, then turned around to prepare.
Wind or rain, Qingya sat under the eaves, crossing his legs and peeling peanuts.
Before long, Wang Wentian arrived. The people holding umbrellas chasing after him couldn’t keep up. He hurried over here.
Qingya clapped his hands and stood up to greet him.
Wang Wentian asked upon meeting, “Is everything prepared?”
Qingya didn’t know whether it was ready or not, and said, “I have already asked the proprietress here to give instructions.”
He immediately led the other party to find Gu Qingzhao together, and sent Pang Chengqiu to keep watch.
When they found Gu Qingzhao, she had already prepared a suitable venue, and was instructing her subordinates not to bring other guests into this venue. She had other arrangements.
Seeing the main person who wanted to set up the trap had arrived, Gu Qingzhao quickly saluted, while dismissing the others.
With no outsiders present, Wang Wentian directly asked, “The person will arrive shortly. Is everything prepared?”
Gu Qingzhao was somewhat embarrassed. “Young Master Wang, you are doing this too suddenly. How could it be prepared so quickly…”
Wang Wentian raised his hand to stop her. “Don’t talk nonsense to me. I’ll give you double the money!”
“…” Gu Qingzhao was speechless for a moment, cursing his ancestors in her heart. Did he think she had never seen money? Then she said with a laugh and a cry, “Young Master Wang, it’s really not a matter of money. The problem is that the leading lady prepared previously is currently attending to other guests. She probably cannot come to help here for a while. I only just discovered this.”
Wang Wentian’s face immediately darkened. “Are you joking? Can a pleasure quarter lack women? I think the one thing it lacks least is women. Can’t do business with one woman less? Are you playing with me? Can’t you change to another woman?”
Gu Qingzhao sighed. “Oh dear, Young Master Wang. For the matter you want to handle, can just any girl do? One who can sleep with any guest she attends to, saying she was molested, wouldn’t that become a joke? If word gets out, what would that be considered? Wouldn’t it clearly be a scam? Not to mention your matter being ruined, who would still dare to patronise us? Could my Jinghong Hall still remain open? It needs to be that kind of pure courtesan who sells art but not her body. Only then is it easy to set up the scheme. Young Master Wang, do you understand my meaning?”
Qingya coughed dryly. “Brother Wang, the proprietress is right. That’s the logic.”
Wang Wentian was not stupid either. His mind naturally turned the corner too. However, he still said boldly, “Then let that guest over there make way, and switch that girl over here.”
Gu Qingzhao immediately used both hands to indicate he should stay calm. “This matter cannot be rushed. Otherwise it will anger that guest over there. Allow me to go and communicate slowly.”
“The person will arrive immediately, and you now tell me not to rush?” Wang Wentian glared with wide eyes, angrily saying, “No more slowly. Go communicate immediately. Immediately make them yield the person over there. If they are not willing, I’ll cover the expenses over there. What are you still standing there for? Do you want me to go help you communicate personally?”
Gu Qingzhao didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, and had to remind him, “One of the trusted confidants of the Fifth Cave Great Guard of Qianliu Mountain, the steward who manages the sea market business for the Fifth Cave Great Guard’s family, is hosting a banquet. The girl is over there entertaining guests. It would probably be inappropriate to change his person while he is in high spirits.”
She let the other party weigh for himself whether he could afford to provoke such a person.
Upon hearing the person’s identity, Wang Wentian immediately fell silent. He knew that although such a person was merely a steward doing business, he was actually the spokesperson for the Fifth Cave Great Guard’s interests in the sea market. Commonly called a steward, that’s all. This kind of person, even Zhu Xuan would probably have to be polite to him upon meeting. How would he dare to snatch such a person’s woman?
After a slight twitch of the corner of his mouth, his tone also changed. “Jinghong Hall has such a grand display in the sea market. It can’t have only one pure courtesan, right?”
Gu Qingzhao said earnestly, “There are, but haven’t I explained? For how things should be done, I definitely need to explain clearly to the girl in detail. So you must give me some time. This way, I’ll first go and communicate nicely with the honoured guest over there. It would be best if they can yield the person over here. If it really won’t work, I’ll find another girl to explain things to. It will just take a bit more time.”
Just at this moment, Qingya’s subordinate Pang Chengqiu quickly entered, reporting to this side, “Master Qing, the guest invited by Young Master Wang has arrived.”
Qingya nodded to indicate he understood, then asked Wang Wentian, “Brother Wang, shall we go greet him?”
Wang Wentian gave a cold snort. “Let the subordinates go greet him. No need to give him such a grand reception.”
Qingya was speechless towards this kind of young master, but he also didn’t care. He immediately tilted his head to signal Pang Chengqiu, “You go attend to him. Bring the person over.”
“Yes.” Pang Chengqiu responded and left.
Gu Qingzhao then said in a low voice, “Half an hour. Just delay for half an hour.”
Qingya immediately chimed in, saying to Wang Wentian, “Half an hour is no problem. In this kind of occasion, half an hour can be casually dragged out.”
Wang Wentian grunted in assent and nodded, feeling it was also no problem.
Gu Qingzhao actually did not hurry to leave. She wanted to wait for the guest to arrive and greet him. Of course, she had also long heard the name and was curious in her heart, wanting to see what the world’s number one talent looked like. Who could be without a bit of the pretension of being cultured? Women in the pleasure quarters were the same.
She had even thought before that if that Tanhua scholar’s inscription “The World is Good” were placed in her Jinghong Hall, that would truly be a perfect match.
At the same time, she also went to the doorway to summon staff, telling them to quickly bring various fruits, wines, and refreshments.