Volume 6, Chapter 19: An Old Guardians Vague Outline (1/2)
Volume 6, Chapter 19: An Old Guardian’s Vague Outline
The young man, around twenty-nine years of age, was a young Confucian scholar. He wore black robes washed so many times they were fading into white. A bamboo flute was tied to his waist. He seemed to have fallen on hard times, but his appearance was handsome and scholarly. He had a noble bearing and didn’t seem to care in the least about leading an impoverished lifestyle. The young man had been fiddling with the folding fan in his hands this entire time, fanning it open and closed. The beautiful women on the fan peeked out now and again. The ornate and luxurious fan was at clear odds with his destitute attire. In addition, the flirtatious beauties painted on the fan and his cold expression were even more mismatched. Bizarrely though, these incompatibilities combined with an ineffable harmony. It made this young man look ever more charming and elegant.
The young man downed several more cups of wine, then sang in a soft and plain voice:
“Out of the melancholy dream,
I spy hills and moon on an inclined beam.
A lonely lamp illuminates
The wall but darkens dim the window’s plates.
The tall buildings of this abode
Was once upon my belovèd bestowed.
I think of how her beautiful appearance might look now,
Perhaps like the plum blossom after a springtime snowstorm,
Her body enveloped by perfume and flush from the dawn.”1
He was a little flat, but as he sang this poem, it wandered and echoed through the building, its deep emotions sent out to everyone who could hear it. This restaurant was full of distinguished guests, and when he started singing, everyone fell silent. His voice wasn’t loud, but everyone could hear him clearly and distinctly. They all listened attentively, and some people even gently clapped along to the tune. When he got to the second verse, a flute began playing, the sound elegant and touching. The sound of the flute accompanying the singing enthralled everyone further.
After the song finished, the flute did not stop playing. Instead, a woman’s clean and clear voice rang out through the building. The woman sang the young man’s song again, but even though it was the same tune and lyrics, the phrasings changed a great deal. And the woman’s voice twisted and turned in agitation, giving full expression2 to the deeper meaning in the lyrics. Her singing made everyone fully forget what evening this was.
The young man closed his eyes a little, enjoying the outstanding and wonderful singing. A long while later, after the singing had vanished, lithe footsteps stopped in front of the entrance to the private room. He opened his eyes and said, “Lady Rumeng must have come to visit in person.” He sighed. “Your songs and dance are priceless, but today, you performed your singing in this tiny restaurant. If the womanizers of Jianye learn of this, they will stomp their feet and lament it.”
Brushing aside the bamboo curtain door, a young woman wearing a redfloated in. Behind her were a black-robed maid and a doughty, powerful, burly man. Once the young woman entered the private room, the black-robed maid helped her take off the headband. The young woman was tall and slim. She wore a simple, unadorned white satin gown that touched the ground. She looked like a white lotus in silent bloom. The young woman was in her early twenties and had a beautiful, elegant face. Putting the complexion of her skin aside, her willowy eyebrows were shaped like leaves. Thousands of flirtatious expressions swirled in her limpid and lucid, bright and shining eyes. She stepped forward and gracefully bowed low. “Your servant, Liu Rumeng, has met Song Yu, Sir Song, before,” she said.
The young man smiled. He stood up and said, “All of Jiangnan knows of and criticizes the song and dance of Rumeng, known aboard the pleasure boats as Lady Liu. I am but a humble wastrel. How can I be deserving of such courtesy from you?” However, the arrogance on his features did not diminish. There was not a single trace of humility.
The young woman sighed softly. Her barely furrowed brows gave off the slightest bit of distress. Her eyes roamed about, making her seem further weighed down with anxiety. She said in a low voice, “Your servant entertains people with sensuality in Qinhuai3 but is often supplanted and abused. As the Southern Chu army has beat back the Yong army, all the brothels and pleasure boats in Qinhuai have discussed that on the day of the Lantern Festival, a beauty pageant will be held at Xuanwu Lake. Three will be selected as the zhuangyuan, bangyan, and tanhua. From that point forward, only those three women can be called ‘most popular courtesan.’ In the past, everyone worked independently, but because more supporters are needed, everyone in the occupation is recognized as most popular courtesan. This pageant is different from the previous ones. All the sisters are required to perform on the spot, and all the honored guests at the latke will be judging us. The winners’ names will resound throughout Jiangnan, while the losers will never show their faces again.”
“Who in Qinhuai doesn’t know that Lady Rumeng has mastered artistry and beauty? Why are you worried about this?” the young man quietly returned.
Tears seemed to form in Liu Rumeng’s eyes for a moment. “Your servant has always come and gone as she pleased, never inhibited,” she said. “Among Qinhuai’s brothels are two giants in a secret standoff. Myriad Flowers Tower and Moonlight Pavilion refuse to give in to each other. In this struggle to be the most popular courtesan, both sides wracked their brains. Forget about Myriad Flowers Tower. Their designated lead, Lady Qiuyan, has artistry and beauty no worse than that of your servant’s. But Second Miss Xiao of Moonlight Pavilion used every possible scheme to force your servant to ally with them, while your servant would not permit it. Then they played a trick to steal away your servant’s requested new songs for this pageant. If your servant can only sing those hackneyed tunes at the Xuanwu Lake Pageant, I fear I’ll be mocked by people, much less achieve the status of most popular courtesan. After much thought, your servant realized only Sir Song could help her. Please have mercy on me, sir.”
The young man furrowed his brows at her words and said, “You should know that although I frequently write lyrical poems for others, I mostly serve the girls working for Myriad Flowers Tower. I have a rather good friendship with the Myriad Flowers Tower Madam. This is a matter of grave importance, and if I help you, won’t I offend the Myriad Flowers Tower Madam? Furthermore, who in Qinhuai doesn’t know that Moonlight Pavilion’s Second Miss Xiao is ruthless? If I spoil her big plans, I’m afraid I won’t be able to take shelter in Qinhuai any further. You should know of my difficulties.”
Liu Rumeng covered her face and replied, “If I don’t get four or five new songs, I fear it’ll be difficult for me to survive. Time is urgent. Where can your servant go to purchase new songs this magnificent? Alas, will your servant really suffer a crushing defeat this time? Whatever. I, Liu Rumeng, have never measured up to Liu Piaoxiang. When I remember how Lady Piaoxiang toppled a city with dance, how she struck out on her own on the Qinhuai River, when I remember how she teased nobles and aristocrats, the story of her denouncement of the Prince of Han, I, Rumeng, often feel emotional. I’ve always wanted to imitate elder sister Piaoxiang’s dashing appearance. Today, it looks like it was nothing more than a pipe dream.”
The deepest of griefs shone in the young man’s eyes for a split second before vanishing. He sighed and said, “I admire that Lady Rumeng has this sort of ambition. If you don’t mind, I’m willing to accompany you to the dressing table to compose music and lyrical poems for you. Although, I don’t know if you’re missing a zither player. My zither skills are quite worth watching too.”