The Imperial Tutor's Instructions - Chapter 5

“By Imperial Decree, there have been accusations that officials’ children have been causing violent disturbances at the Phoenix Pavilion. We have arrived to investigate whether the Phoenix Pavilion is deliberately inciting conflict, pitting court officials against one another and harboring malicious intent.” The Commander of the Imperial Guard spoke to Wang Qian, who was now fully dressed. “Furthermore, according to the laws established by our Founding Emperor, officials above the fourth rank are forbidden from frequenting pleasure houses. It is truly ironic that a Censor who spends his days lecturing ministers on their lack of decorum would secretly indulge in such behavior himself.”

Upon hearing this, the proprietor of the Phoenix Pavilion immediately knelt to explain, “My Lord, we have always operated according to the regulations of the Imperial Court and have never engaged in anything contrary to them. However, when esteemed guests make strong demands, we lowly people truly cannot afford to offend them.”

Seeing that the proprietor intended to pin the entire blame on him alone, Wang Qian was about to lash out, but a guard from the Imperial Guard swiftly gagged him.

“Master Wang, take a trip to the Ministry of Justice. It is truly unfortunate; His Majesty has been furious lately regarding officials frequenting pleasure houses, and you have happened to run straight into the storm.”

Commander Wei Jin nodded slightly. Watching Wang Qian being dragged away, he turned to the proprietor and said, “Tonight’s activities continue as usual. I shall be the one to determine whether any laws have been broken.”

Wang Qian’s arrest happened so suddenly that its impact remained within a small circle; most guests remained immersed in the psychedelic atmosphere of the pleasure house. From the moment Song Nanqing had entered, the second floor had been busy setting up a performance stage. The reason for the massive turnout tonight was the debut of Yunxiu, a beauty who had caused a sensation throughout the capital.

First, her zither skills were hailed as incomparable. Then, the city’s most prominent young talents, including Jia Shikai, son of the Head of the Grand Secretariat, Jia Liang, had fought fiercely to compete for her attention.

The world wanted to see if this Miss Yunxiu was truly as breathtaking as rumored and if her music was as intoxicating as described. This was a beauty who even the nephews of Dukes and Marquises had to queue up just to glimpse, yet today, she was officially opening her door to guests.

Song Nanqing pushed open the flower-patterned window, which faced the stage prepared for the upcoming performance and auction. His location was an exclusive suite for esteemed guests, sparing him from crowding with the masses in the main hall. Gauze curtains draped from the window, making it impossible for those outside to see in, while providing a perfectly clear view outward. It was a marvel of weaving.

Song Nanqing leaned back in his rosewood armchair, resting his neck against the frame. He extended his left hand, and Spring View immediately placed a teacup into his palm.

He sipped the tea and addressed Wei Jin, who was kneeling before him to pay his respects. “Well done.”

“It is this servant’s duty to relieve His Majesty’s burdens; I dare not claim credit.” The man before him bowed his head. His features were the same as the one who had served the fish feed and delivered news of the Censorate to the Emperor.

“Furthermore, it is Your Majesty who gave this servant the opportunity to serve the country. I am profoundly grateful and have no way to repay you.” Wei Jin’s tone was sincere.

His father had been a military official under the previous dynasty. He had entered the palace as a guard under his father’s influence, but his father had been framed and purged by a rival political faction, eventually being stripped of his office. The very person who had impeached his father was Wang Qian. Once a proud son of heaven, he had spent several years in the guard and remained unpromoted, suffering the exclusion and scorn of his peers because of his father’s downfall.

The first time Song Nanqing had met him was on a bitterly cold day, where he stood guard in the snow wearing nothing but thin, ragged clothes, completely lacking the protective cloak and hat afforded to ordinary guards. When Song Nanqing passed by in his fox-fur mantle, he could see the snowflakes frozen into ice crystals on the man’s eyelashes.

Song Nanqing understood the hardship of a winter spent being bullied in the palace. Whether it was the snow that could freeze a person to death or the cold malice between men, it was easy for one to become a stiff block of ice from the inside out, losing the warmth of the will to live.

Yet, despite the Emperor’s presence, he had seen a flicker of spirit dancing in Wei Jin’s lowered eyes.

He had not expected that Wei Jin would become such an effective blade.

“Are you serving the country, or are you seeking revenge for your father?” Song Nanqing blew on his tea, asking with a calm expression.

Wei Jin lowered his head. “It is to avenge my father, and even more so, to sweep away obstacles for all righteous ministers and send corrupt officials into the imperial prison.”

Song Nanqing smiled. “And what constitutes a righteous minister?”

“Those who are loyal to Your Majesty are righteous. To bring all those who play with power and attempt to shake Your Majesty’s empire to justice is the faith I pursue for the rest of my life, and it is also to comfort my father’s spirit in heaven.” Wei Jin’s gaze was upright, and he knelt perfectly straight, the hilt of his long saber pointing toward the east.

“That sounds wonderful, but I have heard you are brutal with your interrogations. Do not let Wang Qian die before he has spilled everything he knows.” Song Nanqing gestured for him to rise and held out his cup. Wei Jin took it and placed it back on the table.

“This servant…”

“Very well, I was merely giving you a reminder.” Song Nanqing turned to look at the stage below. The courtesan’s debut was about to begin. He stroked the Buddhist prayer beads on his wrist, his fingertips pressing into the carved inscriptions, as a series of soothing, melodious strains of music reached his ears.

Pink gauze curtains were draped from the second floor, billowing in the wind like rolling waves. Gold dust sprinkled upon them shimmered brilliantly. Layers of flower petals drifted slowly downward in varying shades. As the sound of a zither rose, the pink gauze surrounding the circular stage retracted like receding water, and the screens parted to the sides. The beauty seated behind the zither slowly raised her wrists, and a melody resembling flowing water drifted naturally from beneath her fingers.

In this vulgar, colorful setting, Yunxiu, dressed in green, appeared like a lotus rising from clear water. Her face was only lightly powdered; even before she looked up, her captivating appearance was evident. She was delicate and graceful, like a water lily blooming in a pond, seemingly fragile enough to shatter at a touch.

Her zither technique was of the highest level; even those unversed in music could hear the mastery within the melody. Other courtesans of the Phoenix Pavilion typically favored a bold and passionate style, but such a delicate beauty, possessing both talent and a charming, shy demeanor with a hint of sorrow, made people yearn to explore her story.

As the song ended, Yunxiu walked gracefully forward and performed a salute. Only then did the surrounding crowd dare to breathe deeply, surrounding her with cheer after cheer and whistles that grew louder by the second.

At this moment, the madam walked onto the side of the stage and announced to the fervent audience, “There is a special requirement for tonight’s auction. Only a true man of talent is worthy of a beauty. Only those who can provide a matching line for Yunxiu’s couplet will be eligible to bid. Please listen carefully, gentlemen.”

“The upper line is: ‘Smoke locks the pool-side willows.’ The lower line must be five characters, each corresponding to the elements of metal, wood, water, fire, and earth in their radicals, and the imagery must harmonize. Only then will you be qualified to bid for Miss Yunxiu.”

A commotion broke out among the crowd. Someone shouted indignantly, “Setting such a difficult topic! If you have the ability, let’s just have a duel! Setting up puzzles isn’t the behavior of a proper woman; do you think this is a marriage proposal?”

“What do you know? Miss Yunxiu is not someone just anyone can obtain. Look at Master Jia over there—even he isn’t complaining. Is it your place to speak?” The person gestured toward the front row, where Jia Shikai, who had fought with others over Yunxiu just days ago, was seated. As the son of the Head of the Grand Secretariat, he still had to follow the Phoenix Pavilion’s rules. In this regard, the Prime Minister’s son was no different from them.

The more obstacles set, the more people craved to possess her.

The man who had shouted was quickly escorted out by the Pavilion’s bouncers. To open such a large shop in this prime location at the foot of the Imperial City, one could not survive without some powerful backing.

While everyone pondered their answers, ink and paper were delivered to Song Nanqing’s private box. He picked up the brush, pondered for a moment, lifted his wrist, and wrote five characters on the paper in one smooth stroke.

As the paper was taken away by a servant, Spring View could not help but lean closer to Wei Jin and whisper, “Does His Majesty truly intend to participate in the auction? If he likes this girl, why go through all this trouble? Why not just give an order?”

Wei Jin clutched his short saber and cast a glance at him. “His Majesty has his own considerations.”

Song Nanqing rested his chin on his palm, watching the magnificent scene below. He thought that although Miss Yunxiu looked fragile, her zither playing was quite intriguing. Shen Heng was also proficient in the zither; he possessed many ancient music scores. Many years ago, the zither had spread to the East, and its style and structure had evolved. The biggest difference lay in the strings.

The chords of this piece were clearly in an eastern style, similar to the collection of music scores Shen Heng possessed. Furthermore, Song Nanqing observed that whenever Yunxiu played certain notes, her fingers would subconsciously extend and retract; it was a habit formed from playing zithers that had an extra string. This Phoenix Pavilion, and this head courtesan, perhaps held more surprises than met the eye.

A table was placed on the stage below. One by one, people wrote their lower lines and handed them in. After the time of one incense stick ended, the madam consulted with Yunxiu and stepped forward, holding a handful of papers, and announced to the audience:

“There are five people qualified to bid. The upper line was: ‘Smoke locks the pool-side willows.’ The one Miss Yunxiu likes the best is the lower line provided by the guest in Suite Number Two.” She unfolded the paper. The powerful, vigorous ink characters met her eyes. The simple five characters were perfectly matched; the imagery seemed to leap off the page.

Song Nanqing’s lower line was: “Peaches ignite the river embankment.”

Once this line was revealed, those who had been dissatisfied that “Miss Yunxiu liked it the best” all fell silent. It was difficult enough to come up with a matching line within the time of an incense stick, let alone one that fit the imagery so perfectly. Even those unversed in poetry could see how flawlessly it paired with the upper line—natural and harmonious.

Yunxiu looked toward the flower-window of the second suite. Only a faint shadow could be seen. Someone capable of writing such poetry could not be an ordinary scoundrel. If she could be won by him tonight, she would not feel she had wasted herself.

Yunxiu sighed softly.

The auction continued. The remaining five people bid with the determination to win, reaching one hundred taels of gold right from the start. Song Nanqing looked at Spring View’s money pouch, lifted the curtain, and added another hundred taels.

As the bid climbed higher, the number of people adding to it decreased, leaving only Jia Shikai in the front row competing with him.

“One thousand taels,” Jia Shikai said coldly, showing no sign of pain over the money, which made Song Nanqing narrow his eyes.

Although his uncle was the Head of the Grand Secretariat, Song Nanqing knew that the salaries of the Great Sheng officials were not extravagant; enough for food and drink with a little surplus was all. How could he casually pull out a thousand taels for his son to squander?

“I have long admired Yunxiu. I have waited over half a month just for her to open her door. I hope you will not continue to compete with me,” Jia Shikai said loudly toward the second suite.

Song Nanqing looked at Spring View and raised an eyebrow.

Spring View said bitterly, “Master, I only brought this much when we left. There really isn’t any more.” This much was already thanks to him being clever enough to stuff a bank note in his pocket; otherwise, Song Nanqing wouldn’t even have reached the second round.

“Suite Number One, one thousand taels,” the auctioneer repeated for the second time.

Song Nanqing waited until just before the third repetition to ask Wei Jin, “Hurry, how much do you have left? I will double your salary next month.”

Wei Jin searched his pockets again and again, silently placing a few pieces of broken silver on the tray.

“Suite Number Two, one thousand and two taels.”

Song Nanqing looked at Wei Jin with an expression that was a mix of pity for his misfortune and anger at his lack of success. Just as he extended a trembling finger to reproach him, he heard the bid slowly repeated again. Jia Shikai did not speak.

The exciting moment arrived. Song Nanqing was stunned for a moment, wondering if it was really because of Wei Jin’s two taels that the other party had stopped competing. Could those two taels really be the straw that broke the camel’s back?

“Suite Number Two, one thousand and…”

Suddenly, a cold voice came from the front row, interrupting the bid. “One thousand five hundred taels.”

Song Nanqing’s hopes were dashed. Even if he sold Wei Jin, he couldn’t conjure up five hundred taels.

Yunxiu performed a salute in his direction from below. Flower petals drifted down from the roof. Amidst the dizzying cheers, the madam announced that the guest in Suite Number One had won the final auction rights.

“Cough… Master, are we leaving?” Spring View asked in a low voice, seeing Song Nanqing’s dark expression.

Song Nanqing beckoned to him. The moment Spring View leaned in, he gave him a sharp flick on the forehead. “Do you really think I came here to bid on a courtesan?”

As the auction ended and the crowd dispersed, Song Nanqing quietly followed behind Jia Shikai, gesturing for Wei Jin and Spring View to follow. Finally, the three of them stood before a tightly shut door, listening to Jia Shikai’s laughter and the faint sounds of Yunxiu’s resistance from within.

With a loud crash, Song Nanqing kicked the wooden door open.