Section 6: Qinxie

Poet Shi said: "Please invite him in"

Zhao Sansi left, and a middle-aged courtesan lifted the curtain, swaying her plump waist and stepping out with a smile. She said, "Young Master Yu, why the hurry? If the young master has entered, how could I not know? Isn't this all being arranged? I will be out shortly"

Yu Jie clasped his fists and said: "I am Yu Jie, but I have not inquired about your esteemed name. This is my master, Zhao Sansi." He did not elaborate further on Zhao Sansi, believing that anyone who had heard the name Zhao Sansi would certainly be familiar with his various anecdotes and stories.

Yi Han turned to the direction indicated by Jie and saw a poem hanging not far away, which read: "The fragrance of clothing and the scent of flowers intertwine, a beautiful belt adorned with three parts of crimson silk. Her brows and eyes are like a painting, enchanting yet without substance, her beauty and talent in poetry are both exquisite and refined"

The woman in the red shirt said playfully: "Is it that you only think of Shishi, my lord? You should cherish us sisters more."

Yu Jie, feeling dejected, said: "How can I hesitate over such a simple verse?"

Yi Han pinched the woman's bottom and laughed, saying: "My dear, it is you I am hurting for; as for that Shi Shi, it is no matter if she is not seen."

Yu Jie smiled and said, "Brother Yi, are the two of you well enough?"

The maid smiled and said: "Please allow Young Master Xu to go upstairs, the other young masters may return, as it is getting late."

Yi Han smiled and said, "Young Master, you are being too polite. One young lady is sufficient; too many would be overwhelming for me"

The woman in the red shirt said with a charming tone: "Young Master Yi, how could you harbor such resentment? How many people in our family wish to cherish and protect Shishi in their palms? Do you think she is easy to bully? Be careful not to embarrass yourself later on"

As the piece concluded, everyone burst into laughter; Yi Han's music could bring them joy, and Yi Han's verses also delighted them

The woman in the red dress said playfully, "Young master, you are so naughty"

Yi Han smiled and said, "How do you know there won't be another opportunity if you haven't composed a poem yet?"

Yu Jie said: "Take a look, at the Qinhuai Lantern Festival, if you want to meet the courtesan, you must follow their rules"

Yi Han smiled and said, "Brother Yu, what piece would you like to hear"

The maid stepped out and called out loudly: "Coming, coming"

Yu Jie burst into laughter: "Brother Yi is indeed charming, embracing beauty on both sides; I, as your brother, can only sigh in admiration." Yi Han, while enjoying the warmth and softness, for some reason seemed much more subdued than usual. After all, he was also an experienced man in the world of romance; perhaps it was a case of not adapting well, having been accustomed to wild game and being sensitive to seafood.

"A beautiful woman is sufficient; there is no need for more"

This remark caused Jie and others to burst into laughter, and Yi Han himself could not help but chuckle.

Honglan's two daughters leaned against Yihan, one on the left and one on the right

The maid hesitated and said: "But this person is extremely ugly." Shishi smiled lightly and replied: "Ugly, so what? How can one judge a person solely by their appearance? Go invite him up, we have guests to entertain. I am tired and wish to rest."

After the maid left, Shishi's beautiful eyes were filled with sorrow as she murmured to herself: "He treats me this way, yet why am I not angry with him at all? Knowing that seeing him again will only bring more troubles, I still cannot wait to see him again. Is it that love is hard to resist? The irony is that there are thousands of men who admire me, yet the one I like feels nothing for me"

On Yi Han's side, there were already those who could not wait any longer. Among the attendees, there was one person, short in stature and unattractive, who impatiently remarked: "Are we going to start or not? Do you expect us to wait until dawn"

The woman in the blue shirt grasped Yi Han's hand and pressed it against her ample hips, playfully saying: "You all have misunderstood; this young man is not an honest person. Just look, his hand is resting on my backside."

The maid returned the verses, and after listening, Shishi remarked: "This person indeed possesses considerable talent; please invite him up along with the books"

Miss Shi's poetry is rather overt, isn't it? Everyone seems unable to grasp it. This final hurdle surely cannot be as simple as one might imagine

Yi Han smiled lightly and said, "I originally thought there would be a poetry duel, but I did not expect it to be so dull. Had I known it would be like this, I would have preferred not to attend this Qinhuai Lantern Festival."

The poet recited: "The sorrow dissipates with the spring breeze's words, the painted boat's lights illuminate the Qinhuai night, the gentle breeze caresses the lovely maiden, why not share this soul-stirring moment with me"

In his embrace, there was already someone. The woman in the red dress leaned closely against Yi Han, playfully saying, "Young master, why are you being so formal? Do my sister and I not catch your eye? Look, that Yu Jie has already taken liberties with the young master, with one hand around the waist of the woman beside him and the other already groping her ample curves.

Yi Han suddenly stood up from his seat and gave a deep bow to Yu Jie, saying, "Brother Yu, I am deeply grateful for your kindness today. As a token of my appreciation, I would like to play a piece on the guqin for Brother Xu before we take our leave. How does that sound?"

The short and unattractive man said: "I will go first. In the past, I spoke little when we met, but now I regret it even more and feel estranged. Is it not true that love is abundant, yet if it turns to hate, it becomes difficult to bear?" The crowd exclaimed that it was a good poem, and the short man became even more pleased with himself, believing that today’s courtesan belonged to him alone

Yi Han said in a clear voice: "Little girl, bring the instrument here"

Yu Jie said: "It is not difficult to meet her; first, she must be willing to see the person, and second, one must possess talents that surpass hers, forcing her to concede before she will meet you. It is rumored that Shi Shi has a figure as delicate as if it were boneless, with graceful charm and stunning beauty. Unfortunately, I have visited the Qunfang Pavilion several times without the fortune of meeting her, and this has almost become a source of distress for me"

The maid replied, "It seems to be a young master with the surname Yi, who left together with Young Master Xu"

Yi Han replied, "I am Yi Han." Zhao Sansi glanced at Yi Han, surely it was Yu Jie who had informed him about the riddle just now, which is why he paid attention to Yi Han. The two smiled, which served as a greeting.

There were not many people in the cabin, only about ten or so. Among them, one individual was particularly short and unattractive, while each man was accompanied by a woman of decent appearance

The madam laughed and said, "What is this young master talking about? You are young and vigorous, just beginning to learn the ways of romance. Surely, you are not feeling shy, are you?"

The maid said: "Miss, is Young Master Xu still waiting outside?"

Yu Jie was taken aback and said, "Brother Yi, didn't you hear? They are about to see the guests off"

Ladies and gentlemen, please listen carefully. Sitting alone by the window, I gently play the jade zither. Suddenly, I see a joyful face welcoming me. The falling flowers have intentions, while the water is indifferent. My dreams linger and my heart yearns to know you. This is a poem just composed by the young lady. I invite everyone to create a poem inspired by the sentiments expressed in hers, to speculate on the young lady's thoughts.

Shishi, upon first hearing the sound of the zither from upstairs, was initially captivated by the beautiful melody. Being well-versed in music, she could easily discern the exceptional skill of the player. Naturally, she also sensed the carefree and untroubled emotions conveyed through the music. The more she listened, the more entranced she became; each plucked string resonated like a clear spring flowing into her heart, banishing her previous sorrows and worries without a trace. It felt as if she had entered the heart of the zither player, sharing in his joy. This kind of resonance was something she had never experienced before. The verses seemed to comfort her while also teasing her, prompting her to unconsciously exclaim, "What a charming scoundrel".

With a sigh, disappointment was clearly visible on her face

Yu Jie said: "Although we have entered, it is still not easy to meet Miss Shi Shi. Brother Yi, please look over there"

This poem, once revealed, is not difficult for everyone to guess its true meaning: it is nothing more than a deep-seated longing of a lady in her boudoir for her lover, who does not reciprocate, leaving her to suffer in silent yearning

"Well then," Yi Han sat down gracefully, and it was only at this moment that one could see the demeanor of elegance that did not originally belong to him

How can I see her then

Returning to the cabin on the first floor, the maid asked the short man in a loud voice: "What is your name, young master"

The woman in the red dress, both charming and pouting, leaned in and planted a kiss on Yi Han's face, leaving a particularly striking red mark. The woman in red called out, "Young Master," and then sat down on Yi Han's thigh, her curvaceous hips rubbing against him. With one hand around Yi Han's neck and the other holding a wine cup, she said, "Young Master, I have come to feed you wine"

The maid thought to herself, forget it, playing a tune won't take much time, and there's no need to offend these young masters

Yu Jie said: "Brother Yi, this piece is truly wonderful; listening to it brings me great joy"

Yi Han chuckled softly and said, "Brother Yu, you are enjoying yourselves, but I fear that Shi Shi is probably blushing with anger at this moment, cursing me as a lewd fellow"

Zhao Sansi said to Yu Jie: "Young Master, since we are already inside, I shall take my leave first"

Yi Han smiled and said, "You two sisters are too enthusiastic; I haven't even had a chance to react"

The short man said: "My surname is Xu and my given name is You"

Gently plucking the strings, a melodious tune resonates. The sound of the zither is like the warbling of orioles beneath the flowers, and the murmuring of springs knows its kindred spirit. Everyone feels that this music is beautiful, yet they cannot articulate what makes it so. They only sense a dissipating feeling of dejection, replaced by a sense of joy, a state of mind filled with enthusiasm for all endeavors.

Yi Han smiled and said, "Alright, alright"

The maid said, "Miss, the young gentlemen below are becoming impatient." "I understand, m.hetushu.com. Please wait a moment longer," Shishi replied淡.

Ah, this statement is incorrect. This place is indeed one of romance and beauty. Brother Yi's words perfectly align with the sentiment, and I fear that Miss Shi Shi is secretly delighted by it

The madam returned cheerfully behind the curtain, and after a moment, two women emerged from the curtain. Dressed provocatively, beneath their long, graceful necks, ample bosoms resembling creamy white jade were revealed. Their figures were graceful and curvaceous as they walked over, twisting their slender waists. With a hint of rouge on their cheeks and a flirtatious glimmer in their eyes, while their beauty may not be breathtaking, they were certainly striking and captivating.

Yu Jie saw Yi Han and waved to him. Yi Han walked over with a smile and sat at the same table as Yu Jie

Yu Jie smiled and said, "Sir, please be careful on the road"

Yu Jie said: "I am not very familiar with music theory, but Brother Yi, feel free to play as you wish; as long as it can express your current state of mind, that is sufficient"

Yi Han said: "Then let the courtesan begin. I am willing to assist you in subduing this proud woman, so that she understands that men are not to be trifled with"

Upon hearing someone play the piano, everyone exclaimed in approval. Xu Jie nodded in response and said, "Then I would trouble Brother Yi to play a piece, as a testament to our meeting today"

Yu Jielang said: "Hong Yi, why haven't you called a few young ladies to attend to this young master yet"

After the piece concluded, she lingered in its aftertaste for a long time. It was only when the maid entered that she came back to her senses

Yu Jie laughed and said, "What Aunt Hong said is exactly right; only fine wine and beautiful women can reveal the true essence of a charming talent." After saying this, he slipped a banknote into Aunt Hong's hand and said, "Aunt Hong, I trouble you to bring a more beautiful girl to attend to this young master"

By the way, where is Miss Shi Shi? I haven't seen her.

Shi Shi urgently said: "Who was the one playing the zither just now? Quickly invite him in"

Yu Jie said: "The verses above depict the first beauty of Qinhuai, Shi Shi. I have seen the other nine beauties of Qinhuai, but only Shi Shi remains the most mysterious; meeting her is as difficult as ascending to the heavens"