Section 8, Cold Smoke

The chief clerk was dressed in a green official robe, and a group of yamen runners were also in official attire. Upon seeing Zhang Wen, they all knelt down and said: "We, the humble ones, pay our respects to the hall master"

Zhang Wenda: "What about the price?"

One could see that the cold smoke girl had skin as white as snow, a watery and delicate appearance, and smooth black hair, truly a water-nurtured beauty of Jiangnan. Moreover, just by her sitting posture, one could tell that her demeanor was graceful, surpassing those girls in the hall who were soliciting customers.

Zhang Wen said: "This Fengyue Tower is too dark, I might as well pay thirty taels... um, could you please call Feng Gui over? I didn't bring that much silver."

Thirty taels cannot be given for free

"Burning the lute and boiling the crane..." Han Yan murmured softly, yet still smiled faintly and said, "However, that is not feasible; my frail body cannot endure it. As for the rest, my lord may do as he wishes."

Naturally, there are musical instruments, chess, calligraphy, and painting, all of which are available. Please wait a moment, and I will fetch them.

The cold smoke whispered: "The sign hanging at the entrance states that the fee is thirty taels. Don't blame me for not warning you; if I shout, you will be taken away by someone."

I have a slight understanding of the things that scholars and refined individuals appreciate

"Everyone, get up quickly," Zhang Wen said, her face flushed.

Han Yan turned back to glance at Zhang Wen, chuckling softly: "Young master, you are indeed quite handsome. Just a moment, I will be ready shortly."

I can sing little tunes, play the zither, and blow the flute. What does the young master enjoy listening to

Zhang Wen raised his head and said: "Indeed, I have been in office for less than a month, and the people below are practically ready to turn the roof upside down."

Zhang Wenxin said that they were about to do that thing, and that combing the hair would only mess it up, making it a futile effort. However, he did not speak further and found a chair to sit down.

Zhang Wen had never visited this place of pleasure and beauty. He thought to himself, I am here to solicit the services of a prostitute, not to listen to music or read books. He then said, "I think it would be better to first play this flute of mine down here."

Han Yan then stepped out of the warm chamber, opened the door, and said to the people outside: "The young master inside wishes to see someone named Feng Gui. Please inform my mother."

After a long time, a sudden commotion erupted outside. The old madam outside shouted, "Daughter, quickly open the door..."

Dipping ink, dipping water, changing brushes... The actions were skilled and fluid. It took a full two incense sticks' worth of time before Zhang Da let out a long sigh.

Han Yan had just taken off her Confucian robe when she exclaimed in astonishment, "What is this all about?"

A soft voice inside said: "Let him come in by himself."

That is fine

Han Yan smiled helplessly and said, "I know that the main hall of the county office has an elegant name, called the Qinfang. You, sir, are a true scholar, and surely understand the qin, right?"

The adult appears to be no more than twenty years old, and being able to serve as a county magistrate must indicate a background as a successful candidate in the imperial examination, with a boundless future ahead. There is no need to stoop to the level of these petty clowns.

Character

The chief clerk took out three ingots of silver, bowed, and presented them before Zhang Wen, saying: "I did not know that the esteemed guest had come here without bringing any silver. I arrived a moment late; please forgive me, esteemed guest."

Zhang Wen held the paintbrush in his hand and quickly found his state of mind. After observing Han Yan for a while, he said: "Your outfit indeed has a certain charm, but what I excel at is the spring palace... This is quite a dilemma to choose from"

She wore a full set of traditional robes, with a cross-collared top and long sleeves paired with a short jacket. The color of the skirt was light, adorned with embroidered patterns along the hem. The skirt consisted of eight panels, and there were numerous fine pleats at the waist, resembling ripples in water

My price is thirty taels.

Does the young master wish to proceed in this manner

It is so, I take my leave, brothers, let us withdraw

Zhang Wenda: "I have become unaccustomed... However, I have not yet abandoned this art of painting."

Han Yan stood up at this moment and offered to brew tea for Zhang.

The two of them continued to linger like this, while Han Yan entertained herself by plucking the strings of the zither. In her heart, she estimated that Zhang Wen, who spoke so casually about the flute, did not understand this matter.

After listening to the cold smoke, she walked to the bedside and began to loosen her clothes and unfasten her belt. At this moment, Zhang Wen had truly lost interest, preoccupied with his thoughts, feeling unmotivated. He said, "Don't rush; let me catch my breath first"

Han Yan pondered for a moment and said, "Is the gentleman's painting of the meticulous style or the expressive style?"

She was wearing a ru skirt, with a cross-collared top, long sleeves, and a short garment. Upon hearing Zhang Wen's question, she delicately removed the top with her slender fingers. Beneath it, there was no undergarment, nor the bright red bodice typically worn by ordinary women, only a fitted silk bodice wrapped around her chest.

Zhang Wenda: "Oh, no wonder she is the star attraction; she must have started learning from a young age... Is that set of tools available here? Anyway, the night is still long, and I haven't picked up my brush in a while. I wonder if I've become rusty. It would be just right to draw a portrait of the young lady."

"Alright, the one below is trimmed with gold, we won't be taken for fools." Zhang Wen began to get dressed

Zhang Wen walked past the screen and saw a woman at the table, grooming herself in front of a bronze mirror. Zhang Wen thought to himself, this woman might be Miss Han Yan.

The brothel keeper lowered her voice, nodding and bowing as she said: "If I had known it was the county magistrate, I would have put it on the account, even if it meant hanging it up. I..."

At that moment, she was left with only a bandeau and thin silk panties, and she grasped the bottom of the bandeau, about to lift it up to remove it. In that instant, Zhang Wen caught sight of a hint of rosy color on the left side, which he immediately noted in his mind. He quickly captured several details: a hint of rosy color, the outline of two protruding points, a delicate hand grasping the hem of the bandeau, and the smoothly contoured hips.

"Come in, young master, to the warm room," a voice said from behind the screen

Han Yan was momentarily taken aback, but quickly understood the meaning. She cast a disdainful glance at Zhang Wen and said, "Alright, young master, go to bed and take off your clothes"

Zhang Wen took the silver and said, "It is no longer your concern, you may return."

Han Yan then handed out the note and returned to the warm chamber, idly plucking at the strings of the zither, waiting for the outcome

She sat down at the piano, staring blankly out the window, letting out a sigh, looking very lonely. She glanced at Zhang Wen and said, "I see that those officials are deliberately making things difficult for you, my lord"

Cold smoke whispers: "Is it related to robbery when both parties are willing? I am the top courtesan of the Fengyue Tower, and this is the price."

Han Yan hurriedly got up and opened the door, and a group of people surged in. Zhang Wen, hearing the chaotic footsteps, sensed something was amiss. Stepping out from behind the screen, he discovered that the chief clerk had brought a bunch of constables. Although Zhang Wen had already anticipated such a scene, seeing so many officials crowding into the brothel still made him unable to suppress a curse under his breath.

The interior is spotless, and the paint on the chairs and coffee table shines brightly, reflecting light. On a screen in the northern part, there is an embroidery of mandarin ducks playing in the water

Zhang Wen shook his head: "You don't understand, sigh..."

"Do you paint, my lord?" A faint smile appeared on Han Yan's face. "Do you excel in painting landscapes, flowers and birds, or figures?"

The concubine nodded slightly: "I am aware of my own worth; thirty taels of gold are not worth my value."

Han Yan smiled sweetly.

After a while, Han Yan brought over the items for the study. Zhang Wen took a glance at the exquisite objects and smiled, saying, "So this is how the thirty taels of silver are worth spending."

Zhang Wenyu sat on the bed, began to undress, and asked the *illustrated* book: "How many copies?"

The chief clerk's shoulders twitched slightly, and Zhang Wen knew he was desperately trying to suppress his laughter

After listening to Han Yan, Zhang Wen was scrutinized and said: "Young master, your appearance is quite remarkable, your fingers are clean and your nails are free of dirt. It seems that your family background is also affluent. You can simply write a note and send someone home to fetch the silver."

Zhang Wenda: "You have three holes on your body; how many of them can be used?"

It is done, and it has nothing to do with you

After a long while, Han Yan returned to the warm pavilion and said, "Feng Gui has already left"

Zhang Wen handed the silver to the brothel keeper and said, "Get up, here is your silver first; you have no further business here at the moment"

Zhang turned back and said: "I haven't even touched you with a finger. If we don't walk this way, how else should we walk?"

Zhang Wenwan never expected that the price of hiring a prostitute could be so high. My annual salary is only 45 taels, and one encounter costs 30 taels? He angrily said: "You might as well go rob! Moreover, what you are robbing is..."

Given the circumstances, Zhang Wen could only write a note: "Quickly return to the inner residence and have my stepmother send thirty taels of silver." After writing, he said, "Send someone to the teahouse across the street to find a person named Gao Sheng, and have him act according to the instructions on the note."

"Alright, you can put on your clothes, but do not speak for now." Zhang Wen immediately began to write swiftly.

Han Yan looked at Zhang and, seeing his skilled movements, smiled and said, "Do I need to take off my clothes?"

Han Yan saw Zhang Wen was silent, and then said: "I am not a person who resorts to extortion, nor do I covet your money. If you wish to leave like this, you must at least leave twenty-seven taels, which is for the building. As for my three taels, just forget it."

Han Yan then paused her fingers, brewed a pot of tea for Zhang Wen again, and went to light incense, meticulously attending to some trivial matters by herself

Zhang Wen sat down at the desk, began to mix colors himself, and arranged various tools in convenient positions

Zhang Wenda: "Alright, you may do as you please at wwwhetushucom.com." After saying this, he reached out to push open the door, walked in, and locked the door behind him.

Zhang Wen, upon hearing this, cursed inwardly: This Feng Gui! He actually uses this trick to show loyalty to the chief clerk, trying to find a top performer to make me look foolish

Zhang Wen glanced at Han Yan's chest, where two points were outlined prominently against the strapless fabric. Han Yan felt Zhang Wenda's focused gaze, as if he were trying to see through everything, making her body feel as if it were being caressed, causing her to heat up. A trace of embarrassment, which she herself could not comprehend, surged within her, and she cautiously began to remove her long skirt.

Han Yan lightly bit her lip and said, "Just wear a little; the clothes I have underneath are the most fashionable."

Zhang looked around and Gao Sheng, with a face full of tears, said: "I am illiterate. I saw Clerk Feng and handed the note to him, but unexpectedly..."

"Thirty taels..." Zhang was taken aback, and his action of undressing came to a halt. "Silver?"

Zhang Wen touched the silver on his body, finding that he still had about seven or eight taels left, which was certainly enough for visiting a courtesan. He followed the madam through the hall and exited through the north gate, entering the second courtyard, surrounded by lofts. The madam led Zhang Wen up to the loft, stopping at the door of a room, and called out inside: "Daughter, a guest has arrived; you must attend to him well."

After the madam stepped outside, Zhang asked to close the door, then turned back and glanced at Hanyan, saying: "The money has been settled, can we proceed with the matter now?"

Zhang Wen took a sip of tea and said, "Are you also knowledgeable, young lady?"

Zhang Wen thought for a moment after listening; it was unclear whether he had done anything upon entering. If a commotion were to arise, and he were to call for the constable, he would lose a great deal of face.

Cold smoke chuckled, "Our magistrate in Shangyu County is truly amusing. It seems that the esteemed official still has the interest to stir things up like this?"

The madam said: "Young master, Miss Han Yan is right inside. Just let her accompany you well."