Chapter 10: The Debut of the Courtesan (1)
Not long after, a commotion arose from the audience. Someone exclaimed, "Damn it, we paid to see the light beauty Zhu Jiangxian, what’s the point of all these tricks? Just bring her out so we can see how much she’s really worth." As soon as he said this, others loudly echoed his sentiment.
However, wealth is always fluctuating. In the end, only two individuals were left bidding. One was the wealthy elder Du from Hezhou City, who is sixty-seven years old this year. He has controlled the waterway trade in Hezhou City for nearly forty years and has thirteen concubines at home. It is said that next month he plans to marry a young girl who is fifty years his junior as his fourteenth concubine. Although he has entrusted his son to manage the business, he is unwilling to delegate matters of romance and pleasure, and in fact, he has become increasingly interested as he ages.
As soon as she finished speaking, someone in the audience said, "I offer thirty-five taels." Ma Huajiao was quite familiar with these people and glanced over, saying, "So it is Lord Huang from Baozhou City. Very well, thirty-five taels of gold. It seems that Miss Jiangxian has some connection with you after all"
In the midst of conversation, the song and dance performance had already concluded. Following that, a courtesan took the stage and played a piece titled "High Mountains and Flowing Water." Then, the lights in the hall dimmed, and the sound of the guqin emerged from the stage. The music began softly, drifting and lingering, reminiscent of a river's gentle flow and the low calls of a hundred birds. However, before long, it shifted from the Gong mode to the Shang mode, evoking the startled flight of birds from the forest, the howling of mountain winds, and the sudden onset of a torrential rain. The intricate melodies and rapid rhythms filled the air, and even someone like Ren Tianqi, who was unacquainted with musical nuances, could tell that it was undoubtedly exquisite. The music began softly, drifting and lingering, reminiscent of a river's gentle flow and the low calls of a hundred birds. However, before long, it shifted from the Gong mode to the Shang mode, evoking the startled flight of birds from the forest, the howling of mountain winds, and the sudden onset of a torrential rain. The intricate melodies and rapid rhythms filled the air, and even someone like Ren Tianqi, who was unacquainted with musical nuances, could tell that it was undoubtedly exquisite.
In this manner, the wealthy magnates in the hall were coveting the beauty of Zhu Jiangxian, competing to bid, shouting and clamoring, puffing out their cheeks and glaring, displaying all manner of grotesque behavior
After an hour had passed, the number of guests entering from outside gradually decreased. Suddenly, the lights on the high platform in front became bright, followed by the loud sound of drums and music. About ten dancers dressed in Han court attire walked to the stage from both sides, their skirts fluttering lightly and their long sleeves waving gracefully as they began to dance elegantly. Additionally, a singing courtesan beside them began to sing loudly, her voice exceedingly pleasant.
The patrons in the hall were astonished to see someone faint from a stroke due to the outrageous bidding, a sight they had never witnessed before. They could only stare in disbelief at one another, and no one dared to challenge Zhuang Dacai any longer
At this moment, Ma Huajiao appeared from somewhere, still dressed as a noblewoman adorned with pearls and jade. She glanced at the person who was shouting and, with a smile on her face, said: "Lord Shangguan has traveled a long way from Gongzhou; having spent so much time, does it really matter if we take a little longer? One must understand that being anxious won't help in achieving a good outcome."
At this moment, someone remarked, "What is so remarkable about thirty-five taels of gold? I will offer forty taels." It was none other than Lord Shangguan from Gongzhou City, the very person who had instigated the commotion at the beginning
As soon as she said this, the crowd burst into laughter. Someone remarked, "Let them wait, I want to see how impressive Boss Ma's setup is and just how beautiful the main guest is."
When Zhuang Dacai saw Zhu Jiangxian, he was truly astonished, having set his sights on her with unwavering determination, disregarding Old Master Du entirely. Upon seeing him raise the price to eighty taels of gold, he secretly cursed, "Old lecher, daring to compete with me in wealth, I shall let you witness the might of the Zhuang family." Resolutely, he called out, "One hundred taels of gold."
Ren Tianqi had long been prepared to take a look, but his face was so distinctive that all the courtesans and patrons of "Juyanfang" recognized him. Even if he stole a ticket, it would not guarantee his entry. However, this was not a challenge for Tianqi. As the number of guests at "Juyanfang" increased and the host and bouncers became busily entangled, Ren Tianqi made his way to the back garden of "Juyanfang" and easily climbed over the wall. Having been there once and possessing a good memory, he soon arrived at the front courtyard. At this moment, the hall was already packed with people, and no one would pay attention to him. Ren Tianqi then found a secluded corner to stand in, waiting for Zhu Jiangxian to make her appearance.
Indeed, a thin, elderly man in his fifties, dressed in a gentleman's outfit, immediately stood up from the crowd and exclaimed in a sharp voice: "Boss Ma, this young lady surnamed Zhu is truly worthy of being the courtesan of your 'Juyanfang'. Just name your price." Following that, someone else chimed in: "What do you mean by the courtesan of 'Juyanfang'? I can tell you that even in the capital, it would be hard to find such a beautiful young lady. A higher price is acceptable, so hurry up and name your price; I, Tong Da Ye, am determined to have her."
Upon seeing Zhu Jiangxian, Ma Huajiao was unsurprisingly captivated on the spot, envisioning the white, glistening silver flowing steadily into her own pockets, her smile wide and uncontainable. She waved her hand, instructing two young courtesans to assist Zhu Jiangxian down first, then stepped onto the stage and said: "Everyone has witnessed Jiangxian's beauty and skills. If you wish to be the groom who will accompany her tonight, it is not so easy. As you may have heard, Old Master Du from Hezhou City has offered thirty taels of gold to be this honored guest. If any of you wish to vie for this opportunity, you must demonstrate how much sincerity you have towards Miss Jiangxian."
At that moment, Ma Huajiao raised her hand, and someone promptly reignited the lights on stage. In the illumination, a rare beauty suddenly appeared. She wore a red pomegranate flower silk shirt, complemented by a light willow-yellow dyed bodice, and tied with a snow-white plain skirt. Her hair was styled in a single phoenix rising sun bun, adorned with a golden floral crown, and a phoenix hairpin was slanted in, with a round, lustrous pearl dangling from it. Her face was flushed like the morning glow, her brows arched like late spring green, her bright eyes and white teeth, and her skin as smooth as congealed snow, truly radiant and dazzling. What was even more enchanting was that when her watery eyes gently shifted, the crowd of patrons below felt as if she was conveying emotions to each of them. Many of them gaped in awe, convinced that she was the most stunning beauty they had ever encountered in their lives.
At this moment, the two had already driven the price up to 80 taels of gold, which was sufficient for a middle-class family in the Tang Dynasty to live on for a lifetime. Moreover, this amount was unprecedented as the capital for the brothels in various states of the Jian'nan region. The old master Du was now drenched in sweat, with two young servants constantly wiping him down. However, due to his strong local sentiments, he was unwilling to easily part with the good things from his own province. Thus, despite panting like an ox, he was still reluctant to give up, although his bidding voice had begun to tremble.
On the morning of the third day, the people of "Juyanfang" began to adorn the entrance with red and green decorations, hanging lanterns and streamers, resembling a grand celebration. However, the residents of Hezhou City were well aware that tonight marked the grand occasion when the "flower queen" Zhu Jiangxian, trained at great expense by "Juyanfang," would be presented for the first time. Ma Huajiao had already sent out invitations to wealthy merchants from nearby counties, and after Zhu Jiangxian showcased her grace and skills, bidding would commence. The highest bidder would become the groom for the night.
As soon as he finished speaking, a loud "thud" was heard, and Old Master Du fell to the ground from his chair. It turned out that at his advanced age, hearing the bid of sixty taels of gold had already caused him immense pain. When the bid reached eighty taels, it felt as if his heart, liver, spleen, and kidneys were all aching. Upon hearing Zhuang Dacai suddenly call out one hundred taels of gold, he found it increasingly difficult to cope. Yet, he was reluctant to part with the tender and delightful young lady. In a moment of exhaustion and rising blood pressure, his vision darkened, and he collapsed to the ground, losing consciousness. In the midst of the chaos, someone hurriedly carried him out.
Another individual is the wealthy merchant Zhuang Dacai from Gongzhou City. Zhuang Dacai is tall and stout, as fat as a pig, and his family has been in government service for generations. His brother, Zhuang Zhongjun, currently serves as an Assistant Minister in the Ministry of War and is a disciple of the current Prime Minister Li Linfu. In Gongzhou, he not only engages in waterway trade but also owns dozens of pawnshops and restaurants, to the extent that even the governor of Gongzhou must show him some respect. Gongzhou is a vast city with a large population, and Hezhou is also under his jurisdiction, so Zhuang Dacai's financial resources naturally surpass those of Old Master Du.
After a while, the sound of the zither suddenly ceased, and a clear note, reminiscent of a yellow oriole, resonated through the hall. It began softly and slowly, the voice rising higher and higher, becoming increasingly bright. When it reached its peak, it fell dramatically, akin to a silver bottle dropping into a well. Just as it seemed to fall halfway, it was abruptly lifted again, like a crane soaring into the clouds, each note swaying gracefully, truly a sound that could restrain the moon, echoing back like a gentle breeze. The guests below were all seasoned patrons of the pleasure quarters, well-versed in discerning quality. As the song reached its midpoint, they erupted into thunderous applause and cheers, offering a price that was sky-high.
Ren Tianqi, upon seeing Zhu Jiangxian, first spat on the ground, yet he could not help but feel a stir in his heart, having to admit: "Zhu Jiangxian, this little vixen, has indeed become increasingly beautiful; the price of this hairpin tonight is likely to be astonishingly high"
As nightfall descended, luxury cars gathered outside "Juyanfang," and the crowd surged like a tide. Those arriving were dressed in brocade robes, exuding an air of arrogance, all eager to witness the famed courtesan of "Juyanfang" as rumored.