Chapter 3: The Mechanism of the Mind

If not for the attire, which primarily consists of Confucian robes, one might fear that Tan Zong would mistakenly believe it was the late Qing Dynasty or early Republic of China

Feeling distressed by Qinghe's words, Lianxiang could not help but shiver all over and quickly said: "Are you suggesting that you and I are to remain in this brothel for the rest of our lives?"

Seeing Qinghe's seriousness, Lianxiang quickly stood up, sitting upright and facing Qinghe. However, despite Lianxiang's earnest demeanor, there was still a hint of skepticism on her face.

Is it really so? Lianxiang was rendered speechless by a single remark from Qinghe, feeling that the affairs of this world were indeed quite perplexing to her

"You dead girl, if you dare to tease me again, see if I won't tear your mouth apart!" Qinghe spat, then continued with her previous question, "So does that mean we are of lowly status?"

Why is sister bringing up such a question again! Lianxiang let out a chuckle, then quickly covered her mouth with her hand, yet the smile in her eyes was unmistakable and difficult to conceal

There are probably eight or nine people, right? Lianxiang was taken aback upon hearing this and, after a moment of thought, finally replied

"Do not overthink, Yuan. " Qing He was perceptive, and with just a frown from Tan Zong, she could tell what the man was thinking. This inevitably stirred a sense of resentment within her, as she sighed inwardly, realizing that men truly are concerned about their pride.

"Hmph, Mother is just someone who wants silver. As long as you provide enough silver, what is there to fear about leaving!" A surge of resentment rose in Qinghe's heart, but she quickly suppressed it. Then she spoke softly, "Do you really think that Tan Zong has the silver to redeem Su Jin? It is still Su Jin's own savings. Today, Tan Zong has gained the title of a second-rank official and has befriended this year's top scholars and candidates. I fear that even Mother would not dare to be too greedy today. Moreover, Su Jin signed a half-contract, not a full contract like ours; Mother would not dare to meddle in this matter." Today, Tan Zong has gained the title of a second-rank official and has befriended this year's top scholars and candidates. I fear that even Mother would not dare to be too greedy today. Moreover, Su Jin signed a half-contract, not a full contract like ours; Mother would not dare to meddle in this matter.

Lianxiang pondered for a moment and found that it was indeed as Qinghe had said. However, there were still some unclear points, so she hurriedly continued to ask: "But sister, didn't you say that such wealthy families are not to be entered? Since this Xiaoman is so clever, how could she be so foolish?"

It is unclear who proposed it, but now whenever Tan Zong hears this extremely familiar phrase, he can only helplessly raise his cup in response—this saying is said to have originated from the grand banquet held by Emperor Taizu at the founding of the dynasty

Moreover, to prevent Tan Zong from drinking and causing trouble, he specifically ordered Xiao Man to stand by his side

I do not believe this matter either, yet it is something I have inquired about through various channels, and I cannot help but believe it. Qinghe sighed, as if praying for the sisters who died unjustly, and remained silent for a full half-tea time.

"Miss Qinghe truly tells a delightful joke." Tan Zong laughed heartily, then called Xiao Man to his side and said, "This girl Xiao Man is exceptionally clever; how could she possibly do such things? Let us drink this cup to the brim, and consider it as me toasting you on behalf of Su Jin."

Ladies and gentlemen, let us raise our glasses to www.hetushucom.com

However, Shi Xiang is not ... ...

Qing He, however, was too lazy to pay her any mind and simply said: "You and I come from the brothels and hold lowly positions. Su Jin also comes from the brothels and holds a lowly position. But aside from the two of us and Su Jin, which of the women like us, who mingle in the world of vice, does not come from the brothels and hold a lowly position? If one day we are redeemed by a kind family and brought home as concubines, perhaps there will be a chance for a better future. However, if we were to enter the homes of wealthy and powerful families, it would be difficult to find peace."

I want to see what kind of trouble can arise from this seemingly simple task of grading papers. Tan Zong let out a cold snort in his heart, but he closed his eyes, lay back in the car, and began to snore.

Ah! Just as Lianxiang was about to continue her inquiry, the carriage suddenly jolted, indicating that the horse-drawn carriage had come to a stop

This is quite good. Qing He smiled faintly, raised her cup to drink, but her phoenix eyes caught a glimpse of the mockery and disdain that suddenly flashed in the eyes of the little man behind Tan Zong.

"Ah? What do you mean by that, sister?" Lianxiang had just begun to understand a little, but at this moment, she was once again confused by Qinghe.

Not to mention that Tan Zong's drinking capacity exceeds that of others by several measures, nor to mention his self-awareness of having a little charm in supervision, just the unusual behavior of Qing He alone made Tan Zong feel a bit more alert. Therefore, although Tan Zong's steps appeared chaotic, his mind was as clear as a mirror.

Although these various arrangements were conveyed through Xiaoman, to Tan Zong's ears, they seemed as if they were spoken directly by Su Jin. He felt that every word struck a chord in his heart, making him wish for the night to fall sooner.

It is often said that the alcohol content of ancient beverages was low, yet Tan Zong now feels that these people are all talking nonsense! Just look at the color of this wine, pure and flawless; and taste this flavor, it is spicy upon entering the throat. Although it cannot compare to the high-proof spirits of later generations, it still has an alcohol content of about forty-five to fifty-six degrees.

At this thought, Tan Zong could not help but feel a flush in his ears, recalling that earlier, the young girl had brought a message saying that Su Jin had already packed her belongings and moved into her rented courtyard. She was just waiting for Tan Zong to return from Wen Yuan Courtyard after verifying the examination papers in the evening, so they could go together to Qiu Yue Tower to redeem her. It was also mentioned that five hundred taels of silver had been prepared and placed in the room of the courtyard, and the amount was certainly sufficient, assuring Tan Zong not to worry about it.

Let us not speak of anything else, but let us talk about Furong. When she left, were we not also happy for her? We thought she had finally made it, that she had escaped the sea of suffering. But who would have known that in the blink of an eye, she would be separated from us forever. If she had died of illness, it would have been one thing, but she was actually beaten to death by the matron on charges of adultery. Heh, do you really believe there was not a hint of foul play involved?

However, among the crowd, there was one exception: Tan Zong.

"A Yuan, could it be that your soul has returned to its resting place?"

That is what I call cleverness hetushu .com .com. Qinghe sighed and said: "Do you really think she is doing it for Su Jin? In the end, isn't it all for herself? Young Master Wang's desire for Su Jin is known to everyone in Nanjing, but he has to act with propriety due to Su Jin's reputation."

Eight or nine people? Qing He smiled faintly, yet her face was filled with bitterness: "It is ten. When you and I were nine years old, one died of illness. At twelve, four were sold away, reportedly taken to a brothel in Datong. By the time we were fourteen, another was beaten to death by our mother for refusing clients. Two years ago, Shi Xiang fell in love with a young master from Suzhou and wanted to buy her freedom, but our mother demanded an exorbitant price of four hundred taels of silver. The young master could not afford it and had to leave helplessly, while Shi Xiang ended up throwing herself into a well. Last year, Xiao Fu Rong was redeemed by a local official, and a few months ago, I inquired about her, only to hear that she was beaten to death by the official's wife on charges of adultery." Two years ago, Shi Xiang fell in love with a young master from Suzhou and wanted to buy her freedom, but our mother demanded an exorbitant price of four hundred taels of silver. The young master could not afford it and had to leave helplessly, while Shi Xiang ended up throwing herself into a well. Last year, Xiao Fu Rong was redeemed by a local official, and a few months ago, I inquired about her, only to hear that she was beaten to death by the official's wife on charges of adultery.

Moreover, Tan Zong has already obtained the status of a juren in Nanjing Prefecture. Even if he does not go to the capital for the imperial examination, he can still seek a position in various prefectures, and after a few years of hard work, becoming a Tongzhi should not be a problem.

My lord, it is already 8 o'clock; let us go to the Wenyuan Courtyard to review the papers.

Ah ... has Sister Furong passed away

Ah? How could this be?" Lianxiang exclaimed in surprise, and then continued, "Although I usually have little interaction with Su Jin, from the looks of Xiaoman, she is indeed very well-behaved.

Hearing Xiaoman's reminder, Tan Zong felt a slight awareness in his heart. He said no more, merely pretending to be drunk, and staggered out of the tavern, leaning on Xiaoman's somewhat frail shoulder. They boarded the carriage that had been waiting outside for a long time and headed straight to Wenyuan Courtyard.

"That is natural; why does sister need to ask such a question?" Lianxiang was momentarily taken aback, then laughed and said, "Sister often says I am foolish; could it be that today sister is also foolish?"

The clear lotus, brought back to her senses by the childishness of Lianxiang, huffed in annoyance, yet couldn't help but secretly sigh: "My sister truly has no cunning whatsoever. If one day I am no longer around, she will surely be bullied to death!" However, despite these thoughts in her heart, her words were unyielding: "Hmph! Let me ask you, were we not born in the brothel?"

Upon hearing this, Tan Zong felt an involuntary tightening in his heart—this was their first meeting, and even considering his connection to Su Jin, they were merely acquainted by name. However, the implication in Qing He’s words was clearly profound, indicating that such sentiments were not something an ordinary person could express; only a close friend of many years would speak in such a manner.

Xiao Man's fleeting glance was certainly not something she expected to be noticed by someone with ulterior motives

At this point, Qinghe let out a cold snort, her face revealing a hint of sarcasm and disdain: "Although the idea of that little girl from the library is good, she forgets that even with her 'meritorious service,' her background is insufficient. The royal family has held high positions for generations, being one of the most distinguished families in Nanjing, and even the relatives in Shandong are among the wealthiest. How could they possibly allow someone like her to take the position of a major wife? Even her own Miss Su Jin would likely not be accepted. To live a peaceful life in that royal household would be considered a fortunate end."

"What does Miss Qinghe mean by this?" Tan Zong couldn't help but frown. In both this life and the next, during social engagements, there had always been those who encouraged drinking; Tan Zong had never encountered anyone who would cover their cup. He felt somewhat displeased—if you don't drink when I offer a toast, that's one thing, but to not even allow me to offer a toast, isn't that looking down on me!

Let us raise this cup together

What my sister said is true. However, if that is the case, then why is Xiaoman still behaving this way? At this moment, Lianxiang was already feeling apprehensive from Qinghe's words, but she recalled the topic of today's conversation and quickly pressed for more details.

By the time this banquet concluded, it had already been half a day, reaching around eight o'clock in the evening. At this point, whether it was the more than ten scholars from high school or the young students who had come to join in the fun or to indulge in drinking, they were all thoroughly intoxicated. Moreover, the top scholar, Xu Jun, also known as Xu Wenchang, had long been carried back home by the servants.

Fortunately, Tan Zong had already grown accustomed to some of the bizarre changes in this world over the past few days, such as the four-lane road paved with red bricks and underlaid with rammed earth, the slightly patterned translucent glass on the window frames, and the mahjong, which later generations revered as one of the national treasures, along with the playing cards that accompanied it. All of these made Tan Zong inwardly lament his ill-timed existence—these grand schemes for wealth that were so prevalent in later time-travel novels had thus been stillborn.

At that time, with a virtuous wife at home and no worries about livelihood outside, it truly is a life akin to that of an immortal

However, what my sister said was misguided. Lianxiang could not help but retort: "In a wealthy family, where there is no worry about food and clothing, how could one find it difficult to have peace of mind"

Just thinking of that glimmer of opportunity to escape the sea of suffering, Qinghe could not retreat. Therefore, she still smiled like a flower and pointed at the young girl sitting behind Tan Zong, saying: "If Master Yuyuan wishes to drink with me, it is better to first consult Sister Xiaoman. If my cup of wine causes Master Yuyuan to miss the important matter of reviewing papers tonight, Qinghe would be unable to absolve herself even with a hundred deaths. At that time, I fear that Sister Su and Miss Xiaoman would hold a grudge against me."

At this point, Qinghe's eyes suddenly flashed with a glimmer of brilliance, and she coldly laughed, "Surely our young master has already devised a strategy to deal with Tan Zong, and that Xiaoman is but one part of it. If the plan succeeds, it is likely that not only will Tan Zong face imprisonment, but Su Jin will also have no choice but to enter the Wang residence. By then, Xiaoman will have made a significant contribution; even if Su Jin becomes aware of the intricacies, it will be difficult to conceal her merit. At that time, her status as a concubine will likely be unavoidable."

Qinghe, seeing the flicker of doubt in Tan Zong's eyes, could not help but feel a sense of relief in her heart, knowing that the timing today was already sufficient. She immediately took her leave, saying: "It seems that I, Qinghe, have had too much to drink today and have said some nonsense, which has caused Lord Yuyuan to laugh at me. Now, Lord Yuyuan, please sit down while I go wash up in the back for a moment. Ah, having drunk too much today, I only hope I do not mistakenly enter the wrong room later, as that would be quite embarrassing."

"So it is Miss Qinghe, but when did she arrive?" Tan Zong felt a slight shock in his heart, and could not help but show a hint of suspicion on his face

Indeed. Qing He sighed inwardly, yet her expression remained unchanged: "In that case, I extend my congratulations to Lord Ya Yuan and Sister Su." After saying this, she lowered her head with another sigh, then raised it again, revealing a trace of a bitter smile as she said: "Alas, I still do not know when my sister Lian Xiang and I will have the fortune to receive the favor of a benefactor, allowing us to escape this hellish inferno. It must be known that women like Lian Xiang and I are even more envious of Sister Su."

Fortunately, the Xu family is a wealthy household in Nanjing, and Xu Jun, being the eldest son, has recently achieved the rank of the top scholar. He would not care about such a trivial matter as the cost of a meal, having already instructed that it be put on the account. Otherwise, given the current state of this banquet hall, it is likely that no one would be able to pay.

"Absolutely not, Sister Furong is not that kind of person." Lianxiang was taken aback for a moment, then immediately interjected, "Then why..."

Fortunately, apart from these factors, Tan Zong also possesses his own strengths. This era's individuals are distinctly different from those of the previous dynasty, placing great emphasis on science and engineering. The Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Revenue, among the six ministries, have particularly high requirements for scientific qualifications when promoting officials. This has provided Tan Zong, who comes from a scientific background, with the necessary capital to survive in this world. Even if he fails the major examination next year, his scientific knowledge, which is significantly higher than the current cultural standards, would still enable him to secure a clerical position in either the Ministry of Works or the Ministry of Revenue without any issues.

Tan Zong firmly believed that his relationship with Su Jin was already set in stone, and that their social ties had evidently merged into one. However, he was uncertain about the reason why this prominent figure in the world of pleasure had sought him out. Although he felt a hint of confusion, he knew that he must not be lacking in courtesy. Therefore, Tan Zong refrained from saying much and raised his hand to offer a toast, only to be unexpectedly stopped by a delicate hand covering his cup.

Suddenly hearing someone call his name, Tan Zong was jolted back to reality, only to discover that a charming young woman had appeared before him without his noticing. Ignoring the golden branch slanting through her cascade of dark hair and the white wrist adorned with a jade bracelet, it was her pair of eyes, resembling stars, that captivated Tan Zong's heart, leaving him entranced.

Moreover, that girl is quite clever with her words; indeed, there is much implied in what she says. Even I, her elder sister, was almost deceived by her. Qinghe took a sip of tea, yet her eyes were gradually lost in thought as she continued to speak rapidly, "Hey, what a little vixen! How wonderful it is that she does not disdain her lowly status, coming from a brothel; truly remarkable! With her merit in delivering messages and this annotation, if today's matter truly comes to fruition, this little vixen might no longer think of herself as just a concubine! How clever she is, truly clever! If even a maid is so astute, how wise must Su Jin be? Could it be that Tan Zong..."

He sighed softly and shook his head with a bitter smile, after a long pause finally spoke: "In the past, I never shared this with you. Since it has come to this today, let me clarify it for you, so as to avoid any regrets in the future"

The Qinghe and Lianxiang of Cuiyun Pavilion are known as the Twin Lotus Blossoms, and they are figures of equal renown in Nanjing alongside Su Jin. However, to put it in modern terms, one is an entertainer and the other is a courtesan, which is why, although they have heard of each other in daily life, they do not share much of a friendship.

Ah! Qinghe found it amusing that Lianxiang spoke such naive words, seemingly unaware of the deeper implications. Fortunately, Lianxiang had always been so innocent and carefree, and Qinghe chose not to elaborate further, simply continuing: "Sister, have you not heard an ancient saying? It goes, 'To know a person’s face is not to know their heart.' This little girl’s face does not reveal whether she is good or bad; how can you discern her character from her appearance?"

Tan Zong was a true connoisseur of alcohol. Upon seeing Qing He gracefully walking in, he clearly noticed that she showed not a trace of inebriation. Instantly, he became alert, feeling that Qing He’s visit today was quite peculiar, and her words carried an air of oddity. However, for the moment, Tan Zong could not fathom the reason behind it, so he set the matter aside.

Hmph, do not forget that Su Jin and Xiao Man are different from you and me; they are still virtuous women with a good reputation, how can they be compared to us? Moreover, the Wang family is currently in need of a young mistress, and I fear that our Xiao Man is still thinking about securing favor through her future children, hoping to vie for the position of the main wife! Even if she cannot attain the status of the main wife, being a secondary wife would still be acceptable.

Thus, that little vixen said that our humble origins and lowly status are indeed the reason for this. Qing He paused for a moment and continued: "For people like us, if we were truly to enter a noble family, we would likely first have to worry about the matriarch using any excuse to oppress us. Although the current laws of the Great Shun are quite strict, it would not be difficult for the matriarch to find a charge to bring us to ruin. If she is determined, it is likely that within a few days she could bring about our demise, and at that point, even the authorities would be powerless to intervene."

Moreover, within this conversation about the clear lotus, there subtly emerges the implication that she wishes Tan Zong to redeem her, which truly leaves Tan Zong at a loss for understanding

It is certainly not the case. If one encounters the right person, one can naturally escape from the sea of suffering. Just like in the past with Shi Xiang, if one truly meets someone who values loyalty and affection, one can naturally escape from the sea of suffering. At that time, although one may not enjoy wealth and nobility, one can live freely and at ease

Have you ever forgotten, when you and I were still young, how many sisters were there who stood alongside us?