Chapter One, The Sound of Autumn (Part One)

Note 1: Red Gate. During the Tang Dynasty, there were strict hierarchical distinctions regarding the color of the main doors of common households. Only those with official positions reaching a certain level were permitted to paint their doors red. Even the wealthiest commoners were not allowed to paint their doors in this color.

Bai Xingzhi gently shook her head, as if she wanted to say something but hesitated, seemingly unable to muster the courage.

The few leading figures seem to be fourth-rank generals! They look truly young!

"Today, let me show you the power of a silver-plated spearhead! Hmph..." Wang Xun stammered teasingly, lifting Bai Xingzhi by the waist and, in one motion, closing the window with his arm to cut off the commotion outside.

"What do you know?" Wang Xun suddenly changed his demeanor this time, turning around to glare fiercely at Xiao Ping'er, "Don't speak recklessly! Since I can remember, she has always been the one taking care of me! Although she is now old and has many troubles, and her temper is stubborn, I cannot be without conscience!"

In Bai Xingzhi's eyes, a hint of melancholy was clearly written, yet she extended her slender, fair fingers to gently press against his lips, "Do not speak, I know..."

"Does sister feel reluctant to part with the other sisters in the building?" Wang Xun, feeling somewhat confused by the sigh, scratched his head and continued to ask.

"It is General Gao Xianzhi returning triumphantly from the Western Regions, bringing captives to present to the Emperor with his subordinates!" Wang Xun said after a moment of observation, expressing his disinterest.

Along both sides of Zhuque Avenue, the leaves of the maple trees gradually change from green to yellow, and then from yellow to red. Finally, that dazzling red suddenly leaps, adding a thin layer of gilding at the edges. The entire city instantly transforms into a resplendent spectacle, as if enveloped in clouds and mist, dreamlike and ethereal

Bai Xingzhi must submit herself both morning and night; if not for herself, then for others. Wang Xun is very clear about this. Xiao Ping'er’s fate is to wipe the sweat of the young lady and the young master, warm the bed, and serve in the bedroom. Wang Xun is also well aware of this. However, with another person present, he feels as if he is being watched, and his interest quickly dissipates.

Wang Xun and Wang Mingyun are esteemed guests of the Jinhua Tower. Nearly half of the sisters in this establishment rely on the patronage of Wang Mingyun and his group of friends to make a living. Since Sister Bai and I will eventually have to give ourselves to someone, it would be better to let Wang Mingyun have the advantage. At least his family background and appearance are among the best among the guests at Jinhua Tower, and he is also very responsible. Although he is somewhat timid and occasionally shows a hint of youthful naivety.

"Hmph!" Xiao Ping'er, feeling wronged and unable to voice her grievances, stamped her foot forcefully, creating a loud commotion

The song has not yet ended, but the two people who were embracing have already separated their bodies. Their eyes are clearly filled with affection for each other, yet their gazes gradually return to clarity

"Has Erlang been wanting to drive her away for a long time?" Bai Xingzhi laughed as she reached out and playfully poked Wang Xun's forehead, "You, with all your scheming thoughts focused on this, it's no wonder Aunt Yun nags you every day!"

Just as the two lips were about to meet, a sudden cacophony of gongs and drums erupted from outside. Following that, there was another wave of noise, akin to a mountain flood. The carefully cultivated atmosphere of intimacy within the room was instantly shattered by the clamor from outside. Wang Xun raised his head, angrily attempting to pull open the window. However, he saw a large procession marching proudly past below, with countless sachets and pouches being tossed from both sides of the road.

"Of course, of course..." Wang Xun's forehead gradually broke out in a few beads of sweat as he numbly repeated a few phrases, adding with a sense of guilt, "You both know what kind of temperament my Aunt Yun has. I have entrusted someone to purchase a new residence in Wuke Alley, which is not much smaller than the one in Chongrenfang..."

The musician, Xiao Ping'er, looked on anxiously from the side. With a sharp sound, the four strings were struck as if tearing silk. "In such a place of romance and indulgence, what is there to be nostalgic about? Sister Bai is likely uncertain about how you will treat her in the future. Will you take her directly back to your grand residence in Chongrenfang, or will you make other arrangements?"

With a gentle touch and a full twist, as still as a maiden and as swift as a startled rabbit, the new finger techniques learned from her good friend Yuwen were executed by her to perfection. Soon, Bai Xingzhi found it impossible to sing a complete tune. Stealing a glance at Wang Xun, she lowered her long neck, and her tongue suddenly darted out, quickly licking the back of his hand that had already ventured into her bodice. Wang Xun, still with his eyes closed in enjoyment, recoiled as if scalded, his body instantly straightening, causing the low table in front of him to tilt, scattering various dried fruits all over the floor

"It is still my sister who understands me!" Wang Xun said, holding the beauty in his arms a little tighter, feeling quite satisfied. Bai Xingzhi's skin was very smooth, cool and soft in his embrace. His chest, hardened like a stone due to being forced to practice martial arts in his childhood, contrasted with the heart beneath it, which was now beating "thump thump thump," as if a flame was hidden deep within.

"Sister, this is..." Wang Xun felt as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over his fervent heart, momentarily stunned, his smile appearing somewhat stiff.

"You mischievous girl..." Wang Xun immediately realized that he had been deceived by Bai Xingzhi again. He lowered his head and opened his mouth in anger. A whisper of spring immediately filled the room and the library, as the familiar qin player, Xiao Ping'er, shook her head and returned to her seat, kneeling down and casually brushing the strings of her instrument.

"But she is merely a magpie that has climbed to a high branch. Why can’t she tolerate us sisters?" Xiao Ping'er exclaimed angrily, throwing down the yueqin and glaring with wide eyes.

What has happened in the capital, that it has become merely a silver-plated spearhead? Wang Xun, being a native of Chang'an himself, could mercilessly ridicule those aristocrats who attained their titles solely through their parents' influence, yet he could not tolerate others mocking his kind to their faces. He straightened his expression and coldly pressed for an answer.

Looking at his eager and youthful appearance, Bai Xingzhi gently shook her head. After laughing, she took Wang Xun's large hand and slowly placed it over her strapless top. A wave of tenderness immediately flowed from his palm to her heart, and Wang Xun lowered his head, contentedly closing his eyes

Gently twist and roll, then dab and lift again

Today once again yields a superficial outcome

"Believe me, what could Er Lang say that would make my sister not believe?" Bai Xingzhi said with a smile in her eyes, gently drawing circles on Wang Xun's chest with her delicate fingers. "If Er Lang can respect your aunt, he will not let us sisters down in the future. Xiao Ping has not seen much of the world, so she does not understand Er Lang's good qualities!"

"What does she understand? What era are we in, still clinging to those outdated notions?" Wang Xun said with a smile, shaking his head. He wanted to relive the intoxication from earlier, but couldn't find the right point of entry for a moment, his gaze flickering, his brows furrowing and relaxing alternately.

Autumn in Chang'an is the most beautiful moment of the year.

Bai Xingzhi knew he was an intelligent man, and said no more. With a soft, long sigh, she slowly walked toward the window. Outside, the maple leaves were as red as fire; the autumn wind had passed, causing them to flutter and dance, yet it was unknown to which household they would ultimately fall.

A man rejected in his pursuit of marriage need not feel disheartened. He can simply return to the eastern market, engage in a few cockfights, and partake in some dog races, and in no time, he will forget all his troubles. If one day fortune smiles upon him, and his skills in cockfighting and dog racing catch the eye of a royal or noble, he might just soar to great heights. This is a shortcut far more convenient than studying to pass the imperial examinations; as long as he serves the head of the household well, he could easily be granted a lucrative position. When he passes by the places that once brought him sorrow, he will walk with his head held high, not even pausing his gaze for a moment.

Bai Xingzhi's eyes instantly brightened, and she looked like a summer lotus blooming after the rain. However, this only lasted for a brief moment, as she quickly lowered her head again, letting out a soft sigh.

A woman of the world, like the red leaves outside the window, no matter how splendid, lasts only a brief autumn. If she cannot seize the opportunity to settle in a good residence, she may be blown into the muddy ditch by the autumn wind, turning into compost. Such an ending is one she cannot accept

Every autumn, similar songs of sorrow and joy are sung. The singers cannot choose their own fate, leaving only a sense of melancholy. Meanwhile, those outside the songs enjoy them with great delight, sipping their drinks and indulging in intoxication. From this autumn to the next, from the Zhenguan era to the Tianbao era, the singers and listeners change in a revolving manner, with old tunes becoming tiresome and new melodies being composed, old lyrics being replaced with new words, yet the stories within the songs remain largely unchanged.

Families with daughters who have just come of age wish they could buy a magnifying glass used by maritime merchants, to thoroughly examine the appearance, character, future prospects, and scholarly achievements of suitors, as well as to investigate the lineage of their families for three generations. If anything is found unsatisfactory, they would pick up a broom and sweep both the matchmaker and the gifts out. As for their own daughters' cries and pleas, their desperate attempts to seek death or escape, they pretend not to hear. After all, daughters of Chang'an need not worry about marriage; in the inns of Xinchang, every year there are numerous candidates from afar coming to take the imperial examination, allowing for selection as if choosing lotus roots. If fortunate enough to catch a future successful candidate, their humble abode would suddenly shine, and the black door would instantly transform into a red one.

Wang Xun smiled and opened his mouth to bite the outstretched finger. "Ouch!" Bai Xingzhi's finger throbbed with pain, and she couldn't help but frown and let out a sharp cry. Immediately, however, her scream was muffled, turning into indistinct "chomping" sounds.

"Sister Bai, Sister Bai..." Wang Xun scratched his head, his expression somewhat awkward, unsure of what to say. He had tasted Bai Xingzhi's lips before, each time revealing a different flavor. Yet, at critical moments, he found himself unable to take it further. Either he was actively pushed away by Bai Xingzhi, or his interest waned due to the presence of the musician Xiao Ping'er.

Young Lord Wang Xun lay in a street-facing private room of Jinhua Building on Shengye Fang Ancient Temple Alley, listening with closed eyes to this year's new melodies. The leading performer of Jinhua Building, Bai Xingzhi, had a soft and melodious voice, while the musician Xiao Ping'er played with delicate fingers, yet Young Lord Wang's thoughts were focused on a strand of softness between his right hand's fingers

Note 2: Shengye Fang, a gathering place for courtesans in ancient Chang'an. Chongren Fang, located slightly to the west of central Chang'an, was one of the residential areas for nobility. Xinchang Li served as a gathering place for scholars preparing for examinations. Mingke Alley mentioned in the following text is a famous place for hidden beauties. These four locations have been referenced in Tang dynasty legendary tales.

Bai Xingzhi's attention was also drawn to the noise outside, and she turned around again, peeking out from behind the curtain with half her head sticking out to look down. Among the crowd gathered to watch the commotion outside, a few unruly youths quickly spotted her, tiptoed, and whistled loudly at the window. However, the slight clamor could not reach Bai Xingzhi's ears at all, as a louder sound of drums and gongs came, drowning out all the noise.

"Sister also knows that I have sincere feelings for her. It's just that my Aunt Yun's situation..." Wang Xun sighed softly, stood up, and moved closer to Bai Xingzhi, putting his arm around her shoulder. "Just give me a little more time, not too long, after all, she is my elder..."

Never before had Wang Xun been so angry; not only was the musician Xiao Ping'er frightened, but the woman in his arms, Bai Xingzhi, also shrank back in fear. The three of them fell silent for a while, and after a moment, Bai Xingzhi was the first to regain her composure. She smiled and gently tapped Wang Xun's chest with her finger, saying, "After all these years, it's the first time I've seen Er Lang lose his temper! Er Lang, don't take it out on Xiao Ping'er; that girl has been spoiled by her sister!"

"I couldn't care less about him!" Wang Xun chuckled and gently shook his head. "In any case, my sister believes that I will never let you down in the end"

"Frenemy, I wasn't referring to you. You are overthinking it!" Bai Xingzhi realized she had misspoken and quickly sought a way to remedy the situation. "Er Lang is not just a pretty face; if Er Lang were to..."

"Go, what do you know!" Wang Xun felt his face flush from laughter as he picked up a plum and threw it at Xiao Ping'er. "I am afraid that as a martial artist, I might not control my strength and accidentally hurt your family..."

"Hahaha..." The musician Xiao Ping'er couldn't help but stand up, repeatedly striking the wall with her hand. "Young Master, you are truly amusing. You possess a courage no larger than a needle's tip, yet you insist on imitating others in stealing beauty and fragrance!"

Out of consideration for the beautiful person in his arms, Wang Xun could not be bothered to pay her any mind. Meanwhile, Bai Xingzhi, lost in her own thoughts, had no time to acknowledge her. Xiao Ping'er felt that all her efforts had been in vain, increasingly convinced that her good intentions had not been rewarded. She turned around and ran down the stairs with a series of "thud thud thud thud" sounds.

"What is so rare about it! That year during the Lantern Festival in Chang'an, the water flooded the market, and at least twenty fourth-rank generals were burned to death!" Wang Xun suddenly felt a surge of irritation in his heart, curled his lips, and responded with a hint of acidity.

Feeling the heartbeat behind her, Bai Xingzhi let out a soft sigh. The sensation of being held in someone's arms is truly wonderful, especially in such a solid embrace that, once she immerses herself in it, she finds it almost impossible to extricate herself. However intoxicating the strong masculine aura emanating from behind her may be, she must strive to maintain a semblance of clarity.

Amidst the thunderous sound of drums, the person on horseback stands upright, their body as straight as a flagpole. At the very front of the procession, in the center, and at the sides towards the rear, several different flags are being waved in succession. Among them, the largest and most eye-catching flag prominently displays a giant character: "High!"

Every year at this time, it is also the most bustling moment in the city of Chang'an. After enduring the hardships of spring and the labors of summer, people finally look forward to the season of harvest. They see the produce in the fields, the fruits on the trees, and the goods in the shops, all transformed into heavy copper, gleaming silver, shining gold, and warm silk. The nerves that had been tense for most of the year quickly relax. Taking a deep breath, they change into their finest clothes, don their most beautiful caps, and those who are to climb mountains go to climb, while those who are to visit friends go to visit. Those who are to fulfill the promises made in spring hire a matchmaker, bringing along candied fruits from Lingnan, fine gauze from Wu and Yue, and a pair of white jade from the city of Suiye in the Western Regions, to respectfully seek the hand of the daughter of the esteemed family at Mount Tai.

"I really broke it!" Wang Xun was startled and, forgetting to continue his banter with the musician Xiao Ping'er, turned around and embraced Bai Xingzhi in his arms. Before he could lower his gaze to investigate further along the open neckline, Bai Xingzhi had already raised her head with a smile, gracefully offering him her two red lips.

"If my sister is willing, after the Double Ninth Festival, I can redeem her." Wang Xun's heart immediately ached, and he sat up straight, making a solemn promise.

Halfway through speaking, I was made to feel guilty by the smile in Bai Xingzhi's eyes beside me. Turning my head away, I stiffened my neck and added, "Martial artists, do you understand martial artists? Sometimes, even if one feels they lack strength, with a moment's carelessness, they can crush a stone into powder..."

"You, your words are truly venomous!" Bai Xingzhi pointed a finger and poked forward, "Those people are warriors who expand territories in the Western Regions; how can they be compared to those silver-tongued individuals in the capital?"

Before her words had finished, Bai Xingzhi immediately lowered her head, glanced down at her own bust, and then let out a soft gasp, crouching down while holding her chest.

"At last, it is finally quiet!" Wang Xun said with a smile, gently turning the beauty's body with his hand

"Er Lang, do not listen to that girl’s nonsense!" Bai Xingzhi interrupted with a smile, casually picking up a plum and stuffing it into Wang Xun's mouth. "The green duckweed is planted in the pond; whether it is picked a day earlier or a day later, it is still up to Er Lang to decide, isn’t it? As a woman, I have no need to be so picky. It’s just that a few new sisters in the building still cannot sing the songs properly. Er Lang, allow me to enjoy another year of leisure, and once I have taught them well, I will be able to let go with peace of mind. From then on, the songs will be sung only for Er Lang!"