Chapter Thirty-Four: The Eight Beauties Compete for Spring

  On the eve of his departure, Xincheng Bo Zhao Zhilong set up a banquet for Wang Puqian at the Weixiang Pavilion by the Qinhuai River, and also invited Chengyi Bo Liu Kanzhao, Wei Guogong Xu Hongji, as well as the two young masters Chang Yanling and Li Zusu to accompany him.

  At this time, it was still a while before the banquet began, and the host and guest of honor had not yet arrived. However, in the Fragrant Pavilion, there were already sounds of music and dance, laughter and conversation filling the air. The famous Southern Opera stars, Liu Ruzi, Li Xiangjun, Dong Xiaowan, Li Shiniang, Gu Mei, Kou Baimen, and Bian Yujing had all arrived and were gathered around Chen Yuanyuan, teasing her and chatting with each other.

  After the sisters' whispers, Li Xiangjun asked eagerly: "Yuanyuan sister, I heard that General Wang was willing to be held hostage by the Taohu Mountain bandits in order to save you. Is this true?"

  The other sisters also perked up their ears, although they had heard rumors about this before, but in their hearts, they still had some doubts. They all thought that a general like Wang Pu, who had just made great contributions to the country, would risk his life for a woman of humble origins was somewhat unlikely.

  "Uh-huh." Chen Yuanyuan recalled Wang Pu's resolute tone at the time, as well as his daring actions, and her eyes softened in response. "This is true."

  "Yuan Yuan, you are truly blessed." Li Xiangjun said with her hands supporting her cheeks, not without a hint of envy. "General Wang risked his own life to save you, such a perfect husband is hard to find even with a lantern. And little sister also heard that General Wang has publicly sworn, after entering the capital and meeting the emperor, he will return to Jiangnan and marry you with red carpets and a grand procession, is that true?"

  The atmosphere in the attic became somewhat awkward.

  Liu Ruyi, Li Shiniang and the still young Li Xiangjun, Dong Xiaowan were truly happy for Chen Yuanyuan, but Kou Baimen, Gu Mei and Bian Yujing couldn't help but feel jealous in their hearts, secretly sighing that Chen Yuanyuan's fate was too good. Wang Pu not only had feelings for her, but also wanted to marry her as his legitimate wife, it seemed like all the good things were monopolized by her alone?

  "Good sister." Chen Yuanyuan was clever and perceptive, how could she not feel the change in atmosphere between sisters? She gently wrapped her arms around Li Xiangjun's shoulders and said softly, "The general has mentioned this before, but I never dared to have such extravagant hopes. We are after all courtesans, it's already difficult enough to be able to leave our profession and find a home, how can we still hope for social status?"

  "Yuanyuan, you're wrong to say that." Liu Ruzi said, "Who says we courtesans can't ask for a name? Since General Wang has said so, in the future when you return to Jiangnan, if he doesn't lay out the red carpet and use eight sedan chairs to marry you, I won't agree to it first."

  Liu Rushi was the most miserable in life among the eight beauties of Qinhuai, and her experience was also the most bumpy, but she also had the strongest personality.

  Liu Ruosi's father was originally a royal physician, but he died unjustly after being framed by wicked people. His mother entrusted someone to bring Liu Ruosi back to her natal home and handed him over to his uncle before hanging herself. Liu Ruosi became an orphan at the age of three. When Liu Ruosi was thirteen years old, his uncle fell seriously ill. In order to treat his uncle's illness, Liu Ruosi had no choice but to sell himself into slavery in the household of Zhou Daodeng, a former official who had been dismissed from office and was living at home as a servant girl.

  Zhou Daodeng, over sixty years old, took Liu Rushi, only thirteen years old, as his concubine. This move aroused the jealousy of his other wives and concubines, who conspired to sell Liu Rushi into the Guijia Yuan (a brothel) in Wujiang Shengze. Because Liu Rushi was still young, she was first made a servant girl for Xu Fo, a famous courtesan of the Southern Song Dynasty at the time.

  Later, with the help of Xu Fo, Liu Ruzi was able to redeem herself and from then on wandered around Songjiang, Suzhou, Nanjing, Yangzhou, Hangzhou and other places, having many interactions with local scholars. Liu Ruzi's original intention was to find her ideal husband among the local scholars and spend the rest of her life with him, but the result only brought her disappointment time and time again.

  However, one setback after another did not make Liu Ruyi lose confidence in life, but instead made her more persistent and stronger.

  Among the eight beauties of Qinhuai, Liu Ruyi is not the most beautiful, nor is she the most talented, but she is absolutely the most aspirational and has the strongest faith. In her heart, there has always been a dream: she not only wants to find her ideal husband, but also wants him to marry her with a grand ceremony, using red carpets and a sedan chair. Moreover, she wants to use her knowledge to help her future husband achieve great things and become a high-ranking official.

  "Sister." Chen Yuanyuan grasped Liu Ruo's small hand and asked anxiously, "I heard you went to Changshu the other day, did you see Old Man Qian?"

  Liu Ruyi's face showed a hint of embarrassment, and she lightly murmured in response.

  Chen Yuanyuan widened her beautiful eyes and hastily said, "Sister, you can't be seriously thinking of marrying Qian Jianyi, that old scholar? He's a whole thirty-six years older than you!"

  Liu Ru said in a low voice: "Sister hasn't thought it through yet."

  "Don't even think about it," Chen Yuanyuan said hastily, "Sister, you can't marry him."

  Liu Ruyi smiled slightly and held Chen Yuanyuan's small hand, saying softly: "Good sister, not every sister is as lucky as you."

  "Or, or..." Chen Yuanyuan plucked up the courage to say in a low voice, "Why don't little sister go and talk to the general, ask him to marry you too? I'm willing to be the younger one, really, elder sister you look like an immortal and are intelligent beyond compare, staying by the general's side will definitely be of great help, unlike me, who can only sing and dance."

  "Good sister." Liu Ruo Si gently hugged Chen Yuan Yuan, feeling both grateful and pitiful in her heart, and said softly, "You really are a silly sister. Other women would think of ways to prevent their husbands from taking concubines, but there's no one like you, who hasn't even formally entered the household yet, and is already busy trying to get your husband to take a wife."

  "But we're good sisters, aren't we?" Chen Yuanyuan urged, "And besides, sister, you're so intelligent and capable, you must be able to help the general with his busy schedule. By helping the general, you'd be helping me, your little sister, and I'd be grateful, how could I possibly be jealous?"

  "Silly little sister." Liu Ruo Is smoothed Chen Yuanyuan's hair and smiled, "Then don't you ask if your sister is willing? The one your sister wants to marry is a scholar from Shilin, not the great general who guards the border of the imperial court. Alright, little sister, tell us about you and General Wang, we're all curious."

  Chen Yuanyuan's face flushed with a shy expression, and she said in a low voice: "What is there to say?"

  At this time, Gu Mei could finally interject and asked: "Yuan Yuan, I heard that your husband brought back a large amount of gold, silver, ginseng, and eastern pearls from Liaodong. I was wondering if you could help me out and buy some gold and silver accessories from him? If it's possible to get two eastern pearls, that would be even better."

  As soon as Gu Mei's words fell, the rest of the people, including Bai Men, Bian Yu Jing, Li Shi Niang and others, were also moved. The golden and silver ornaments, ginseng and so on were nothing special, but this Dongzhu was a rare treasure, which was priceless in Jiangnan! Grinding Dongzhu into powder and applying it to the face had an amazing effect on beauty, and it had always been a treasured dream of courtesans.

  Chen Yuanyuan smiled sweetly and said in a gentle voice: "No need for sisters to say it, I'm already prepared."

  Having said that, Chen Yuanyuan turned her head and shouted outside the attic: "Mom, bring everything up!"

  The madam of the brothel, Li Dainiang, walked in with a swaying waist and hips, followed by seven maidservants. Each of them held a tray, on which were placed two brocade boxes, one long and one square. The workmanship of the boxes was exquisite, with subtle patterns on the surface, obviously fine products from the Nanjing Brocade Workshop.

  Chen Yuanyuan smiled and said: "This is a small gift that little sister has prepared for her sisters, sisters quickly open it and take a look."

  Gu Mei, Kou Baimen, Bian Yujing and Li Xiangjun, Dong Xiaowan opened their own two brocade boxes, only to see that the long box contained an old ginseng, while the square box contained a large East Pearl as big as a chicken egg! Gu Mei, Li Xiangjun and Dong Xiaowan's beautiful eyes lit up instantly, but Bian Yujing's beautiful eyes floated with a hint of unusual color.

  "Ah yo!" Madam Li shouted, clapping her hands, "Miss Yuan, this gift of yours is truly too heavy."

  "Mom, I've also prepared a portion for you. I'll have someone send it over later."

  "How can I possibly be so presumptuous?"

  Chen Yuanyuan, Li Xiangjun and Dong Xiaowan covered their mouths and giggled. Mrs. Li smiled knowingly and said: "Alright, you girls chat among yourselves, I'll go to the kitchen and see to things. Today, let your mother treat you to a taste of her culinary skills."

  After Li Danni left, Liu Ruzi said: "Good sister, this gift is too heavy, I cannot accept it."

  "Sister." Chen Yuanyuan pulled on Liu Ruzi's small hand and said, "This is the betrothal gift that General Wang gave to Yufeng's class, but Captain Wang only accepted half of it. The other half was returned to Little Sister as her dowry, this is Little Sister's heart's desire. If you don't accept it, then it means you don't care about me, your sister."

  "Alright, sister," said Gu Mei with a smile, "it's rare for Yuan Yuan to have such a thoughtful intention, so you'd better accept it."

  "Really? Then you can have it, sister."

  "Take it."

  Li Xiangjun and Dong Xiaowan also came forward to advise him.

  Just as Liu Ruyu was about to decline, a soft and charming voice came from downstairs: "Ladies, General Wang and the guests have arrived..."