Chapter 17: The Relative Bath of Red Clothes

  After seeing Du Daxian off, Xiao Jia Ding arrived at his own lodging inn. He only took a string of small coins and put them in his money bag. Since Zhu Haisheng was treating him to dinner, he didn't need to spend his own money. Then he stepped out the door and headed straight for the riverbank.

  Arriving at the Emerald Jade Building, this place has the most guests on the entire street, and almost all of them are literary figures. Because the girls in the Emerald Jade Building mostly sell their art but not their bodies, they are the favorite type of courtesan among those literati.

  Xiao Jia Ding stepped inside, and immediately, Gui Gong came to greet him with a smile, saying: "Young Master, you've arrived. You... hmm? Aren't you Xiao Gongzi?"

  Xiao Jiading was taken aback: "You know me?"

  "Oh dear, yesterday you were in front of our building making friends with poetry and defeated the number one scholar of Yi state, Zhong Wenbo. We were just watching from the entrance. How could we not recognize you? Are you here to see Miss Ya Niang? Oh dear, what bad timing! Miss Ya Niang has a guest. But don't worry, Mr. Xiao, I'll go and report to Miss Ya Niang for you, let's see what she says. Miss Ya Niang has already said that as long as it's you who came, report to her immediately."

  Xiao Jiading nodded and said: "You go tell her, I'll go find Zhu Haishan first. Has he arrived?"

  "Coming, coming," it seems that Zhu Haiyin is a regular here, so the tortoise replied without hesitation, "I'll lead you there first."

  Following the tortoise to a room on the second floor, I heard Zhu Haisheng's loud voice inside saying: "Crazy Mei girl, you bully me and say that my old Zhu's poetry is not good. When my big brother comes later, I'll let you know what it means to be fierce!"

  Xiao Jia Ding smiled slightly and pushed open the door, and saw that Zhu Haiyin was sitting on the left and right sides of him, with two charming women leaning against him. The tables in front of them were filled with exquisite dishes and fine wines. In the middle of the main hall, a woman sat upright, playing the zither. Hearing someone push open the door, she looked up and couldn't help but be overjoyed, saying: "So it's Young Master Xiao who has arrived! Quickly get up and pay your respects!" "I am Zhi Mei, at your service, Young Master Xiao."

  Since this woman recognized herself, she should be one of the women who was watching from upstairs last night. Xiao Jia Ding returned the courtesy with a bow. On the other side, Zhu Haiyin had already stood up and burst out laughing: "Big brother has finally arrived! Little brother almost died waiting! Please sit down quickly! Have some food and drink more wine." He ordered one of the women beside him to go and re-serve the dishes, and also to ask his mother to find two obedient servant girls to serve Xiao Gongzi. The woman responded and hurried out.

  When Xiao Jiading sat down, Zhu Haixin respectfully introduced the beautiful woman sitting next to the piano: "This is one of the top beauties of Cuixiulou, Cui Mei! She's hard to come by even with a lot of money! I'm also seeing her for the first time. She just sang a song she wrote herself and asked me to give her some feedback. Brother, you arrived at the right time, why don't you give her some pointers?"

  That foolish Mei also gazed eagerly at Xiao Jia Ding, and Fu Li said: "Please, young master, impart your teachings."

  "Please listen carefully." Xiao Jiading returned the courtesy with a bow. Da Ci sat on the couch, picked up a chicken leg and started gnawing on it.

  Although Na Chi Mei's reputation wasn't as great as Ya Niang's, she was still one of the top-ranking courtesans in Cuixiulou. Even someone like Zhu Haisheng, who spent money like water, had to wait in line for a long time before he could see her tonight.

  Because Chi Mei can compose and write lyrics herself, she is renowned among scholars. Whenever people listen to her sing or watch her dance, they sit up straight with rapt attention, never has anyone reacted like Xiao Jia Ding did, gnawing on a chicken leg while smiling and watching her. However, last night's performance by Xiao Jia Ding left a deep impression on Chi Mei, his talent is such that even ten of herself couldn't compare to him in terms of appreciating music.

  At this moment, Mei smiled slightly and said: "I'll recite this poem first, please instruct me, sir. Then I can play the zither, okay?"

  "Go ahead!" Xiao Jia Ding muttered indistinctly with his mouth full.

  The plum blossoms cleared their throat and crisply recited:

  Seven machines

  Mandarin ducks' brocade is almost done, yet still hesitant.

  Only fear being lightly cut by others

  Parted in two places

  A lingering sorrow

  What's the plan for our next outing?

  Xiao Jiading listened, smiled and nodded: "Written very well... On the brocade, a pair of mandarin ducks were woven, but the brocade will always be taken away by people to make clothes. If they happened to cut the mandarin ducks in half and gave them to two people to wear as clothes, wouldn't this pair of ill-fated mandarin ducks be separated forever? What method would they have to meet again? This poem of yours has truly written out such a sorrowful parting. Indeed, it is a rare good poem, only a bit too melancholic. I, Xiao Jiading, am not talented, but I will also compose a poem, how about 'Dog Tail Continues the Sable'?"

  Chī Méi was overjoyed and Fú Lǐ said: "This is excellent, to be able to get the young master's consent, Chī Méi is extremely honored."

  Xiao Jia Ding took another bite of the chicken leg, chewed twice, thought for a moment, and slowly recited that beautiful poem from Jin Yong's "The Legend of the Condor Hero":

  Four machines

  Mandarin ducks are about to fly together in pairs.

  Pitifully, before growing old, his hair has turned white.

  Spring waves emerald grass

  In the depths of dawn's chill

  Wearing red clothes while taking a bath.

  Xiao Jiading finished reciting, Zhu Haixin applauded and praised: "Laborious swallow separates flying is not good, taking a bath together is the beautiful thing, good words! Good words!"

  That foolish Mei was indeed infatuated, standing there blankly, repeatedly reciting Xiao Jia Ding's poem. Isn't this the dream that she most yearned for but couldn't attain? Thinking of the sorrowful parts, she couldn't help but slowly shed tears.

  Just then, a female voice outside the door also called out: "Xiao Gongzi, you've touched someone's sore spot!" After speaking, the door was pushed open and at the entrance stood a stunning beauty with a thousand charms and an enchanting demeanor - none other than Cui Yu Lou's flower queen, Ya Niang.

  Zhu Haixin was stunned. He had always wanted to meet Ya Niang, but to see her, one needed not only a lot of money, but also talent that she would appreciate. One had to send their poetry to her for review, and if she liked it, they could become an honored guest. Zhu Haixin had the money, but lacked poetic talent. One of his reasons for fawning over Xiao Jia Ding was to borrow his talent to fulfill his own beautiful dream. Now, Miss Ya Niang had actually appeared, and on her own initiative, how could he not be overjoyed?

  Zhu Haixin hastily stepped forward, bowing to the ground: "I am Zhu Haixin, I have seen Miss Ya Niang! Being able to see Miss Ya Niang is truly a blessing of three lifetimes..."

  Yan Niang nodded slightly, her beautiful eyes fixed on Xiao Jia Ding's. She moved with a gentle swaying motion, like a willow in the spring breeze, and came to stand before him. Turning her head, she glanced at Chi Mei, then smiled sweetly at Xiao Jia Ding: "She has someone dear to her, but they can't be together all the time, so I wrote this poem to express her longing. You've managed to capture the essence of it today - you must have touched her heart deeply! This little girl will probably find it hard to sleep tonight... and it's all thanks to your good deed!"

  Xiao Jiading continued to gnaw on the chicken leg, smiling and saying: "Ya Niang young lady, aren't you supposed to have a noble guest? How do you have time to see me?"

  "Xiao Gongzi, the number one talented young man of Yi State, has arrived. How could Ya Niang not come to meet him? Moreover, that noble guest also admires Gongzi's talent and wants to meet him, so he asked me to come over and make an appointment for a meeting. I don't know if Gongzi will grant us the honor?"

  "Oh? Your honored guest wants to see me? Who is it?"

  "Then you'll know when the young master goes?"

  "Alright, let's go." Xiao Jiading was gnawing on a chicken leg and about to head out when Zhu Haishan hastily called out: "Big brother! Can you take little brother with you?"

  Before Xiao Jiading could respond, Ya Niang's eyebrows furrowed slightly as she said, "That noble guest doesn't see outsiders..."

  Xiao Jia Ding's eyes rolled around and he said: "He is not an outsider, he is my good brother, let's go together."

  Zhu Haixin was overjoyed and hastily said: "Right right, I'm his good brother, not an outsider, hehehe."

  Ya Niang looked at Xiao Jia Ding with a faint smile and said: "Since that's the case, then let's go together."

  Just as he was speaking, **had already brought two seductive women over: "Master Zhu, the girls you wanted have arrived. This is Cuihua..."

  "Who wants these mediocre and common things? I've never wanted them!"

  Also saw Ya Niang, she was a clever person, immediately changed her mouth and said: "It's Wang Gongzi who wants it, walked into the wrong door." Hurriedly pulled the two women to follow Ya Niang and smiled away.

  Zhu Haixin said with a smile: "They got it wrong, they made a mistake. Hehe"

  Ya Niang didn't look at him, but gazed tenderly at Xiao Jia Ding: "Young Master, please follow me."

  Following Ya Niang to the backyard, as soon as they went out of the door, they saw a crescent moon already hanging in the sky. They entered a small flower garden, which was a separate courtyard that only the head courtesan of Cuixiulou could enjoy. After entering the courtyard, the winding path made of broken stones on both sides was lined with green bamboo, which looked extremely serene under the moonlight. In the garden, there was an ancient and elegant house, and at the door stood two lovely little maidservants, who hastened to pay their respects as soon as they saw them arrive.

  Inside the house, before clearing the account, on a couch, reclined a middle-aged man with three long whiskers, looking very elegant and carefree. Seeing Xiao Jia Ding and others come in, he didn't get up, just slightly nodded his head.

  This man has a big tone, Xiao Jia Ding is somewhat unhappy, so he didn't take the initiative to salute, and stood there casually looking at the middle-aged man.

  Ya Niang smiled and said: "Xiao Gongzi, this is Tang Da Lang, Tang Ye. ——Da Lang, this is Xiao Gongzi you wanted to see."

  Tang Dalang nodded and said: "Hello, Xiao Gongzi!"

  Xiao Jiading also smiled back, without returning the courtesy, and said: "Hello, it's really a coincidence. My milk name is also Dalang."

  Tang Dalang said faintly with a hint of desolation: "There are many people under the sky who are called Dalang. Not just between us two."

  Xiao Jia Ding was originally being humored, but this sentence made him choke back, and the big one was unhappy.

  The maid quickly brought over two stools and set up a few trays. Zhu Haisheng sat with his buttocks on the stool, legs straight and back upright. Xiao Jiatian, however, sat cross-legged on the stool, took a glance at the table where there were only fruits and pastries but no food, and since he had already finished gnawing on his chicken leg, he put the bone on the table, picked up a pastry and stuffed it into his mouth, mumbling to Ya Niang and Tang Dalang: "Sorry, I haven't finished dinner yet, just having something to eat first."