Chapter Seven: The Great Husband

  No matter how chaotic Dingzhou is, there will always be some places that are like a paradise on earth, unaffected by the chaos. There will also always be some people who are carefree and serene, still indulging in the beauty of nature, living a life of leisure and poetry. Le Taoju is such a place, and the famous doctor Huan Xi is such a person.

  Le Tao Ju is now a high-end club, well, to put it more bluntly, it's a high-end brothel. Of course, such places are not accessible to ordinary people. It's not that you can just throw money around and the women will take off their pants for you like in some low-class brothel. The girls here require not only money but also fame, elegance, and the ability to recite poetry, paint, sing, and play musical instruments. Only then are you welcome to enter. But being able to enter doesn't mean you can become a favored customer; it still depends on whether the girls here look up to you or not.

  So, most of the people who come to Le Ta Ju are either famous scholars or officials with high social status from Dingzhou. It's extremely rare for military officers from the Dingzhou army to come here, because it's easy for them to show off their martial arts skills, but it's much harder for them to compose poetry and engage in witty repartee. Even General Xiao Yuanshan, the commander of the Dingzhou army, only came once with Governor Fang Wenshan, and never set foot here again. It's said that General Xiao was deeply embarrassed during his visit, and left in a huff, but the details of what happened are known only to a few insiders.

  So today, the waiter at Le Tao Ju saw several military officers wearing brand new uniforms walking in with their heads held high and their eyes widened in surprise.

  These people were of course Li Qing and his subordinates. For two days, Li Qing had gone to the Huan Mansion several times to request an audience, but was rebuffed each time, not even getting a glimpse of Huan Xi's face. Today, he finally found out that the old man had come to Le Tao Ju to find Dong Zi, and Li Qing decided to make an uninvited visit. If you can't enter my house, can this old man still not enter? I'll trap him in the building, haha, maybe some things are better said this way.

  With a mischievous mood, Li Qing put on the military uniform of the Eagle General he had just received and stepped into Le Tao's residence with a high spirit.

  "General, what brings you to our humble abode? Is there some official business or are you looking for that certain gentleman?" The host greeted him with a smile.

  Li Qing sat down on the horseback chair, looking around in all directions. This Le Tao Ju didn't look like a building at all, but rather a grand hall decorated with simplicity and elegance. There were no beautiful women as he had imagined, but instead it was quiet and peaceful. Through the curtains leading to the inner room, one could vaguely see a large garden. The servant who came to greet him wore a green robe and a scholar's hat, looking like a learned man.

  "There's nothing official, just idle chatter. I heard that Le Tao Ju is quite famous, so I came to take a look." Li Qing waved his hand and said casually. As they spoke, the maid had already brought tea over and placed it in front of Li Qing.

  The guest smiled slightly, and it turned out that he was a country bumpkin who had never seen the world. He came to see something new, but didn't know the rules of this Le Tao Ju.

  "Is that so? I wonder if General has a familiar girl?"

  "It's my first time here, are there any familiar girls?" Li Qing smiled and said.

  "That's a bit difficult, sir. The military gentleman is unaware of our rules and regulations here. Generally, without an introduction, we don't receive guests." The doorman was polite and courteous.

  Li Qing lowered his head to drink tea, thinking about how to steer the conversation towards Huan Xi. Behind him, Feng Guoke was annoyed and coldly snorted: "What a big shot! You're just a young master, but you act like an official. What's so special about coming here? You've arrived, what more do you want?"

  The guest's smile didn't change, but his tone became less polite: "Look at what this military officer said. Our Letaoju is indeed a humble abode, but even if Governor Fang himself came, we would still be respectful. After all, General Xiao was also introduced by Governor Fang back then." The implication being, your superior comes here and has to follow the rules, do you think you few shrimp soldiers and crab generals can throw your weight around?

  Feng Guo's face immediately turned red, he opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but Li Qing raised her hand and made him shut up.

  "Has Master Huan come here before?"

  Zhī kè's face changed slightly, "Does General know Mr. Heng?"

  Li Qinggan smiled and said, "I've long admired your reputation, I didn't know Master Heng was lingering here with that young lady?"

  Zhī kè's mind turned a few times, but he really couldn't figure out what this military officer was doing here. "Héng yé is currently meeting with Miss Jiāng Yān."

  Li Qing stood up and said, "Alright, let's go see Miss Mingyan then. We can also pay our respects to the renowned doctor Heng Tianxia at the same time."

  Mr. Zhi Ke opened his mouth, looking at Li Qing, not knowing what to say. Mingyan was the top card here, not only beautiful and unparalleled, but also skilled in reciting poetry, playing and singing, and all the dignitaries who came and went were from Dingzhou. This officer was just a hawk-like lieutenant, yet he opened his mouth and wanted to see Mingyan.

  "Lead the way!" Li Qing said calmly.

  The guest was stunned for a long time before saying: "According to the rules of Le Tao Ju, if you want to see Miss Mingyan, you must first pay 100 taels of silver."

  "Ah!" Not just Feng Guo, but also Li Qing was stunned, "So expensive?"

  Seeing Li Qing's expression, the guest gradually recovered his mood. "Is it expensive? It shouldn't be, and after paying, we're only responsible for bringing the guest to Miss Mingyan's building downstairs. Whether they meet or not depends on Miss Mingyan."

  Feng Guo burst out again, "One hundred and two silver ingots, can't even get to see the person? Why don't you go rob? Damn it, more barbaric than the barbarians!"

  The innkeeper shrugged his shoulders, meaning you can't afford the silver, so hurry up and leave.

  Li Qing was also annoyed, a prostitute dared to be so arrogant, really thinking she was a precious treasure. If it wasn't for betting with Huang Xi, I'd fart at you! He sank his face and said to Feng Guo: "Pay up!"

  Feng Guo cursed and pulled out several silver tickets from his pocket, took one out, handed it to the doorman, his face was extremely painful, this was the full camp military pay he had just received, and now one-fifth of it was gone.

  The waiter who took the money didn't waste any words, his eyes only flashing with two words: idiot. How could Mingyan see you big soldiers and thugs, this hundred taels of silver would be thrown into the water and still make a sound.

  As they walked into the inner courtyard of Le Tao Ju, Li Qingcai found that it was indeed a unique and secluded place, a typical Jiangnan garden with artificial hills and winding streams, painted corridors and small bridges, and among the lush bamboo and cypress trees were hidden pavilions. Along the winding path, several people walked to the front of a small red building, where the butler said: "This is Miss Mingyan's residence, please wait for a moment, I will go and announce your arrival."

  Li Qing smiled and said: "Please go ahead." Then he turned his back, put his hands behind him, and began to appreciate the scenery in the garden with great interest.

  In the room, Huan Xi was reclining on a desk, with several delicate pastries placed on it. A pot of warm wine emitted a faint white vapor, releasing its mellow fragrance. With one hand supporting his forehead and the other gently tapping on the desk, he was intently listening to the woman opposite him playing the guqin.

  The door was gently pushed open, and Qing Er, Meiyu's personal maid, walked in quietly with a hint of intention. Meiyu's eyes flashed, her hand stroked the guqin, and the music stopped abruptly. Huan Xi opened his eyes, sat up straight, and applauded: "Good, good, Miss Meiyu! It's been a month since I last saw you, and your guqin skills have improved again. To hear such elegant sounds, I should toast to that!" He poured himself a cup of wine, drained it in one gulp, and closed his eyes as if reminiscing. His mouth still murmured: "The sound lingers, the sound lingers..."

  Qing'er leaned in close to Mingyan's ear and whispered something, Mingyan's eyes flashed with surprise, glanced at Huan Xi sitting across from him, and smiled: "Lord Huan, it seems we have a guest."

  Huan Xi didn't think much of it, "Oh, who is it? If it's an old friend of Mingyan's, please come in and have a few cups with us, and let's appreciate the young lady's zither skills together."

  Mingyan smiled and said: "It's not that the young lady has friends, but rather a few military officers. I'm afraid they're here to find Lord Huan. It seems they're willing to spend some money!"

  "Looking for me?" Huan Xi was taken aback, his mind racing for a moment. "Is it several young military officers, led by an Eagle General?" Mingyan nodded and said: "Since Mr. Huan knows them, please invite the young lady to come up."

  Huan Xi snorted: "How annoying, it's really a lingering ghost that won't disperse, and it actually found its way here."

  "Could it be that you're an evil guest?"

  Huan Xi nodded: "Not bad, these few days, those big-headed soldiers have been chattering in front of my mansion every day, asking me to go and treat the wounds of his soldiers. What a joke! Who do I, Huan Xi, think I am? Being treated as if I'm some kind of itinerant doctor? Don't see him, don't see him!"

  "Since that's the case, I'll take care of it for Lord Huan!" Qing'er smiled and said: "Qing'er, go tell the guests that according to the rules, if they want to see me, they need to compose a good poem or be proficient in music theory. If they can't, then I'm afraid I won't have the pleasure of meeting them."

  Huan Xi burst out laughing: "Good, this plan is wonderful. Those few rascals don't understand poetry or rhythm, they will definitely slink away with their tails between their legs."

  Mingyan said: "It's easy to get rid of the little girl here, but I'm afraid these few people will be resentful and block the entrance of Letaoju, then Governor Huan won't be able to come out."

  Huan Xi smiled and said: "Just right, just right. I only wonder if Meng Yan is willing to let me pay for the betrothal gift?"

  Meng Yan covered his mouth and smiled: "Huan Gongxiu wants to make fun of Meng Yan, you know me."

  Huan Xi let out a disappointed sigh.

  Outside the building, Feng Guo jumped eight feet high. "What? Writing poetry? Has something gone wrong? Sir, this silver is like throwing it into the water!" The doorman on the side was smiling with a knowing expression, as if he had expected this all along.

  Li Qing's expression changed slightly as he looked at the small, disdainful face of Xiao Xiaoyan in front of him, and he coldly thought to himself: "It really is a case of poisoning someone."

  "Bring me paper and pen." said Li Qing.

  "General!" Feng Guo's eyes widened, and several bodyguards' eyes also widened. The servant's mouth began to form an "O" shape. The little girl Qing'er opposite him was taken aback for a moment, but quickly fetched paper and pen, smiling: "This military officer, you mustn't write a poem about beating oil!"

  Li Qingli ignored him and turned to Feng Guodao: "Grind the ink!" He picked up his brush, tilted his head in contemplation for a moment, then began to write. The strokes flowed like dragons and snakes, and in an instant, he had written a poem on the paper.

  "It's not that I love the worldly dust, but rather it seems I was mistaken by a past life. Flowers bloom and wither, all in due time, relying on the master of the East. Leaving is inevitable, staying is impossible. If I could wear a crown of mountain flowers, don't ask where my home is."

  Note: This phrase comes from a poem by Yan Rui of the Song Dynasty, which is about a courtesan's resistance to oppression and yearning for freedom. It is borrowed here.

  Also: Three chapters are presented today, and three will be presented tomorrow as well. Shamelessly asking for votes.