অধ্যায় একশ বাহান্ন: অধম
ন원 the servant led the way through a landscaped garden that muffled all the surrounding noise, bringing them to an elegant residence. The dwelling had no walls or doors on its four sides, shielded instead by screens where figures cast faint shadows, perfectly blocking the view from the outside.
The servant had already retreated.
Li Xingzhi walked toward the door with a trace of curiosity, just as he was about to step past the screen, a zither suddenly struck. Its sound was like a clear spring trickling into the depths of the heart. Following that, a pure yet chilling voice rang out. Melodious and lingering, it carried an unspeakable sorrow; when it rose high, it was like a cuckoo crying blood, and when it turned low, it resembled the muffled weeping of a cold spring, sending a sudden chill straight to the bone and stirring a deep-seated sorrow!
Even a cultivation practitioner like Li Xingzhi, whose mental fortitude was exceptionally strong, could not help but feel a stirring of melancholy!
Listening to the lingering, clear music, Li Xingzhi paused for a moment, shook his head slightly, let out a sigh, and stepped past the screen into the main hall.
Inside, upon a raised wooden platform, stood a woman with a slender figure, a veil covering her face, draped in shimmering rainbow-like garments. Her long sleeves fluttered as she danced, seemingly concealing her gradually revealing seductive charm either intentionally or unintentionally. Amidst her soft and graceful dance steps, there was an inexplicable ruggedness, which strangely and uniquely blended with the sorrowful song she chanted! To the listeners, it was as if they were witnessing firsthand the cruel scene of clashing armors, charging horses, and blood splattering everywhere! Horses neighed and the wind wept softly!
Yet for some reason, Li Xingzhi faintly caught a hint of unyielding determination amidst it all!
How could a courtesan harbor such mournful and poignant sentiments? Li Xingzhi did not quite understand, and simply continued to enjoy the exquisite dance and music.
Beside the screen of the wooden platform, a middle-aged woman watched the dancing woman in the center. Her brows were tightly locked, a fierce glint flashed in her eyes, and her oval face, which still retained a touch of charm, twisted into an indescribable ferocity! "Wretched girl, I merely asked you to find some entertainment, why must you sing these mournful dirges! It seems you still need a thorough disciplining..."
As the dance and song ended, the hall fell into absolute silence. Suddenly, thunderous applause erupted, cheers filled the air, and rewards of silk rained down endlessly! In an instant, the ferocity on the woman's face vanished entirely, replaced only by a gentle smile, her eyes brimming with joy!
Only then did Li Xingzhi notice that the hall was filled with countless low tables, most of which were occupied by young gentlemen or scholars who fancied themselves romantic literati.
"Splendid! Maiden Ying'er sang wonderfully! I, Qian Youde, offer a hundred bolts of flowered silk, just to request a brief conversation with the maiden!" A sickly-looking youth with a greasy face and weak legs stood up, staring at the departing figure and shouting loudly.
The surrounding people all frowned deeply as they watched the swaggering man stand up, showing clear disapproval! Yet no one stepped forward to rebuke him. On the contrary, the middle-aged woman standing by the screen had smiles crinkling the corners of her eyes, her face folding into the shape of a large chrysanthemum, while the depths of her brows and eyes were entirely filled with thoughts of half a cartload of silk goods.
"Hmph! Son of a vile merchant, do not profane an immortal-like figure such as Maiden Ying'er!" Someone, already captivated by the beauty on stage, felt a surge of indignation and blurted it out!
With someone taking the lead, the people nearby chimed in, and the murmurs grew louder! The few companions sitting next to the greasy-faced youth quietly edged away, as if feeling disgraced by association.
Hearing the remarks of those around him, Qian Youde’s powdered face turned a mottled shade of dark green and red, shifting incessantly!
"You, you..."
Surrounded either by young masters of prominent families or talented scholars, Qian Youde, despite harboring a thousand vulgarities in his heart, dared not utter a single syllable, and the pent-up anger rose straight to his chest!
Just then, the music chimed like a timely rescue, ringing out like a mountain stream's clear spring to suppress the noise in the hall, instantly calming the heavy atmosphere.
Li Xingzhi also found a low table, composed his mind, and listened to the worldly breeze melodies from the depths of the mortal realm, sipping natural sheep's milk with a slight gamey tang. He gently swayed his head, feeling utterly content!
Suddenly, the duck-like voice of the powdered young master sitting in the hall called out again to his dissolute companions, as if afraid the people nearby wouldn't hear him. His tone was laced with immense smugness: "Among the four major merchant families of Chang'an—Zhao, Qian, Sun, and Li—my Qian family has come from behind and is now no worse than the Zhao family. As for that Li family... Hehe..."
The well-dressed companions beside him, evidently also scions of merchant families, knowingly took up the cue upon hearing Qian Youde's words: "The Li family? What about the Li family? I heard the once-declining Li family has recently latched onto a powerful backer and is about to see its withered tree bloom in spring!"
"Though the Li family isn't worthy of my Qian family's regard, they are somewhat formidable! But there is something you don't know: the betrothed wife of the Li family's legitimate grandson is about to fall right into my, Qian Youde's, hands!"
"The Li family's legitimate grandson?" The companions looked at Qian Youde with skepticism. "Didn't the Li family's lineage die out long ago?" The malicious intent in the words was glaringly obvious, causing several upright scholars nearby to shake their heads and sigh.
"Die out? That direct bloodline was found again! Though whether he's a bastard or a wild spawn, I suppose the Li family themselves don't even know!" Qian Youde's eyes flashed with sinister malice as he continued: "You don't know this, but Miss Zhou of Chang'an and the Li boy were betrothed by their parents. However, the Zhou family took a fancy to my dashing appearance and vast wealth, and are preparing to send that Zhou family maiden over for me to play with..." As he spoke, his expression turned vulgar and he let out continuous lewd laughter. The companions beside him also broke into knowing, loud laughter...
The Qian family? Listening to Qian Youde's words, Li Xingzhi's gaze flickered uncertainly, glowing with a chilling light. He thought to himself: Since you members of the Qian family have delivered yourselves to my doorstep, this young master shall settle accounts with you sooner rather than later!
"So you are the renowned 'wealthy yet devoid of virtue' in Chang'an! Why have we instead heard that your Qian family's old man, Qian Buyong, has a penchant for male companionship and carries on a passionate, illicit affair with the Zhou family's grandfather, which is why they broke the betrothal and threw their poor granddaughter into another's arms? Not long ago, I even heard Zhou family servants say that Miss Zhou was making a fuss about dying at home, swearing she'd rather marry a chicken or a dog than you, Qian Wude!"
Just as Qian Youde and his companions were speaking animatedly, a youth in green robes suddenly stood up from a nearby table. His voice was exceptionally loud, instantly subduing the entire hall into silence so that every word he spoke was heard by all!
"Oh! I remember now!" the youth said, feigning sudden realization and muttering to himself, "At the time, Miss Zhou said it this way—'Marry a chicken, follow a chicken; marry a dog, follow a dog; marry a man devoid of virtue, and my soul departs!'"
"Splendid! 'Marry a chicken, follow a chicken; marry a dog, follow a dog'? A perfectly matched couplet, truly a marvelous verse!" A youth who looked like a bookish nerd stood up and shouted, his face deadpan as if genuinely appreciating the literary line, though a hint of mischief in his eyes betrayed him!
The other self-proclaimed romantic literati, upon hearing the youth's praise, chewed on the words for a moment. While they found it catchy, they couldn't quite figure out why it was so brilliant.
Only then did Qian Youde react. Watching the people around him muttering the words, his face turned from green to heart-wrenching agony! The bookish nerd's cry of approval made him fume with rage from every orifice! He knew that after today's farce, his reputation as Qian Youde was utterly ruined! If this reached the ears of that old immortal back home, then...
"You, you, you—I'm going to kill you!" Qian Youde glared at the green-robed youth who had spoken first, fierce light flashing in his eyes. Casting aside all other concerns, he charged forward.
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Late! No more words; debts incurred will always be repaid!