Chapter 7

The Purple Gold Tower is famous, very famous, extremely famous, so much so that it is said that when His Majesty came to the Northern Liang Prince's Mansion to escape the heat, he once visited the Purple Gold Tower in plain clothes, just to catch a glimpse of Li Yuanyuan, the undisputed top courtesan of the four prefectures of Liang.

Of course, this is just an unverified rumor. After Li Yuanyuan disappeared, the four prefectures never again had a courtesan who was unanimously recognized as the top. Instead, the courtesans of various brothels vied for attention, each trying to outshine the others, until the appearance of Yu Youwei, a woman who had fallen into the world of pleasure after her family's decline.

A woman who degrades herself would not use her real name, so Yu Youwei's original name is unknown, but she is probably surnamed Yu, a homophone.

The eldest son of the Purple Gold Tower once privately asked the most taboo question, and Yu Youwei smiled without speaking, but did not disappoint Xu Fengnian too much. She performed a dazzling sword dance that had never been seen before, leaving Xu Fengnian speechless and amazed. At first, he was stunned, but then he was terrified. If not for the deaf and mute old monster standing outside the room, who was kept by the Northern Liang Prince's Mansion, Xu Fengnian, who was afraid of death and pain, would have fled long ago.

After that, his visits to the Purple Gold Tower became fewer and fewer, and his doubts grew stronger.

Three young masters rode three fine horses, galloping wildly on the main street of Lingzhou, followed by a large group of guards.

Li Hanlin laughed wildly, feeling relieved, as the past three years without Brother Feng had not been enjoyable.

Yan Chiji, who had been dragged into the water countless times, had long resigned himself to his fate, trying his best to avoid pedestrians.

Xu Fengnian, the top young master of the four prefectures of Liang, led the way, removing his purple gold crown and tying his hair with a simple jade hairpin, discarding the cumbersome and cumbersome accessories like swords, fans, and jade rings, making him appear even more handsome and elegant.

They headed straight for the golden and silver flowing pleasure house.

The madam of the Purple Gold Tower, who was once a famous courtesan, had risen with the tower's success and rarely appeared unless for important guests. Today, she hurriedly dressed up and personally went out to welcome the three young masters who could walk with impunity in Liang.

The three dismounted together, handing the reins to the old tortoise who was ready to take over at a lower price. Without Xu Fengnian saying anything, Li Hanlin, who knew the place well, took out a 500 silver note and slipped it into the madam's neckline, grinning and said:

"Madam Han, I haven't tasted the flavor of a woman your age. How about breaking the rules today? Madam Han, do you have the skills to make a man spend ten thousand silver on your bed? I've heard that your jade flute performance was once unparalleled."

The madam gently poked Li Hanlin's face with a finger, smiling coquettishly:

"Oh, Master Li, you are so refined today. As long as you don't mind an old cow eating young grass, Aunt Han will use all her skills. Not just the jade flute, but even the inverted lotus position is very skilled."

Although she was flirting with Li Hanlin, her eyes kept darting to Xu Fengnian.

Li Hanlin, still holding Madam Han's slender and elastic waist, entered the Purple Gold Tower with Fengge and Yan Shugui, whispering mischievously:

"Madam Han, you know my taste. This time, I sneaked out without bringing my page. Do you have any well-trained young boys? As for you, I suggest you seduce Master Yan. He is still a virgin. If you can make him so sore he can't get out of bed, I'll give you all the silver I have and even owe you 5,000 more. How about that? Of course, don't forget to give Master Yan a 66 silver red envelope afterward."

The madam, who was not old but not yet past her prime, said coquettishly: "That won't do. The Prefectural Governor would surely seal my Purple Gold Tower. As for the young boys, I have a few who are about to debut, even more delicate than girls. Their skin is as smooth as Shu brocade and Suzhou silk, guaranteed to satisfy you."

Li Hanlin chuckled: "Then the usual routine. The eldest son goes to Yu Yuanyuan, I'll find my own fun, and Madam Han, find two courtesans who can play music and dance for Master Yan."

She feigned a pout: "Master Li, don't you want to taste Aunt Han's tongue skills?"

Li Hanlin slapped her plump buttocks: "Next time, next time. After I rest and regain my strength, I'll battle you for eight hundred rounds and truly experience your skills."

Xu Fengnian was not surprised by this, and went straight to the back garden, finding a secluded courtyard with only banana plants. He pushed the door and entered.

Unlike the ostentatious Madam Han, the woman sitting in the courtyard, lost in thought over a withered banana plant, had a plain face. She wore a green dress, and today was no exception. She clearly heard Xu Fengnian's light laughter but remained still.

She was different from the other courtesans who required a grand scene, with no maids to serve her. She even cleaned and maintained the room and garden herself, standing out in the world of pleasure.

A white cat, neither fat nor thin, sat on the stone table, its fur as smooth as snow, with eyes like red rubies, staring at people in a way that seemed bizarre and surreal.

The pet's nickname was Wu Meiniang, a clever play on words.

Xu Fengnian sat beside her and said softly: "I just got back to Lingzhou, slept until I was full, and came to see you right away."

Yu Yuanyuan stroked Wu Meiniang's head, speaking softly and pouting:

"Yuwei is just a woman of the pleasure world, how can I dare to hope for more? The first time, I boldly asked the eldest son for the status of a concubine, and he made a series of bad moves in a game of Go, which I then defeated. The second time, I performed a sword dance, and he didn't dare stay in the courtyard. I wonder what will happen this time, and if he will come again."

It's hard to repay the kindness of a beautiful woman.

Xu Fengnian, with a tone of righteous indignation, said angrily: "That guy is really a scoundrel, as timid as a mouse and as petty as a worm. Lady, you don't need to be upset over such a person. Next time I see him, I'll give him a good beating!"

Yu Yuanyuan's lips curled, but she deliberately kept a stern face: "Oh? May I ask where you are from, and what is your name?"

Xu Fengnian shamelessly said: "By coincidence, I am surnamed Xu and named Fengnian, the same as that scoundrel, but I am ten thousand times better. Even if you say you want to be a concubine, I will immediately have a grand procession to carry you home."

Yu Yuanyuan finally turned to face Xu Fengnian, but her eyes, which were like autumn water, showed no great joy or excitement. She continued to look at the banana plant: "It's too late. I'm leaving for Chuzhou tomorrow, my hometown. Once I go, I won't come back."

Xu Fengnian exclaimed in surprise.

Yu Yuanyuan withdrew her gaze, looking at Wu Meiniang, who was her only companion, and said bitterly: "Do you regret it? But there is no regret pill in this world."

Xu Fengnian was silent, his brows furrowed.

Yu Yuanyuan leaned on the stone table, murmuring: "Prince, look, Wu Meiniang is looking at the wall."

Xu Fengnian followed the white cat's gaze, turning to look at the low wall, but saw nothing special. He rubbed his face and said: "Outside the wall, the passerby hears the laughter of the beauty on the swing, feeling helpless. But I have already entered the wall, so why did you sneak out? Isn't that even more helpless?"

Yu Yuanyuan smiled and made a playful face: "Serves you right."

Xu Fengnian was stunned; he had never seen her act so lively. She had always been calm and composed, like a still well, making Xu Fengnian mistakenly think that even if Mount Tai collapsed in front of her, she would remain unperturbed. He had never thought she would really become a concubine in a wealthy household.

She was most charming as a floating duckweed. If she became a plump courtyard banana plant, she might lose her vitality.

Xu Fengnian cursed himself for being a pretentious literary man, learning all the bad habits from his father, the old warlord. His father had a book he wrote himself, "Half a Life of Military Service," placed in the Listening Tide Pavilion alongside famous military treatises, moaning and groaning, shamelessly.

She held Wu Meiniang in her hands and asked, lowering her head: "Fengnian, will you watch me dance with the sword one last time?"

Xu Fengnian felt a surge of courage: "Why not?"

Yu Yuanyuan said softly: "There is no regret pill in this world."

Xu Fengnian smiled: "Dying would be worth it."

A moment later, Yu Yuanyuan came out, her beauty stunning. She danced the sword, taking an extreme approach, with a red ribbon wrapped around her hand and the sword tied to the end.

Instantly, the courtyard was filled with sword light.

Last time, she had a lute player perform "Riding Out of Liangzhou" while she danced. This time, she sang "Looking at the City Wall" herself, a poem that had spread from the Shangyin Academy after the fall of Western Chu. It did not rhyme, but each word was filled with sorrow and indignation, rated as the top "sad poem" of the era:

In Western Chu, there was a woman named Gongsun, whose sword dance moved all four directions. The audience was as numerous as a mountain, their faces filled with sorrow, the heavens and earth long mourned. The former emperor had three thousand attendants, and Gongsun's sword dance was the best. The great phoenix city raised the white flag, and only a beauty stood on the city wall. Eighteen thousand men laid down their arms, and the entire country had no real men!

Just now, Wu Meiniang was looking at the wall.

Who was looking at the beauty standing on the city wall of the fallen country back then?

The music ended.

The long sword, carrying a deadly aura, shot out rapidly, aiming for Xu Fengnian's head.

She seemed to hear the dying man's last words: "Ten fingers peel the green onion, if only you could just play Go with me instead of wielding a sword."

At that moment, Yu Yuanyuan's delicate hands trembled slightly, but the sword had already been thrust out.

There is no regret pill in this world.

The poem "Looking at the City Wall" was written by Yu Yuanyuan's father for her mother. At that time, they were caught in the refugee tide, looking back at the city wall, seeing only a frail figure.

Her father returned to the Shangyin Academy and died of depression soon after. She, whose real name was Yu Xuanji, traveled a long distance to Lingzhou, first learning the most authentic Fengzhou accent, then becoming the lowest of the low, a prostitute. Fortunately, she was exceptionally beautiful and was intentionally or unintentionally groomed to become a courtesan, avoiding the kind of work that made her feel sick.

Then, she naturally met the eldest son, who was seeking pleasure. Most of the time, they only played Go, and this son of the butcher, unlike his father, knew no martial arts, was lustful but not insatiable, and even admitted to her that many of the poems he recited were bought from scholars to impress.

Yu Xuanji had only learned the basics of the famous Gongsun sword dance, but she was confident it was enough to kill Xu Fengnian, provided there were no guards from the Northern Liang Prince's Mansion outside the room. For five years, she had never had the chance.

Then Xu Fengnian disappeared for three years. In half a month, it would be her mother's memorial day, and Yu Xuanji had decided to guard the grave for the rest of her life, but he returned, and there were no guards near the courtyard gate, was it fate?

She had asked him if he dared to watch the sword dance. He said, dying would be worth it.

Killing the eldest son, the most beloved son of Grand Marshal Xu Xiao, she would definitely die. No one in the world could survive such a deed. Well, at least she would have a companion on the road to the underworld. If he wanted to beat her, let him.

Yu Xuanji could not bear to watch.

A clang.

The long sword, just an inch from Xu Fengnian's forehead, broke into two pieces. Yu Xuanji opened her eyes, dazed and confused, not knowing when a white-robed woman had appeared in the courtyard, a beauty even she would admire.

The assassination failed?

Yu Xuanji did not know whether to be sad or relieved. She still had a sword, originally meant for suicide to avoid humiliation. She raised her hand to cut her throat, but then she thought of Wu Meiniang becoming a stray cat, and the man had said that in the snow, standing in the Listening Tide Pavilion of the Prince's Mansion, one could see the most beautiful scenery. How beautiful is the most beautiful?

Without Xu Fengnian saying anything, Yu Xuanji, determined to die, was grabbed by the white-robed woman, who was like a peach blossom, by the thin sword blade. She easily took it away and threw it, cutting a large swath of banana plants. Not satisfied, she kneed Yu Yuanyuan in the abdomen, making the beautiful woman bow like a shrimp.

Xu Fengnian, who had wanted to mutter "Why do beauties make things difficult for each other," wisely kept quiet. Seeing the disoriented Yu Yuanyuan, he wanted to curse "Bitch" and slap her seventeen or eighteen times.

But he reminded himself that small things should not be taken lightly, and took a deep breath. Outside the four prefectures of Liang, Xu Fengnian would find it easier to die than to live, but within Liang, it was much harder to die. You assassins, do you really think my father, who is both Grand Marshal and Prince of Northern Liang, is a stuffed toy?

Moreover, Xu Fengnian had experienced the hardships of the lower class for three years, maturing greatly. He had once been puzzled by Yu Yuanyuan's inexplicably fierce sword dance. As someone who spent his days with his father and other top martial artists, he knew that the eldest son had no martial arts, but he had seen pigs run even if he hadn't eaten pork.

Returning to Lingzhou, he had decided to take the risk to determine what Yu Yuanyuan was up to. If it was a love potion, that would be best, and he would take her home. If it was poison, well, he would take her home, but what else could a man who had been pent up for three years do to a woman he dreamed of every night?

The only surprise was that the one who intervened was the White Fox Face, not the most powerful and ruthless expert in the mansion, as he had told his father. Of course, given the situation, even if the White Fox Face wasn't the best, she was still very skilled.

Xu Fengnian shamelessly asked: "White Fox Face, do you have a way to make her lose her resistance, like acupressure?"

The White Fox Face nodded: "There's an easier way."

She directly struck Yu Yuanyuan's white neck with a hand knife, knocking her out.

Xu Fengnian's face stiffened, ran over to check her breathing, and let out a triumphant laugh when he confirmed she wasn't dead. Looking up, the White Fox Face was already gone, living up to her reputation as a skilled expert. Xu Fengnian carried the unconscious beauty on his shoulder and left the Purple Gold Tower.

That day, the news of "The eldest son forcefully taking Yu Yuanyuan" spread wildly in Lingzhou.