Offering a Marvelous Poem Before the Understanding Flower

As the melody ended and the curtains rose, cheers thundered through the restaurant...

"Before today, I only knew of Yu Lou's dance; today, I finally know Yu Lou's music! This piece of yours, Miss Yu Lou, must be the swan song of Farewell Tower Melody! Next should be your return to a respectable household, right?" A young nobleman snapped open his folding fan, filled with endless emotion.

When a famous courtesan left her tower and entered a respectable household, it was customary. Renowned scholars and wealthy magnates all sought it; even high-ranking officials sometimes could not escape such vulgar desires. To take a famed courtesan as a concubine—someone once pursued by tens of thousands, now becoming the plaything of one man alone—what an honor that was!

Thus, Haining Tower was packed with distinguished guests today.

Everyone was fighting to claim the former flower queen.

That young nobleman was the first to step forward. "I, Xie Dong, am willing to offer one hundred taels of silver as a betrothal gift and invite the lady into my Xie Household. I will surely treat her sincerely."

The moment those words fell, the whole building erupted...

What did one hundred taels of silver mean? It could buy ten virgin girls! Starting with such a high betrothal gift had shattered the dreams of ninety percent of the people present.

Several people had just been about to speak, but then sat back down, veins throbbing across their foreheads...

A merchant-looking man rose to his feet. "I am willing to offer three hundred taels of silver as a betrothal gift!"

Three hundred taels! Damn!

Another man stood. "I am the owner of the Gold Tower in the eastern city. My lawful wife has just passed away. If she enters my Chen Household, she may be called a concubine, but she will be treated as my proper wife. As for the betrothal gift, what of five hundred taels?"

As soon as he said that, the merchant who had offered three hundred taels turned incomparably gloomy, while Xie Dong, who had called out the first bid, bulged his eyes wide...

Competing with money was one thing, but you had to bring up "my lawful wife just died, so Yu Lou can enjoy the treatment of a proper wife." How was anyone else supposed to compete? They could hardly kill their lawful wives just to take a concubine, could they?

The deadlock lasted only a moment. Zhang Xiu, seated in the foremost seat on the left, gently snapped open his folding fan. "Nonsense! Miss Yu Lou is a flower queen of her generation. What status does she possess? How could some mere merchant dare harbor such delusions?... I offer one thousand taels as betrothal gift, and sincerely welcome Yu Lou into my Zhang Prefecture!"

He lightly raised his hand, revealing a silver note in his palm, its value one thousand taels.

The entire building fell silent.

Several merchants exchanged looks and slowly sat down.

Storm clouds shifted across Xie Dong's face, and he too slowly sat down.

A scholar seated below Zhang Xiu smiled faintly. "Since Brother Zhang has such intentions, how would we brothers dare contend with you? Congratulations, Brother Zhang!"

"Congratulations, Young Master Zhang!"

"Quzhou's foremost scholar taking Haining's foremost flower queen—truly a fine tale for the Literary Altar..."

"Congratulations, Miss Yu Lou..."

For a time, the wind in the entire building shifted. Everyone congratulated Zhang Xiu and Yu Lou, including the merchants who had jumped out to bid before, along with Xie Dong.

Once Zhang Xiu stepped forth, they truly did not dare compete. Who was Zhang Xiu? Quzhou's foremost scholar, a genuine Literary Way Genius! And the Zhang Family had a high-ranking official with real power in court: the Minister of War. Whether in talent, status, or wealth, which of their qualities was not among the very finest?

Leaving aside everyone else in the building, each and every one of them was thoroughly convinced. Behind the pearl curtains, several leading courtesans had dreamy eyes. With the bearing of Quzhou's foremost scholar, and such dashing extravagance in casually spending a thousand in gold, who could refuse him?

The richly dressed woman smiled. "For Yu Lou to be favored by Young Master Zhang is truly Yu Lou's blessing. Young Master Zhang, please lift the pearl curtain yourself and place your affection into her hands..."

Zhang Xiu smiled. "Yu Lou has long received Madam's care. This humble scholar will offer further thanks in the future."

The richly dressed woman blossomed into a flower. "Then this old woman thanks you in advance. Young Master Zhang, please..."

Zhang Xiu extended his hand and lifted the pearl curtain.

This was the final step of leaving the tower and entering a respectable household: lifting the pearl curtain and taking away the flower queen...

Lin Su raised his gaze, just in time to meet Yu Lou's eyes. She had been looking in his direction as well.

What kind of gaze was that? Desolate and mournful. The song she had just sung suddenly rose in his heart: My heart is like the moon, yet what I seek cannot be gained...

Yu Lou's gaze left his face, and she turned to Zhang Xiu with a graceful bow. "I am deeply grateful for Young Master Zhang's favor. However, Yu Lou has already made an agreement with someone... Forgive me, but I cannot serve at your side."

The smile on Zhang Xiu's face instantly froze.

The entire building fell dead silent. They stared at one another—she had refused!

She had actually refused!

The Zhang Family had fame, office, and money. Zhang Xiu himself was Quzhou's foremost scholar... Did she know what she had rejected?

After a moment, the smile returned to Zhang Xiu's face. "Miss Yu Lou, you say you have an agreement already. May I ask with whom?"

"This matter has nothing to do with you, Young Master. I dare not trouble you to inquire further. Yu Lou again thanks you for your favor, and hopes you can understand." Yu Lou gave a deep bow and retreated to her original place.

A deathly silence filled the restaurant.

Everyone had heard rumors that Yu Lou and a young master of the Lin Family had an ambiguous relationship. Could it have been true?

But the Lin Family of today had already fallen into ruin.

That person whose relationship with her was so unclear had not even come.

Yet under such circumstances, she had actually refused Zhang Xiu—refused the finest destination any woman in The Whole World could find...

The richly dressed woman's expression shifted slightly. The show was becoming difficult to host, so she cast a pleading glance toward Zhang Xiu. Yet Zhang Xiu kept a cold face and did not look at her at all.

Her gaze shifted to Yu Lou. At this moment, Yu Lou had lowered her head and sat quietly, not looking at her either.

The air seemed to have frozen completely.

At last, the richly dressed woman forced out a smile. "People say every person has their own aspirations. Since Miss Yu Lou has made her own decision, then... let us proceed to the next stage. Please welcome Jade Fragrance Tower's foremost jade beauty, Miss Ban Ruo..." The foremost jade beauty was the top courtesan of a brothel. It had once been Yu Lou; now that Yu Lou had retired, the newly appointed top courtesan was Ban Ruo, Yu Lou's successor.

The pearl curtain on the right was drawn open, and everyone's eyes lit up.

The pearl curtain on the right had been denser. At first, no one could see what lay within, but once it was drawn aside, a rush of youthful vitality came pouring toward them. Nine young girls knelt on the ground, setting off the peerless beauty in their center like a flower's heart.

That beauty slowly raised her head, and her beauty, capable of toppling kingdoms and cities, instantly conquered the entire hall.

As her bright eyes turned, spring filled the room.

The nine girls slowly raised their heads. At the same time, the beauty in the center rose lightly. The entire process was like a flower blooming, filled with aesthetic grace.

She was Ban Ruo, eighteen years old, the most beautiful age in a woman's life.

She lightly bowed to the crowd. "This little woman, Ban Ruo, shall offer all you talented gentlemen a dance. This dance is named 'Light Robes.' I only hope that the young masters will remember how Ban Ruo looks clothed in light robes..."

As she bowed, the nine girls behind her also gracefully bowed at the same time. They still formed the shape of a flower, except that this flower now possessed boundless movement.

But what she had said...

The Light Robes Dance?

Everyone was somewhat startled...

Someone beside Lin Su whispered, "Isn't the Light Robes Dance Miss Yu Lou's famous dance from back then? Isn't it somewhat discourteous for her to do this?"

Today marked the changing of the old and new flower queens. The new flower queen could perform her own specialty and conquer the audience, yet she had chosen the signature work of the flower queen who had just stepped down. Now this was interesting.

The signal she was sending was this: she was confident she could dance it better than the former flower queen! She wanted to step on the old flower queen to rise to the top!

As the dance began, Ban Ruo's figure was enchanting yet uninhibited. Her entire body was soft as though boneless, yet every movement flowed like silk. Accompanied by the ethereal zither, her lively eyes were at times plaintive, at times delighted. Though not a trace of flesh was exposed, she nevertheless performed that soul-stealing allure that gnawed to the marrow...

Listening to the discussions around him, Lin Su felt something stir within him. His gaze shifted toward Yu Lou on the left. Yu Lou showed neither sorrow nor joy, only a calm smile.

When the dance ended, thunderous applause shook the hall.

The cheers from the Ten Beauties of Qu Prefecture were especially fervent. Driven by them, the atmosphere in the restaurant reached a white-hot peak, completely surpassing Yu Lou's Farewell Tower Melody from earlier.

Zhang Xiu rose and walked toward the right. "Miss Ban Ruo's dance is the true Light Robes Dance. To witness such an exquisite dance, this humble scholar is truly blessed for three lifetimes... Two thousand taels of silver, as a small token of my appreciation."

He presented a silver note worth two thousand taels with both hands.

The Eight Scholars of Quzhou cheered as one, and the restaurant was nearly turned upside down...

Everyone below wore strange expressions. The signal could not have been more obvious...

Miss Yu Lou had just refused Zhang Xiu, and he immediately retaliated. The force of his retaliation and the lavishness of his spending were beyond compare. He said Ban Ruo's Light Robes Dance was the true Light Robes Dance, and with that single sentence, he negated Yu Lou's famous art. For a celebrated scholar of his standing, once words left his mouth, they essentially defined the nature of the Light Robes Dance.

He had given Yu Lou a silver note worth one thousand taels, but now he gave Ban Ruo double that amount. Naturally, this was also a slap directly across Yu Lou's face.

Though Yu Lou was tranquil and refined, her expression still changed slightly. Behind the pearl curtain, she found it difficult to remain seated.

Meanwhile, Ban Ruo's face was flushed crimson, her lovely eyes flowing with honey. She thanked him in a sweet voice. The nine girls behind her simultaneously leaned back, their boneless bodies arched around Ban Ruo to cradle her. Ban Ruo's opening appearance today had received a perfect conclusion...

The richly dressed woman beamed as she emerged with a group of beautiful young women. "Now comes the final stage of the farewell banquet. Let all talented gentlemen drink the grape wine in their cups, offer poems to the flower queens of two generations, hold an Understanding Flower, and present a passage of romance beneath the moon and wind..."

The beauties behind her all turned sideways. Each held several silk flowers in her hands, the flowers spread flat across her palms. Their figures were incomparably graceful, like a scene awaiting the gentlemen's picking...

The climax of the banquet had arrived.

At a farewell banquet, the most crucial part was offering poetry.

This was the moment for men of letters to display themselves.

The scholars all lifted the wine cups before them and drank them dry...

Lin Su's gaze also shifted toward the wine cup before him. He lifted it and took a sip...

After that sip, his cheeks puffed out...

Damn! This was wine?

Was it not vinegar? Or perhaps sour plum soup?

Zhang Xiu was still the first to rise. He walked to the right, picked up an Understanding Flower, and handed it to Ban Ruo...

"Young Master Zhang!" Ban Ruo's face flushed charmingly red as she accepted the Understanding Flower. Her eyes were like water, as though drunk on wine, and her lovely face behind the flower was lovelier than the flower itself.

Zhang Xiu picked up a brush from the tray beside him and wrote a poem. The richly dressed woman beside him read it aloud: "Spring river, spring water, Haining Tower; one dance in light robes, half a day's rest. If you do not believe true peerless beauty exists in this world, then from this day on, Ban Ruo shall wear Quzhou's crown..." "The young master says Ban Ruo wears Quzhou's crown, so you must come support her often in the future..."

The entire hall erupted, bursting into applause...

Ban Ruo's face reddened further, while her eyes seemed ready to drip honey...

Another person stepped forward, removed an Understanding Flower, and handed it to Ban Ruo. The crowd below jeered playfully, "Young Master Jin..."

This man was also one of the Ten Beauties of Qu Prefecture. His poem read:

"Light shadows dance above the tower; flower fragrance, flowers understand speech..."

Wonderful! Countless people cheered again.

Then came another man, who likewise gave an Understanding Flower to Ban Ruo along with a poem...

In the blink of an eye, thirteen people had offered poems. Ban Ruo held a great armful of Understanding Flowers, while Yu Lou's side had gained nothing at all. The five leading courtesans behind Yu Lou exchanged looks and rose one after another to leave. Yu Lou seemed unaware, sitting quietly and maintaining her smile...

Half an hour passed. At last, those giving flowers and offering poems came to a pause. Before Ban Ruo was already a sea of flowers, while Yu Lou's side still did not have a single blossom. She was still smiling, but anyone more attentive might have seen the loneliness hidden at the corners of her eyes.

A trace of cruel amusement appeared on Zhang Xiu's face. You wretch, you refused the face I gave you. I'll let you know what the ways of the world truly are!

He gently snapped open his folding fan, revealing the four words "This Is Literary Grace." Then he slowly turned his head and looked at Lin Su. "Third Young Master Lin, did you truly come to this banquet merely to eat for free?"

"Hm?" The topic had finally been pulled onto him. Lin Su tilted his head and looked at him.

Young Master Jin beside him also opened his folding fan. "Third Young Master Lin, though today is a farewell banquet, its main purpose remains a Poetry Gathering for men of letters. Every participant must write a poem. You have eaten your fill, so go back now and have that elder brother of yours, who claims illness and lets it all end there, write a poem to join the fun."

As soon as the four words "claims illness and lets it all end there" emerged, the entire hall burst into laughter...

Lin Su smiled as well. "Write a poem? There is no need to go back! My elder brother entrusted me to bring one with me..."

Oh? No one in the building made a sound. No one was stupid. Everyone knew that although Yu Lou was ostensibly the protagonist of today's banquet, there were actually two hidden protagonists as well. One was Ban Ruo, whom the Prefect was strongly promoting. The second was the Lin Family, which the Zhang Family wanted to trample.

When the Lin Family sent out their useless and cowardly Third Young Master, everyone had sighed that it was a fine move, enough to make the fists their opponents had been saving up to throw all land in cotton.

Because he could refuse to take any move. He was a useless good-for-nothing—who was he afraid of?

But who could have imagined that this Third Young Master would actually take the challenge? Was this not like the sky about to brighten, only to suddenly wet the bed?

Lin Su slowly rose to his feet, and everyone's eyes gathered upon him...

Lin Su picked up an Understanding Flower. Ban Ruo felt somewhat conflicted. She did not know whether she ought to bow to this man. If she treated him with the same courtesy, would she anger Young Master Zhang?

Yet if she did not give him the necessary courtesy, it would somewhat damage the bearing of a flower queen...

Lin Su walked past her!

Past her!

He walked over to Yu Lou's side...