The Scholar's Skin, the Daoist's Bones, the Buddhist's Heart; a Stone Statue Stirs the Realm to Rebellion!

Days passed as usual. The plants in the courtyard put out new shoots, and the air grew thick with spring.

Visitors came to your little courtyard every few days, especially the courtesans from West Wing Tower.

The threshold of your courtyard was nearly worn through, yet no one dared ask you for a poem. After all, word had spread throughout Bianjing that Su Yaya had once paid four million taels of silver for a poem and a painting of yours. The women could only look on from afar.

There was, however, one interesting development!

Hu Yunniang and Yun Wan had placed among the top ten at the Gathering of Beauties Banquet. They had left Moonlight Pavilion, were no longer registered courtesans, and had regained their status as free citizens.

With savings accumulated over many years, Yun Wan and Hu Yunniang opened a restaurant on Long Peace Street, where Xie Manor stood. They were practiced hands at welcoming guests, and between their reputations as courtesans and the support of former sisters and patrons, business boomed. Customers streamed in without end.

Hu Yunniang and the others came especially to ask you to name the restaurant.

You wrote the two characters "Peace," which they hung on the restaurant's signboard.

For the opening, you had Parasol Tree deliver a congratulatory gift. It became the liveliest event Long Peace Street had seen lately.

When Parasol Tree returned, she eagerly described the bustling restaurant. She said the women from Moonlight Pavilion had wept with excitement.

For women cast adrift by fate, the chance to live as free citizens again was enough to offer the comfort of fallen leaves returning to their roots.

Zhang Yuanlai went to study at the Academy. After buying her freedom, Feng Yaya helped out at Peace Restaurant. Life was peaceful enough for