Chapter 189: Joy Beyond Words
Entering Yun Tower no longer held the bustling crowds of years past. Cailian explained with a smile that after Mother Ding passed away from illness, many of the girls in the tower had left. Some married, others returned home. Cailian hadn’t brought in any new girls either. With plenty of other pleasure houses in the city, and after Hua Youxian left for Yangzhou, business at Yun Tower had declined sharply. Once the girls departed, the place became nearly deserted.
“It’s not all bad,” Cailian said cheerfully. “Usually, we sisters also make some money by selling cosmetics and perfumes on the side. It’s enough to get by.” She added, “It’s just that the sisters have nowhere else to go. Yun Tower was built by Mother Ding with her own hands, so it’s home to us sisters.”
One should be content with what one has. For them, things were quite good as they were.
Hua Youxian invited everyone to sit in the banquet hall, first instructing servants to prepare food and wine, then turning to Yan He and the others. “What are you young masters doing these days?”
Years had passed, and the youths had long grown into young men, shedding their former youthful naivety. Yet it was clear from their bearing that each had experienced extraordinary things.
“I’ve become a physician,” Lin Shuanghe said, lightly waving his folding fan with an air of seriousness. “Though I only treat women. Thanks to the undeserved favor of the world, I’ve earned the flattering title ‘White-robed Divine Hand.’ I’m rather embarrassed by it.”
He Yan glanced at Lin Shuanghe in surprise. Though Lin Shuanghe was usually outspoken, this was the first time since their reunion that she had seen him boast about himself.
Perhaps in front of someone he admired from his youth, he always wanted to appear at his best.
“This one is even more impressive,” he pointed his fan at Yan He. “General Yan He, Commandant of the Palace Guard.”
Cailian was astonished. “You young masters have become so remarkable!”
Yan He felt inexplicably awkward, tugging at his ponytail as he snorted. “Not as impressive as General Feng Yun.”
“General Feng Yun?” Hua Youxian was taken aback, following Yan He’s gaze to where Xiao Jue sat calmly sipping tea. “Young Master Xiao… is the current General Feng Yun?”
Lin Shuanghe replied, “Exactly.”
Hua Youxian and Cailian both gasped sharply. Back then, when that group of youths introduced themselves, only this young man and another wearing a mask had remained silent. At the time, everyone assumed either their identities were too prestigious to reveal, or they were too ordinary to mention. Yet Hua Youxian had privately believed that, given the white-robed youth’s exceptional appearance and demeanor, it must be the former.
Now, after all these years, she never could have guessed he was the renowned Right Army Commander of Great Wei.
“And this one is an even more amusing coincidence,” Lin Shuanghe pointed at Yang Mingzhi, speaking with an indescribable tone of jest. “The current governor of your Jinling City is none other than Lord Yang here.”
Yang Mingzhi’s lips twitched, but in the end, he said nothing.
Unaware of the underlying story, Hua Youxian and Cailian were delighted. “It seems Young Master Yang truly has a connection with Jinling City. What a remarkable coincidence!”
“Isn’t it just,” Lin Shuanghe snorted. “How incredibly coincidental.”
“These two gentlemen seem somewhat unfamiliar,” Hua Youxian said, looking at He Yan and Chu Zhao with curiosity."This is their first time in Jinling," Lin Shuanghe explained. "This gentleman's surname is Chu, you may address him as Young Master Chu. As for this one, he is my good friend. Though young, he has already been personally appointed by His Majesty as Wu Anlang and also serves under Commander Xiao. His name is He Yan."
"Young Master Chu, Young Master He." Hua Youxian smiled and curtsied. "Since it's your first time in Jinling, you must try the food and wine of Ruyun Tower."
At these words, Lin Shuanghe's eyes lit up. "Sister Youxian, could it be that Ruyun Tower's chef is still the same person from back then?"
Hua Youxian nodded with a smile. "The dishes and wine are all prepared by the sisters in the tower, exactly the same as before. If the young masters enjoy them, everyone will be very happy."
He Yan still remembered that the food and wine at Ruyun Tower were truly exceptional, completely different from those in the taverns of Shuojing—refreshingly sweet and mellow, leaving a lasting aftertaste. Later, when she returned to Shuojing, the He family never skimped on food or clothing, yet she never again tasted delicacies like those from Ruyun Tower in those days.
As they chatted, it wasn't long before someone brought wine and dishes to the long table. They were all homely dishes: duck oil crispy pancakes, plum blossom cakes, small wontons, red bean glutinous rice balls, lard dumplings... golden and fragrant. Having arrived in Jinling in the afternoon and not having eaten since, He Yan was already starving. Seeing everyone engrossed in conversation, she held back for a moment but finally couldn't resist. Quietly picking up her chopsticks, she began eating the smoked fish and silver thread noodles in front of her, taking small, careful bites.
The silver thread noodles were thin and soft, melting in the mouth as soon as they were eaten. The warmth of the food filled her stomach, awakening all her cravings. Seeing that no one was paying attention, He Yan picked up a crystal bun.
Lin Shuanghe was chatting with Hua Youxian about amusing stories from over the years and where the young men from Virtuous Prosperity Academy who had come together back then had gone. He Yan listened while continuing to eat without pause, her hands busy as she grabbed a split-top steamed bun.
The dishes were naturally delicious, especially after days in Rundu City where even dry biscuits were scarce, making tofu pudding seem more precious than imperial cuisine. He Yan noticed a plate of glutinous rice-stuffed lotus root at the far end of the long table and felt a stirring of desire.
Ruyun Tower's glutinous rice-stuffed lotus root was sweet and delicious. With one bite, it was as if she had tasted the charm of the Jiangnan water towns—with their small bridges, flowing water, gentle breezes, and bright moonlight. She had loved this dish back then and remembered that on her first visit to Ruyun Tower, she had finished the entire plate of glutinous rice-stuffed lotus root. So she thought to take advantage of everyone's conversation to secretly pick up a piece and see if it still tasted the same as before.
Unfortunately, this plate of glutinous rice-stuffed lotus root was inconveniently placed at the far end of the long table, the farthest from her.
He Yan strained to lift her chopsticks, trying to reach for it, but it was too far away. Standing up to pick up food would have been too impolite. After several attempts, she had no choice but to give up. Just as she was sighing inwardly, the next moment, she suddenly saw a piece of glutinous rice-stuffed lotus root appear in her bowl.
He Yan was stunned. She saw Xiao Jue put down his chopsticks as if he hadn't been the one to do it. He didn't look at He Yan either, instead turning his head to listen to Lin Shuanghe speak, as if his action had been nothing more than a casual gesture, not worth a second thought.
The tips of He Yan's ears flushed slightly. Before she could decide what to do next, she saw another piece of glutinous rice-stuffed lotus root appear in her bowl. Startled, she instinctively looked up and met Chu Zhao's smiling gaze.The conversation at the table had fallen silent at some point. Two pieces of glutinous rice lotus root had abruptly appeared in He Yan’s bowl, while everyone else at the table stared at her with ambiguous expressions.
He Yan’s vision darkened—what was this? She had only wanted to quietly pick up a snack to eat. How had she become the center of attention?
On one side, Chu Zhao smiled warmly as always, while on the other, Xiao Jue watched her calmly, making her feel as if she were sitting on pins and needles.
Yan He frowned at her for a moment, then tapped his chopsticks against the edge of his bowl and spoke up, “I’d like to ask, Wu Anlang, are you some kind of imperial relative?”
He Yan replied, “No.”
“If not,” Yan He asked incredulously, “then why would these two,” he pointed his chopsticks at Xiao Jue, then at Chu Zhao, “act as if they’re competing for favor?”
The moment the words “competing for favor” were uttered, He Yan shuddered.
Before she could figure out how to respond, Lin Shuanghe laughed and reached out with his chopsticks to take the piece of glutinous rice lotus root Chu Zhao had given He Yan. “Ah, glutinous rice lotus root is my favorite,” he said with a smile. “Chu Fourth Young Master really understands me. How nice.” He took a bite. “So sweet! Thank you, Chu Fourth Young Master.”
Seeing this, Chu Zhao paused briefly, then shook his head with a smile and said nothing.
He Yan finally breathed a sigh of relief. Lin Shuanghe, that clever fox, had managed to smooth things over. Otherwise, who knew what Xiao Jue might be thinking of her in his mind. Still, Chu Zhao was also to blame—why would he suddenly serve her food out of the blue? Such behavior would inevitably seem odd to others.
Hua Youxian, however, seemed to have noticed something. She clapped her hands with a smile, and a girl with a falling-horse hairstyle stepped forward, carrying a small jar of wine.
“It’s been a long time since you young masters have tasted the Bifang wine from Ruyun Tower, hasn’t it?” she said, placing the jar on the table. “This is the last jar of Bifang wine left this year.”
An attendant brought over several crystal cups. As the Bifang wine was poured into them, it shimmered with a clear green hue, its fragrance filling the air. He Yan still remembered the sweet, crisp taste of the wine from Ruyun Tower in her youth—it left one pleasantly tipsy but not heavily drunk. She was eagerly looking forward to it. Just as the attendant was about to pour wine into He Yan’s cup, Xiao Jue glanced at her and suddenly spoke, “Give her a bowl of milk.”
He Yan: “…”
The attendant pouring the wine was also taken aback, looking uncertainly at Xiao Jue. He Yan was baffled and asked, “Commander, why should I drink milk?”
The man replied calmly, “Milk helps you grow taller.”
Yan He stroked his chin, his scrutinizing gaze sweeping over He Yan, and nodded in agreement. “Indeed, this kid is a bit short.”
Hua Youxian laughed. “Young Master Xiao, Ruyun Tower doesn’t have milk. Bifang wine is quite strong, I’m afraid this young gentleman can’t handle it. Dingxiang, go fetch some rose dew.”
Before long, a girl brought over the rose dew. As it was poured into the cup, it took on a light red hue, entirely different from the Bifang wine. He Yan picked it up and took a small sip, then froze in surprise.
This wine tasted exactly like the sweet wine she had once tasted at Ruyun Tower.
Yan He, sitting beside her, snatched a cup and took a sip, only to frown immediately. “What is this? It’s sweet, like fruit syrup.”
“This is rose dew. It’s usually for the ladies to drink themselves.”Yan He remained oblivious, taunting He Yan, "Wu Anlang, did you hear that? This is for ladies! Are you even a man?"
Though spoken without malice, the words struck a nerve, leaving He Yan at a loss for words. As she pondered how to respond without being impolite, Lin Shuanghe came to her rescue. Fanning himself leisurely, he said, "Yan Nanguang, you frequented the Cloud-Entry Pavilion in your youth, and now you're here again. Does your wife know about this?"
Yan He's expression changed dramatically.
"Miss Chengxiu values propriety above all, and Lord Xia is a man of integrity. No one in the Xia family has ever set foot in a pleasure house, yet you've broken that tradition. I wonder how Miss Chengxiu would view you if she knew."
"You... stop talking nonsense," Yan He stammered in retort, though his words lacked conviction.
Hearing this, He Yan asked curiously, "Miss Chengxiu? Is she General Yan's wife?"
"Miss Xia Chengxiu, the eldest daughter of Lord Xia, the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy, is gentle and refined, like tender branches and delicate leaves. Many families in Shuojing City wished to secure her as a bride for their sons, but Yan Nanguang beat them to it," Lin Shuanghe teased with a smile. "They say even heroes falter before beauty. Our General Yan is said to be extremely obedient to his wife at home—if she says east, he never goes west. If she forbids him from drinking, he only drinks tea when socializing with colleagues. Truly a model of a virtuous husband."
Yan He's face flushed crimson. "Lin Shuanghe, you... stop spouting nonsense here!"
"Oh? Is that not the case? Then when I return to Shuojing, I must ask your wife about it," he replied.
Yan He dared not say another word. If Lin Shuanghe really confronted Xia Chengxiu, it would immediately expose his lies. His gaze swept over the others at the table, and he decided to change the subject. Tossing his ponytail, he slammed his wine cup on the table and declared loudly, "What's wrong with listening to one's wife? A true man knows when to yield and when to stand firm! Besides, at least I have a wife. Do any of you? Do you? Among those present, which of you currently has a wife?"
He Yan: "..."
There was simply no way to respond to that.
Yan He downed another cup of wine. Whether it was the potency of the Bifang wine or something else, he was already tipsy. He first turned to Lin Shuanghe, "You spend every day mingling with women, treating every lady in the world as your sister. Tell me, do you have a wife?"
Lin Shuanghe: "...No."
As if victorious, Yan He turned to Yang Mingzhi with satisfaction. "You're gentle and talented, a scholar of great learning. They say talented men are never short of beauties. Do you have a wife?"
Yang Mingzhi: "...No."
Yan He grew even more enthusiastic and looked at Chu Zhao. "Do you have..." He suddenly paused, muttering to himself, "Your wife is already prearranged. Never mind, next."
He then asked He Yan, "Shorty, do you have a wife?"
He Yan: "..."
This was something she truly couldn't have.
Yan He turned to Xiao Jue, looking rather smug. "You were the top student at the Virtuous Prosperity Academy, handsome and outstanding in both appearance and bearing, unmatched in both literary and martial arts. Back then, the threshold of the academy was nearly worn down by the ladies vying for your attention, but... tell me, do you have a wife?"
Xiao Jue looked at him calmly."Clearly, you don't have one!" Yan He single-handedly swept through everyone at the drinking table. Believing that having a wife was a supreme honor, he grew increasingly elated. Slapping the table, he stood up and declared loudly, "Looking at it this way, none of you are much to speak of. Do you know how remarkable it is to have a wife? When you return home late at night, has anyone ever waited for you under the lamplight? When you're feverish or have a headache, have you ever tasted the hot soup your wife prepared? Not to mention clothes and boots sewn by her own hands." He swept a disdainful glance over the crowd, as if he were an emperor surveying the world. "Don't even talk about having a wife—you've probably never even held a girl's hand in your life, and your first kiss is still intact."
The more he spoke, the more outrageous it became. He Yan covered her face with her hand, unable to bear watching. Yang Mingzhi couldn't help but tug at Yan He's robe. "Brother Nanguang, that's enough."
The young women pouring wine and playing the zither nearby couldn't help but giggle softly. They found this seemingly arrogant and conceited young man rather endearingly reckless at this moment.
Cailian laughed and said, "Young Master Yan, what you said isn't quite right. This is the Ruyun Pavilion—if we're talking about girls, we certainly don't lack them. All you young masters are so outstanding. If any of you were to choose one of our sisters here, I'm sure they'd be more than willing."
He Yan was so startled she nearly dropped her cup. What was this? Were they already offering themselves? No! Absolutely not! Even though this was the Ruyun Pavilion, she had always regarded it as a proper tavern.
Just as she thought this, she saw two exceptionally charming girls beside Cailian sidle up to Xiao Jue. They certainly had good taste—picking the most outstanding one among them right away. He Yan acted faster than she could think, instinctively shouting, "No!"
The two girls who were about to offer wine paused, and everyone at the table turned to look at her.
Meeting Xiao Jue's thoughtful gaze, He Yan calmly said, "We came here as a group to drink, not to flirt."
Upon hearing this, Hua Youxian laughed even more heartily. She poured herself a cup of Bifang wine and raised it in a toast to He Yan. "Young master, you're truly adorable. Allow me to toast you."
He Yan felt like a naive scholar who had stumbled into a den of seductresses—at this moment, she was truly weak, pitiful, and helpless.
After finishing a cup of Rose Dew, Cailian smiled and said, "Young masters, do you still remember how, many years ago in this very place, we all sang and danced together?" She looked at Yan He. "Young Master Yan even performed a sword dance on the table back then."
Yan He was taken aback. "How come I don't remember that?"
If he hadn't said that, He Yan might not have recalled it either. Back then, after helping Hua Youxian drive away Tong Qiushi and scare off Liu Rui, everyone had celebrated with drinks at the Ruyun Pavilion. The girls of the pavilion played music and danced, creating a lively atmosphere. Mother Ding brought out the finest Bifang wine to entertain them. Yan He drank the most and got drunk the fastest. Once intoxicated, he drew his long sword and sliced in half a lotus flower that had been placed in a vase as decoration.
Everyone was startled, but before they could stop him, the flamboyantly dressed young man stepped onto the table and began performing a sword dance. As he danced, he chanted, "In the east of heaven stands the Ruomu tree, beneath it lies the dragon holding a candle in its mouth. I shall sever the dragon's feet, chew its flesh, so that it cannot return at dawn nor rest at night!"The friends scrambled to pull him down from the table. Lin Shuanghe covered his mouth while apologizing to the girls nearby, "He's drunk and talking nonsense. Don't take it seriously, sisters. Please forget what he said." Then he turned and scolded Yan He, "What dragon-slaying... How dare you utter such treasonous words? If your father finds out, he'll drag you home tomorrow and break your legs."
Unfortunately, Yan He was already thoroughly drunk by then.
"Everyone was drunk back then," Lin Shuanghe recalled with a sigh. "Bifang wine is strong. Thinking back now, aside from Huaijin, it was actually He Rufei who had the best tolerance and remained the most sober."
"He Rufei?" Yan He immediately bristled at the name, snorting, "I bet he secretly poured his wine away. If you say he has good alcohol tolerance, I don't believe it! He must have cheated somehow."
He Yan lowered her gaze, staring at the deep red wine in her cup before her. She thought to herself that indeed, she hadn't been drunk that time. Even when everyone else was completely out of it, she had remained perfectly clear-headed, returning to her room and lying down fully clothed. The reason was simple: while everyone else drank Bifang wine, she alone had been drinking rose dew, just like today.
As Yan He had said, rose dew was a sweet fruit wine. Though considered wine, its potency was nowhere near that of Bifang wine. Moreover, she had been particularly cautious that day and drank very little, which was why she remained standing when everyone else had collapsed.
But... why had she alone been given rose dew back then?
He Yan couldn't figure it out.
A girl began playing the pipa, the lively melody bringing great joy. In youth, people often favored tragedies on stage and melancholic songs, believing that happiness seemed too mundane, unable to compare with the depth of sorrow. As one grows older, everything strives for perfection, yet one knows how difficult perfection is to achieve.
All one truly seeks are fleeting moments.
Cailian covered her mouth and laughed, "Not only that, but back then, all the young masters left their calligraphy treasures all over the Ruyun Tower. Unfortunately, as time passed, those treasures were lost. Otherwise, we could bring them out today for a look—what a delightful thing that would be."
"Calligraphy treasures aren't that impressive," Yan He said dismissively. "We can just write new ones. With our great scholar Yang here, what can't be written, right?"
Yang Mingzhi was taken aback and remained silent.
Hua Youxian seemed stirred by his words. She said, "Wait a moment," and rose from her seat. Everyone wondered what she was about to do. After a while, the girl returned carrying a long scroll and walked over to the group.
"Youxian girl, what is this?" Lin Shuanghe asked.
Hua Youxian looked at the scroll in her arms, gently stroking it a few times, her eyes filled with nostalgia and memories. She spoke softly, "I wonder if the young masters still remember that Young Master Wang was also present during the celebration at Ruyun Tower back then."
Everyone fell silent.
"Young Master Wang" was the cause of everything back then, and also the end of everything. Since their reunion, everyone had deliberately avoided mentioning him, fearing it would sadden Hua Youxian. Though they didn't know the exact reason, for a girl who had once been willing to sacrifice herself for her lover and travel thousands of miles to suddenly sever ties so decisively, she must have suffered enough heartbreak."When you young masters were drinking and debating, Young Master Wang was painting nearby, capturing all of you in his work," she said, while having the girl beside her help unroll the scroll. "Later, when I divorced Young Master Wang and left the mansion, I didn't take much with me—only this."
As soon as she finished speaking, the long scroll in her hands slowly unfurled, coming into view for all to see.
Regardless of what else might be said about Wang Sheng, his talent was undeniable. His brushwork masterfully captured each person's distinctive features, bringing them vividly to life. On the scroll, lanterns glowed, and the sounds of the huqin and sheng filled the air. Beautiful women with delicate features twirled in skirts like blooming lotus flowers, while wine pots and cups lay scattered across the long banquet table.
A young man with a high ponytail stood atop a table, his eyes brimming with spirited confidence as he danced with a sword. Beneath the table, another youth held a folding fan in one hand while reaching out with the other to pull him down. Yang Mingzhi, less composed than he is now, wore his usual gentle expression as a woman beside him clung to his arm, urging him to drink, leaving him flustered as he waved his hands in refusal.
He Yan also saw herself.
The masked girl sat in the corner, seemingly forgotten amidst the laughter and chatter. She tilted her head slightly, as if following something, her gaze fixed on the white-robed young man sitting in the center, who was casually sipping his drink with an air of indifference.
Regarding the struggle for favor, Dr. Lin, who saw through it all, remarked: Tsk! This man’s damn competitive spirit!
Yan Yan: Though I’m a cowboy, I only order milk at the bar～～
(End of Chapter)
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