"There are a thousand kinds of people in the world, a myriad of professions, and each has their own way of living. Personally, I don’t think courtesans are any less worthy than others, but society’s gaze is what it is," Shen Miao said. "Just like my guard Mo Qing—he is also a servant, yet no one looks down on him. Some even envy my personal maids. Such is the way of the world, where people are divided into ranks. Who wouldn’t want to be at the top? Who would wish to be scorned every day?"
"You!" Liuying hated nothing more than having her origins in the pleasure quarters thrown in her face. Hearing this, she was furious.
Shen Miao continued, "You might as well think it over carefully."
"If the young lady looks down on those who have fallen into the pleasure quarters, why bother saying all this to me?" Liuying laughed coldly instead of getting angrier.
"What I look down on are those who willingly sink into such a life," Shen Miao stood up. "In a few days, Guard Mo will come again. There’s no need for you to rush your answer, Miss Liuying. However... relying on beauty to serve others has never led to a good end."
Shen Miao gave Mo Qing a meaningful glance, and he hurriedly placed a silver ingot on the table. Liuying shot him a glare, her face showing clear irritation. Mo Qing felt awkward as well. Shen Miao had no intention of lingering. She nodded at Liuying and left, not bothering to see the expression on the courtesan’s face behind her.
Once they stepped out of the Fragrant Treasure Pavilion, Jing Zhe couldn’t hold back her indignation. "Miss—no, Young Master—went out of your way to redeem her, yet she was so ungrateful. Truly, no good deed goes unpunished."
Mo Qing seemed about to say something but ultimately held his tongue.
Gu Yu asked, "Miss, shall we return now?"
Shen Miao didn’t answer, standing perfectly still. Gu Yu found it odd and followed her gaze to a corner across the street, where a man in blue robes stood, staring intently at the small residence within the Fragrant Treasure Pavilion.
Before Gu Yu could speak, Shen Miao strode toward him.
Under the eaves, the man in blue stood rigidly, his gaze fixed on the direction of the Firefly Abode, so absorbed that he didn’t notice anyone approaching until a light cough interrupted his thoughts. Before him stood four people, led by a youth in a moon-white robe, delicate and refined like carved jade, clearly a young master from some noble family. The youth looked at him with a faint smile.
Pei Lang was momentarily stunned, feeling as though he had seen this young man before. The youth nodded at him. "Master Pei."
"Shen Miao!" Pei Lang’s eyes widened slightly. He glanced at the attendants and guards behind her, then back at Shen Miao, clearly shocked. "You... why are you dressed like this?"
Women disguising themselves as men wasn’t uncommon in Ming Qi. Many young ladies wore male attire for convenience when going out, often looking quite dashing. But Shen Miao... Pei Lang stared at the elegant young man before him, momentarily at a loss for words.
"I just came out of the Fragrant Treasure Pavilion," Shen Miao said.
Pei Lang coughed violently, his face turning red. Women dressing as men wasn’t unusual, but a woman dressed as a man visiting a brothel—that was a first for him. And Shen Miao seemed utterly unashamed, without a trace of embarrassment.
Suddenly, Shen Miao stepped closer to Pei Lang, snapping open her folding fan with a crisp sound, shielding both their faces. Behind the fan, she whispered, "They say the girls of the Fragrant Treasure Pavilion are the most beautiful in the world, so I went to take a look. Recently, they’ve added many Persian dancers, each more alluring than the last."
Even Pei Lang, who was usually composed and unflappable even in the presence of dignitaries, found himself flustered by Shen Miao’s suggestive gesture. Her words made him feel as though he were talking to some young nobleman who frequented brothels, discussing which dancer was the most enchanting.
"Nonsense!" Remembering his status as her teacher, Pei Lang gritted out the word.
Shen Miao smiled, her eyes curving like crescent moons, her breath sweet as orchids. "But I chose Miss Liuying’s company."
At these words, Pei Lang stiffened.
Shen Miao withdrew the fan, smiling at him. "I noticed you’ve been watching the Firefly Abode for quite some time. Could it be that you, too, are captivated by Miss Liuying?"
Pei Lang stared at Shen Miao, his usually calm expression turning sharp with a hint of menace.
Unfazed, Shen Miao continued to smile brightly, pointing to a nearby tavern. "Since Master Pei is also interested in Miss Liuying, why not join me for a drink and discuss beauties?" Her manner was somewhat flirtatious, yet carried an undeniable authority. She placed the fan against her chest and strode upstairs without waiting for his response, tossing back, "Fine wine and fair company—now that’s true joy in life."
Though Jing Zhe, Gu Yu, and Mo Qing didn’t understand Shen Miao’s intentions, they never questioned her decisions and followed without hesitation.
Pei Lang stood alone for a moment before finally making up his mind and entering the tavern.
Upstairs by the window, Ji Yushu suddenly jumped up. "See! I told you Miss Shen has feelings for that Pei Lang! All this trouble to visit Liuying was just to talk to him today!"
Gao Yang ignored him, muttering to himself, "What exactly did she say to him behind that fan?" He shook his head. "Why cover their faces? Does she know you can read lips?" He glanced at Xie Jingxing.
Xie Jingxing shrugged, neither confirming nor denying.
"Honestly, when Miss Shen flicked open that fan just now, she looked more dashing than I ever could," Ji Yushu sighed. "Such a beauty, yet she’s taken with a poor scholar. She’d be better off with me than some penniless pretty boy who can’t even afford a brothel."
Xie Jingxing stood up. Ji Yushu asked, "Where are you going?"
"To listen to what they’re saying, of course." Xie Jingxing smiled meaningfully. "I want to see what kind of piece Pei Lang really is."
In the private room of the tavern, Mo Qing stood guard by the door while Jing Zhe and Gu Yu flanked the sides, heads bowed as if invisible.
At the table, Shen Miao poured wine.
The wine was Lu wine, amber in color with a delicate fragrance. It wasn’t strong; a few sips wouldn’t affect anyone with decent tolerance.
Shen Miao poured two cups. Her movements were graceful, her fingers gripping the handle of the wine pot as the clear liquid filled the small jade cups, the sound almost musical.
Pei Lang watched as Shen Miao pushed one cup toward him, smiling. "Master Pei, please."
"Shen Miao," Pei Lang addressed her directly, his expression still tense. "What exactly are you trying to do?"
"Master Pei is so impatient. Discussing beauties without savoring the wine—isn’t that like a bull chewing peonies?" Shen Miao looked at him leisurely.
Pei Lang was momentarily speechless. He had taught at the Hall of Extensive Learning for years, and everyone treated him with respect. Even the most unruly students never spoke to him so flippantly. If it were anyone else, he wouldn’t care, but Shen Miao wasn’t the type to act frivolously. Her behavior left him uncertain of her true intentions.
When Pei Lang remained silent, Shen Miao chuckled lightly. "I was just teasing, Master Pei. Why so tense?"
Her eyes were clear, yet held a mischievous glint, the look of an innocent maiden with an unintentional allure. Pei Lang’s gaze faltered slightly.
"This is Lu wine," Shen Miao raised her cup toward Pei Lang, who stiffened. Ignoring his reaction, she continued, "From the lands of Qi and Lu, where the wine is amber. The Lu wine here must have been transported from there."
Pei Lang watched her before suddenly picking up his cup and draining it in one gulp.
"This wine isn’t strong," Shen Miao smiled. "Otherwise, people might think you’re a drunkard." Her tone was playful, but her words made Pei Lang’s palms sweat. "People from Lu are known for drinking from large jars. The way you drank just now was very much like them."
Pei Lang pressed his lips together, his gentle demeanor twisting slightly.
Shen Miao rested her cheek on one hand. The wine had brought a faint flush to her face, and with her eyes slightly narrowed, she looked like a blooming peony. The contrast with her male attire added a unique charm. "I recall a magistrate from Lu over a decade ago who also bore the surname Pei. One might think you were related."
Pei Lang slammed his cup onto the table. At the same time, Mo Qing’s hand went to the hilt of his sword.
"Unfortunately, that magistrate was implicated in an old scandal from the previous dynasty and executed along with his entire family. The men were killed, and the women were exiled or made into courtesans." Shen Miao’s laughter was almost uncontrollable. "I heard the magistrate had two exceptional children, still young, who also perished in the purge."
Pei Lang’s lips trembled slightly. "Who are you?" he demanded, word by word.
"Shh." Shen Miao pressed a finger to her lips, then drank another cup, her fair cheeks flushing deeper. "Actually, I’ve heard a secret. Since you share the same surname, I’ll share it with you."
"That magistrate could have saved his children, but the officials were relentless. He could only save one—so he chose his son, and his daughter was captured." She shook her head regretfully. "Officials are ruthless to the families of criminals. That girl... well, you can imagine her fate." Shen Miao sighed. "To me, that magistrate knew his daughter would suffer horribly, yet he still pushed her out. How heartless."
Pei Lang closed his eyes, pain flashing across his face.
"Master Pei seems moved. Perhaps you empathize." Shen Miao rested her chin on her hand, smiling at him. "But this has nothing to do with you, since you’re not from Lu. You were born and raised in Fixed Capital, the son of a merchant. I only mentioned this because the wine stirred some memories."
Pei Lang’s gentle expression vanished, replaced by wariness. "Is this General Shen’s doing?"
Shen Miao shook her head.
"My father dotes on me and gave me an embroidery workshop. We’re short a seamstress." Shen Miao drawled, "I heard the magistrate’s eldest daughter was skilled in double-sided embroidery. Coincidentally, Miss Liuying of the Fragrant Treasure Pavilion also knows it. I thought, since both fell into the pleasure quarters and both know this craft, perhaps there’s a connection. So I felt pity and wanted to rescue her." She looked at Pei Lang. "Master Pei, do you think I did the right thing?"
She called herself his "student," her hair tucked neatly under a male-style cap, her smile bright like a refined young nobleman. Yet beneath her clear eyes lay depths no one could fathom. Her playful demeanor masked the cunning of courtiers who hid daggers behind smiles.
Dealing with her was like walking a tightrope—every word held layers, friend and foe indistinguishable.
Pei Lang turned his head slightly. "What do you think?"
Shen Miao laughed, pure and bright, as if genuinely pleased with her good deed. "I think it’s wonderful. Even if the magistrate’s son learned of his sister’s whereabouts and came to redeem her, given her resentment toward their father and her own pride, she might refuse. She might even ruin her own life."
Pei Lang said nothing.
"Some people are jade but, buried among stones for too long, become stones themselves. Others carry pride in their bones—even if ground to dust, their spirit remains unbroken. That magistrate, though a criminal, was said to be a proud man. His children must have inherited that." Shen Miao looked at Pei Lang. "Would that girl prefer to live as a fallen noblewoman in the pleasure quarters or as a courtesan who has reclaimed her dignity?"
"After all this," Pei Lang sneered, "what do you want from me?"
"Master Pei is astute. I knew I couldn’t hide it from you." Shen Miao praised him lavishly before continuing, "With your talents, why not enter politics?"
"Shen Miao!" Pei Lang suddenly raised his voice, as if struck by her words. Even Jing Zhe and Gu Yu glanced over in surprise. "Don’t even think about it!"
"Don’t be hasty, Master Pei. Hear me out first." Shen Miao smiled. "Perhaps my earlier story frightened you. The political arena is treacherous—one misstep can doom an entire family. And once you’re in, you’ll never have the freedom of a scholar."
Pei Lang’s expression gradually calmed, returning to his usual composed demeanor.
"But you’re alone now—no family, no loved ones to endanger. Besides... the higher you stand, the more you can see and do. To protect those you care about, a mere scholar’s status isn’t enough. You may have students everywhere, but..." Shen Miao raised her cup, her smile chillingly detached. "When trouble comes, the powerful will flee. Who will lift a finger for you?"
"Only strength of your own is true security." Her voice was hypnotic, more entrancing than the seductive songs of the Fragrant Treasure Pavilion.
"Who taught you these words? What’s their purpose? What benefit do they gain from my entering politics?"
Shen Miao smiled slightly. Pei Lang, for all his gentle demeanor, was sharp when it mattered. In her past life, Fu Xiuyi had gone to great lengths to recruit him as an advisor, eventually elevating him to the position of State Preceptor. That was no accident.
"Why ask about others’ gains and not your own?" Shen Miao deftly sidestepped his question. "Promotion, wealth, marriage—all would benefit you. In business, who asks how much others profit before counting their own?"
"And what do I gain?" Pei Lang said coolly.
"You gain nothing, but Miss Liuying does." Shen Miao’s eyes sparkled. "A woman redeemed, her future secured—you’d be saving a life."
Pei Lang stared at her. If he hadn’t grasped her meaning by now, he’d be a fool.
"What would I do after entering politics?" he asked.
Shen Miao looked at him with satisfaction. Weighing pros and cons swiftly and choosing the most advantageous path—that was Pei Lang’s way. Yet... she recalled how, when Fu Xiuyi had deposed the crown prince, she had knelt before Pei Lang, begging. His response had been just as coldly rational as now. But this time, the scales were in her hands, and the once-untouchable State Preceptor was at her mercy. A faint thrill of satisfaction curled in her heart, manifesting as joy on her face.
"Nothing much," Shen Miao said. "With your talents, even if you don’t seek office, within a year, a noble will recruit you. When that happens, don’t refuse. Accept—but in truth, work for me."
"You want me to be a spy?" Pei Lang looked at her incredulously.
Shen Miao shook her head. "Not a spy. You can rise in rank and wealth. I’ll ensure your cover remains intact. Just share certain information when needed."
Pei Lang was silent for a moment. "Who is this noble you speak of?"
Shen Miao smiled. "Prince Ding, Fu Xiuyi."
Pei Lang stiffened, staring at her anew. He knew of Shen Miao’s past infatuation with Prince Ding, how her obsession had become a joke throughout the city, and how the prince had scorned her. But at some point, Shen Miao had changed. Pei Lang had always suspected someone was guiding her, but now he wondered—was this retaliation for unrequited love? Had she turned to scheming against the prince out of spite?
But could mere rejection lead to this?
Pei Lang was bewildered. The girl before him was charming in male attire, her cheeks faintly flushed from wine, at the prime of youth—innocent yet with an unconscious allure in her gestures. He felt uneasy.
Speaking with a girl her age should have felt like an elder addressing a junior, or at least like an older brother to a younger sister. Yet here, it was as though he were the one at a disadvantage, led by the nose without recourse.
"What do you truly want?" Pei Lang had asked this many times, but even now, he wasn’t sure whether these schemes were hers or someone else’s. It was as though she held all his cards while he remained blind to her motives.
Utterly outmaneuvered.
"I want only what benefits us both." Shen Miao tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, revealing her jade-white neck. "Master Pei, will you agree or not?"
"Must I answer here?" Pei Lang asked.
"You have..." Shen Miao pointed to the wine pot. "Until this is empty. Then, tell me your answer."
"No need." Pei Lang cut her off. "If you can keep your promises, I agree."
Silence filled the room. Then Shen Miao laughed, refilling their cups and raising hers in a toast.
Pei Lang hesitated before lifting his own, an odd feeling rising in his chest. Drinking with his student in a tavern... his heart burned strangely.
"May Master Pei’s future be boundless and glorious." Shen Miao drained her cup swiftly, a trickle of wine escaping the corner of her lips, trailing down her chin to her collar.
Pei Lang averted his gaze. A maiden in her prime was beautiful, but Shen Miao’s gentle, refined features should have been dignified and reserved. He wasn’t one to be swayed by beauty, yet for a moment, his composure wavered, sensing something deeply wrong.
Shen Miao’s eyes gleamed with triumph.
Perhaps it was the wine, stirring emotions long buried like sin. She remembered Pei Lang’s stern propriety, how she had once embodied the epitome of grace as an empress—only to be crushed by his cold pragmatism.
That was the state preceptor who could determine Fu Ming's life and death in her past life, yet now she held his weakness in her grasp. Before Pei Lang, she had to maintain the Empress's dignified demeanor—not even allowed to weep openly for Wan Yu who was sent away for marriage. But now... she had neither the Empress's propriety nor the constrained virtues of a woman. Disguised as a man, visiting pleasure houses, drinking with her teacher, her behavior flirtatious and unrestrained—what could Pei Lang possibly do about it?
And indeed, there was nothing he could do.
Yet that fleeting sense of triumph lasted only a moment.
The moment Pei Lang agreed, she knew there was no need to prolong the entanglement.
The coquettishness brought on by the wine faded from her eyes, replaced inch by inch with sober clarity. She stood, tilting her chin slightly, reverting to the slightly imperious Shen Miao.
"Once Liuying is settled, the location of the embroidery workshop will be relayed to you," Shen Miao said with a nod. "The payment has been settled. Enjoy your drink—wine from Lu Province isn’t something one gets to savor often."
The last remark, whether sarcastic or polite, caused Pei Lang’s brow to furrow slightly as he watched Shen Miao retreat with her attendants.
He raised the wine to his lips and took a sip. What should have been a mellow vintage instead tasted startlingly bitter.
Outside, Jing Zhe and Gu Yu dared not speak. Both sensed Shen Miao’s displeasure, and though they had only caught fragments of her exchange with Pei Lang, they instinctively understood the gravity of the matter and refrained from idle chatter.
The cold wind outside dissipated the flush on her cheeks. Shen Miao closed her eyes briefly, and when she opened them again, they held only icy resolve.
Toward Pei Lang, she still harbored resentment for his past indifference. No matter how she tried to conceal it, traces of it inevitably seeped through.
Still, her objective had been achieved.
"Back to the residence," she said, heading toward the carriage.
...
In the hidden private room adjacent to the one they had just left, several figures sat in silence.
They had just witnessed quite the spectacle—initially amusing, but now, with the actors departed and the tea gone cold, the implications left them deeply unsettled.
Ji Yushu swallowed hard, attempting to lighten the oppressive atmosphere. "Being connected to this building certainly has its perks. Eavesdropping is so much easier—not just listening, but watching too. Heh, quite the advantage."
Behind the intricately carved pillar was a large pane of glass, partially concealed by delicate railings. Said to be imported from the West, it allowed one side to see through while remaining invisible to the other. Coupled with the copper pillars perforated with tiny holes, every word spoken could be heard with perfect clarity.
Yet after Ji Yushu’s remark, the other two in the room remained silent. Gao Yang tapped his chin with a folding fan, his habitual gesture when deep in thought, while Xie Jingxing leaned on one elbow, idly toying with a teacup as he pondered something.
Unable to bear the silence, Ji Yushu spoke again. "Come on, you two, stop brooding. It’s just about the former magistrate of Lu Province—Pei Lang is his son, isn’t he?"
Shen Miao had recounted her story lightly, trusting Pei Lang would understand. The three here were no fools either; a little reflection made everything clear.
The disgraced former magistrate of Lu Province, Pei, had two children: an elder sister, Liuying, and a younger brother, Pei Lang. During their escape, to ensure Pei Lang’s survival, the family’s arranged escorts abandoned Liuying, leaving her to sink into the world of pleasure. Meanwhile, Pei Lang, following the family’s prearranged path, assumed a new identity as a native of Fixed Capital, raised as the son of merchants whose parents had passed away years ago, leaving him alone in the world.A natural-born identity that remained undiscovered for many years.
Yet... Xie Jingxing lazily curled his lips and said, "So, if even Baixiaosheng couldn't uncover the truth, how did she know?"
By the end, his tone turned cold, with murderous intent swirling in his peach-blossom eyes.
－－－－－－Author's Note－－－－－－
Damn, writing the confrontation scenes with Mr. Pei is more exhausting than those with the Young Marquis!
Young Marquis: I'll just quietly watch you all show off (╰_╯)
...
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