Chapter 16: Nie Yunzhu

After the Mid-Autumn Festival, the weather in Jiangning remained clear for about two days before turning cloudy. As one walked along the streets, the cool autumn breeze swirled the fallen leaves on the ground, adding a touch of desolation to the once-bustling city.

Of course, for most people, the city still looked the same as usual. Autumn was meant to feel like this. The river's waters were clear, painting a picturesque scene with pleasure boats still gliding across. The sound of oars stirred the silence, as they lightly passed beneath the hanging willow branches. The wind lifted nearby fallen leaves, which spun briefly before gently settling on the water, floating away with the ripples. On the city streets, pedestrians, carriages, sedan chairs, and vendors busied themselves. Narrow streets and wide avenues, stone steps, and wooden bridges crossed over the narrower river channels. Where the water flowed more slowly, women could be seen washing clothes on the stone steps, chatting and laughing as they worked. In the distance, the scent of tea and wine wafted from the teahouses and taverns.

Most people were still bustling about, preoccupied with their daily lives. Having grown accustomed to it, they saw it as just another part of life. Those who had a moment to spare might stop at a teahouse for a break, or rest by the roadside, occasionally bringing up the interesting rumors of recent days. The events of the Mid-Autumn night a few days ago were still fresh in everyone's mind. Of all the tales being recounted, the one most frequently mentioned was the emergence of the poem Shui Diao Ge Tou, as well as the incident at the Zhi Shui Poetry Gathering, where the renowned scholar Kang Xian had angrily rebuked the crowd.

The events that unfolded had a beginning, a middle, and an end, complete with coincidence, suspense, and a climactic twist. For something to be truly dramatic, it needs to meet these criteria. If it had just been another talented scholar writing a brilliant poem that amazed everyone with his literary grace, people would soon grow tired of hearing about it. But if there's also a talented young lady showing favor to the scholar, the drama intensifies. In the case of Shui Diao Ge Tou, it offered even more. People love great poetry, but they also love a good story. For the past few days, when visiting the brothels or entertainment houses, it was common to hear the melody of "When Will the Bright Moon Appear?" with people commenting on its brilliance.

As for the identity of the poet, it was still shrouded in speculation, with no reliable information yet revealed.

The Su family, Ning Yi—also known as Ning Liheng—was the son-in-law of the Su family.

At the Zhi Shui Poetry Gathering, Kang Xian's rebuke solidified Shui Diao Ge Tou's reputation as a masterpiece, but it didn't quell the public's curiosity. Why had Ning Yi remained so unknown until now? Why, despite his talent, had he become a live-in son-in-law for a merchant family? Most importantly, was the poem truly his, or had he bought or plagiarized it? These were the burning questions on everyone's mind.

Scandal always carried more drama than praise, and people were more inclined to believe such things. It wasn't unheard of for scholars to purchase poems to gain fame. When people discussed it, they mostly leaned toward this assumption. After all, being a live-in son-in-law was considered a lowly status. Some even said that such men had no backbone, betraying their ancestors' teachings. Any man with even a shred of pride would never do such a thing.

However, within these few days, there had also been rumors that the second Miss of the Su family, Su Tan'er, was a woman of extraordinary beauty, graceful and gentle. It was said that Ning Yi had fallen in love with her at first sight and was willing to become a live-in son-in-law just to stay by her side. Yet, in this patriarchal society, few were willing to believe such a story. Brothels were popular, and women were often treated like commodities. Who would believe that a man would give up everything for a woman? And even if they did believe it, they would think that if this man had no talent, it wouldn't matter. But if he was truly talented and still chose to marry into a family, he would be seen as a disgrace to manhood, a failure to live up to the teachings of the sages, and even an insult to society itself.

In this era, people preferred the fairy tale of a scholar passing the imperial exams and returning to marry the woman he loved. The idea of giving up everything for a woman was unacceptable.

As a result, in the days that followed, most people's speculations about Ning Yi tended to lean toward a negative view. Being a live-in son-in-law was already an inherent sin. Of course, no final conclusions had yet been drawn, and while people speculated, they remained curious, waiting for more reliable news to emerge. On the other hand, when it came to the quality of Shui Diao Ge Tou and the talent of its author, people were still in awe. In fact, the admiration had only grown over the past few days, with the praise for the poem continuing to increase. Among all the poems presented during the Mid-Autumn Poetry Competition, Shui Diao Ge Tou had garnered far more acclaim than any of the others, a phenomenon that hadn't been seen in years.

The most bustling part of the Qinhuai River was the area around the Confucius Temple and the Gongyuan Examination Hall. Directly across the river from it was the district where the many brothels and entertainment houses were located. It was just past noon, and while these places hadn't yet opened for business, those who needed to rise had already done so. If you walked down the street below, you could see some women sitting alone by the railings upstairs or chatting and laughing. From within the courtyards, the faint sound of stringed instruments floated in the air.

This music came from some of the women already skilled in their arts practicing inside the buildings, while others were young girls learning to play the qin under the guidance of teachers arranged by the brothel. At this moment, in the inner courtyard of the Jin Feng Pavilion, a qin lesson was nearing its end. Several young girls were still diligently practicing the pieces they had been taught, while their teacher, dressed in a simple cloth skirt and wooden hairpin, sat at a small table in front, resting her chin in her hand as she listened to the music.

Though the woman was only in her early twenties, and her plain attire paled in comparison to the colorful clothing of the brothel's entertainers, her beauty was striking. She had an elegant oval face, delicate eyebrows like ink, and an exceptionally graceful presence. As she sat quietly listening to the music, her figure gave off a serene, ink-wash-like charm. Compared to the young girls learning the qin, she stood out far more.

As was the usual process, once the pieces were finished, the woman would offer some guidance, and the lesson would be over. However, just as she was about to pack up her things, the girls below exchanged glances, and one of them smiled and said, "Sis Yunzhu, Sis Yunzhu, could you teach us to sing Shui Diao Ge Tou?"

"Hmm? Shui Diao Ge Tou..." The woman called Yunzhu was momentarily confused, then looked at them and blinked, seemingly not understanding why they wanted to learn this. The girls below had already begun explaining.

"The guests who have come by in recent days all love listening to this..."

"Yes, the one from Mid-Autumn night..."

"We like it too!"

Upon hearing this, the woman understood. "Mid-Autumn? A poem from this year's Mid-Autumn Festival?"

"Huh? Sis Yunzhu, you haven't heard about it yet?"

"I've been busy with a few things lately, so I haven't had the chance to pay attention to Mid-Autumn events..." Yunzhu smiled, though beneath that smile was a trace of weariness, but the young girls in front of her likely wouldn't have noticed.

The girls then excitedly took out a small booklet with the lyrics to Shui Diao Ge Tou. Yunzhu sat there, reading it word by word, her lips moving slightly. She could truly appreciate the beauty of the poem, and soon, her expression turned serious. The girls continued to chatter about the poem's background and the events of that Mid-Autumn night.

"...It's a pity that the poet became a son-in-law in someone else's family."

"Yeah, he's a live-in son-in-law..."

"Now everyone's saying the poem was bought..."

"But the poem is really good... 'When will the bright moon appear? I raise my cup to the sky...'"

The girls chattered away, each adding their own piece of the poem's story. They even began to sing it. Though they were still learning music, they often heard the older sisters at Jin Feng Pavilion singing, so mimicking them wasn't difficult. In fact, the brothel already had sheet music for the Shui Diao Ge Tou melody. The girls had learned various techniques and could play it themselves, but it was always better to have someone teach them properly.

"A live-in son-in-law, huh..." Yunzhu glanced at the lyrics after hearing everyone's explanation and smiled. "In that case, you girls should already know how to play Shui Diao Ge Tou on the qin, right?"

"We've tried playing it, but there are parts we can't get quite right..."

"Well, once you've learned the piece, that's good enough. There are a few spots in the Shui Diao Ge Tou where the fingering is a bit special, and as for the singing, there are places where slight variations are fine. I'll play it once with you all and then explain the details."

With that, the girls returned to their places by the qin. Yunzhu's gaze swept over them, and then she placed her fingers on the strings, giving a soft, graceful smile before her fingertips gently plucked the strings.

"When will the bright moon appear..."

The elegant sound of the qin filled the room. Normally, when several people who aren't fully familiar with a piece play together, the result can be somewhat chaotic. However, amidst the ensemble, one clear and beautiful melody led the tune with steady confidence. Though the volume of all the instruments was the same, that one melody seemed to perfectly harmonize with the others, giving the whole performance a sense of unity. As the music continued, Yunzhu's soft, gentle voice rose with the others, leading the song. If a connoisseur had happened to pass by, they would have noticed that this music and her singing were far superior to that of most of the women at Jin Feng Pavilion—even rivaling Yuan Jin'er, the current top performer.

While Yuan Jin'er's voice was lively and light, Yunzhu's voice was like flowing water or the sound of delicate chimes, bringing peace and serenity to the heart. As the music echoed through the room, some of the girls from nearby came over to listen from a distance. After the song ended, someone commented, "It's Sis Yunzhu..."

"Sis Yunzhu's singing is still so incredible..."

There were murmurs of admiration and perhaps a hint of jealousy. Before long, the lesson came to an end, leaving the girls to practice on their own. Yunzhu, in her simple cloth skirt and with a small bundle in hand, emerged from the room. She passed through the corridor, greeting a few familiar women before heading to the madam's room to collect her teaching fee. As she was leaving, she encountered Yuan Jin'er in the hallway.

"Sis Yunzhu," Yuan Jin'er greeted her.

"Jin'er," Yunzhu replied with a smile.

"I heard you singing just now, Sis Yunzhu. Shui Diao Ge Tou truly sounds best when you sing it. I always feel like I can't capture the right mood, and it just doesn't sound good when I sing it."

Yuan Jin'er was seventeen this year, her personality more lively and cheerful. After a few pleasantries, her smile faded slightly, and she quietly asked, "Sis Yunzhu, how is little Hutaom these days?"

"She's doing much better. In a few days, her illness should be fully cured."

"That's a relief..." Yuan Jin'er nodded. After a moment, she glanced around to make sure no one was nearby, then pulled out a small pouch from her clothes. "Sis Yunzhu, I know your character well, but since little Hutaom has been ill, you must need something to help with the expenses. Please take this—it's a small sum of money and goods. I've always remembered how you took care of me when I first came here."

She tried to place the small pouch of silver in Yunzhu's hand, but Yunzhu gently declined. Though clearly moved, she ultimately didn't accept it.

"Hutaom is really getting better. If she weren't, I wouldn't be trying to hold on like this. Jin'er, you should save your money. One day, if you can buy your freedom, then you can live a truly independent life..."

"I don't have your resolve, Sis," Yuan Jin'er replied, her eyes moistening slightly as their conversation grew more heartfelt. She dabbed at the corners of her eyes with her fingers and smiled. "I'm planning to find a man to marry eventually. Keeping money saved up doesn't mean much for me, and it's not a large sum anyway. I still have more..."

"If you can meet a scholar you admire..."

"I'm not going to marry a man with nothing to his name and only a silver tongue. Flowery words don't fill the stomach. With my fate to be a concubine or servant, I'd better find someone with money and status to marry. Fortunately, I have some reputation now, so finding a suitable match shouldn't be too difficult."

This was perhaps what people meant when they said everyone has their own path. The two women exchanged heartfelt words as they walked outside together, but eventually, they parted ways at the side gate of Jin Feng Pavilion. Yuan Jin'er waved with a smile until Yunzhu's figure disappeared from view, before finally lowering her hand.

There was a tinge of envy in her heart, but also a sense of melancholy—an emotion she couldn't quite understand herself.

The woman she addressed as Sis Yunzhu was named Nie Yunzhu. A few years ago, she had been one of the most popular women in Jin Feng Pavilion. Her skills in playing the qin, her singing, poetry, painting, and calligraphy were all unparalleled. However, due to her reserved and tranquil nature, she never sought the limelight. When the Qinhuai River held flower queen competitions, she refused to participate, and as a result, her fame never reached its peak. Two years ago, after saving enough silver, she bought her freedom as well as that of her maid, Hutaom, and found a place to settle down. Even now, people would occasionally come to Jin Feng Pavilion asking about her.

Most other women who bought their freedom from such establishments would still keep in contact with many of their former patrons, participating in poetry gatherings or social events with scholars and aristocrats. But Yunzhu was different—she had cut ties with nearly all of her previous acquaintances. Life in the pleasure quarters was nothing but the comings and goings of people, and after disappearing for two years, she faded from that world. She only continued to teach qin and music to earn some money for living expenses.

However, teaching qin lessons didn't bring in much income. Even if she stopped teaching, there were plenty of others at Jin Feng Pavilion who could do the job just as well. Two years ago, she still had some silver left after buying her freedom, but recently, it was rumored that things weren't going so well for her. She and her maid had lived their entire lives in the pleasure quarters. While Hutaom knew how to serve people, she perhaps wasn't very skilled when it came to managing household affairs. After two years, their savings had likely run out, and they were forced to return to doing work related to the brothel. Lately, Hutaom had fallen ill, and it seemed they were struggling. Grateful for the care Yunzhu had shown her in the past, Yuan Jin'er had wanted to give her some silver to help, but Yunzhu had politely refused.

Ah, women—what freedom could they possibly have in this world? The life of a courtesan may seem glamorous, with wealthy young men vying for their favor and offering endless rewards for a single performance. Yet in the end, their fate was that of concubines or maids. Who would truly treat a woman from the brothels as a legitimate wife? Yunzhu was resilient, but if Yuan Jin'er were to buy her own freedom one day, how long could a weak woman survive in this world without support? In the end, she might find herself right back in the brothel.

With a light sigh, Yuan Jin'er turned and walked back inside...

As Nie Yunzhu left the pharmacy, she counted the remaining silver she had on her and placed it carefully in her inner pocket.

With the money from pawning her hairpin, she could still get by for a while longer. Most importantly, Hutaom's illness was finally nearing recovery, and that was the best news.

When they left the brothel two years ago, neither she nor Hutaom had much experience living on their own. Although Hutaom had endured hardship as a child, after spending so many years in the brothel, those memories were distant. Being able to cook a simple meal was already an accomplishment. The two of them had spent much of these past two years living without any clear plan. Though Yunzhu had done some work, like teaching qin at Jin Feng Pavilion, their expenses had always exceeded their income. But now, even though there wasn't much silver left, as long as Hutaom recovered, they would be able to find ways to balance their finances.

She picked up the small cloth bag containing some odds and ends and gently lifted the bundle of medicine with her other hand. As she walked home, her head was lowered, half her attention focused on the small pocket containing her money. Since she and Hutaom had begun living independently, she had been pickpocketed twice in crowded areas, and thinking back on it still made her feel regretful. As she left the busy streets of Zhuque Avenue and the crowd began to thin, she finally relaxed her guard. The street was lined with various shops selling goods, and just as she was about to turn the corner, a figure flickered across her vision.

Huh...

She lifted her head and looked ahead, curious. The figure had already disappeared around the corner. With a sense of curiosity, she quickened her pace. When she reached the corner, she finally saw him.

It really was him...

Not far ahead, standing by the side of the street, was a thin, scholarly-looking man. He was holding a large wooden board and glancing at the items being sold in the nearby shops. He seemed a bit bored, occasionally tilting the wooden board back and forth. After nodding to himself, he walked into one of the shops.

It looked like he was there to buy charcoal.

Nie Yunzhu thought for a moment and then decided to follow him inside...