Chapter 17 A Graceful and Slender Yan Beauty of Fifteen

There were three women and one man. The man was handsome, and the women were pretty. They drank wine, chatted, and the atmosphere was harmonious.

Li Qing was dressed in a jet - black long robe. His nose was straight like a hanging gall, and his eyes were as bright as stars. Although he was only in his twenties, he exuded a mature charm that usually came with a man in his thirties. His manners were elegant, and his conversation was extraordinary.

The three women had never met such a guest before, and they couldn't help but feel a great deal of affection for him.

"Sir, you're really a rare and wonderful person. Lianxiang has been in the Zui Xian Tower for so long and has met many people, but no one can compare with you."

"Oh?" Li Qing smiled and said, "Miss Lianxiang, then tell me, what exactly is so good about me?"

Lianxiang didn't expect Li Qing to ask such a question. For a moment, she didn't know how to respond. The other two women covered their mouths and chuckled, making Lianxiang's pretty face turn slightly red.

"Sir, you're so naughty." Lianxiang gave Li Qing a coquettish glance. "I'm at a loss for words."

"I think this girl has a crush on the sir. You're usually quite talkative."

"Oh, Hongxiu, what are you talking about?" Lianxiang was extremely shy and tickled Hongxiu. A burst of giggles rang out in the wing - room.

After a while, Lianxiang regained her composure from her shyness and said apologetically, "I'm being rude. Sir, please don't be offended."

"Acting according to one's nature, why would I be offended?"

Li Qing smiled, raised his glass, and drank the fruit wine in it. "Nine out of ten things in life are不如意, and there are few things that can be talked about with others. Don't be overly formal. Pleasing others and pleasing oneself is the best way."

The three women were stunned at the same time. Wanling, who was usually quiet, said softly, "Sir, you're truly a gentleman. How many guests who come here please others? They all just please themselves."

"That's right." Hongxiu nodded and said with a charming smile, "But sir, you said that nine out of ten things in life are不如意. Does someone like you have troubles?"

Li Qing laughed heartily. "Everyone in the world has troubles!

Common people worry about making a living, merchants worry about profits, scholars worry about the imperial examinations, and even emperors worry about the country and the people.

Among all living beings, how many people are care - free?"

"Sir, when you say that, it makes me feel much better." Lianxiang smiled softly. "The autumn provincial examinations are approaching. I guess sir is worried about passing the imperial examinations?"

Li Qing shook his head. "I don't have that kind of ability."

"Sir, there's no need to be modest. A talented person like you will surely be on the list."

Li Qing smiled but didn't say anything. He was already a staff member of the imperial court and couldn't take the imperial examinations anymore. Of course, if he really took the exam, he probably wouldn't pass either.

After getting along for a while, the women became more talkative, and the four of them had a pleasant conversation. Before they knew it, the night was getting late.

Wanling suddenly realized that she hadn't done what she was supposed to do.

She quickly stood up, curtsied gracefully, and said, "Sir, I've been rude. I've delayed you for so long."

As she spoke, she walked lightly back to the gauze curtain. After a while, she came out holding a pair of red silk sleeves.

Hongxiu took the opportunity to say, "Sir, although Miss Wanling is a woman from the north, she's good at dancing with long sleeves. Few women from the south of the Yangtze River can compare with her."

Li Qing nodded slightly, leaned back in the chair in an unrestrained manner, and looked at her with appreciation.

"I'll make a fool of myself."

Wanling curtsied again, then walked gracefully and started dancing with the silk sleeves.

She was as graceful as a startled swan, as supple as a swimming dragon. The long red silk sleeves were thrown, tossed, flung, stroked, swayed, shaken, twirled, held, lifted... It was truly a feast for the eyes.

Occasionally, a glance back was really stunning!

However, being only fifteen or sixteen years old, she didn't have much strength. She couldn't dance with ease. Although the dance was beautiful, the delicate girl seemed a bit tired.

Li Qing raised his glass to his lips, took a sip of wine, and slowly recited:

"A graceful and slender Yan beauty of fifteen,

Accustomed to trailing long gowns, not taking dainty steps.

With a single enchanting glance in the crowd,

All colors in the world seem like dust.

A tree stands gracefully with flowers just blooming,

Apart from its natural charm, words fail me to praise.

Facing a Wu woman boasting of her dancing skills,

It's a pity that they're often misled by their waists."

"Clatter——!"

The wine cup in Lianxiang's hand fell onto the table. Hongxiu's beautiful eyes widened, and her pretty face was filled with shock.

People like them mostly dealt with scholars. How could they not understand poetry? Even in terms of poetry alone, few ordinary scholars could match them.

The beauty of the words and the elegance of the artistic conception of this poem were in no way inferior to those of the great masters of the Song Dynasty's ci - poetry.

They understood poetry, and now, with the situation so fitting, they could better appreciate the artistic conception in the poem.

Wanling's graceful dance suddenly stopped. The red silk sleeves slowly fell, and she stared blankly at Li Qing, with tears welling up in her grape - like eyes.

Li Qing really didn't expect that a poem could have such power, making her cry. He couldn't help but feel a bit哭笑不得.

"Sir, did you write this poem?"

Wanling's voice trembled slightly. Her tone was full of anticipation, with a hint of embarrassment. "Is it... written for me?"

Li Qing touched his nose. Thinking of those time - travel novels about plagiarizing works, he had the nerve to admit it.

Lianxiang and Hongxiu were filled with envy. They wished that Li Qing could write a poem for them too, but reason prevailed in the end, and they didn't do anything rude.

Hongxiu asked, "Sir, what's the name of this poem?"

Li Qing smiled faintly. "Since it's given to Miss Wanling, how about calling it 'To Wanling'?"

Hongxiu and Lianxiang opened their mouths wide in shock. Wanling also looked utterly disbelieving.

Although people called her miss and her body was still pure, once she entered the brothel, she was a prostitute. This was a mark that could never be washed away, accompanying her for life.

She never expected that such a masterpiece would be named after her, a prostitute.

"Sir, please accept my bow."

Wanling curtsied deeply in a delicate and timid manner, making Li Qing even more embarrassed.

Hongxiu couldn't wait to find paper and a brush and wrote down the "To Wanling" that Li Qing had recited just now. "Sir, please check if there are any wrong characters."

Li Qing took it. The small regular script was delicate and neat. He praised, "Miss Hongxiu has beautiful handwriting. There are no mistakes!"

Lianxiang leaned over and read it again. Her pretty face was filled with even more amazement.

Then she said coquettishly, "Sir, you're so heartless. If you want to praise Wanling, just do it. Comparing Hongxiu and me to green leaves, you're really annoying~"

"Uh - hehe... How could that be?" Hongxiu also had a hint of resentment. "With a single enchanting glance in the crowd, all colors in the world seem like dust.

Aren't we, the colors of the world, just like dust?"

"Ah - ha - ha... I was wrong."

Li Qing drank a few cups of wine in a row and said with a smile, "Ladies, don't be angry. I'll accept the punishment."

Lianxiang pretended to snort, turned her head away in a huff, and then turned back with a sweet smile, "It's getting late. Sir, you must be tired, right?"

Wanling still wanted to chat for a while. Seeing that Sister Lianxiang was giving a hint to end the visit, she had to stand up, curtsy, and say dejectedly, "I won't disturb sir and sisters' intimate time.

After a pause, "I spoiled sir's mood today and didn't fulfill my due duties. If sir comes again tomorrow, could you give me a chance to make up for it?"

Li Qing: "..."

Sorry, I can't afford this!

But then Wanling continued, "I won't receive guests in the next few days. If sir doesn't mind, just come to the inner hall. I'll send someone to pick you up."

Li Qing was stunned. This meant that it would only cost three taels. This discount... was like a crushing discount, almost a rock - bottom price.

Lianxiang and Hongxiu also quickly said that they would be available tomorrow.

Li Qing was a bit tempted and hesitated, "Will the madam be willing?"

"Why wouldn't she be?" Lianxiang said with a smile. "If sir doesn't come, we'll be idle anyway. There are four qingguan and twelve hóngguān in the brothel. Every day, only one qingguan and two hóngguān receive guests, and the rest of the time we're all idle."

Li Qing was greatly surprised and exclaimed, "The madam is quite conscientious."

"Not entirely." Wanling explained, "As the saying goes, rare things are precious. Although the number of people receiving guests is small, the price is high. If we all go out to receive guests every day, we won't earn much more. After all, there are only so many rich people.

Frequent guest - receiving not only reduces our status but also makes the prices of the top courtesans in the lower ranks shrink. Then they can only snatch business from the backyard, and those in the backyard will have to snatch business from the front hall."

Li Qing suddenly understood. The business acumen of these ancients was really no worse than that of people in later generations.

Membership systems, hype, hunger marketing, bundled sales...

Maybe those businessmen in later generations copied the business methods of the ancients.

Li Qing smiled and agreed. Although three taels wasn't cheap, it was definitely worth the money.

Seeing that he agreed, Wanling's face showed joy. She picked up the poem on the table, gave Li Qing a sweet smile, and quietly left the room.

Lianxiang and Hongxiu, one on the left and one on the right, took his arms and walked towards the gauze curtain...