Chapter Thirty-Four: Eight Beauties Compete for Spring

On the eve of departure, the Marquis of Xincheng, Zhao Zhilong, hosted a farewell banquet for Wang Pu at the Fragrant Pavilion by the Qinhuai River, inviting the Marquis of Sincerity, Liu Kongzhao; the Duke of Wei, Xu Hongji; and the young gentlemen Chang Yanling and Li Zushu as company.

There was still some time before nightfall and the arrival of the principal guests, but the Fragrant Pavilion was already brimming with merriment—laughter, playful chatter, and the graceful dances of courtesans filled the air. The famed ladies of the Southern Melody—Liu Rushi, Li Xiangjun, Dong Xiaowan, Li Shiniang, Gu Mei, Kou Baimen, and Bian Yujing—were all present, gathered around Chen Yuanyuan, teasing her with lighthearted banter.

After exchanging greetings, Li Xiangjun was the first to ask, "Yuanyuan, is it true that General Wang offered himself as a hostage to the lake pirates just to save you?"

The other ladies pricked up their ears. Though they had heard rumors, they found it difficult to believe. Wang Pu was not only a commanding general, but also a newly decorated hero. That such a man would risk his life for a courtesan seemed almost impossible.

Recalling Wang Pu’s resolute words and fearless actions, Chen Yuanyuan’s gaze grew gentle. “It’s true,” she replied softly.

“Yuanyuan, you are truly blessed,” Li Xiangjun said, resting her chin in her hand with undisguised envy. “For General Wang to risk his life to save you—such a perfect match is rare indeed. And I heard he publicly swore that after presenting himself to the emperor in the capital, he’ll return to Jiangnan to marry you with red carpets and a grand palanquin. Is that true?”

A hint of awkwardness fluttered through the room.

Liu Rushi, Li Shiniang, and the younger Li Xiangjun and Dong Xiaowan were genuinely happy for Chen Yuanyuan, but Kou Baimen, Gu Mei, and Bian Yujing could not help but feel a pang of envy. Was Chen Yuanyuan’s fortune too great? Not only was Wang Pu devoted to her, he intended to marry her as his principal wife. Did all good things fall to her alone?

“Dear sister,” Chen Yuanyuan, wise as she was, sensed the shift in mood. She gently put her arm around Li Xiangjun’s shoulder. “The general did say such things, but I dare not hope for so much. We are women of the pleasure quarters. Even finding a proper home is hard enough. How can one ask for a name and title as well?”

“That’s not right, Yuanyuan,” Liu Rushi said. “Who says women like us can’t wish for a proper place as a wife? Since General Wang has promised, if he returns to Jiangnan and doesn’t marry you with red carpets and a grand palanquin, I’ll be the first to object!”

Of all the celebrated beauties by the Qinhuai, Liu Rushi had suffered most. Her father, once an imperial physician, died a wrongful death due to a traitor’s schemes. Her mother entrusted her to her uncle before taking her own life, leaving Liu Rushi an orphan at three. At thirteen, when her uncle fell gravely ill, she sold herself into service at the home of the dismissed court official Zhou Daodeng to pay for his treatment.

Though Zhou was over sixty, he forced the thirteen-year-old Liu Rushi to become his concubine, arousing the jealousy of his other wives, who conspired to sell her to a brothel in Shengze, Wujiang. There, as she was still young, she first served as a maid to Xu Fo, a leading lady of southern melodies.

Later, with Xu Fo’s help, Liu Rushi redeemed herself, wandering through Songjiang, Suzhou, Nanjing, Yangzhou, and Hangzhou, mingling with scholars, hoping to entrust her life to one worthy of her heart. Again and again, however, she was disappointed.

Yet these repeated setbacks only made her more persistent and strong-willed.

Among the Eight Beauties of Qinhuai, Liu Rushi was not the most beautiful nor the most talented, but she was the most ambitious and steadfast in her beliefs. In her heart, she held fast to a dream: not only to find her ideal companion, but to marry with all the ceremony due a wife, and to use her learning to help her future husband achieve greatness, perhaps even a seat in the imperial council.

“Sister,” Chen Yuanyuan asked gently, holding Liu Rushi’s hand, “I heard you went to Changshu recently. Did you see Master Qian?”

A hint of embarrassment crossed Liu Rushi’s face as she nodded.

Chen Yuanyuan’s eyes widened. “You’re not thinking of marrying Qian Qianyi, are you? He’s thirty-six years older than you!”

Liu Rushi answered softly, “I haven’t yet decided.”

“Then don’t even consider it,” Chen Yuanyuan urged. “You cannot marry him.”

Liu Rushi smiled faintly, squeezing Chen Yuanyuan’s hand in return. “Not every woman is as fortunate as you, little sister.”

“Or… or…” Chen Yuanyuan mustered her courage and whispered, “Maybe I could speak to the general and ask him to marry you too? I’d be happy to be the lesser wife. Truly, you’re beautiful and wise, and you would be a great help to him. Not like me, who knows nothing but song and dance.”

Liu Rushi embraced her, moved and affectionate. “You silly girl. Other women do all they can to prevent their husbands from taking concubines, but you—you’re not even married yet, and you’re already arranging a wife for him!”

“But we’re sisters,” Chen Yuanyuan protested. “And you’re so clever—you’d help the general, and helping him is helping me. I could only be grateful, never jealous!”

“Silly girl.” Liu Rushi smoothed her hair and smiled. “But have you asked if I’m willing? I wish to marry a scholar, not a commanding general. Enough about me. Tell us more about you and General Wang—the sisters are eager to hear.”

Chen Yuanyuan blushed, lowering her eyes. “There’s nothing much to say.”

At last, Gu Mei found an opening. “Yuanyuan,” she asked, “they say your fiancé brought back a great deal of gold, silver, ginseng, and eastern pearls from Liaodong. I’d like to ask for your help in buying some jewelry, and if I could get two eastern pearls, that would be even better.”

No sooner had Gu Mei spoken than Kou Baimen, Bian Yujing, Li Shiniang, and the others pricked up their ears. Gold and silver, or ginseng, might not be rare, but eastern pearls were priceless treasures in Jiangnan—virtually unobtainable. Ground into powder and applied to the face, they were famed for their beauty benefits, coveted by all women of their world.

Chen Yuanyuan smiled sweetly. “No need to ask, sisters. I’ve already prepared everything.”

She turned and called out, “Madam, please bring in the gifts.”

Madam Li, the proprietress, sashayed in, followed by seven maids each carrying a tray with two ornate brocade boxes—one long, one square—finely crafted with subtle patterns, clearly the work of Nanjing’s renowned embroidery guild.

“These are small gifts I’ve prepared for you all,” Chen Yuanyuan said with a smile. “Please, open them.”

Gu Mei, Kou Baimen, Bian Yujing, Li Xiangjun, and Dong Xiaowan opened their boxes to find a large wild ginseng root in the long box, and in the square box, a pearl the size of a hen’s egg! Gu Mei, Li Xiangjun, and Dong Xiaowan’s eyes sparkled with delight, though a flicker of something unreadable crossed Bian Yujing’s gaze.

“Oh my!” Madam Li clapped her hands in delight. “Yuanyuan, this is an extravagant gift!”

Chen Yuanyuan replied, “Madam, I’ve prepared one for you as well. I’ll have it sent over later.”

Madam Li smiled coyly. “How generous of you!”

As Chen Yuanyuan, Li Xiangjun, and Dong Xiaowan giggled behind their hands, Madam Li took her leave. “You ladies chat; I’ll check on the kitchen. Tonight you’ll taste a bit of my own handiwork.”

Once she’d gone, Liu Rushi hesitated. “Yuanyuan, this gift is too generous—I can’t accept it.”

Chen Yuanyuan held her hand tightly. “Sister, these were part of the bride-price the general gave the Jade Peak Troupe. The leader kept half, and the rest came to me as dowry. It’s a token of my affection. If you refuse, you’ll break my heart.”

Gu Mei laughed. “Accept it, Liu Rushi. It’s a rare token of Yuanyuan’s affection.”

“Yes, Rushi, you should accept it.”

“Take it, please,” chimed in Li Xiangjun and Dong Xiaowan.

As Liu Rushi was about to decline again, a sudden, coquettish shout came from below. “Ladies! General Wang and the guests have arrived—”