Chapter Thirty-Five: Graceful Silhouettes in Motion

Downstairs at Elegant Pavilion.

As soon as Zhao Zhilong, Liu Kongzhao, Xu Hongji, Xu Yanling, Li Zushu, and Wang Pu had taken their seats, eight famed southern courtesans led by Madam Li, the brothel keeper, glided gracefully into the room. At once, the air was perfumed with fragrance and the dazzling beauty of their presence left Wang Pu and the others bedazzled and enchanted.

Given the large company, Madam Li had thoughtfully arranged two ornately-carved round tables. Wang Pu, Zhao Zhilong, and Xu Hongji sat at one table, accompanied by Liu Rushi, Chen Yuanyuan, Li Shiniang, and Bian Yuqing; while Liu Kongzhao, Xu Yanling, and Li Zushu sat at the other, attended by Gu Mei, Kou Baimen, Dong Xiaowan, and Li Xiangjun.

No sooner had everyone settled than fine wine and delicacies were brought forth in a steady stream.

Count Zhao Zhilong smiled at Wang Pu and said, “General Wang, of all the pleasure houses on the banks of the Qinhuai River, it is the Warm Fragrance Pavilion of the Li family and Meiniang’s Eyebrow Tower that are most renowned. The Warm Fragrance Pavilion boasts three unique marvels—do you know what they are?”

Wang Pu respectfully answered, “I beg your enlightenment, my lord.”

Zhao Zhilong laughed, “The three marvels of the Warm Fragrance Pavilion are: Madam Li’s culinary skills, Shiniang’s mastery of the qin, and Xiangshan’er’s exquisite singing. If you haven’t tasted Madam Li’s cooking, you cannot claim to have truly visited Nanjing; if you haven’t heard Shiniang’s qin or Xiangshan’er’s songs, you cannot say you’ve really experienced the pleasures of the Qinhuai.”

“Oh, my lord flatters me too much!” Madam Li waved her handkerchief coquettishly, her smile bewitching.

Wang Pu’s gaze instinctively fell upon Madam Li’s ample, heaving bosom. Though now the brothel keeper, she was just past thirty, in the very prime of her feminine allure, much like Hailanzhu. The mature charm she exuded was the most enticing of all.

Zhao Zhilong, reluctantly tearing his eyes from Madam Li, turned to Wang Pu. “General Wang, you must try the pine nut salmon; it is Madam’s signature dish.”

“Is that so?” Wang Pu replied with pleasure. “Then I must taste it carefully.”

He took a bite and found it crisp and tender, with a lingering fragrance—truly a rare delicacy. He sincerely praised, “Madam, your culinary skills are indeed extraordinary.”

“You praise me too much, General,” Madam Li replied, beaming with delight. “If you enjoy it, I’ll teach Miss Yuanyuan how to make this dish, so she can prepare it for you every day.”

“Oh, that would be wonderful,” Wang Pu said happily. “Then I must thank you in advance, Madam.”

“Brother, don’t just eat!” Xu Yanling called from the other table. “The Warm Fragrance Pavilion has three marvels—you’ve tasted the cooking, but you’ve yet to hear Shiniang’s qin or Xiangshan’er’s singing.”

“We want to hear Shiniang play the pipa and Xiangshan’er sing,” Li Zushu chimed in. “And Liu Miss must play the guzheng, Meiniang the dongxiao. We must also see Yuqing, Baimen, and Xiaowan dance. If your wife could sing a tune in the delicate Suzhou style, that would be perfect, heh heh.”

Zhao Zhilong burst into hearty laughter. “Well said! With all eight famed southern courtesans gathered at the Warm Fragrance Pavilion tonight, this is truly a rare occasion. I suggest we hold a grand soirée—each lady may perform, sing, recite poetry, or display her talents, vying in beauty and skill to delight the guests. What do you say?”

Xu Hongji, Liu Kongzhao, Xu Yanling, and Li Zushu all cheered the idea loudly.

With a charming smile, Madam Li said, “I have a suggestion, if I may?”

“Please speak, Madam,” Zhao Zhilong replied.

Madam Li said, “If only the ladies perform, it may not be lively enough. How about General Wang initiates a drinking game? Lords, nobles, and ladies alike must take part. Whoever loses must perform—sing, display a talent, recite a poem, or tell a riddle or a joke—so long as it amuses the company. What do you think?”

“Excellent, a fine idea!”

“So it shall be!” Xu Hongji and the others chorused their approval.

Li Zushu was especially eager, urging, “Brother, let’s start the game!”

Unable to refuse their enthusiasm, Wang Pu retrieved an ivory die, no larger than a cat’s eye, from his robe—it was, in fact, extorted from the King of Joseon—and said, “Let’s play with dice, then.”

As soon as he spoke, two pairs of beautiful eyes—Shiniang and Yuqing—turned to him, their gazes sparkling with interest.

Madam Li asked sweetly, “There are many ways to play dice, General. How do you propose we play?”

“It’s simple,” Wang Pu explained. “We use a single die, which can show one to six. Each table has seven people, and excluding the host, there are six. After the host shakes the die, everyone guesses the number in turn. Once a number is guessed, it cannot be repeated. At the end, the host reveals the die; whoever guessed correctly performs and becomes the next host.”

“Wonderful!” Li Zushu exclaimed. “I’ll be the host for this table.”

At that moment, Madam Li had a jade dice cup brought in. Wang Pu, as the first host, took the cup, tossed in the ivory die, and began to shake. The laughter in Shiniang and Yuqing’s eyes deepened as they watched his practiced hands—they could tell he was no stranger to gambling.

Clack!

Wang Pu gently set the cup down and, smiling, turned to Liu Rushi on his right. “Miss Liu, you first.”

Liu Rushi smiled demurely and guessed “four.”

Next, Zhao Zhilong guessed “five.”

Li Shiniang guessed “three.”

Xu Hongji guessed “two.”

Bian Yuqing guessed “one.”

Finally, Chen Yuanyuan was left with “six.”

Wang Pu lifted the lid. As luck would have it, it was indeed six. The room erupted in laughter. Chen Yuanyuan blushed scarlet and, unable to resist, cast Wang Pu a tender glance. Wang Pu smiled wryly and said, “Dearest, my luck is poor; I must trouble you to perform for everyone.”

Chen Yuanyuan rose gracefully and said sweetly, “Then I shall sing a little tune from Wu.”

***

While Wang Pu enjoyed himself at the Warm Fragrance Pavilion, let us turn to Liu the Broadsword, the pirate of Lake Tai. Having lost the beauty he had just acquired, the more he brooded upon his return to camp, the angrier he became. At last, under cover of darkness, he quietly slipped out, intent on leaving by boat. Suddenly, a dozen torches flared around him. In the firelight, Barefoot Zhang appeared, flanked by Zhao Tiedan and the other chieftains.

“Liu the Broadsword,” Barefoot Zhang barked sternly, “where do you think you’re going?”

“I… Chief,” Liu muttered, bracing himself, “I just want to make a trip to Suzhou.”

“Suzhou?” Barefoot Zhang spoke coldly. “What business do you have there?”

“Just some private matters,” Liu replied.

“Private matters?” sneered Barefoot Zhang. “Or are you planning to join another band?”

Liu protested anxiously, “Chief, it’s not like that!”

“Liu the Broadsword, there’s no use denying it,” Zhao Tiedan shouted.

“Zhao Tiedan!” Liu roared in fury. “You dare betray me!”

Zhao Tiedan replied icily, “You showed no loyalty first—don’t blame me for repaying you in kind.”

“You—!” Liu spat. “Zhao Tiedan, you’ve got nerve!”

Barefoot Zhang cut in coldly, “Liu the Broadsword, have you anything else to say?”

“I have nothing to say,” Liu answered loudly.

Barefoot Zhang’s tone softened slightly. “If you want to leave, I won’t stop you. But you owe me, and all the brothers, an explanation!”

With a frosty glare, Liu retorted, “Since we’re laying things bare, I’ll say it straight, Chief. Don’t you think there are too many damned rules in this Lake Tai band? First the woman slips away, and now even the fat loot escapes our grasp—what kind of business is this? I, Liu the Broadsword, can’t make sense of it!”

Barefoot Zhang replied sternly, “Those are the old rules left by our ancestors—they are what keep the brothers together!”

“I’ve had enough!” Liu snapped. “I won’t serve any longer!”

“Very well,” said Barefoot Zhang. “Then, according to the rules of the Forty-Eight Strongholds, it’s time for a Water Gate Duel!”

“Chief, don’t push me!” Liu growled. “If we fight the Water Gate Duel, there’ll be no way out for me. If you let me go today, we may not be brothers, but at least we’ll remain friends. If you insist on forcing me, don’t blame me for turning against you!”

“Chief, until we meet again!”

With that, Liu the Broadsword suddenly leaped into the water with a splash and disappeared. Zhao Tiedan and the others moved to give chase but were stopped by Barefoot Zhang, who looked up and sighed deeply. “No matter what, Liu the Broadsword followed me for many years. If we truly fought the Water Gate Duel, he would surely perish.”