Chapter Thirty-Six

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Aixian Pavilion.

The Eight Beauties of Qinhuai were renowned for their singing, dancing, poetry, and literary talent. Yet the likes of Xu Hongji and the other titled nobles, lacking any trace of learning or music, could only drink and accept their penalties. After several rounds of drinking games, the weakest drinkers—Xu Hongji and Liu Kongzhao—were already dead drunk, while Zhao Zhilong, Chang Yanling, and Li Zushu were also tipsy and had to be helped back home by their attendants.

Only Wang Pu, relying on his quick wit, managed to stay sober without drinking a single cup.

The famous ladies of Southern Opera, such as Liu Rushi, were intrigued by Wang Pu’s cleverness. Moreover, as Wang Pu was the husband of Chen Yuanyuan, they were all the more determined not to let him off easily. While Wang Pu stepped away to relieve himself, Madam Li had two large round tables removed and replaced with two Eight Immortals tables pushed together to form one long table. Fruit plates and fragrant tea were set out, and the eight renowned Southern Opera ladies split into two groups, sitting on either side.

When Wang Pu returned, he was startled by the scene.

Liu Rushi, Li Shiniang, Bian Yuijing, and Li Xiangjun sat to the left; Chen Yuanyuan, Gu Mei, Kou Baimen, and Dong Xiaowan to the right. Sixteen beautiful eyes fixed upon Wang Pu in unison, as if sixteen spotlights had suddenly shone on his face, making him slightly dizzy.

“Um…” Sensing the gravity of the situation, Wang Pu scratched his head awkwardly. “It’s getting late, perhaps we should call it a night?”

“No,” came the unanimous reply from seven of the ladies, all except Chen Yuanyuan who simply smiled.

“What… what do you want?” Wang Pu asked, his heart pounding.

Liu Rushi teased, “General, you dared to lead an army deep into Liaodong. Surely you’re not afraid of eight little women like us?”

“Afraid?” Wang Pu retorted, “If anyone should be afraid, it’s you of me. There’s no reason for a general to fear you.”

It had always been the beauties who feared the rogues, never the other way around.

Li Shiniang laughed, gesturing with her hand, “Since the general is so brave, please, have a seat.”

“Gladly. I was getting tired of standing anyway.”

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Wang Pu sat at the head of the table.

A sly glimmer flashed in Liu Rushi’s bright eyes. “We sisters are as close as family to Yuanyuan, who lost her parents when she was young. We are, in effect, her family. Although she has now married you, General, her sisters were not informed beforehand. Tonight, you must win our approval before your marriage can be truly complete.”

“That’s all? I thought it was something serious.” Wang Pu relaxed, his voice ringing out. “Alright then, test me as you wish.”

Liu Rushi blinked playfully, Chen Yuanyuan lowered her head in shy embarrassment, and the other six ladies exchanged knowing smiles—they had clearly planned this.

Liu Rushi continued, “Whether Yuanyuan finds happiness depends on whether you can make her smile. If you can make all eight of us laugh, you will have passed our test.”

“That’s it?” Wang Pu burst out laughing. “Listen well, then. Once upon a time, there were three sworn sisters who shared everything with one another. One day, as the three gathered to chat, the eldest said, ‘Yesterday I was with him—it hurt a lot, and I bled. He wasn’t gentle at all and had to try several times before he broke through.’”

The Eight Beauties of Qinhuai, with their worldliness, immediately caught his drift.

Liu Rushi and Li Shiniang were taken aback, while Bian Yuijing, Kou Baimen, and Gu Mei tried to stifle their giggles. Li Xiangjun and Dong Xiaowan blushed crimson with embarrassment. As for Chen Yuanyuan, she couldn’t help but think of her own wedding night—Wang Pu had been anything but gentle, and she had both suffered and bled. Her heart was awash with shyness, wishing she could disappear.

Feigning ignorance, Wang Pu continued, “As soon as the eldest finished, the second sister said, ‘You don’t understand—you have to do it quickly. The faster, the less it hurts. I too went yesterday, and he managed to break through in just one try. It didn’t hurt much at all.’”

Li Xiangjun and Dong Xiaowan, inexperienced as they were, could not lift their heads for shame. Even Bian Yuijing and her companions looked awkward, while Liu Rushi and Li Shiniang were growing displeased, wondering why Wang Pu would speak so crudely in front of so many sisters.

Wang Pu went on, “Then the third sister said, ‘Wow, I was planning to go this afternoon, but hearing how scary it sounds, I don’t dare now.’ The eldest and second sisters reassured her, ‘Don’t worry, just relax and it’ll be over in a moment—it won’t hurt at all.’”

Liu Rushi started to rise, clearly annoyed, while Madam Li, who had been serving at their side, couldn’t help but cast Wang Pu a flirtatious glance, laughing, “Oh my, General, you really dare to say anything!”

“What did I say?” Wang Pu spread his hands innocently. “The three sisters were only talking about getting their ears pierced. Doesn’t that involve pain and bleeding? But you all—what were you imagining? Oh, so you thought I was talking about men and women? Just look at you all—what sort of thoughts are in those heads of yours?”

The ladies had intended to scold Wang Pu, but ended up being scolded by him instead.

“Huh?” Madam Li was first surprised, then burst into laughter. “General, you’re so wicked.”

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The other young ladies, including Li Xiangjun and Dong Xiaowan, also began to giggle, and even Liu Rushi couldn’t help but laugh, chiding Wang Pu, “Fine, you’ve passed my test, but my sisters may not be so easy to deal with. Be careful, General.”

“No problem,” Wang Pu replied with utmost confidence. “Bring on your challenges, I’ll take them all.”

Li Shiniang rose gracefully and said, “My test is simple. If you truly care for Yuanyuan, then sing a song for her here and now.”

The room fell silent; all the sisters’ beautiful eyes settled on Wang Pu.

Li Shiniang’s request sounded innocent, but it was anything but simple.

In the Ming dynasty, courtesans held low social status. The famous Southern Opera ladies of Qinhuai, though enchanting enough to turn the world upside down, were still, at heart, courtesans with no standing in society. The professions of singing and entertaining, by association, were also looked down upon. For Li Shiniang to ask Wang Pu to sing in public, like a common performer, was considered highly inappropriate by the standards of the time. Anyone else might have stormed off in indignation. That was precisely why Li Shiniang made such an “unreasonable” demand—to see how much Wang Pu was willing to sacrifice for Chen Yuanyuan.

To everyone’s surprise, Wang Pu agreed without hesitation. “Alright, no problem.”

Li Shiniang had anticipated all sorts of reactions, but not such ready acceptance. The other sisters and Madam Li exchanged glances, while Chen Yuanyuan’s face was a mixture of delight and gentle reproach—happy that Wang Pu would do anything for her, but gently blaming her tenth sister for putting him on the spot.

Wang Pu’s lips curled in a triumphant smile—this was hardly a challenge for him!

Back in his rogue days, Wang Pu had frequented many a singing hall and possessed a naturally fine voice. Though he’d never appeared on a talent show or released an album, his singing was first-rate, especially when it came to folksongs from Shaanxi—almost as good as the King of Shaanxi Folk, Abao himself.

…