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She wasn't just wandering around aimlessly; she planned to go to the place that the Third Young Master Pei of the Jingbo Mansion had mentioned yesterday to join in the fun and see if it would work out. If not, she could at least inquire about what kind of place this Worry-Free Island was.
There were no carriages available today, so Qin Sang had to rent one at the street corner to go to the tea shop in Lane 25 of Donglong Street.
"I haven't seen Young Master Xie come looking for you these past two days. I wonder what he's up to," Lingding said.
Qin Sang said, "Didn't you say you were going to participate in the autumn examination? You're probably studying at home." She waved her folding fan, trying to appear elegant. "In that case, it's more free to be a woman, without having to take that damn exam."
Lingding said softly, “Miss, that’s what you say, but I see that all the young ladies in the Prime Minister’s mansion have homework every day. They either look at account books, learn household management from the Madam, or learn etiquette, calligraphy and painting. I suppose they are all preparing to become mistresses in the future. Miss, the Madam has not assigned you any homework. Why is that?”
Qin Sang's heart skipped a beat, and she paused before saying, "It's alright, maybe they forgot, or maybe they just saw me and haven't had time to think about it yet."
The carriage dropped the two off at Lane 25, Donglong Street, and then left. After getting out of the carriage, Qin Sang looked around and indeed saw a teahouse with a rather small and exquisite storefront.
Although the shop is small, the furnishings, from the door to the inside of the counter, are very exquisite.
She walked over and stood in front of the counter, but the shopkeeper was dozing off in his recliner. Qin Sang glanced at the counter, and the shopkeeper opened his eyes a crack, glanced at her, and then closed them again: "This shop offers private customization and does not accept outside customers."
Qin Sang asked, "Does your shop sell Worry-Free Fruit?"
Upon hearing this, the shopkeeper paused in his breathing and reopened his eyes.
He scrutinized Qin Sang closely and asked, "Who said my family has the Worry-Free Fruit?"
Qin Sang replied, "That's what Young Master Pei of the Jingbo Mansion said."
The shopkeeper was a lean, middle-aged man with small but bright, shrewd eyes and a gray goatee, truly resembling a goat's face.
Upon hearing Qin Sang's reply, he raised his right hand, made a mysterious calculation with his fingers, and then stood up, speaking in a much more polite tone: "Honored guest, please come in with me."
The master and servant exchanged a glance, then followed the shopkeeper around the screen in front of the shop and into a narrow alley. The alley was damp, deep, and pitch black, causing the two to frown as they walked. They wondered if they had been tricked by this Young Master Pei, and if this wasn't the entrance to Worry-Free Island, but a black coal mine?
After walking for a while, they finally saw the shopkeeper lift the curtain, letting in a sliver of light.
At the end of the alley was a quiet courtyard with a lush elm tree in the center, its branches and leaves dense and fine, casting starlight on the ground.
A bamboo armchair was placed under the tree, facing the corridor on the side. In the corridor, a young painter sat upright, with a canvas on it.
When Qin Sang and the others entered, the painter was painting on the canvas in front of him. Hearing the noise, he looked up and was taken aback when he saw Qin Sang.
He took another look and stood up, even more excited.
After being glanced at by the innkeeper, he sat down again, his hands trembling slightly, and said, "Please sit down, sir."
Qin Sang looked at the chair in the middle, then at the shopkeeper: "What do you mean?"
The shopkeeper said, "Anyone who wants to buy my Worry-Free Fruit must leave their real name, address, and a picture; otherwise, I will not sell it to them."
Do they want my real name and address, and also a portrait?
Qin Sang's thoughts raced, and the names of the sons from those wealthy families that she had silently studied last night popped into her mind one by one.
Just as she was about to spout nonsense, the shopkeeper seemed to see through her thoughts and said, "Madam, please think it over. We will have the portrait verified. If it's not true, then the Worry-Free Fruit will be poisoned..."
"Oh? That's interesting?" Qin Sang fanned herself to ease her worries. "What do you mean the fruit is poisonous?"
The shopkeeper laughed as well: "If the lady uses someone else's name to enter my Worry-Free Island and buy my Worry-Free Fruit, then once it is verified... she won't be able to get out."
Qin Sang: "Can't get out? So arrogant?"
The innkeeper said arrogantly, "Of course. If you tell me the truth, Miss, my Worry-Free Island will treat you like a guest and will never harm you in the slightest."
Lingding glanced at Qin Sang with concern, because the other woman had so easily revealed their identities as women.
Qin Sang pondered for a moment, then lifted her skirt and sat down in the middle chair with an air of authority. She closed her folding fan and said calmly, "Right Prime Minister's Residence, Xie Lin, let's paint."
The shopkeeper was clearly taken aback upon hearing this, but being a man of the world, he nodded to the painter.
The artist then changed to a different sheet of paper and began to draw Qin Sang's portrait.
Qin Sang could have easily turned around and left, but since the other party was being so cautious and mysterious, she felt compelled to go in and take a look. Besides, given their caution, she was afraid she wouldn't be able to find the place again; after all, the small shop at the entrance looked like it could close down and run away at any moment.
Moreover, Xie Sui'an had previously said that to enter Worry-Free Island, one must join the Treasure Appraisal Association. Now, she has skipped the intermediate procedures and barged directly into their door. At the last minute, how can she back down?
Besides, she believed that her life was protected by the God of Fate, and if she were to die, she could simply have another chance.
I wonder if they would dare to take this portrait to the Prime Minister's residence for verification. Women from wealthy families usually travel by carriage or sedan chair when they go out. How could they just let someone draw their portrait and let people see it all over the streets?
It's probably just a bluff; they're just keeping a record of it.
Qin Sang sat upright, while the painter remained composed despite his excitement. His movements were skillful, and he painted very quickly, finishing the painting in less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.
He looked at the portrait he had painted, breathed a sigh of satisfaction, and exclaimed, "Wonderful, wonderful..."
Qin Sang then stood up: "Have you finished painting, sir?"
"Alright, alright, shall I take a look, my wife?"
"No, let's go. Which way do we go in?"
The shopkeeper replied, "No rush, this one also needs to be included in the painting."
Qin Sang asked in surprise, "Even maids need to be painted?"
The shopkeeper said, "Of course. Everyone who goes to Worry-Free Island must leave a record."
Qin Sang did not refute, and let Lingding sit up straight so they could paint.
After another incense stick's time, Lingding's portrait was finished. Qin Sang yawned, "Is it done now?"
The shopkeeper nodded respectfully and led the two through another door of the courtyard.
Inside the door was still a deep, dark alley. Qin Sang thought that, just like before, she could easily enter the so-called Worry-Free Island after passing through it, but the shopkeeper suddenly whispered, "Excuse me."
Qin Sang smelled a strange fragrance, and before she could hold her breath, her limbs went weak and she lost consciousness.
When I woke up again, I was on a covered boat.
The boat rocked slightly as it approached the shore.
Qin Sang hurriedly lifted the boat curtain, and what came into view was the clear lake water. Further in from the dock, there was a lush and verdant green.
This is an island, a real island!
An island with lush flowers and plants, fresh and graceful, like a fairyland.
She walked to the other end of the cabin, lifted the curtain, and found that the water was so vast that she could not see the end of it.
We've reached the sea?
She quickly recalled the map of Kyoto, but couldn't remember anywhere else besides Jinmingchi in the east of the city that had such a large expanse of water. Besides, Jinmingchi was a royal body of water, so no one dared to do business there; and besides, Jinmingchi wasn't supposed to be so boundless…
With these doubts in mind, people were already coming to greet them at the dock.
A line of handsome young men in flowing white robes walked lightly to the dock and stood on both sides.
The wind blew the white hems of everyone's clothes, making them look like they were in a dream, each one with the appearance of an immortal. Qin Sang was stunned for a moment, and in a daze, she thought that she had returned to the Ninth Heaven.
At this moment, a handsome servant, whose gender was indistinguishable, walked to the side of the boat and extended his jade-white fingers.
Qin Sang then took the soft, woman-like hand and stepped onto the dock.
Turning around, she saw no one, and just as she was about to ask, she heard the servant in front of her say, "Your servants have their own places to go. There is no shortage of people to serve you on Worry-Free Island, so you need not worry, young lady."
The speaker was a man, but his tone was so gentle.
Qin Sang couldn't help but take another look at him. Sure enough, he had an Adam's apple, but he was too beautiful, even more alluring than a woman.
Moreover, when he spoke, his eyes were like hooks, which immediately gave Qin Sang goosebumps.
Forcing herself to remain calm, she asked, "Is this Worry-Free Island?"
The attendant nodded and replied gently, "Indeed."
Where are you taking me?
The attendant smiled gently: "Lady, please come with me."
He moved with light, delicate steps, even softer and more silent than a woman's walk, and the jade pendant at his waist remained perfectly still. Qin Sang was mesmerized and unconsciously followed him.
Passing through a lush flower trellis, you enter a long flower corridor. This corridor, resembling a dome, is covered with bright red flowers, nestled among the abundant foliage, yet it is not gaudy.
On both sides, there were exotic flowers and rare herbs that Qin Sang recognized, but not others. The ones she recognized were usually worth a hundred coins each, but here they were planted in clumps, which showed how wealthy the island's owner was.
Thinking of this, Qin Sang said, "I haven't asked you how much you charge here yet. If I can't afford it, can you send me back?"
The servant chuckled softly, then looked at Qin Sang gently, his eyes filled with reassuring intent: "Miss, you won't be unable to afford it. Anyone who can come to the island can always afford it."
Qin Sang felt a chill run down her spine upon hearing this, knowing that any transaction not measured in silver was extremely dangerous.
But since she was already there, Qin Sang could only console herself with the thought that since she was already there, she might as well make the best of it. If they said they could afford it, then they could afford it.
After passing through the long path lined with flowers and plants, the view suddenly opened up, and Qin Sang saw a koi pond in front of her. The water was crystal clear, and several red and white koi were swimming happily in it.
In the middle of the pond, there is a four-cornered pavilion, and a person is feeding the fish inside.
As if oblivious to the commotion, the man did not look up, but simply watched his fish quietly.
Soon, Qin Sang was led by a servant to the pebble path on the left.
This is a narrow path lined with strangely shaped rocks and artificial hills, where you can only see a huge old locust tree at the end.
The old locust tree was enormous, as if it had grown together from many intertwined trees over the years. Its thick trunk supported its sprawling branches, which stretched towards the sky and out in all directions, sheltering a delicate thatched house beneath it.
Just as Qin Sang was about to ask what it was, she suddenly heard a soft moan coming from behind the artificial hill, followed by a suppressed whimper.
Her heart skipped a beat: "What was that sound?"
The servant gently patted her hand, but did not answer. He simply said, "Don't be afraid, come with me."
They quickened their pace slightly and soon emerged from the alleyway adorned with artificial hills.
At this moment, what appeared before Qin Sang was not just a small thatched hut, but a dozen or so that were all the same size, surrounding most of the lake.
The servant led Qin Sang to the first thatched hut. There was a small fenced courtyard in front of the hut. Walking along the path in the courtyard, when they reached the main gate and opened the door, they could see the lake.
There was a wooden platform by the lake, where a boy, also dressed in pure white with smooth, jet-black hair, sat with his legs dangling down, lightly and carefree kicking the water, creating ripples on the lake.
Hearing the noise, the boy turned around and smiled brightly, revealing a set of pearly white teeth and a pair of adorable dimples...
It looks good, but Qin Sang thinks it's too effeminate and lacks the masculine spirit a man should have.
Seeing that she was expressionless and even slightly disgusted, the servant cleverly lowered the curtain and led her to the second thatched hut, lifting the curtain to show her the hut as well.
Qin Sang saw another handsome young man, clearly more masculine than the previous one, with a bare chest revealing several abdominal muscles, and a more unruly and arrogant gaze, full of domineering power.
Qin Sang frowned again.
The attendant then lowered the curtain.
Qin Sang asked, "What does this mean?"
The servant lowered his eyes and asked, "If you are not pleased, please come with me again."
He was about to continue leading the way when Qin Sang refused to move.
She roughly guessed what the sounds she had heard when she passed through the artificial hillside path were, and raised an eyebrow, saying, "Worry-Free Island, is that the place where these kinds of shady dealings are done?"
The attendant, still maintaining his good-natured demeanor, replied, "Not entirely. Some people just want to chat... This is Worry-Free Island, so naturally we'll provide whatever our guests wish to do. As long as you enjoy yourself here and all your worries are swept away, we can provide anything."
Qin Sang: "Oh, so besides this, what else can you provide?"
The servant smiled slightly: "That depends on what my lady wants. Music, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry, wine, tea, and other refined pursuits—our people can all excel at them."
Qin Sang then asked, "What about something tacky?"
The attendant said, "We have everything you could want: the pleasures of wine and meat, the joys of gambling, and all the desires of the palate."
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