secret meeting
The carriage slowly drove towards the capital. As soon as it entered Bianjing City, it heard a noisy sound. Qiu Feng lifted the curtain of the carriage and saw that the streets were bustling with people coming and going.
There are many restaurants, tea houses and wine shops on both sides. Peddlers carry their shelves and shout along the street. The stalls have a wide variety of goods. It is still the Bianjing City in her memory. After two years, she returned here again, and her heart was filled with mixed feelings.
The carriage stopped at a mansion in the capital. From the outside, the mansion looked like an ordinary family's courtyard, but the deeper we went, the more magnificent and noble the mansion seemed.
The entrance is a winding corridor surrounded by clear blue water. There are exquisite pavilions at intervals, and the pavilions are dotted with vibrant green bamboos and oddly shaped stones. Those strange rocks are stacked together, rugged and imposing. The whole mansion is like a painting of the Jiangnan water town, quiet and beautiful.
Tong Guan led Qiu Feng to a wing room. There were about twenty male and female servants standing on both sides of the wing room, waiting for the Grand Tutor's instructions.
Tong Guan said, "Miss Qiufeng will be settled here from now on. You can command all the servants in the mansion. I will go and report to the emperor first." After saying that, he turned and left.
Qiu Feng bowed and said, "Taishi, take care."
After Tong Guan left, Qiu Feng glanced at the servants on both sides, asked a maid who looked pretty pleasing to the eye to stay, and sent the rest away.
This maid has a chubby, round face, which is somewhat similar to Jinxiu, and she looks very friendly.
Qiu Feng asked, "What's your name?"
The maid replied, "My lady, my name is Xiao Ya, and I am sixteen years old."
Qiu Feng thought to herself: "So she's so young! No wonder she's the only maid who looks so naive." So she smiled and said, "That name sounds very familiar."
Qiu Feng continued, "Did the Grand Tutor prepare this mansion specifically for the emperor?"
The little girl looked embarrassed and hesitated, "The Grand Tutor doesn't allow us to talk too much with the young lady..."
Qiu Feng took Xiao Ya's hand and said, "Xiao Ya, now that I'm here, I'm the Grand Tutor's person. What can't I tell you? Isn't that right?" Then she took a hairpin from her head and handed it to Xiao Ya, "This hairpin is for you. From now on, we can call each other sisters."
Xiaoya quickly refused, "Miss, this is not possible."
"Here, take it. I'm new here and don't know the place well. I need your help."
"Thank you, young lady. I'll accept it." The little girl said as she put the hairpin into her sleeve.
"The Grand Tutor spent a lot of effort to build this mansion for the emperor. Do you see the huge rock outside the house?" Xiao Ya said, pointing to a huge rock four meters high standing in the courtyard outside the wing room.
"That huge rock is called Taihu Stone. It was specially transported from the south by the Grand Tutor. It's said that it took as many as a thousand people to carry it along the canal. Any sluice gates or bridges that blocked the way were removed along the way. This rock alone cost the Grand Tutor hundreds of thousands of taels of silver."
Xiaoya continued, "There is a secret passage under the boulder. The official came here from that secret passage."
Qiu Feng said in surprise: "Xiao Ya, take me to see it quickly."
Xiao Ya looked around to see if there was anyone around, so she opened the secret passage. After the two of them went down, the secret passage was brightly lit, as bright as day. Qiu Feng wanted to continue walking forward, but Xiao Ya grabbed her sleeve and said, "Young lady, don't go any further. If you go any further, you will reach the imperial palace."
After emerging from the secret passage, Qiu Feng asked again, "When does the emperor usually come? I can prepare."
The little girl said, "It was just after dark. The emperor would have finished his court affairs by then. It had been a long time since the last girl left."
"The girl before?" Qiu Feng asked in surprise.
Xiao Ya knew that she had let the cat out of the bag, so she quickly covered her mouth.
"Tell me now, I won't tell anyone."
"The previous girl fell ill and passed away soon after. The emperor was very sad for a long time. The Grand Tutor searched everywhere for a beautiful girl for the emperor. I didn't expect that this beautiful girl was you."
After the little maid left, Qiu Feng pushed the door open and entered the wing room. She looked around at the furnishings inside. There were all yellow rosewood tables and chairs with delicate wood grain. Next to them was a coffee table inlaid with bluish-white jade porcelain. On the table was an elegant lotus-shaped tea set. Behind it was a large rosewood bed with layers of smoky pink gauze curtains hanging above it. In front of the curtains hung a hollow silver ball with a ruyi pattern, which showed its luxury.
At noon the next day, the maid came to report that the Grand Tutor had ordered the girl to bathe and change clothes as soon as possible, and that the emperor would be here at the hour of Mao.
After Qiu Feng had drawn her eyebrows and done her makeup, she wore a water-blue dress with a misty purple gauze outer garment. Her hair was neatly tied behind her head, with a delicate water magnolia hairpin inserted in it.
As she was admiring the beautiful scenery in the courtyard, a voice came from behind her: "Just looking at the girl's back, she is like a fairy descending from the moon."
Qiu Feng turned around upon hearing the voice and saw a man dressed in a gorgeous brocade robe, a gold and jade ribbon, and a gold crown with an exquisite vine pattern on his head. His face was as white as jade, his eyebrows were as black as swords, and he was holding a silver folding fan in his hand. He walked towards her with a smile on his face, looking very noble.
Qiu Feng thought to herself: This dog emperor is quite handsome, and it wouldn't be too unfair to commit myself to him.
"Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you." Qiu Feng bowed.
The man laughed: "How do you know who I am?"
Qiu Feng explained, "Your Excellency is so noble and heroic, truly a rare talent. I can tell at first sight."
The visitor was none other than Emperor Huizong of Song, Zhao Ji. Upon hearing this, he was delighted and said, "I've heard the Grand Tutor highly praise your zither skills. Could you please play a piece for me?"
"I knew the emperor was coming, so I have already made preparations. Please come in." Qiu Feng said as she led Zhao Ji to the pavilion at the end of the corridor. A Jiaoweiqin was placed on a round wooden table.
Qiu Feng gently stroked the strings of the zither, and the lingering sound lingered in the air, surrounding the clear blue water. Zhao Ji was intoxicated by the sound.
After the song was over, Zhao Ji applauded repeatedly, "Grand Master, you really didn't lie to me. Your piano skills are truly superb. Why don't we play a duet together?"
Zhao Ji ordered the servant to fetch another zither, and they played two zithers together. The sound of the zithers was lingering and charming, and full of love. He stepped onto the bed, the fragrant curtains fluttered, and the beauty was by his side, as if in a dream.
After a night of passion, it was still dark when Zhao Ji entered the palace through the secret passage.
The next morning, Qiu Feng sent a pigeon to Liang Hongyu to tell her that she had arrived in the capital and had gained the trust of the government.
After receiving the news, Asen immediately told Liang Hongyu.
Liang Hongyu opened the letter, read it, and threw it into the incense burner beside her. She turned to Asen and said, "Qiufeng didn't mention me in her letter. Why don't you go to the capital? I'm always worried about her."
"Don't worry, girl, I'll be back soon."
After Asen arrived in the capital, he stopped at an inn to rest. During the meal, he overheard two people discussing, "Have you heard? There's a girl who recently arrived in the capital. She plays the zither very well and is also very pretty. Many princes and nobles are vying to pay a large sum of money to listen to her music."
Another person said, "I heard that this girl's backer is the current Grand Tutor, so it's better not to provoke her."
The man smiled lewdly: "What are you afraid of? I'm just listening to the music, not doing anything else."
Arsen couldn't stand it any longer, so he stepped forward, grabbed the man by the collar, and said, "Watch your mouth."
The man asked in surprise: "What's your business?"
"That woman is my friend, what do you think?"
The man immediately begged for mercy: "Sir, spare my life."
Asen still grabbed the man's collar and said, "Tell me, where does she live?"
The man said timidly, "It's in a secluded mansion at the east end of Imperial Street."
Upon hearing this, Asen let go of the man and rode away on his horse.
Walking to a mansion at the east end of Imperial Street, the mansion is surrounded by lush greenery with flowers and plants that bloom all year round. Opposite is a field of green bamboo, which shows a quiet and peaceful atmosphere.
Asen thought to himself: This should be the house where Qiu Feng lives.
Asen got off his horse and walked forward to knock on the door a few times.
The door creaked, and the servant inside stuck his head out. Seeing that it was a stranger, he was about to close the door. Asen put one hand against the door and said, "I am Asen, a friend of your daughter. Go and inform her."
"Sir, please wait a moment." The door closed again, and after a moment, it finally opened.
The servant invited her, "My daughter invites you in."
Asen finally arrived at a pavilion along the winding corridor, where he saw a woman waving a round fan and enjoying the scenery by the lake.
Asen looked at her back and realized it was Qiu Feng, so he shouted, "Qiu Feng, is that you?"
Qiu Feng turned around when she heard the voice. The dusty young man in front of her was still as warm and bright as a ray of sunshine in winter. His appearance illuminated the dark mansion.
Qiu Feng said in surprise, "Asen, why are you here?"
Asen replied: "The girl asked me to come to you, saying that she was worried about you."
"I'm fine, aren't I?"
As they talked, they sat on the stone bench in the pavilion.
"Qiu Feng, I heard that you have become a famous prostitute in the capital in just one month."
Qiu Feng asked, "Isn't this good?"
Asen sighed, "It's good, but it's more like a canary in a cage."
Qiu Feng lowered her eyebrows when she heard this, a hint of displeasure flashing in her eyes, "The young lady and I are both official prostitutes, it doesn't matter where we are."
Asen noticed the worry in Qiu Feng's eyes and said comfortingly, "I believe this is only temporary. Once you have your revenge, you will realize your ambitions, just like Hua Mulan in the opera."
"By the way, how did you gain the trust of the government?" Asen suddenly asked.
Qiu Feng thought to herself: Ah Sen, Ah Sen, don't you know? It was only because you kidnapped the girl and caused such a disaster that I came to the capital to serve the emperor in her place, and now you ask me.
Qiu Feng asked back, "What do you think?"
When Asen was asked this question, he realized that he had said something wrong. "Qiu Feng, I'm sorry. It's all because of me that you..."
"Why say all this? The moment we became courtesans, we couldn't escape this fate. When the young lady and I were in the Liang Mansion, we were so carefree. I really miss those days there. The young lady would practice swordplay every day, and we would watch her practice."
At this time, the little girl came to report: "Miss, the Grand Tutor is here."
Upon hearing this, Asen hurriedly said, "I'll go hide first." As he spoke, he flew to the roof of the mansion with a light skill.
Tong Guan came with a smile on his face, "The emperor said that he is very satisfied with you, young lady. These are all gifts from the emperor."
The servants presented the rewards: a gold hairpin with cloud and phoenix patterns, a red gold bracelet inlaid with pearls, a white jade pendant with flowing clouds and a hundred blessings, and a jade hairpin with tourmaline, pearls and a pattern.
"I thank you, Grand Master."
"As long as you serve the emperor well, you can have whatever you want."
"Slave takes orders."
After the Grand Tutor left, Asen jumped down from the roof and said, "If the Emperor really loved you, he would definitely take you as his concubine, instead of not giving you any status like he does now."
Qiu Feng said, "Even if I'm given a title, what's the use? I'm still locked up in the cage of the palace like a canary. Actually, this is not bad. At least I'm freer than in the palace."
"As long as you feel it's okay, I'll go back and report to the young lady first. Take care of yourself." After saying that, Asen disappeared from Qiu Feng's sight.
When Mother Yan heard that Qiu Feng hadn't been made a concubine, but was simply kept outside the palace, she immediately went berserk: "What? You're saying Qiu Feng wasn't made a concubine. Then all the money I spent over the past two years has gone down the drain. That was pure silver."
Liang Hongyu ignored Mother Yan and pulled Asen into the house to talk, "How is Qiufeng now?"
"She's quite good now. She's a famous courtesan in the capital. Many scholars and men of letters pay a lot of money to listen to her play the piano."
"Didn't Tong Guan say he would choose a concubine for the emperor? How did it get to this point?"
"Qiu Feng heard Tong Guan say that the emperor had no choice and that the Empress Dowager had to agree to take a concubine. Qiu Feng originally thought that she could be freed from her slavery, but Tong Guan did not mention anything about it."
Liang Hongyu's eyes were filled with anger. "What's hateful is that Tong Guan is in cahoots with the emperor and just uses us courtesans as tools for his pleasure. One day I will make Tong Guan pay the price."
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