Nobleman's Beloved Concubine
This was said to be a whispered conversation, to prevent the coachman outside from hearing it.
Gu Yi finally revealed his preoccupation and said, "Li Wujiu has always been elusive and unpredictable. Twenty years ago, he told me that if I wanted to find him, I only needed to go to the largest flower market or brocade shop in Huanhua City and give the name of a flower or brocade. A disciple of the Hidden Sect would then come to deliver the message. But now both of these businesses have fallen into the hands of the government. I wonder if this method is still effective."
A Qiu said blankly, "Aren't you and him good friends? I thought you had been to his ancestral hall, so we could just pay our respects directly."
Gu Yi said, “The profound meaning of the word ‘hidden’ in ‘Hidden World Sect’ lies in ‘only in this mountain, where the clouds are deep and the place is unknown.’ I know that he is probably living in seclusion somewhere in Dawan Mountain, and I can also guess that most of the sect’s members are hidden in some deep valley by a stream. But the mountains are filled with white clouds and arrays and traps. If he does not show himself, we will not be able to find him even if we walk for three days.”
A-Qiu asked, "Since Meng Jue is so humble and hospitable, insisting on lending us his carriage, what does Master think his intentions are?"
Gu Yi had repeatedly ordered that he not be addressed that way. However, A Qiu was used to respecting Gu Yi and rarely acted disrespectfully towards him. Now that he had something to ask, he naturally reverted to his original respectful form of address.
Gu Yi's expression was hidden behind the veil. He said calmly, "Whatever his intentions, I am not afraid of him. If he insists on borrowing, then so be it."
A Qiu felt a pang of shame. Gu Yi was usually not one to meddle, but if something came to him, given his position as a junior master, he would naturally not fear anyone and would not hesitate to refuse. She had been overthinking things.
Gu Yi said, "We'll know the situation once we get there."
"Tiangongfang" is located on the southeast side of Baihuatan, separated from "Tianxiangpu" by a river. What they have in common is their colorful and dazzling appearance, which can be seen even through the courtyard walls and fences.
Sure enough, as soon as the carriage stopped, a steward immediately ran down the steps with a lantern in hand, bowing and scraping to greet him.
Gu Yi lifted the curtain but ignored A Qiu, getting out of the carriage. A Qiu hurriedly got out and followed. Fortunately, he wasn't walking very fast, and she only lagged behind by a step or two, so she could keep up.
The steward had a lot of flattering words to say, but when he saw Gu Yi for the first time, he was stunned and had to swallow back all those flattering, polite, and probing words.
In business, recognizing people is a fundamental skill. Gu Yi's face was covered by a thick veil, obscuring his features but adding to his mysterious and imposing aura. His gaze beneath the veil was sharp and piercing, almost tangible. A single glance from him made the shopkeeper's legs go weak. He was used to welcoming and seeing off customers, yet he was hesitant to approach him.
But the steward was quick-witted and caught sight of the girl behind the mysterious man. He was shocked by her appearance and thought, "This girl's looks even surpass those of the peonies in the garden across the way."
Ah Qiu was generally easier to talk to than Gu Yi, so the manager, Fang Gan, stepped forward with a smile and said, "Young master and young lady, would you like to select a few fine bolts of brocade, or would you like to witness the magnificent spectacle of our weavers' 'Heavenly Night Weaving'? I will show you the way."
Unlike ordinary weaving workshops, Tiangongfang was different. Most workshops didn't open their inner courtyards to the public, only allowing tourists to select finished brocades and embroideries from the front shops. However, after more than twenty years of development, Tiangongfang itself had become a major tourist attraction in Huanhua City. Its weavers were not only among the most skilled in the area, but also mostly young and beautiful, unlike other workshops where the weavers were mostly middle-aged or older women. Therefore, the spectacular sight of hundreds of weavers weaving by lamplight throughout the night, creating a breathtaking panorama of brocades, was a unique and unique feature of the area.
However, as Meng Jue, the young emperor, said, "the night weaving of the Heavenly Craftsmen" is not something everyone can witness. Otherwise, given the bustling crowds and bright lights of the Huanhua City night market, it would be strange if the workshops within the Heavenly Craftsmen's workshops didn't collapse from overcrowding. Moreover, each workshop has its own unique and secret weaving techniques that cannot be passed on to outsiders. Therefore, the scene of night weaving is only witnessed by certain high-ranking officials or friends of the local occupant.
Gu Yi was about to suggest looking at the brocade, but then he caught a glimpse of A Qiu's sparkling eyes beside him. Knowing how curious she was, she must want to see the rhythm of hundreds of looms working through the night. So he softened his tone and said, "Let's go see the night weaving first, and then choose a few pieces of brocade."
The steward readily agreed, lit a lantern, and led the way inside. Ah Qiu was overjoyed and stepped forward to take Gu Yi's sleeve, whispering, "Master, you are so kind!"
Since his transformation, Gu Yi felt that A Qiu had regained her former closeness to him. Looking at her soft, boneless hand draped over his black sleeve, he couldn't quite describe his feelings. He said in a deep voice, "Let's go."
A-Qiu continued to murmur in his ear, "Master, after learning the White Silk Dance, I became very curious about what it was like for women in the countryside to weave silk at their looms every night and sing songs to express their feelings."
Gu Yi knew what she meant. Those who enter the martial arts path face a world different from the mortal world from a young age, thus lacking some of the hustle and bustle of human relationships. He himself grew up in this way, but he didn't want her to be the same. Therefore, when Gongye Fusu mentioned that he wanted him to take her out for a stroll, although he said no, he remembered it in his heart, though he was quite annoyed: Did he need Gongye Fusu to teach him how to treat his disciple? This person was good at interpersonal relationships, but too good at them.
His heart softened, and he wanted to explain a few words for her. Although the brocade here and the white silk of Wu were similar, they were not the same craft. But then he saw the head of the lantern-bearing group turn around in surprise, his eyes shining, and say, "'White Silk Dance'? Could it be that you are the dancer who recently became famous in the capital and performed the White Silk Dance before the Emperor? No wonder you are so beautiful! It's an honor, an honor!"
He then repeatedly said to the waiter beside him, "Quickly, go and fetch the painter!"
It has been three months since A Qiu performed the "White Silk Dance" at the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet. Unexpectedly, it has now become a topic of conversation in this wealthy southwestern city, even reaching the head of the brocade workshop. Feeling rather uncomfortable with such attention, she immediately declined, saying, "The White Silk Dance is a group dance with many dancers. I am merely one of them, an unknown junior. It is not worth such a grand spectacle."
The manager stroked his beard and chuckled, “To be honest, young lady, our line of work specializes in serving the elite and wealthy. Our guests are all noble ladies and gentlemen. Any new patterns or unusual styles in the capital, or any new developments in the palace, usually reach us first. The White Silk Dance was already very famous in previous generations, and this revival reminds us of the grandeur of the time when Empress Huanwen was alive. Even here, just listening to it evokes the feeling of returning to a golden age.”
He further explained, “If a woman as beautiful as you were to leave her image in our workshop, the weavers could either carve it with silk or embroider it with needles. A hundred years from now, people will know that a beauty from Jiangdong once visited our southwestern border region. It would be a wonderful story.”
A Qiu was an assassin by trade, and was naturally wary of exposing her appearance, especially since her paintings were meant to be passed down through generations. In her line of work, only wanted criminals had their portraits painted for public comment, which was not a good omen. However, the manager's enthusiasm and his words made a lot of sense, so she could only turn to Gu Yi for help and whimper, "...Young Master."
She wanted to call him "Master," but among the current generation of White Silk Dancers, there is only one junior disciple with a graceful master. If someone were to speculate further, it wouldn't be difficult to guess her and Gu Yi's true identities.
The steward then remembered that Gu Yi was still beside A Qiu. His enthusiastic gaze immediately turned cautious as soon as it fell on Gu Yi: "Who is this...who is he to the young lady?"
Gu Yi remained motionless and calmly said, "She is my concubine."
Logically speaking, Gu Yi's answer was the most reasonable, since A Qiu was one of the Bai Zhu dancers, and it was most reasonable and least conspicuous for her to accompany a noble young man from the capital.
The steward immediately realized he had overstepped his bounds; how could he paint someone's concubine's likeness without asking the master? Unfortunately, the painter had already been summoned and was standing in the shadows by the door, so his image was barely visible. He quickly smiled apologetically, "This... young master, I am truly sorry for the offense, but your wife is as beautiful as a fairy, and a noblewoman from the capital. If I cannot have her portrait taken, I feel it would be a real pity." He spoke with a sigh, knowing that Gu Yi would not agree to it.
Beneath the cloak, Gu Yi calmly asked, "How long will it take to create this image?"
The steward replied, flattered, "There's no need for you and your wife to wait. Our painter is skilled at drawing pictures of the world and has a photographic memory. As long as you and your wife allow her to bring pen and paper with you while you are sightseeing, she will be able to memorize the general outline in a short time. As for the detailed final drawing, that will have to wait until later."
He then raised his voice into the shadows and asked, "Painter Bai, is this correct?"
The painter, who had been hidden in the shadows, stepped out in response, holding a brush and paper, and smiled, "That's right. If you don't mind, young master and madam, I can serve you. I can not only draw pictures, but also explain the craftsmanship and origin of this Heavenly Craft Brocade to you."
The painter turned out to be a woman, which surprised both A Qiu and Gu Yi.
A Qiu couldn't help but grab Gu Yi's sleeve and shake it, meaning she didn't want to be painted to preserve her image. But she heard Gu Yi's voice in her ear: "If your appearance can leave behind beautiful memories and legends for the world, wouldn't that be more meaningful than growing old in vain?"
Ah Qiu thought to himself, "You make it sound so nice, but why are you so reluctant to show yourself in front of others?"
The painter, Bai, had a gentle and serene demeanor, and her every move was as graceful as water. She smiled and said, "The most fleeting things in this world are beauty; youth fades from the mirror, and flowers wither from the trees. It is my honor to capture such a beautiful image of you, Madam. Once the painting is finished, I will certainly send an identical copy to your residence to thank you for your kindness."
A Qiu thought to herself that this painter was quite adept at handling people. Given Gu Yi's and her refined demeanor, he wouldn't have cared much for ordinary gifts of gold, silver, or silk; in fact, he would have considered it impolite. But if he were to present her with a portrait of herself, it would be both elegant and a sign of flattery. This was because portraiture was something only high-ranking officials and nobles could afford, let alone a concubine.
At the same time, she keenly sensed that as the painter Bai spoke, Gu Yi's sharp gaze had already swept through the heavy veil, glancing at the slender and gentle female painter, and subtly pulling her a step closer to his side, asking indifferently, "Where is the painter Bai from?"
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