Skilled in dancing
Yuan Si Niang still remembered her second sister, Pin Lan, who had always resented being subordinate to her and had fought with her all her life. At that time, she said resentfully, "Eldest sister, if you like the old man, why don't you marry Wang Taifu! I see that he cares about you a lot. If you become a noble lady, you can help your sisters rise in status and find a good home."
That was the morning before she got into the sedan chair and left home.
She smiled bitterly and said, "Isn't it just what you wanted if I didn't marry well? Anyway, you've already betrothed to the eldest son of the Du family. The Du family only has this one precious son. Even if you have to humble yourself and endure it for a few years, once you give birth to your son, you will naturally receive an imperial title in a few years. What's the rush?"
As Pinlan combed her hair and put it into a bun, she said indifferently, "It's not even close to being settled yet! If his family agreed so easily, I wouldn't be expecting you, my elder sister, to give me any face."
Only then did Yuan Si Niang understand why Pin Lan, who had always been her fierce competitor, didn't show any smugness this time, but instead seemed disappointed and resentful. She had originally thought that Pin Lan was hoping for her to do poorly.
It turns out everyone knew that Huayuefang was ultimately a place where everyone shared the same fate, rising and falling together. No matter how fiercely they fought among themselves, once they left the organization, they were all people who came from the same family.
If we don't stick together and take care of each other, even if we get married and reform ourselves, with in-laws, sisters-in-law, and wives, which of those powerful ladies and young women will really treat us like human beings?
Looking in the mirror, she suddenly couldn't help but speak her heart: "Second sister, times have changed. Look at Luoyang, it's still a city of flowers and flowers, a place of decadence and debauchery, but everywhere there are armies roaming freely. I've heard that the north can't be defended, and the barbarian horses will soon march south. I'm afraid there won't be time for us to wait for the best price."
Pinlan paused, her eyes filled with disbelief: "Then why do the adults who come here continue their usual singing, dancing, and idle talk, without mentioning the war at all? We can't tell anything about it?"
She asked suspiciously, "Where did these rumors come from? You wouldn't be hoping we'd just hastily get rid of you because you didn't marry well, would you?"
Seeing her expression, Yuan Si Niang knew she wouldn't believe it, and sighed, "Gongye's family is wealthy and influential, and they probably know more about things in the north than the officials in the court. That's why I chose a merchant over an official—merchants can leave whenever they want, while officials are still in the court and have to keep their promises. The higher the position, the less likely they are to just leave."
Pinlan fell silent, and the twisting of her hair became more and more forceful, until Fourth Sister couldn't bear it any longer and cried out, "Ouch!" Only then did she snap out of her daze and say, "I'm sorry!"
Seeing her lost in thought, Yuan Si Niang earnestly advised, "We can't delay any longer. If Young Master Du can't give a definite answer in the next few days, you might as well agree to that salt merchant's offer!"
Salt merchants also had their own cargo ships for transporting grain, making it easy for them to go down the Yangtze River to avoid trouble. This was something she had heard from the head of the Gongye family.
Pinlan gritted her teeth and said fiercely, "His grandmother passed away a month ago, so we can't have a wedding at home. It's no use for us to pressure him these past few days. If he still refuses to give in a month, I will immediately go south with Master Hu."
The "Master Hu" she mentioned was the salt merchant that Yuan Si Niang spoke of.
Yuan Si Niang wondered if it was too late, but she could say nothing more. After all, there was a death in Young Master Du's family, which was neither his own choice nor something anyone could force him to accept.
Perhaps it was because Yuan Si Niang was about to leave that she suddenly realized she would never be able to talk like she did today again. The sisters beside her, who had been silently doing their work, suddenly started talking all at once.
The third sister, Zhao'er, said, "Eldest sister is right. I've heard about it too. The situation is tense right now. I think we should take some time to go to the pawnshop and exchange all our jewelry for cash. We should prepare more silver for any eventuality."
The fourth and fifth sisters sighed and said, "The older sisters all have a place to live. If Luoyang City really falls, we don't know what will happen to us."
Yuan Si Niang suddenly felt a chill run down her spine, but she could only reassure her, "When that time comes, those of you who haven't left will definitely be taken care of. I won't let you suffer any losses, so don't worry."
She said this, but her eyes were fixed on the floor above and below, filled with silks, satins, pearls and gems, and she thought to herself: It can't be that bad, it shouldn't be that bad.
The women on this floor, though from brothels, were all exceptionally beautiful and charming from a young age. They were carefully selected from among many by the matron, and their hands were never used for manual labor. Each of them had delicate fingers and skin as smooth as jade. They were taught music, chess, calligraphy, painting, and various musical instruments. They were truly pampered like young ladies, and by no means seemed destined for great misfortune.
Hopefully, what the head of the Gongye family said was just an exaggeration.
But no one expected that Luoyang would fall overnight.
Terrified, she and her entire family sought refuge in the Gongye family's residence. Fortunately, the Gongye family was well-connected and had relations with various tribes in the north and south. They had already hung white banners of the Northern Qiang at their gate, and no barbarian horses came knocking that night. However, the fires that rose in the distance and the constant cries of agony were things she could not ignore.
A servant secretly reported: "The Duan family next door... was burned down, and all of their more than 100 members, men, women, and children, were dragged out and beheaded in the marketplace. This is because he supported the old tutor of the Mo Yi family to take command and strongly advocated resisting the Northern Qiang."
Feeling inexplicably anxious, she casually asked, "How is the Du family? Have you heard anything?"
Having grown up in a brothel, the only people she could recall now were her sisters from the Flower Moon Pavilion—one of the few she knew in this world. She vividly remembered Pinlan saying that she would discuss marriage with Minister Du after the funeral of his grandmother. Now, all she could think about was whether Pinlan had gotten married yet.
The servant thought for a long time before hesitantly saying, "It seems that the officials in the court can't escape. Although the official statement is that only a few 'ringleaders' who advocate resistance must be executed, and the other officials will not be investigated, those Northern Qiang soldiers finally managed to enter the city. Do you think they will let these wealthy households and high-ranking officials in the city go? Judging from the situation outside, it's probably already a complete mess."
As Yuan Si Niang listened, she saw the fire burning over the wall next to the Duan family's house, which was almost reaching her side, making her face look deathly pale.
She felt her heart tremble and her legs go weak, but then she caught a glimpse of a slender figure at the back of the dark crowd, groping around as if trying to cross the garden to the next house.
That was none other than young master Fusu. His eye ailment had recently flared up, and he was now blind due to the bandages wrapped around his eyes. The head of the Gongye family had repeatedly instructed his family to take good care of him.
Yuan Si Niang didn't have time to consider anything else. She assumed he was blind and wandering around aimlessly, fearing he might cause a major disaster next door. At that moment, everyone was in a state of panic and had no time to care about a blind man. Yuan Si Niang mustered her courage, went over and pulled him back, saying gently, "The situation is chaotic right now. Young master, you mustn't wander around."
Young Gongye Fusu was pulled back by her. He paused for a moment, but his face was still turned towards the Duan family's direction. After a while, he quietly said, "I heard loud crying and the sound of fire burning. Are they all going to die?"
At that moment, Yuan Si Niang was thankful that he couldn't see such a cruel scene. She replied with a somber tone, "I can't worry about other people's affairs, young master." She vaguely remembered that he seemed to have a playmate recently, none other than the young master of the Duan family. It was normal for a young man to cherish friendship.
She held his hand tightly, preventing him from running off again, and earnestly advised, "The Gongye family is incredibly wealthy, and these Northern Qiang people have always coveted our riches. They're just worried about not finding an excuse to harass us. If anything happens now, it might give them a perfect reason to come in, plunder, burn, and kill!"
She didn't know if the boy could understand what she was saying, but she felt Gongye Fusu's hand in her palm tighten, as if he were clenching into a fist.
A moment later, he said in a deep voice, "I understand, Aunt. Let's go inside now."
All night long, half the sky above Luoyang was ablaze with firelight. The cries of agony and despair echoed continuously from near and far.
Yuan Si Niang didn't dare to go and see. But according to her family, people from all the mansions and courtyards in the nearby streets and alleys were being dragged out by their hair and tied up one after another. Whether they were servants, maids or masters, they were all taken to the military camp.
Her nominal husband, the head of the Gongye family, left the mansion before the city fell, supposedly to discuss matters with an important court official, but he did not return all night.
Just as dawn was breaking, Yuan Si Niang heard the news that the head of the household had returned home.
As soon as the head of the Gongye family returned, he urgently summoned all the family members and servants in the mansion and assigned them to different places. He left only a few old servants to guard the mansion, while the rest of them immediately prepared to leave Luoyang City with the caravan carrying goods and head south to avoid disaster.
At that time, the Gongye family's properties in Luoyang, the capital of Zhongdu, had been mostly relocated to safer areas. Apart from the shops and businesses that could not be moved, there was only this residence and the dozens of people living there.
She was the only concubine he had, as she was the only newcomer to the household. The other concubines in the Gongye family had already been arranged to move south half a year earlier. This was why she was assigned to take care of Gongye Fusu.
Just before boarding the mule cart, the head of the Gongye family, with a solemn expression, instructed: "After the curtain is lowered, you must not lift it again to look, and you must not make any noise. The quieter the better. Right now, nine out of ten houses in the city are empty. The remaining soldiers roam freely, looting and killing without restraint. Although we have received a special pardon from the Great Khan to leave the city, if we encounter the troops of the other Khans and a conflict breaks out, our deaths will be in vain. At this moment, the Great Khan will certainly not punish his subordinates for the sake of a few idle Han Chinese like us."
While sitting in the carriage, Yuan Si Niang finally couldn't help but ask, "I am a newcomer, having just entered the family, but judging from the actions of the head of the household, he has made plans and foreseen everything in advance. Why didn't the head of the household leave the city earlier, but instead waited until the city fell and the situation became critical?"
The head of the Gongye family at the time, who was also Fusu's father, sighed and looked at her, saying, "Fourth Miss, have you ever heard the saying that fortune and honor are found in danger?"
Although she had entered the Gongye family, the head of the Gongye family still addressed her as the Fourth Miss, just as he had in the Flower Moon Pavilion.
Yuan Si Niang, puzzled, said, "I have heard of it, but I do not know the details. Please enlighten me, Master."
The head of the Gongye family said calmly, "The reason why the Gongye family can be so wealthy and powerful is precisely because each generation of family members is not afraid of death and dares to take risks in dangerous situations."
Having grown up in a brothel since childhood, Yuan Si Niang had witnessed her master's skillful management techniques. Suddenly, she understood most of it and solemnly said, "The reason why the patriarch stayed is to see if the Northern Qiang would need to use us Han people after they break through the city. Then the patriarch can find another opportunity for the Gongye family to develop."
Historically, war has always been an opportunity for merchants. During times of war, those capable of conducting business are few and far between. Those who can act as intermediaries, connecting various factions and supplying resources, can monopolize the market and reap huge profits. The Gongye family were not unscrupulous merchants who profited from national calamities; their business dealings always emphasized reputation and quality. However, this did not mean they lacked foresight and courage. They seized opportune moments and situations to expand their power.
The head of the Gongye family looked out the carriage window, but a bamboo curtain was hanging there at the moment, so he could not see anything.
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