Plucking Stars Pavilion is, quite deservedly, the premier establishment in the capital. While the common folk might not know where the Imperial Academy is located, mention Plucking Stars Pavilion and even the humblest street peddler could point the way. It is a place that stirs the hearts and minds of countless men.
Tonight, the pavilion is a blaze of light. The front lobby and rear quarters are packed to capacity, and the main hall is so crowded not even a drop of water could pass through. The reason is simple: the debut night of the celebrated courtesan Yunzhu is at hand.
Yunzhu is eighteen, a woman of such devastating beauty that she could topple kingdoms, and she is a master of the zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting. To hear her play a single tune costs a thousand taels of gold, making her the primary earner for the entire pavilion and a household name across the capital.
"Tonight, whoever’s poem wins this competition will spend the night with Miss Yunzhu, and have her company for three days!"
Yunzhu had always sold her art, never her body. However, having caught the eye of Wang Peng, the son of the Chancellor, she was forced to establish a rule: tonight, on the Mid-Autumn Festival, a poetry competition would be held. Whoever produced the most outstanding verse would win her company for a night, and three days of her companionship to boot.
Wang Peng, a young man covered in acne and dressed in fine silks, stood up and haughtily warned the crowd, "Anyone who intends to write a poem and compete against me had better weigh their own worth first!"
The room fell silent. The scholars who had been eager to try their luck were forced to cool their heels. They knew the Chancellor held the court in his iron grip; to offend Wang Peng was to ruin one’s political career.
Just then, cheers and whistles erupted throughout the hall.
A woman in a flowing red gown glided onto the stage, clutching an archaic zither. Her silhouette alone was enough to bewitch the entire room. A gust of wind blowing through the hall caught her, whisking away the white veil covering her face.
The noisy hall fell deathly quiet. Every gaze was locked on the beauty on stage. Her face was exquisite, like a portrait come to life. From her features to her figure, and the small red dot painted between her brows, she looked like an ethereal fairy. With the zither held vertically in her arms, her otherworldly beauty took on an aura of untouchable grace.
Yunzhu did not panic when her veil was blown away. Instead, she offered a composed bow to the audience, set her zither down, and prepared to play. In this era, while one’s status is determined by birth, becoming a top courtesan requires more than just looks; it demands extraordinary talent.
Yunzhu’s ten fingers, pale and delicate as jade, plucked the strings. A melody, seemingly not of this world, transported the audience into a realm of myth.
"Forget a thousand taels—this is worth a fortune!" many wealthy patrons exclaimed, lifting their wine cups in awe.
The notes seemed to possess a mysterious magic. Before anyone could regain their senses, Yunzhu had finished. She put on a new veil brought to her by a maid and sat indifferently before the zither, though a flicker of sorrow lingered in her beautiful eyes.
There were, in fact, many women in the brothels who chose to sell only their art, saving their earnings to buy their freedom and find a good man to spend their lives with. Yunzhu had originally held to this path, hoping to save enough to leave this place of vice, but she had ultimately lost to the times—and to the crushing power of the Chancellor’s estate.
The madam, dressed in garish finery, took the stage with a radiant smile. "I won't repeat the rules! Pens, ink, paper, and inkstones are ready for all you talented gentlemen. Whoever writes the best poem will spend the night at Miss Yunzhu’s Emerald Bamboo Courtyard."
"I don't care! I'm entering!"
"Better to die under the peony than to live without a taste of romance!"
"That Wang brat can't control everything! I’m going to spend the night with Yunzhu!"
The scholars who had initially backed down, having now seen Yunzhu’s beauty and talent, felt their blood boil. They slammed their tables, eager to compose their entries.
A young man with a scholarly reputation stepped forward and bowed to Yunzhu. "I am Li Mo. Miss Yunzhu, please provide the theme!"
"Did I give you permission to speak? Anyone who dares to write a poem tonight is going against my Wang family. I guarantee the Wang family will make sure you never hold office and that your entire family suffers for it!" Wang Peng, hearing the discordant voices, stood up and pointed threateningly at the crowd.
*Smash!*
At that moment, a wine jug was hurled from the second floor, shattering in front of Wang Peng and splashing him with liquor.
Everyone looked up. A handsome youth sat in the private booth above. He was clearly drunk, his expression hazy. While many applauded his actions, those with sense knew that by throwing a wine jug at the son of the Chancellor, the boy had landed himself in serious trouble.
"What is your Wang family, anyway? Who gave you the audacity to act as if you own the Xia State?" The handsome youth looked down and questioned the arrogant Wang Peng.
Yunzhu’s gaze fell upon the youth. She did not recognize him as being from any of the powerful families in the capital and sighed inwardly. The boy was merely throwing an egg against a rock; like her, he would eventually be forced to bow to power.
Wang Peng laughed, pointed at the youth, and spat out a threat: "Ha! Wiping out you and your family would be no different from crushing an ant!"
"Is that so? Rumor has it the Chancellor holds the court in his palm. It seems the Tian family usurping the Qi State is happening all over again! You Wangs are trying to destroy my Li family because you want the throne for yourselves!" Li Feng stepped to the edge of the balcony, immediately labeling them with the ultimate charge.
The guests were stunned. Some recognized Li Feng’s identity. Wang Peng froze, suddenly realizing that Li Feng was not someone to be trifled with.
"The Tian family usurping Qi" was a reference to a historical coup. To apply it to the Wang family was a blatant accusation of treason.
Just then, a man with a crooked mouth whispered something into Wang Peng’s ear.
Wang Peng’s expression shifted, and he hurriedly bowed. "So it is the Second Imperial Highness! This is all a misunderstanding! My father is a loyal servant of the Xia State, recently honored by His Majesty as the Earl of Wenzhong. Our family has always been devoted to the throne. I was merely disciplining these commoners. I truly did not know the Second Imperial Highness was visiting this place of vice, so I have been offensive. Please, do not misunderstand!"
He emphasized the words "place of vice," as if he had caught Li Feng in a compromising position. After all, a prince visiting a brothel was hardly a flattering sight. As far as he knew, the Second Imperial Highness was desperate to curry favor with his sisters, the princesses, all of whom loathed brothels. The Prince certainly wouldn't want this exposed, let alone have it reported to the Princess's Estate.