Lüyi Garden, Azure Dragon City.
After Zhou Tieyi gifted Guan Guan to Prince Anle, Li Jing, he had her settled in a separate villa as he had instructed. Rumors in the city claimed that although the renowned courtesan Guan Guan had emerged from the world of vice, her character was incredibly unyielding. After being gifted to Prince Anle, she would sing "The falling petals have intent, but the flowing water has no heart" night after night. Her singing was so mournful and poignant that it seemed to echo through the rafters for days on end. During this time, she even attempted to commit suicide with a pair of scissors but was saved by a maid. This ruined Prince Anle’s elegant mood, and he failed to become "fellow travelers" with the ruffian of the Zhou family.
Such a melodramatic plot, combined with the earlier incident at Linshui Pavilion, perfectly catered to the commoner’s appetite for sensationalism. Within a few days, the story had spread far and wide.
Chapter 16