Tang Dynasty Swordsman

Page 46

As for winning their hearts, can they come at a moment's notice in the future...? "I have already made preparations for this matter."

Li Ji, lacking both clairvoyance and superhuman hearing, naturally couldn't know about the plans of the Qi and Cheng prefectures. However, not long afterward, he heard that Li Tan was about to be appointed as the military governor of Longyou and Hexi. Through secret analysis, he managed to uncover most of the inside story.

It's a pity that Li Bi wasn't by his side, and he had so much to say but no one to talk to.

That happened several days later, so let's leave that aside for now. On the day Li Ji left the Prince Cheng's residence, although Li Chu didn't see him off, Li Shi was already waiting for him halfway there. He not only performed another grand ceremony but also ordered a eunuch to bring out a lacquered tray, which he presented to Li Ji with both hands. Li Ji looked closely and exclaimed: "Oh, it's silver!"

In those days, the currency in circulation was still copper coins, which were too small in unit and too heavy to carry easily. Roughly speaking, ten coins equaled one tael—though rarely were they heavy enough—so the three thousand coins Li Chu had previously given him were equivalent to three hundred taels, weighing about seventeen or eighteen jin. Even Li Ji found it inconvenient to carry them at all times and had to rely on horseback. This time, to win over Li Ji, Li Chu was going to offer even more wealth, ordering Li Shi to find an opportunity to give it as a gift. It wouldn't be appropriate to have two eunuchs carry out a box and then have Li Ji drag it himself, would it? Even if Li Ji was strong, it wouldn't look good.

Therefore, Li Shi chose privately minted silver ingots, each weighing five taels, without any inscription.

Li Ji found the shape of the silver ingot quite novel. It was more than a palm's length and three fingers' width, with its four sides curving upwards, just like a small boat. He didn't know that only in this way could the silver be cast thin enough to make it easy to see whether it was mixed with inferior metals.

On the lacquered tray were four boat-shaped silver ingots, totaling twenty taels. Li Ji quickly calculated that this was equivalent to more than twenty thousand coins. Twenty thousand coins was an astronomical figure that ordinary people could hardly earn in a lifetime, but for the nobility, it was nothing more than a drop in the ocean—officials of the third rank and above earned more than ten thousand coins a month.

So, Your Highness, you really are stingy...

Therefore, he did not refuse and took the four silver ingots in his hand. Then he heard Li Shi say, "There are too many, I'm afraid it will be inconvenient for you to carry them..." Li Ji thought to himself, "Then I can give you gold." He said, "After a few days, once we have settled on a place to live, I will send someone to deliver silk and money." He pointed and said, "The guard should also wear some nice clothes. In Chang'an, unless you are wearing brocade, no one will pay attention to you."

Li Ji smiled and said, "I am deeply grateful for Your Highness's kindness." He thought to himself, "Where is Li Tan? I saved his life, why doesn't he give me any gold or silver?"

Li Ji was not a greedy person, but he had no place to go yet and no salary to receive. Today, he witnessed the high prices in Chang'an City and felt that having more money on him would make him feel more at ease.

—Before, when I was with Li Bi, I relied on my brother for everything, and I didn't have to worry about anything. Now that I'm separated from Li Bi, I have to learn to take care of myself.

Li Shi then took Li Ji's hand and escorted him to the gate of the mansion, handing him a waist token and saying, "Please come visit often when you have time; I feel quite stifled in the Prince's mansion..."

The emperor confined his sons to the Sixteen Princes' Residences, preventing them from associating with high-ranking officials and nobles without permission. However, low-ranking military officers or scholars like Li Ji still had various opportunities to enter and leave the princes' residences under different pretexts.

When Li Ji left the Sixteen Princes' Residence, it was already dark. Following the directions given by Li Chu and his son, he headed west to Daningfang to find Jia Huai.

Because of his previous merits, Jia Huai had been granted the honorary title of Senior Ninth-Rank Military Officer, but without any real power, and was temporarily serving in the Prince Cheng's residence. On this day, he was off duty and was at home practicing martial arts to strengthen his muscles and bones when Li Ji unexpectedly came to his door, which was a pleasant surprise.

When Li Ji left Luoyang, he said he was going to Jishan to visit his elder brother and would be back in about half a month. Who knew that he would be gone for almost half a year... Jia Huai originally wanted to curry favor with Li Ji, so he refused to go with Yun Lin to serve Pugu Huai'en. However, after waiting for Li Ji to come and go, he became somewhat disheartened.

He thought to himself, "Why don't I just follow Prince Cheng? I've heard that he might be made crown prince, so I might have a bright future..."

The problem is that he betrayed Li Fuguo, who was then at the height of his power. This left Jia Huai in Chang'an constantly suspicious and hesitant to reveal his identity. Living in the Prince Cheng's residence for so long would certainly mean remaining hidden from the public eye for quite some time, and he might not be able to achieve any merit...

Although it is said that "when one attains enlightenment, even his chickens and dogs ascend to heaven," what if one is not even a chicken or dog, but a rat in a granary who dares not show his face at all?

To be honest, if Li Jiruo doesn't come soon, Jia Huai will most likely be forced to swallow his pride and go to Luoyang to seek refuge with Yunlin.

Therefore, Li Ji's appearance completely put Jia Huai at ease. He immediately drew water to wipe himself and said he would take Li Ji out for a good meal and enjoy the beautiful scenery of Chang'an.

In fact, he had been in Chang'an for several months, living a very quiet life between his residence in Daningfang and the Prince Cheng's mansion, rarely daring to venture out for fear of running into acquaintances and being discovered by Li Fuguo. Today, upon seeing Li Ji, he was both happy and, for some reason, suddenly felt emboldened, which led him to decide to go out and relax.

Li Ji readily agreed—although he also didn't want to be targeted by Li Fuguo, he wasn't as timid and fearful as Jia Huai. The key was that he believed Li Fuguo must have spies in the Cheng and Qi mansions, meaning his return to Chang'an would most likely be impossible to hide; however, since he had already made contact with Li Chu, Li Tan, and Li Shi, Li Fuguo would be hesitant to act rashly.

So he changed his clothes and rode out with Jia Huai.

Li Mi once told Li Ji, "Now that you're returning to Chang'an, you should either wear official robes to show your status as an official, or wear a long robe to show your scholarly background. Stop running around in short clothes all day, lest you be looked down upon." Li Ji initially didn't take it to heart, thinking that short, narrow sleeves would be more convenient. However, after entering Chang'an, he saw official robes and long robes everywhere in the streets and alleys, more than he had seen in all his previous years combined… Just now, Li Shi had also said, "Unless you're dressed in fine silk, no one will value you." He thought to himself, "If I wore official robes or a long robe during the day, would those snobbish shopkeepers dare to try and cheat me with watered-down wine?"

Jia Huai was not a scholar, and it was inconvenient for him to wear official robes. So, if he followed him, would the two commoners be cheated again when they went out to find food? Li Ji was not afraid of trouble, but he was afraid of being cheated. Therefore, he simply changed into a brocade robe and hung all the copper coins and silver ingots on the saddle.

Judging from Jia Huai's living conditions, he didn't seem particularly wealthy. Although he patted his chest and said he would treat everyone, he probably couldn't actually come up with much money. I had been eating very simply the whole way, and I only ate at a random tavern because I missed lunch and was really hungry. Now that Li Shi had given me silver ingots, how could I not go and find some delicacies to enjoy?

Back in the day, when he was in Ding'an, he ate the delicacies bestowed upon him by Li Tan for more than a month, which had spoiled his palate. In fact, his soul was originally a gourmand, and now even his physical body in this world instinctively craves good food. He gets tired of eating too much of this rich and meaty food, and he misses it terribly after not seeing it for a long time.

Therefore, he even showed the four silver ingots to Jia Huai, saying, "These were bestowed by King Cheng. It would be a waste not to spend them..." He believed that even if Li Chu was stingy, he would still help him if he came to him and complained about being poor. "Tonight, I only want fine wine and delicacies. Don't take me to ordinary restaurants. I'll just have some simple food and drinks."

Jia Huai's eyes lit up as he looked at the gleaming silver ingots, and he immediately declared, "I will certainly lead Brother Li to a good place!"

The two men exited from the south gate of Daningfang and rode slowly southward. On the way, Li Ji asked Jia Huai, "I've heard that the gates of the ward are closed every night. If we go out to eat now, will we be able to get back in time?" Jia Huai smiled and said, "It's no problem."

After passing two intersections, and seeing that they were approaching the East Market, Jia Huai suddenly changed course, turning right instead of going to the East Market. Li Ji assumed that since he had lived in Chang'an for a long time, he knew which neighborhoods had good taverns, so he didn't ask any further questions. Instead, he recounted the events of their separation and accompanied Jia Huai on their way.

Seeing the growing crowds and the countless colorful lanterns hanging on the walls of the alley ahead, the bustling scene was no less vibrant than the East Market. Entering the alleyway, and seeing the colorful walls and flying eaves, row upon row, Li Ji suddenly realized what was going on and hurriedly asked Jia Huai, "What alleyway is this?"

Jia Huai smiled and said, "Brother Li, have you ever heard of Pingkangfang?"

Li Ji thought to himself, "Of course I've heard of it, I've heard of it all the time! Isn't this the top-notch red-light district in Chang'an? Damn it, why did you bring me here, Lao Jia?"

He immediately tugged at Jia Huai's arm: "This is a place for nobles to seek pleasure, not a place for us."

Jia Huai laughed and said, "There are countless brothels in Pingkang Ward, of varying quality. We naturally have no right to set foot in the top-class ones, but we can certainly sleep with the lower-class ones." He then glanced at Li Ji with a malicious smile and said, "Brother Li, are you still a virgin, hesitating like this?"

Li Ji thought to himself, "Of course I'm a virgin in this life, but I wasn't in my past life. Even in my past life, I never bought pleasure..." But for an adult man, being a virgin is just as shameful as being short-statured, so he naturally refused to admit it and could only say perfunctorily, "I don't covet such things."

Jia Huai said, “It’s alright. I know Brother Li enjoys good food. You should know that the best food in Chang’an is not in the two markets, but in Pingkang Ward.”

I was thinking that once you've had your fill of food and there's no time to return to Daningfang, after the streets quiet down, you'll have to stay in Pingkangfang. Besides, after a few drinks, can a man really control his lower body? Li Ji once joked with me that there are three things that truly show a man's friendship: "studying together, fighting together, and visiting prostitutes together"—you said that, so if we stay at the same place tonight, our relationship will definitely become even closer.

Besides, I've heard so much about Pingkangfang, but I've never actually been there before... How can I miss this great opportunity with the silver ingots right here on my horse?

Although he had never been there before and had no acquaintances to guide him, Jia Huai was very experienced in society and knew who to follow. People from all walks of life came to Pingkang Lane to seek pleasure—of course, those who were too poor could only seek prostitutes in other lanes, and dared not come to such a high-class place—among them were many scholars in ceremonial robes, and Jia Huai would always do the opposite of where they went.

Who knows how many of these scholars are actually civil servants? And where they go, would they possibly be willing to receive us?

As for those who don't wear the ceremonial robes but are dressed relatively decently, they are mostly merchants or low-ranking military officers like us. We can pretend to follow behind them and observe where they go.

Leading Li Ji along, they passed through several streets and alleys, seemingly heading into increasingly remote areas. Li Ji sensed something was wrong and asked Jia Huai, "If we continue forward, will we be following a winding wall?"

Jia Huai smiled somewhat awkwardly: "Maybe..." He thought to himself, I've never been here before, how would I know anything about winding walls or winding streets?

Li Ji pulled on the reins: "Instead of following the winding wall, let's find a way to the middle bend."

Although he had never been to Pingkang Ward, he knew a regular customer—Old Jing, who had been in Chang'an before the city fell and was a notorious womanizer. During a casual conversation during their travels, Old Jing had described the bustling city of Chang'an to Li Ji, mentioning brothels in no time. He had said, "Most of the city's courtesans are in Pingkang Ward. Enter from the north gate, turn east three times, and you'll find countless courtyards..."

The term "qu" is equivalent to a "community" in later times. Each ward also has streets, dividing the entire ward into more than a dozen "qu". Entering from the north gate of Pingkang Ward, most of the brothels are concentrated in the three qu on the east side: the first is the "middle qu", the second is the "southern qu", and the third is the "wall-following qu".

Theoretically speaking, the brothels closest to the street are naturally the most convenient and have the highest land prices. Brothels close to the walls of the neighborhood—that is, "following the walls"—are definitely of lower quality. Old Jing said that the south brothel leads directly to the cross street, so the brothels there are the most high-class, often frequented by high-ranking officials. The middle brothels are a step below, and as for the brothels along the walls, only commoners without official positions would go there—of course, poor officials and poor scholars would occasionally dabble in them.

Li Ji asked him, "Old Jing, do you usually go to Zhongqu or Nanqu?"

Old Jing immediately smiled, then looked around and changed the subject...

Chapter 47, The Five Strings of the Pipa

Li Ji originally guessed that Old Jing was just a low-ranking military officer with a low salary. Let alone the Southern Music Bureau, he probably wouldn't dare to go to the Middle Music Bureau. Perhaps the people who frequented the Southern Music Bureau were the lowly Xunqiang Music Bureau...

However, after that, whenever Lao Jing spoke of brothels, he would often mention a particular brothel and a certain woman who was exceptionally beautiful. When he got excited, he would speak with great enthusiasm, describing things in meticulous detail. Yet, he would never mention Pingkang brothel again. Li Ji thought to himself, "Perhaps you're not even qualified or have the funds to frequent those brothels..."

Returning to the story, Li Ji scrutinized Jia Huai's expression and realized that the other man was also a stranger. He had initially thought Jia Huai knew which restaurant in Xunqiangqu was particularly good, but judging from his expression, he was probably just trying to find a place by chance... In that case, Xunqiangqu was definitely not an option—low-class brothels might have good food and drink, but the chances of finding them were too slim, and certainly not something two strangers like them could possibly find.

Southern opera is too high-class, so it's inconvenient to go there. Why not try some Chinese opera instead? Besides, Li Ji thought to himself, "I still have my mouth to talk to, don't I?"

So he dismounted and waited by the street. After a short while, he saw several young scholars laughing and talking, walking past arm in arm. He immediately went up to them and asked, "May I ask, among all the restaurants in China, which one is the best in terms of food?"

The scholars, seeing that Li Ji was also dressed in a long robe and that his horse was quite magnificent, hurriedly returned the greeting. One of them introduced them, saying, "The Lü Miaozhen family is best at cooking meat, while the Huang Shanshan family excels at vegetarian dishes." He then pointed out the directions.

Li Ji had absolutely no interest in vegetarian food, so he led Jia Huai to Lü Miaozhen's house. When they arrived, they saw that it was located near the main street in Zhongqu, with the door facing the street and decorated with colorful lanterns. A man with a straw in his mouth was leaning against the half-open gate.

Li Ji dismounted and asked, "Isn't this Lü Miaozhen's house?"

The man quickly spat out the straw and bowed, replying, "That's right, but the corridor is full, and there are only two empty seats now."

Li Ji smiled and pointed at Jia Huai: "We are indeed the two of us."

The man hurriedly waved to welcome them in and helped Li Ji and the others lead their horses. At the same time, he shouted inside, "We're full, you can close the door now."

Li Ji thought to himself, "That was close! If we had been any later, we probably wouldn't have been able to get into the courtyard. I wonder if there are still queues and numbers these days... It's good to have a lot of people. A lot of people means good business, and good business usually means good food."

Hmm, young lady, that's possible...

I've seen countless scenes in movies and TV dramas where people sell their art but not their bodies. Although I know it's all nonsense, I can't go to the other extreme and assume that everyone in Pingkangfang is a prostitute. I'm only here for the food and to enjoy some artistic performances of this era. I'll finish eating early and head back to Daningfang before the streets quiet down. As long as I don't stay overnight, what's there to be afraid of?

So he walked in slowly with his hands behind his back. Jia Huai seemed a little nervous, shrinking his neck and following behind Li Ji as if he were his servant.

A heavily made-up middle-aged woman approached, bowed, and asked, "May I ask your surname, sir?"

"My surname is Li, and this is my friend, Mr. Jia."

"Oh, so it's the two of you..." Sure enough, the woman treated Jia Huai like a follower.

"My lady is..."

"I am Lü Miaozhen, you may simply call me Lady Lü. Have you two come here because you admire my daughter, Susu?"

Li Ji understood; this was the owner of the place, the brothel madam. He had heard Old Jing say that in those days, the madam's formal title was "false mother," because she pretended to be mother and daughter with the prostitutes she kept. She also had a common name, "exploding charcoal." So he shook his head and said with a smile, "I've come here because I admire your family's delicacies."

Lu Miaozhen said, "You two have come at the right time. My family's food and drink are not only top-notch, but also the best in Pingkang." She pointed inside and said, "Look, the lanterns have just been lit, and even the corridor is full. There is only one small seat left in the corner. I hope you two gentlemen will not find it inconvenient."

The courtyard of Lü Miaozhen's house was not large, probably only two sections, front and back. After entering the main gate, there was a small courtyard filled with flowers and plants. The main house had its door open, connecting to the outer corridor. At this moment, the house and the corridor were full of people, most of whom were dressed in scholar's robes. Li Ji estimated that there were probably nearly twenty groups, fifty or sixty people. In addition, behind the hostess and even outside the corridor, there were many servants or maids standing with bows.

The empty seat was indeed very small, only able to accommodate two people, and it was located at the west end of the corridor, quite a distance from the main room. In particular, the view was limited, and it wasn't easy to see what was happening inside. But it didn't matter; he had come for the food, and the cultural performance was just a bonus. If he couldn't see it, so be it.

Then, Li Ji and Jia Huai removed their boots and sat down. Lü Miaozhen called for a maid to bring tableware and water. The maid looked to be only fourteen or fifteen years old, her body not yet fully developed, but her features were quite regular. Li Ji turned his head and saw that Jia Huai's expression was somewhat dazed, his eyes only darting between the maid, his lips slightly parted, the corners of his mouth seemingly gleaming in the candlelight…

Who would have thought, Lao Jia, you're a lolicon!

Lu Miaozhen asked from the side, "Is it acceptable for each person to receive four coins for a meal, and double that amount for candles?"

Upon hearing this, Jia Huai couldn't help but shudder slightly.

Li Ji didn't understand what "Ji Zhu" meant—this isn't a buffet, so why would there be a time limit for dining? But he knew "Si Huan"—six liang to one huan, so four huan equals two hundred and forty coins. Compared to the tavern he found in the East Market during the day, it wasn't too expensive and was still within his budget.

Little did he know that these brothel owners mostly charged only for the cost of the food and drink they prepared; their main income came from the extra tips given to the prostitutes by their customers. Otherwise, they might as well run taverns; why bother with brothels? Brothels, of course, primarily rely on the prostitutes selling their goods for money.

Li Ji nodded in agreement. Lü Miaozhen then took her leave. Before long, the maids brought up the wine and dishes one after another. In fact, they had been prepared long ago, and all the dishes were the same. Originally, they planned to wait until no one else came before closing up shop. Since the place was almost full, what was the harm in leaving a secluded seat empty?

Li Ji looked closely and saw that the small table was covered with white porcelain dishes, which were indeed quite plentiful, totaling four cold dishes, four hot dishes, four desserts, plus a large bowl of soup.

The four cold dishes are boiled pork, wood ear mushrooms and vinegared celery, fish maw soaked in wine, and dried shredded scallions; the four hot dishes are gourd chicken, roasted goose liver, pepper-roasted lamb chops, and chunks of meat cooked in wine lees; the four desserts are red dates and yam, sesame cakes, steamed bean flour cakes, and fried dough twists; and a large bowl is a soup of sunflower and fresh fish.

He had tasted most of these dishes before—back in Ding'an, the food in Li Tan's palace was far more abundant, and there was no repetition every day. However, when Dou Wenchang, Huo Xianming, and others introduced the names and origins of those dishes to Li Ji, even the simplest garlic-cooked pork had a fancy and high-class name, Li Ji had not remembered any of them.

Food is all about color, aroma, and taste. Whether it can fill your stomach and please your heart, what does the name have to do with it? The more fancy the name, the more confused the diners become. What purpose can it serve other than deceiving people?

I picked up my chopsticks and first took a piece of boiled pork, dipped it in minced garlic, and put it in my mouth. The garlic was crisp and spicy, and the pork was tender and juicy. The two complemented each other perfectly, and it seemed that some wine and other spices had been added. The flavors instantly spread across my taste buds, salty, fresh, moist, and fragrant, each distinct yet harmonious—truly a first-rate skill, almost on par with the chefs of a royal palace!

Coming to Lü Miaozhen's house tonight was definitely the right decision.

Jia Huai picked up the pot and filled Li Ji's cup with wine. He took the opportunity to approach Li Ji, glanced left and right with his eyes, and then asked in a low voice, "Isn't it too expensive, more than two hundred coins?" Li Ji smiled at him and said, "It's alright."

Jia Huai reminded him, "This is only the price for one drink; there must be other rewards, and... the continuation of the candlelight..."

Li Ji still said, "It's alright"—I have four silver ingots on me. It's just one night. I can afford any expense. I'll ask Li Chu and his son for more when I run out. He then picked up his wine cup and drank it all in one gulp.

Well, by today's standards, this wine is not bad.

Just as I was about to try some other dishes, I suddenly heard music coming from the direction of the main room, and then someone shouted, "Susu is out!" I couldn't help but turn my head and look sideways. I saw a crowd in a frenzy, and many guests even got up from their seats and craned their necks to look towards the main room, completely blocking my view.

Li Ji didn't care. Since he couldn't catch a glimpse of her, he focused all his attention back on the food. As for what the "Su Su" girl looked like, he wasn't curious at all—hadn't he seen enough natural and artificial beauties in his previous life? If a beautiful woman couldn't be won over, how could she be compared to fine wine and delicacies?

Lu Miaozhen's voice rang out in the main room: "Tonight there are some unfamiliar guests who may not be familiar with the rules of my Su Su family. I will have to repeat them again. Please forgive my rudeness."

"My Susu is well-versed in music theory and proficient in all musical instruments, but she is somewhat lacking in poetry and prose. Recently, she has been studying poetry under Wang Wei, and thus earnestly requests that you gentlemen compose poems for her guidance. Susu will gladly repay you with music..."

Without even looking up, Li Ji casually asked Jia Huai, "Who is Wang Wei?"

Jia Huai was naturally equally bewildered. A scholar at the next table overheard this and couldn't help but scoff, "He doesn't even know Wang Wei, how dare he come to the Lü family for drinks?!"

Jia Huai angrily retorted, "We have our own money, why can't we drink? We don't care about Wang Wei or Li Mojie..."

Li Ji raised his hand and shook it at him, then turned around, bowed deeply to the scholar, and asked, "To be honest, we have only recently arrived in Chang'an, and this is our first time visiting the Lü family. Therefore, we would like to ask you to help explain the rules here. Also—why do you say that one cannot drink wine if one does not know Wang Wei?"

Seeing that he was very polite, the scholar, though still unable to hide his disdain in his eyes, lowered his voice and explained, "Wang Wei, also known as Mojie Jushi, is a great master of poetry and prose of our time..."

Li Ji interjected, asking, "Could it be Wang Wei, the former censor who was once imprisoned by the rebels, the one who 'sat alone in the secluded bamboo grove, playing the zither and then letting out a long sigh'?"

The scholar nodded: "It is indeed a prince."

Previously, to confirm that copying poems was not a viable method, Li Ji had borrowed many contemporary poems from Li Shi for appreciation and also inquired about the state of the poetry scene from Li Bi. According to Li Bi, the foremost poet of the time was naturally Li Bai, and the most renowned poets after him were Wang Wei and Meng Haoran. Li Ji had therefore read Wang Wei's poems such as "Autumn Evening in the Mountain Dwelling," "Birdsong in the Stream," "Deer Enclosure," and "Bamboo Lodge," and deeply felt that his reputation was well-deserved.

He seems to be superior to Yan Wu, Gao Shi and others, but their works tend to be ethereal and detached, which is not my cup of tea.

Li Ji simply didn't remember that Wang Wei's courtesy name was Mojie and his pen name was Mojie Jushi.

Seeing that the other party was not entirely ignorant and could even recite Wang Wei's famous line, "Alone I sit in the secluded bamboo grove, playing the zither and then letting out a long sigh," the scholar's expression softened slightly. He then said, "Lord Wang was unfortunately captured by the rebels and forced to take up a false post. He should have been exiled, but because his younger brother, Attendant Wang (Wang Jin), requested that his own merits be used to offset the punishment, he was instead demoted to the position of Junior Tutor to the Crown Prince..."

Li Ji thought to himself, "So that's how it is. There isn't even a Crown Prince yet, so the position of Crown Prince's Assistant is completely meaningless. That's probably why Wang Wei has time to teach a courtesan poetry. But... I still feel that Lü Miaozhen is just using this as a front, purely lying to inflate the value of the fake Su Su. Think about it, although Wang Wei has been demoted to a sinecure, he's still a seasoned poet with a great literary reputation. Even if this kind of guy wanted to visit a prostitute, he'd most likely go to the Southern Brothel..."

Then the scholar steered the conversation back to the Lü family's rules. He said that Miss Susu was skilled in musical instruments and was famous in the capital, which was why many people came to visit her. Every night, a banquet was held, and Susu would play several pieces. Each guest was invited to compose a poem, and the best ones would be chosen to enhance her reputation. Moreover, the authors were allowed to stay overnight and become her guests for a night.

Jia Huai hurriedly asked, "What if I can't write poetry?"

The scholar sneered, "If you can't compose poetry, or your words are crude, then please offer your money as a reward—do you think that Su Su's wonderful music can be heard without any payment?"

Jia Huai then asked, "How much should be rewarded..."

Li Ji hurriedly waved his hand, stopping Jia Huai from continuing to ask questions—"Look at your poor and shabby appearance, aren't you ashamed enough?" He then bowed to the scholar: "Thank you for your guidance, we understand." So what if I can't write poetry? I have silver ingots in hand, what do I have to fear? I'll just consider it a ticket to enjoy a folk music performance.

In later generations, even slightly upscale concerts are mostly more expensive than a grand banquet.

No sooner had the words left his mouth than the sound of stringed instruments filled the room. Unlike before, when the music was cheerful and clearly played by multiple people, likely as an "opening gong and drum performance," this time the music was solitary and cold, clearly a solo performance, presumably the young lady Susu was about to take the stage.