APSIL -Chapter 154 A Clear Mind

Though he had barely touched any wine, Zhu Er suddenly felt the alcohol rush to his head and blurted out those impulsive words. Only after Lu Sanlang dragged him outside and let him stand in the courtyard to cool off in the night breeze did he finally regain his senses.

And once he did, he couldn’t help thinking that echoing Zhang Shou’s “Neck curved toward the sky in song” comment, then slamming the table in righteous indignation, had practically been courting disaster.

Was he really planning to spend the rest of his life as the respectable Second Young Master Zhu, never setting foot in a brothel or pleasure house again?

If word spread, what celebrated courtesan would ever look at him kindly again?

As Zhu Er wallowed in self-pity, Lu Sanlang slung an arm around his shoulders as naturally as ever.

“Brother Zhu, you’ve got talent!” he said enthusiastically. “What you said just now—first agreeing with impeccable timing, then putting people in their place—that was brilliant! We drifted apart before, but from now on let’s go back to how we used to be. It was just a little misunderstanding. You’re not going to hold a grudge forever, are you?”

“You’ve got the nerve to say that?” Zhu Er snapped, finally recovering. “You tricked me before, and you tricked me again today! Why didn’t you tell me earlier we were coming to Tingyu Pavilion? And that the Twelve Rain Maidens would be performing? If what I said gets out…”

“If it gets out,” Lu Sanlang interrupted with a grin, “then everyone will say you’re a devoted brother who protects his sister, respects his teacher, and stands up for his future brother-in-law! Do you know what standing your sister has before Her Majesty the Empress Dowager and His Majesty? Do you know what standing your future brother-in-law has before His Majesty and Grand Tutor Ge?”

“Backing them is far more worthwhile than currying favor with women in places like this. Whatever reputation those women might spread for you is one you don’t need. And if they tarnish your reputation? That’s something you can completely ignore.”

Zhu Er froze.

Seeing that, Lu Sanlang continued with a laugh.

“Don’t be fooled just because the pleasure quarters produce one famous courtesan after another, drawing nobles and scholars alike. We’re not the same as those scholars! The courtesans need talented scholars to enhance their fame, while the scholars need the courtesans to spread their poems and writings. It’s a mutually beneficial arrangement.”

“So what about people like us?” Zhu Er asked blankly.

“We sons of noble and official families?” Lu Sanlang shrugged. “We’re just looking for something we can’t find at home. Would the maids in your household dare treat you coldly or ignore you?”

“They would,” Zhu Er answered instinctively.

Lu Sanlang slapped his forehead.

Right… the Zhu family’s situation really is different.

He hurriedly changed tack.

“Fine, forget that. The point is, when noble young masters come to places like this, it’s just for entertainment. You lower yourself and flatter them; they play hard to get. But in the end, as long as you have money and influence, you can still do whatever you want.”

“Believe me, not only will they never breathe a word about what happened tonight, they’ll probably come apologize to you afterward. Otherwise, Tingyu Pavilion might as well stop calling itself the Twelve Rain Maidens and rename them the Twelve Flowers!”

While Lu Sanlang quietly lectured Zhu Er, Zhu Ying stood beneath the corridor watching them.

Originally, after A-Liu delivered Zhang Shou’s message, she had no intention of coming. But the moment she heard Zhang Shou had brought Zhu Er along, she simply couldn’t sit still.

Her second brother had done more foolish things than she could count. She wasn’t worried about Zhang Shou—but what if Zhu Er did something idiotic and ended up helping outsiders against their own people?

Yet hearing Zhu Er slam the table and defend both her and Zhang Shou had genuinely moved her.

After hesitating for a while, she finally walked over.

Lu Sanlang immediately fell silent, while Zhu Er visibly shrank back at the sight of her.

Ignoring her brother, Zhu Ying looked at Lu Sanlang.

“The matter A-Shou asked me to look into has made some progress. Perhaps by your next day off—or the one after—you’ll be able to meet her. When the time comes, A-Shou and I will accompany you.”

Zhu Er was completely baffled.

Lu Sanlang, however, nearly lit up.

Zhu Ying and Zhang Shou are going with me…

Going where?

Obviously—to let both sides meet and size each other up!

By now he no longer cared about family background. As long as the girl’s temperament matched what he’d described and her family was respectable, that was enough.

Without a second thought, he bowed deeply.

“I can never repay this kindness. If things work out, I’ll certainly repay you both generously!”

Zhu Ying couldn’t help laughing.

Lately she had come to realize that the little fatty her second brother had once picked for her wasn’t nearly as pigheaded as she’d first believed. Still, the thought that she had somehow become Lu Sanlang’s matchmaker was simply too amusing.

Then she watched as Lu Sanlang tactfully left Zhu Er alone with her.

Remembering how shamelessly he’d once hovered around her, she couldn’t help muttering to herself.

He really can play whatever role the situation requires. It’s a waste he isn’t on the opera stage.

“Yingying…”

Hearing her name, Zhu Ying came back to herself.

Seeing Zhu Er looking at her cautiously, she immediately became irritated and lightly stepped on his foot.

Only after he grimaced without daring to cry out did she snort.

“You may not be as capable as Eldest Brother, but you’re still my brother. Otherwise, after all the money you cheated out of me over the years, I’d have beaten anyone else to death already!”

“When you picked that Fat Pig”—she meant Lu Sanlang—”you may have had a thousand reasons, but as long as you did it without my consent, you were still in the wrong!”

“But that’s all in the past now. Grandmother already punished you, and I’m not going to keep holding it against you. Otherwise, once Mother comes home, do you think you’ll have an easy time?”

Thinking of his formidable stepmother, Zhu Er instinctively shrank his neck.

“I know… Yingying, you’re magnanimous. Grandmother and Mother are too…”

“Cut the nonsense!”

Zhu Ying reached over and straightened his crooked hat.

“Just like you defended A-Shou and me today, you’re my brother. When it really matters, I’ll stand up for you too.”

She lowered her voice.

“Eldest Brother’s fiancée died suddenly before they could marry, even though they’d been engaged for years. He delayed marriage until he left for the campaign… and now there’s still no news of him.”

“Second Brother…”

“It’s your turn to shoulder the family’s responsibilities.”

Zhu Er had asked Zhang Shou this very question earlier that day without receiving a clear answer.

Now he couldn’t help asking again.

“But… what can I do? I don’t have Lu Sanlang’s talents…”

“Do Zhang Chen and the other two have any talent?” Zhu Ying scoffed.

Then she proudly lifted her chin.

“Heaven gave me talents for a reason;
A fortune spent will be earned again.”

“Have confidence in yourself!”

“Everyone says Princess Yongping is a gifted lady proficient in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. As for me, all I have is a pretty face.”

“So what?”

“As long as I don’t think I’m inferior to her, that’s enough!”

Zhu Er broke out in a cold sweat.

That’s completely twisted logic…

You simply decide you’re not inferior, and therefore you aren’t?

Can confidence alone really accomplish anything?

Yet her next words left him stunned.

“She thinks it’s her duty to discover talented people for His Majesty and gather them under his banner… but is that even necessary?”

“The imperial examinations already select scholars through the Eight-Legged Essay. The examiners are perfectly capable of identifying worthy candidates and presenting them to the Emperor.”

“Those literary gatherings she holds at Moonlight Pavilion…” Zhu Ying sniffed. “Frankly speaking, aren’t they an insult to the examiners?”

“If she has that much time to recruit talent, she’d be better off finding herself a husband!”

“Just like I recognized A-Shou at first sight!”

Meeting Zhu Er’s eyes openly, she smiled.

“So, Second Brother, if you’re really determined to improve yourself…”

“First, marry my future sister-in-law.”

As if my marriage is up to me…

Zhu Er felt strangely conflicted.

Thinking back on the noble young ladies he had met, most of them seemed dull and lifeless.

Only now did he realize that although his sister had countless flaws in his eyes, she was at least vibrant and interesting—not stiff and wooden like certain other girls.

Remembering they were still at Tingyu Pavilion, he felt discussing his own marriage here was inappropriate, so he forcibly changed the subject.

“Zhang Shou and Marquis Weinan have been talking for quite a while now. What are they discussing that’s so mysterious?”

“Probably something involving mathematics.” Zhu Ying frowned. “It’s a pity I don’t understand any of it…”

Just as she lamented her lack of mathematical talent once again, she suddenly heard movement outside the courtyard gate.

Curious, she walked over.

To her surprise, all twelve Rain Maidens had arrived.

But they had shed their dazzling costumes.

Now they wore plain white robes, were barefoot, and had let down their hair, looking exactly like condemned prisoners awaiting punishment.

Amused and exasperated at the same time, Zhu Ying waved her sleeve impatiently before any of them could speak.

“My second brother already lost his temper, and you’ve already apologized. Consider the matter settled.”

“You danced well, and anyone would pity you.”

“It’s just unfortunate that my A-Shou has absolutely no appreciation for romance.”

“Coming to a place like this is simply your bad luck. As long as you don’t provoke my family, I bear you no grudge. I don’t go around beating or killing people over trivial matters.”

“You may all leave.”

At that very moment, Zhang Shou emerged from the room holding the slip of paper on which Zhang Kang had copied the fourteen-ring cipher.

Hearing Zhu Ying’s words, he smiled at Zhang Kang without mentioning the scene outside.

“Lord Marquis, Lu Sanlang and Yingying kindly gave us privacy to talk, but they’ve been standing outside in the cold for quite a while.”

“Shouldn’t you find another place and treat everyone to a proper meal?”

Zhang Kang had already been frowning at the commotion outside.

Hearing this, he immediately smiled.

“Very well. We’ll change venues and prepare another banquet!”

He turned toward Wan Yuanbao.

“Old Wan, dismiss them. Don’t let such a pleasant evening be spoiled.”

Wan Yuanbao hurried over with a smile plastered across his face, practically shooing the Twelve Rain Maidens away.

Remembering everything Lu Sanlang had told him earlier, Zhu Er suddenly felt as though a knot in his heart had unraveled.

Whether it was Tingyu Pavilion, the Twelve Rain Maidens, or any other pleasure house…

In the end, everything revolved around power and status.

Among all the noble young masters who frequented such places, who actually dared bring a famous courtesan home as a wife?

Those who kept mistresses did so secretly.

So…

Even if he had misspoken tonight—

What was there to fear?

Thinking back to how he’d once been hopelessly infatuated with several famous courtesans—so captivated that he hadn’t even managed to touch a single one—

He suddenly felt utterly ashamed of himself.