Liu Liu was willing to play a song, and only Dai Mei was overjoyed. Everyone else was reluctant, especially Duanmu, who had a gloomy face. Liu Liu ignored him and asked him plainly,
“Has anything happened at the establishment these past two days?”
“We dealt with one the day before yesterday. Someone dared to cause trouble at the establishment, wanting to gamble without money. I threw him out,” Duanmu said fiercely. However, as he met Liu Liu’s gaze, he softened considerably.
Among her three subordinates, Duanmu was the one who had followed Liu Liu the longest. When she first met him, he was a twelve or thirteen-year-old boy, about her own age then.
Seven years had passed in the blink of an eye. He was good at everything except his violent temper, which he couldn’t change. Liu Liu sometimes worried he would be taken advantage of, but fortunately, nothing had happened over the years.
“Don’t just fix people next time. I’ve told you how many times, you need to change that temper. You’ll be the one to suffer in the end,” Liu Liu said, raising an eyebrow.
“Understood,” Duanmu nodded. After breakfast, a young maid came to clear the dishes, and everyone went about their own business. Liu Liu, having promised to play a song for Dai Mei, headed to the Yan Hong Lou with her, leaving Cui Er at the Yun Xiao Ge.
Dai Mei and Liu Liu sat in the carriage until they reached the side entrance of the Yan Hong Lou. They went up to a private room on the second floor and did not come out, only sitting inside to listen to the ladies play music and offer guidance.
Dai Mei was entertaining guests outside. Soon, Dai Mei’s enchanting voice was heard from the lobby below. The more important the guest, the more seductive her voice became. It seemed a wealthy patron had arrived.
Liu Liu lifted a corner of the beaded curtain and saw a handsome and tall figure. Her delicate brows furrowed. It was him, Prince Feng Lie, and the son of the Zhenyuan Great General, Jin Shaoyuan. What were they doing here?
She suspected their intentions were not merely for a drink. Concealing her presence, she heard Dai Mei’s alluring voice, so soft it made one weak, emanating from the adjacent room.
“I am truly honored by the arrival of two esteemed guests. Dai Mei pays her respects.”
A cold, wicked voice rang out, “Miss Dai Mei is truly a charming and beautiful woman. The Yan Hong Lou is indeed extraordinary, boasting a madam as beautiful as a celestial being. It seems the courtesans here are even more exceptional.”
“Naturally. Which courtesan would the two lords wish to have accompany them? Our Yan Hong Lou has four resident courtesans: Chun representing freshness, Xia representing tender youth, Qiu representing delicate beauty, and Dong representing pure innocence. What kind of lady would the two lords prefer?”
“If we were to ask Miss Dai Mei to perform a song, Miss Dai Mei would not disappoint us, would she?” This voice was filled with a devilish playfulness. Liu Liu recognized it instantly as Jin Shaoyuan, the great general’s son.
“If the two gentlemen truly wish to listen, then Dai Mei will present her humble performance. However, Dai Mei has never performed in front of an audience before. I hope the gentlemen will be understanding,” she said with a sweet, captivating smile, her demeanor extraordinarily alluring, her eyes sparkling, her steps graceful, her waist delicate and seemingly fragile, exuding a captivating charm.
Feng Lie and Jin Shaoyuan exchanged a glance, their lips curling into cold smiles. This woman was by no means simple; she couldn't possibly be just a mere ordinary madam.
Dai Mei walked behind the bead curtain and slowly knelt before the zither. Her slender hand gently caressed the white jade wolf-fang zither and tested its tone. Liu Liu in the next room quickly composed herself, focusing all her attention on the zither.
The melodious zither music suddenly shifted, flowing like water from her fingertips, as light and graceful as dancing water droplets.
Prince Long Lie and Jin Shaoyuan were simultaneously stunned. The zither music was so beautiful, as if imbued with some kind of magic. It was sometimes as lively as a flowing spring, making one feel the coolness and joy of water, and sometimes like a cascading waterfall, as if a white ribbon was plunging down from the sky. It was breathtaking.
When it was crisp, it was like jade beads falling onto a plate, pleasing to the ear. When it was low, it was like a beauty’s soft murmur, lingering and affectionate as she leaned against the door. What kind of music was this? This music should only exist in heaven; how could it be heard on earth?
The music abruptly stopped, leaving everyone lost in its aftermath for a long time. Dai Mei emerged from behind the bead curtain, bowed gracefully, and said with a soft laugh, “I hope Dai Mei’s music did not startle the two gentlemen.”
Feng Lie came to his senses and clapped his hands with delight, “This music should only exist in heaven; how could it be heard on earth? Miss Dai Mei, you are as beautiful as your music, and it seems my ears are blessed. Could you perform another piece for us?”
Dai Mei’s face stiffened. Her boss had only agreed to play one song, and since she had said she would only play one, she would not play a second.
Dai Yu pouted her small lips and said charmingly, “The two gentlemen are quite greedy. Dai Mei has never played for anyone else before. Since this music should only exist in heaven, shouldn’t it be savored well? Listening too much might diminish its original beauty.”
Seeing Dai Mei’s response, Feng Lie knew she was unwilling to play again and naturally wouldn't force her. He nodded, “I hope to hear Dai Mei’s zither music again next time.”
“Perhaps. Please enjoy yourselves, gentlemen. Dai Mei will send Yan Hong Lou’s top courtesans to play music and entertain you.”
Feng Lie and Jin Shaoyuan both nodded. Dai Mei then curtsied and retreated, her long skirt trailing behind her, leaving a graceful silhouette. After she left, Feng Lie looked at Jin Shaoyuan and smiled faintly.
“If you compare your sister’s zither skills to hers, I fear she would be no match. Rumors are indeed powerful. Everyone knows Jin Jiali and Lou Sijing are renowned talented women in the capital, proficient in zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting. Yet, compared to a mere madam in this establishment, they fall far short. Truly, the power of reputation.”
Jin Shaoyuan remained silent. He also had to admit that this zither music was no less than his sister’s. However, he had a persistent feeling that this zither should not have been played by the madam just now. Yet, there was no one else in the room. Jin Shaoyuan cast aside his doubts and nodded in agreement.
“Compared to my sister, she is indeed superior. It’s a pity she is trapped in this world of sin. Otherwise, she could have been taken into my estate.”
Jin Shaoyuan’s unintentional words reached the adjacent room. Liu Liu sneered. Men were truly all the same. They desired someone yet disdained her background. How disgusting.
As Feng Lie and Jin Shaoyuan sat talking, the door curtain was lifted, and Dai Mei led in two women as beautiful as celestial beings. She introduced them softly, “Gentlemen, this is Chun Yi, and this is Xia Ying. You may ask these two ladies to play whatever you wish to hear. Their zither skills are excellent.”
“Mm,” Feng Lie glanced at Dai Mei and waved his hand, signaling her to go and attend to her business. A madam had to manage the entire Yan Hong Lou and could not accompany the two men. Dai Mei left.
Feng Lie asked Chun Yi and Xia Ying to play music, but it couldn’t compare to the previous melody. It was just passable. After listening to two songs and drinking some tea, they left the Yan Hong Lou.
As soon as they left, Liu Liu summoned Dai Mei and glared at her. Dai Mei broke out in a cold sweat. What was wrong with her boss?
“Do you know who those two people are?” Liu Liu asked Dai Mei with a cold, wicked tone. Seeing her shake her head blankly, she couldn’t bear to scold her. “One of them is a prince of the current dynasty, and the other is the son of the great general. If they come again, you be careful and absolutely do not cause any trouble.”
Upon hearing her boss’s words, Dai Mei’s body weakened. She hadn’t expected those two men to have such significant backgrounds. She had only thought they were wealthy young masters, never imagining that members of the imperial family had come.
Could their visit here mean something? Dai Mei thought with belated realization, her face growing increasingly grim.