Chapter Forty-Seven: Beasts in Fine Clothing

Li Fuguo was still on the road, while Jiangning Prefecture, now deep in autumn, bustled with its usual vibrancy and prosperity. Even as chaos swept through the Central Plains, merchants from Guanluo, Hedong, Hexi, and even the Western Regions came and went in an endless stream. This, in its own way, testified to the flourishing commerce of the Great Tang and the openness of its economy and trade.

It had been five days since their alliance was sealed at Misty Rain Pavilion. Kong Sheng continued to reside at the Shunsheng Inn, practicing swordplay every morning and honing his riding skills each afternoon, quietly awaiting the turning of fortune and the coming of spring.

Yang Xueruo, her heart already pledged, often brought Hongmian with her to meet Kong Sheng at Misty Rain Pavilion. Perhaps Yang Xueruo did not intend to conceal these rendezvous, for soon enough, whispers of their meetings spread throughout the city.

Hongmian became a daily courier between the Yang household and the Shunsheng Inn, carrying Yang Xueruo’s tender sentiments—letters, fine wine and food, clothing and shoes, and such tokens of care.

Though Yang Qi remained uncharacteristically silent, the commotion on Yang Xueruo’s side left outsiders with an unmistakable impression: Kong Sheng was once again to become the Yang family’s son-in-law!

Zhou Chang was nearly driven to uncontrollable anxiety and depression. Confined daily to the inn by his father Zhou An’s strict orders, he was supposed to be diligently studying poetry and the classics, but how could he concentrate? The woman he loved, the brilliant future he yearned for—all were about to be snatched away by that scoundrel from the Kong family. How could he possibly endure?

Were it not for the strict discipline of the Yixing Zhou clan, and his fear of defying his father’s commands, Zhou Chang would long ago have taken matters into his own hands and confronted Kong Sheng, come what may.

Liu Xinru could scarcely believe that the venerable head of the Yixing Zhou clan could act with such shamelessness. Having failed to threaten her directly before, he now sought to use Tian’er as leverage.

Zhou An’s words were cold and ruthless; in his pursuit of his goals, he forsook all propriety and decency. His threats were flagrant and unrestrained. Disguised and anonymous, he infiltrated the Rose House to confront Liu Xinru face to face, swearing that if she refused to obey him and follow his plans, not only would he sell her to the notorious Red Street of Yangzhou, but he would also ruin the innocent and trusting Tian’er.

At last, he had found Liu Xinru’s weakness. Over the years, she and Tian’er had depended on each other for survival—nominally mistress and servant, but in truth as close as sisters. Liu Xinru could endure the thought of herself being sold to a lowly brothel, subject to the abuse of ruffians, but she could not, under any circumstance, watch Tian’er cast into a den of wolves.

Only now did Liu Xinru truly understand how the so-called gentlemen of high society could be far more depraved, vicious, and merciless than the most infamous madams. Yet she, a powerless woman fallen into the world of courtesans, how could she possibly resist a figure as formidable as Zhou An, who could stir up clouds and rain at will?

Two streams of tears slid down her cheeks. Biting her lip, Liu Xinru glared at Zhou An with hatred and a hoarse, resentful voice: “Master Zhou, to threaten a weak woman so unscrupulously—where is your conscience?”

Zhou An sneered, “From my perspective, I am offering you a way out. In fact, if you do as I say, not only will you suffer no harm, but you’ll escape the fire pit and regain your freedom. Why resist?”

“My ransom has already been prepared. Now, it’s up to you. Remember, my patience is limited. I will give you five days; if by then I see no results, do not blame me for being merciless!”

With a cold, arrogant laugh, Zhou An swept out of the room.

To Zhou An, controlling and threatening a woman like Liu Xinru was a trivial matter. If she obeyed, all was well; if not, he had more than enough means to make both Liu Xinru and Tian’er miserable.

After he left, Liu Xinru sat there in tears, staring blankly at the carved beams and painted rafters above, her face ashen. From sunrise to sunset, she remained motionless, silent as a statue.

Tian’er, not knowing the reason for her mistress’s distress, tried repeatedly to comfort her, but to no avail. All she could do was sit by her side, worry etched into her face, occasionally wiping away her own tears.

After a long time, Liu Xinru’s weary, desolate voice broke the silence: “Tian’er, pack our things. We’re leaving the Rose House.”

Tian’er started in surprise. “Miss, we’re leaving? But where will we go?”

“He has already redeemed us, though the deed of release remains in his hands. Come, Tian’er. Whatever the future holds, we are no longer of the Rose House.”

With a sigh, Liu Xinru struggled to her feet, but staggered, her vision darkening.

Tian’er was overjoyed at first, for she knew what freedom meant to Liu Xinru. But seeing her mistress so grief-stricken, she immediately realized that the Zhou family patriarch had not redeemed them out of kindness. For the two women, leaving the Rose House meant escaping one pit of fire only to leap into another.

With two small bundles, Liu Xinru and Tian’er slipped quietly out of the Rose House. No one came to see them off—the madam was too irritable to bother, while the other women in the house looked on with jealousy. Though Zhou An had paid a hefty price, the madam was reluctant, but the Yixing Zhou clan was not to be trifled with, and their ties to the city’s powerful left her no choice but to agree.

Once they crossed the Bluestone Bridge, no one paid them any further heed. Dressed no longer in sumptuous silks and dazzling colors, but in simple, elegant skirts and veiled faces, they blended instantly into the stream of ordinary women in the city, drawing not a single glance.

Liu Xinru’s heart was heavy with sorrow. Though she had left the world of courtesans and seemed to have gained her freedom, the fatal deed of release was still in Zhou An’s grasp. What awaited her in the future? She knew all too well.

Nor did Zhou An fear the two women would flee. Without the deed of release, there was nowhere in the world for them to go. To marry or even survive, they needed proof of identity. Without it, they would be marked as runaway prostitutes, and the authorities’ punishment could be severe—even deadly.

As the sun sank in the west, the main avenue of the city was nearly deserted. A splendid white steed trotted down the road, mounted by a young man of striking spirit and good looks—none other than Kong Sheng, whose name was growing ever more renowned in the city.

What caught everyone’s eye was that Kong Sheng carried a heavy burlap sack over his shoulder, clearly weighing no less than a hundred catties. Yet he appeared utterly at ease, the burden on his shoulder as light as a feather, betraying no strain.

Passersby couldn’t help but gasp in amazement—was this Kong family youth truly born with supernatural strength? What was he doing, hauling such a load as if it were nothing? In truth, not only did he carry over a hundred catties on his shoulder, but his waist and legs were also bound with specially made sandbags sewn at his expense, bringing the total weight to at least two hundred catties.

He had begun this simple method of training only a few days before. With no one to teach him the art of lightness, he admired the swordmaster Mu Changfeng’s effortless agility, but knew such skills were beyond his reach. So, he devised this clumsy approach—carrying heavy loads while riding and training, hoping that one day, when he shed these burdens, he would move as lightly as a swallow.

The flute-sword at his waist was gone; he had already presented it to Yang Xueruo as a token of their bond during a meeting at Misty Rain Pavilion. In return, she had gifted him a jade pendant she had worn close for over ten years. For days now, he had been pondering whether to acquire a suitable weapon for his own self-defense.