Chapter 241
Book 21 Chapter 12 – Meeting A Friend In A Foreign Land
The next morning, Feng Fei a.s.sembled everyone from the Song & Dance Troupe, including the courtesans and management staff like Zhang Quan, announcing that she is making an exception and promoting Xiang Shaolong to be the General Manager, and is charged with all matters pertaining to the troupe.
Dong Shuzen and Zhang Quan were astounded but dared not oppose.
The first to congratulate him is Yun Niang, who also whispered into his ear, "You should thank me for your promotion."
She wants Xiang Shaolong to know that she is Feng Fei’s confidante and is the one secretly encouraging Feng Fei to promote him. Xiang Shaolong doesn’t know whether to laugh or cry instead.
This is also the first time he set his eyes on the other eleven courtesans besides Dong Shuzen. Each and every one of them is a peerless, fascinating beauty, causing him to lose his bearings.
However, most of them are nonchalant about Feng Fei’s promoting Xiang Shaolong and their expressions remained unfazed.
One of the leggy courtesans Zhu Xiuzhen even looked at him with disdain.
There are a total of one hundred and eighty troupe staff.
Feng Fei is at the top of the hierarchy.
Below her would be the courtesans and musicians, headed by Dong Shuzen and Yun Niang respectively. A staff of serving maids attends to them.
Except for a few men who are musicians, the entire group is made up of females.
The management of the troupe, both internally and externally falls on the shoulders of himself and his a.s.sistant Zhang Quan. Family warriors, drivers, male servants and porters all fall within their jurisdiction, forming a government-like organization.
Zhang Quan’s supporter Kun Shan leads the family warriors while the drivers are led by Gu Ming.
These two men, in addition to the grudge-bearing Zhang Quan, are enough to give Xiang Shaolong a really big headache.
He could not wait to make his escape this instance, but burdened with this heavy responsibility and Feng Fei’s high expectations, he could neither advance nor retreat, and nearly wanted to cry his heart out.
Something good that comes out of it is that Zhang Quan is now deployed to the other s.h.i.+p and Xiang Shaolong has a single cabin all to himself on the second deck. When Yun Niang came a knocking, he is mentally prepared to receive certain benefits from her, at a cost.
On the pretext of handing over work to him, Yun Niang entered his room and there is no way Xiang Shaolong can reject her.
After handing over her work to him, a courageous Yun Niang enticingly look straight into his eyes and cooed, "All right, how is Manager Shen going to thank me now?"
Her expression reminds him of Zhu Ji (Qin) and Madam Zhuang (Chu).
For (s.e.xually) experienced and mature women like them, when they take an interest in someone, s.e.x is all that they will pursue and they are very open and direct about it. On one hand is to satisfy a human need, on the other hand, they are more senior and cannot be bothered with the wild fantasies and c.u.mbersome dating process of the young men and young women. They will take the most practical route to satisfy their needs.
From a men’s point of view, Xiang Shaolong will not mind having a friendly match with this s.e.xy lady and is confident of giving her a session she will never forget and wonderful memories to last her lifetime.
Nevertheless, in the present situation and while he is planning to flee, it is not wise to get involved in a relations.h.i.+p.
He knows himself best. When he has made love to a woman, he will certainly be emotionally attached to her. This burden is something he can do without for now.
If he just did her and left, he will absolutely feel guilty about it in the future.
Unless of course, if she is in the flesh trade. That will be a different case altogether.
He found it difficult to reject her on the spot and used a delaying tactic instead. Suppressing his own manly reactions to her advances, he changed the topic and smiled, "I am obviously grateful to you, but I have a question that I hope you can enlighten me!"
Pleased, Yun Niang prompted, "Please go ahead and ask. I will tell you everything I know."
Judging from her body language and tone, it is evident that Xiang Shaolong can do whatever he wants with her. Xiang Shaolong can feel his loins stirring and was about to lose control. Warning himself to behave, he asked in an official manner, "Wherever the Song & Dance Troupe travels to, we will attract all the l.u.s.tful men. For Miss Feng it is definitely not an issue but when someone wants to woo our courtesans, what should I do?"
Yun Niang gave his a meaningful look and answered, "The scenario you articulated happens rather often but our Courtesans are not prost.i.tutes. If any man wishes to gain her heart, he will have to put in considerable effort. For example, inviting them to banquets, using ways and means to make them happy, and try to see if they will reciprocate. These kinds of arrangements are beyond Mistress’s control and unquestionably beyond your league."
Xiang Shaolong is curious, "So are there any courtesans who got married and left the troupe?"
Yun Niang nodded, "Yes there are, but the numbers are limited. What is so good about marrying the rich and powerful? Before they bed you, you are treated like a queen. After they lay you, your value is gone. In addition, you have to become enemies with the other wives and concubines that they married. Staying as a courtesan is much more comfortable. When you have made your fortune and returned to your village in glory, you can marry whoever your heart fancies."
Xiang Shaolong nodded in agreement, "Marrying a rich man is like falling into the sea. For a girl to have such insight is truly brilliant."
Yun Niang’s eyes lit up. She praised, "Marrying a rich man is like falling into the sea; what an excellent expression! I must tell Mistress about it. She is writing a song about a pitiful wife. This line can be one of the lyrics."
Xiang Shaolong can only smile bitterly to himself.
Yun Niang became more aroused and moved closer to Xiang Shaolong, where her long dress is touching his kneecap. She divulged, "On this trip to Lin Zi, we are also partic.i.p.ating in a compet.i.tion with two other famous Courtesans, which explains why Mistress is very anxious. She will not want to lose to Lan Gongyuan and s.h.i.+ Sufang at Henggong Pavilion and Qixia School respectively."
Only now did Xiang Shaolong know that these two other ladies whom he has encountered before are going to Lin Zi as well.
Qixia School is naturally the headquarters of Qixia Sword Saint, Mister You a.k.a. Cao Quidao. Not recognizing Henggong Pavilion, Xiang Shaolong sought the answer from Yun Niang.
Yun Niang sweetly replied, "Henggong Pavilion, also known as Huan Pavilion, is a grand conference hall in the Qi Palace. When Henggong is in power, he loved to hold lavish banquets there, hosting his officials as well as visiting diplomats. Hence, it became the name of the Pavilion. Courtesans who have never performed at Henggong Pavilion before are not considered prestigious."
Hearing her explanation, Xiang Shaolong is filled with a yearning to take pay a visit to the place. In this period of the Warring States, Qi is considered one of the bigger states with rich cultures and tradition. Since he is pa.s.sing by, it will be a pity to give it a miss. However, preserving his life is more critical. He lost the mood to tour the place and reminded himself to stop thinking about it.
Yun Niang leaned onto him and gently commented, "The King of Qi is rather generous, paying us 200 gold ingots for two shows. When we arrive, you must remember to collect this payment from him."
Xiang Shaolong was flabbergasted. It is an astronomical amount in these ancient times. He realized the people of Qi are squandering away their nation’s wealth. The same amount of money can pay for a year’s wages for five hundred soldiers.
Yun Niang coaxed, "I have told you everything; you have yet to tell me how you are going to show your thanks."
Since there is no way he can avoid the situation, Xiang Shaolong decided to cast aside all his reservations. Snaking his hand to hug her thin waist, he was about to pull her into an embrace when the s.h.i.+p suddenly braked to a stop. Moments later, it began sailing at a much slower pace.
Both of them are startled. They will only reach Lin Zi tomorrow. Why did the s.h.i.+p suddenly stop? Ahead of them, s.h.i.+ning lanterns can be seen.
Using this distraction, Xiang Shaolong jumped up and went to his window, looking out. It appears that there is a huge s.h.i.+p ahead of them and is intentionally slowing down for their s.h.i.+ps to catch up.
By now, Yun Niang has squeezed to his side, her pet.i.te frame prostrated on his body, trying to catch a glimpse.
Xiang Shaolong mused, "I wonder who is the owner of that s.h.i.+p?"
Yun Niang scrutinized the flags hoisted at the tail of the new s.h.i.+p. She abruptly shrieked: "Mister Tan is here! He is on board the s.h.i.+p of the Imperial Physician of Han."
From her exhilarated and glowing expression, Xiang Shaolong believed that this Mister Tan has an unusual relations.h.i.+p with Yun Niang.
Men are really *******s. He initially regarded Yun Niang’s pa.s.sion as his misfortune and treated her as a platonic friend. Seeing her excited and h.o.r.n.y as a ***** in heat, he knew that his ‘love rival’ has appeared, evoking pangs of jealousy. With a sour taste in his mouth, he inquired: "Who is Mister Tan?"
An elated Yun Niang has forgotten all about her plans to seduce Xiang Shaolong. She merrily chirped: "Among the gifted men within Lord Nanliang’s Residence, Mister Tan is the most talented man in terms of poetry and music. He is a trusted confidante of Lord Nanliang as well. He did mention coming to see our performance at Lin Zi and here he is! I must tell Sister Feng (Fei)!" Finis.h.i.+ng her sentence, she exited his room in a flash, ignoring Xiang Shaolong completely.
Xiang Shaolong can only look on as the door slammed in his face with a ‘bang!’ In the same instant, he could feel something weird rousing in his mind.
Lord Nanliang’s name rang a bell, but whom did he hear it from?
The gap between the two s.h.i.+ps is slowly closing.
Feng Fei and her fellow courtesans are all gathered on the deck, enthusiastically awaiting the arrival of Mister Tan. It appears that this poetry and music prodigy holds an important place in their hearts.
Yun Niang is the most fanatical of them all, waving her hands harder than all the courtesans.
Illuminated by the moon and lanterns, several men can be seen on the facing side of the new s.h.i.+p. They are waving energetically in response and the atmosphere is remarkably lively.
Ropes with grappling hooks are tossed over from the other s.h.i.+p. Xiang Shaolong hastily directed the family warriors to hang on to the ropes, pulling the s.h.i.+ps even closer