The reception area of Shadow Plum Pavilion was on the first floor. The sliding doors facing the courtyard stood open, with thin silk curtains hanging to block the winter chill.
A dozen or so guests sat in the wine room, drinking, laughing, and admiring the plum blossoms.
Burning charcoal braziers in the corners dispelled the winter cold.
A maidservant led Xu Qian inside. Everyone turned to look at the tall young man in his moon-white scholar's robe.
Xu Qian's mind flashed with the tea gathering rules Warden Wang had taught him. He tried to make his smile more refined and bowed to the crowd.
"I'm Yang Ling, a scholar from Changle County. Greetings to you all."
Among the attendees were wealthy merchants in brocade robes and students from the Imperial Academy—people of middling status.
Some barely glanced at him, some scrutinized him, some returned polite smiles.
*During the Capital Evaluation, Great Feng's officials are behaving themselves... In normal times, with Lady Fuxiang's status, this place would definitely be booked for private use...* Xu Qian sat down calmly, his gaze fixed on the courtesan queen serving as the "game master."
Her face radiated spring-like warmth, her eyes flowing with colorful charm, her fragrance a blend of five colors, her aura naturally elegant.
*This woman is quite nice...* Even Xu Qian, who had seen countless beauties, was stunned.
Judging by facial features alone, this courtesan queen was on the same level as Auntie, Xu Lingyue, and Chu Caiwei—each with their own unique beauty.
She was the kind of woman who would definitely make men stop and stare on the street.
But in terms of aura, this courtesan queen had the elegance and refinement of a noble lady. In terms of attire, she wore a gauze dress that women of this era wouldn't dare to wear.
Her fragrant shoulders were half-exposed, her neck long and graceful, her chest wrapped in a layer of pink gauze, with a hint of cleavage visible.
*Where there's a valley, there must be a fire*—there was a reason she was the courtesan queen.
Lady Fuxiang's role as game master, also called the "commander," was to host the drinking games. This role was typically filled by famous courtesans or courtesan queens, not ordinary women, because it required a high level of literary cultivation.
At the moment, they were taking turns with couplets. To Xu Qian's left was a middle-aged man in a light blue robe with jade pendants tinkling.
It happened to be his turn. The middle-aged man raised his cup, pondered for a while, and said, "Cold wine, one drop, two drops, three drops."
The courtesan queen raised the small flag beside her and commented on (praised) the upper couplet.
The middle-aged man's smile widened, clearly pleased.
*This was why the game master needed to be a famous courtesan with deep literary cultivation. Without that level of knowledge, even ordinary women couldn't deliver such flattery.*
After the commentary, the stunningly beautiful courtesan queen's sparkling eyes fell on Xu Qian.
Everyone at the table turned to look as well.
*I'm not really good at couplets... Just matching them properly is difficult...* Xu Qian remained outwardly calm but was secretly anxious.
His gaze drifted to the plum trees in the courtyard. Inspiration flashed. He deliberately drank a cup of wine, struck a carefree and heroic pose, and declared loudly:
"Winter plum, a hundred heads, a thousand heads, ten thousand heads."
"Excellent!" The guests' eyes lit up. When they looked at Xu Qian again, their smiles had grown warmer.
It was an acknowledgment that he had the qualifications to compete for the courtesan queen's favor—they treated him as a player of their level.
The courtesan queen smiled and, as usual, delivered a round of commentary (praise) on Xu Qian's lower couplet.
*Her smile is overly professional... She stopped looking at me immediately after the commentary... Her posture is a bit stiff, only drinking when urged...* Xu Qian quietly observed the courtesan queen's body language.
Combining his knowledge of behavioral psychology, he reached a conclusion: This courtesan queen looked down on their skill level.
She had been patiently enduring their company.
At that moment, the maidservant led someone in—a handsome young man with fair skin, clear eyes, thin red lips, and delicate features. He had a feminine beauty.
Everyone in the room turned, even the courtesan queen showed surprise. Such a handsome young man was rare even for her.
The scholar-dressed youth entered, his gaze sweeping casually—then suddenly froze, rooted to the spot.
Xu Qian's eye twitched. After a long moment, he squeezed out, "What a coincidence."
The handsome youth's mouth twitched as well, managing a strained, "What a coincidence..."
"You two know each other?" The middle-aged man in the light blue robe beside Xu Qian asked in surprise.
*More than know each other—he's my little brother...* Xu Qian suppressed the tidal wave of embarrassment and shame, smiling calmly. "We've met a few times. I'm sure Brother Xu remembers Yang—we met in Changle County."
He deliberately revealed his surname, giving Xu Xinnian a reminder to use a fake name.
This was basic counter-surveillance awareness.
Xu Xinnian lacked such awareness, but he was smart and immediately caught his cousin's meaning. He cupped his fists toward the crowd. "I'm Xu Ping'an, a student from Changle County."
After speaking, he took his seat as directed by the maidservant.
*Did you just mix my name with Second Uncle's?* Xu Qian hid his internal rant with a drink.
The drinking game continued. After a while, the maidservant led two more people in. On the left was a handsome young man in a thick azure robe with a jade pendant at his waist and a green jade hairpin holding his hair—a fine-looking youth.
On the right was a burly, tall man with a square face and pleasant features, dressed as a wealthy householder. He exuded a fierce aura completely different from merchants or scholars.
When this imposing middle-aged man stepped into the wine room, he glanced around—then suddenly froze, his entire body turning to stone.
Xu Qian: "..."
Xu Xinnian: "..."
The maidservant noticed her guest wasn't following and turned, saying softly, "Sir, this way please."
"Ah... oh oh..." Xu Pingzhi reluctantly entered the wine room.
Xu Xinnian and Xu Qian silently straightened their backs.
When Second Uncle Xu took his seat, the three tacitly avoided looking at each other, maintaining serious postures, eyes fixed on their noses.
*Those two brats said they didn't have time... Cijiu is one thing—I understand his true thoughts... But Ningyan never visits pleasure houses...*
*Second Uncle said he was on night duty... Every time I clashed with Auntie, he said marrying such a beautiful wife was eight lifetimes of fortune, and he didn't want to scold Auntie... Pfft, so he's out whoring after all.*
*Big Brother said he never visits pleasure houses... I wondered where my robe went. Pfft, shameless. Father said he loved Mother deeply and never visited such places...*
The inner monologues of the three men were far richer than their rigid expressions.
Xu Qian felt that one more thing had been added to his list of life's most embarrassing moments: running into Second Uncle and his brother while out whoring.
*Oh my god, I've experienced social death...*
On second thought, since he wasn't the only one dying, he felt much better.
The drinking game continued. Xu Xinnian performed reasonably well—he was a scholar after all. Xu Qian depended on his mood; sometimes he couldn't match a couplet and had to drink as punishment. Xu Pingzhi, from start to finish, did nothing but drink, earning everyone's disdain.
*Second Uncle really has no self-awareness. You've never studied—why are you even here? Do you think you can sleep with the courtesan queen just because you want to?* Xu Qian complained inwardly.
*Father is really wasting silver...* Xu Xinnian also complained.
Both were anxious because their mediocre performance hadn't won the courtesan queen's favor. Xu Xinnian, despite his good looks, was gradually being overlooked because he was too conventional.
The most critical issue was that there was a strong competitor in the room—the handsome young man in the azure robe.
He came from the Imperial Academy and was quite talented. Though he'd arrived late, his exceptional skills had stolen the spotlight, making the courtesan queen cover her mouth and laugh frequently.
The azure-robed youth raised his cup, took a sip, and declared, "This time, perhaps I should start."
No one objected. Lady Fuxiang smiled and said, "Young Master Zhao, please."
Young Master Zhao surveyed the crowd and said, "Pine leaves, bamboo leaves—leaf by leaf, they're green."
"A repetitive couplet!" Someone at the table was surprised.
"Pine leaves, bamboo leaves—leaf by leaf, they're green... Brilliant, brilliant. I'm humbled."
"Brother Zhao is truly talented. As expected of an Imperial Academy scholar."
When it came back around, not a single person could match it.
Young Master Zhao wore a faint smile, his expression arrogant.
Lady Fuxiang's eyes sparkled as she gazed at Young Master Zhao.
Judging by her expression and subtle movements, the courtesan queen had a favorable impression of this Zhao fellow and admired his talent... Xu Qian frowned and glanced at Xu Xinnian.
The latter looked back at the same time. Between the brothers' brows, worry crept.
Originally, according to Xu Xinnian's thinking, Big Brother, who excelled at poetry, should have thrived at the Bureau of Music.
But after this time, with drinking games and couplet contests going one round after another, there had been no poetry at all.
Actually, at tea gatherings in the Bureau of Music, poetry had always been lukewarm. In the past two hundred years, excellent poems had been scarce. Scholars weren't skilled at composing poetry.
During tea gatherings, they naturally avoided what they weren't good at.
And tonight's guests varied in quality—just the couplet contest was already somewhat difficult. Lady Fuxiang, with her keen insight, deliberately avoided mentioning poetry to save her guests from embarrassment.
At that moment, Lady Fuxiang rose gracefully, curtsied, and said softly, "This lady is somewhat tired and will take her leave. Please continue drinking."
The tea gathering had ended.
Next, if the courtesan queen had taken a liking to someone, she would have a maidservant invite that person to stay and be led into her private chambers.
If she hadn't, the maidservant would see the guests off and start the next round of the tea gathering.
Everyone waited with a mixture of anticipation and anxiety. Time passed bit by half an incense stick. Then a maidservant approached and said sweetly:
"My lady invites Young Master Zhao inside for tea."
The guests shook their heads in regret, sighing. Some congratulated Young Master Zhao with smiles.
Young Master Zhao wore a smile, the posture of a victor.
Now, the three men of the Xu family couldn't sit still.