Chapter 52: The Passion of That Night (Part Two)

After all, it was only a matter of going upstairs to listen to Lady Ruoshui play a few tunes before coming back down. Zhang Chi turned to Santong and said, "The journey to Kuaiji was indeed arduous. Why not enjoy yourselves for a while? You may stay on the first floor, drink as much wine as you like."

With those words, he followed Lady Ruoshui up the stairs.

"Talent is truly a blessing." Santong watched Zhang Chi ascend with Lady Ruoshui and muttered to himself.

"Are you envious that Brother Zhang always wins the favor of women?" Dao Xuan asked, curious.

"Of course," Santong replied sincerely. "Look—whether it's Miss Wang or now Lady Ruoshui, both are beauties as if painted, and both admire Brother Zhang's talents. Who in the world wouldn't envy such fortune? Yet Brother Zhang is indeed quite the romantic. Miss Wang was buried not long ago, and now we're here in Kuaiji to search for the Wine Maiden, but I fear Brother Zhang has already forgotten our purpose."

"Brother Zhang is not that kind of person," Dao Xuan objected, displeased. "He is a man of principle and would never neglect the matter at hand."

"That's hard to say," Santong doubted. The two went upstairs too, supposedly to listen to music, but who knew what else might happen? If Lady Ruoshui favored him instead, Santong thought he would gladly die here, lost in his reverie, his face showing a foolish grin. "Heh, but being a bit romantic is good. It's how a man should be."

Dao Xuan could only smile wryly at Santong’s expression, feeling thoroughly helpless.

...

Zhang Chi followed Lady Ruoshui upstairs, walking along the corridor into a small hall. Upon entering, he was immediately greeted by a delicate fragrance. Looking up, he noticed the upstairs was arranged far more elegantly than below, nothing like a brothel, but rather the boudoir of a noble lady. The room was divided by a screen into two sections. The inner chamber had a bed—surely Lady Ruoshui's sleeping quarters—while Zhang Chi remained in the outer room. In the center, a long mat was spread on the floor, upon which rested a table holding an ancient zither and a censer. The aroma Zhang Chi noticed upon entering came from this censer.

Night had already fallen; the room was dimly lit. Lady Ruoshui first lit the red candles, then turned to see Zhang Chi intrigued by the scent and smiled, "The incense burning in the censer is sandalwood, which came to the East with Buddhism. Its fragrance is mellow and enduring, never causing dizziness even with prolonged use. It also aids in breathing and clears the senses, its wonders are endless."

From that explanation, Lady Ruoshui hardly seemed like a woman of the brothel. Zhang Chi could not help but sigh at the waste.

As she spoke, Lady Ruoshui seated herself at the table, filled a cup of tea for Zhang Chi, and gestured to the opposite side, saying, "To converse with a man of your talent is a rare privilege. But please, have some tea first, and allow me to play a tune for you."

Zhang Chi smiled and sat down, and Lady Ruoshui began to play.

The music flowed gently, plaintive and soulful, stirring the heart. Though Zhang Chi was no expert in musical theory, he could tell it was beautiful—the soothing rhythm brought a sense of serenity. Yet, the tranquil melody lasted only a short while before Lady Ruoshui’s playing surged, the notes suddenly rising, as if calm weather had turned to a storm. Each wave of music came stronger than the last, each note higher, and Zhang Chi could no longer see the swift movements of Lady Ruoshui’s delicate hands as she played.

This intensity lasted only a moment, and beads of sweat appeared on Lady Ruoshui’s forehead. With the final lingering note, she stopped playing. The performance left Zhang Chi’s heart pounding.

"How was my tune?" Lady Ruoshui asked with a smile.

"Today I finally understand what is meant by music lingering in the rafters for days," Zhang Chi praised sincerely.

Since Lady Ruoshui had come downstairs, she had not seen Zhang Chi pay much attention to her, but now, hearing him praise her, she smiled knowingly. "So you do know how to compliment."

Zhang Chi was at a loss for words, merely smiling in response. Lady Ruoshui handed him the tea, saying, "Please drink. It's rare to meet someone as talented as yourself. There is something I wish to ask, and I hope your wisdom will help solve my puzzle."

"If there is anything you wish to ask, feel free," Zhang Chi replied, taking the cup and sipping the tea.

Lady Ruoshui smiled and said, "Please wait a moment." She put away the zither and brought out brush, ink, paper, and inkstone, arranging them on the table.

The paper she took out bore a line of characters. Lady Ruoshui pointed to them and said, "There should be seven characters here, but one is missing, making the phrase incomplete. I ask you, based on your intuition after seeing these six characters, to fill in the seventh."

So it was a writing game. Zhang Chi felt awkward. "My handwriting is poor."

"No matter, I simply wish to see which character a man of your talent would choose," Lady Ruoshui insisted, holding the brush before him.

Zhang Chi did not mind his poor handwriting; seeing Lady Ruoshui's determination, he took the brush, amused that even the ancients enjoyed character games.

But to play such games in a brothel, he had never heard of it before. Finding it funny, he looked at the line of characters: "East," "South," "West," "North," "Center," "Prosperity."

What did it mean? Zhang Chi was puzzled.

"You need not overthink it. Just write whichever character comes to mind," Lady Ruoshui said.

The ancients’ games often held hidden meanings; Zhang Chi, well-read in poetry, knew how much the ancients valued the study of characters, often agonizing over a single word. But he could not play this game, so he decided to follow Lady Ruoshui's advice and fill in a character on instinct, without concern for right or wrong.

His intuition led him to think of "East, South, West, North, Center, Prosperity, White," the sequence familiar to him from playing mahjong in his previous life. So he wrote the character for "White" at the end, in a crooked hand.

There was no mahjong in this era; Zhang Chi thought Lady Ruoshui would surely look down on him for this.

"You are indeed a man of great talent," Lady Ruoshui said, her expression unchanged. Zhang Chi took her words as sarcasm.

"It is late now; why not retire to the inner chamber?" Lady Ruoshui said, taking Zhang Chi’s arm and leading him inside.

"Retire for what?" Zhang Chi asked, bewildered.

Lady Ruoshui laughed behind her hand, "To bed, of course. Don’t forget, this Immortal Pavilion is a brothel."

That was true. However grand the brothel, it remained a brothel; however refined the courtesan, she remained a courtesan. Still, Zhang Chi was puzzled. "I thought you never received guests?"

"Not ordinary men. But for a talent like you, I desire nothing more," Lady Ruoshui replied, leading him to the inner chamber.

"I have no money," Zhang Chi said, awkwardly.

It was not stinginess; ever since his crossing, he had no concept of money and was truly penniless. He felt he must clarify, lest he gain a reputation for not paying for such services, but before he could speak, he was struck dumb, mouth agape.

Lady Ruoshui was already loosening her garments, her outer robe slipping off her slender hands.

Her skin was dazzlingly smooth; Zhang Chi had seen beauties before, but never one so radiant.

Though she still wore her underclothes, Zhang Chi’s gaze could not leave her body.

Lady Ruoshui went to pour two cups of wine, handing one to Zhang Chi. "Why not drink first to lift your spirits?"

She was thoughtful; Zhang Chi drained his cup, though he noticed a strange flavor in the wine.

Lady Ruoshui drank hers as well and, seeing Zhang Chi's suspicion, said, "Do not worry. I added Daoist Five-Stone Powder to the wine. The nobility all seek it; after drinking, your vigor will be enhanced, and you will not falter."

He hadn’t expected such a dignified woman to be so passionate when it came to intimacy, Zhang Chi mused.

"Allow me to help you with your clothes," Lady Ruoshui said, reaching to undress him. As her hands touched his skin, Zhang Chi felt his blood surge uncontrollably.

His composure, once his pride, deserted him entirely. Surely this was the effect of the Five-Stone Powder—a Daoist remedy, essentially an aphrodisiac.

Zhang Chi felt his mind growing foggy. Amid the confusion, he found words to ask, "How could someone like you end up in such a place?"

"I am waiting here for someone, to avenge my master," Lady Ruoshui replied with a smile. "Let me help you undress."

Her hands were already at his waist, undoing his belt.

"So you have a master—who is he?" Zhang Chi asked absentmindedly.

"My master is Du Zigong; Du Zigong is his name."

Lady Ruoshui removed Zhang Chi’s outer robe, then embraced him and asked, "Should someone ask you, in all your travels, what place you remember most, would you say it was Ruoshui’s boudoir?"

Zhang Chi could hardly think anymore; he murmured, "The place I remember most is Rain Flower Terrace."

"Rain Flower Terrace?" Lady Ruoshui frowned, jealous. "It sounds like a romantic place—"

Zhang Chi shook his head, "No. It’s because a woman is buried there."

Hearing this, Lady Ruoshui grew even more jealous. She had never imagined she would one day feel envy for a woman already dead. She whispered in Zhang Chi’s ear, "Do you know you are the ‘Heaven’s Secret’? How can you remain so attached to a woman who has passed away?"

Her words struck Zhang Chi like a cold shower. What startled him was not her jealousy, but her mention of "Heaven’s Secret." How did she know he was the one?

Since his crossing, Zhang Chi had seen many intrigues and was never unguarded. He quickly reviewed the events of the day in his mind; it was incredible. Lady Ruoshui, though a courtesan, was renowned, so why would she lower herself to seduce him? More importantly, she knew he was the legendary "Heaven’s Secret." Zhang Chi understood that those who knew his identity mostly wished him dead.

At that thought, he pushed Lady Ruoshui aside, dressed quickly, and left. Lady Ruoshui, shocked to see him leaving, asked, "Where are you going?"

"I have urgent business. Farewell." With those words, Zhang Chi strode out of the room, leaving Lady Ruoshui alone, tears glimmering in her eyes.

It was hardly surprising; she had always been pursued by scholars and nobles. This time, she offered herself, but Zhang Chi rejected her as if she were a venomous snake, pushing her away and departing. How could she not be heartbroken?