Chapter 21 - Sound of Zither on a Yuzhou Night

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

At the Spring Breeze Alley, An Jing arrived at Zhou Xianming’s house.

Knock Knock!

“Who is it?”

“Mr. Zhou, it’s me, An Jing,” An Jing shouted softly.

Creak!

As the door opened, Zhou Xianming, whose face was still slightly bruised, poked his head out. He then looked around and urged, “Doctor An, come in quickly.”

An Jing walked into the house and could not help but ask, “What happened to you?”

Zhou Xianming definitely did not look like he had caught a cold.

He was clearly beaten up!

“Sigh!”

Zhou Xianming sighed heavily and said, “Make yourself comfortable and take a seat.”

“This… where to sit?” Anjing looked around the room.

Zhou Xianming’s house was not big. The house he lived in was rented from a dentist. It was only about twenty square meters. The facilities in the house were very simple. There was a table, a few chairs, and a big bed. There was a stove in the corner.

The house was very messy. There were brushes, inkstones, bowls and basins everywhere. Moreover, there seemed to be some porridge in the pot.

The only thing placed neatly was a bookshelf on the west side. It was filled with books.

“What happened?” An Jing asked curiously. Could it be that someone had come back to take revenge on Zhou Xianming?

“I don’t know. I don’t know what I’ve done.”

Zhou Xianming sat on the chair and sighed. “Doctor An, there are some things you shouldn’t ask.”

The skills of the person in black who came late at night were extraordinary. It was not something that a weak doctor or scholar could handle.

“You haven’t eaten yet, have you?” An Jing glanced at the messy kitchen and asked.

“Forget it, I’m not hungry.” Zhou Xianming waved his hand. Then, he thought of something and said, “Doctor An, I know you’re a benevolent doctor. Can you treat me?”

An Jing smiled and said, “You only suffered from some superficial wounds. You can come with me to my house later to apply some ointment.”

“No, no, no.”

Zhou Xianming hurriedly waved his hand. “Doctor An, I’m not talking about this superficial wound.”

“It’s not a superficial wound?” An Jing frowned. Could it be that Zhou Xianming had internal injuries? He actually could not tell.

“I am suffering from lovesickness.”

Zhou Xianming lowered his head and coughed.

“Lovesickness?”

“That’s right. Ever since I saw Miss Li Yue on the pleasure boat last time, I’ve been unable to control myself, unable to sleep at night, unable to eat or sleep. I’ve been tossing and turning, my mind filled with her shadow.”

“Then how can I treat you?”

“Doctor An, I’d like to listen to some music at the brothel.”

An Jing was stunned. He did not expect Zhou Xianming to be so thick-skinned that he would let him bring him to have fun.

In his impression, Zhou Xianming was a very timid scholar. However, the moment he mentioned the music, it was as if he had changed into a different person. There was even a glint in his eyes.

“You’re a scholar.”

“What’s wrong with scholars?”

Zhou Xianming stood up and said righteously, “Isn’t it only right and proper for us scholars to curry favor and listen to music? It’s precisely because of our studies that we have to go to curry favor and listen to music. If we don’t save these girls who have gone down the wrong track, how can we save our country and the world in the future?”

It was precisely because he was a scholar that he had to go to the brothel to listen to music.

Seeing Zhou Xianming so impassioned, even An Jing was shocked. Was there such a thing?

“Doctor An, are you going?”

“Let’s go!”

…

On the Yuzhou River, the lanterns were lit and the lights on both sides of the river shone brightly. Countless pleasure boats floated on the Yuzhou River, and the beautiful courtesans on the pleasure boats raised their wine goblets and sang endlessly.

“Doctor An, have you been to this Red Mansion’s pleasure boat before?” Zhou Xianming stood at the bow of the boat. He wore white clothes and held a folding fan in his hand, looking like an indecent man.

Beside him, the boatman rowed toward the pleasure boat in the middle of the river.

“No, I’ve never come to such a place.” An Jing shook his head and said, “This is the first time I’ve come to such a place.”

“Doctor An’s wife is as beautiful as a dazzling celestial fairy. It’s normal that he doesn’t like the low-class women here.”

Zhou Xianming nodded to express his understanding. Then, he said with a yearning expression, “But Miss Li Yue is different. She is a lotus flower that is untainted by mud.”

What was the difference? It was just a matter of the price.

An Jing rolled his eyes.

Before long, the boat’s bow had reached the Red Mansion pleasure boat.

They saw that the pleasure boat was decorated beautifully and exquisitely. Above the rippling water, from time to time, the sound of orioles and swallows could be heard from the pleasure boat. It was like a continuous stream, and a procuress with heavy makeup was warmly welcoming guests.

“Hey, isn’t this Doctor An?”

The madam’s eyes lit up when she saw An Jing. “You haven’t been here for a long time. The ladies miss you.”

Zhou Xianming was confused.

‘Didn’t you say that you’ve never come here before?’

‘Isn’t this your first time here?’

An Jingyi said righteously, “Mother Zhao, you can’t say that. I’ve never been to such a place.”

“Yes, yes, yes. Doctor An has never been here before.”

The old procuress smiled as she beckoned for An Jing and Zhou Xianming to enter the boat.

An Jing took out a tael of silver from his chest pocket. Entering the cruise liner required one to pay the entrance fee, and each person was asked for five hundred copper coins. The two of them just happened to have a tael of silver.

This was his hard-earned money.

In the past, when he needed money, he would borrow some from Yuzhou’s wealthy merchants. However, he rarely did that recently, so this one tael of silver was the consultation fee that Han Wenxin had given him a few days ago.

In the center of the pleasure boat, there was a woman playing an ancient zither. The woman was beautiful and wore a veil. Her curvaceous figure made people’s hearts beat faster. Below her, there were dozens of seats. At this moment, most of the seats were already filled with people.

Most of the people on this pleasure boat were courtesans. They only played the zither and sang and was not not in charge of receiving guests. However, if the guests were willing to pay a large sum of money to win the hearts of these women, they would be more than happy to receive guests. All of this depended on one’s ability.

An Jing and Zhou Xianming found a seat and sat down.

“That’s Lady Li Yue.”

A hint of intoxication appeared in Zhou Xianming’s eyes as he looked at the woman on the stage.

The sound of the zither was crisp and pleasant.

“The sound of the zither is really good.” An Jing nodded.

At this moment, a beautiful maid walked over with two pots of wine. “Please enjoy.”

“Thank you.”

An Jing took out another tael of silver.

In this pleasure boat, they had to pay for the drinks and the girls, and they were very expensive.

One tael of silver was equivalent to one thousand copper coins, while three copper coins were equivalent to one stick of candied fruits. One tael of silver could buy three hundred candied fruits.

When the servant took over An Jing’s silver, she gently swiped her finger across An Jing’s palm. “I am Man Yue. Young Master, remember this well.”

As she said that, her pair of charming eyes were filled with radiance. There were not many customers who were so good-looking and generous.

“Okay.”

An Jing nodded slightly, calm and composed.

Seeing that An Jing did not say anything, Man Yue was slightly disappointed but she still left obediently.

Meanwhile, Zhou Xianming’s eyes were fixed on Li Yue above him. His face was flushed red as if he was mesmerized..