Chapter 24: Charge On, Second Son of the Fang Household! (Part II)

Outside the Zuixian Pavilion, carriages moved like water and horses like dragons. Elegant guests gathered like clouds, bathed in the brilliant glow of lanterns.

The madam of the house, upon catching sight of Fang Jun, had eyes that seemed to spark. Brushing past Li Zhen, she swayed toward Fang Jun, resorting to her old tricks by pressing half her body against his arm, her face wreathed in smiles. "Oh my, isn't this Young Master Fang? You really are something, staying away for so long. The girls here have been pining for you..."

Fang Jun was momentarily stunned. Such enthusiasm? It was quite different from what he had imagined.

Immediately after, the flock of beauties trailing the madam swarmed around him, casting flirtatious glances and chirping like bells. Surrounded by such softness and fragrance, he didn't dare move, simply letting one pinch him and another stroke his arm, leaving him dizzy and overwhelmed.

This was simply Fang Jun lacking experience. He had assumed that because he had caused trouble for the Zuixian Pavilion, he would be unwelcome. Yet, the reality was the exact opposite.

In public establishments like brothels and taverns, they did not fear patrons causing a scene; as long as no one died, it was of little consequence to them. Much like celebrities in later times, whether the news was good or bad, it didn't matter—the only thing they feared was being ignored. Why? To increase exposure and capture public attention! From ancient times to the present, the logic remained the same: in the entertainment industry of any dynasty, "hype" was king.

Because of the incident involving Fang Jun, the Zuixian Pavilion had gained immense fame throughout Chang'an. Mention Pingkang Ward, and everyone knew the Zuixian Pavilion; mention the Zuixian Pavilion, and everyone knew of the legendary Miss Lixue, who had caused a Prince and a Chancellor's son to come to blows. The most direct benefit was a sharp rise in the Pavilion's revenue. With the owner making money and the ladies’ reputations soaring, how could the man who started it all—Fang Jun—be anything but welcomed?

***

Listening to Snow Pavilion.

The wind had ceased and the snow had cleared. The snow in the courtyard had not been fully swept away, leaving only the bluestone paths exposed. The pond was frozen over, and for some reason, no snow had settled on it; the smooth ice reflected the lanterns of the pavilion, illuminating the courtyard.

A craggy, slender rockery stood in the center of the pond, inscribed with two characters in running script: "Listening to Snow." The brushwork was powerful and vigorous, possessing an imposing grandeur that contrasted slightly with the elegant and ethereal mood of the name. The courtyard was planted with plum trees; their twisted, bare branches held no great beauty, yet the buds on every twig, nestled amidst the soft white snow, stirred a sense of poetic grace. In another half-month, when the plum blossoms were in full bloom, what a breathtaking sight it would be.

Miss Lixue, the top courtesan of the Zuixian Pavilion and mistress of the Listening to Snow Pavilion, had been notified by a page and was already waiting at the entrance with her maids. Seeing the group enter the courtyard, she stepped forward with small, graceful steps. "I humbly welcome you, young masters and noble guests."

Seeing this courtesan who was the talk of Chang'an, the men felt their eyes brighten. Miss Lixue's skin was as white as snow and jade, an extraordinary, translucent pallor. She wore a rare, tight-fitting black silk dress that outlined her slender figure and delicate waist. Black attire against white skin made her strikingly vivid.

Her eyebrows, like dark silk, swept up toward her temples, and her raven hair was styled into a beauty’s bun atop her head, with a wisp of bangs resting softly on her forehead. The corners of her eyes tilted upward, and most impressive was the bridge of her straight nose, which matched her slightly high cheekbones to perfection, giving her an air of elegant grace that lacked nothing in pride. Her rosy lips held a faint, gentle expression. Even as she bowed, there was not a trace of the "dusty" air of a courtesan; she appeared as pure as a sister and as noble as a young lady from a prestigious family.

Even Fang Jun, who had been exposed to modern standards of beauty and cosmetic enhancements, was truly stunned, let alone the "country bumpkins" beside him, who all wore expressions of slack-jawed infatuation.

"Young masters, do you intend to leave me bowing here forever?" Seeing that everyone was so captivated by her unparalleled beauty that they had lost their wits, Lixue furrowed her willow brows slightly. She looked up, speaking in a voice that was half-pout and half-reproach, though her radiant gaze swept across the group and finally, seemingly intentionally, rested on Fang Jun.

Her eyes were like two stars rippling in a pool of autumn water, incredibly captivating. Especially as she spoke, her gaze shifted with her expressions, creating ripple after ripple; who could keep their heart from stirring?

Fang Jun gave a light cough. Meeting her meaningful gaze, he smiled faintly: "In the North, there is a beauty, peerless and independent. One glance could topple a city; a second could topple a kingdom. Since you possess such beauty, it is only natural that we common men would lose our composure and mistake you for a celestial being upon first sight. Besides, you have already committed the grievous sin of making us lose our appetite for food and tea; if you hold this bow a little longer, consider it compensation, allowing us to feast our eyes upon you—what could be wrong with that?"

Lixue covered her mouth and giggled, like a red plum blossom blooming in spring, breathtakingly beautiful. She cast a sidelong glance at Fang Jun and said softly, "They all say Fang’s second son is a wooden man with a heart of iron, incapable of cherishing the fairer sex. But if you ask me, your tongue, Young Master, could talk a person to death without even blinking."

Fang Jun laughed heartily: "You are too kind. Encountering someone as heavenly as you, even tempered steel would turn into soft silk, let alone a mere mortal like myself."

The others finally regained their senses, yet they remained astonished. Their shock was not due to Lixue’s beauty, but rather to Fang Jun’s silver-tongued wit, which had left Lixue beaming with joy. Was this really the dull, stone-like Fang Jun? With this mouth of his, even Li Zhen, who claimed to be a regular at such houses, had to admit defeat, let alone the others.

Fang Jun himself didn't think much of it. One had to remember that he was a man who could give a two-hour unscripted speech at a county conference; his eloquence was top-tier. He simply usually preferred not to speak, keeping a low profile. It was similar to the original Fang Yi'ai's temperament—one chose not to speak, the other didn't know how—but the result was the same. However, he found Miss Lixue strange today. Among all the guests in the courtyard, he was neither the most handsome, the highest in status, nor the wealthiest; why then did she single him out?

Did she think that because he had punched the Prince of Qi in front of her, he was some kind of hero she admired? Fang Jun was no greenhorn, and he was certainly no longer the original Fang Yi'ai; such a far-fetched reason could not convince a man of his rich life experience. Since he wanted to see if she had ulterior motives, the best method was to speak more and get closer.

Just then, a clamor arose from outside the courtyard.

"If I, this Prince, have taken a liking to someone, it is her honor! Don't care what kind of noble guests are inside; I’m here, so tell them all to get lost!"

A voice of extreme arrogance rang out. Another person replied, "Your Highness, it is not that I dare to block you, but the guests with Miss Lixue today are..."

The arrogant voice drew nearer, impatient. "Could it be the Emperor himself? Let me tell you, under the heavens, apart from His Majesty, I am the greatest..."

Before he had finished speaking, the man stepped into the courtyard. He wore a deep purple brocade robe, his waist and abdomen broad, his frame round and stout. His fair face featured features squeezed together by fat, giving him an air of sinister, feminine cruelty.

The tall and sturdy Qutu Quan, who had been shouting, "Who is so arrogant..." was suddenly like a rooster with its neck constricted, unable to utter another word. The man was indeed arrogant, but he certainly had the capital to be.

"It is His Highness, the Prince of Wei..."

A soft whisper reached Fang Jun's ear. He turned his head and saw Lixue close by, her scent within reach. Her palm-sized face was flawless, and the lines of her features were so clear they were breathtaking. Her beautiful eyes were deeply set beneath elegant brows, and her lips, brimming with an aristocratic air, were tightly pursed. Her breath was as gentle as a breeze under the first rays of the spring sun, carrying a faint, orchid-and-musk fragrance.

Fang Jun could only sigh: such a woman was likely comparable to the three thousand beauties in the palace of His Majesty, Emperor Li Er.