The night rain in Jiangning City fell heavily, beating against the vermilion doors of the Xue Manor and sounding like urgent knocks.
Yet, inside and outside these walls were two entirely different worlds.
The underfloor heating was burning brightly, making the warm pavilion very cozy. Ambergris burned in the Boshan censer, completely isolating the wind and rain outside into another world.
Xue Hong leaned obliquely on a soft couch lined with fox fur.
The head of the Xue family was over fifty, but she maintained herself extremely well. The fine lines at the corners of her eyes only added a touch of charm and sharpness.
She played with a jade thumb ring in her hand. She had picked it up during the chaos at the Hundred Flowers Pavilion last night, not knowing which lady's private collection it belonged to.
Sister Xue, please judge this for us.
A woman sitting below was crying. She was Cousin-in-law Wang from a distant branch of the Wang family. Usually the most dignified and observant of etiquette, she was now desperately wiping her tears with a handkerchief.
My wretched husband took away the keys to the public silver vault early this morning. He even had those two old hags guard the festooned gate, saying he was afraid I would go out and make a fool of myself.
While sobbing, the cousin-in-law unwillingly stuffed a piece of osmanthus cake into her mouth. It was a special provision of the Xue Manor, unavailable for purchase outside.
Didn't I just go to see Young Master Xu? I didn't do anything out of line, so how did I become unchaste? Last night, I didn't even get to touch Young Master Xu's hand!
The ladies and young misses from the collateral branches of aristocratic families sitting around were also filled with indignation upon hearing this, and chimed in.
Exactly! The Zhao family is even more ruthless. I heard they even cut off the allowance for buying rouge and cosmetics.
This life is impossible to live! Isn't this treating us like prisoners on trial? I've been at home serving my husband and raising children for twenty years. What's wrong with seeking a little entertainment?
Listening to the complaints of this group, a hint of a sneer curled the corners of Xue Hong's mouth.
She casually grabbed a handful of melon seeds, didn't eat them, and tossed them back into the plate with a clatter.
Alright, stop howling.
Xue Hong's voice was not loud, but it revealed an unquestionable authority.
Those men set rules for you because they are afraid you'll become too smart. They fear that once you've seen the dazzling world outside, you won't be content to be just a child-bearing ornament in the inner courtyard.
Cousin-in-law Wang froze, looking up with teardrops hanging on her face: Sister, what do you mean by that?
Rules? They are all used to drive the living to death.
Xue Hong sat up straight, picked up the wine by her side, and swirled it. The crimson liquid clung to the wall of the glass.
When they throw away a thousand pieces of gold on the Qinhuai River to support courtesans, it's considered a romantic and elegant affair. But when we spend a little of our own private money to see some entertainment, how do we suddenly become sluts?
She suddenly laughed out loud, her eyes flowing with a touch of wild arrogance.
Last night, the one who yelled to tear his pants off too was me.
Ah?
The women filling the room instantly widened their eyes. Cousin-in-law Wang was so frightened that her face turned deathly pale, instinctively reaching out to cover Xue Hong's mouth.
My good sister! You can't speak such nonsense! If this gets out, what will happen to your reputation?
Afraid of what?
Xue Hong pushed her hand away, wiping the touched spot with disgust, and downed the wine in her cup in one gulp.
I, Xue Hong, have no sons or daughters, and no man to control me. I'll shout if I want to, and I'll look if I want to.
Her gaze swept over the crowd, her expression becoming somewhat playful, revealing a hint of contempt.
But you all... you're scared already? Feeling guilty already?
Who was it last night shouting about wanting to have Young Master Xu's babies? Today, after being yelled at a few times by your men, you don't want to see Young Master Xu anymore?
Want to... of course we want to.
A young wife blushed, twisting her handkerchief in her hands, and muttered softly.
I heard that Young Master Xu changed his outfit today. He's no longer wearing those leather pants, but a washed-out scholar's robe.
Right in that dilapidated backyard of the Hundred Flowers Pavilion, reading facing the wall. That silhouette... tsk tsk, just hearing about it makes one's heart ache.
A flash of sharpness crossed Xue Hong's eyes.
Heart ache?
She sneered, playing with the empty wine glass in her hand.
That's exactly it. That girl from the Xu family is shrewd. She knows that just selling flesh won't last long; it catches fire too fast, and extinguishes just as quickly.
This current trick is playing the pity card. This kind of thing is exactly what claims the lives of you women.
Xue Hong pointed at the begonia flowers drenched by the rain outside the window, her tone faint.
Just watch. Those towering mansions and deep courtyards can lock up a person, but they can't lock up a heart.
The more strictly that old geezer Zhao Yuanliang guards against it, the brighter the fire in your hearts will burn.
What is this called? This is called tormenting the fans.
Tormenting?
Cousin-in-law Wang looked bewildered. We spend money on him, so how did we become the ones being tormented?
Because you can't see him! Because your hearts ache!
Xue Hong poked her forehead, frustrated by her failure to understand.
The more they stop you from seeing him, the more pitiful Young Master Xu becomes in your hearts, looking exactly like a distressed young nobleman from a storybook.
Don't you all feel right now that if you don't go see him soon, he's going to freeze or starve to death in that backyard?
The women looked at each other. With their inner thoughts exposed, they lowered their heads one by one, yet couldn't help but nod.
But... Sister, no matter how right you are, we still can't get out.
Cousin-in-law Wang sighed. The current Hundred Flowers Pavilion is a gold-swallowing pit. This little bit of private savings in our hands isn't enough to fill it.
Giving up already?
Xue Hong chuckled, waved to the crowd, and lowered her voice, feigning mystery.
Come here, I'll tell you a top-secret piece of news.
The women's spirits lifted. They hurriedly leaned their heads in, even holding their breath.
This afternoon, I specifically had someone carry me in a small sedan chair through the back door to visit County Princess Xu.
What?!
Cousin-in-law Wang's eyes went wide. You saw that female demon?
Not only did I see her, but I also know that she doesn't care at all about the lockdown these past few days.
Xue Hong peeled a grape and popped it into her mouth, speaking slowly, enjoying everyone's gaze.
She said that Young Master Xu's matter is just an appetizer. The real feast is yet to come.
She's preparing a new novelty called the Hundred Flowers Girls' Super Group.
Girls' group?
The crowd looked at each other. This term was fresh; they had never heard it before.
What is that? Could it be making the girls take off their clothes too?
Vulgar!
Xue Hong rolled her eyes at the speaker. That is something to let us turn the tables and become the masters.
Her eyes lit up, filled with longing.
It's about taking the girls in the pavilion who originally played the lute and sang songs, people like Yunniang and Asura, and forming them into a group.
It will no longer be the lifeless sitting and singing of the past, or accompanying men for drinks.
They will sing and dance, and everyone will have their own persona.
Xue Hong extended her fingers, gesturing one by one.
There's the icy, aloof older sister type who ignores people; the more you want to get close to her, the more she ignores you.
There's the cute little girl type whose smile is sweet as honey, calling you sister until your bones melt.
And something called a lucky koi, saying that just looking at her will bring you wealth.
The crowd listened in stunned silence. Although they didn't quite understand what these personas were, it sounded incredibly exciting.
But that's not the main point.
Xue Hong paused deliberately, keeping them in suspense, and picked up her teacup to take a sip.
"What is the main point? Good sister, tell us quickly! You are killing us with anxiety!"
Cousin-in-law Wang grabbed Xue Hong's sleeve, looking incredibly anxious.
Xue Hong put down her teacup and enunciated four words, one by one.
"Tipping for a dance."
"Requesting a dance?"
"Exactly."
Xue Hong's tone was full of temptation.
"In the past at the brothels, we women were just sidekicks. The men were the masters, and we could only follow them to listen to the music."
"But at the Hundred Flowers Pavilion, County Princess Xu has set new rules."
"As long as you tip enough, you can request a specific girl, or even the entire girl group, to dance exclusively for you."
"Exclusively for me?"
The young wife pointed at her own nose in disbelief. "I am just a woman..."
"So what if you are a woman? Does silver have a gender?"
Xue Hong interrupted her. "As long as the silver is right, those girls who are usually so aloof and even prouder than the top courtesans will all smile at you in perfect unison."
"Even what song they dance to, what color clothes they wear, and what sweet words they say can all be decided by you, the patron."
Imitating Xu Qinghuan's earlier description, Xue Hong formed a heart shape with her hands in front of her chest, a gesture that had never been seen before in the Great Qian Dynasty.
"They will make this heart gesture at you and sweetly call you Sister or Queen."
"Queen...?"
As soon as this word came out, the air in the warm pavilion went completely still.
Who among the women present had not suffered enough grievances in their inner courtyards?
Normally, when their husbands took concubines, they had to act magnanimous; when their mothers-in-law made things difficult, they had to swallow their anger in silence.
"Is... is this really possible?"
