Chapter Two: The Courtesan

Because he was fleeing on his wedding night, Qin Muchuan felt a lingering unease. He moved furtively all the way until he reached the Music Bureau and, seeing nothing amiss, finally let out a long breath and regained his usual swagger, swinging his folding fan with renewed pride.

In the capital, there was a special district for the Music Bureau, home to several academies and fragrance pavilions. The girls here each had their own charm, but they all shared a single trait: they performed for art, not for sale of their bodies. It was precisely because of this that men of refined tastes flocked here, believing the girls pure as snow, like fairies untouched by the world. White may not stand out in a snowfield, but in a sea of mud, it becomes truly noble and unsullied. Thus, this place became the most esteemed destination for pleasure in the capital.

All around stood elegant, intricately decorated buildings, adorned with carved beams and painted rafters, their eaves hung with palace lanterns or wind chimes. On summer nights, a gentle breeze would set the chimes ringing, their clear, melodious notes filling the air.

Arriving here, Qin Muchuan felt completely at ease. He made his way to the Drunken Fragrance Pavilion with practiced familiarity. Such places were usually quiet, never overly boisterous; from afar, one might mistake it for a hidden paradise. Only upon entering did the lively atmosphere reveal itself, offering a unique delight.

“Well, if it isn’t Brother Muchuan! What brings you here tonight…?”

Sun Ruosi, one of Qin Muchuan’s notorious friends, naturally knew of his wedding today. He simply hadn’t expected him to show up here of all nights—on his wedding night, no less. How bold!

“Where’s Yinyin?” Qin Muchuan had come precisely to support Yinyin. Looking around and seeing nothing unusual, his initial excitement turned to confusion. “Where is she? Has the new Flower Queen been chosen?”

Sun Ruosi couldn’t help but burst into laughter at his foolishness. “You love-struck fool, you’ve married into nobility and will enjoy wealth and honor from now on. Poor Yinyin, though—she never found a good family to rely on. But fortunately, someone recognized her worth and offered her a good marriage. Otherwise, should she have waited for you her whole life?”

“A marriage? She’s getting married?! How could she…” Qin Muchuan was so angry he nearly stomped his foot. He’d gone to such lengths to rush back and support her—did she trust him so little? Did she truly think him so fickle?

Sun Ruosi patted his shoulder. “She’s still in the pavilion. It’s not easy for you to come out tonight—go see her.” No sooner had he spoken than Qin Muchuan hurried upstairs, burning with impatience.

Qin Muchuan was a familiar face here and dashed straight to the second floor, heading for the largest chamber at the end of the corridor—Yinyin’s room. As he approached, the madam of the house rushed over like a startled cat, still managing a forced smile. “Why, if it isn’t Young Master Qin! What brings you to our little pavilion tonight?”

“Where’s Yinyin?!” Qin Muchuan had no patience for pleasantries. Hadn’t she stood in the crowd this morning, gazing longingly at him? How had she gone from that to marrying someone else by nightfall? There hadn’t been the slightest rumor!

“Yinyin isn’t feeling well today.” The madam was near panic, eager to be rid of this troublesome guest. “It’s her monthly time… and she’s caught a chill, coughing badly. She fears she’ll pass her illness to you. She’s unwell, Young Master, perhaps you’d do better to visit another pavilion.”

“Nonsense! The girls here sell their art, not themselves—what’s this talk of being unclean?” Qin Muchuan retorted. “Or are you after a few greedy coins, keeping Yinyin from me?”

“Oh, Young Master Qin, you wrong me. Fine, if you must see her, so be it. But let’s be clear: the girls in my house marry whom they choose. You’re a scholar, always reasonable—I trust you won’t make things difficult for Yinyin.” Seeing she could not dissuade him, the madam reluctantly let him inside, praying that Yinyin would show some backbone and rid them of this trouble. After all, that particular gentleman was not someone they could afford to offend—and not just the Drunken Fragrance Pavilion, but every house in the capital had received his warning: any girl daring to entertain the Young Lord of the Duke’s household would face dire consequences.

Yinyin, though not the top courtesan of the Drunken Fragrance Pavilion, was nonetheless renowned in the Music Bureau. At that moment, she knelt pale-faced before a bronze mirror, haunted by memories of the cold gleam of a dagger in a certain gentleman’s hand. At the sound of the door opening, she was so startled she nearly collapsed.

“Yinyin…” Qin Muchuan’s anger faded by half at the sight of her, and seeing her pallor, the rest vanished completely.

“Young Master Qin,” Yinyin said quickly, “Today is your wedding day. I hope you will not neglect your new bride.”

“You’re as considerate as ever.” Qin Muchuan approached, reaching out as he always did to arrange her hair, but Yinyin recoiled in fright, as though he were forcing her.

“I—I’ve caught a cold recently, cough, cough… I wouldn’t want to pass it to you, my lord. I mustn’t let you come near.” She clutched her chest and coughed violently, not even bothering to cover her mouth.

Qin Muchuan frowned and stepped back, but still pressed on, refusing to give up. “Why are you getting married? I promised to buy your freedom—why couldn’t you wait for me?”

If she waited any longer, she’d be dead and buried! Yinyin cursed inwardly, but outwardly maintained her frail composure. “You are now married, and I am but a woman of the dust. I could never be accepted into your household.”

“So you’re like all the others now? It’s just about money, isn’t it? If you’re willing, we could retire to the countryside, live simply, just the two of us—wouldn’t that be enough?”

Yinyin saw the seriousness in his eyes and felt a genuine ache in her chest. She stood abruptly. “Young Master, look at my hands—do they look fit for hard labor?” She glanced at Qin Muchuan. “You live in wealth and can sneer at money, but I am just a weak woman. Without money, I’d be worse off than a beggar!”

Qin Muchuan was stunned, unable to believe this mercenary woman was the same Yinyin he loved. Only days ago, they had played music and recited poetry together. His family urged him to pursue an official career, which he refused—only Yinyin understood him, quoting Zhuangzi to encourage him. Yet in just three days, she had become a different person. He grew angry. “Did someone force you to say this?”

“No one forced me!” Having come this far, there was no turning back. Entertaining these young lords with poetry had only ever been a means to earn their money; she’d always secretly despised their naivety. Yinyin knew she could never reach Qin Muchuan’s level, and the farther she stayed from him, the better. There was no need to spare his feelings. “Today I watched your wedding procession from the roadside—the bride was welcomed with honor, in a grand sedan chair. Even at my best, my fate would be to become someone’s concubine. But if a woman can become a legitimate wife, why should she willingly choose to be less? Now someone wants to marry me as his wife—why shouldn’t I accept? I can’t aspire to your status, my lord; marrying a merchant is my own choice. No one forced me.”

“So you care so much about status? Even if you can’t be my wife, I would cherish you above all others—why chase such empty titles?” Qin Muchuan gave a bitter smile.

“Only with proper status can there be righteousness! I am already scorned by the world as a courtesan. You stand above us all—how could you know our suffering?” The more Yinyin spoke, the angrier she became, until at last she declared, “Besides, I could never accept your affection! A husband who abandons his new bride on their wedding night to seek pleasure elsewhere—is that the kind of man I should marry?”

“You—!” Qin Muchuan shook with fury. Was it not for her sake that he’d risked so much to sneak out? “Yinyin, how could you be so heartless? Does our past mean nothing compared to a merchant’s wealth?”

“You think yourself a man of passion, but in truth, you are the most heartless of all.” She looked at him with contempt, voicing her true feelings without restraint. “Marriage is arranged by parents and matchmakers, uniting two families. For you to disregard your family’s honor and seek pleasure elsewhere on your wedding night is unfilial; to neglect your wife, your equal, is unfeeling. How can someone so unfilial and unfeeling expect me to accept him?”

“She Yinyin, you—you are insolent!”

Hearing the commotion, the madam called the guards, who rushed in. Yinyin stood in a corner, while the zither table had been upended by Qin Muchuan’s rage. The madam quickly stepped in front of Yinyin. “Young Master Qin, our girl’s words may have been harsh, but today is your wedding day. It wouldn’t do for others to see you here. While it’s quiet, you’d best leave.”

“You’re throwing me out?” Qin Muchuan sneered.

The madam squared her shoulders. “If you wish to see it that way, I have nothing more to say.”

Noticing the gathering guards, Qin Muchuan laughed coldly. “Has the Drunken Fragrance Pavilion grown so bold?” He clenched his fists.

The madam was no stranger to trouble—one needed some cunning to run a pavilion in the capital’s Music Bureau. These young lords were intimidating only when they had money, but they wouldn’t dare disgrace their families by causing real trouble.

Qin Muchuan had brought only one servant with him. A wise man bends when necessary; he declared, “In all my life, I’ve never been so humiliated by a courtesan. Yinyin, don’t blame me for being heartless from now on!” With that, he stormed off with his servant.

As the voices faded, Yinyin slid to the floor, weak with relief. “At last, it’s over. He won’t come again…”

The madam patted her face. “Girl, this is a blessing for you—and for our pavilion. From now on, you needn’t receive any more guests; stay by my side, and I’ll find you a good match someday. Consider it our way of repaying you.”

“Thank you, Madam.” Yinyin immediately smiled, but then asked, “I once heard Young Master Qin say he had three decent maids at home—I wonder…”

The madam waved her fan with an inscrutable smile. “Let each find their own way, my dear—why worry about others’ business? Now tidy up this mess!”

With that gentleman’s protection, the Gu family’s daughter would surely be safe from any harm.