Chapter 191 - My Son Is so Good!
Tonight, the West Side Red Chamber hosted an unusual group of guests. Leading them was a striking figure, possessing a commanding presence and a pair of piercing eagle-like eyes.
Standing beside him was a youth, noticeably shorter but exuding exceptional handsomeness. Despite encountering many attractive men in her profession, the brothel owner couldn't deny the youth's ability to captivate attention.
Many patrons couldn't help but gaze at the youth, though they refrained from making advances due to the intimidating presence of the other youth beside him.
Yet, the brothel owner wasn't surprised. Her attention was drawn to the young child in the boy's arms, confirming repeatedly that it was indeed a toddler.
Presuming the youth to be a young master indulging in whims, accompanied by his younger sibling, the brothel owner found the situation peculiar but didn't bar them from entry.
With a welcoming smile, she inquired, “Are you new here, guests?”
A sudden gust of fragrant air prompted Zuo Xiaolang to sneeze loudly, seeking refuge in Zuo Shaoqing's embrace and inadvertently directing his backside toward the middle-aged woman.
Zuo Shaoqing comforted him with a pat on the back, simultaneously stepping back.
“A private chamber,” declared the lead youth in a commanding tone, exuding an air of authority.
The brothel owner felt a slight unease, accustomed as she was to dealing with influential individuals over the years. Yet, the young man before her refrained from any impulsive actions.
“Alright, alright. Please follow me upstairs… Do you have any preferences among our ladies? Moxiang is our esteemed Courtesan Belle this year. She excels in zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting.”
“Hua Kui?” Zuo Shaoqing inquired with interest. “She must be exceptionally beautiful. Should we request a performance from her?”
Despite Lu Zheng's thick nasal voice, Zuo Shaoqing didn't hesitate to respond directly to the brothel owner, “Since you speak highly of her, then summon her. A musical interlude would be pleasant.”
Observing their lavish attire and valuable accessories, the brothel owner remained unruffled by their slightly haughty demeanor.
Seated in the private chamber, the trio were accompanied by their vigilant bodyguards stationed outside, casting wary glances at passersby.
A drunken youth approached, arm around a companion, jesting, “Looks like a country bumpkin's wandered into town. Even the Prefect doesn't boast such opulence. What's your game?”
His companion chuckled, “Sir Lin is a modest and unassuming man. It's only natural he wouldn't flaunt his wealth.”
Inside the private room, Zuo Shaoqing and his son surveyed their surroundings with curiosity, while Lu Zheng remained seated, indulging in his wine.
They brought their own wine, aware that consumables in such establishments weren't necessarily hygienic.
“What's worth seeing in a place like this?” Master Lu, disliking disturbances, frowned as the lewd cacophony seeped through the thin walls.
“Certainly, there's nothing particularly noteworthy there. The focal point should be observing people. Didn't you hear the bawd mention the Courtesan Belle to admire?” I've never laid eyes on a Courtesan Belle myself.” Zuo Shaoqing had never encountered a Courtesan Belle in his two lifetimes, hence his curiosity piqued by Hua Kui's flattery.
“You ordinary fan, depart once you've had your fill of watching!”
At that moment, the door swung open, revealing a graceful figure behind the curtain. A clear and aloof voice resounded, “If the young master holds Moxiang in such low regard, why linger here?”
Oh, the beauty has quite the temper. Zuo Shaoqing coughed dryly and inquired humbly, “Is this the customary practice of the Red Chamber of Commerce?”
A hand akin to jade raised the curtain, casting the flickering candlelight upon her form. At a single glance, she was indeed captivating.
The light green pleated skirt trailed along the ground with her movements, her indifferent demeanor seemingly out of place in both the brothel and the Chu residence. It bore a unique allure.
Yet, that was all. Zuo Shaoqing was no stranger to such scenes. Even the stunning Fifth Princess aside, Zuo Shuhui lacked the overt lustfulness of this so-called Courtesan Belle.
Upon catching sight of the trio, a peculiar expression flitted across Hua Kui's face. He shifted his stance slightly and lowered his head, remarking, “It's not about fleeting infatuations, but rather, it's akin to rectifying past errors. Sometimes, flowers wither, while others bloom anew; yet it's always the Eastern Monarch. Young Master, why must you trouble this young lady?”
Lu Zheng held no fondness for scholarly types and consequently paid little attention to cultured women. He didn't even spare her a proper glance.
Zuo Shaoqing seldom interacted with girls of such tender age. Aside from the maids in the mansion, only Zuo Shuhui held any familiarity for Zuo Shaoqing. However, this elder sister had left a lasting impression, fostering within him a disdain for such affected women.
Though disappointed inwardly, he exhibited no interest outwardly, instructing, “I've heard of your proficiency in the arts. Can you play as well?”
“Naturally.”
“Then let's have some music. We can't just come here for nothing,” Zuo Shaoqing grinned.
Moxiang had never encountered such an unromantic visitor, particularly the handsome youth who seemed reluctant to enter. Could it be that she failed to catch his interest?
“Ah…” “Zither…” Zuo Xiaolang teased from the side. His hands slammed onto the porcelain plates on the table with force, creating a crisp noise. He even cheered when he saw the plates shatter.
Zuo Shaoqing rubbed his head and withdrew his hand from the pile of broken porcelain. Glancing around to ensure he hadn't cut himself, he scolded, “I've never seen such rough little hands before, they're so unsightly!”
Lil Thing's hands, having served as feet for so long, had become calloused from running around in the forest. They felt rough and bark-like to the touch, far from resembling those of a delicate child.
Yet, Zuo Shaoqing had no intention of pampering him. Perhaps the reason he favored this child was because he saw in him the same wildness and toughness that Lu Zheng possessed at that age, making him feel as though he saw Lu Zheng himself.
He had told Lu Zheng more than once that this child should bear the surname Lu instead of Zuo. Just look at how much they resembled each other.
“Little one, do you know what a zither is?” Zuo Shaoqing patted his cheek playfully.
“Ah…” Whenever Zuo Xiaolang struggled to express himself, he often responded with this monosyllabic sound.
Moxiang stood still, her captivating eyes observing the interaction between the two with curiosity, unable to decipher their relationship.
Zuo Shaoqing used a handkerchief to clean Zuo Xiaolang's hands and gave him a piece of fruit. When he looked up, he noticed Hua Kui was still lingering. He impatiently urged him, “Get moving, and make preparations!”
Moxiang snapped back to reality and clapped her hands. A maid approached, bearing a zither and an incense burner.
Zuo Shaoqing had dabbled in various arts such as zither, chess, and painting, but he was least familiar with music. Firstly, he lacked the time and energy to practice the zither, and secondly, he didn't possess the requisite talent.
The melodious strains of the zither filled the air, sounding mournful, as though it sought to unearth the hidden sorrows within one's heart.
Had any other scholar been present, they might have been inspired to compose a poem of melancholy, but unfortunately, the three current spectators lacked the capacity to appreciate it.
Upon hearing the soft tones of the zither, Lu Zheng felt a sense of heaviness engulf him, even spoiling his mood for drinking.
Zuo Shaoqing simply found Hua Kui's zither skills mediocre, falling short of true proficiency.
Zuo Xiaolang was entirely ignorant of music. Initially, he gazed curiously at the source of the strange sound, but later, he entertained himself.
Lu Zheng had indulged in quite a bit of drink that night. He lounged lazily in his chair, resting his feet on Zuo Shaoqing's legs, while staring intently at the side of Zuo Shaoqing's face.
Uncomfortable with the scrutiny, Zuo Shaoqing's hands found their way to Ye Zichen's calves, kneading them. “How about… we leave? This place is dreadfully dull. Perhaps we could visit the tavern next time.”
Lu Zheng grabbed a piece of cake and stuffed it into his mouth, then prodded his puffy cheek, saying, “Would you be willing to leave?”
What's there to hesitate about? Zuo Shaoqing made an effort to finish chewing his food. He glanced at the lively Zuo Xiaolang and advised, “Little one, it's time for bed now. You shouldn't abandon your recently formed habit halfway.”
Moxiang's fingers tensed as she observed the intimate interaction between the two. Her playing on the zither began to falter. Fortunately, the attention of the three spectators wasn't on her, so she paid it no mind.
Moxiang had never felt so embarrassed and enraged, being completely disregarded by others. She had initially assumed these two men were aloof, only to realize it was due to their relationship.
“Are the two young masters intentionally humiliating Moxiang?” Moxiang's indifferent fa?ade crumbled as the strings of her lute quivered.
Zuo Shaoqing innocently gazed at the person they had disregarded and casually gestured, “Ah, why are you still here? There's no need for you to linger. You may depart.”
“You…” Moxiang's embarrassment turned to anger as she shot a pleading glance at the elder of the two men. In her view, the two were likely master and servant. Perhaps the younger one was merely a pampered pet.
Liu Tie used a handkerchief to wipe cake crumbs from his hand. Standing up, he scooped up the playful Zuo Xiaolang and placed his other hand on Wu Tie's waist. “Let's go.”
Passing by Moxiang, Zuo Xiaolang gazed up at the sparkling jewelry adorning her head. With an “Ah” sound, he wriggled free from Lu Zheng's grasp and leaped toward Moxiang. With lightning speed, he plucked off the hairpins and pearl flowers from her head, startling her.
Startled by her scream, Zuo Xiaolang dropped the trinket in his hand and scrambled off her, seeking refuge behind Zuo Shaoqing.
“What's… What's this…” Moxiang's hair was tangled into a mess as she pointed shakily at the young man standing before the culprit, or rather, the instigator. “What's the meaning of this?”
Zuo Shaoqing raised an eyebrow and sighed, “What a mischievous child. Please accept our apologies, Miss. Consider these pearl hairpins as a gift from us.” With that, he handed over a silver note.
At that moment, the door swung open. It was evident that the old procurer had heard the commotion and hurried over, followed by a few onlookers. Spotting Moxiang in disarray, the old procurer entered the room.
Zuo Shaoqing handed the notes to her and smiled without explanation, “We should depart now.”
He hoisted Zuo Xiaolang onto his back and gave his rear end a playful pinch. Then, amidst the bewildered gazes of onlookers, he departed.
Many witnessed Moxiang's disheveled appearance and automatically assumed the haughty young master had made advances on her. After all, Moxiang was a chambermaid, and with no skills to offer, it wasn't inconceivable that force might be employed.
An indignant scholar stood up, “Such impolite guests! We shouldn't have let them leave so easily!”
He never imagined his first encounter with Lady Moxiang would be like this. He had to admit, Lady Moxiang was currently in a sorry state.
The procurer pocketed the banknotes with a wide smile, “It's nothing, just a misunderstanding. Moxiang, return to your quarters and rest. We won't be entertaining guests tonight.”
Moxiang's face burned with shame and fury as she pushed aside the maids and fled, hands covering her face.
The family of three exited the Red Chamber of Commerce and boarded a carriage. Zuo Shaoqing regarded the little one disdainfully as he played with the pearl, “What's with this? This is for ladies. Don't tell me you aspire to be a lecher?”
Zuo Xiaolang waved his foot, “Ah, ah!” then handed the largest pearl to Zuo Shaoqing. “Daddy, keep it!”
Unsure what to do with it, Zuo Shaoqing sighed and tousled Xiaolang's hair, “Xiaolang is such a good boy!”
Praised, Zuo Xiaolang grinned, then tossed the pearl away and nestled into Zuo Shaoqing's arms.
Lu Zheng's lips twitched. He increasingly felt the little one was becoming a nuisance.
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