Chapter Seventeen: Provocation
In an instant.
Ma Yingze looked at Qin Hao as if he had seen a long-lost relative.
How had he never thought of this before?
Indeed, just one night’s sleep—how simple could it be?
By then, he would disgust that Qingqiu for good.
“Brother, you’re right! I’ll have someone bring the money from home right now. Ha ha, ha ha ha ha!”
Ma Yingze felt a surge of joy in his heart.
The Young Master of Qingqiu was dumbfounded.
This...
Qin Hao’s proposal was something he had never expected.
But what he said was entirely possible.
With Ma Yingze’s status, even the owner of the Fengyue House would have to show some respect.
He was immediately panicked.
Qin Hao stopped Ma Yingze and said, “Brother Ma, don’t really go. We’re just proving that it’s possible to sleep with the top courtesan.”
“Unlike some people, who want to be bootlickers but can’t even achieve that.”
“Pretending to be a courtesan while maintaining a facade—worthless.”
“Pfft!”
The Young Master of Qingqiu spat out a mouthful of blood, his face turning pale in an instant.
Those around were stunned.
Where had this Mr. Shen suddenly appeared from—such a formidable figure!
It must be known that the Young Master of Qingqiu had never lost in rhetoric.
Yet here he was, made to vomit blood by Mr. Shen!
Amazing!
No doubt, after tonight, Mr. Shen’s name would spread throughout the capital.
Seeing this, Qin Hao didn’t continue to beat a fallen dog. He raised an eyebrow at Ma Yingze and said, “Brother Ma, shall we head to Fengya?”
Mainly because Qin Hao was hungry, his stomach burning uncomfortably.
“Ha ha ha ha, let’s go to Fengya—definitely Fengya.”
With that, Qin Hao and Ma Yingze linked arms and entered the Fengyue House.
The attendants who had tried to block Qin Hao now dared not stand in their way.
Ma Yingze, the young master, had an intimidatingly high status—even among the notorious scoundrels of the capital, he ranked among the top.
As soon as Qin Hao and Ma Yingze entered, a beautiful woman approached to lead them to a private chamber.
They ordered a table full of wine and dishes. Ma Yingze dismissed his men and raised his cup with a hearty voice: “Brother Shen, I acknowledge you as a brother. If you ever need anything in the capital, just say my name.”
“I’ll drink to that!”
He downed the cup in one gulp.
Qin Hao matched him drink for drink without hesitation.
With a broad smile, Qin Hao said, “Brother Ma, I must thank you for standing up for me first. I won’t let a brother who defends me feel disheartened.”
At this moment,
The Young Master of Qingqiu was shamelessly propped up and brought inside.
Coincidentally, Qin Hao’s and Ma Yingze’s private chamber was on the second floor—right above where the Young Master of Qingqiu was.
As soon as Qin Hao spoke, the Young Master of Qingqiu heard it.
“Pfft!”
He spat another mouthful of old blood.
Those around hurriedly carried him aside, pinching his philtrum and wiping the blood—chaos ensued.
Ma Yingze saw this and gave Qin Hao a thumbs-up.
He felt coming to the Fengyue House tonight was absolutely the right choice.
Perfect!
His entire being felt clear and unburdened.
His resolve enlightened!
Qin Hao shrugged.
The meaning was: this isn’t my fault.
Who told someone to be so petty?
Especially since Miss Mei and Miss Xue had yet to make their appearance.
Qin Hao and Ma Yingze drank and chatted heartily.
Only then did Qin Hao learn of Ma Yingze’s identity.
No wonder everyone at the Fengyue House called him Young Master Ma.
He was, in fact, the sole grandson of Duke Zheng!
The Great Jing Dynasty had been established for seventy years.
Duke Zheng had been a veteran who followed the first emperor to overthrow the tyrannical previous dynasty and usher in a new era.
He was also one of the few founding generals still alive after the first emperor’s death.
Ma Yingze noticed that Qin Hao was neither surprised nor sycophantic upon learning his identity, and he felt this brother was worth acknowledging.
It was just Qin Hao’s appetite that left Ma Yingze stunned.
Though Qin Hao looked so thin, he ate even more than Ma Yingze.
Qin Hao felt a little embarrassed.
But there was no helping it.
He was too hungry—he had already eaten a whole chicken, two pounds of beef, and three bowls of rice, yet still wasn’t full...
At this moment, the Fengyue House grew lively.
Miss Mei and Miss Xue had appeared.
Qin Hao and Ma Yingze turned their heads toward the elevated platform on the second floor.
There, two women appeared—one dressed in white, the other in pink.
Both were graceful, their slender waists and delicate arms captivating.
The woman in white was slightly petite and modestly elegant.
The one in red was voluptuous and seductively fiery.
Yet both wore thin veils over their faces, hiding their features.
But their figures alone stirred the blood of onlookers.
“Good gracious, truly the ancestral selection—what a performance,” Qin Hao couldn’t help but admire.
From his observations, ancient brothels were truly uninhibited.
Many courtesans accompanied patrons first, then accepted payment after.
There was no “pay first, don’t touch here, don’t touch there” nonsense. Even a kiss was rarely so scrutinized.
Even the courtesans’ attire was simple, covering only what should be covered, leaving the rest to the admirer’s delight.
Qin Hao’s blood stirred, yet he winced, knowing his emaciated body was still recovering.
At this moment, a talented suitor could not contain himself and loudly shouted, “Miss Mei, this is a poem I composed for you!”
He raised a paper filled with calligraphy high in the air.
Other suitors noticed and hurriedly also began to recite poems, eager and competitive.
Some wrote for Miss Mei, others for Miss Xue.
Qin Hao scoffed inwardly.
These so-called talents were just inflating prices recklessly.
If it were up to Qin Hao, he would resolutely crack down on the misuse of ransom money for personal gain and reject such price gouging.
Ma Yingze, seeing this, grew agitated and cursed angrily, “Damn it, I can’t stand watching these ‘talents’ pretend. No way, have someone bring a silver note from home—tonight, Miss Mei is mine.”
Qin Hao, due to his weak constitution and need for recovery, had no intention of sleeping with the courtesan. He was content to freeload a meal.
Suddenly,
A somewhat weak yet resolute voice rose above the crowd.
“Miss Mei, this is a poem I have written for you. Please, have a look.”
The speaker was the pale-faced Young Master of Qingqiu.
At this moment, only one attendant remained by his side.
The many suitors stepped aside to make way as he spoke.
Among the three great talents of the capital, only the Young Master of Qingqiu was present tonight.
Everyone knew that the Young Master of Qingqiu was here solely for Miss Mei.
Miss Mei whispered something to her maid.
The maid loudly declared, “Then let us first hear the Young Master of Qingqiu’s poem.”
Proudly, the Young Master of Qingqiu stepped forward, handing the poem to the maid as if he were already the victor—the champion of the evening.
The maid took the poem and read it aloud for all to judge, ensuring fairness.
The poem was titled “Falling Flowers.”
“Early spring sees flower branches,
Each morning hating the late bloom.”
“Watching flowers fall completely,
Yet the heart remains unopened.”
A five-character regulated verse.
In just twenty words, many suitors showed astonishment.
Though the poem never mentioned plum blossoms directly, every line spoke of them.
The suitors who had eagerly offered their poems felt ashamed and withdrew their writings.
Their flowery words paled in comparison to the Young Master of Qingqiu’s simple elegance.
Miss Mei recited the poem softly, then slowly said, “It truly expresses the sorrow of falling flowers.”
The Young Master of Qingqiu lifted his head even higher and said loudly, “Thank you, Miss Mei, for your kind appraisal.”
After speaking, he fell silent, awaiting other suitors’ poems.
Suddenly, his gaze swept toward Qin Hao and Ma Yingze’s private chamber.
Seeing this moment of glory witnessed by them, he spoke again, provocatively embodying a victor’s demeanor:
“To enter the Fengyue House requires true talent and learning.”
“Unlike some who use money to measure refinement, but are in fact unbearably vulgar.”
Hearing this, the crowd followed the Young Master of Qingqiu’s gaze and saw Qin Hao and Ma Yingze.
They knew there had been conflict between Qin Hao and the Young Master of Qingqiu.
Now, seeing Qin Hao with Ma Yingze, they thought Qin Hao was just a crude warrior.
Hence,
Places like the Fengyue House should be reserved for refined literati, not uncouth fighters.
What the hell?
Ma Yingze didn’t understand poetry but wasn’t a fool.
The insult had been delivered to his face. He grabbed a wine jug, ready to smash it.
Qin Hao quickly stopped Ma Yingze.
If the Young Master of Qingqiu wanted to seek trouble, then so be it.
Immediately, Qin Hao addressed all the suitors, “Since the Young Master of Qingqiu has offered a poem, Brother Ma will respond with a ci poem.”
Ma Yingze’s eyes widened as he stared at Qin Hao, about to protest that he couldn’t write.
His expression twisted suddenly as Qin Hao pinched the soft flesh under his arm.
The Young Master of Qingqiu sneered scornfully, “Ha ha ha, what a joke. Who doesn’t know Ma Yingze is a crude warrior?”
“Him?”
“He can write ci poetry?”
“Then by all means, show us and broaden our horizons.”
“Don’t give us some clumsy verses a toddler couldn’t write.”
Ma Yingze wanted to retort again.
Qin Hao pinched harder.
Ma Yingze fell silent.
Qin Hao spoke on his behalf, “Very well, today we shall let you see Brother Ma’s scholarship.”
“Let us open your eyes and show you what true ci poetry is.”
“Bring the brush and ink!”
...