Volume 1 Chapter 44 You Should Go Find Su Ying'er

"What!"

Chang Chunsheng exclaimed, "Dead... dead? How is that possible?"

"That is merely your subordinate's speculation, but I believe there might be an exceptional expert backing Fan Xiu! Not only did this person deal with the three men, but they also managed to suppress the county magistrate's office," the steward bowed and said.

Chang Chunsheng's expression tightened. "If that's truly the case, we are in deep trouble! Arrange a meeting with Zhao Defu for me; I need to question him."

***

Meanwhile.

Fan Xiu and Shadow found Wang Xianliang at the academy.

Inside the classroom, over twenty students were seated and reading aloud.

When Fan Xiu and Shadow appeared, a wave of commotion instantly rippled through the room.

"Is that the Provincial Graduate Fan?"

"It really is him! Why is he here?"

"I heard he abandoned his scholarly pursuits for business. A Provincial Graduate actually turning to trade—is he out of his mind?"

"..."

Hearing the whispers, Wang Xianliang turned his head to look at Fan Xiu outside.

Then,

"Humph!"

Wang Xianliang let out a heavy, cold snort, turned back around, and thrust his hands behind his back, refusing to face Fan Xiu.

Fan Xiu walked up to the entrance, cupped his fists toward Wang Xianliang, and said, "Student pays his respects to Teacher."

"Huh?"

Wang Xianliang tilted his head up and muttered, "What was that sound?"

Yet, he still kept his back turned to Fan Xiu.

Fan Xiu rubbed his nose in embarrassment.

It seemed this Wang Xianliang held a very strong grudge against him.

However, Fan Xiu understood.

After all, he had been back for so long without coming to pay respects to Wang Xianliang. Furthermore, as Wang Xianliang's student, he had forsaken scholarship for commerce; it was entirely reasonable for Wang Xianliang to harbor resentment.

"Student Fan Xiu pays respects to Teacher."

Fan Xiu bowed deeply.

Only then did Wang Xianliang turn his head back, tilting it up as he looked at Fan Xiu. "Oh, if it isn't the great Scholar Fan! What wind blew you here?"

"Student has missed Teacher, so I came specifically to pay a visit. This is some cured meat I brought for Teacher." Fan Xiu maintained his bow and produced a piece of cured meat he had prepared.

As a county instructor, Wang Xianliang held an official rank of his own; even the county magistrate had to treat him with utmost courtesy.

Fan Xiu certainly didn't dare to offend this old man.

"No need."

Wang Xianliang waved a hand dismissively. "I dare not claim to be your teacher. After all, you are destined to be a great merchant."

Fan Xiu let out a wry laugh. "Fan Xiu will always be Teacher's student."

Watching Fan Xiu take a blow to his pride, Shadow couldn't help the corners of her mouth curling upward.

This Fan Xiu—

she never expected there would actually be someone he was afraid of.

"Humph!"

Wang Xianliang tossed his head, though he stepped outside.

Fan Xiu hurried to follow.

Arriving at the pavilion, Wang Xianliang finally stopped, turned to look at Fan Xiu, and asked, "Are you here because of the incident involving Liu Wenyan and the others?"

Fan Xiu cupped his fists. "Nothing escapes Teacher's eyes."

"Don't try to play dumb with me."

Wang Xianliang waved his hand with a dark expression. "You are a Provincial Graduate, yet you cast aside scholarship to dabble in trade. Liu Wenyan and the others certainly won't sit idly by. What were you thinking? Passing up a proper official career as a Graduate to learn commerce?"

Fan Xiu forced a bitter smile. "Teacher, I have my own unspeakable difficulties."

He surely couldn't tell the man that he was a transmigrator who didn't understand the Four Books and Five Classics at all, could he?

From the original owner's memories, he did retain a fair bit of knowledge.

But it was limited to mere comprehension.

Much like watching a television show, you might remember the general plot, but could you recite every single line of dialogue?

"Enough," Wang Xianliang said.

"I am glad that you came to see me, but I am very displeased that you waited until you had been back in your hometown for so long to visit! As for your business ventures, I cannot help you. Your teacher is a scholar and will not meddle in commercial affairs."

Fan Xiu chuckled with a grin. "Teacher, I didn't come to ask for your help with business; I came to invite you to a meal."

Wang Xianliang narrowed his eyes and smiled. "You rascal, are you trying to get me to endorse you for publicity? That cold skin noodle dish of yours—I've tried it, and the taste is indeed quite good."

"Ah?"

Fan Xiu said in astonishment, "You... you've tried it? How did I not know? When did you go?"

For the past few days, he had practically lived at the Knowing Taste Pavilion, yet he had neither seen Wang Xianliang nor heard Zhao Defu mention it.

Wang Xianliang sneered. "Some of the students brought it over, is that not allowed? As for going out to eat, I won't go. Don't even dream of using my prestige as a tiger's skin to make your grand cloak! However, Su Ying'er is currently in Zhiyuan County. You can go look for her and say I sent you. Whether she is willing to help you or not, however, will depend entirely on your own capability."

Fan Xiu asked in pleasant surprise, "Teacher knows Su Ying'er?"

He had actually thought of seeking out Su Ying'er previously.

Yet, she was the premier courtesan of the Intoxicated Immortal House; he feared he wouldn't even be able to catch a glimpse of her.

"Considered an acquaintance,"

Wang Xianliang sighed. "When I was studying in the capital years ago, I had some friendship with her father. She is also a tragic soul. You may go and try your luck. If she is willing to help you, then nothing else will be a problem."

Fan Xiu bowed deeply. "Thank you, Teacher."

"Alright, take your meat back. Next time you come, remember to bring wine," Wang Xianliang instructed.

"The meat is for the Madam, how could I take it back? Next time I come, I will definitely bring fine wine," Fan Xiu replied.

"You rascal," Wang Xianliang shook his head with a smile.

After leaving the academy, Fan Xiu drove his donkey cart straight toward the Intoxicated Immortal House.

"Fan Xiu, are you really going to look for that Su Ying'er?" Shadow asked.

"What other choice is there?"

Fan Xiu retorted, then asked with a curious look, "Could it be that you know Su Ying'er too?"

Shadow shook her head. "I don't know her personally, only of her. The head of the Su family was originally the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review. Because he was implicated in the Prince Liang affair, his estate was confiscated, and Su Ying'er ended up in the Intoxicated Immortal House. Relying on her talent and beauty, she became the number one courtesan."

There was one detail she kept from Fan Xiu.

Not only did she know Su Ying'er, but she was the one who had personally led the troops to ransack the Su estate!

Su Ying'er ought to hate her to the marrow of her bones!

Yet, given her current appearance, Su Ying'er likely wouldn't recognize her.

After all, no matter how wild Su Ying'er's imagination ran, she would never suspect that the dignified commander of the Blood Feather Guards had run off to a place like Zhiyuan County, wearing ragged clothes and driving a donkey cart!

Fan Xiu rubbed his chin. "I see. Let's go take a look first. If it doesn't work out, we'll think of something else."

Meanwhile,

At the Intoxicated Immortal House, on the top floor.

Behind light gauze curtains, beside a sandalwood carved-wood screen and a zither desk, a woman dressed in a moon-white immortal-style gown gently plucked a guqin.

At that moment,

A maid walked in, bowed, and said, "Mistress, Scholar Liu Wenyan has come again. He has brought a poem as a gift and wishes for an audience."

"Not seeing him."

The woman before the guqin lightly stroked the dark hair at her temples, revealing a pearl pendant dangling from her earlobe.

"Understood."

The maid acknowledged the order and left the room.

At the same time, a woman with a bewitching and seductive gait walked in from outside—none other than Guo Xiulan.

"Little Sister Ying'er,"

Guo Xiulan carried a small basket, swaying her hips as she walked up beside the woman at the guqin, and smiled, "I've brought you your cold skin noodles. These are fresh; they're bound to be more delicious than the last batch."

With that,

She placed the small basket beside the guqin, gazing at the woman before her—whose face resembled a lotus blossom, whose skin was like snow, and who exuded an aura of scholarly grace—with a look of involuntary admiration.

The woman before her was none other than the Intoxicated Immortal House's premier courtesan, Su Ying'er.

The extraordinary beauty that countless influential officials and wealthy nobles dreamed of seeing even just once.