spoiled brat

Chapter 63, Section 62: Xiu Ning (Part Two)

Who brings up unlucky things on someone's birthday? Xu Feng's face darkened, and You Ming spoke up like a dog wagging its tail: "Young Master, today is a joyous occasion."

Xiu Yi glanced around. A happy occasion? In a large cage filled with the smells of alcohol and perfume, everyone was chatting and laughing with their own ulterior motives. Beneath the dignified facade, there were only petty thieves and scoundrels.

Fearing that Xiu Yi might say something discouraging, You Ming took a wine cup and went up to offer a toast. He downed a full cup of Gansu-style strong liquor and said, "There was a little disagreement a few days ago, but it was all a misunderstanding. I will come to apologize in a few days."

You Ming originally thought he could get away with it, but Xiu Yi showed no mercy and said, "One hundred and thirty-eight lives, Lord You, you have quite the spirit. You can wipe away lives with just a word of apology."

This was clearly a deliberate attempt to provoke trouble. You Ming felt a chill run down his spine under Xiu Yi's gaze, as if he were being snatched by a raptor. He panicked and didn't know how to answer. Just then, the Kunqu opera outside suddenly stopped, and the zither, flute, and drums began to play, composing a warm and joyful melody.

Just then, the steward of the You family returned, knelt down, and said to Xu Feng with a beaming smile, "Sir, my master has sent a tribute—"

Judging from that greasy smile, Xiu Yi guessed that Xiao Jing was a woman. He found this kind of thing disgusting and turned to look at Xiu Ning. Xiu Ning still had that indifferent expression and gestured to say, "It's not these women who are dirty."

Not dirty yet?
A girl of about sixteen or seventeen years old appeared from behind the steward of the You family. She was adorable and walked with a shaky gait. The pointed toes of her small shoes were faintly visible under her skirt. She walked to Xu Feng's side like a willow in the wind. Xu Feng's eyes lit up and he hugged her tightly. He almost drooled: "Oh my, my darling, sit on my lap and rest. Don't hurt your little feet."

Driven by lust, Xu Feng disregarded others and his reputation. He placed one fat hand on the girl's waist and reached under her skirt with the other, making the girl giggle.

When he took his hand out again, there was a small trinket in his palm—the girl's little shoe, with delicate and adorable embroidery.

Xu Feng wanted to smell it, but held back out of embarrassment. You Ming understood him, and immediately placed a small cup into the shoe, filling it steadily, and said to the girl, "Aren't you going to offer it to my godfather?"

This was called "serving wine with brothel shoes," a strange habit left over from the pedantic scholars of the previous dynasty, which few people indulged in nowadays. The officials below found it both novel and bizarre, and their eyes widened in astonishment.

The girl was shy and coy, playing hard to get, keeping Xu Feng in suspense.

You Ming watched anxiously from the sidelines. This hastily found prostitute wasn't as sensible as Wang Liuer; she might just extinguish Xu Feng's passion. He glanced at the steward, who sensibly withdrew.

The scene was filthy and disgusting, and Xiu Yi felt nauseous. He turned his head, wanting to ask Xiu Ning if she had had enough fun, but saw that Xiu Ning was listening intently to the music played by the musicians, her eyes lowered, as if she was thinking.

The tune was a popular one, but one note was strangely clear. Xiu Yi listened closely and exclaimed, "What a plaintive pipa sound!"

Xiu Ning smiled and gestured, as if she had been forced into it.

For some reason, the musicians on the water platforms gradually stopped, leaving only the sound of a pipa. The pipa was initially played in the old tune, but gradually changed, and the languid sound grew colder and colder. Listening to it through the water, it even had a chilling and murderous aura, like a cold wind blowing away the warm and cloying atmosphere.

You Ming's face turned pale, and Xu Feng's anger subsided. He looked up and followed the sound of the pipa, only to see the person playing the pipa sitting alone on the water platform directly opposite the small flower hall. The person had fair skin and a thin body, but his appearance was too far away to be clearly seen.

Seeing that Xu Feng was almost completely bewitched, the girl dared not tease him any longer. She sweetly offered him the golden lotus cup and gently invited him to drink.

Xu Feng didn't even glance at the girl, gulped down his wine, and beckoned to You Ming, asking, "Did you arrange that girl?" You Ming was initially afraid that Xu Feng would be angry, but seeing the fire in his eyes, he knew that Xu Feng had hit a nerve and readily answered yes.

Xu Feng lost interest in the girl in his arms: "Quickly call her up!"

Before You Ming could lead his men up, a loud crash was heard as a wine pot shattered on the ground. Everyone in the hall looked in the direction of the sound and saw that the two siblings at the head of the table had already stood up, both dressed in frosty white, like two cold and sharp beams of light.

"Lord Xu, you'd better watch yourself," Xiu Yi said calmly.

Before Xu Feng could even offer a few perfunctory words of farewell, they had already left their seats, and the attendants of the Prince of Ning's residence rushed forward to escort them out.

They stirred up trouble first, and now they're blatantly showing no respect. What does that mean?
A drunken old official swaggered out and blocked Xiu Ning and Xiu Yi's path, acting out of drunkenness: "This humble official has long heard that the princess's chess skills are unparalleled. I wonder if it's true? May I give you some pointers today?"

The old rogue specifically targeted the girls, indirectly humiliating the Prince Ning's mansion. Everyone thought this capricious young master was about to lose his temper, but to their surprise, he remained unfazed and glanced sideways at his younger sister beside him.

The two men exchanged a glance, their similar faces bearing a faint hint of mockery, as if the man before them was not a provocative old rogue, but a plaything for their amusement.

Silence is a sign of contempt. The old official's face turned even redder. He introduced himself in a hoarse voice: "I am Li Wusheng. I have been studying chess for more than thirty years. I am confident that I am worthy of playing a game with the princess. I hope that the princess will take the time to give me some pointers and encourage me!"

His hair was white, yet he referred to himself as a junior to the fifteen-year-old Xiu Ning, seemingly putting himself in a very low position, but in reality, he was forcing Xiu Ning to submit.

A few snickers suddenly rang out behind him: "What's the fun in playing chess without a wager?" Xu Feng, supporting his belly, stepped forward and added fuel to the fire, saying, "Since we're in my humble abode, the wager will naturally be provided by me. May I ask, Princess, is there anything in this mansion that you'd like to see?"

The previous sentence was about giving advice, and this turned into a bet. Xiu Ning didn't feel offended; on the contrary, he became a little interested. He calmly glanced around and pointed his jade-white hand in the distance.

Everyone assumed she had taken a fancy to some treasure, and following her fingertips, they discovered it was a pipa player performing a solo on the water platform.

Someone in the crowd shouted, "They just ordered a show with prostitutes, and now they're using musicians as prizes. Who are they really looking down on?"

One stone stirs up a thousand waves, creating a great uproar, and all pretense of politeness vanishes.

Xu Feng didn't call for a stop, intending to watch the excitement. Unexpectedly, a cold light suddenly flashed before his eyes, and the dozen or so close attendants protecting Xiu Yi and Xiu Ning drew their swords. Everyone retreated in panic, and the hall fell into a deathly silence.

The head attendant was a lean, dark-faced man, clearly trained by Hebi. He swept his glare over the crowd and said coldly, "If you have anything to say, feel free to speak to me." After a moment's silence, he raised his hand, and the dozen or so gleaming knives vanished as quickly as snow melting in the wind, leaving no trace.

Xu Feng had seen a lot and was thick-skinned enough, so he smiled and tried to smooth things over: "What's all the noise about? Hurry up and bring the chess set and tea table."

Several servants answered yes and were about to leave when Xiu Yi asked, "Li Wusheng, do you know how to play blindfold chess?"

(End of this chapter)