Volume Two: Following in the Father's Footsteps, Brocaded Garments Stained with Blood - Chapter 157: The Eight Beauties of Qinhuai

Yuan Rong clenched his fists tightly, his voice burning with anger. "That bastard... I... I'll go find him." He started to get up to leave, but before he had taken two steps, Ning Yang said faintly, "Who are you going to find? Ding Yitu? Are you planning to fight him or reason with him?"

"I...!"

Ning Yang sneered. "You are the young master of a grand Minister of Rites' estate. To go and pick a fight with the chief escort of the Rising Sun Escort Agency—leaving aside whether you even have the capability to do so, what if you actually win? What good would that do?"

Yuan Rong was taken aback.

"You know Ding Yitu's strength better than I do," Ning Yang said slowly. "This isn't a dispute that can be settled with a single brawl." He smiled faintly. "Yuan Rong, if I may say something you won't like to hear: if it truly comes down to raw strength, the young master of the Ministry of Rites might not necessarily measure up to the chief escort of the Rising Sun Escort Agency."

Though anger still flickered in Yuan Rong's eyes, his expression turned gloomy and dejected.

At that very moment, a voice drifted over from the distance. "Brother Yuan? Is that Brother Yuan over there?"

Yuan Rong was startled and looked in the direction of the voice. He saw that, at some point, another painted pleasure boat had drawn close. The distance between the two boats was extremely narrow. The other boat was brilliantly lit with lanterns, and several people were standing on the deck near the railing, waving over toward them.

Yuan Rong stepped closer to the side, glanced across, and cupped his fists toward them. "Is that Brother Zhu?"

"Indeed, it is Zhu Yuchen," a voice called out with a laugh from the other vessel. "Brother Yuan, the few of us were just talking about you. On such a grand day, a prominent young master like you would never stay cooped up at home. We have wine and food here; care to come over and share a couple of cups?"

Though Yuan Rong was in low spirits, he still replied with polished courtesy, "Please enjoy yourselves, gentlemen. I've already had quite enough to drink on this side."

"Who else might not know young master Yuan's capacity for wine, but how could I, Zhu Yuchen, not know?" the man laughed. "Just wait right there, I'll introduce a few friends to you."

With no other choice, Yuan Rong walked back to the table. Ning Yang smiled and said, "It seems you truly have friends all over the world."

"Zhu Yuchen is the eldest young master of the Zhu Family Silk Firm in Hangzhou. There are many wealthy households in Hangzhou, and the most famous among them is the Zhu family's silk business," Yuan Rong explained. "With their immense wealth, the Zhu family stands at the pinnacle of Hangzhou's wealthy merchants. He has an uncle by blood who serves in the Ministry of Rites and comes to stay in the capital for a period every year. We've had some dealings in the past."

As they spoke, footsteps sounded from the stairs below, and several men quickly made their way up. Leading them was a young man of twenty--seven or eight, dressed in rich brocades and wearing a jade belt. A wide smile on his face, he strode over quickly and cupped his fists. "Brother Yuan, it has been quite some time since we last met. Have you been well?"

Yuan Rong smiled. "With Young Master Zhu traveling the world and indulging in romantic escapades, when would you ever find time to see me? It certainly has been quite a while."

Zhu Yuchen laughed heartily, pointing to the men behind him as he made the introductions. "This is Qiu Fang, this is Jiang Cheng, and this one here is Chen Mukuan from Weitang!"

"Chen Mukuan of Weitang?" Yuan Rong offered a slight bow and asked, "Could it be the Chen family of Weitang?"

Zhu Yuchen smiled. "None other than the Chen family of Weitang porcelain. Chen Mukuan is the eldest young master of the Chen household!"

"Indeed, it is someone from the Chen family," Yuan Rong smiled. "If I am not mistaken, this Jiang Cheng brother should be a member of the Jiang family from the Songjiang tea plantations."

Zhu Yuchen gave a thumbs-up. "Brother Yuan has a sharp eye." Turning to the others, he announced, "This is the prominent Young Master Yuan I often speak of. His grandfather once served as a tutor to the late emperor."

The other men all cupped their fists in polite salutes.

Catching sight of Ning Yang seated nearby, Zhu Yuchen asked, "Brother Yuan, and this gentleman is...?"

Just as Yuan Rong was about to explain, he heard Ning Yang give a gentle cough. Understanding immediately, Yuan Rong smiled and said, "This is also a friend of mine. You may simply address him as... Young Master Ning!"

Ning Yang stood up, cupped his fists, and said, "Since you gentlemen have traveled from afar, I shall leave Brother Yuan to properly host you. The hour is late, so I will take my leave."

Zhu Yuchen looked surprised. "Young Master Ning is leaving? That is rather strange. The selection for the Flower Queen is about to begin; wouldn't it be a pity to leave at a time like this?"

The other men also understood that anyone sitting and drinking with Yuan Rong could not possibly be of ordinary background. Hailing from wealthy mercantile clans, they naturally understood the principle that having more friends opens more doors. Moreover, making a few more connections in the capital was something they eagerly desired. Hoping to befriend Ning Yang, they all joined in urging him to stay and watch the event.

Jiang Cheng, from the Songjiang tea plantations, did not look like a merchant at first glance. Around twenty-five or twenty-six years old, his face radiated scholarly refinement, making him look more like a young literati. He smiled amiably at Ning Yang and said, "Since Young Master Ning is a friend of Brother Yuan, you are our friend as well. Meeting for the first time, we hope you might stay and share a cup of wine with us. What do you say?"

Before Ning Yang could reply, Chen Mukuan, the eldest young master of the Weitang Chen family, chimed in with his booming voice, "Young Master Ning, there is a good show about to start right away. It's not often our group of brothers gathers on the Qinhuai River, and tonight, whoever becomes the Flower Queen is entirely up to us brothers to decide. I've heard there are eight young maidens aboard the Grand Flagship, and they'll all be making an appearance shortly... If you are willing, whichever one catches your eye, the lot of us will throw our full weight behind her to make her the Flower Queen. How about it?"

His voice was loud and unrefined, and his ambitions were not small. Though rather stoutly built, his skin was delicate and fair, making it clear he had been pampered since youth. Decked out in gold and jade, he appeared far more ostentatious than the others.

Ning Yang smiled. "Brother Chen is certainly generous." Glancing at the man called Qiu Fang, he noticed that while Yuan Rong seemed well-versed in the backgrounds of the others, he had not mentioned Qiu Fang's origins. Qiu Fang appeared to be in his early thirties, older than the rest, and carried himself with a seasoned maturity. Standing with his hands behind his back, a faint smile on his handsome face, he remained quiet and reserved.

Yuan Rong also smiled, saying, "Young Master Chen, you gentlemen all belong to immensely wealthy clans where tossing about a thousand gold pieces is mere child's play. If you were to join forces tonight, indeed no one could rival you." Turning to Qiu Fang, he asked, "Is this Brother Qiu also from Hangzhou?"

Zhu Yuchen shook his head. "Brother Qiu comes from Liaodong."

"Liaodong?" Yuan Rong furrowed his brow slightly. "That territory belongs to the Northern Han people, does it not?"

Qiu Fang smiled and explained, "I am indeed a Northern Han, but Brother Yuan must not mistake me for an enemy. While I am a Northern Han, I harbor no hostility whatsoever toward your esteemed country. Many years ago, our Qiu family already had business dealings with Brother Zhu and several other friends here. We are merchants; what we desire is to conduct our business in peace, and the last thing we wish to see is the clash of arms between our two nations."

Zhu Yuchen chimed in, "Brother Qiu is from the Liaodong Ginseng King Qiu family. Has Brother Yuan ever heard of them?"

"The Ginseng King of Liaodong—of course I have heard of them," Yuan Rong said. "Liaodong is renowned for producing ginseng and antlers, both exceedingly precious commodities. To obtain top-grade wild ginseng, one must venture deep into the mountains to search and dig. To those who don't know the trade, digging for ginseng in the mountains might seem like an easy task, but those truly in the know understand it is far from simple."

Qiu Fang smiled. "Does Brother Yuan know how ginseng is harvested?"

"To harvest ginseng, one must first find it," Yuan Rong said. "Ordinary wild ginseng can be found by herb-gatherers with some experience. But top-grade old wild ginseng requires not only top-tier experience, but a stroke of luck as well. I have heard that there was once a formidable figure in Liaodong who, in his youth, managed to find top-grade wild ginseng every time he ventured deep into the mountains, a feat that made many envious. That man later came to be known as the Ginseng King."

"That was precisely my grandfather," Qiu Fang smiled. "He passed away a few years ago, but the craft of ginseng gathering was passed down, and we still make our living by these skills today."

Yuan Rong sighed. "So Brother Qiu is the true magnate here. Although the Liaodong Ginseng King is famous throughout the world for harvesting ginseng, and the absolute finest wild ginseng can only be obtained through your Qiu family, as far as I know, your family now focuses primarily on the medicinal herb trade. Many rare herbs are nowhere else to be found, yet once you approach the Qiu family, whatever rare and precious medicine you seek is readily available."

Zhu Yuchen laughed heartily. "Even those of supreme wealth who happen to hold a root or two of such precious herbs in their homes treat them like priceless treasures. Yet to Brother Qiu, such herbs are mere withered branches and fallen leaves piled high enough to rot."

Qiu Fang immediately waved his hands. "Brother Zhu exaggerates. It is nothing so extraordinary; we merely live off the mountains and off the waters. Back then, my grandfather made his fortune on wild ginseng, but later he realized that if one relied solely on digging up ginseng, it would sever the roots of the mountains themselves. In whatever one does, one must leave a margin for the future. Therefore, my grandfather later gathered the ginseng-gatherers of Liaodong and established rules, setting an annual limit on the amount of ginseng that could be harvested to prevent over-harvesting—considered a way of preserving the roots for future generations. Everyone needs to make a living, and when wild ginseng could no longer be freely dug, we turned to the broader trade of medicinal herbs."

"Preserving the roots," Ning Yang praised. "That is profound wisdom!"

Qiu Fang smiled. "You flatter me."

Zhu Yuchen asked, "Do you gentlemen have your favorites yet? The eight individuals participating in the Flower Queen selection are known as the Eight Beauties of Qinhuai, and they are all exceptionally talented and peerless beauties."

By this time, the massive Grand Flagship had halted in the center of the Qinhuai River. Including the painted boat where pearl-like lanterns adorned the decks, some twenty to thirty pleasure boats of various sizes encircled the flagship, making it look like the moon surrounded by stars. Dazzlingly colorful and brilliantly illuminated, it was truly the radiant pearl of the Qinhuai River.

Before Yuan Rong could say more, a melodious wave of string and bamboo music drifted out, followed by the faint, lingering notes of flutes and strings. The lively clamor surrounding the flagship quickly subsided into silence. Soon, a young woman's delicate lips parted as she began to softly sing. Instantly, the river ripples grew gentle, and her voice—fine, soft, and naturally enchanting—embodied the seductive charm of the Qinhuai River more vividly than ever before.

"That must be Wu Yin'er, right?" Zhu Yuchen said softly.

Jiang Cheng smiled faintly. "Of the Eight Beauties of Qinhuai this year, if we speak of appearance alone, it should be Dong Qiaoqiao. However, her singing voice cannot match Wu Yin'er's. Though Wu Yin'er's voice is fine, it is overly seductive—too much of a good thing—and her temperament lacks the water-like gentleness of Luo Ning. Yet Luo Ning's literary talent falls far short of Yushuang's...!" He sighed. "It's just that Yushuang is too cold, and comparatively speaking, her zither skills are still slightly inferior to Zhu Xian'er's...!"

The other men all looked at Jiang Cheng. Ning Yang thought to himself that this fellow was as familiar with the Eight Beauties of Qinhuai as if they were the back of his hand, and he knew not only their names but their strengths and weaknesses inside and out. It seemed he had truly done his homework.

Yuan Rong asked with a smile, "Which of the Eight Beauties of Qinhuai does Brother Jiang think is most likely to win the title of Flower Queen?"

Jiang Cheng smiled. "I came today at Brother Zhu's invitation. Whichever one you gentlemen think should be chosen as the Flower Queen, I will simply follow your lead. But if I must name one, that Shen Jiaonu should be quite good."