Chapter 52: A Family Should Be Together
# 52. A Family Should Be Together
Guests gathered on the ground floor of the Reflecting Plum Pavilion. The door to the outside was wide open, and pieces of thin silk draped down, blocking out some of the frigid winds.
Just over a dozen guests sat inside the room, drinking alcohol,ughing, talking, and enjoying the plum blossoms.
In the four corners of the room stood braziers roaring with me, pushing back the winter chill.
A maidservant lead Xu Qian inside. The guests all turned their heads, looking at this tall, moon-white Confucian robe wearing young man.
Constable Wangs drinking game rules shed through Xu Qians mind, as he tried his hardest to make his smile more gentlemanly, as he greeted them:
My name is Yang Ling, a xiucai of Changle county. My greetings to all my honourable brothers.
Within the room, there were brocade-wearing upper-ss men, students of the Imperial Academy, in all not too low in status, but not extremely high.
Some looked away, disinterested, whilst others examined him, and some returned a light smile.
*Looks like during the official examination, the Great Fengs officials have been watching their behaviour more before, with Fuxiangs fame, this ce would definitely have been booked full* Xu Qian calmly sat down, his eyes never moving from that oiran, who was leading the event.
Her face was like the spring, her eyes shone like the rainbow, with a heavenly aura.
*This woman is really nice[^1]* Xu Qian, though he had seen many beauties, was still stunned by her appearance.
Just from her features, this oiran was on the same level as Auntie, or Xu Lingyue, or Chu Caiwei. They were all different kinds of beautiful, all with their same unique charm.
She was one of those women who could simply walk on the street and stun all male passers-by with her beauty.
Just from her disposition, this oiran had the refined cultured aura of an unmarried woman of arge important family. From her clothing, she wore clothes that other women of this era didnt dare touch, how thin they were.
Her smooth shoulders were half revealed, her neck was tall and thin, and around her chest was wrappedyers of thin chiffon fabric, making her cleavage indistinct.
To have such a cleavage, she must be good she had good reason to be an oiran.
Miss Fuxiang took the position of Commander, leading this drinking game. Themander was responsible for dishing out the drinking orders, the one who lead and kept the attitude of the game. This role was always yed by an oiran, or a famous prostitute, as no ordinary woman could take it up; the cultural and education level required for it was too high.
At this moment, a game of association was going around, making *duilian*[^2] one after another. Sat to the left of Xu Qian was a middle-aged man in a light blue robe, with amulets and trinkets that nged.
It just so happened that the round had reached him, as this man raised his cup, thinking for a long while, before saying Ice cold wine, one drop, two drops, three drops.
The oiran raised a small g she had beside her hand, and made a fewments (total ttery) on the leading verse.
The middle aged mans smile widened, as he felt well appreciated.
This was why themander had be a famous prostitute with a very high level of education, otherwise they would hardly even be able to make ttery.
After giving her judgement, the heavenly looking oiran turned her watery, vibrant eyes onto Xu Qian.
The other participants of the game quickly looked over.
*Im not too good at duilian Just matching it up well is already hard enough* Xu Qians expression did not change, but inside he was beginning to feel anxious.
His gaze swept outside, towards the plum trees in the courtyard, and suddenly had a stroke of inspiration. Deliberately drinking his alcohol, and making a casual and confident posture, he said loudly,
Decembers Plums, hundreds, thousands, ten-thousands.
Marvellous! the eyes of the other guests lit up, and as they looked at Xu Qian, they began to smile.
It was equivalent to admitting that he had the ability topete for the oiran with them, and treating him as a yer of equal skill.
Fuxiangughed, and simrly gave Xu Qian a series ofments (ttery) in review.
*The smile on her face is too professional as soon as she finished speaking, she immediately stopped looking at me the way shes sitting is somewhat stiff, only drinking when asked to drink* Xu Qian silently observed this oirans movements and attitude.
Combined with his knowledge of psychology, he came to a conclusion: *This oiran did not think much of our skill.*
*She was merely patiently apanying us.*
The maid came over again, leading another person in. What a beautiful young man, with pale white skin, clear cool eyes, thin red lips, well-formed features, almost like a womans face on a mans body.
Everyone in the room nced around, and even Fuxiang showed a surprised look; she had not seen such a handsome young man in a long while.
After entering the room, that schr-dressed young man looked around, and suddenly stopped in his tracks, freezing in pace.
The corner of Xu Qians eye twitched, as after ages he managed to squeeze out one sentence: What a coincidence.
The beautiful young mans mouth twitched, as he also responded, What a coincidence
Do the two of you know each other? The man in the light blue robe, beside Xu Qian asked with some surprise.
*More than just know, hes my younger brother* Xu Qian pushed down a feeling of embarrassment and shame that could flip a river on its head, andughed resolutely, Weve met a few times. Seems Brother Xu still remembers old Yang, weve met each other in Changle County.
He deliberately revealed his own surname, to remind Xu Xinnian that he was using a fake name.
This was the most basic technique to avoid arousing suspicion.
Xu Xinniancked knowledge in this field, but he was clever, and immediately got what his cousin was trying to say, and greeted the guests, My name is Xu Pingan, a student in Changle County.
*Have you just mixed up mine and uncles names* Xu Qian used drinking to hide the cursing in his heart.
The drinking game continued, and after a short while, the maid brought another two people in. On the left was a handsome young man with a striking appearance, wearing a sky-blue robe, wearing a jade amulet, a forest green jade hairpin holding back his hair.
The one on the right was a tall and strong built person, with a square face, eptable features, wearing the robes of a rich businessman. His body gave off a fierce aura, different from most merchants and schrs.
Entering the tea room, this muscr middle-aged man looked around absent-mindedly, and suddenly froze, and turned to stone.
Xu Qian:
Xu Xinnian:
The maid realised that the guest had not followed her, turned, and said softly, Sir, this way please.
Ah- oh, oh. Xu Pingzhi braced himself internally, and entered the drinking room.
Xu Qian and Xu Xinnian both silently straightened their backs.
After Uncle Xu had sat down, the three knowingly avoided looking at each other, maintaining a proper posture and demeanour, looking down at their noses.
*Didnt these two brats say they had no time Cijiu is whatever, as after all I can understand what he would have thought but Ningyan has never been to the Gon*
*Did Uncle not say that he had a night shift tonight in the past when Auntie and I would argue, he would say that being able to marry such a beautiful wife in this life was eight lives worth of luck, and so he did not want to scold Auntie pah, youve stille out to whore.*
*Doesnt big brother not go to the Gon I was wondering why my robe suddenly disappeared, he has no shame. Didnt dad say that he loved mum so much that he would never step foot in these kind of establishments*
What the three people thought in their heart was much more colourful than their stiff expressions implied.
Xu Qian reckoned that the list of the most embarrassing things that have ever happened in his life needed a new entry: going out whoring, and meeting both his uncle and younger brother.
*Fuck me, Ive also socially died*
Immediately, he thought, *well, at least it wasnt just me,* and felt better about it.
The drinking game continued, and Xu Xinnian managed to y with an average level ofpetency after all, he was a schr. For Xu Qian, his ability was varied, and sometimes he still had to take a drink. As for Second Uncle Xu, he drank all the way through, suffering others contempt.
*Uncle really doesnt have any background for this kind of bullshitting; you havent even read any books, whats the point of you joining? Do you think you can just want to sleep an oiran and be able to do so?* Xu Qianined internally.
*Dads really just wasting silver* Xu Xinnian alsoined internally.
Both of then were somewhat anxious, as their behaviour was all very average, and insufficient to raise the oirans interests. Xu Xinnian, though he looked particrly handsome, owing to his overly average performance he very slowly lost the attention of the oiran.
The worst thing was that on the field was a very strong opponent - that handsome young person with the sky blue robe.
He studied in the Imperial Academy, and was rtively talented. Even though he entered the game somewhatte, he still managed with his talents to take the field, and even make the oiran asionally cover her mouth and giggle.
That sky-blue robed young man picked up his wine cup, took a small sip, proiming, This time, I hope you dont mind this person starting us all off.
No one had any other opinion, and Fuxiang said with a smile Master Zhao, please.
Master Zhao looked round at all the other guests, and said Pine leaves, bamboo leaves, leaves and leaves of green.
A repeated-character verse? Someone eximed in shock.
Pine leaves, bamboo leaves, leaves and leaves of green marvellous, marvellous! Im ashamed to say Im no match.
Brother Zhao is a talent, a true student of the Imperial Academy.
As a whole round went and came, and no one was able to match it.
Master Zhaos smile was light, as his expression was haughty.
Miss Fuxiangs eyes glinted, as she looked deeply at Master Zhao.
*From her expression and slight movements, the oiran seems to rather like this Master Zhao, and seems to appreciate his talent* Xu Qian frowned, turning to look at Xu Xinnian.
Thetter just so happened to turn his gaze also, and they saw the worry on each others brows.
Originally, ording to Xu Xinnians thoughts, his big brother, with his art in poetry, would be to the Jiaofangsi like a fish to water.
Who could have predicted that after all this time, after all these rounds, there was nothing in the way of poetry.
In reality in the drinking games of the Jiaofangsi, poems were a topic that were not dealt with much. In the past two hundred years, talented poets were few and far between, and the schrs were not skilled in making poems.
In drinking games, naturally they would avoid that with no one was good at.
And as for the guests tonight, their qualities were varied and uneven, even making duilian was somewhat difficult. Fuxiang deliberately did not pick the topic of poetry, avoiding her guests being embarrassed in front of others.,
At this time, Fuxiang gracefully stood up, and brushed down her body, saying softly, This young woman is somewhat tired, and must leave early. Please, do enjoy ourselves.
And so the games were over.
Afterwards, if the oiran found a person she liked, then she would ask her maid to go and ask them to stay, and invite him into her room.
If there was no one, then the maid would see the guests off, and then start another game.
Everyone waited with anticipation and anxiety, as time passed slowly. After half a stick of incense, a maid came out and said,
Our madam invites Master Zhao for tea in her room.
The other guests all regretfully shook their heads, sighing, with someughing and congratting Master Zhao.
Zhao wore a light smile, carrying a victorious aura.
At this, none of the three men of the Xu Family could sit still any more.
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[^1]: , Technically Chinese ng, literally loaning the English word nice
[^2]: Two matching lines (through tone, meaning, etc.), amon feature of Chinese poetry. They are, unsurprisingly, very difficult to trante.