Chapter 12: So Terrifying

“Hm?”

Everyone looked at him with puzzled eyes.

Only then did Luo Zijun realize his lapse in composure and hastily sat down again, somewhat embarrassed. “I was concerned for Brother Xu, afraid he might encounter some scoundrels.”

Snake demons are inherently wicked.

Both wicked and foolish!

If he wanted to repay kindness, he could have simply given money. Why stoop to craving someone’s body, offering himself in exchange? In the end, he was left heartless and betrayed, meeting a tragic death—alas, what a sorrowful fate!

Was it really worth it?

Madam Liu glanced at him curiously, then smiled. “The book boy only said those few words; I didn’t press for details. I suppose Young Master Xu is kind-hearted and helped guide them. After all, they were just two weak women; nothing untoward should occur.”

At this moment,

The sun had already set, and the lanterns aboard the flower boat had been lit.

The literary gathering was about to begin.

Madam Liu did not linger further; she hurriedly took her maidservants behind the flower stage.

Noticing Luo Zijun’s troubled expression, Su Bie quickly reassured him, “Zijun, don’t be disheartened. Tomorrow, I’ll personally arrange to meet him again. There will be plenty of opportunities; I’m sure you’ll see him.”

Given how things stood,

Luo Zijun dared not appear too eager, lest he be misunderstood.

In these times, the trend of male companionship was still quite prevalent.

Many scholarly families kept young book boys, who were sometimes more than mere assistants—occasionally whispering close, sharing secret affections.

Meanwhile, the literary gathering had begun.

Liu Ju ascended the flower stage, first expressing her gratitude to everyone, then introducing several esteemed elder gentlemen. Only then did she reveal the purpose of the event.

This evening, the Fairy Pavilion had dispatched eight young women competing for the title of “Flower Melody.”

There were only two spots for Flower Melody.

These eight young ladies would not only showcase their talents through performances but would also personally canvass votes. Those with the most votes would be selected.

“These eight young ladies are the most beautiful and talented at the Fairy Pavilion. Tonight’s two Flower Melody titles will be chosen from among them—and perhaps the title of Queen of Flowers may also be selected from this group…”

“You gentlemen are the talents of Lin’an City. We hope you will lend your efforts generously this evening…”

Madam Liu smiled broadly on stage.

Su Bie whispered to Luo Zijun, “By ‘lending efforts,’ she means those with money should contribute money, those with talent should contribute talent; better still if you can do both.”

Nearby, Wang Dafu chuckled, “That’s what they say, but if you only offer talent and no money, the girls will despise you. Efforts without rewards are unappreciated.”

At that moment, Madam Liu stepped down and announced the start of the competition.

The eight young ladies took the stage in turn, displaying their most exquisite talents while making their appeals for votes.

Some danced, some sang, others played the zither or flute.

The audience applauded and cheered continuously.

After the fourth young lady finished, Wang Dafu grinned and clapped his hands. “I choose Miss Mei, number three. Her honey-waisted, ample hips sway with such deadly charm—if she sat on me, tsk tsk…”

Su Bie sneered, “Even if she’s elected Flower Melody, you might not get to see her.”

Wang Dafu was immediately indignant. “With my looks and talent, it’s a mere matter of course!”

“Heh, after all your visits to the brothel, have you ever seen a Flower Melody notice you?”

“That’s because I haven’t made my move yet! Lately, I’ve read some good books and feel my inspiration flowing like a spring. Soon, I’ll show you all my true skills!”

“We’ll be waiting.”

The two bantered while watching the performances.

Cheers rose and fell all around.

Luo Zijun stared out the window, appearing heavy-hearted and distracted.

When the last young lady finished, the applause and discussions from the audience intensified.

“I vote for number five! Miss Ziwei’s flute playing was mournful and touching, truly heavenly.”

“I choose number one! Miss Shuixiu’s singing is the real celestial sound!”

“I think number six, Miss Chujian’s zither music is divine, but she wore a veil and never showed her face. I wonder what she looks like…”

The scholars debated fervently.

At this time, each of the eight young ladies sent their maidservants down to distribute gifts and solicit votes.

Wang Dafu requested brush, ink, paper, and inkstone to showcase his talents, and a ten-tael silver ingot was already prepared.

Su Bie rose and moved to another table to discuss with other classmates.

Zhang Yitian followed.

The cabin quickly became noisy with lively chatter.

Luo Zijun’s heart was still with Xu Xian outside; his mind had long flown ashore. Seeing the commotion, he felt restless and decided to step outside for some fresh air.

Wang Dafu frowned, immersed in composing poems, oblivious to him.

Luo Zijun left the cabin and stood by the railing, gazing toward the shore and the broken bridge, hoping to spot Xu Xian and Madame White Snake.

Unfortunately, he did not recognize either.

On the shore, some young couples were meeting; others stood on the broken bridge, looking down at the flower boat’s festivities with envy.

Luo Zijun’s heart burned with anxiety, longing to disembark immediately.

But the wooden bridge had been removed, and he could not fly—only helplessly hoping Xu Xian was not too lustful and Madame White Snake not too foolish.

“Perhaps those two women aren’t White Snake and Xiao Qing at all,” he comforted himself.

Meanwhile,

In a side room behind the flower stage, a delicate young girl in pink sat before a dressing mirror, removing the pearl ornaments from her hair.

A maid stood behind her, anxious. “Miss, everyone else is handing out gifts and canvassing votes. If we don’t go, we’ll fall behind!”

The girl calmly stroked the pearl ornament. “It doesn’t matter. I don’t care for the Flower Melody title.”

The maid said, “But winning Flower Melody brings more silver. That way, Miss can redeem herself and repay debts faster.”

The girl gazed at her beautiful reflection in the bronze mirror, murmuring softly, “I truly wish to redeem myself and leave this place of troubles soon, but…”

She trailed off.

With so many watching, she didn’t dare show her face, let alone go around handing out gifts and sweet words to solicit votes.

She simply could not do it.

“Miss, then… then I shall go!”

The maid knew her mistress well.

If it weren’t for the girl’s shyness and refusal to humble herself to please others, even the Flower Melody or Queen of Flowers title would be within easy reach.

The girl glanced at her. “Do you dare go?”

The maid’s face flushed crimson, nervous. “I… I…”

She was even more timid than her mistress.

But at this point, if she didn’t stand up for her lady, who would?

“I dare!”

Summoning courage, the young maid took a stack of flower-shaped voting slips and stepped out.

Yet upon entering the cabin and seeing so many men, she grew frightened and hesitated to proceed.

After lingering, she glanced toward a small side door and thought: I’ll peek outside first, find a gentleman who looks familiar and approachable, then approach him.

With that, she slipped out the side door, walking while peering through a window.

“That gentleman with a round face and loud voice is scary…”

“That one with his head down looks stern and frightening…”

“That one decked in gold and jade, wearing a fake smile, is sneaking looks at Miss Mei’s rear—so scary.”

The more she observed, the more frightened she became; her body trembled.

Maybe she should just go back.

Just as she was about to retreat, a sudden rushing water sound came from nearby.

Turning her head, her eyes widened in shock!

A young scholar was urinating by the railing!

The sound was the sharp splash of urine falling into the lake!

The young maid stood frozen, speechless, her mind blank—as if frightened to death.

Because that scholar was also staring at her.

He had been looking toward the anxious Luo Zijun on shore, and having drunk too much, he’d felt the urgent need to relieve himself. Seeing no one around, he simply unzipped and went there.

Who would have expected a young maid to suddenly appear?

His bladder too full to stop, he could only watch as she turned toward him.

“Um… are you out here to pee too? Want to join me?”

Luo Zijun decided to strike first.

At times like this, it was a contest of shamelessness.

Whoever cared about shame would be most embarrassed.

The young maid’s eyes grew wide as if her soul had left her body, utterly still.

Finally finished, Luo Zijun hastily zipped up, ready to enter the room, but paused to ask, “If you’re not here to pee, what are you doing out here?”

He glanced at her hands.

The young maid held several flower-shaped voting slips, each bearing a girl’s name—clearly for canvassing votes.

“I’ll help vote for your lady. But you mustn’t tell anyone what you saw just now. Deal?”

Luo Zijun proposed.

The maid remained frozen, motionless, as if she hadn’t heard him.

He took a voting slip from her hand. “How do I vote?”

After a long pause, she finally came to her senses, hurriedly lowering her head, face flushed, clutching her skirt tightly, voice trembling, “Silver… or… or a poem praising my lady…”

Luo Zijun thought for a moment, then pulled a copper coin from his pocket and placed it in her hand.

The maid was speechless.

“My family is poor; I have no money. This one coin is hard-earned by myself.”

He pressed the coin into her small hand and was about to enter when he suddenly remembered something, lowering his voice, “Remember, don’t tell anyone what you saw. If you must say something, try to… cough, exaggerate a bit.”

With that, he waved and went inside.

The young maid stood outside, cheeks flushed, looking bewildered.

Luo Zijun entered the cabin to find the seats empty.

Su Bie and Zhang Yitian had not returned; Wang Dafu’s whereabouts were unknown.

The brush, ink, paper, and inkstone remained on the table.

Luo Zijun sat down, glanced out the window, and saw the pretty young maid still standing outside, dazed. He wondered silently: Could she think I gave too little?

He looked again at the voting slip in his hand, which bore the characters “Chujian.”

So the lady’s name was Chujian?

“Forget it. Consider it a small redemption of my image.”

After some thought, he tore off a sheet of xuan paper, picked up the brush, and began to write.

Soon,

He rose, blew the ink dry on the paper, folded it, and stepped outside to hand it to the young maid.

She was dizzy, instinctively reached out, mouth moving to speak, cheeks flushed, but before she could say a word, Luo Zijun turned and went back inside.

“So scary… so scary…”

The young maid murmured shakily, glanced once more at the man who had entered the cabin, then hurriedly turned and fled.

Once inside,

She wailed, “Miss! Miss! It’s so scary outside, so scary! A gentleman urinated in public and gave me a coin, threatening me not to tell anyone about his… uh…”

“Also, he didn’t wash his hands after peeing, and he used that hand to write a poem for you…”

The girl was speechless.