The Facade of a Wastrel

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

From the Hongxian Tavern

The boisterous noise in the Hongxian Tavern continued to echo. People gathered around a table in the center of the shop. One side was discussing political news, while the other was gossiping about famous people in the capital with contempt in their eyes.

"Do you know? Last night, I passed by the alley behind the Hall of Yu Lan and saw the third young master of the Grand Minister's manor staggering out. His face was still flushed, and the smell of wine was all around!"

"Hmph! Is that the flesh and blood of Grand Minister Hou? Just a concubine's son who doesn't know his place. How can he compare to the eldest and second young masters?"

Just as the mocking laughter faded, in the dim light of the tavern, the third young master's close servant, "Xie Yonghe," clenched his jaw. His hand went to the hilt of the short sword under his clothes. It was clear he was so angry that he wanted to go over and punch the mouths of those loudmouths, but his master's voice rang out before he could even stand up.

"Yonghe... sit down." Hou Jianrong's voice was cold, his tone flat but containing the weight of a sharp blade.

Xie Yonghe immediately stopped moving. He turned to look at his master with a hesitant expression.

"But master, they..."

"Words cannot kill me, but your impulsiveness might kill yourself instead." Hou Jianrong took another sip of wine. His eyes were calm but deep, as if he was planning something.

"Enough. Tonight, I will go to the Hall of Yu Lan. I have something to discuss with Xianyang."

Yonghe stood up straight, bowed in acknowledgment, and then quickly followed his master.

The Hall of Yu Lan

The Hall of Yu Lan at night was as beautiful as a dream. The light of red lanterns flickered with the breeze. The faint scent of incense wafted through the air. The soft sound of a zither mixed with the laughter of beautiful women and wealthy officials who came and went for pleasure. Hou Jianrong walked steadily through the main hall. Many beautiful women sent seductive smiles, but he only glanced at them as if he didn't care, before heading straight to the private room on the second floor to the east, the room he and his close friend used regularly.

"Yonghe, guard the door. Don't let anyone in."

"Yes, Master."

The Hall of Yu Lan's Private Room, Second Floor, East

The wooden door closed softly. The fragrance of incense mixed with Yu Lan flower tea filled the air, mingled with the scent of well-polished sandalwood from the walls. The shadows from the oil lamps fell silently on the high-quality wooden floor, making the high-class room feel quiet and serene, unlike the noise from the hall below. Hou Jianrong sat down on a high chair by the window. His slender hand lifted a teacup to his lips with a calm demeanor, but in his deep, still eyes, something unfathomable was hidden. He said nothing, just waited in the quiet amidst the dim light.

After a while, the door rattled softly before opening. A slender young man in a plain gray robe entered silently. His handsome face was like a carved statue, strangely changing the atmosphere in the room. This was Ding Xianyang. Although he wore humble clothes according to his status in the hall, every gesture was still elegant and natural. His sharp, narrow eyes gazed at the man waiting in front of him, a slight smile on the corner of his lips.

"Jianrong... I saw you from the stairs. You don't look well."

Jianrong only lowered his eyes slightly. In the silence that enclosed them both, his eyes showed a weariness mixed with deep thoughts that were difficult to decipher. There were no greetings, no formalities between the two, because their friendship did not require superfluous words. Although Ding Xianyang worked as a male courtesan at the Hall of Yu Lan today, no client had ever touched him. No one had ever even touched his fingertips. This was because the third young master was the one who had entrusted him to the hall and bought him six years ago when Xianyang had just lost his mother and had almost no one to rely on. For many in the Hall of Yu Lan, Ding Xianyang was an elegant, high-class male courtesan, perfect in his demeanor, speech, and wisdom. Although he had no noble blood, he possessed a certain aura that surpassed everyone else. This was partly because he had grown up with the knowledge accumulated from the Hall Mistress, who was like a teacher to him, and partly from the shadow of the man who helped him when he had almost no place to stand.

Many years ago, the Hall of Yu Lan was on the brink of collapse. At that time, Jianrong was only fifteen, but he was the only one who dared to talk to the Hall Mistress, offering to become a partner with half of all the money he had. Although he had no commercial power and no official power, the name Hou Jianrong... was powerful enough to change its destiny.

The once quiet hall slowly became lively again, until it eventually became one of the most popular places in the capital today. But no one knew who the true owner behind that success was. Only the Hall Mistress and Ding Xianyang knew that the third young master was the real owner, who held the rights to every brick and plank of wood, every scent of incense, and every sound of the zither. He never wanted rank or title from it, nor did he even want thanks from anyone... just to let it be a refuge, a source of information, and a safe place for some people was enough.

Xianyang picked up another teacup from the tray and placed it in front of Jianrong. Their eyes met for a moment under the lantern's light. There was no mention of officials or courtesans. There were only two "friends," who knew well that some secrets... had to be hidden behind this door.

"I'm fine, Xianyang," the third young master, who had been sitting quietly for a while, replied to his friend.

Inside the private room of the Hall of Yu Lan, the oil lamp light reflected on the polished wooden floor, resembling the ripple of water. The shadows of the scented wood gave off a fragrant scent throughout the room. The figures of two young men were at the corner of a low table by the translucent silk window, which was folded in half to catch the cool breeze from the garden at night.

"The clan that holds military power outside the city... have you ever wondered where they came from?" the third young master Hou Jianrong said in a flat voice. His gaze seemed to be lost outside the curtains, but his eyes hid many thoughts.

Ding Xianyang shifted slightly, resting his chin on one hand. "Probably inherited their abilities from previous generations. But if it's a clan with enough power to hide military training in peacetime and keep the court from finding out... they're definitely not ordinary."

"And we have never even left the capital. How would we know which units of the Zhao state's military are moving on the border... Even if they secretly train soldiers, they wouldn't train in the open for others to know about." Jianrong scoffed softly. "...It's no different from walking blindfolded in a field of thorns."

Xianyang raised his teacup, his eyes becoming serious. "But sometimes... the wind in the capital might be carrying the smell of blood from outside the city."

Jianrong immediately turned and looked at him. "What do you mean?"

Ding Xianyang gently placed the cup down, then leaned back against the cushion. His voice was low. "Earlier tonight... a woman wearing a dark veil appeared at this hall."

"A veiled woman? And?" Jianrong asked urgently.

"She sat for a moment, her eyes scanning the room as if looking for someone. I was curious, so I went to ask her if she needed anything else..." Ding Xianyang paused slightly.

Rewind to the Hall of Yu Lan, earlier that evening...

The atmosphere in the Hall of Yu Lan in the early evening was filled with the scent of tea and the soft sound of string music, which was relaxing. Among the regular customers sitting around a circular table, a woman sat calmly in a dark corner, wearing a dark veil that almost completely covered her face. The candlelight reflected in her eyes, sparkling like ice.

Ding Xianyang walked over slowly with a polite demeanor. "Young lady, would you like more tea?"

She slowly raised her head. The eyes under the veil met his for just a moment before her slender hand quickly grabbed his wrist. Her grip was tighter than he expected. She seemed hurried.

She whispered close to his ear, her voice faint. "Don't go back to that abandoned manor outside the city... if you want to stay alive."

Xianyang's eyes widened instantly. He opened his mouth to ask, but the mysterious woman pushed him hard, making him step back. The fragrant scent from her body touched his nose and made his heart tremble. As he took just one step back, the mysterious woman stood up and walked toward a corner of the Hall of Yu Lan where there was a curtain decorated with purple patterns swaying in the wind, and in the blink of an eye, she was gone. Xianyang followed her with his eyes, but he couldn't even see the hem of her clothes, leaving only a lingering mysterious scent in his nose...

After hearing the story from his friend, Jianrong was silent for a moment. His handsome face immediately became tense. "This means... someone knows what we're doing."

Ding Xianyang nodded slightly and continued, "After that, she pushed me away and disappeared into the crowd as quickly as air... But I remember the scent from her body. It was the scent of Qianluo Xiang, a deep, cool, and mysterious scent, like a forest at midnight."

Jianrong lowered his eyes. One hand gripped the teacup tightly. His voice was as soft as a breeze. "It seems our secret... is no longer a secret."

The morning light of a new day shone through the carved glass window of the Hou clan manor. The light blue sky, tinged with a thin mist outside, was still a bit cool and damp. The third young master Hou Jianrong stepped into the small inner alley, looking disheveled. The smell of sweat mixed with a faint scent of wine still clung to his clothes throughout the residence. The cloak with animal fur slung over his shoulder had not been properly put away when a loud call from inside the manor stopped him.

"Open the gate for the third young master!" The gatekeeper's voice rang out in an orderly manner.

The Hou clan's housekeeper, a middle-aged man with a stern face, came out and immediately greeted the young man. "Grand Minister wants to see you urgently in his study, sir."

Hou Jianrong sighed softly and said to the housekeeper in a faint voice, "He's probably going to scold me again..."

When he reached the Grand Minister Hou's study, the heavy wooden door opened with the slow footsteps of a tall man who was standing facing the window. The morning sun made the Grand Minister's shadow look even more stern.

"Jianrong..." Grand Minister Hou said in a firm voice without turning back. "Is this how you return? Did you just come back from the Hall of Yu Lan?"

The young man cupped his hands in a respectful gesture. "I only rested at the hall for a short while, sir."

Grand Minister Hou shook his head slightly before asking directly, "I heard you gambled away a thousand taels. Is that true?"

Jianrong's face twisted. He immediately retorted, "No way, sir! Who would have that much money! And I didn't gamble away a single tael."

But Grand Minister Hou's reply was firm. "Then, where did you get the money for all the wine that clings to you?"

Hou Jianrong answered calmly, "It's the savings you gave me, Father."

Grand Minister Hou's voice grew louder, "You, when will you ever improve?" The once serious tone turned into a deep concern, with a trace of stress on his face.

Jianrong saw Grand Minister Hou's pale face and quickly asked with a serious tone, "What happened, Father?"

Grand Minister Hou sighed deeply. "Rumors in the capital... accuse me of stealing money from the state treasury to indulge my son in his gambling."

Jianrong stood up, his posture immediately firm. "Nonsense! Who dares to accuse my father like that! Those common people with loose tongues who know nothing are speaking falsehoods!"

Grand Minister Hou looked at his son with sad eyes. "You want to handle this matter?"

"I will handle it myself!" Jianrong declared firmly.

But Grand Minister Hou shook his head. "I will handle this matter, but you must improve yourself first. This matter will not spiral out of control."

Jianrong was silent. After a moment, he spoke in a low voice, "I promise, Father..."

Grand Minister Hou smiled slightly and patted his son's shoulder affectionately. "You are my flesh and blood. Even if you block yourself off, I am always watching you..."

When the conversation ended, Grand Minister Hou continued, "In one month, it will be the Emperor's 46th birthday. All official families must attend... including our manor."

"All the Princesses and Princes will be there," Grand Minister Hou emphasized.

Jianrong took a deep breath. His sharp eyes gleamed. This must be a good opportunity to observe all the royal family members. I will not miss it. When he returned to his private room, Jianrong picked up a writing brush and quickly wrote a message to Ding Xianyang to inform him of the news and prepare a new plan.