Seeking Truth with a Sword
Chapter 58 - 56 Heartbreak

Chapter 58: Chapter 56 Heartbreak

After some deliberation, they ended up following Yang Yu’s suggestion and headed to Pingkang Square.

Li Ang trailed behind the group, looking up at the ornate, carved-beam and painted-rafter pavilions ahead, and smacked his lips.

"Risheng, what are you thinking? Hurry and catch up."

Ji Linglang patted Li Ang’s shoulder and walked ahead.

She wore blue garments and a scholar’s cap, presenting the refined appearance of a young man.

The female students beside her, including Chai Cuiqiao, also held folding fans and wore men’s attire, walking arm-in-arm as they eagerly approached the main entrance.

"Coming."

Li Ang sighed and followed them.

"Pingkang Square is divided into North Qu, Middle Qu, and South Qu. This is Lotus House in Middle Qu. It’s renowned as one of the ’Three Great Pavilions’ alongside Zuifang Building and Lin Yue Building."

Yang Yu, the host, walked at the front of the group. He casually tossed a golden leaf to an attendant who came to greet them and explained with a smile to the scholars, "In the past, it wasn’t fashionable in Pingkang Square to name establishments ’So-and-so Pavilion.’ They were usually named after the Brothel Madam or the Douzhi—that is, the surname of the famous courtesans or lead performers.

This was because the northern part of the city prohibited the construction of tall buildings that might obstruct the view; only courtyards were permitted.

Later, when the Academic Palace improved construction techniques, renovating the Taiji Palace and the Great Ming Palace and increasing their height to overlook all of Chang’an, the unwritten rule against tall buildings in the north gradually faded away..."

As Yang Yu explained, the group stepped inside the pavilion, and a cool breeze immediately washed over them.

Inside, jade-carved railings gleamed, and the space was as bright as day, with crimson eaves vibrant under the clear sky.

The floor was paved with smooth, polished marble. Six vermillion pillars, engraved with golden patterns, supported the structure. From the ceiling hung a magnificent and dazzling twelve-sided chandelier, its light reflecting and multiplying with the lamps below.

Over twenty tables of various shapes were arranged throughout the room. Guests were drinking and conversing, yet there wasn’t the expected cacophony; everyone’s attention was riveted to the center of the hall.

The center of the first floor had been excavated to form a pool, fed by fresh, flowing water through underground pipes. Verdant lotus leaves and Long Burning Lamps floated on its surface, and blooming lotuses released a subtle, refreshing fragrance.

Above the pool was a round wooden platform, accessible by small wooden bridges on all four sides. On a soft couch in the middle of the platform, a graceful woman in a Ru dress sat, engrossed in playing the guqin.

The guqin’s melody was gentle, the music refined. The scene captivated everyone almost instantly; even Ji Linglang raised her eyebrows in amazement. The opulence and exquisite craftsmanship of this pavilion were astounding—in other lands, it could easily serve as a palace.

And this was merely one of the three great pavilions in Chang’an’s Pingkang Square.

Although Ji Linglang had lived in Chang’an for a time as a child, she had never visited Pingkang Square. Her eyes scanned the entire pavilion, pausing on the Yellow Paper Talismans affixed to the beams and columns, seamlessly integrated with the decorative patterns. She exclaimed in surprise, "Cooling Wind Charms?"

"Exactly." Yang Yu clapped his folding fan and said with a smile, "During hot summer days, when mosquitoes are numerous, establishments in Pingkang Square usually affix talismans to their pavilions to summon a cool breeze for relief from the heat.

However, other places typically use Clear Wind Talismans. Only establishments like Lotus House and Zuifang Building could afford Cooling Wind Charms. They consumed at least five a day, allowing for music and revelry all night, with lamps burning until dawn."

"That’s quite extravagant."

Ji Linglang clicked her tongue in amazement. Cooling Wind Charms could only be crafted by Talisman Masters who had reached High Order Rain Listening Realm, or those of the Cloud Patrol Realm, and each one cost between two hundred to three hundred strings of coins.

Yang Yu offhandedly explained, "Yes, but they earn even more. Just the cover charge for one table of guests starts at half a string of coins. By evening, when the lamps are lit, the price doubles."

No wonder it’s a brothel...

Song Shaoyuan’s eyelid twitched. His family operated a restaurant, so just by observing the number of guests and the prices of the food and drinks, he could roughly estimate the daily revenue and profit.

At least ten thousand strings of coins.

Such staggering profits could likely only be handled and sustained by the highest echelons of nobility.

The students looked around, mesmerized by the resplendent and magnificent architecture. They had thought Yizhou was prosperous, but only upon arriving in Chang’an did they truly grasp the meaning of luxury and opulence.

"Young Master..."

Chai Cuiqiao secretly tugged Li Ang’s sleeve and, subtly pointing at the lotus pond in the center of the hall, whispered in his ear, "Do you think there might be money at the bottom of that pond? You know, like after a performance, when the guests cheer loudly and toss handfuls of money into it?"

Hearing his young maidservant’s naive question, Li Ang couldn’t help but roll his eyes. "You’ve watched too many temple fair monkey shows, haven’t you?" he retorted. "Tossing money? What if they accidentally hit the renowned performer on the head? There’d be an attendant walking around with a silver platter to collect tips."

"Young Master, isn’t that still just like a monkey show then?"

"Then let’s change how the money is scattered. Hold a stack of flying money in one hand, and with the other, press down on the paper money and flick it forward, like this: FLICK, FLICK, FLICK."

The master and servant continued their irreverent banter.

Yang Yu, quite used to the hushed chatter of students from out of town, casually stopped a passing attendant and asked, "Is You Douzhi present?"

The attendant replied, "Ah, you must be Yang Qilang? Yes, You Douzhi is in. Shall I arrange for your banquet to begin?"

"Yes. Prepare a Mid-Tier Banquet."

Yang Yu, clearly familiar with the layout, led the group along the left side of the main hall toward the rear courtyard. The hubbub diminished as they went.

The rear courtyard of Lotus House consisted of several interconnected quadrangles—serene, spacious, and elegantly simple. It was adorned with flowers, shrubs, ornamental rockeries, and ponds, creating a stark contrast to the opulent front hall.

Yang Yu led everyone into a private room. Once they were seated, demure attendants served a variety of dishes and drinks, and musicians seated behind a light gauze curtain began to play.

Amidst an expectant silence, the delicate jingle of ornaments could be heard. A woman in a pink Ru dress, flanked by her maidservants, emerged gracefully from a corridor. She curtsied to the assembled guests, her demeanor both dignified and alluring, and said, "You Qiao greets all you... gentlemen."