Chapter Forty-Two: A Battle of Wits and Courage

If the arrival of Prince Qi, Li Jingsui, had shocked the crowd and made them think Yang Lian was a man valued by the court, then the appearance of Zeng Yiling left them with a far deeper sense of intrigue—this Yang Lian was by no means ordinary. It was natural enough for him to hold a court position and have some connection to Prince Qi, but to also be acquainted with Zeng Yiling, the famed courtesan of the Xiang Pavilion, renowned throughout Jinling—now that was astonishing. Clearly, this was a man of many talents, for how else could he draw people from all walks of life to his side?

Yang Lian was initially taken aback as well, but quickly regained his composure. He cupped his hands to Li Jingsui in apology for his lapse, then approached Zeng Yiling with a smile. "Miss Zeng, your presence truly graces this humble establishment with splendor. I must beg your pardon for any discourtesy."

Zeng Yiling pressed her lips together in a gentle smile, her voice as melodious as ever. "If not for Lian'er finding a flyer in the street, I fear I would have remained oblivious to this event. Master Yang, am I so disagreeable that you would leave me uninformed?" There was a note of reproach, yet her tone was so pleasant that one could not take offense.

As it was his opening day, Yang Lian had no desire to stir up trouble. Besides, Zeng Yiling had come with goodwill—how could he turn her away? He laughed. "Miss Zeng, your artistry is unmatched in Jinling. Many a man dreams of you—how could I possibly bear any dislike?"

Zeng Yiling cast him a sidelong glance with eyes as luminous as autumn waters, and could not help but laugh. "Master Yang, you do have a way with words." Though the phrase "dreams of you" was new to her, she was no fool; she understood well enough.

At that moment, Chen Tie called out, "The auspicious hour approaches—let's not tarry with banter!"

Though Yang Lian had a roguish side and had teased Mi Shiwei before, he found Zeng Yiling far harder to read. Compared to her, Mi Shiwei was guileless, pure as a lotus in a mountain pond, untouched by the mud. But Zeng Yiling—whether or not she was ill-intentioned—was certainly astute and adaptable, as one would expect from her background.

Yang Lian smiled. "Chen Tie speaks without tact—please forgive him, Miss Zeng."

At that, Zeng Yiling's eyes brimmed as if with unshed tears. "So, am I truly unworthy of your courtesy, Master Yang? Or is it that my looks offend you?"

Yang Lian felt his head throb—Zeng Yiling was certainly no easy adversary. He made a mental note to guard himself, but replied lightly, "Miss Zeng, your beauty outshines all of Jinling, yet I have never glimpsed your true visage."

Zeng Yiling smiled serenely. "Today is a day of great fortune for you, Young Master Yang, and you have graciously gifted me two music scores. How could I begrudge you a look at my true face?" With that, she lifted her slender hand, removed her veiled hat, revealing a smooth, ivory forehead. Her makeup was delicate, her brows slender and long, and beneath them, her eyes sparkled with a clarity that seemed to speak. One could not help but feel a surge of affection upon meeting her gaze.

Yang Lian's heart skipped a beat; Zeng Yiling had come with a purpose, though he could not guess what it was.

Her slender hand moved again, lifting the white gauze to reveal a lovely, unadorned face—so fair that powder would be too stark, rouge too garish. Not far off, Princess Huairou muttered under her breath, "A true enchantress."

For many present, this was the first time they had seen Zeng Yiling. None had expected that on such a day, she would remove her hat and veil to reveal her countenance. All eyes were riveted to her face, breaths held in awe. Even Prince Qi, Li Jingsui, was momentarily lost in admiration. Lin Renzhao and Chen Tie were equally transfixed, though Princess Huairou merely glanced over, her heart filled with annoyance at these men, so easily captivated by a beautiful woman.

Yang Lian’s pupils constricted sharply. In his memory, a hazy figure overlapped with Zeng Yiling—she bore some resemblance to someone he once knew, yet was different, too. He took a deep breath to steady himself and smiled. "Miss Zeng, even the famed Lady Luo Fu would pale beside you. Perhaps you should don your veil again, or I fear my business cannot proceed."

Zeng Yiling laughed, her eyes brimming with charm. "Since you request it, sir, I shall comply." She slowly replaced her veil and hat.

"This way, Miss Zeng," Yang Lian said.

She nodded gracefully, moving with the poise of a lotus blossom, and came to stand beside Li Jingsui. She bowed, "Yiling greets Your Highness, Prince Qi."

Li Jingsui seemed to awaken from a dream and hurriedly replied, "Miss… Miss Zeng, there is no need for such ceremony." Then, unable to contain his curiosity, he asked, "Miss Zeng, is your surname truly Zeng?"

A flicker of surprise flashed in Zeng Yiling’s eyes, but she smiled. "Your Highness jests—I am indeed surnamed Zeng."

Those around looked at Li Jingsui as if he were a fool. He felt awkward; though his question had deeper meaning, to others it seemed absurd. He could only nod and force a laugh.

Yang Lian stepped up with a smile. "Your Highness, Miss Zeng, the auspicious hour has arrived. If you would not mind, perhaps you could cut the ribbon together?" Noting that Zeng Yiling might not understand, he explained briefly.

Zeng Yiling nodded. "If His Highness does not object, I have no objection."

Li Jingsui almost immediately replied, "I have no objection."

Thus commenced the ribbon-cutting, much like in later times. As soon as it finished, Xiao Erhei lit two strings of firecrackers, which crackled loudly, drawing an even larger crowd. Yang Lian was very pleased; the opening ceremony was a resounding success. His gaze swept the gathering, pausing on Zeng Yiling, who happened to be looking back at him. They both smiled slightly—though their thoughts were certainly not the same.

Princess Huairou noticed and could not help but grumble inwardly. That Zeng Yiling was indeed a seductress, captivating so many men’s hearts. As for Yang Lian, she had thought him upright and indifferent to women, yet today he had shown a flaw.

In the crowd, Li Hongji watched coldly. Soon, a bodyguard returned and whispered in his ear. Yang Lian’s arrival in Jinling and swift purchase of an inn and tavern was widely known—especially after Li Shu had brought ruffians to cause trouble, an incident many were aware of. Yet rumors had spread, and the story had grown distorted with retelling.

Li Hongji listened, unable to suppress a cold laugh. He had heard that Yang Lian, relying on Prince Qi’s influence, had seized property by force. Having learned the basics of Yang Lian’s background, Li Hongji found several points suspicious—Yang Lian claimed to be from Guanzhong, yet had appeared in Suzhou of Wuyue, with little trace of his past. Moreover, when Princess Huairou was kidnapped by assassins from Wuyue, Yang Lian’s coincidental presence was too convenient, raising Li Hongji’s doubts. Perhaps Yang Lian was crying thief to catch a thief, and everything that happened in Henglin Town, Changzhou, was orchestrated by him.

Could it be that this Yang Lian was sent by Wuyue to sow chaos? The thought flashed through Li Hongji’s mind. He murmured, "Give the order—let the Wolf Group thoroughly investigate him." With Yang Lian’s peculiar background and Prince Qi’s support, Li Hongji would not act for now.

The guard agreed and left quickly. Li Hongji watched as the ribbon-cutting ended and guests filed into the tavern for the feast. Fearing recognition, he slipped away.

The tavern was lavishly decorated. Yang Lian had purchased the second and third floors, turning them into private rooms. From the third floor, one could overlook the scenic Qinhuai River. Prince Qi and Princess Huairou sat in the Peach Blossom Hall; Zeng Yiling, with her maid, enjoyed the Lotus Hall.

Huang Qi and his wife were run off their feet. Luckily, Yang Lian had hired extra help beforehand, and with Wang Hu and Zhao Peng assisting, they just managed to keep up. Xiao Erhei served Prince Qi exclusively, ready to follow any order at a moment’s notice.

Yang Lian offered a half-price promotion, so business was booming all morning. Many scholars, catching wind that Zeng Yiling was present, flocked to the scene, quickly filling all the private rooms on the upper floors, with more still waiting. Yang Lian laughed to himself—if business were like this every day, it would be ideal.

Li Xiongxin and his son Li Shu also came to help. Li Xiongxin was astonished; as the neighboring innkeeper, he knew just how poor Huang Qi’s old business had been. He never imagined that a change of owner and a few clever strategies could so transform everything, leaving his heart pounding.

He thought business might slow down in the afternoon, but he was wrong. When Zeng Yiling offered to play the zither, the atmosphere reached its zenith. More scholars and refined guests arrived, some content just to stand at the entrance and listen, enraptured by her performance.

Not until dusk, as curfew approached, did Prince Qi and Princess Huairou take their leave, followed shortly by Zeng Yiling. Before departing, she said, "Master Yang, with your flourishing business, surely you owe me half the profits."

Yang Lian smiled, knowing she was jesting. Watching her eyes, half-smiling beneath her tassels, he suddenly said, "If Miss Zeng would marry me, not just half—everything here would be yours."

"Master Yang, you jest. With your character, would you truly marry a woman of the brothels?" She drew close, so near he could hear his own heart pounding, and smiled. "I think the little princess is quite enamored with you, sir."

"Miss Zeng, be careful with your words. The princess is of noble birth, while I am but a common soldier—hardly a match for her." Yang Lian smiled placidly.

"In the end, the truth will come out. I only hope, Master Yang, that you do not forget your true self. When you find new love, do not forget the old." With that, she smiled and rose, gliding away.

Yang Lian stared after her, lost in thought, and called Chen Tie over. "Brother Chen, who exactly is Zeng Yiling?"

Chen Tie was just as baffled. After a long pause, he replied, "What could she be but a performer put forth by Xiang Pavilion?" Even if he considered her unattainable, deep down, she was still just a performer to him. But Yang Lian felt things were far from so simple.