Chapter 97

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(Everyone, have a happy Mid-Autumn Festival, may your family be reunited, and may all lovers eventually become a couple!)

"Oh, Lord Liu is here." Shen Man, with her sharp eyes, immediately spotted Liu Jun approaching with a few attendants.

Hu Guang quickly turned to look, putting on a broad smile. He saw a tall, handsome young man with a narrow waist and long arms, thick eyebrows, and large eyes, striding forward. His steps were large and powerful, each stride seemed like a forceful kick, and Hu Guang even felt he could hear the sound of the air being split by his legs.

"This young Master Liu indeed has a brave and martial appearance, just as the rumors say," Hu Guang thought to himself, then added, "He is exactly as I imagined, a young man with a sharp edge." With this in mind, Hu Guang smiled and stepped forward, calling out, "Lord Liu, I have been waiting for you for quite some time."

"What can I do for you, Mr. Hu?" Liu Jun glanced at Hu Guang, his face showing a polite demeanor. In fact, before coming, Liu Jun had already investigated Hu Guang. Recently, many people had invited him to banquets, and Liu Jun couldn't possibly accept all of them.

Hu Guang was a name he had never heard before, so he felt curious after receiving the invitation and sent people to investigate thoroughly. It turned out that Hu Guang was no ordinary person; he was the external steward of the Andong Prince's mansion, specifically in charge of the official salt distribution in Qihuang Prefecture and its eight counties.

Liu Jun then did some research on the salt business and gained a basic understanding of the industry. After analyzing the information, he had a good idea of why this steward Hu was seeking him out.

Salt was a highly profitable industry in the late Ming Dynasty, and anyone involved in it was not to be underestimated.

Liu Jun did not refuse the invitation and accepted it readily. He was not short of money, but he lacked a steady source of income. Any opportunity was worth a try.

"Lord Liu, Mr. Hu, the private room upstairs is ready. Please, let's go upstairs and not stand here chatting," Shen Man appeared at the right moment, moving closer to Liu Jun as she spoke, and a fragrant scent wafted over. Liu Jun turned his head and smiled at the beautiful and graceful owner of the Red Sleeve Pavilion, nodding, "Then please lead the way, Miss Shen."

Shen Man, seeing Liu Jun's amiable demeanor, couldn't help but smile brightly.

They entered the building and went straight to the third floor, where Shen Man arranged the seating.

Liu Jun and Hu Guang exchanged pleasantries, and Shen Man, a former famous courtesan from the Qinhuai River, was quite skilled in socializing. She laughed and joked between the two, introducing them to each other. She introduced Hu Guang as the steward of the Andong Prince and lavished praise on Liu Jun, complimenting him extensively.

"Lord Liu, thank you for honoring us with your presence today," Shen Man said as she poured tea for Liu Jun.

Liu Jun looked at Shen Man and smiled, "Miss Shen, your business is thriving. I heard that the private rooms upstairs need to be reserved three days in advance. To have you as my company today is truly a stroke of luck for me, Liu Jun."

Liu Jun had no prejudice against courtesans, especially women like Shen Man, who were more like socialites, even comparable to modern-day entertainment stars, with high social status. According to Liu Jun's understanding, courtesans in the Ming Dynasty were divided into many categories.

In general, they could be divided into two major types: geishas and courtesans. However, there were five subcategories. Geishas mainly earned their living through their arts, often portrayed in films and novels as those who sold their skills but not their bodies. They were skilled in various arts such as music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, and were also adept at socializing, acting as intermediaries, and livening up gatherings.

These women often moved in high society, among officials, nobles, and scholars, and their status was very high. They chose their clients, not the other way around. It was not enough to be wealthy and powerful; one also needed to be talented, famous, and even good-looking to win their favor.

The other type of courtesan mainly relied on selling their beauty. In earlier times, the term "courtesan" often referred to geishas, while those who sold their beauty were called prostitutes.

In more detail, there were palace courtesans, military courtesans, official courtesans, household courtesans, and civilian courtesans.

Palace courtesans served the emperor in the imperial palace, military courtesans served the army, and official courtesans were managed by the government. Their freedom was controlled by the government, and it was difficult for them to leave their profession and marry. Household courtesans were privately owned, while civilian courtesans were the most common.

Shen Man was a civilian courtesan and was known as a famous Yangzhou Slim Horse in the mid-Ming Dynasty.

The most famous courtesans in the mid-Ming Dynasty were the Daming women from the north and the Yangzhou Slim Horses from the south. The Yangzhou Slim Horses were renowned for their skills, often bought as young girls and trained in various arts. When they grew up, they were both beautiful and talented, with very high social status.

The most beloved concubine of the current Emperor Chongzhen, Empress Tian, was a Yangzhou Slim Horse.

Although Shen Man did not receive training from a young age, she had a good foundation, was beautiful, and had learned poetry, painting, music, and chess. After selling herself, she received some training and became a talented and beautiful courtesan.

Liu Jun even found out that Shen Man's first night fee was 500 taels of silver. Although she did not stay in the Qinhuai River area for long, she earned a considerable amount of money and eventually married a government official as a concubine, successfully retiring. Unfortunately, her husband, though kind, was old, and his wife was jealous. When the official died, she was driven out.

Liu Jun had conducted a thorough investigation of the young and beautiful owner of the brothel in his territory. Although he was surprised by Shen Man's beauty and her background, since she posed no threat, he let it go.

This was his first visit to the Red Sleeve Pavilion.

Shen Man had a genuine fondness for Liu Jun, who was young, brave, and kind. When he spoke to her, his eyes showed neither lust nor disdain. "I must thank Lord Liu for allowing me to set up my business here and providing me with a living. I have always wanted to invite you, but I didn't want to disturb you, fearing you might not come."

"Miss Shen, you're too modest. Your business here is also a help to me. There are over a thousand bachelors in this area, and they have their needs. Otherwise, it could lead to problems, hahaha."

Liu Jun did not oppose brothels or gambling dens. As long as they followed his rules, they could operate in his territory. His rules were simple: no forcing women into prostitution, maintaining hygiene, and paying him a fee. This way, everyone made money, and the bachelors and soldiers in the town had a safe outlet for their needs.

Gambling dens were also allowed, but no cheating, no scams, and no usury.

In short, as long as they followed his rules, everything was fine.

"Since Lord Liu has honored us with your presence today, why don't I call our two best girls to keep you company?"

"Miss Shen, please call them quickly. We can't keep Lord Liu waiting," Hu Guang laughed.

Liu Jun did not object; he understood the social norms of such occasions.

Shen Man called two girls, her top performers, who she had brought from the Qinhuai River area. One was a famous Daming woman, known for her beauty. It was said that the three wonders of the north were the parade grounds of Xuanfu, the women of Daming, and the walls of Jizhen. The women of Daming were so beautiful that Emperor Zhengde of the Ming Dynasty even visited Daming in disguise to see them, leading to a famous historical anecdote.

Shen Man's top Daming woman was well-known in the town, having gained a reputation in a short time. Liu Jun had heard of her before. It was said that her first client, a merchant from Wuchang, paid 300 taels of silver. Since then, she charged at least 10 taels per night, and even then, one had to queue, send gifts, and invite her for tea. In total, it cost about 20 taels for a night, and 30 taels if one wanted to hire her for a day.

This Daming woman was only 16, with bound feet, and her name was Li Fengjie. She was the same Li Fengjie from the historical anecdote, who was noticed by the emperor and forced into his company, leading to a famous story.

Li Fengjie was indeed very beautiful, tall and slender, with fair and smooth skin. She was skilled in makeup, not just applying white powder but dressing fashionably. Her voice was soft and cultured, making her a natural star.

The other girl was a Yangzhou Slim Horse, delicate and charming, with an incredibly slim waist and a flat chest, which was not Liu Jun's preference. However, her pitiful appearance likely appealed to those who wanted to protect her. She was also very talented, playing the zither beautifully and singing with a clear, heavenly voice. Liu Jun was impressed by how Shen Man had found such talented performers.

However, while the Daming woman had bound feet and the Yangzhou Slim Horse had a flat chest, Liu Jun appreciated them but was not particularly attracted to them. He found Shen Man, in her late twenties, mature and graceful, with a witty personality, more to his liking.

Seeing that Liu Jun was easy to talk to, Hu Guang soon became more direct.

"Lord Liu, it is said that the women of Daming are different from others. You can try for yourself today."

In Chinese culture, business is often discussed over drinks, and lewd jokes are common. Liu Jun, having experienced many such scenes in his past life, was used to it. "Oh, how are they different?"

"Supposedly, they have a unique structure," Hu Guang said with a lecherous smile, as if Liu Jun should understand.

Shen Man, disliking Hu Guang's crude remarks, was pleased to see Liu Jun only smiling, not showing any lewdness, which increased her fondness for him.

Hu Guang continued, "I have been to Daming several times and heard this legend. I tried many Daming women, but found nothing special. However, since the rumor exists, there must be some truth to it. Since we have one here today, you can try for yourself."

Liu Jun glanced at Li Fengjie, who was not overly flirtatious but sat gracefully, like a well-bred lady. However, he couldn't help but look at her bound feet, imagining the deformed toes inside the tiny shoes, which killed his interest.

"Speaking of unique structures, I have a couplet that describes the special qualities of Daming women. I'll give the first half, and you can try to complete it. If you can't, you'll have to drink a cup of wine," Hu Guang said with a smile.

Liu Jun sat there, waiting for Hu Guang to get to the point. Since they were here to discuss business, the one who lost their composure first would be at a disadvantage.

"Oh, that sounds good. I'm afraid the talent here far exceeds mine, so I'll need some help," Liu Jun replied.

"Here's the first half: 'Birds roost in the trees by the forest.'"

Before Liu Jun could think of a response, Li Fengjie quickly answered, "Monks knock on the moonlit door."

The Yangzhou Slim Horse was not to be outdone, adding, "The horizontal inscription: 'Another world beyond.'"

Liu Jun clapped, impressed by the girls' talent. The couplet and the inscription not only matched but also subtly hinted at the unique qualities of Daming women. It was a perfect match, especially the hidden meaning.

"I'm impressed. I'll drink the penalty," Liu Jun laughed.

"Wait, Miss Shen didn't answer either, so both of you have to drink. Let's have a cup of wine together!" Hu Guang laughed.

Shen Man glanced at Liu Jun and poured two cups of wine.

Liu Jun, not wanting to ruin the atmosphere, took a cup and drank it with her, holding hands.

"Cheers!" Hu Guang clapped.

Shen Man put down her cup, her face flushed.

"Next, listen carefully. The second half of the couplet is, 'At the end of the road, it seems there is no way out.'"

"The willows are dark, and the flowers are bright, and there is another village!" The Yangzhou Slim Horse answered quickly. Li Fengjie then added the inscription, "Gradually entering a better place."

Liu Jun shrugged, admitting defeat again.

"This time, we'll use a 'skin cup,'" Hu Guang said with a grin.

A "skin cup" meant that Shen Man would drink the wine and then kiss Liu Jun, passing the wine to him. It was a very intimate and seductive gesture. Liu Jun hesitated but saw that Shen Man was not opposed and even seemed eager, so he nodded.

Shen Man was excited, fearing that Liu Jun might refuse or be disgusted.

She drank the wine and leaned forward, her rose-colored lips touching Liu Jun's. They kissed, and Liu Jun opened his mouth, allowing the wine, mixed with her scent, to flow into his mouth.

After a while, Shen Man reluctantly pulled away.

"Good, now the third half of the couplet: 'Clouds drift out of the mountain without intention.'"

Shen Man looked at Liu Jun and quickly answered, "Birds, tired from flying, return to their nests."

As she spoke, Liu Jun thought of an inscription and smiled, "The deepest and most hidden place."

"You two have great chemistry. I'm impressed," Hu Guang laughed, and Li Fengjie and the Yangzhou Slim Horse also giggled.

...