Four Seasons Brocade – CH 241

Chapter 241 ☆、

Ah Wu sneered, “Was it not said that this Young Lady Dong’s connections were priceless? How come she moved into Qiao Garden so easily?” Ah Wu said with a sharp edge.

Chu Mao smiled reassuringly at Ah Wu and pinched her cheek.

With a “smack,” Ah Wu slapped Chu Mao’s hand away. Everyone could see that Princess Qi was furious and absolutely enraged.

“Did Your Highness not say I am not proper? Let’s go see what true improperness is.” Ah Wu turned her head and walked straight ahead, leaving Chu Mao behind.

Ah Wu had a fire burning fiercely in her heart, threatening to consume her completely, but she was unaware of her own eyes, for this fire was so beautiful, capable of destroying a world, capable of ruining a city.

Just now, in the carriage to Qiao Garden… Ah Wu shook her head, too ashamed to recall that unbearable scene.

Of course, she did not let Chu Mao succeed, but she still suffered quite a bit. Ah Wu could not help but tighten her clothes, wondering whether to change her clothes first or see Dong Rumei first.

Her inner garment was probably stained with Prince Qi’s saliva, and her chest ached a little. Ah Wu remembered Xiaoyu Mei’s words, “Not a proper woman!” She could let go of such a rough and uncouth girl, but Chu Mao’s words echoed in Ah Wu’s ears again.

“Ah Wu, I love your irreverence.”

Ah Wu closed her eyes briefly. As he spoke, Prince Qi was holding her breast… Then Ah Wu remembered a nearly forgotten fact: her underpants, crumpled like pickled vegetables, were currently lying in the lower compartment of the carriage’s carrying case.

She had not even had time to refute Chu Mao’s words before he took her lower body into his mouth. Ah Wu dared not recall Chu Mao’s nimble tongue; she pounded her chest in anger. Prince Qi truly had no sense of disgust.

“Alright, go change your clothes first.” Chu Mao caught up with Ah Wu from behind.

Ah Wu’s face was as red as a fiery sunset.

“Zi-Jin, give me the carrying case. We’ve traveled so far; go and have someone prepare hot water for the Madam to bathe.” Chu Mao called out to Zi-Jin.

Zi-Jin’s actions were already quite prudent. She dared not disobey or question her master’s words, and without even glancing at the empty-handed eunuch beside her, she handed the carrying box to Prince Qi.

Chu Mao winked at Ah Wu.

On the day Ah Wu moved into Qiao Garden, she still had not seen the disreputable courtesan Dong Rumei. Except for during her period, Prince Qi had almost never let her off the hook.

When Ah Wu woke up in the morning, she painstakingly pieced her broken bones back together, remembering Chu Mao’s words about treating Dong Rumei well.

Ah Wu smiled sarcastically. Prince Qi had developed a habit of chatting with her afterward, bombarding her with stories while she was drowsy.

“Go and invite Young Lady Dong to the garden…”

“Qinghui Pavilion,” Zi-Yi said for Ah Wu. This mistress had not left since entering the room yesterday, so naturally, she did not know about the pavilions in the garden. “Hmm.” Ah Wu nodded. She had only eaten a little breakfast and had no appetite.

When Dong Rumei entered Qinghui Pavilion, Ah Wu almost lost her composure. The most notorious woman of Jiangnan, known for her loose morals, actually seemed more dignified than she was. This was somewhat hard for Ah Wu to accept.

Dong Rumei’s appearance was not stunning; compared to Ah Wu, she was merely pretty. However, her eyes were clear, her features captivating, and a gentle smile played on her lips. Even before she spoke, she already garnered a favorable impression. If Ah Wu had not been certain that she was the famous courtesan Dong Rumei of Jiangnan, she would have surely mistaken her for a young lady from some noble family. Judging from her demeanor, even the daughters of dukes and marquises might not be as refined.

Dong Rumei sat opposite Ah Wu with neither arrogance nor servility. A thought that flashed through her mind was, with such a favored concubine in the mansion, what kind of life did the Princess Consort of Qi, far away in the capital, lead? And would that man not regret it? If he had met Lady Cui, he would have understood that he had given her away to Qiao Garden for nothing.

Ah Wu sized up the refined and quiet Dong Rumei, puzzled as to why such a person would become a famous courtesan in Jiangnan. She seemed far too virtuous. It made her think that this was often the way of the world: men, on the one hand, preferred women of outstanding birth, elegant and refined like ladies from noble families; on the other hand, they desired wives who were as promiscuous as courtesans.

“Young Lady Dong, are you from an official family?” Ah Wu asked.

Dong Rumei remained silent, a hint of dejection between her brows.

Ah Wu did not speak again. In truth, life was even harder for women like her. In their childhood, they were pampered and cherished, like pearls held in someone’s hands, but in the end, those pearls were tarnished, sinking into the mire. The difference between their former and later lives was like heaven and earth; many could not bear to endure it.

Normally, Ah Wu would not have felt much sympathy for Dong Rumei; everyone had their own hardships. However, these past two days, Ah Wu had come to understand the difficulties of being a woman even more, and besides, Dong Rumei was a woman one could not bring oneself to dislike. So, she spoke up, “Young Lady Dong seems to have something troubling her. If you are so kind, you can tell me.”

Dong Rumei raised her head and smiled slightly. “Madam, there’s no need for you to treat me like this. How can the light of a firefly compare to the brilliance of the sun and moon?”

Since Dong Rumei refused Ah Wu’s kindness, she was not the type to force her goodwill upon others. Instead, she smiled. “I’ve heard that Young Lady Dong is skilled in music. Would you be so kind as to bestow upon me a piece of heavenly music?”

Dong Rumei rose, curtsied, went outside the pavilion to take the pipa from a maid, and then returned to sit down opposite Ah Wu.

The melody came effortlessly to Ah Wu; she had never heard it before. Dong Rumei’s voice was melodious, like a nightingale’s song, the first whisper in the morning forest: “Two blooms, two leaves, and two stems. Fickle hearts, many partings. From start to end, my heart tangled, through one silken thread.”

The only person Ah Wu had ever heard who was comparable to Dong Rumei was the woman named Mei-niang in the capital. Most women had “Mei” in their names, and most had brows furrowed with a hint of sorrow. However, it seemed that beneath Dong Rumei’s delicate appearance lay a more proud spirit.

But Ah Wu disliked such mournful tunes. She grew tired of them, left Qinghui Pavilion, and had Zi-Yi fetch her zither. She climbed Diecui Peak, gazed at Qinghe Garden, and began to play.

Diecui Peak offered a distant view of the winding stream of Qinghe Garden, and without the worry of falling into the water, Ah Wu loved it. That evening, after dinner, she took her zither to Juyun Pavilion on the peak and played again.

Dong Rumei stood in Yiyu Pavilion, gazing at Juyun Pavilion from afar. The mellow and elegant music of the zither soothed the soul. A pang of jealousy rose within her; how could someone live such a peaceful and tranquil life?

She suspected that Ah Wu would not entirely agree with Dong Rumei’s assessment.

Ah Wu smelled the lingering scent of alcohol on the wind, wrinkled her nose, and said without turning her head, “Your Highness, perhaps you should change your clothes first.”

Under the moonlight, a man gently embraced a woman’s waist. Dong Rumei gazed at this Prince Qi, his handsome face and elegant demeanor as serene as a gentle breeze through the pines. To be noticed by such an outstanding man—ah, it truly was her honor.

“Young Lady Dong is staying at Yiyu Pavilion. Has Your Highness visited her yet?” Ah Wu pushed Chu Mao away.

Chu Mao chuckled, “It was all Lin Shengzhen’s doing. If you like her music, stay; if not, let her go.”

“Your Highness makes it sound so easy. I heard you’ve been on Young Lady Dong’s pleasure boat before. If you had no interest in her, would Lin Shengzhen have sent her here?” Ah Wu blurted out without thinking, then secretly regretted making herself sound like a jealous woman.

Chu Mao, seemingly unrelated, gently touched Ah Wu’s earlobe and said, “Ah Wu, after we return to the capital, how about we go to Guitian Garden for a while?”

Guitian Garden was practically Ah Wu’s nightmare. From then on, Chu Mao became increasingly audacious towards her. “Do not even think about it,” Ah Wu said through gritted teeth.

However, Ah Wu’s attitude softened the next moment. Prince Qi was truly a beast when he wanted to be. Ah Wu lifted slightly to the side, “How did Your Highness’s discussion with Lin Shengzhen go?”

Chu Mao pulled Ah Wu into his arms, pressing her forcefully against his… well, you know. “Ah Wu, touch it, and I will tell you.”

This scene reminded Ah Wu of the time Chu Mao failed at Xiangsi Garden and the time he succeeded at Guitian Garden. With old and new grudges combined, a shy smile appeared on her face. She pulled him up quickly, shoved the slightly drunk Chu Mao to the ground, and then, still not satisfied, prepared to kick him.

Dong Rumei, watching from a distance, saw Chu Mao fall. She was somewhat at a loss, not knowing what had happened up there, but then she remembered her status; what right did she have to meddle?

“Yi-Hui, let’s go for a walk ahead.” Dong Rumei hesitated for a moment before calling to her maid and leading them out of Yiyu Pavilion.

“Young Lady Dong.” Ah Wu, being led by Chu Mao, had just descended the slope of Diecui Peak when she looked up and saw Dong Rumei turning in their direction.

Dong Rumei was clearly surprised as well, not expecting to see this scene.

“Greetings, Your Highness; greetings, Madam.” Dong Rumei curtsied.

Chu Mao nodded, still holding Ah Wu’s hand. “Let’s go.”

After the two had walked a distance, Yi-Hui sighed, “Lady Cui actually dared to push the Prince, and the Prince even…”

“That’s fate.” Dong Rumei watched Ah Wu’s retreating figure, replying after a long silence.

“Since the Prince has no interest in the young lady, why did he repeatedly make her sing that day, causing Master Lin to…” Yi-Hui sighed.

“Stop talking,” Dong Rumei said sternly. “Do not think that just because Master Lin is good to us, you can have any improper thoughts in your heart.”

“But Master Lin, he clearly… and the young lady also…” Yi Hui felt sorry for Dong Rumei.

Dong Rumei frowned as she climbed Diecui Peak, gazing at Qinghe Garden in the distance. The lights there were still on, but it was too far away to see the figures inside.

As for Ah Wu, Chu Mao held her hand tightly the whole way. “Speaking of which, Dong Rumei is also a descendant of an old friend. When the Yuan family was demoted, her family was also implicated.”

Indeed, she was a daughter of an official family. Ah Wu looked at Chu Mao again and asked, “Does Your Highness intend to pull her out of the mire?”

Chu Mao smiled faintly. “No. She has managed to survive all these years; she is certainly no ordinary person. But since you like listening to music, it would not hurt to let her stay.”

Prince Qi’s compassion was no more than Ah Wu’s.