Discipline in the qinglou was extremely strict. A single wrong word or action could lead to severe punishment.
The maid assigned by the madam to serve Tang Xiaobei was actually there to monitor her.
Seeing the madam, Tang Xiaobei’s heart tightened, but she forced a smile and asked, “Mother, what brings you here?”
“I heard a great talent visited, so I came to see,” the madam said, smiling at Jin Feng. “This must be Master Jin. Truly a fine figure, no wonder Xiaobei is charmed.”
Jin Feng had no fondness for qinglou madams and didn’t bother with pleasantries, cutting her off, “Just say what you want. No need for nonsense.”
“Master Jin is straightforward,” the madam replied, unfazed, still smiling. “I’ll be direct then. Xiaobei is grateful for your affection and wants to speak privately, but as she’s still a pure maiden, taking you to her room might cause gossip.”
“I get it,” Jin Feng interrupted. “I just want a few words with Miss Xiaobei. If you’re worried, arrange a place.”
So, she was concerned about Tang Xiaobei’s reputation.
Ordinary qinglou girls had little reputation to speak of, but Tang Xiaobei, new this year and still pure, met young masters in visible places like pavilions to avoid suspicion, never taking them to her room.
It was like modern celebrities meeting fans: fine in public, but going to a hotel together, even innocently, could ruin their reputation if exposed.
The madam counted on Tang Xiaobei’s pure image to make a fortune, so she rushed over with her people upon the maid’s report.
Jin Feng had no intention of anything improper with Tang Xiaobei. To him, a room or the roadside made no difference.
“Thank you for your consideration, sir,” the madam said, bowing to Jin Feng, then smiling. “There’s a pavilion in the back courtyard, quiet and elegant, perfect for conversation.”
“Is that alright?” Jin Feng asked, turning to Tang Xiaobei instead of answering the madam.
“It’s up to you, sir,” Tang Xiaobei replied.
“Let’s go there then,” Jin Feng said, not wanting to waste words with the madam on this.
In Chunfeng Tower’s back courtyard was a man-made pond, several acres large, surrounded by a corridor. Two small pavilions stood in the centre, where refined young masters occasionally held poetry gatherings, making it a notable feature of the tower.
One pavilion was still empty.
“You’ve brought us this far. No need to follow, right?” Jin Feng glanced at the madam, his tone edged with irritation.
The errand boy had taught him not to be too polite with qinglou madams or pimps, or they’d take advantage.
Sure enough, seeing Jin Feng’s anger, the madam stopped, smiling apologetically, “I won’t disturb your conversation then.”
Jin Feng snorted and strode into the pavilion.
Tang Xiaobei curtsied to the madam and hurried after him.
The maid, catching the madam’s signal, started to follow, but Tiechui blocked the path, arms crossed with his sword.
“Sir, I’m just bringing tea for the master and miss,” the maid explained with a smile, but Tiechui ignored her, standing firm.
“Xiaohuan, if the master doesn’t need it, let it be,” the madam said, having heard of Jin Feng’s clash with the pimp and knowing this master and servant weren’t to be trifled with. She called the maid back.
Tiechui stepped aside, leaning against a willow tree in the shade.
In the pavilion, once the madam and maid left, Tang Xiaobei hurriedly asked, “Sir, how do you know my sister?”
“Here’s a letter from Dongdong. She said you’d understand once you read it.”
Jin Feng pulled an envelope from his chest.
“Thank you, sir!” Tang Xiaobei snatched it, quickly tearing it open.
Moments later, she set the letter down, stood, and solemnly curtsied to Jin Feng, “Sir, thank you for looking after my sister!”
In the letter, Tang Dongdong recounted their separation by wolves, inevitably mentioning Jin Feng.
“Your sister’s a talented girl and my best helper. It’s not about looking after each other, but working together,” Jin Feng said, smiling.
“Still, I must thank you for giving her a chance to shine,” Tang Xiaobei said with a smile. “If I’d met you back then, I wouldn’t have ended up like this.”
“Dongdong said you were almost at Jinchuan’s county seat. Why did you return to Guangyuan?” Jin Feng asked. “And became Chunfeng Tower’s star girl?”
“My sister lured the wolves away, and I ran in fear, getting lost in the mountains until a woodcutter found me, saving me from starvation,” Tang Xiaobei said. “He brought me down the mountain, saying his son died in battle and he and his wife wanted to adopt me. Scared and thinking they were kind, I agreed, but they sold me to Chunfeng Tower.”
She gave a bitter smile, “Since I can read and play the qin, they got a good price.”
Jin Feng looked at her with sympathy, “Your sister asked me to get you out. What do you think? Are you willing to leave Chunfeng Tower?”
He had to ask first. Tang Xiaobei seemed to be doing well here, with her own courtyard, maids, and daily meetings with the county’s elites. If she didn’t want to leave, it would be a waste of time.
Once bitten, twice shy. Hearing Jin Feng’s question, a flicker of panic crossed Tang Xiaobei’s eyes.
After being sold to the qinglou, the madam had old women train her, beating or scolding her for the slightest mistake.
In this era, trusting strangers came at a heavy cost. Having been burned once, she instinctively distrusted everyone.
Glancing at the letter and confirming Tang Dongdong’s handwriting, she nodded firmly, “Of course I want to leave Chunfeng Tower, but the madam won’t let me go.”
“I’ll handle that. You just need to cooperate,” Jin Feng said.
“I’ll follow your arrangements, sir,” Tang Xiaobei promised quickly.
“Good. Listen to me…”
Jin Feng leaned over the table, outlining his plan to Tang Xiaobei.
In Chunfeng Tower’s ground-floor hall, as the tea-gathering guests left, Jin Feng’s poem for Tang Xiaobei spread through the tower.
Finally, someone recognised his identity.
“Jinchuan’s Jin Feng? Why does that name sound familiar? Is he the one from ‘Hoeing Grain at Noon’?”
