Echoes of My Heart Throughout the Court

Chapter 167: Tear-Jerking! This Woman Repays Evil with Virtue, Sending Her Enemy Straight to Heaven! (2 / 2)

Xu Yanmiao was once again confused.

[Being a courtesan means fame, sure, but it also means plenty of people come flocking to… sleep with her. Who would genuinely want that kind of “privilege”?]

[And…] Xu Yanmiao recalled what he’d discovered in the brothel before, his eyes showing a trace of pity.

[The more money a courtesan makes, the more she’s forced to take on clients. Many deranged people are willing to spend a fortune just to abuse courtesans.]

[On the other hand, ordinary prostitutes just take clients normally. While their lives are also difficult, most clients wouldn’t spend extra money just to do something twisted.]

But Huang Yong couldn’t think of all this.

His thick, dark eyebrows twitched a few times as he forcibly suppressed a smile.

Inside, he was already laughing: Xu Lang is truly a novice. Everything he does and says has a touch of innocence. In the hierarchy of brothels, the higher your status, the more of a cash cow you become, and the better your treatment. Why wouldn’t someone want to be a courtesan?

Suddenly, the emperor’s voice interrupted his thoughts: “Why are you standing there in a daze? Hurry and bring that courtesan here!”

The emperor raised an eyebrow. “What’s with the ‘huh’?”

Huang Yong hesitated. “Didn’t Your Majesty say they have an emotional bond…”

The emperor, now impatient, snapped, “I told you to go, so go! What are you dithering about for?”

Huang Yong quickly bowed and hurried off to make arrangements, his mind racing as he left.

Could it be that His Majesty trusts Xu Yanmiao’s judgment more?

Even if Xu doesn’t have stronger evidence, His Majesty is still willing to consider his ideas?

Is this what it means to be a favored minister?

Unattainable envy. Truly unattainable envy.

Huang Yong jogged out to issue orders and then jogged back.

About half an hour later, the courtesan appeared in the Huang family’s reception hall, her eyes sparkling with intrigue.

She didn’t know why these people had “invited” her here, but if they weren’t afraid of the Prince of Jibei’s heir, they must wield considerable power—perhaps even enough to change her circumstances.

When the courtesan appeared, both the emperor and Huang Yong fell silent.

This is the courtesan???

This woman, with her exceptionally cold demeanor and not a trace of allure, was a courtesan?

Although they’d never been to a brothel themselves, they had heard of the famed “Flower Rankings.” Each year, the champions were always described as stunningly beautiful, perfect in both appearance and talent!

Could it be that this woman’s talents were extraordinary?

But that didn’t seem right either. In recent years, no poems or works attributed to her had circulated, nor had there been any tales of her engaging in refined literary exchanges with scholars.

This…

Huang Yong couldn’t have brought the wrong person, could he? / I couldn’t have brought the wrong person, could I?

Xu Yanmiao was equally astonished.

Having been in this ancient world for so long, he had never visited a brothel beyond those few days, let alone seen a courtesan. Still, he was curious about courtesans often depicted in novels and TV dramas.

[Courtesans are usually portrayed as unmatched beauties. The flower girls I’ve seen before were already stunning—how much more beautiful would someone have to be to be crowned a courtesan?]

But now…

A puzzled expression appeared on Xu Yanmiao’s face.

She was undeniably beautiful, with a striking look reminiscent of Western aesthetics. But her beauty was far from the typical aesthetic of the Great Xia people—and everyone knew courtesans were chosen through votes cast by patrons spending money.

Xu Yanmiao flipped open the system interface and quickly found the relevant information.

[Oh! The Prince of Jibei’s heir has a preference for those with deep-set European-style features. He fell in love with this lady at first sight, spent a fortune to elevate her to the position of courtesan, and maintained her status for nearly two years…]

The old emperor looked incredulous.

A fortune just to make someone a courtesan? This ‘fortune’ is no metaphor—it’s literally a thousand taels of gold!

You must have used your father’s rebellion funds for this, didn’t you?

As this thought crossed his mind, the emperor suddenly felt an odd sense of pity for the Prince of Jibei.

—Did he know his son’s ‘love at first sight’ was so costly?

The Prince of Jibei was, of course, unaware. If he had known, he would’ve broken the heir’s legs long ago.

Similarly, he didn’t know that Huang Yong was now attempting to turn his son’s “love at first sight” into an informant.

“I need to know some things about the Prince of Jibei’s heir. If you’re willing, I can…”

Huang Yong was just about to launch into his usual mix of threats and promises when—

The courtesan interrupted without even hearing the benefits, her voice taut: “Fine! Whatever you want to know, I will tell you everything I know!”

It was as if she feared they might change their minds.

Now it was the emperor’s side that fell silent.

A series of doubtful glances were exchanged.

—Why is she so eager? Is this a trap?

[Wahoo! Finally, I’ve found it!] Xu Yanmiao, the college student, was practically giddy. [I knew my judgment wouldn’t be wrong! Who says college students are naïve and dumb? That’s not me!]

[Haha! No wonder she’s so keen to cause trouble for the Prince of Jibei’s heir! She originally had no reputation in the brothel, barely enough clients, and secretly saved for ten years. She finally scraped together enough to buy her freedom and negotiated with the madam. After all, she wasn’t some famous flower girl, so to the madam, it was better to just squeeze the last bit of value out of her.]

[But before she could get her contract, the Prince of Jibei’s heir—this complete idiot—took a liking to her and waved his money around, saying, ‘How could the woman I like not be a courtesan?’ He forcibly elevated her to that position.]

[Once she became a courtesan, her value doubled, and her original redemption money was no longer enough.]

[And even if it were enough, do you think the madam would let the courtesan leave the brothel? She’s a cash cow!]

The old emperor and Huang Yong both froze and instinctively looked toward the courtesan.

Only now did they notice that her taut voice wasn’t due to fear but because her jaw was clenched so tightly from her cheeks to her chin.

A phrase suddenly popped into their heads—irrelevant but oddly fitting:

Grinding teeth and licking blood.

It was inevitable. In her brothel—a high-end establishment—they didn’t cater to common merchants or laborers. But the madam wasn’t running a charity, so those with few clients were quickly sent to dirtier places.

Before she became a courtesan, her client list was modest—not too many, not too few—just enough to avoid making the madam feel like keeping her was a waste.

She wasn’t exactly a star attraction, but her patrons weren’t the usual riffraff.

Most of the clients were literati, noblemen, or officials. Such people typically sought out the “champion,” “runner-up,” or “third place” of the flower rankings. Failing that, they’d go for a “scholar” or “imperial historian.”

She had little to do with them.

Until…

That day, the Prince of Jibei’s heir excitedly brought her a box of pearls, proudly declaring that he had elevated her to the status of a “champion.”

The courtesan’s expression could only be described as one of utter devastation.

And that idiotic heir, that good-for-nothing scoundrel, thought she was overwhelmed with joy.

As the memory ended, the courtesan gritted her teeth and said, “Whatever you plan to do, I will assist. I have only one request—please, make sure that heir never has a good day again.”

The old emperor eyed her thoughtfully, then suddenly had an idea. “I could send him to the South Wind Pavilion.”

“!!!”

Him?!

The courtesan’s breath hitched.

Good heavens! The person who had summoned her was the emperor! The emperor himself was targeting the Prince of Jibei!

Which meant—

The emperor really had the power to send that wretched heir to the South Wind Pavilion!

“However, whether he ends up confined for reflection or sent to the South Wind Pavilion depends on what exactly he has done.”

“Your Majesty! I have something to say!!!”

At that moment, the courtesan’s enthusiasm shot through the roof.

Today, no matter what, I’ll make sure you’re sent to the South Wind Pavilion!

So what if you’re rich? Over the years, I’ve carefully saved every bit of your fortune. It’s more than enough to guarantee your rise as a male courtesan, sending you straight to the top.

Author’s Note:

The Wenxuan Bureau is essentially the Ministry of Personnel’s literary selection department. Both terms can be used, but the formal title in official documents would be “Ministry of Personnel, Wenxuan Bureau.”

This is fictional.

(The role of the Wenxuan Bureau in the Ming and Qing dynasties is historically accurate, but my narrative interpretation is fabricated.)

Excerpts and Annotations:

The Flower Rankings – Female Champion:

“A stage was set for selecting the champion among the flowers. Among over twenty candidates, Weibo emerged as the first choice, accompanied by music and golden goblets. Other southern songstresses were visibly disheartened and gradually left. By dawn, the revelry ceased, and the next day, poetry was composed to commemorate the event. Among these, my poem reads: ‘Goddess of the moon, queen of flowers, first among celestial maidens, first among fragrances.’ Weibo embroidered these words on her kerchief and never let it leave her hands. Duke Wu, charmed by her elegance, wished to take her as his concubine. However, another suitor, Cai Xiangjun from Guiyang, offered 3,000 gold to her father and took her away, leaving Duke Wu regretful and eventually marrying someone else.”

— Miscellaneous Notes from Banqiao

Praise and Criticism in Poetry:

“A single line of praise could elevate one’s status, while a word of criticism could drive carriages away for good.”

— Biographies of Tang Poets

Expanded Notes:

Whether courtesans or ordinary flower girls, life was always difficult.

• “The so-called privileged treatment of courtesans only meant avoiding physical abuse.” Yet, if they fell seriously ill, they were often abandoned. Their only recourse was to secretly save money for treatment or rely on a benefactor.
• If a courtesan died and her patron sent poetry instead of money, some madams would angrily throw the body onto the street.

A Bitter Song:

“The madam smiles when money flows,

But whips soaked in water rain down when it doesn’t.

The little slaves bleed fresh crimson…”

“A beauty earns wealth for her master,

But if she falls ill, her life is forsaken.

Her bare corpse is carried to the desolate countryside,

What use is her noble beauty then?

A southern hawk takes her eyes,

A northern dog devours her flesh.”*

— Between Ritual and Custom

On “Selling Art, Not Body”:

The saying “selling art, not the body” was often a façade.

For example, in 1921, Zhang Haosi, head of the Luoyang Chamber of Commerce, brought singers to a marketplace under the pretense of cultural performances. However, as long as enough money was spent, the so-called performers were effectively high-class prostitutes. Even a county magistrate openly monopolized a singer and hosted banquets with her.

— Between Ritual and Custom

“Selling art, not body,” but money could always buy more.