Chapter Thirty-One: The Violet Orchid Pavilion

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Northwest of Xinzheng.
In front of a courtyard, a carriage had just come to a halt.
Fang Yu gazed at his new home with great satisfaction. Upon seeing him, the servant at the gate immediately hurried out to welcome him.
Fang Yu stepped down from the carriage and lifted the curtain. A young married woman followed, her features cold yet striking, her slightly rounded belly enhancing the gentle allure unique to a woman in her prime.
“Li Yu, we’ve arrived?” the woman asked.
“Jingni, thank you for your trouble! It was a long journey, and I’m grateful for your company,” Li Yu replied.
Jingni merely said, “There’s no need for more words.”
Her aloofness only made Li Yu adore her more. He eagerly helped Jingni down from the carriage.
She did not refuse, placing one hand on her lower back, allowing Li Yu to assist her as they entered their new home together.
Soon after, a little head poked out from the carriage curtain—a pair of golden wings fluttering as it flew toward Li Yu, pecking at his head in protest.
Li Yu caught the little creature in his hand. When they first met, it was no larger than a fist, but three months of care had seen it grow to the size of a head. As it grew, so did its temper. Only Jingni could keep it in check; it feared no one else, not even Yanfei.
The door was opened by an elderly man, followed by two maids, Xiao He and Xiao Lu.
“Master, you’ve arrived!”
It was Xiao He who spoke. She and Xiao Lu had come more than ten days earlier to prepare for their arrival.
They led Li Yu into the house. The residence had three courtyards, a sign of wealth and status in land-scarce Xinzheng.
Li Yu’s main chamber was arranged right next to Jingni’s, earning Xiao He a thumbs-up of approval. Truly the handiwork of someone trained in the palace. Thinking of this, Li Yu also remembered the mischievous Xiao Tao, who had cried her eyes out at not being brought along.
As this was Li Yu’s first time in Xinzheng, he had no intention of going out to seek amusement just yet. He first set his affairs in order.
He summoned the men Lu Buwei had stationed in Xinzheng in advance and gave them instructions.
He also met with the assassins sent ahead by Zhao Gao’s network.
In the deep silence of night,
A shadowy figure, clutching bedding, closed the door behind them and sneaked into the adjacent room.
“Jingni, I’m here!” The voice was excited, tinged with mischief.
“Close the door,” came the icy reply.
“Alright,” the door closed with a soft thud.
“It’s been so long since we’ve slept together, sister.”
“When have we ever slept together?”
“Under the same sky, in the same room, sharing the same dream—isn’t that sleeping together?”
“Who shares your dreams?” she replied, a hint of shyness in her tone.
“Sister, what do you think we should name the baby when it’s born? How about Li Mu Jing? ‘Li’ from Li Yu, ‘Mu’ for admiration, and ‘Jing’ for Jingni.”
“That’s not a good name.”
“Then how about Li Wanqing? Poetic, elegant, scholarly.”
“We’ll call the child Li Fei, regardless of gender. Now go to sleep.”
“Alright! Goodnight, my dear wife!”
“…”
……………………
The seventh year of King Zheng of Qin, the eleventh day of the second month.
Zilan Pavilion.
The young women prepared to greet the new day.
A world in chaos,
Human life was worth less than a dog’s,
Especially for the common folk,
And for common women in such times,
Survival was everything.
Like blades of grass in a forest, they only wished to live.
A graceful youth in white, holding a staff with intricate patterns, entered Zilan Pavilion.
Passersby turned to look, and under the astonished gaze of the girls, Li Yu strolled in as if entering his own backyard.
The first thing that caught the eye upon entering was the spacious hall, surrounded by carved railings and jade inlays. Luxurious decorations added an air of refinement to the place.
A spiral staircase led up to the second and third floors, the layout ingeniously designed.
A young woman blocked Li Yu’s path, curiosity in her eyes. “May I ask what brings you here, honored guest?”
Li Yu bowed politely with a smile. “I would like to discuss some business with the proprietress of Zilan Pavilion.”

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At this moment, a dignified voice sounded from above. “May I ask what kind of business you wish to discuss?”
Li Yu looked up to see a lady in purple descending the stairs, her footsteps crisp and clear.
She moved with a seductive grace, her figure accentuated by a long purple dress that blended elements of the qipao, her legs clad in black stockings, high heels enhancing her alluring silhouette.
Her long purple hair was pinned up with two slender hair sticks, her features enchanting, eyes brimming with charm, and beneath her left eye a butterfly-like pattern lent an even more beguiling air. Yet her bearing remained elegant and noble.
She entered like a bewitching violet, immediately becoming the center of attention—sensual, enchanting, yet regal.
“I am Fang Yu. Greetings,” Li Yu said, trying to maintain his genteel composure, offering her a smile.
“Zinu, proprietress of Zilan Pavilion. And what business does this young master wish to discuss?” Zinu asked gently.
“I wish to reserve the entire Zilan Pavilion for a month. Please, name your price,” Li Yu replied.
Zinu was momentarily taken aback. “You must be joking! To reserve Zilan Pavilion is not a trivial expense.”
Li Yu smiled. “Everything in this world, save for feelings, has a price. The question is only whether one can afford it. Since this is business, let’s talk price first.”
Now Zinu saw that this youth was not here just for idle amusement.
“Zilan Pavilion’s price is not low—one thousand gold per day. What does young master think?”
Li Yu nodded. “That seems fair. I’ll pay twenty thousand gold upfront. If I’m satisfied after a month, I will add another five thousand. What do you think?”
Zinu had already quoted an inflated price; Zilan Pavilion was profitable, but nowhere near a thousand gold a day—less than half, in truth.
She had expected this youth to be a seasoned client, but now she was sure he was just a wealthy young master come to Xinzheng to indulge himself.
But money is money, so Zinu agreed readily.
Li Yu added, “However, for this month, you all must follow my instructions.”
Zinu thought, “Just as I suspected.”
Li Yu reassured her, “Don’t worry, I won’t ask you to break your principles, nor do anything immoral. You won’t even have to do your usual work. Just carry out my requests.”
Zinu asked, “Then when does the contract take effect?”
“Right now,” Li Yu replied.
He glanced around and pointed at the tables in the hall. “First, move all of these out.”
Zinu did not move, but instead looked at Li Yu with a mixture of curiosity and allure.
Li Yu understood her meaning.
He smiled. “Twenty thousand gold is not a small sum. Where do you plan to keep it?”
Zinu answered, “That is not for you to worry about.”
“Then please call in the men waiting outside,” Li Yu said.
Zinu noticed a steward waiting at the door and nodded to let him in.
“Master, everything is ready,” the steward reported.
“Bring it in, and be careful with it,” Li Yu instructed.
With that, two men carried in a large chest, followed by two more, and then more, one after another.
Zinu finally understood why Li Yu wanted the tables cleared—it was to make space.
Thirty-six chests in all, filling the hall to the brim.
Li Yu pointed to the ten yellow chests at the front. “These contain the deposit. Please count them.”
Zinu did not stand on ceremony. In full view of Li Yu, she and the girls began to count the gold.
Li Yu quietly watched Zinu’s serious expression and admired her graceful figure.
Suddenly, he felt a chilling gaze from the second floor. He looked up to see a handsome young man standing at a window, staring down at him. As Li Yu glanced up, the youth did not look away, but frowned, locking eyes with Li Yu.
Li Yu smiled and nodded, then turned his attention back to Zinu.
A man could never compare to Zinu’s beauty. Li Yu continued to admire his future bride.
So beautiful.
After half the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Zinu finished counting and smiled. “You are true to your word. I was too suspicious.”
Li Yu chuckled. “Better a knave first than a scoundrel later.”
Zinu glanced at the remaining chests, curiosity in her eyes. “May I ask what these others contain?”
Li Yu made no secret of it and ordered them all opened.
The girls gathered around, curious. Inside were numerous metal parts and many strange garments.
Seeing their curiosity, Li Yu said to Zinu, “I’ve heard you have a girl here with exceptional musical talent. Would you introduce me?”
“You must mean Nongyu. You’ve done your homework,” Zinu replied.
Li Yu smiled. “I would like to meet Miss Nongyu.”

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Zinu signaled to one of the girls, who went to fetch Nongyu from the back courtyard.
Before long, a girl appeared before Li Yu. Dressed in a green gown, she exuded a quiet elegance and refined grace. Her long hair fell to her waist, adorned with jade and pearls that highlighted both purity and nobility. Golden filigree decorated her shoulders, perfectly matching her gentle demeanor, yet her brows showed unusual resolve.
Li Yu was quickly drawn to the fiery agate pendant at her waist.
Two sorrowful mother and daughter—a pair in need of saving.
It would fall to Li Yu to rescue them, he mused narcissistically.
Zinu noticed Li Yu’s gaze fixed on Nongyu, her brows furrowing before relaxing as she asked, “May I ask why you have called for Nongyu?”
Li Yu smiled. “I have some musical instruments I’d like her to evaluate.”
He pointed to the metal parts, then introduced one in particular. “This is a guzheng.”
Zinu interrupted, “You must be joking. I may not know music well, but a guzheng should have fifteen strings. Yours has twenty-one. And it looks neither like the Yue zheng nor the Qin zheng. Did you invent this yourself?”
Li Yu merely smiled and gestured for Nongyu to try it.
Intrigued, Nongyu took up the new guzheng. At the first pluck, a clear, ethereal note rang out, different from anything she’d heard before. Her eyes lit up as she swept her fingers across all the strings, delight evident on her face. She looked at Zinu, her meaning clear.
Zinu gazed fondly at Nongyu, then said to Li Yu, “Would you part with this instrument and sell it to us?”
Li Yu shook his head, and Nongyu’s eyes immediately dimmed.
He continued, “A treasured sword for a hero, a fine steed for a worthy rider. This instrument in my hands is like a pearl covered in dust; only in Miss Nongyu’s hands will it shine as it should.”
Zinu realized that Li Yu had set his sights on Nongyu, and her look toward him became wary, as if he were a wolf eyeing her daughter.
But Li Yu’s true thoughts were quite different—he was interested in Zinu herself.
Seeing Nongyu’s joy, Li Yu felt his gift was well worth it. He waved his hand grandly. “And there’s no need for suspicion. All the items in these chests are gifts for you.”
He looked every inch the nouveau riche, delighting the girls as they explored the chests.
Li Yu noted that while Zinu wore a smile, she remained guarded. He knew she would not trust him easily, especially since he’d come bearing both money and gifts.
But she would never guess that what he truly sought was her.
Li Yu introduced each item in the chests: flutes, xiao, pipa, liuqin, guitars, erhu, violins, saxophones, harmonicas… The girls were dazzled.
Zinu was amazed. “Did you invent all of these?”
Li Yu smiled. “These are nothing. There’s an even greater instrument outside—the king of instruments.”
He led the girls outside.
By now, a crowd had gathered outside Zilan Pavilion, drawn by the commotion. More than a dozen carriages were parked at the entrance, and four strong men struggled to carry a massive wooden crate inside.
Li Yu hurried to the door with the girls, directing the men to handle the crate with care. The thing had cost Gongshu Qiu half his life to make. Li Yu doubted Gongshu could be persuaded to make another, unless perhaps with some great enticement.
Carried into the hall and placed in a prominent corner, the crate was unsealed on the spot.
A bronze piano was revealed.
The girls were fascinated by the enormous instrument. For a musical instrument, it was colossal.
Li Yu brought over a table, sat in front of the piano, closed his eyes, and let his hands rest upon the keys. As his fingers danced, the melody of “Castle in the Sky” filled the hall of Zilan Pavilion.
When the music ended, the girls remained spellbound, caught in the afterglow.
Good music is timeless; like the Butterfly Lovers’ Concerto, it never grows old no matter how many centuries pass.
Zinu gazed at Li Yu in astonishment, while he basked in the admiration. His musical skills were only elementary, a mere hobby, but for these girls, it was more than enough.
Nongyu came forward and bowed deeply. “Would you be willing to become my teacher?”
Li Yu was taken aback. He had only wanted to impress Zinu, not take on a disciple.
Zinu also approached and bowed. Li Yu hurried to help her up, but she deftly avoided his hands, leaving him awkwardly empty-handed.
“If Miss Nongyu wishes to learn, I’d be delighted. There’s no need for formality,” Li Yu said.
Zinu smiled. “To pass on knowledge is to be a teacher; the rites must not be neglected. Nongyu, pay your respects to Master Fang. And you all as well.” She looked at the other girls.
Obediently, they all bowed to Li Yu, calling him “Master,” leaving him flustered and glaring at Zinu, realizing she had played him.
Zinu’s thinking was simple: now that they had called him “Master,” he could hardly have other intentions toward the girls, especially Nongyu.
Little did she know, Li Yu’s shamelessness knew no bounds. One who could even pursue the Empress Dowager would not be deterred by a few disciples.