Volume 2: Eagle vs. Dragon Chapter 11: The New Four Oirans
"Thank you, sister." Yu Lian'er touched the pendant beads on the gold hairpin and couldn't help but smile with joy. She came to the banquet that day, half out of gratitude and half out of impulse, and she didn't expect to get such a great reward. However, she knew that there was an even greater scenery waiting for her on the Fairyland.
"Go ahead," said Tan Sanniang, "This road is not easy to walk on, but since you have chosen it, then walk on it carefully. Remember that the Queen Mother of Heaven is watching your every step, so don't make any mistakes in the future."
Yu Lian'er agreed, and her mother, maid, and eunuchs beside her congratulated her, and then surrounded her and went to the Fairyland.
The deck became deserted again.
Mother Wang came over and whispered, "She chose this path herself. She will be responsible for any consequences in the future. But girl, it's time for you to think about yourself."
"What is there to consider?" Tan Sanniang said, "Everything is going well for me now, what is there to consider?"
"Oh, my girl!" Mother Wang sent away the insignificant people around her and said, "Bihe told me that Haoguan wanted to marry you, not as a concubine, but as his principal wife! And it was Old Master Wu who agreed to it - why didn't you agree at that time!"
Just now, before Wu Chengjian left for Shenxian Island, he spoke to Tan Sanniang excitedly and told her that the old man had relented and was willing to let her in. He didn't say it completely, but the meaning was already very clear: she didn't want to be a concubine, but a wife!
Tan Sanniang was said to be the most beautiful prostitute in Baietan, but no matter how glorious she was in Baihuaxing, she was still a prostitute. After this disaster, Wu Guoying had become indifferent to worldly affairs. He was grateful to Tan Sanniang for sticking with him when the Wu family was destroyed and even prepared to sell the boat to save the family. So he actually loosened his temper and acquiesced to Wu Chengjian marrying Tan Sanniang. Cai Qiaozhu, as the eldest sister-in-law, did not object to this matter. This was simply a great opportunity.
Of course, this is also related to a series of micro-operations performed by Wu Chengjian on the eve of the turnaround - Tan Sanniang has her feelings, and Wu Chengjian must be able to let his father and sister-in-law know about this affection without leaving any trace.
Although the Wu family is not an official family - if the Wu family is a noble family, Wu Chengjian would not have to think about this - but it is also one of the few wealthy families in Xiguan. After this incident, I am afraid that the important officials in the capital and the Ministry of Internal Affairs will remember his name. The Wu family has a clean family background for several generations. Such a family background is more powerful than ordinary officials. It is still very difficult for a prostitute to marry into the family, and the wife of the head of the merchant family. If this marriage is really to be done, not to mention Wu Chengjian, even Wu Guoying and Cai Qiaozhu will have to bear great pressure. But Mr. Wu actually acquiesced, and Wu Chengjian also came to ask for marriage.
Unexpectedly, Tan Sanniang actually refused.
Wu Chengjian had been going smoothly ever since the turnaround that night. He didn't expect to run into such a big snag with Tan Sanniang. If it weren't for the reward banquet to be held later and Zhou Yijin's persuasion, he would have lost his temper on the spot.
"Girl, girl!" Mother Wang advised, "I really don't understand. What you just did... were you possessed? Such a great event is right in front of you, and you actually refused !"
"Mom, you don't understand." The corners of Tan Sanniang's mouth were bitter and difficult for others to detect: "Hao Guan has been talking about this for a long time, but I have long understood that this is impossible. Entering the house is not the result, but the beginning. If it is a concubine, it's fine, but to be the main wife married in a formal way? This will become Hao Guan's lifelong topic, this wedding will become a joke in Xiguan, and I will only be uncomfortable in the Wu family. In this case, why not both take a step back."
"Oh, my girl, why do you think so far ahead?"
"You can't help but think about the future, mother..." Tan Sanniang said, "I heard that the Pan family is already seeking to obtain the imperial hat and feather. What the Pan family can obtain today, the Wu family can also obtain in the future. But a businessman who married a prostitute..." Tan Sanniang said this and shook her head, "The court will never give a prostitute an imperial decree. By then, I will become a roadblock for the Wu family to move from wealth to nobility and further. Even if Haoguan doesn't care, there are many people in the Wu family who do. By then, my good days in the Wu family will be over."
"That's something for the future. And there are always exceptions to everything." Mother Wang said, "But I heard that Liang Hongyu was also granted an imperial decree during the Song Dynasty. That's a well-known story."
Tan Sanniang said, "Mom, you are wrong. Liang Hongyu was not a wife, but a concubine. She was later given the title of Madam not because of Han Shizhong's favor, but because she had made contributions to the country. Moreover, her time was a time of chaos, while now is a time of peace. It's different."
"Oh my!" Mother Wang said, "I don't understand all your reasons. I just know that this is a godsend opportunity. Girl, you really shouldn't let it go. Why do you think so much about him? You should think about yourself!"
"Mom, you are thinking about me and the present ." Tan Sanniang said, "But I am thinking about Haoguan and the future..."
She looked towards the direction of Shenxianzhou: "Of course he wants to choose a good woman with a good family background and clean background. Only in this way can it help his future."
She herself didn't notice, but Mother Wang looked at the tears falling from her eyes and shook her head: "Girl... one day you will regret it!"
The reward banquet in Shenxian Island tonight reached its climax as the four courtesans lit up the lanterns.
In "Winter Plum Blossoms", the newly appointed Wang Ronger has just put down the giant clam curtain. She is a girl from the water town of Jiangnan, who is well-versed in music, chess, calligraphy and painting. When she was expressing her gratitude just now, she spoke in the soft Wu dialect.
But it was this soft and sticky tone that attracted countless heroes and strong men in the audience to swallow their saliva while looking at her from afar.
"Girl, it's your turn."
Among the autumn chrysanthemums, Mother Liu said to Lian'er.
Yu Lian'er also saw the hot scene in Shenxian Island through the beaded curtain, and she was so nervous that she pinched her handkerchief - can she really do it?
She was able to sit in this room because of Hao Guan's influence. What if she drew back the curtain and found the room deserted, or even someone started to complain? What would she do then?
Then I heard someone singing outside: "Master Zhou from Zhejiang, lights a lamp for Miss Yu Lian'er——"
The tone was drawn out very long, and as it was sung, countless people were cheering below.
On the first floor, the fat merchant asked the thin merchant: "What is the origin of Yu Lian'er? How come she can sit on the first floor even though we have never heard of her? There are so many people cheering before the curtain is even lifted? No one has ever seen her... And Master Zhou from Zhejiang... How come a master from Zhejiang can come to our Guangdong to show off his power? Those coolies are cheering so loudly."
"You are stupid." The thin merchant said, "Master Zhou from Zhejiang is the Shaoxing master from Yihe Bank. It is not convenient for Haoguan to come out and praise him in person now."
The fat merchant understood immediately when he heard it: "So this is the person that Haoguan wants to promote. We have to promote him! We have to promote him!" He quickly stood up together with the thin merchant and clapped loudly - the reason why the two of them could stand here was because their business was related to Yihehang.
Behind the agate curtain, Yu Lian'er was still taking deep breaths.
"Girl, girl, lift the curtain quickly."
"Let me die!" Yu Lian'er gritted her teeth, relaxed herself, and finally lifted the bead curtain.
There was a tsunami of cheers from the audience!
The cheers came one after another, much louder than Wang Ronger's just now! The heat was almost overwhelming, and Yu Lianer couldn't see the facial features of the people below, but she could only hear the waves of cheers, which made her feel unbelievable and all her doubts were swept away!
She bowed and thanked the people below in a posture she had practiced countless times. After bowing, when she stood up, she no longer had any doubts about her appearance. The cheers of the crowd made her feel confident.
"Master Duan from Beijiang, light a lamp for Miss Yu Lian'er!"
"Nanhai Jiang Xingshu, light a lamp for Miss Yu Lian'er!"
"Master Liu San of Xiqiao, light a lamp for Miss Yu Lian'er!"
"Master Qiao from Shanxi, light a lamp for Miss Yu Lian'er!"
"Master Cao from Shanxi, light a lamp for Miss Yu Lian'er!"
"Mr. Fan from Shanxi, light a lamp for Miss Yu Lian'er!"
"Master Hu from Xiguan, light the lamp for Miss Yu Lian'er!"
" Master Liu from Xiguan, light a lamp for Miss Yu Lian'er!"
…
Golden lanterns were hung up one after another like flowing water. With each lamp hung, the cheers would rise higher, until the railings under the agate curtain were almost full.
Mother Liu shouted excitedly: "Girl, girl, thank you quickly, thank you quickly!" She didn't say it in a low voice, but shouted loudly. If she didn't speak loudly at this time, Yu Lian'er would not be able to hear her at all.
Yu Lian'er bowed slowly. According to the rules of the Immortal Continent, this was the general thank you at the end of the lighting of the lamps. Suddenly, another lamp came over. The turtle slave who was singing the ceremony felt that it was against the rules and was getting annoyed. However, his leader gave him a look and he quickly sang:
"Master Pan of Henan, light a lamp for Miss Yu Lian'er!"
Yu Lian'er was slightly stunned, but Mother Liu next to her reacted quickly and said, "Just nod to show your understanding." Yu Lian'er nodded in the direction of the golden lamp, and the agate curtain was lowered.
In the elegant seat on the second floor, Wu Chengjian was slightly surprised and looked in that direction. There was a short figure sitting with his back to the table, but he couldn't help looking in the direction of the agate curtain.
Wu Chengjian didn't need to speak, Wu Qi had already signaled, and a head of the eunuchs hurried over to whisper something. Wu Qi looked slightly surprised, lowered his head and whispered in Wu Chengjian's ear: "It's the eldest son of Panjiayuan."
Wu Chengjian was surprised and asked, "Junghwan? How old is he? Is he fourteen?"
Wu Chengjian laughed and scolded: "You think your butt is too hard! Aren't you afraid of getting beaten when you get back?"
Wu Qi said: "I left it secret from my family, and they told me not to tell anyone."
Wu Chengjian said, "You sneaked out and dared to learn how to light a lamp!"
Zhou Yijin asked from the side: "Who?"
Wu Chengjian said, "Pan Youjie's eldest son."
