Wedding

The atmosphere in the great hall turned awkward in an instant. At some point, all those within had quietly withdrawn, leaving only Qin Yan and Yu Hanjun.

Qin Yan fixed her gaze upon Yu Hanjun, her dark eyes as sharp as blades, forcing him step by step into retreat.

Yu Hanjun was a man of keen intelligence. After leaving Chunfeng Pavilion, he used his network of connections to investigate, only to discover that someone had deliberately provoked Luanfeng into plucking the flower of the so-called “First Beauty Under Heaven.” Coupled with Qin Yan’s strange reaction when she was first abducted, the truth was self-evident.

A faint guilt rose in Yu Hanjun’s heart. Thus, he had come in person to bid for Qin Yan’s first night.

Qin Yan read the hesitation in Yu Hanjun’s eyes. She suddenly bit her lip till blood flowed crimson. “I see… I thought too much. Young Master Yu, you are a man of high station, with affairs pressing on every side. To spare even a single night is rare indeed, let alone to come every day. A spring night is worth a thousand gold pieces. Since Young Master Yu has paid, naturally you must receive full value. Will you go to the inner chamber, or shall it be here, with Heaven for coverlet and Earth for bed?”

She slipped off the heavy robe of embroidered gold that weighed dozens of catties, revealing only a pink dudou beneath. Her snow-white arms trembled faintly in the air, skin smooth as jade.

Only such a body could be worth a thousand in gold for but one night.

Suddenly Yu Hanjun shrugged off his own cloak and draped it over Qin Yan’s shoulders.

“There is no need…” Yu Hanjun sighed. “Why must you do this?”

“I know full well what I am doing.” Qin Yan lifted her face from his embrace, the flames in her eyes flickering. “I am forcing you to wed me.”

She laid her desire bare. “You may save me for a day, but not for a lifetime. If not today, then tomorrow, or the day after, I shall be bound and thrown onto some stranger’s bed by the madam. If you truly wish to save me, then redeem me. Or marry me.”

Yu Hanjun answered calmly, “I cannot take a courtesan as wife.”

As the second son of Yuluo Pavilion, though he had no right of inheritance like the elder, his marriage was still a matter of careful alliance among great sects.

Qin Yan said forthrightly, “Then I can be a concubine.”

“That would not be fair to you.” Regret flickered across Yu Hanjun’s face. “In my days at Chunfeng Pavilion, I saw clearly—though you dwell amidst smoke and dust, your talent and spirit are extraordinary, not one to remain in the shallows. Were you a man, many of this age would fall far beneath you.”

Qin Yan gave a cold laugh. “Words mean little now. I wish only to leave this place. Yu Hanjun, I know you bear some feeling for me. It may not be much, yet it is my only straw of hope. Three years ago I gambled once, that my father still bore a shred of fatherly love. That time, I lost. But this time, I believe I shall win.”

Yu Hanjun heaved a deep sigh, then lowered his head and pressed his lips to hers. “You have won.”

The scenes that followed leapt forward swiftly, spanning whole stretches of history.

First was Yu Hanjun. As the second son of Yuluo Pavilion, he astonished the realm by squandering gold to redeem a courtesan, and in open ceremony took her as his concubine.

This Yu Hanjun was famed in the martial world as the “Jade-faced Gentleman.” The name carried two meanings: first, to praise his handsome looks and refined manners, dream of countless maidens; second, to commend the strict family discipline he upheld.

Such a man of virtue and talent, yet he would wed a courtesan—indeed, it was a matter that shocked the world. It was said his father, current master of Yuluo Pavilion, was so enraged he nearly severed all ties with his son.

Yet what astounded me most of all was—Qin Yan had won her gamble.

“Tell me, what made her so certain Yu Hanjun would wed her?” I asked Gongsun Bai. “Was it only because of her face? Yu Hanjun does not seem so shallow.”

“Why do you think a man who values beauty must be shallow?” Gongsun Bai retorted. “From Qin Yan’s character, her talent, even her ruthless decisiveness, I truly deem her one of the finest women beneath Heaven.”

As he spoke, he suddenly leaned close, his amber eyes shimmering like rippling waves. I could almost hear his breath.

“Su Qi, I find you strange. This is something all men under Heaven would know. Why must you ask me? As though… your mind does not move as ours do.”

My heart gave a heavy thump. Panic seized me. Of course, I could not reveal that I was neither wholly man, nor wholly woman.

I gave an awkward laugh, slapping his back. “What nonsense! I think so too. I only wished to know if your thoughts matched mine.”

Gongsun Bai shot me a doubtful look. I quickly pointed toward Chunfeng Pavilion. “Look! The wedding procession is here!”

Though Qin Yan was to be concubine, Yu Hanjun spared no detail in the rites.

Proposal, betrothal gifts, the three letters and six etiquettes—all were complete. Because of Qin Yan’s special station, the ceremonies were held entirely within Chunfeng Pavilion, with Madam Li the bawd standing in as her elder.

That old procuress, who had ruined countless girls’ lives, could never have imagined that one day she herself would send a courtesan off in marriage—without even a single coin in profit. Truly, a farce beyond compare.

However many grievances she held, Madam Li dared not utter a word. All knew Qin Yan had clasped a powerful thigh, her will unbending, her grudges deep. Once, Bai Xuezhi had tormented her, and Qin Yan’s schemes had left her neither ghost nor human.

Thus these days, Madam Li treated Qin Yan with reverence, as though she were a living Bodhisattva.

At last, on the third day of the twelfth month, an auspicious day for marriage and earth-moving, with no taboos in sight—

The ten-li avenue overflowed with people.

By midday, eight grand sedans stretched from one end of the street to the other. Alongside came the escort of musicians, and the dragon and lion dances of the welcoming party. At the very front marched the dowry train, dozens of porters bearing chests filled with gold and jewels, glittering bright.

A thousand in gold for the bride.

Below, it was a sea of people, shoulder to shoulder, trampling one another. Gongsun Bai and I slipped away, climbing the tallest tavern to escape the crush, while still enjoying the full spectacle.

Gongsun Bai remarked, “Yu Hanjun’s wedding left behind many a legend.”

“Oh? What legend?” I asked.

He snapped open his fan with a flourish, fanning himself playfully. “A noble steed, a hero among men; thousands of maidens lost their hearts. It speaks of this very scene. When Yu Hanjun rode a white stallion through Shaodu to wed Qin Yan, all men and women stood transfixed, unable to look away. When he had passed, countless women cried out, swearing to marry him.” He pointed far off. “See for yourself.”

I looked down. Indeed, Yu Hanjun rode a white horse into the city, the roar of voices rising, shrieks of women echoing without cease.

To speak fairly, Yu Hanjun was handsome indeed—but to steal every heart with but one pass? That seemed excessive.

Alas, these women of Nanchuan must be truly starved, never having seen a decent man.

With that thought, I suddenly turned to Gongsun Bai. “I recall you too are of Nanchuan? You don’t look half-bad yourself. Why is it no girls weep and wail to marry you?”

He looked stricken.

I realized my words might wound, so quickly tried to console him: “No fear, no fear. Perhaps it will be boys who cry and clamor to wed you.”

“……”

Below, the procession reached the inn. Firecrackers burst, and Madam Li began her act. She led out Qin Yan in crimson bridal gown, clutched her hand, and wept bitterly.

Her cries were much the same as any mother’s laments at a wedding. The trouble was, others had mothers to weep for them. Qin Yan had lost hers young, left only with a cruel stepmother. Thus the duty of weeping fell to Madam Li. And before Yu Hanjun himself, and the men of Yuluo Pavilion, Madam Li wept with all her might—so loud it carried for dozens of paces.

Yet amid her wails came Qin Yan’s cold voice beneath the veil: “Cease your crying.”

“What?” Madam Li froze.

“Madam Li, I thank you for the years of your… upbringing.” The voice beneath the veil bore no trace of joy or sorrow. “Every lash, every torment, I remember them all.” Then she curved her lips in a faint smile. “Please, do take care of your health.”

A bead of cold sweat trickled down Madam Li’s brow. Panic seized her, and she reached to grasp Qin Yan’s hand. “Girl—”

Qin Yan brushed her aside coldly and stepped into the sedan.