Chapter Twenty-Seven: The Great Lotus Pond — Admiring the Flower Queen

For so many days, you’ve been nowhere to be seen. I almost thought you’d left your junior brother here and forgotten about me. What’s brought you here today?” Lu Liao’s tone was so sour it could be smelled from afar.

“Heh heh! I just didn’t want to disturb your good times with Miss Xiao Qi,” Gu Ye replied, his smile full of hidden meaning.

“I think you simply can’t bear to leave that Ge Shu Xiaoye’s side for even a moment,” Lu Liao retorted with a curl of his lip.

“Not at all! Not at all,” Gu Ye protested, but suddenly lowered his voice mysteriously. “Lately, we’ve been plotting how to capture that flower thief, Xi Hua. We should have some clues by today. When the time comes, I’ll call you along, junior brother. With you there, I’ll feel more at ease for Miss Xiaoye’s safety.”

Lu Liao grumbled inwardly, “Master told me to keep an eye on you, not on Ge Shu Xiaoye.” Suddenly remembering something urgent, he glanced nervously toward the doorway but saw no sign of Tang Xiao Qi. She was most likely still in her room, dressing up with the little nun.

He closed the door, dragged his little Daoist brother into a corner, and lowered his voice, “By the way, the other day when I was coming back from the medicine market, you dragged me off to drink. I got quite drunk and only left very, very late. Remember?”

Gu Ye’s eyes widened. “Did I? Really?”

“There’s no doubt about it!” Lu Liao’s expression turned fierce.

Gu Ye’s eyes flickered with understanding, a wicked smile appearing on his face as he shot Lu Liao a sly look. “The nearby Hundred Flowers Pavilion, Drunken Moon House, Listening Waves Hall, or Immortal’s Abode—which one did you visit, junior brother? How were the ladies?”

Lu Liao looked pleased with himself but said nothing.

Gu Ye pursed his lips. “So you just went to a brothel, and look how pleased you are. But why do you need me to cover for you? You’re a scholar and a man; isn’t it only natural to visit such places? Are you afraid Miss Xiao Qi will find out? You’re not even married yet, and already you’re henpecked.”

Lu Liao puffed out his chest, thinking, “Right, why should I be afraid?” He snorted, “Do you think I’d be scared of that girl Tang Xiao Qi? What a joke.”

Gu Ye didn’t argue further and, growing impatient, said, “I’m going to hurry them up. If we wait till evening, the roads will be packed.”

Lu Liao felt a pang of guilt and grabbed Gu Ye’s arm. “If Xiao Qi happens to ask, you’d better stick to my story.”

Gu Ye shook his head, casting a pitiful look at Lu Liao. “This junior brother is doomed.”

The ladies traveled by carriage, except for the dashing Ge Shu Xiaoye, who rode on horseback with the rest of the party, making a grand procession toward Mohe Pond, the center of the festival.

Chengdu was more lively than during any festival. The streets teemed with people, shoulder to shoulder. The group made their way with difficulty to Mohe Pond, arriving near midday. The pond was ringed with pleasure boats beneath willows, the air filled with music. Pavilions and towers bordered the banks, rare trees and flowers forming a picturesque scene. Stalls lined the shaded paths, and flower platforms rose everywhere. The place was a sea of people, a scene of festive splendor.

When Young Master Xianyu Min, trailed by several stern-faced guards, arrived, he led everyone to the main venue’s Scattered Flowers Pavilion. On the second floor, they entered a spacious, elegant chamber already laden with fresh fruit, exquisite snacks, and rare wines. Opening the windows, three flower platforms could be seen almost directly below.

They took their seats. Before much wine had been drunk, Xianyu Min, graceful as ever, rose to exchange pleasantries, glancing several times at the four beautiful young ladies. Each had her own charm, each excelled in her way. With a twinkle in his eye and a smile, he said, “With such celestial beauties here, what need have we to admire the festival’s queen of flowers? Am I right, gentlemen?”

The men burst into laughter. But the ladies’ reactions were mixed. Ge Shu Xiaoye was cold, Dongfang Qianqian proud, the little nun bashful, and Tang Xiao Qi bristled with anger.

Noticing that both Xianyu Min and Young Marquis Yin kept glancing at her—one with greedy eyes, the other shy—Tang Xiao Qi tugged at Lu Liao’s sleeve, clearly wishing to leave.

Lu Liao himself felt awkward sitting there, so he stood, excused himself, and said he wanted to experience the sights of the Mohe Pond flower festival. He took Xiao Qi and the little nun Luo Luo with him.

Blending into the lively throng, the three felt instantly at ease, like fish returned to water. The queen-of-flowers competition wasn’t limited to the three main platforms; over twenty other stages were scattered about the pond, each hosting its own bevy of beauties.

With one hand holding snacks from a food stall and the other clutching the timid little nun, Tang Xiao Qi looked around excitedly, so distracted that she nearly let the breeze lift the scarf covering the nun’s head.

Suddenly, a commotion arose, punctuated by shrieks from the women. The trio thought perhaps the main contestants for queen of flowers had arrived, but the noise came from another direction.

Tang Xiao Qi, holding down the little nun’s scarf, was the first to dash over, with Lu Liao following in resignation.

On a tall platform sat Wu Hua, the monk who’d vanished earlier that morning, now presiding like a Buddha, preaching to the crowd. His white robes fluttered in the wind, and his strikingly handsome face drew cheers from countless swooning maidens and disappointed lovers.

Although monks from the Great Mercy Temple were trying to maintain order below, the female devotees were too enthusiastic, leaving the monks sweating and overwhelmed.

Lu Liao tapped the little nun’s shaved head with a mischievous grin. Even though her face was hidden by her scarf, she blushed furiously and shot Lu Liao a wounded look, not understanding his meaning.

“Keep an eye on your monk, or things could get dangerous,” he teased.

Luo Luo glanced warily at the throngs of excited women around them and nodded vigorously.

Lu Liao found her adorable and couldn’t resist scaring her further. “You like to read stories—you know about the young monk Bian Ji, right? He died a terrible death, cut in two at the waist, blood everywhere, yet lingering in agony. If Wu Hua isn’t careful and catches the eye of some princess, his fate could be even worse.”

Luo Luo’s face turned ashen with fright, barely able to stand.

“Pah! Stop scaring my little sister. She’s a princess of the Tang Dynasty—how could she slip out of the palace so easily? Come on, Luo Luo, don’t mind him,” Tang Xiao Qi said, making a face at Lu Liao before dragging the still-worried nun away.

“Jade steps glisten with dew, soaking silken slippers through. Parting the crystal curtain, she gazes at the autumn moon.” Hearing a girl on a flower platform sing this new ballad, Tang Xiao Qi listened, stunned, then looked at Lu Liao.

“Isn’t your master, Lord Taibai, supposed to be in Dongchang Cliff? When did he write poems for Lan’er of the Hundred Flowers Pavilion?”

Lu Liao looked just as confused. “No idea!”

They had barely gone a few steps when another song drifted over: “By the banks of Ruoye Creek, a girl gathers lotus, laughing through lotus blossoms at her companion. Sunlight on her fresh makeup glimmers below the surface; the wind lifts her fragrant sleeves in the air. What gallant youths stroll the shore, scattered beneath the drooping willows? The purple steed neighs and gallops through fallen petals, while the sight of it leaves me heartsick with longing.”

Tang Xiao Qi eyed Lu Liao suspiciously. “Even Rong’er from Hundred Flowers Pavilion has a poem?”

Lu Liao broke out in a cold sweat but managed a look of disdain. “You do know my master’s poetry collection by heart, don’t you? Who knows when that old rogue found time to visit the Hundred Flowers Pavilion.”

Tang Xiao Qi was finally fooled, and Lu Liao wiped the sweat from his brow. Clearly, he needed to improve his drinking tolerance to avoid future mishaps.

Still unsettled, he wandered with the two girls for quite a while before cheers erupted from the main building—the queen-of-flowers contest had finally begun.

Si Si of Drunken Moon House took the stage, clad in white and dancing like a lonely fairy from the moon palace.

Xue Qing’er from Listening Waves Hall appeared in a dark green scholar’s robe, her rosy cheeks and soulful eyes exuding a different allure. Her flute solo was low and winding, deeply moving.

Yang Xing’er of Hundred Flowers Pavilion swept in wearing a flowing apricot gown, her bearing noble and elegant. Accompanying herself on the zither, she sang yet another of Taibai’s compositions: “You sing the Ballad of Yang Pan’er, I pour Newfeng wine. What matters most? The crows cry among the willows by the White Gate. Crows call through falling willow catkins; you drunkenly remain in my home. Incense smolders in the Boshan censer; twin plumes of smoke rise to the purple clouds.” Her music was refined, her voice superb, drawing waves of applause and praise.

Tang Xiao Qi tilted her head, inexplicably delighted, and pointed at Lu Liao. “Good thing you can’t match Master Taibai’s poetry, or his romantic exploits.”

Lu Liao gave a wry smile. “I wish I could, but it seems poetry isn’t my strong suit.” Seeing Tang Xiao Qi’s face darken, he hastily added, “Even if I could, I’d never frequent those places of pleasure. How could those courtesans compare to my own lovely Xiao Qi?”

Tang Xiao Qi nodded in satisfaction.

Once the talent show ended, flowers quickly piled up on the three main platforms. Tang Xiao Qi learned that tossing flowers onto a platform showed support for a particular girl and wanted to send a few to Xue Qing’er.

“At fifty taels of silver per flower, how many do you think we can afford?” Lu Liao complained, feeling his empty purse.

Tang Xiao Qi gaped in shock, then, together with the little nun, waved frantically to Xue Qing’er to express their support.

“From Young Marquis Yin of Chang’an, a pair of jade discs, wishing Yang Xing’er of Hundred Flowers Pavilion the crown.”
“From Daoist Gu Ye of Shangqing Temple, Chang’an, ten South Sea pearls, wishing Yang Xing’er the crown.”
“From Young Marquis Cheng of Chang’an, a pair of glass jade horses, wishing Yang Xing’er the crown.”
“From Young Master Xianyu of Chengdu, a pair of Lantian jade phoenix hairpins, wishing Yang Xing’er the crown.”
“From Young Marquis Qin of Chang’an, a famous zither, Green Qie, wishing Yang Xing’er the crown.”

From the main building, a servant with a booming voice announced each gift. The crowd fell silent, then erupted in cheers. It was clear Yang Xing’er was to be queen of flowers, no room for doubt.

Lu Liao smiled slightly. So this was the game of the capital’s young lords. But he wondered, would the mysterious Flower Lover dare go to the Hundred Flowers Pavilion tonight?

“From the Flower Lover: a jar of fine wine, wishing Yang Xing’er the crown. Tonight, beneath the clear moon, I shall come by moonlight to drink with Miss Xing’er and play together a duet of ‘The Phoenix Seeks Its Mate.’”

A clear, ringing voice cut through the clamor, echoing above all others.