Chapter 19: The Three Useless Brothers

At this moment, a servant in plain clothes stationed at the gate of Pingkang Pavilion caught sight of Du Gou and Li Yi approaching together. His face instantly blossomed into a broad smile, as if he had seen his own father, and he hurried forward to greet them.

“Gentlemen Li and Du, what unlucky timing you have today!”

The servant’s face radiated joy, his tone sycophantic. “Today happens to be the day Miss Shangguan welcomes guests with a literary gathering. If the two gentlemen can earn her favor, you might have the chance to approach her closely.”

He spoke with utmost respect, not daring to slight Li Yi and Du Gou in the least—regular noble patrons of Pingkang Pavilion. Throughout the capital, everyone knew of their identities. Du Gou was the eldest son of Chancellor Du, and Li Yi was the third son of Li Jing from the Ministry of Affairs. Either status was not to be underestimated.

Yet Li Yi showed little interest in the servant’s words. Since arriving in the Tang Dynasty, he had never entered Pingkang Pavilion. Today, he merely accompanied Du Gou, using the opportunity to conduct a market survey and choose a path for his future business.

Du Gou, however, was instantly animated by the servant’s announcement.

“Oh, Miss Shangguan?” Du Gou licked his lips, eagerly asking, “Is it the recently famed Miss Shangguan Yiren, renowned throughout Chang’an for her artistry and virtue?”

At this moment, Du Gou was like a boar in rut, his face alight with anticipation, the very picture of a scoundrel.

“Yes, precisely her!” the servant replied, nodding repeatedly, bowing low and ushering them in with practiced ease. “Please, gentlemen, come inside. The best seats are reserved for you!”

Clearly, this servant knew well how to please. Hearing this, Du Gou’s face shone with delight.

“Come, Third Brother, let’s go in quickly!” Unable to contain his excitement, Du Gou urged Li Yi forward and strode briskly into Pingkang Pavilion.

As he entered, he continued to chatter, “Third Brother, rumor has it that Miss Shangguan is not only breathtakingly beautiful, with features like a painting, but also exceptionally talented in literature. Now that we’re here, it would be a shame not to see her…”

Li Yi’s lips twitched at Du Gou’s antics, nearly tempted to give the old lecher a beating.

How utterly embarrassing…

Yet, after Du Gou’s vivid description, curiosity stirred quietly in Li Yi’s heart.

“Could such a remarkable woman truly exist, one even more beautiful than my Yue’er?”

Li Yi glanced at Yue’er beside him, privately satisfied with Red Whisk’s discerning eye.

“Let’s go, then. Let’s take a look.” Li Yi nodded, and the group entered the grand hall of Pingkang Pavilion.

The servant was indeed shrewd, selecting a prime spot near the front, reserved specifically for Li Yi and Du Gou.

Yue’er and Du Gou’s attendant stood quietly behind them.

“You may withdraw,” Du Gou said with satisfaction, and his attendant handed the servant ten taels of silver as a reward.

“Thank you, gentlemen!” The servant thanked them profusely and retreated.

Li Yi sat at the low table in the front row, watching as more and more guests arrived, many of whom greeted him and Du Gou. Li Yi ignored them completely.

Du Gou, on the other hand, thoroughly enjoyed the attention, nodding with haughty pride.

Li Yi found it hard to bear, frowning in exasperation. “Dog, sit down already and stop embarrassing us!”

Du Gou’s face darkened, disappointment flickering across his features as he reluctantly sat down.

Soon, a commotion erupted outside, suggesting the arrival of someone special.

The stir immediately caught Du Gou’s attention. He turned to look, and to his surprise, his gaze landed on a familiar face. He waved and called out loudly, “Yizhi, over here!”

Excitedly, he nudged Li Yi and said, “Third Brother, look—even Yizhi has come. Miss Shangguan’s reputation is truly remarkable.”

“Fang Yizhi?” Li Yi was momentarily taken aback. Was this the eldest son of Fang Xuanling?

Turning, he saw Fang Yizhi approaching in a blue scholar’s robe, graceful and refined, though his features were somewhat plain, resembling his father.

Li Yi couldn’t shake the sense that something was off about Fang Yizhi’s appearance.

“Du, Li, it’s been ages!” Fang Yizhi called out, striding toward them.

“So it’s Brother Fang—what a coincidence!” Li Yi smiled and nodded in greeting.

Before Fang Yizhi had even warmed his seat, another guest arrived at Pingkang Pavilion, causing an even greater stir than Fang Yizhi’s entrance.

A hubbub arose at the door, as several courtesans hurried out to greet the newcomer.

“Who could that be?” Du Gou and Li Yi whispered with curiosity. “He’s making an even bigger commotion than we did!”

Following the crowd’s gaze, Li Yi looked toward the entrance.

The newcomer entered, surrounded by over ten courtesans, and nearly every guest stood to greet him. His casual rewards amounted to fifty taels of silver, bringing radiant smiles to the courtesans and servants alike.

He carried himself with impressive swagger.

At last, Li Yi and his companions saw clearly—it was none other than Changsun Chong.

“Hmph, so it’s that scoundrel Changsun Chong!” Du Gou grumbled, displeased that their own welcome was overshadowed by Changsun Chong’s.

Fang Yizhi’s expression was equally sour, though he shook his head and urged Du Gou not to be upset.

Li Yi thought the two were quite peculiar, getting angry over such a trivial matter.

On reflection, he understood: Changsun Chong and the three of them had always been at odds—a rivalry bordering on enmity.

At that moment, Changsun Chong, surrounded by admirers, took a seat in the front row, with two attendants behind him.

When he noticed Li Yi and his companions, he puffed out his chest, as if delighted by the spectacle, and sneered, “Ah, isn’t this Gentlemen Li, Du, and Fang?”

“What a rare occasion! The infamous ‘Three Useless Brothers’ are reunited in Pingkang Pavilion—a truly joyous event!”

As Changsun Chong spoke, every eye in the hall turned to Li Yi and his friends.

Aside from Changsun Chong’s attendants, no one dared laugh.

Li Yi narrowed his eyes, unwilling to waste any energy on such a person.

Du Gou, however, bristled at Changsun Chong’s taunt.

“Indeed, I too am surprised that Pingkang Pavilion would let in riffraff like you!” Du Gou crossed his arms, retorting coldly.