Chapter Thirty-Seven: Forming a Team

The third day of the third lunar month—Shangsi Festival!

Shangsi Festival was originally a day for gatherings and feasting by the water, for springtime excursions in the countryside. Though it had existed since ancient times, it was a private affair, celebrated spontaneously and without much grandeur. It was only in the Tang Dynasty that Shangsi became a national holiday, growing ever more magnificent with each passing year. Especially after the Qujiang Banquet rose to fame, the festival transformed into a city-wide carnival, with all of Chang’an swept up in jubilation. The residents of the capital had little to worry about in life; what they lacked was entertainment.

Thus, the Qujiang Banquet evolved from a celebration of newly minted scholars into a grand spectacle that rocked the city, leaving half of Chang’an’s homes empty as even the imperial family joined in to bask in the festive spirit.

Early that morning, Pei Min was escorted under the adoring gaze of the crowd, riding a tall white horse adorned with a crimson flower as he made his way to Pingkang Lane.

As for why he was headed to Pingkang Lane rather than straight to Qujiang Pavilion, the reason filled the not-yet-twenty, bashful Pei Min with awkwardness and speechlessness. Their rendezvous at Pingkang Lane had a simple purpose: to assemble a troupe to visit courtesans. The saying went, “No banquet is complete without music, no feast without courtesans.” For an event as rare and grand as the Qujiang Banquet, how could it do without the company of the city’s finest? Pingkang Lane was the red-light district of its day, home to the most celebrated singing girls.

In Chang’an, there were no private brothels. All the courtesans and their registers were under the jurisdiction of the Music Bureau. Officials and scholars who wished to host banquets with entertainment had to obtain permission from the authorities in charge of the performers. Someone had already gone to make arrangements at the Music Bureau the day before, so today they needed only to invite the courtesans to accompany them on their outing.

This fashionable practice of assembling a group to visit courtesans was elegantly termed “traveling with beauties.”

When Pei Min arrived at Pingkang Lane, he was greeted like a modern-day superstar, with genuine screams and cheers erupting all around. The windows lining both sides of the street flew open, and nearly a hundred gorgeously dressed courtesans waved eagerly, tossing down flowers, handkerchiefs, and other personal tokens in the hope of sparking a romantic encounter with a young scholar—a scene straight out of a love story.

Personal items rained down like drops from a storm. Pei Min tried to dodge but found it impossible; resigned to local custom, he played along with exaggerated gestures, waving to both sides, which only made the cheers and shouts soar higher.

Suddenly, something fluttered down—a young woman’s red undergarment.

The red silk floated directly toward his face. Lacking the courage to stand his ground, Pei Min leaned back to avoid it, catching a faint whiff of rose in the air and feeling a lingering sense of awe: The beauties of ancient times were truly wild…

When he reached the appointed place, Pei Min realized he was the last to arrive. Lu Ze, the second-place scholar, Feng Zhi, the third, and more than twenty other successful candidates of his year’s exam were already gathered. Among them were two acquaintances, Xue Yong and Pei Yu.

“Our top scholar has finally arrived! We’ve been waiting…” A striking youth in a white robe rode up with a broad smile, his exaggeration laced with a genuine friendliness that was infectious.

“Brother Xue, don’t scold me. The flowers on the way were too enthusiastic, I simply couldn’t hurry,” Pei Min replied with a laugh. The young man in white was Xue Yong, a close friend of Yan Gaoqing during his time in Chang’an. When Pei Min had still lived at the Yuan residence, Yan Gaoqing had spoken to him of Xue Yong, saying that if he ever needed help in the capital, he could turn to him.

By chance, Pei Min had met Zhang Xu and He Zhizhang first, and hadn’t yet visited Xue Yong, not wanting Yan Gaoqing to owe favors needlessly. A few days ago, Xue Yong sought him out, having already been told of Pei Min by Yan Gaoqing in a letter—he simply hadn’t known where Pei Min was staying. But now, with Pei Min’s fame as the top scholar spreading through Chang’an, and his residence at He Zhizhang’s household well known, Xue Yong—himself now a second-rank graduate—found him easily, and the two quickly became friends. Through Xue Yong, Pei Min also heard news of Yan Gaoqing and Yuan Lüqian: Yan’s appointment had come down, and he was now the administrative officer in Weizhou, with Yuan Lüqian as his deputy. Yan’s ability and Yuan’s integrity had quickly won praise from Weizhou’s governor, and in just three months they had laid a solid foundation.

Hearing of his friends’ latest successes, Pei Min was as elated as when he himself passed the exams. He immediately wrote to the Weizhou prefecture, sharing his own good news and reaffirming their brotherhood.

Pei Min’s lodging was some distance from Pingkang Lane, and as the newly crowned top scholar, he was constantly surrounded by admirers, which slowed his progress. Though not late, he was still the last to arrive. Some of the other scholars, less than pleased, muttered about the top scholar’s airs.

Xue Yong’s extravagant greeting was a gentle reminder of this.

Pei Min, understanding the hint, clasped his hands to the assembled scholars from horseback and said, “Gentlemen, my poor riding skill kept me from hastening—thank you for waiting!” His tone was neither servile nor arrogant, his manner both elegant and unassuming, paying due respect to all. Aside from those with ulterior motives, everyone present took an immediate liking to him, insisting that they were still well within the appointed time.

Some old hands, well-versed in the ways of Pingkang Lane, laughed, “No matter, no matter. Being late is your loss, Brother Pei—only those who arrive early get to fully enjoy the ladies’ enthusiasm…”

With all the year’s successful scholars gathered, the largest troupe to visit the courtesans was officially assembled for the year: one after another, resplendent beauties leapt from their pavilions and made their way to the waiting flower-adorned carriages, waving and casting flirtatious glances at the young men—bold and brimming with charm.

Pei Min, as the top scholar, was naturally the center of attention among the graduates. Not only was he young and strikingly handsome, with the air of a prince astride his white horse, but his innocence was plain to see—making him all the more captivating to the seasoned courtesans.

Pei Min’s eyes darted this way and that, dazzled by the scene. Compared to the hostesses in modern bars, these Tang Dynasty singing girls were in a class of their own—so much so that his body responded involuntarily.

“Brother Pei, make way, make way! Turn a little to the side!” came Xue Yong’s voice from behind, just as Pei Min was busy admiring the beauties.

In ancient times, the arrangement of seats and positions was of great importance. As the top scholar, Pei Min naturally stood at the front, with the second and third scholars just behind him to the left and right, followed by the rest. Xue Yong happened to be directly behind Pei Min.

He turned slightly as instructed, curious. “What is it?” He suddenly noticed that nearly everyone’s gaze was fixed on a single spot.

Xue Yong craned his neck eagerly. “Pingkang Lane’s most celebrated, most talented, and most beautiful leading courtesan—Jiao Chen—is about to appear…”