There were inevitably a few setbacks due to the large number of farmlands, but it nonetheless ended in triumph.\n
When they had finally amassed all the autumn grain, Fan Jin Chuan felt like he had shed off a layer of skin out of extreme fatigue. He journeyed back to the county yamen, lay torpid for three whole days, and sought out Fang Feng Sheng the moment he awoke.\n
Unlike him, Fang Feng Shengâs days were leisurely. She wasted away her time reading books and practicing calligraphy, and had even gained some weight.\n
âWorthy Brother, are you practicing your calligraphy?â\n
When Fan Jin Chuan popped in, Fang Feng Sheng was in the midst of writing. He stalked towards the desk to sneak a peek.\n
Feng Sheng replied, âYes, my lord.â\n
âIs Worthy Brother still mad at this brother?â\n
âMe? How could I dare be mad at my lord?â\n
âYou never used to call me âlordâ outside of official business.â\n
Feng Sheng was unresponsive.\n
Fan Jin Chuan examined the writing on the desk and praised, âWorthy Brotherâs characters are bold and powerful, neat and refined. They are indeed excellent.â\n
Left with no choice but to pay him some heed, Feng Sheng faced him and said, âMy lord, instead of dallying here to observe my calligraphy, why donât you check if there are official affairs that havenât yet been managed? While you were away, a lot of those have accumulated in the county yamen. After all, there are some things that neither I nor Assistant Magistrate Liu can help you with.â\n
Fan Jin Chuan flushed in embarrassment. âThen, Iâll go ahead and deal with them first.â\n
After he rushed out, Zhi Qiu walked to her side and asked, âYoung Master, are you still mad at Lord Fan?â\n
âWhy would I be mad at him? Youâre both so strange. All I did was practice my calligraphy. What can I possibly be mad at? Iâll stop here. Inspector Gou invited me to watch a play, so Iâm going out.â\n
âŚâŚ..\n
When talking about the best opera house in Taizhou City, Anqing Lou ranked first.\n
At this time, Anqing Lou was without a single empty seat, all fully occupied. On the stage at the center of the hall, there was an ongoing performance of âThe Drunken Concubine.â<sup>1</sup> \n
The actor playing the role of Yang guifei had a soft and delicate feminine physique, with a mellow and distinct singing voice. At this point, he was draining his second cup of wine with a fan obscuring his face. His cherry mouth gently bit on the cup, and his limpid and passionate eyes gazed downwards, rendering a sight that made one desire to live or die for him.\n
âThe way I see it, that Xuan Zong is clearly on stage, but this Yang guifeiâs heart is off stage,â teased Feng Sheng as she gently waved her fan.\n
Gou Qing was half-reclined on his seat, clutching a cup of wine in one hand. Hearing this, he smiled but uttered no response, merely taking a swig from his cup.\n
After that encounter at the Zhao Gong Bridge, Feng Sheng had once again stumbled upon him, and Gou Qing proposed to buy her a drink the second time around. A repeated refusal would have been unbecoming of her, hence, she acceded. When one offered a drink, it was only natural for the other to recompense. After reciprocated invites, the two quickly became familiar.\n
Gou Qing set his wine cup on the table, still smiling, and said, âI heard that the honorable county lord has returned from outside, so I thought Advisor Fang wouldnât come today. I never would have expected you to grace me with your presence.â\n
âWhen his lordship returned, the official affairs awaiting him were aplenty, and he was immediately kept busy. A lot of those have nothing to do with me. Besides, Inspector Gou and I already made an appointment days prior, so I naturally couldnât miss it.â\n
Gou Qing snaked his arm behind Feng Shengâs chair and tilted his head over to probe, âHow does Advisor Fang find this Xiao Tao Hong?â\n
He was at such close proximity. So close that Feng Sheng could catch a whiff of alcohol on him.\n
Feng Sheng shot him an incredulous look and countered, âWhat is Inspector Gou insinuating with this question? The actorâs costume isnât at all suggestive, but it is admittedly somewhat alluring. However, everyone knows that Xiao Tao Hong and Inspector Gou are intimate. Asking me this, are you trying to sound me out?â\n
Gou Qing hadnât anticipated her to so frankly unveil his motive. He held his forehead and laughed, âAdvisor Fang is actually quite straightforward.â\n
âA gentleman always assists people in effecting their wishes. Hence, I dare not steal other peopleâs things. Whatâs more, I prefer beautiful women. As for this kindâââ she peered at Xiao Tao Hong on stage and continued, âAlthough, the beauty is indeed a beauty, in the end, he is regretfully still a man.â \n
âMan or woman, does it really matter?â\n
âOf courseâŚâŚâ\n
At that moment, a voice rang out behind them, âWorthy Brother!â\n
Naturally, Gou Qing also saw Fan Jin Chuan, but made no move of standing up. He artlessly cupped his hands towards him in greeting, âMy lord. What a rare guest.â\n
Fan Jin Chuan stared at Gou Qing, and then shifted his gaze on Feng Sheng, whose cheeks were faintly rosy. âAdvisor Fang, this official has been looking all over for you to discuss some official business. I didnât expect to find you here.â\n
âOfficial business?â\n
âInspector Gou, weâre leaving first.â After saying that, Fan Jin Chuan yanked Fang Feng Sheng up, and the two of them exited Anqing Lou.\n
It was already dusk, and the slight chill was palpable on that late autumn day.\n
After Fan Jin Chuan had dealt with his official duties, he began looking for Fang Feng Sheng. Hearing that she and Gou Qing were out to watch a play, he turned pale with fright and promptly dashed out to scour for her.\n
He had come there on horseback, so there was only a single horse. Returning with company, he naturally couldnât ride back, so he left the horse at the opera house and ordered some servants to tend to it before fetching it at a later time.\n
âWorthy Brother Fang, how were you and Gou Qing introduced?â\n
âInspector Gou can also be considered a colleague in the county yamen. Isnât it normal for us to be familiar with each other?â\n
Normal indeed.\n
Fan Jin Chuan studied her face, yearning to say a few words but not knowing where to begin.\n
Feng Sheng was originally born fair. Once she drank, her complexion would faintly redden, such that one could say her cheeks were glowing. It was truly too conspicuous. If no ill will was involved, then he would have paid no mind. But because of Gou Qing, that person, Fan Jin Chuan couldnât help but view the matter with a kind of scrutiny, belatedly understanding why Gou Qing often dropped by to âteaseâ Advisor Fang.\n
âWorthy Brother Fang, you may not know that Gou Qing, he, heâŚâŚâ\n
âHeâs what?â\n
âHe likes men!â \n
Feng Sheng blinked. âHow did my lord know?â\n
âI heard it from someone.â\n
âThen, you must be misinformed. My days of acquaintance with Inspector Gou couldnât be considered short, and I wasnât able to detect anything out of the ordinary.â\n
Fan Jin Chuan anxiously persisted, âHow could he let you see through him? He, towards youâŚâŚâ\n
Feng Sheng shifted closer and clarified, âTowards me, what?â\n
âHis intentions towards you are impure!â\n
Feng Sheng snickered and shook her folding fan incessantly. âMy lord really misunderstood. I truly canât detect Inspector Gouâs so-called impure intent. People are accustomed to take heed of idle chatter. How come my lord also made such a mistake?â\n
âEveryone in Taizhou City knows that Gou Qing likes embracing those actors. Do you understand what it means to embrace actors?â\n
âUnderstand what?â\n
Looking at Fang Feng Shengâs smiling eyes, an image abruptly flashed in Fan Jin Chuanâs mind.\n
This incident happened shortly after they were acquainted. Since then, he hadnât caught sight of anything inappropriate, and with the busy county affairs, it was temporarily consigned to oblivion.\n
When Fan Jin Chuan recalled those two page boys, an icy cold feeling crept over him.\n
ââŚâŚThis matter of frolicking and splitting peaches will erode oneâs aspirations. Such acts violateâŚâŚâ\n
Could it be that Brother Fang also had similar urges, such that he could regard Gou Qing like he was normal? Perhaps the two men already had a tacit understanding in their hearts, and were just waiting for the canal to form where water flowed.<sup>2</sup>\n
Fan Jin Chuan suddenly felt that he couldnât face Feng Sheng. However, because they were traveling side by side, he had no way of excusing himself. He could only let his emotions simmer in silence.\n
Noticing his oddity, Feng Sheng was somewhat nonplussed, but she also lacked the interest to fathom, and thus didnât pry. When they returned to the county yamen, the two retreated to their respective rooms to rest.\n
<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"></figure>\n<hr class="wp-block-separator has-text-color has-background has-vivid-red-background-color has-vivid-red-color is-style-wide">\n<sup>1</sup> âThe Drunken Concubineâ is a story that is said to have happened in the Tang Dynasty (745-755AD) Emperor Ming Huang (Xuan Zong). It is said that among all the concubines, he had a favorite one; Yang Yu Huan (Yang Guifei / Noble Consort Yang). The emperor and his concubine are said to have made arrangements for a rendezvous at the pavilion in the Imperial Gardens one evening. After waiting for a long while, she suddenly comes to the sudden realization that the emperor would not be coming as he had made plans with another concubine. Two eunuchs, Gao Li Shi and Pei Li Shi, who were waiting on Yang, decide to finally inform her of her humiliating position. This humiliation infuriates and depresses her at the same time leading her to decide to have the banquet alone. This story would be responsible for showing her disappointment, the drunken charm that she has while intoxicated and also her flawless beauty.\n
<sup>2</sup> ć°´ĺ°ć¸ ć: lit. where water flows, a canal is formed (idiom); fig. when conditions are right, success will follow naturally; all will fall into place in due time\n
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