Zhao Yu had invited her to a small gathering of friends and requested a private dance from Xinyue. The letter had immediately piqued her interest as it did not start with the normal greeting, but hooked her instead with:
‘Have you heard of The Five Young Talents?’
As if knowing that she was trying to build connections, he had in fact listed the guests by name and title…and the list made her eyebrows rise into her hair.
When Cui Xi had written back, she wrote that Xinyue was indisposed, but since she was not without skills herself, she could dance for the gathering if he wished. She added that he could reject her offer, but then she would have to decline as Xinyue’s health was more important despite such a generous invitation.
Zhao Yu of course didn’t refuse, writing back that he was simply pleased that she would attend. Of course, she wouldn’t be alone and would bring Xiao Yu and Xiao Hei with her.
Cui Xi already had a sneaking suspicion that Zhao Yu was quite aware of the double identity issue, but that it amused him to keep quiet about it, in the same way that he had done the night of the Hundred Flower House performance.
Kling, kling, kling, kling.
The sound of silver bills jingled at her ankles as she walked in through a side entry of the Changping Shizi manor. Although, the steward was waiting for her, the look on his face was dismissive.
“You are the hired performers?” he sniffed.
Xiao Hei bristled, but Cui Xi shook her head. Instead, she curtsied deeply, simply nodding. To Xiao Hei she mouthed: Mind your surroundings!
“This way…my Lord is waiting,” the man said, shaking out his sleeves.
Unlike the eastern style belly dancing dress that she had worn at the Hundred Flower House, she was dressed in a light blue dress with filmy billowing sleeves, white feathers capping the dress at the shoulders, and a silk mask on her face. The full skirt also billowed about her like a cloud. Instead of walking, the clothes made her look as if she were floating on the air as she moved.
Xiao Hei was dressed completely in black, with a matching black mask over his face. While Xiao Yu was likewise in dark blue with a mask. Behind them was the blind erhu player from the Hundred Flower house and a girl with a guqin.
“We’ve arrived. You may enter here,” the steward gestured, leaving them with another sniff.
Cui Xi snorted.
“Very friendly, that one…”
“Ennn,” said Xiao Hei with a shrug.
As Cui Xi walked in, she heard the sound of trickling water and saw that the large courtyard had been set up with individual seats each with low tables and a small raised area for the host. There was an empty space next to Zhao Yu’s seat. As the majority of the guests were already settled, they all turned to her as soon as she entered.
She paused and as practiced with Xiao Hei, Xiao Yu, and the musicians, they all bowed and curtsied at the exact same moment, giving their greeting to the gathered nobles.
“Ah! It is the little Cosmetics Goddess!” said Zhao Yu, turning from his conversation with a tall young man dressed in grey. “Welcome!”
“Did Xinyue not come?” asked one of the others. “Who is this?”
“My Lords, this girl is Wu Cui Xi. I am known as the Cosmetics Goddess of the Hundred Flower House,” she said softly, curtsying again.
“Ahhh yes! Well met, Miss Wu,” said the man in grey that Cui Xi finally recognized as one of the participants of the wager that night. Zhao Yu introduced him as the Third Young Master of the Yao family, Ning Xiao, the youngest brother of the Minister of Justice. Zhao Yu continued to make introductions.
In total there were four guests, all from some of the most prestigious houses in the capital. Not a single one came from a house lower than a third rank official or equivalent.
“A’Yu…did you play a shitty trick on us…?” one man commented, somewhat petulantly. He was a little more richly dressed than the others…and probably used to more lavish entertainment.
“My Lords, it is true that I am not as skilled as my sister Xinyue, but I am sure that I will still please you. May I?” she asked, unfazed.
“Alright, alright, just let her dance then,” Zhao Yu waved casually.
Although the atmosphere began with some awkwardness, it cleared almost immediately when Xiao Yu gently took the cloak from Cui Xi’s shoulders and then her shoes. There was a bit of pause as the men glimpsed naked white feet with bells. The little feet went up onto tip toes and then pointed as she playfully raised the full skirt, fabric swishing. She smiled, gracefully and deliberately placing each step, finally positioning herself in the centre.
Zhao Yu smirked to himself.
I cannot be wrong. She is the dancer. I want to see if that face is truly scarred...
Cui Xi bent slightly forward, one leg pointed straight out in front of her and arms wheeled so that one was bent over her head and one in front of her. She pressed her thumbs against her middle fingers.
Cui Xi had taught the musicians the song, Peace and Tranquility, from the “Longest Day in Chang’an,” one of her favourite TV show pieces[1]. There was immediately an “Ahhhhh” sound of appreciation when the music began, and she started to dance. She hummed the tune as she swayed.
The setup was perfect for the type of dance that she was doing. Elegant and understated, it was the complete opposite of Xinyue’s eroticism.
“What a fine atmosphere,” remarked Yao Ning Xiao, leaning back and sipping from his wine cup.
Cui Xi twirled repeatedly, allowing herself to position in front of each guest, getting a good look at them. Of the five men present, Yao Ning Xiao and Zhao Lu were the youngest. The three others were in their mid-twenties. They were the second son of the Right Prime Minister of the Feng Family, the Eldest son of the Zhang family who were military men, and the youngest son of the Luo family, a large money lender.
So, these are the Five Young Talents! What a diverse group: Why do I get the feeling that Zhao Yu never does anything without a reason?
She smiled as the music came to an end and curtsied.
Zhao Yu and Yao Ning Xiao clapped enthusiastically.
“Oh, but that was charming, was it not? Are you disappointed Luo Yi Tian?” teased Zhao Yu, nudging the moneylender with a boot. The handsome frowning man was fabulously dressed in the flashiest blue robe made of a heavy brocaded silk, even though it was a balmy evening with a warm breeze.
“Yes, but not in the way you think,” he grunted, looking to the side.
Zhao Yu threw up his hands helplessly while the others laughed.
“Reward her. I found it very beautiful,” said Feng Biao. “She dances far better than my sister.”
“Pffffft!” Zhang Ying laughed. “That’s not a compliment, that’s an insult. Yen’er can’t dance at all.”
“Watch your tongue! I’m talking about Xing’er,” huffed Feng Biao.
“Oh…yes, Xing’er is a lovely dancer too…” Yao Ning Xiao blushed a bit, looking into his wine.
Perfect! thought Cui Xi. In the space of two minutes, she’d already collected a few juicy tidbits: One daughter, Yen, of the Right Prime Minister’s house doesn’t dance…her sister Xing is a great dancer and Yao Ning Xiao likes her.
“Enough nonsense,” said Zhao Yu. “Miss Wu, come. Have some wine…” he said leading her to sit next to him. If the men noticed that she was put in a place of honour next to the host, they said nothing.
Now that the earlier tension had been broken, the men talked and laughed together. Though Luo Yi Tian, who mostly drank in silence, occasionally shot herself and Zhao Yu disapproving glances as they inclined their heads together to chat.
“Just ignore him. He’s always like that…” Zhao Yu said, raising a cup in Luo Yi Tian’s direction. “So, my dear, is this what you thought it would be?” Zhao Yu asked conversationally.
Cui Xi narrowed her eyes and sipped her wine.
“And my Lord, what is it that I am supposed to have thought? Is this not an elegant gathering of your friends?” she asked innocently.
He chuckled.
“Look, I won’t hide it,” he whispered in her ear. “I know that you are Xinyue.”
She leaned back on her hands, gazing at him with her head cocked.
“Ah, you think so, my Lord?” she asked, mysteriously, the corners of her lips tipping up.
“Yes, and I also know that you bought a shop next to the pleasure house. If you are intending to start a beauty business, you will need something that will defeat the other shops in the City. I will tell you everything about the households of those four men. That should give you enough if you are clever.”
She leaned close, almost brushing her lips against his ear.
“Why, my Lord? What benefit do you hope to gain?” she whispered.
She had already surmised most of this, but his motivation…what was it?
“I am actually doing a favour for your benefactor who does not wish to be named,” he said. He smiled, but something strange flickered through his eyes. “And your cleverness amuses me. The capital is full of marvels…men and women of every walk of life. None of this moves me, but you…you I have not seen yet, so I am waiting for a good show…”
And for my uncle’s good show…
For a moment, she looked at him blankly. A mysterious benefactor?
She had never expected such a jaded statement to come out of such a young man, but she wondered if that was a product of his background. The other part that alarmed her of course was that he openly admitted to acting for an unknown third party. For a Royal grandson to be doing so…only a higher-ranking person could compel such cooperation…Who?
She covered her uneasiness with a sip from the wine, letting it burn down her throat. The same feeling that she had had so many months before while she was in the mountains returned.
Why does this feel like I’m being caught up in something I don’t understand? Who is doing it?
Brushing it off for now, she changed the subject. After all, this was a reconnaissance mission. Regardless of how the opportunity had come, she could not waste it. Her jaw flexed underneath the mask.
“You keep fine company…” she jerked her head at the others, prompting him.
His face broke into smile.
“Ah, yes…let’s get down to business, shall we? We are collectively known as the Five Young Talents…but we are actually the second generation of that group…” he began, but he was interrupted.
“Hey! A’Yu…can you not keep Miss Wu to yourself? We want to talk to her too,” Feng Biao complained.
She laughed and rose.
“Very well, my Lord…I have a drinking game for you then…tell me the truth to the question I ask. You cannot lie. If you will not answer, then you must drink. Will you do it with me?”
There was a chorus of assent.
At the end of the evening, she left the five men in varying states of drunkenness and had all the information she needed. Curtsying deeply to Zhao Yu, she quietly accepted the purse he gave her and said her farewells.
“Come see me again, Wu Cui Xi. I’ll be waiting,” said Zhao Yu, looking entirely sober for a moment.
She nodded thoughtfully, hiding her eyes beneath her lashes.
Unfortunately, before she could leave, she was accosted by Luo Yi Tian. He grabbed her by the wrist.
“Wait,” he said, gripping her so tightly her skin reddened.
“Let go!” she cried, glaring at him.
Cui Xi didn’t see it, but Xiao Hei’s sabre moved like the wind with a sharp schwing, cutting the belt off Luo Yi Tian’s robe, causing it to hang awkwardly open.
“My Lord…take your hand off my Mistress…or the robe isn’t the only thing I will damage,” Xiao Hei said menacingly.
Luo Yi Tian’s eyes were glassy. In fact, for a moment, Cui Xi thought he might cry. He straightened.
“Yi Tian! Let go,” Zhao Yu instructed coldly.
“Forgive me…I…Y-you remind me of someone…” he muttered as he released her and stumbled away.
Zhao Yu waved at her to go, still smiling strangely, but his thoughts turned to his friend. Yi Tian has never been the same since returning from Xiyu three years ago…what happened to him there?
“Are you alright Mistress?” Xiao Hei, asked in a low voice.
Cui Xi rubbed her throbbing wrist and watched the retreating back. What had happened just now had taken her completely by surprise. She wondered who in Luo Yi Tian’s past could have elicited such a complicated expression.
“I’m fine. Let’s go,” she said uneasily, looking back over her shoulder as the man disappeared into the darkness.
The trip back to the shop was quiet as Cui Xi mulled over what she had learned.
As soon as she got back, she made copious notes, went down to the storeroom to confirm a few things, and then back to her own room to make more notes. In fact, she was still scribbling as the dawn crept through the window. Sighing tiredly, she snuffed the candles and rubbed her eyes.
A moment later Xiao Yu knocked at the door and came in. She was startled to find that Cui Xi was still awake and nearly buried by a pile of paper and ledgers.
“A’Xi?” she asked, tentatively.
“Xiao Yu…say I’m ill today. Don’t let anyone in. I’ll help A’Lian and Hong’er in the evening before guests arrive, but I’m not doing anything else today. Take this list…give it to Xiao Hei with instructions to have these things sent out.”
Xiao Yu took the list, glancing at Cui Xi’s exhausted looking face and saw that it was a list of products to be allotted to four different noble households in the city. Her eyes widened.
“Once he’s done, have him report back immediately,” she instructed.
Xiao Yu nodded.
Cui Xi threw herself on the bed, not bothering to undress.
The next day she hired a part-time employee and began to plan the opening of the shop.
***
“Hah!” the silver haired man exclaimed, slapping the table.
“Master?” asked the hidden guard, startled.
“You’re sure that’s what happened?” he demanded with his eyes boring into the guard. The man swallowed a bit at the intense gaze. “And the shop will open this week?”
The guard nodded and hurriedly excused himself.
Smiling, he sat back in his chair, propping his chin on his fist.
Apparently, the girl had sent rose skin cream and calming candles for sleep to Zhang Ying for his pregnant wife. She’d sent Snow Lotus face cleaner, toner, and moisturizer to Yao Ning Xiao for his mother. For Feng Biao, she’d sent scented hair wash for his sisters Feng Ming Yen and Feng Xing. And finally, for Luo Yi Tian, she’d sent Lotus cream and scented oil for the bath for his betrothed, Chu Lan Ying. Each set of gifts were completely customized to each woman’s preferences and more importantly to her current need.
Notices for the opening had been posted everywhere with opening week special prices. He had never heard of ‘buy one, get one,’ ‘special edition’, or providing a discount for anyone who bought an exclusive membership based on tiering, but the ideas were fascinating. Even the products were tiered such that even a common woman could buy something from the shop. And apparently testimonials, handwritten by the satisfied noblewomen from four prestigious and outstanding households were hanging on the walls of the shop for all to see.
“How very interesting…” he mused.
It’s time to meet her…
[1] The Longest Day in Chang’an is 2019 Chinese historical suspense drama directed by Cao Dun and written by Paw Studio. The series stars Lei Jiayin and Jackson Yee. It’s on Prime and Netflix if you haven’t seen it. One of the most historically accurate shows I’ve seen. Definitely recommend it…it’s 24 but Chinese style.
