Chapter 8: The Commotion at the Fragrant Pavilion

Upon hearing Xiao Cui’s remark, Meng Yuxi let out a chuckle. He was genuinely amused; he had been hearing this Beijing accent all along the journey and had no intention of exposing it now. "Did you hear that?" he said. "Even my maid says she doesn't recognize you. And here I thought you were someone truly formidable. Hahaha."

"You ignorant brat! You refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit!"

The brawny man’s eyes bulged with rage. As he barked the insult, he didn't stay idle; he grabbed Meng Yuxi by the shoulder, putting force into his grip to make the young master wince and back down. To his surprise, Meng Yuxi countered by grabbing his wrist. With a slight exertion of force, the man felt as if his wrist were about to snap. The agony sent him collapsing to his knees, limp and trembling. Fortunately, Meng Yuxi had no desire to prolong the stalemate and quickly released him.

"What are you all standing around for? Jump him together!" the man shrieked in pain, clutching his wrist.

At his command, the group swarmed forward. Meng Yuxi spun around and ducked behind his maid, Xiao Cui. He gripped her slender waist, pivoted her into the path of the approaching men, and crouched down beside a table.

Xiao Cui sighed, tilting her head to dodge a few punches intended for Meng Yuxi, then grabbed the bowls and chopsticks from the table and began throwing them wildly.

"Hey! What are you doing? Let’s talk this over, or don't blame me for getting rough!"

Amidst the clatter, the men were struck in the face by teacups, bowls, and wine pots, collapsing one after another as they were hit. Meng Yuxi pointed at the fallen men, counting, "One, two, three, four, five."

Hearing him count only fueled Xiao Cui’s irritation. Finally, she flipped the very table Meng Yuxi was hiding behind, then hugged her own head and crouched down.

"Young Master, I’m scared!" she cried, trembling as she pressed against Meng Yuxi.

"Seven, eight! That’s the lot! Don't be afraid, these hoodlums are all down," Meng Yuxi said. He pulled Xiao Cui into an embrace, gave her a perfunctory kiss on the head, and pinched her waist.

Xiao Cui cursed inwardly, *The only hoodlum here is you!*

Meng Yuxi stood up straight and surveyed the room with a look of disdain. The once-elegant lobby of the Piaoxiang Pavilion was now in shambles; many tables had been smashed by the falling men. The guests and songstresses watched in terror, while several people on the upper floor leaned over the railings of their private rooms to gawk at the spectacle.

"Where is the madam of this house? Look how you’ve frightened my maid! How do you intend to compensate me?"

The madam, whose face was plastered with thick white powder, was crawling on the floor toward the exit. Upon hearing Meng Yuxi’s voice, she shrieked as if she had heard the call of the King of Hell. "Go! Go call the authorities!"

Meng Yuxi planted a foot on her. "Call the authorities? The local ones in Su City, or those from the capital?"

"Fourth Brother?" A disheveled young man on the third floor caught sight of Meng Yuxi and exclaimed in surprise.

Meng Yuxi sat down heavily on the madam’s back and looked toward the voice. He was equally startled; the man calling him was his fifth brother, Meng Yifan. Even more shocking was that not far from Meng Yifan’s room, a woman was tying up her men’s attire while flirting with several handsome male companions as she walked out. This woman was his third sister, Meng Xuexian. Most absurdly, she had drawn two small mustaches on her fair, pretty face.

The three stared at each other in silence for a long time, each filled with their own astonishment. Meng Yuxi thought to himself, *Oh, Old Meng, it must have been tough on you all these years. No wonder you had to keep so many around.*

As soon as she realized what was happening, Meng Xuexian retreated into her room and slammed the door shut. No matter how hard her companions knocked, no one opened it.

Meng Yifan vaulted over the railing and landed gracefully on the lobby floor. He checked the man before him repeatedly to ensure it was indeed his foolish brother. "Fourth Brother, you’ve recovered overnight? That’s wonderful! I am truly happy for you!"

Meng Yuxi nodded with a smile and asked, "Have you and Third Sister been here all night? You haven't been home?"

"Heh heh, Fourth Brother, don't mock me! You weren't hurt just now, were you?" Meng Yifan asked with concern, grabbing Meng Yuxi’s arms to check him over.

Through the original owner's memories, Meng Yuxi knew that Meng Yifan and Meng Xuexian were both children of Meng Hongchang’s concubines. Meng Yifan was two years younger and had loved following Meng Yuxi around as a child. Though they hadn't spent much time together since growing up, they at least had no habit of bullying him.

"I'm fine. I just brought my maid out for some fun, and didn't expect to run into someone with eyes lower than their knees on my very first day out," Meng Yuxi said, sitting heavily back down on the madam.

"Ouch! I didn't realize you were the Fourth Young Master of the Meng household," the madam wailed.

Meng Yifan crouched down, grabbed the madam by her hair, and cursed, "You dared to threaten to call the authorities! Would you call that mongrel Wang Lingxin?"

"I wouldn't dare! I didn't say anything! I said nothing!"

In Su City, everyone knew that the local official Wang Lingxin had just taken office. A few days prior, he had led a raid on Meng Yifan’s salt shop to extort kickbacks. When he realized he had made a grave mistake, he had sent people to the Meng estate with gifts to smooth things over, only for them to be chased away by Meng Yifan’s men. Rumor had it that Wang Lingxin wouldn't last long, either as a man or an official. Anyone who allowed themselves to be associated with Wang Lingxin now clearly had no intention of surviving in Su City.

"You’d better be smart. My Fourth Brother has just recovered from a long illness and is out looking for some fun. Serve him the best of everything you have. Otherwise—heh heh—you know, I might not be able to touch the Piaoxiang Pavilion itself, but for a madam like you, watch me blink and see what happens!"

"I won't blink! No, no, I won't blink!"

Xiao Cui helped Meng Yuxi off the terrified, incoherent madam.

"Fourth Brother, who are you looking to spend the night with? Heh heh," Meng Yifan nudged him with a mischievous grin.

"Naturally, Miss Qinming."

"Excellent taste, Fourth Brother. That Miss Qinming is truly something else."

"What, have you tried her too?"

"Heh heh, not at all. She’s not my type. She’s mostly favored by Eldest Brother, Second Brother, and those officials from the capital. Anyone coming from the capital always comes to the Piaoxiang Pavilion to listen to her music and hold her hand."

"Oh, good. It seems it wasn't a wasted trip today." Meng Yuxi thought to himself, *It’s a good thing you haven't. If she had been with all three brothers, I’m afraid I’d be sick at the mere sight of her.*

"You dawdling madam, lead the way! Stop acting so high and mighty!" Meng Yifan kicked the madam.

The madam, despite the kick, smiled obsequiously. She didn't dare mention any extra fees and merely bowed, saying, "Fourth Young Master, young lady, please this way. Miss Qinming’s chambers are right here."

Meng Yuxi grabbed Xiao Cui’s small hand, giving her no choice but to follow. Watching the backs of Meng Yuxi and the shy, resisting Xiao Cui, Meng Yifan couldn't help but marvel.

"My Fourth Brother is so clever as soon as his head clears. He even thought to bring a naive, untouched girl along. This maneuver not only compensates for the shortcomings of a courtesan but also adds a touch of intimate novelty. Sigh, why didn't I ever think of this? This move is truly invincible! I must learn this for next time!"