Chapter Twenty-Four: Tang Hongdou's Overwhelming Victory

The sharp, resonant sound of the pipa strings rang out, forceful as the clash of swords and spears on a battlefield. It was hard to imagine that such a powerful and majestic melody could be played by a girl whose appearance was bright, innocent, and mischievous. The striking contrast instantly won her many points for surprise.

Where the brothel should have resounded with languid, seductive tunes, now it seemed filled with the vigor of galloping horses and clashing armor. Feng Jingzhe had little artistic inclination and wasn’t particularly fond of classical instruments. Yet, at this moment, the performance stirred in him the same excitement he felt when he first joined the army and sang military songs alongside the old squad leader.

The usual cynicism on his face was gone, replaced by a cold, proud resolve—as if, despite the multitude, he would forge ahead. Only now did he realize that the things he thought he’d left behind after transmigrating into this world were actually etched into his bones, indelible and most cherished.

Dream Xiaodie, half-hidden behind her pipa, caught a perfect glimpse of Feng Jingzhe’s expression. Steadfast, unyielding, and wise—she wondered why she saw these qualities in this man.

“Isn’t he supposed to be a notorious wastrel, a prodigal son, a fool known to all? Why, then, does my heart beat so fast now?”

At her age, curiosity was at its peak, and discovering such a remarkable secret made her eager to know what answer lay behind it.

The piece soon ended, and applause thundered through the hall. Though the performance was bold and unique, it ultimately strayed from the mainstream. At first, it was indeed refreshing, but to touch the hearts of these seasoned patrons, the languid, seductive music remained their favorite. The applause, though loud, did not last as long as Shen Xixi’s, let alone Su Zixuan’s.

Dream Xiaodie held her pipa with a trace of disappointment. She had gambled on this piece, and now she had lost. She was the youngest among the contestants, and her lack of mature womanly charm was a natural disadvantage. Without taking a novel approach, she simply couldn’t compete.

Yet, the girl was resilient, quickly adjusting her mood and regaining her optimism. After all, today wasn’t a total loss for her—she had, it seemed, discovered an extraordinary secret.

Thinking of this, she paused and turned to glance at Feng Jingzhe once more. Yet now, she saw only a flamboyant, shallow rake without depth.

“Third Young Master Feng… what are you hiding?”

Music and flutes soon sounded again, and three of the four favorites had already performed.

At this moment, the atmosphere inside Scarlet Sleeves reached its peak. The men toasted and drank, the women flattered and entertained. At last, the most mysterious of the twelve candidates, Tang Hongdou, made her appearance as the finale.

She appeared on stage in a long-sleeved red dress, as alluring as a fox spirit, her bare feet lightly touching the floor, her sleeves swirling and spinning.

With the heavy thud of the drum, the red fox began to dance. All eyes were drawn by the beat, and once they fell upon her red figure, they could not look away.

Tang Hongdou seemed to have no bones in her body; she could perform the most incredible movements, weaving them together with the music into a breathtaking dance. Her graceful curves, fox-like allure, every movement and glance awakened the most primal desires in the men watching.

“My god, she’s irresistible… Could she be the reincarnation of Daji? Just look at those legs—if she wrapped them around you, you’d surely break your back…”

Feng Jingzhe stared, unable to comprehend how this woman, without revealing anything, could evoke such carnal desire and make blood boil.

This time, he behaved himself, sitting upright like everyone else, even tidying the hem of his clothes. The visual impact was simply too overwhelming, making certain parts rather prominent. Without extra cover, it would be terribly embarrassing.

Even Zhao Lingyou next to him had stopped waving his fan.

The eyes of the crowd were sharp, and their reactions even more genuine. Thus, the first round of performances by the twelve candidates concluded, and it was time for voting.

At this point, the guests began signing their ballots, which were quickly collected and tallied by the attendants. The process didn’t take long, and the results matched the predictions from the outer betting hall.

Hundreds of ballots concentrated almost entirely on the four favorites, but Tang Hongdou’s mesmerizing dance won her more than half. The remaining half was split among the other three.

No miracles occurred. Dream Xiaodie, seeing her last-place result, could only spread her hands and force a bitter smile.

“Aiya… Tang Hongdou really got the most votes, now I feel so much pressure…”

“You call that pressure? I told you not to pick that piece—see what happened?”

“Oh, stop eating! At a time like this, how can you think about food? I’m dying of anxiety…” The little maid snatched the candied hawthorn from Dream Xiaodie’s hands.

“Give it back… Dou’er, let me have just one more, just one…”

“Eat, eat, eat, that's all you do… If you don’t become the courtesan today, tomorrow Madam will put your name on the board for receiving clients, believe it or not? Though Master Wang’s messengers have been turned away twice, I saw Madam’s expression last time—she seemed somewhat tempted…”

Thinking of the wrinkled, toothless old man sitting below the stage, Dream Xiaodie shuddered.

“Aiya… that old man is disgusting, I don’t want to entertain clients… Dou’er, you must think of a way…”

“The first round of public voting is just the beginning. The second round, with the distinguished guests in the inner circle, is what matters. If they spend money and buy votes, that’s the real decider. So we must carefully plan the second performance…”

“I know the second performance is important, but the pieces we prepared are no match for Tang Hongdou’s…”

“How about… we change outfits?” Dou’er pointed to her chest, then gestured at her thighs.

The meaning was clear: if the skill wasn’t enough, perhaps a little visual allure could compensate.

“No, no… I, Dream Xiaodie, have always sold art, not body! When I save enough silver, I’ll redeem myself and marry…”

Similar conversations were taking place in Su Zixuan’s room. Tang Hongdou’s threat was simply too strong. Her dance had even distracted them, let alone the men below.

Thus, after much deliberation, the mistress and maid decided to focus all their efforts on one target.

If the rumors were true, and they could successfully persuade that man surnamed Feng to act on impulse, victory would be assured…