Chapter :
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64

CHAPTER 45 : :

The vile crone changes color when a settlement is overturned, and the child courtesan gets jealous when left on the sidelines

Second Sister left Prosperity Luo in the room and walked over to the center room, where Green Phoenix and Gold Phoenix had just finished their toilet and put on their hair ornaments. Second Sister told Green Phoenix delightedly about Prosperity's contributing a thousand dollars toward her ransom. Green Phoenix said not a word in reply. She washed her hands hastily and rushed into the room to tell Prosperity in a loud voice, "So, it seems you're flush with money. Well, I had no idea and was actually worried for you! Now, after I'm free, I'll need clothes, jewelry, and furniture in order to set up on my own, and the cost will come to three thousand. Taking into account the two-thousand ransom price, you should go and get me five thousand."
"But how would I have so much money?" he said, alarmed.
She sneered. "Surely there's no need for you to be so modest! The minute Mother talked to you, you came up with a thousand, so how can you say you don't have the money? If you really don't, am I to starve to death after getting my freedom?"
Only then did he grasp the full import of her words. "What you're saying is you don't want me to help out, is that it?" he responded in a loud voice as well.
"Well, of course everyone likes to be helped out! After you've seen to my clothes, jewelry, and furniture, you can help out as much as you like," Green Phoenix replied.
Prosperity turned to Second Sister. "Forget our agreement; it never took place. Whether she buys back her freedom or not is noe of my business." Having said that, he lay down on the opium divan.
Second Sister had not expected such a showdown. Her face turned iron blue with anger, and she pointed at Green Phoenix, upbraiding her malevolently, "Don't you have any conscience? Think about it! You lost your parents at seven and were sold into a brothel. I felt sorry for you and treated you like my own daughter. I was the one who combed your hair and bound your feet, who's taken care of you all this time. Did I do anything to offend you that you've become my mortal enemy? Where's you conscience? Now, you're going to do well in the world when you get your freedom. I had hoped you'd look after me a bit in my old age if you did well. Is this the way you'll look after me? For one so young, you're really hard. You'll come to no good end, you know." She said all this between clenched teeth, crying and sniffling.
Green Phoenix immediately put on a smiling face and consoled her, "Don't be like that, Mother! It's nothing important, is it? I'm a girl you bought; it's up to you whether you allow me to buy back my freedom. Let's forget the whole idea. Otherwise, when the people next door hear our row, we'll be a real laughingstock."
Before Green Phoenix had finished speaking, Second Sister walked out of the room and wiped her face with a hot towel. Mama Zhao, who was still putting the toilet articles away, offered her a few words of comfort. Second Sister said to her, "It's common enough for clients to help out when courtesans redeem themselves. Now, if Mr. Luo were unwilling, she should have talked him into it as a favor to me. After all, she counts as a daughter of mine, doesn't she? But now Mr. Luo is willing to help, and she actually forbids him to! Does she want to lay her hands on all his money?"
Green Phoenix was smoking her water pipe in her room, and when she heard this, she smiled and said, "Oh, do stop, Mother. All right, I'm not going to buy my freedom. I'll work another ten years for you. With a thousand or so a season of party bills, how much will it be in ten years?" She counted it out on her fingers and pretended to be startled. "Aiyo! The party bills will come to thirty thousand!' Mother will be so happy then, she won't even want any money for my freedom, she'd just say, 'Off with you! Off with you!'"
Even Prosperity burst out laughing at this. Second Sister answered from the next room, "Don't you make me the butt of your silly jokes. If you want to be my enemy, it's up to you. It won't do you any good." Having said that, she went downstairs. Mama Zhao, having finished her chores, followed her.
Pearl Phoenix and Gold Phoenix came into the room together, both of them scared stiff by what had happened. Green Phoenix finally turned to Prosperity to tell him off, "Where's you common sense? Why would you want to make her a gift of a thousand dollars? There have been occasions when money needed to be spent, and I spoke to you about it, but you showed a lot more reluctance than this. Now that the need's not there, you actually agreed to a thousand!"
Feeling ashamed, he did not argue. The matter of redeeming Green Phoenix was dropped.
The next day Prosperity happened to read the newspapers and saw an item in the back pages: "The night before last, a Cantonese man called Mr. A was consorting with prostitutes at a party in the Old Banner. One of his guests, Mr. B, called Wenjun Yao of East Co-prosperity Alley to the party. The said Wenjun Yao offended B in a quarrel, whereupon B flew into a rage and swung his fists at her. Only after A's efforts at peacemaking did they go their separate ways. Rumors have it that B is still in a rage and has gathered a group of hooligans to seek revenge at Wenjun Yao's home. Wenjun Yao is now in hiding, and reportedly no one knows her whereabouts."
Prosperity was greatly startled by this news and immediately told Green Phoenix about it. Green Phoenix, however, was skeptical. He told his steward, Promotion, to go to Big Feet Yao's house to find out what had happened to Wenjun and whether it had anything to do with Lai the Turtle.
Promotion left to carry out his instructions. Walking down Fourth Avenue, he saw a leather-topped carriage parked at the entrance to East Co-prosperity Alley. The courtesan sitting in it had the same build as Wenjun Yao. He quickly stepped up for a closer look. It turned out to be Belle. Promotion was rather surprised that she was going for a drive so early in the day. He glanced at her before turning into the alley and heading into Big Feet Yao's parlor to ask the menservants for news. The men just said it had nothing to do with Lai the Turtle but were vague about the rest of the story.
Promotion was about to leave when he saw Cloud Tao come into the parlor, accompanied by the madam, Big Feet Yao. Promotion stood to one side and greeted him, "Mr. Tao." Cloud asked why he was there.
"To find out about Wenjun," he replied.
Cloud bowed his head and thought for a moment and then whispered to Promotion, "Nothing happened really; it was just done to mislead Lai the Turtle. They put it in the papers in case he didn't believe it. Wenjun is in Conical Hat Garden now; she's quite well. Go back and tell your master, and don't let outsiders hear you."
Promotion gave his promise. After that, Cloud took his leave from Big Feet Yao, exited the alley, and got into the carriage waiting there. It took them all the way to beyond the gates of Conical Hat Garden. There, Cloud Tao and Belle alighted, and a servant came to lead the way. They headed east and then north along a curved path that led to a place that faced the lake and backed on to the hill. The building, called the Moon-worshiper's Chamber, had five rooms opening on to a hall. Here, the shadows of flowers played on bamboo curtains, and the smoke from making tea drifted under the eaves. But it was quiet inside; not a murmur of talk or laughter was heard. Cloud Tao went in with Belle. They saw Amity Zhu lying on the divan smoking opium, and Jade Tao and River Blossom sitting beside him. There was no one else around. Cloud was just going to ask where everybody was when the servant said: "All the masters are watching archery. They'll be here soon."
Before he had finished speaking, a gaggle of finely dressed men and women could be seen making their way round the hill at the back. At the head of the group was none other than Wenjun Yao. Dressed in close-fitting garments that complemented her nimble movement, she looked very different from the others. Twin Jade, Flora Zhang, White Fragrance, and Aroma walked behind her, followed by Modesty Zhu, Second Bai Gao, Devotion Yin, Harmony Qi, and a large number of maids and menservants. They all drifted into the Moon-worshiper's Chamber, where they sat down casually.
Cloud Tao said to Wenjun Yao, "I've just been to your house myself. Your mother said Lai the Turtle was there again yesterday and was inclined to believe what she told him. But his hangers-on are still speculating about it. I think it should be all right."
Harmony Qi said to Cloud, "There's something else I need to tell you. Your brother said he wanted to go home today, so I asked him: 'Has anything come up? We're going to have some fun during the festival; why leave in such a hurry?' In reply, he said he'd go and then come right back. Then it occurred to me that tomorrow is the seventh day after Water Blossom's death, and that's probably the reason he has to go there. Now, Water Blossom's strong love and tragic fate deserve not just our pity but our respect, too. Tomorrow, the seven of us should go and honor her. This will be remembered as a romantic event."
"In that case, we'd better inform them beforehand," Cloud replied.
"There's no need. We'll leave directly after we've paid our respects and go for dinner at your lady love's place. That way, I'll get a chance to see your lady love's room and Flora Zhang's as well. We'll make a nuisance of ourselves at their place for a whole day," said Harmony Qi.
"Your Excellency is really too kind," said Belle. "Our place is small and untidy. If Your Excellency doesn't mind that, we'd be honored if you were to drop in."
A moment later, orders were give for lunch to be served. The menservants set up two round tables in the center of the Moon-worshiper's Chamber. The formality of giving each other precedence was dispensed with, and everyone just took his seat, with eight at the table on the left and six at the one on the right.
Harmony Qi counted the number of those present. "Where's Green Fragrance gone off to? I haven't seen her all day today," he asked in surprise.
"She went back to bed again after getting up," White Fragrance said.
Devotion Yin hastened to ask, "Is she not feeling well?"
"Who knows. She looked all right to me," White Fragrance replied.
Harmony Qi told the maid to ask her over, but after a long time the maid still had not reported back. Harmony suddenly remembered something. "The other day, I heard Green Fragrance and Hairpin singing a duet in Pear Blossom Court. It was the entire aria 'Receiving the Portrait.' It wasn't bad at all."
"It couldn't have been Green Fragrance. She does know a couple of arias, but she hasn't learned 'Receiving the Portrait,'" said White Fragrance.
"I'm sure it was Green Fragrance. She listened in at the singing lessons there and has learned several arias just like that," said Aroma.
"It's pretty hard work to have to sing 'Receiving the Portrait' and `Weeping in Front of the Portrait' one after the other," said Cloud Tao.
Second Bai responded, "The Palace of Eternal Youth has evenly balanced roles for all other characters.' It's only the male lead who has a hard time with the two scenes 'Receiving the Portrait' and 'Weeping in Front of the Portrait.'
These comments increased Harmony Qi's enthusiasm, and he sent another maid to summon Hairpin, who immediately came back with the maid. The others saw that her pretty round face was without the least touch of rouge or powder. A thick braid hung down her back, reminding them of black clouds surrounding a full moon. Harmony told her to sit at his side. A seat beside Devotion Yin was kept vacant for Green Fragrance.
By then, four small bowls of food had been served, each followed by dim sum. The menservants brought them cups of tea as well as ready-prepared water pipes, regular pipes, and cigars. Amity Zhu, the only one who preferred opium, left the table for the divan for a smoke.
Cloud Tao thought of drinking games and suggested, "Shall we have another go at Mr. Dragon Ma's four-tones drinking game?"
Devotion Yin waved his hand to signal his disagreement. "It can't be done. I've gone through the Four Classics in my head. You'll never get another twenty-four lines in the right tonal patterns."
As they were discussing drinking games at the table, Green Fragrance finally arrived with the maid in tow, approaching slowly along the flowery pathway shaded by willows. Her arrival was unnoticed, and she stood there quietly for a long time. When Devotion Yin heard some noise behind him, he turned to find Green
Fragrance looking sad and desolate. Her hair had worked slightly loose, and her hairpins, earrings, and bracelets had not been properly arranged. Resting one hand on the back of Devotion's chair, she rubbed her eyes with her other hand. He smiled gallantly and invited her to sit down, but she ignored him. When he got up and tried to lead her to her seat, she shook her hands free and said with a frown, "Let go!"
Harmony Qi chuckled, and the others all burst into laughter. Devotion sat down a bit shamefaced. Green Fragrance, suspecting they were laughing at her, became even more angry and just looked away. As she was only a virgin courtesan, Flora Zhang did not mind this. She wished to make peace between the two of them, but no opportunity arose. Finally, at the beckoning of White Fragrance, Green Fragrance dawdled over to her. White Fragrance tidied her hair and took the opportunity to whisper a couple of remarks in her ear. Green Fragrance acted as if she did not hear. When her sister had finished tidying her hair, she walked slowly to a row of high-back chairs by the windows and sat down sideways. Holding a handkerchief against her face, she opened her little mouth and yawned.
Everyone at the table thought it was funny, but no one dared laugh aloud. A smiling Devotion Yin said softly, "Well, I guess it's just my rotten luck." So saying, he took a compact water pipe, walked over to the opium divan, lit the spill at the opium lamp, and then went and sat in another high-back chair by the window, one separated from Green Fragrance by a semicircular table. He knew that jealousy was taboo to virgin courtesans and therefore Green Fragrance would never admit to it. That being the case, there was no way he could console her. All he could do was try in a myriad ways to amuse her. But she just turned around to lean on the windowsill to look at a pair of white waterbirds swimming in the lake. However elaborate a performance Devotion put on, she would not even take a proper glance at him. Harmony Qi surmised that there was no chance of her coming around anytime soon and decided to order Hairpin to sing the aria "Receiving the Portrait" alone. Hairpin played the clappers herself and asked Aroma to accompany her on the flute. Those seated at the table now concentrated on the singing and no longer paid attention to the lovers' quarrel.
Amity Zhu got off the opium divan, and as he walked toward the table, he stopped at the window and urged Green Fragrance to come along and have some wine.
"I'm not feeling very well. The wine won't agree with me." She begged off so plaintively that Amity could only walk away.
At the end of his wits, Devotion Yin sat down by her side and put on a solemn expression. He called her name and then addressed Fragrance looking sad and desolate. Her hair had worked slightly loose, and her hairpins, earrings, and bracelets had not been properly arranged. Resting one hand on the back of Devotion's chair, she rubbed her eyes with her other hand. He smiled gallantly and invited her to sit down, but she ignored him. When he got up and tried to lead her to her seat, she shook her hands free and said with a frown, "Let go!"
Harmony Qi chuckled, and the others all burst into laughter. Devotion sat down a bit shamefaced. Green Fragrance, suspecting they were laughing at her, became even more angry and just looked away. As she was only a virgin courtesan, Flora Zhang did not mind this. She wished to make peace between the two of them, but no opportunity arose. Finally, at the beckoning of White Fragrance, Green Fragrance dawdled over to her. White Fragrance tidied her hair and took the opportunity to whisper a couple of remarks in her ear. Green Fragrance acted as if she did not hear. When her sister had finished tidying her hair, she walked slowly to a row of high-back chairs by the windows and sat down sideways. Holding a handkerchief against her face, she opened her little mouth and yawned.
Everyone at the table thought it was funny, but no one dared laugh aloud. A smiling Devotion Yin said softly, "Well, I guess it's just my rotten luck." So saying, he took a compact water pipe, walked over to the opium divan, lit the spill at the opium lamp, and then went and sat in another high-back chair by the window, one separated from Green Fragrance by a semicircular table. He knew that jealousy was taboo to virgin courtesans and therefore Green Fragrance would never admit to it. That being the case, there was no way he could console her. All he could do was try in a myriad ways to amuse her. But she just turned around to lean on the windowsill to look at a pair of white waterbirds swimming in the lake. However elaborate a performance Devotion put on, she would not even take a proper glance at him. Harmony Qi surmised that there was no chance of her coming around anytime soon and decided to order Hairpin to sing the aria "Receiving the Portrait" alone. Hairpin played the clappers herself and asked Aroma to accompany her on the flute. Those seated at the table now concentrated on the singing and no longer paid attention to the lovers' quarrel.
Amity Zhu got off the opium divan, and as he walked toward the table, he stopped at the window and urged Green Fragrance to come along and have some wine.
"I'm not feeling very well. The wine won't agree with me." She begged off so plaintively that Amity could only walk away.
At the end of his wits, Devotion Yin sat down by her side and put on a solemn expression. He called her name and then addressed Fragrance looking sad and desolate. Her hair had worked slightly loose, and her hairpins, earrings, and bracelets had not been properly arranged. Resting one hand on the back of Devotion's chair, she rubbed her eyes with her other hand. He smiled gallantly and invited her to sit down, but she ignored him. When he got up and tried to lead her to her seat, she shook her hands free and said with a frown, "Let go!"
Harmony Qi chuckled, and the others all burst into laughter. Devotion sat down a bit shamefaced. Green Fragrance, suspecting they were laughing at her, became even more angry and just looked away. As she was only a virgin courtesan, Flora Zhang did not mind this. She wished to make peace between the two of them, but no opportunity arose. Finally, at the beckoning of White Fragrance, Green Fragrance dawdled over to her. White Fragrance tidied her hair and took the opportunity to whisper a couple of remarks in her ear. Green Fragrance acted as if she did not hear. When her sister had finished tidying her hair, she walked slowly to a row of high-back chairs by the windows and sat down sideways. Holding a handkerchief against her face, she opened her little mouth and yawned.
Everyone at the table thought it was funny, but no one dared laugh aloud. A smiling Devotion Yin said softly, "Well, I guess it's just my rotten luck." So saying, he took a compact water pipe, walked over to the opium divan, lit the spill at the opium lamp, and then went and sat in another high-back chair by the window, one separated from Green Fragrance by a semicircular table. He knew that jealousy was taboo to virgin courtesans and therefore Green Fragrance would never admit to it. That being the case, there was no way he could console her. All he could do was try in a myriad ways to amuse her. But she just turned around to lean on the windowsill to look at a pair of white waterbirds swimming in the lake. However elaborate a performance Devotion put on, she would not even take a proper glance at him. Harmony Qi surmised that there was no chance of her coming around anytime soon and decided to order Hairpin to sing the aria "Receiving the Portrait" alone. Hairpin played the clappers herself and asked Aroma to accompany her on the flute. Those seated at the table now concentrated on the singing and no longer paid attention to the lovers' quarrel.
Amity Zhu got off the opium divan, and as he walked toward the table, he stopped at the window and urged Green Fragrance to come along and have some wine.
"I'm not feeling very well. The wine won't agree with me." She begged off so plaintively that Amity could only walk away.
At the end of his wits, Devotion Yin sat down by her side and put on a solemn expression. He called her name and then addressed her seriously and intimately. "If you're not feeling well, you should go and sit for a little while at the table; there's no need for you to drink. If you don't join them, I may know it's because you're unwell, but they'll insist on saying you're jealous. Think about it."
When she saw that he was still treating her the same as before, her anger began to melt away. Now, his remark went straight to the heart of the matter, and she was persuaded by it. But to turn around instantly would have been too demeaning. She bowed her head and did not speak. Devotion could tell from such small signs how she felt, and so he took the opportunity to hold her hand. She snatched it away in fake vexation, "Get away from me! Don't be a nuisance!"
"Come with me, all right?" he pleaded.
"If you want to go, just go. Why should I?"
"Just go and sit at the table for a little while. You can come back here later."
"You go first."
Afraid that it would arouse her displeasure, he dared not press her too hard, so he returned to the table after urging her to come soon. Hairpin had just reached the most melodious part of her aria, and everyone was listening to her in a respectful silence. After he had sat for a while, Devotion signaled White Fragrance with his eyes. White Fragrance again beckoned to Green Fragrance, who took the opportunity to totter over to her, "What is it, Elder Sister?"
White Fragrance pointed with her chin toward the chair beside Devotion, who half rose to offer her the seat. Green Fragrance pulled the chair a little away from him and sat down sideways, facing Hairpin.
Devotion waited until Hairpin had finished her song and then whispered into Green Fragrance's ear about Harmony Qi's original intention of asking them for a duet.
"But I don't know 'Receiving the Portrait,'" Green Fragrance responded.
He again told her in whispers that Harmony had heard her singing it.
"But I haven't learned the whole aria," she said.
Though she had turned him down twice, Devotion did not mind. He continued to plead with her to drink a little warm wine to lubricate her throat and then sing one of her best arias. She didn't have the heart to tell him off again, so she just pretended not to hear and turned deliberately to Hairpin with a question. Hairpin felt compelled to respond. Meanwhile, Devotion took the wine pot, filled a large wine cup, and brought it to Green Fragrance's lips.
"Just put it down!" she said loudly in displeasure.
He hastily withdrew his hand and put the wine cup on the table. She continued to make conversation with Hairpin as she reached out for the cup and drained the wine in one gulp, after which she threw the cup down and wiped her mouth with a handkerchief. "Will you sing?" Hairpin asked.
She nodded, so Hairpin accompanied her on the flute, and Green Fragrance sang half of "Weeping in Front of the Portrait." Needless to say, everyone praised her. After that, rice was served, and then the table was cleared.
It was almost three o'clock. Without waiting for Harmony Qi to return to his room for his nap, everyone left the Moon-worshiper's Chamber. They walked in twos and threes all over the garden, going wherever their fancy took them. Green Fragrance grasped the first opportunity to leave unnoticed, dragging Hairpin with her. They walked northwestward toward Pear Blossom Court. When they got there, they saw the courtyard door wide open; on the luxuriant trees, a few swallows were darting about. A class was going on in the side chambers where young girls were having beginners' singing lessons. Hairpin led Green Fragrance upstairs to her own bedroom. Pendant from the next room heard them and came over. When she saw how badly the makeup on Green Fragrance's face had faded, she said, "You have to wash your face. You must have gotten into a fight to look like this."
"It wasn't a fight," Hairpin said in mirth. "It was jealousy." "What d'you mean by jealousy? Now out with it!" Green Fragrance broke out in anger.
Instead of arguing with her, Hairpin just called an old woman to fetch a basin of warm water and then placed her own toiletry box in front of Green Fragrance. The latter sat down and redid her toilet. Pendant was still full of questions.
"There's no point in asking her," said Green Fragrance. "She heard them say it was jealousy, and she thinks she's learned something new. But does she know what jealousy is?"
Hairpin winked and shook her head at Pendant behind Green Fragrance's back to stop her from saying any more. Green Fragrance saw it all in the mirror, but instead of confronting them, she hurriedly tidied her hair and applied makeup to her face and then stood up and walked away. At the door, she turned around and said, "I'm leaving so the two of you can gossip about me in peace."
Pendant and Hairpin immediately tried to detain her, but she had turned and run down the stairs. After leaving Pear Blossom Court, she considered where she should go. As she came to a junction on the footpath by the white wall, she looked up and saw that in the distance a man was standing at the head of the steps leading up to Right Target Hall, hands clasped behind his back. It looked like Longevity. She surmised that her brother-in-law and elder sister must be there and that it would be a good idea for her to go and pass some time with them.

1. [As noted in "The World of the Shanghai Courtesans," there were three seasons in a brothel's fiscal year. E.H.]

2. A play about the tragic love story of Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang dynasty (r. 712-755) and his favorite imperial concubine, Yang. The latter was executed by popular demand of the army when the emperor escaped the capital during an uprising.