Chapter 134: A Different Kind of Worldwide Fame

Under the moonlight, the passenger boat stirred up trails of white foam and sailed forward smoothly.

As they reached the fork they had passed previously, Lu Ying subconsciously glanced toward the left rear.

With this look, she noticed at the edge of her vision that a brilliantly lit fleet of ships had appeared. Far in the distance, strains of reed-pipe music drifted over from the flotilla.

The others were evidently captivated by the music as well, raising their heads to look.

At that moment, a crew member checked the water depth and said, "That is a branch route leading to Jiangyang. Jiangyang is extremely prosperous, abounding in produce, and there are always fleets traveling up and down."

The crowd grew even more interested.

Currently, all the boats were traveling with the wind; the passenger boat moved fast, and the fleet moved fast too. In a short while, that fleet—its full hulls of lanterns casting countless glittering reflections onto the river and illuminating the entire lake surface—appeared right behind them. Unlike the fleet with black sails from before, this one was exceptionally lively. The sound of reed pipes mingled with laughter and chatter, and faintly, a breeze carried the scent of perfume.

At that moment, a middle-aged man laughed and said, "Looking at this fleet, could they be the Painted Fragrance Pleasure Boats that travel back and forth to Hangzhou?"

As soon as these words were spoken, the crowd perked up. A young man asked, "What sacred beings are the Painted Fragrance Pleasure Boats?"

"They are a fleet composed of pleasure quarters from places like Hangzhou and Yangzhou. It is said that this fleet carries the most beautiful women of Jiangnan and the Southwest, the most alluring pageboys, and the finest musicians. They cater exclusively to high-ranking nobles and scions of great aristocratic families, sailing the Yangtze River waterways year-round. Heh, what supreme joy in the mortal world could rival Yangtze vistas paired with fine wine and beauties?"

Hearing this, everyone understood. The passenger boat Lu Ying was riding on had ordinary decorations and wasn't particularly fine; among the passenger vessels plying the route from Chengdu to Jiangzhou, it was thoroughly mediocre, carrying only commoners and upstarts.

Typically, once a person gained wealth, they naturally yearned for power and the luxury power bestowed. At this moment, these ordinary scholars and nouveau riche listened to the tales of the Painted Fragrance Pleasure Boats, and yearning sprouted in their hearts. They couldn't help thinking: If one day I could ride on a ship like that, this life would be well worth it.

That fleet was drawing closer and closer, nearer and nearer.

As it approached, the music from the ships grew increasingly clear.

By now, everyone on the passenger boat had their heads raised, staring with eager interest at the Painted Fragrance Pleasure Boat fleet. By this point, those with exceptional eyesight could make out the graceful and alluring figures of beauties inside the brightly lit cabins.

And as the fleet drew still closer, the passengers on the boat could see distinguished nobles in brocade and embroidered robes standing at the bows and sterns, embracing extraordinarily handsome young men and maidens.

While Lu Ying and the others looked toward the fleet, people on the fleet were looking back at them as well.

After sweeping their gazes casually over the crowd, eight or nine out of ten would linger on Lu Ying.

Dressed in men's robes, Lu Ying was strikingly a young man whose handsomeness yielded to none. More importantly, she possessed an air of jade-boned elegance and an exceptional disposition quite beyond the reach of the pageboys on those vessels.

Of course, the most important reason those people stared at her so unscrupulously was that this passenger boat was obviously meant for commoners. People of high status would never ride this vessel. Since Lu Ying lacked a lofty background yet possessed stunning beauty, it naturally invited prying eyes.

Meeting those gazes, Lu Ying frowned slightly, thinking to herself: It seems I cannot be stingy for the sake of thrift anymore... For the sake of safety, in certain situations, putting on a grand front is necessary.

At that moment, the music on the fleet shifted, transforming into the crisp, clear notes of bamboo leaves. Amidst the refreshing rhythm of the bamboo, Lu Ying heard someone singing: "Phoenix, oh phoenix, return to your hometown, wandering the four seas in search of your mate. A brilliant beauty is in this hall, distant in space yet poisoning my soul, how shall we entwine as mandarin ducks..."

The music drifted onto the passenger boat on a fragrant breeze. Instantly, the young men on the passenger boat were entranced. A youth nearby remarked, "I know this; it's 'Zhu Wenjun', popular in both the Southwest and Jiangnan."

His voice had just fallen when the music on the fleet suddenly swelled. In an instant, the sound of zithers and lutes, accompanied by a graceful, soaring, clear-voiced solo, completely overpowered the crisp bamboo notes. Though suppressed, the female vocals accompanied by zithers still sang the melody of "The Phoenix Seeks Its Mate".

Yet the tune Lu Ying had originally created—which was originally crisp yet tinged with mockery and the vicissitudes of life—had now become entirely one of boundless extravagance.

Listening, Lu Ying smiled faintly.

Just then, from one of the flower boats slowly cruising abreast of the passenger boat, came the cold laughter of a white-haired elder. "Utterly ridiculous! Some people fancy themselves talented in the arts, yet what they play are nothing more than decadent tunes, turning a superb rendition of 'Zhu Wenjun' into a farce!"

The old man evidently commanded immense respect. As soon as he spoke, the string and wind instruments on the flower boat abruptly ceased. Faintly, a man's voice seemed to be arguing something.

A moment later, the old man rebuked in a voice full of vigor, "Human hearts yearn for change, a lover's heart is hard to sustain... It is said that when that woman of the Lu family played 'Zhu Wenjun', every woman who listened wept. Since you are so clever at altering things, can you do more than just make a racket? Try making people shed tears for a change!" Here, a sigh from the old man drifted on the wind. "Pity that old me cannot meet that Lu family woman; otherwise, in these lands of the Southwest and Jiangnan, it would not be your turn to claim the crown." His tone was filled with profound lament.

Hearing this, the youth who had first recognized "Zhu Wenjun" chimed in, "Do you know who that white-haired old man is? He is Elder Qing."

"He is Elder Qing?"

"Impossible!"

Two middle-aged men gave this disbelief.

The youth insisted, "That's right, he is Elder Qing." He argued, "Who else but Elder Qing—who comes from the imperial court and was once the Emperor's tutor—would dare curse this and criticize that inside the Painted Fragrance Pleasure Boats, to the point that even the wealthy patrons don't step out to stop him?"

At this, the youth continued, "Elder Qing holds the Lu family woman in high regard. He once said that if she were willing to become his disciple, he would use all his resources to make her renowned throughout the realm. Elder Qing is now in his seventies, his disciples are all over the country, and his enterprises are countless. Alas, when he said those words, even some maidates of aristocratic families were moved... Though the title of a musician sounds humble, if one receives a conferral from the Emperor, one remains aloof from the world and untainted by filth."

What the youth said was fresh news to the others, and for a time, the young men discussed it endlessly.

Yet as they talked, most still harbored little envy for the elusive Lu family woman whose name was known but whose face was unseen. After all, a musician was still a musician; no matter how grand one's reputation, influence, or wealth might be, one remained merely a musician.

Lu Yun leaned closer, his eyes bright as he watched the warm, fragrant fleet pass by. After a long moment, he said in a low voice, "Elder Brother, they are all talking about you." Under the moonlight, Lu Yun's eyes were full of smiles as he said triumphantly, "Elder Brother, I never knew your reputation was so great."

She herself hadn't known her reputation had grown so vast either.

Lu Ying smiled. Looking at the fleet, she thought silently to herself: I never intended to seek renown in this field.

...It truly was a case of planting willows without intending them to shade; unconsciously, she had come to wield significant influence in another realm.

The fleet traveled faster than the passenger boat. After sailing alongside for a while, they slowly pulled ahead and gradually vanished from everyone's vision.

Lu Yun gave a tiny yawn and called out to Lu Ying, "Elder Brother, let's return to the cabin."

"Alright."

The night passed without dreams.

Early the next morning, when Lu Ying woke up, she found her younger brother missing. Stepping out of the cabin, she saw Lu Yun leaning against the ship's railing, gazing intently at the scenery on both banks. The youth's face was brimming with the joy of seeing fresh sights.

Lu Ying walked slowly up behind her brother.

In the rising morning sun, Lu Yun's handsome face was dyed a rosy hue, and his pitch-black pupils reflected only the happiness and anticipation of a fresh life in a fresh place, without a trace of dejection.

Lu Ying turned her gaze away.

In truth, of this upheaval, the one who suffered the greatest loss was Lu Yun. He had lost his esteemed teacher, lost his readily attainable status as a licensed scholar, lost his future... Arriving in a strange place like this, he could recite the classics of the sages backward and forward. Yet no one would verify his identity, and with no reputable person to recommend him, no matter how profound his learning or outstanding his character, attaining official recommendation or passing the examinations was utterly impossible! Because he could not even clear the hurdle of local residency and background vetting!

However, there would be a way, Lu Ying thought: There would definitely be a way.

Not long after the siblings stood at the bow, the other passengers successively emerged from their cabins. Amidst the bustle and noise, quite a few recalled the gazes directed at Lu Ying the previous night and cast their eyes toward her once more.

Bathed in the golden light of the morning sun, Lu Ying looked like a handsome youth stepped straight out of a painting, with jade-boned elegance and an untainted radiance that harmonized perfectly with the lake and mountain scenery.

Unconsciously, the young men gathered around the siblings.

Just like yesterday, the young woman surnamed Yang began to boast about her clan's elder uncle. Another youth talked about how much wealth and grain his family possessed, enough to let him travel from Chengdu to Hangzhou and Luoyang with a dozen household servants.

Amidst the lively chatter, a youth walked up to Lu Ying's side and suddenly asked, "Lu Wen, are you from the Lu family of Fanyang?"

Lu Ying turned to look at him, smiled faintly, and shook her head. "No."

"Yet you look like an aristocratic scion." The youth wore a pale yellow brocade robe, and his slightly pale complexion gave him a somewhat taciturn appearance. In fact, ever since boarding the ship, he had hardly spoken. Who knew why he had suddenly taken an interest in Lu Ying now.

Saying this, the youth glanced at Lu Yun, whose facial features were strikingly similar to Lu Ying's, and added, "Though you probably aren't an aristocratic scion; your younger brother looks just like an ordinary scholar."

Lu Ying had no interest in this topic and merely offered a faint smile.

Watching her, the youth continued, "Your smile is even colder; there's no need to force a smile like that."

Lu Ying put away her smile. Sighing inwardly, she yielded to his inclination and asked, "May I ask your esteemed surname, young lord?"

"My surname is Chai," the youth replied. "Fourth in my family hierarchy, you can call me Chai Silang. You can also call me by my name, Chai Jing. Two years ago, I broke away from my family clan and went to Jiangzhou to engage in trade."

Just as Chai Jing was chattering away incessantly, a sudden commotion arose nearby.