The Birthday Banquet at the Yuan Residence

Luan Yi walked to the doorway, only to be blocked by Ren Hongchang, who moved ahead of him. Ren Hongchang, with a pitiful expression, said, “So, the reason you refused to share wine and merriment with me last night was because of her?”

“Yes—and no!” Luan Yi shifted left and right, attempting to slip past Ren Hongchang and escape. Yet, whenever he moved left, she followed; when he moved right, she mirrored his steps, never letting him go. Driven to frustration, he snapped, “Move aside, or don’t blame me for being rude.”

“What is it? Are you planning to strike a helpless woman? Whatever you wish, I shall comply. If you desire to hit me, then go ahead!” As she spoke, Ren Hongchang boldly brought her face close to Luan Yi, presenting herself as if ready to suffer any abuse. Her eyes, lined with pink and delicately drawn brows, gazed directly into his, nearly devouring his soul.

Luan Yi hurriedly collected himself and swept a glance across the teahouse’s main hall. The patrons watched him intently, their faces full of sympathy for the maiden.

“Luan Fu, Xiao Cui, take this young lady away,” Luan Yi ordered. He would not lay hands himself, but he could command others. Seeing their hesitation, he shouted angrily, “Why are you still standing there? Move her now!”

It was the first time Luan Fu and Xiao Cui had seen their young master lose his temper with them. Realizing he was truly angry, they rushed forward and, one on each side, escorted Ren Hongchang away. She did not resist, watching Luan Yi dash out the door with a cold smile, thinking to herself, “Luan Lang... I refuse to believe I cannot capture your heart! In this life and the next, I shall marry none but you!”

After returning to the Cai residence, Cai Yan soon learned the truth behind the so-called 'incident of yesterday' from Guo Jia and others. She immediately understood that she had wrongly accused Luan Yi at the tavern earlier, and guilt weighed heavily on her heart. When Luan Yi returned, she tearfully apologized.

Luan Yi comforted her kindly, assuring her the misunderstanding was cleared and that it was best to let the matter rest.

In the days that followed, Luan Yi turned his attention to more serious business. Following the instructions of the old master Luan, he sought a shop in the city to establish a branch of Phoenix Pavilion in the capital. The task of finding the premises was entrusted to Xi Zhicai.

Once a location was secured, Luan Yi consulted with Mao Jie about how best to decorate the Luoyang branch of Phoenix Pavilion.

As the Luan family’s first enterprise in Luoyang, Luan Yi was especially diligent; for the decoration alone, he drafted and revised no fewer than ten plans. The final conclusion was that, to make Phoenix Pavilion an instant sensation, simple renovations would not suffice: the old shop must be demolished and rebuilt into a two-story architectural complex. The new buildings would feature pavilions, towers, and terraces, emulating the style of future imperial gardens.

The expenditure for such a place would, of course, be considerable, but the Luan family now was flush with wealth; this sum was merely a drop in their vast ocean.

During this period, every time Luan Yi walked the streets, he sensed someone watching him. Yet, whenever he searched, he found no trace of the observer.

One day, Luan Yi resolved to investigate. He instructed a servant to follow him from afar and observe who kept casting glances his way. After a day of tracking, the answer stunned Luan Yi.

The servant reported, “Young master, I followed you all day and discovered a young lady who always shadowed you. Wherever you went, she followed, her eyes never leaving your side. She is exceedingly beautiful—how to describe her? I’ve never seen such a lovely woman in my life…”

Luan Yi waved him off, signaling he need not say more. He had already guessed who she was. But... how did she know his whereabouts? Had she followed him from the moment he left home?

He recalled how, that day, he first visited the East Market to order a batch of timber, then a silk shop for curtains, and finally the West City. After a day’s journey, he was utterly exhausted—how much more so must the delicate young lady be? “What does she hope to gain by trailing me so closely?”

Xiao Cui, his attendant, could not bear to watch and said, “What else could she want? She’s hopelessly devoted to you. In my opinion, that young lady is very beautiful; why not allow her to fulfill her longing?”

“What nonsense! My heart belongs to Sister Cai. How could I be distracted by another?”

Xiao Cui’s expression darkened, but she quickly raised her head and replied, “You are mistaken, young master! Our Luan family is a noble house, and you are a renowned scholar. In such families, it’s perfectly normal to take several wives. Let Sister Cai be the principal, and that young lady the secondary wife!”

“But…” Luan Yi, coming from a monogamous society, still could not accept the notion of multiple wives and concubines, feeling in his heart that it was unfair to women. “That is not right! Do not mention taking more wives or concubines again.”

Seeing his resolute expression, Xiao Cui felt aggrieved and began to cry, covering her face as she fled the room.

“What’s wrong with her?” Luan Yi asked Luan Fu, bewildered.

“You don’t know, young master?” Luan Fu was astonished; he had always thought his master was all-knowing, yet he seemed unaware of this basic tradition.

“Should I know?”

Luan Fu nodded vigorously, like a woodpecker. “Of course! Xiao Cui is your chamber maid. By custom, when the young master comes of age, she is to warm your bed!”

“To warm my bed?” Luan Yi suddenly understood. “What happens if I refuse?”

Luan Fu thought for a moment and replied with concern, “Then she will never be married. In everyone’s eyes, she is already your concubine. If you do not accept her, it is equivalent to casting her aside.”

“Uh…” Luan Yi was speechless. Xiao Cui was already marked as his, a stain that could never be erased. “Go comfort her. Tell her I would never reject her, never.”

“Certainly!” Luan Fu was delighted, and went quickly to find Xiao Cui.

Yet, although Luan Yi accepted Xiao Cui in his heart, it did not mean he was willing to let another Ren Hongchang enter his life. Thus, from that day onward, every time he left home, he used the back door and traveled by carriage, curtains drawn so that no one could see who was within.

In the days that followed, the sensation of being watched vanished.

Luan Yi had thought that, by severing ties in this way, Ren Hongchang’s obsessive love would gradually fade. But Luoyang, though the capital of the Han, was not so large; social circles were small, and inevitably, they would cross paths again.

As happened today, at a grand birthday banquet.

The banquet’s guest of honor was Yuan Kui, appointed Grand Tutor and one of the three highest officials of the era. He was also uncle to Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu.

The Yuan family, boasting four generations of high officials, had disciples and former aides across the realm, making them the leaders of contemporary scholars. Yuan Kui’s birthday naturally drew no common guests—scholars flocked to the event, which was lavish and extravagant.

Luan Yi, Guo Jia, and their companions attended the banquet with Cai Yong. When they arrived, they saw a queue outside the gate stretching for more than twenty paces, full of people from all over seeking to offer birthday wishes. Of course, most were not there for the birthday itself, but to curry favor with the Yuan family, hoping for protection in their careers.

They waited for nearly the time it takes to burn two sticks of incense before their turn came. They handed over their invitation and gift list to the steward.

The steward, with a proud expression, glanced at the items, intending to toss them to a servant, but then reconsidered, taking a closer look. Upon reading the invitation, his arrogance faded and was replaced by a shrewd smile. “Ah, it is Master Cai the Ritualist and his esteemed disciples.” He greeted Cai Yong, Luan Yi, and the others individually. “This humble servant greets Master Cai, Master Ziqi, and all the talented gentlemen.”

After exchanging courtesies, Cai Yong’s face showed a hint of pride. He recalled, in previous years when he came to the Yuan residence for birthdays, the steward had never been so polite. The difference this year was certainly due to the presence of his distinguished students; he, the teacher, was now basking in their reflected glory.

The steward then opened the gift list and examined it. Nodding to himself, he saw that Cai Yong’s group had offered gifts quite unlike the gold-laden presents from ordinary guests. Announcing loudly, “Ten sets of ‘Miscellaneous Tales’ personally signed by Master Ziqi, ten folding fans painted by Master Mao Jie, a jade sculpture of ‘Smooth Sailing,’ a bronze cauldron for wealth and prosperity…”

This was the highest level of gift-giving: not a single coin, yet the value was apparent everywhere. It seemed Luan Yi was stingy, only offering works created by his own circle; but if one calculated their worth, the gifts easily amounted to several million coins.

When the announcement ended, Luan Yi, accompanied by the smiling Cai Yong, crossed the threshold into the Yuan residence. From afar, they saw Cao Cao wave in greeting and come forward.

Seeing that his friends were present at the banquet, Cai Yong went off to find his colleagues and converse.

By Cao Cao’s side stood a man not yet thirty years old, tall and handsome, reminiscent of future male models.

Cao Cao said, “Ziqi, you’re late. Come, let me introduce you.” He pointed to the man beside him, “This is Yuan Shao, styled Benchu, the young master of this residence. His father, Yuan Feng, is the elder brother of today’s birthday celebrant, Yuan Kui, and holds the office of Minister of Works.”

“Oh?” Even though Luan Yi had prepared himself, seeing Yuan Shao in person was still startling; he was even more handsome than described in the books. “So you are Master Yuan. Pardon my rudeness!”

“These friends need no introduction, do they?” said Cao Cao. “They are the famous Eight Talents of Yingchuan!” He had taken it upon himself to expand their nickname from five to eight.

Yuan Shao, with a friendly expression, clapped his hands and laughed, “Master Ziqi, I have long hoped to meet you all. I had intended to ask Mengde to arrange a gathering once things quieted down, but fortune has brought us together today. How lucky! Please, join me and Mengde at our table—we shall not leave until we are thoroughly drunk.”