The three people sitting in the pavilion were none other than Tang Manqing, Shui'er, and Gu Zhenyuan.
Linglong Mountain Villa was a paradise for men, and women rarely came here. Tang Manqing's visit this time wasn't for pleasure either, but to find Sister Hong. However, being a woman and the Princess Royal of Yanluo, she had to disguise herself as a man out of consideration for her status.
Shui'er couldn't stand the gaudily dressed maidservants in this pleasure quarter, nor could she stand the men who came here seeking flowers and willows.
However,
Tang Manqing didn't mind.
In her opinion, as long as one didn't steal, rob, abduct, or cheat, but earned money through their own skills and talents, there was no distinction between noble and lowly.
Moreover, she also believed that if these maidservants had other choices, they probably wouldn't have fallen into this den of pleasure.
Of course,
there were also those lazy, gluttonous women who couldn't be excluded.
One could only blame a world that mocked poverty but not prostitution, and blame the younger generation for their heavy hearts of comparison and vanity.
As for the men who came here seeking flowers and willows, although she also somewhat disapproved, it was merely disapproval—just like disapproving of those who bullied men and oppressed women.
At that moment,
an elder walked over.
Tang Manqing recognized him; he was the steward of Linglong Mountain Villa, Senior Wei.
Tang Manqing stood up and bowed.
"Your Highness truly humbles this old man," Wei Lao said, flustered. "Your Highness is a person of noble status; how can you bow to this old man? It's improper, absolutely improper."
"Senior, you're too polite."
"Not at all, not at all."
Wei Lao knew the purpose of the Princess Royal's visit and said, "The villa owner went out on business today. She instructed this old man that if Your Highness came, to ask you to wait a moment. The owner will definitely return before nightfall."
"It's fine."
Tang Manqing looked at the sky; it was already dusk. "I'll wait for Sister Hong here."
"But this is, after all, a pleasure quarter. Your Highness, please come inside."
"Alright."
As Tang Manqing stood up, she suddenly remembered someone and asked, "A few days ago, I heard Xiang'er has been staying here. Is she still around?"
"Miss Xiang'er is still here."
"That's wonderful. I'll go wait for Sister Hong at Xiang'er's place."
"This..." Wei Lao seemed hesitant.
"What's wrong? Is it inconvenient?"
"Your Highness misunderstands. It's not inconvenient, only... Miss Xiang'er just went to perform at the Hall Gathering."
"Is that so?" Tang Manqing pondered for a moment. "Then I'll go there too. It's been a long time since I've seen Xiang'er."
"Your Highness, that place is, after all, a Hall Gathering—a mix of all sorts, dragons and snakes intermingled, with everything imaginable. You'd better... not go."
"It's not like I haven't been before. Sister Hong has taken me to Hall Gatherings several times," Tang Manqing said with a faint smile. "Besides, today I'm disguised in men's clothing. If I don't say anything, who would know my identity?"
"Your Highness, this isn't very appropriate." When Sister Hong took the Princess Royal to a Hall Gathering, that was Sister Hong. Wei Lao dared not do the same, for Tang Manqing was the Princess Royal of Yanluo Kingdom. If word got out that the Princess Royal had entered Linglong Mountain Villa's Hall Gathering, what would become of it? When the Prince returned, wouldn't he tear this old man apart alive?
Wei Lao originally wanted to refuse, but Tang Manqing insisted on going. In the end, with no other choice, Wei Lao reluctantly led Tang Manqing and her party toward the Hall Gathering.
Tang Manqing and Lin Xiang'er were friends, and very close ones at that.
The two had met through an introduction by Sister Hong.
At first, Tang Manqing couldn't understand at all. Whether in terms of innate talent, destiny, immortal arts, or artistic flair, Lin Xiang'er could be called a heaven-favored daughter. Why did she specifically like to mingle in the mundane world? She said she liked living this way.
Were there people who liked such a life?
Yes.
Lin Xiang'er was one.
Sister Hong was another.
What did 'living this way' mean?
Initially, Tang Manqing didn't quite understand either. As she grew older and her experiences increased, until Tang Manqing began to feel life growing more and more exhausting, she gradually started to understand the life Lin Xiang'er spoke of. Deep in her heart, she even began to yearn for such a life.
Sleeping until waking naturally every day.
Drinking a couple of cups when happy, drinking to one's heart's content.
Drowning sorrows in wine when unhappy, living in a drunken stupor.
No longer needing to worry about sect or family matters, no longer needing to cultivate daily, nor needing to think about attaining the Dao and becoming an immortal.
Carefree and unrestrained.
Crying when wanting to cry, laughing when wanting to laugh.
Doing whatever one wished.
This was what life should be.
Unfortunately,
Tang Manqing couldn't live like this. She was born into the Yanluo royal family, destined to live for the Yanluo royal family, with no real choice. Even her future immortal Dao partner was probably not up to her to decide.
So, she could only envy.
Hall Gathering.
On the high platform.
Lin Xiang'er sat sideways on a soft chair, a charming smile on her face as she played the pipa. Beneath her red skirt were a pair of alluring legs crossed together. As she played, her bare feet swayed slightly, and with each sway, the small bells on her ankles chimed with a crisp sound.
The melody drifted over, stirring one's heart and soul.
Every single person in the entire hall, without exception, was immersed in the heart-stirring musical rhythm—whether it was Mei Yuanhua from the Mei family or Xiao Ziying from a branch of the Xiao family.
Lin Xiang'er liked this feeling.
She liked this feeling of using music to make all men intoxicated.
She didn't know why she liked this feeling.
She didn't even know when she started liking this feeling.
She only knew that this feeling brought her great satisfaction.
This sense of satisfaction also felt familiar to her.
As if, a very, very long time ago, she had lived just like this—so long ago it felt like it could be traced back to a previous life.
Perhaps her previous life was also a musician who sang while drunk?
Perhaps.
Lin Xiang'er didn't know.
But she knew she was a reincarnated person.
However,
she was a reincarnated person with no memories of her previous life whatsoever.
Not even a tiny bit.
If there was anything related to her previous life, then it was only this melody.
What this melody was, she didn't know. It was as if she had known how to play it since birth.
And she didn't know why, but every time she played this melody, watching the intoxicated expressions of the people below, a sense of familiarity would arise deep in her heart.
Very elusive, also very vague.
Like a glimmer of radiance appearing in endless darkness.
Very faint, very faint.
So faint she could only sense the existence of the radiance, but didn't know where it was, nor could she touch it.
To find this glimmer of radiance, Lin Xiang'er kept playing this melody.
That glimmer of radiance seemed to grow brighter and brighter, and the sense of familiarity grew stronger and stronger, but she still couldn't perceive anything.
Second floor.
Within the VIP Lounge.
One maidservant massaged Gu Qingfeng's shoulders, another massaged his legs, and a third served fine wine.
Gu Qingfeng lay back in his chair, immersed in the melody of this tune, appreciating its artistic conception. Yet, the more he appreciated it, the stranger he felt—an indescribable, unclear feeling, also a sense of familiarity.