Chapter 11: The Empress's Heart Sutra

  After leaving Jiang Xia's room, Kang Qingyan went directly to Wanyun Pavilion. After knocking on the door and entering, Kang Qingyan first bowed to Liu Jin. Liu Jin helped Kang Qingyan up and asked: "Huh? Qingyan, you said earlier that you would bring someone for me to see?"

  Kang Qingyan glanced outside the door and then whispered to Liu Jin, "Report to Your Excellency, Jiang Xia has been summoned by Zhang Yong to the Peony Pavilion."

  "Zhang Yong?" Liu Jin was slightly startled and asked: "Qingyan, are you sure?"

  Kang Qingyan thought for a moment and said: "It was Han Yu who told me, Han Yu knew Zhang Gonggong and shouldn't have mistaken him."

  Liu Jin's eyes rolled around, and he whispered to himself: "This is a place of brothels and flowers, Zhang Yong, as an official, would not come alone. Even if someone else invited him to avoid suspicion, they wouldn't choose this kind of place. So the only possibility is that Zhang Yong came with someone, and under the sky, the person who can make Zhang Yong accompany them...". Liu Jin took a cold breath: "It's the Emperor."

  Liu Jin immediately asked Kang Qingyan: "Qingyan, does Mudan Pavilion have eyes?"

  Kang Qingyan nodded and said, "The eyes have seen it, and the ears have also heard it."

  Qunfang Pavilion was not only a brothel, but also a place where Liu Jin entertained important figures and gathered information. There are two times when people are most likely to reveal secrets: one is when they are half drunk and half awake, and the other is when they are embracing a beauty and showing off their knowledge of the world, or in simpler terms, when men are bragging to women.

  In order to collect these information, most of the rooms in the Fangyuan Pavilion are equipped with peepholes for eavesdropping, also known as "eyes" in Kang Qingshan's words, and also like the toy walkie-talkies that kids play with nowadays, which is called "ears".

  Having heard that Mudan Building has eyes and ears, Liu Jin was delighted to clap his hands, "Great, take me there immediately, I want to see what kind of trick Zhang Yong is playing."

  Like Zhang Yong, Liu Jin also regarded Zhang Yong as a thorn in the flesh, and it was said that by the bed, how could he let others sleep soundly. In this imperial palace, there should only be one "Liu Jin", and there shouldn't be another "Zhang Yong". From the moment when the two were put together for comparison in the Shuntian Prefecture government office, Liu Jin and Zhang Yong were destined to have only struggle and no reconciliation between them.

  Jiang Xia followed Han Yu to the Peony Pavilion. Han Yu, out of consideration for his brother, whispered to Jiang Xia: "Brother Jiang, the people inside are incredibly important figures, so be extremely careful later and don't provoke the big shots inside."

  "Understood." Jiang Xia knocked on the door, and a voice came from inside: "Come in."

  Jiang Xia listened and wondered, "Hmm? The voice sounds familiar, but I just can't recall where I've heard it before." He pushed open the door and went in. At first glance, Jiang Xia saw Zhang Yong, as well as Zhu Houzhao sitting beside him.

  Han Yu walked away after pulling the door open for them. As soon as Jiang Xia saw the two men, he immediately became vigilant and said: "You two gentlemen, the silver you gave me has been spent almost all of it, if you want to get it back from me, I'm afraid there won't be that much left."

  "What's the hurry to go back, are we that kind of people? Today is when our master called you over for something." Zhang Yong said with a bad tone.

  Jiang Xia glanced at Zhu Houzhao, then looked at Zhang Yong again. This Zhang Yong was a eunuch himself, with a naturally sharp and high-pitched voice like that of a woman, while Zhu Houzhao had a refined and elegant appearance, with a handsome face and an air of bookishness mixed with a hint of majesty. Standing together, the two were a perfect match, giving off a strong "couple" vibe, as if they were meant to be good friends for life.

  At this moment, I heard that Zhu Houzhao had come all the way to call himself over for something. This man and another man were not familiar with each other, but they came to the brothel together. Instead of going to find a girl to have fun, they came to find an old man like myself. What are they planning to do?

  "Ah, sir, I'm a chaste and virtuous person, a proper yellow flower gentleman... Ugh! I mean, I like women. Even if I were to die, I would never do anything that would shame me or bring dishonor to my family by engaging in those kinds of indecent acts with another man. Please spare me, I beg of you..."

  "How dare you! How can you speak such nonsense?" Zhang Yong shouted loudly, his actual words should have been: "You are a rebellious subject, how can you speak such nonsense in front of the Emperor." But this time he was on an incognito tour, so Zhang Yong had omitted all words that might reveal Zhu Houzhao's identity.

  Zhu Houzhao was amused by Jiang Xia's appearance and burst out laughing. He said with a smile, "Don't worry, I also like women, absolutely no interest in that kind of cut sleeve and split peach stuff. I didn't call you here to ask for the reward back, but to ask you to take a look at this painting."

  "A painting?" Jiang Xia heard and immediately let out a sigh of relief, saying: "So that's it, you scared me to death. Sir, please tell me, what kind of painting do you hope I can paint for you."

  Zhu Houzhao nodded at the table in front of him, on which was spread a piece of Xuan paper with his own rendition of the "Heart Sutra" in four styles.

  "After reading the 'Yu Nu Xin Jing Four Forms', Jiang Xia couldn't help but shake his head and say, 'What a pity, there are only four forms. The Yu Nu Xin Jing has a total of eighteen forms, and one must master all of them to achieve the greatest effect. With just these four forms, this person will definitely not be able to become a real man even if he continues to practice.'"

  "Nonsense!" Zhang Yong shouted loudly.

  Jiang Xia looked at Zhang Yong and couldn't help but say, "Sir, allow me to tell you a story. In the future, I will have two brothers in front of me, but they will not share the same surname. One followed his father's surname Li, while the other followed his mother's surname Tian. One was called Li Huyan and the other was called Tian Wangyu.

  Two brothers grew up and one sold turtles, the other sold goose eggs. One day, someone wanted to buy both turtles and goose eggs, so from a distance he started calling out, do you know what he was shouting?

  Zhang Yong furrowed his brow, he didn't want to answer Jiang Xia's question at all, so he directly replied with a sentence: "How do I know what to call it?" On the other hand, Zhu Houzhao thought for a moment and then tentatively said: "Isn't it called 'Hu Yan Wang Ba Dan' (胡言妄语王八蛋)?"

  Jiang Xia smiled and didn't continue the conversation, instead pointing to the character poster and saying: "I'll continue to tell Master about the Yu Nu Xin Jing. These four moves are from the Yu Nu Xin Jing's 'Drought Land Pulling Scallions', 'Guanyin Sitting on a Lotus', 'Old Man Pushing a Cart' and 'Reclining Embrace Moon', but..."

  Jiang Xia had barely finished speaking when Zhang Yong suddenly realized he was being scolded and shouted: "Son of a bitch, how dare you scold me?"

  Jiang Xia raised his head and looked at Liang Shicheng, asking: "Who are you calling a turtle egg?"

  "Son of a turtle!"

  "Oh, I see." Jiang Xia nodded, and Zhang Yong suddenly realized he had been tricked by Jiang Xia again. This time even Zhu Houzhao couldn't help but reveal a smile, but Zhang Yong was furious, waving his fists and charging forward, shouting: "Damn you, rabbit's bastard, I'm going to beat you to death today!"

  "Zhang Yong!" Zhu Houzhao shouted, Zhang Yong was startled and almost fell to his knees, but Zhu Houzhao's gaze stopped him. Zhu Houzhao raised his chin and said, "Stand aside, what a racket are you making?"

  "Yes!" Zhang Yong glared at Jiang Xia, then stepped aside. Zhu Houzhao looked at Zhang Yong twice before regaining his composure and smiling to ask Liang Xin: "Jiang Xia, you continue, but what?"

  Jiang Xia smiled at Zhu Houzhao and said, "However, the Yu Nu Xin Jing is a complete set of skills that must be practiced from start to finish. Only practicing these four styles at first may still have some effect, but that's just an illusion, it's just overdrafting men's essence. After a long time, men will become soft and unable to erect, erect but not firm, firm but not lasting."

  "Exactly as expected." Zhu Houzhao also discovered the same problem as Jiang Xia, only he now had no choice but to continue practicing these four forms.

  At this moment, hearing Jiang Xia say this, Zhu Houzhao felt holding onto Jiang Xia's arm and asked: "Brother Jiang, do you have any way to solve this matter? To be honest, the one who has been practicing these four styles is me."

  "Huh?" Jiang Xia sized up Zhu Houzhao, thinking that this guy was at most around twenty years old, and yet he had already started practicing this. Was it really necessary? However, wanting to show off his generosity, Jiang Xia smiled and said: "As it happens, I know the eighteen forms of the 'Winning a Maiden's Heart' technique. Since you're already practicing, I'll teach you the remaining fourteen forms."

  Zhu Houzhao's hands trembled slightly as he picked up the calligraphy, and he asked in a somewhat disbelieving tone: "Mr. Jiangxia, you... can you really master all of the 'Yu Nu Xin Jing'?"

  And also sent... sent to me?" Zhu Houzhao stared at Jiang Xia with wide eyes, his excited and almost crazy gaze was like a loser finding his favorite female star to sign an autograph, but the female star said we have fate, from now on I am yours.

  To think that Zhu Houzhao had searched the entire world and only managed to find four pages of fragmented chapters, but now he suddenly obtained all eighteen forms. He could only say that happiness came too suddenly, and he wasn't prepared at all.

  Jiang Xia nodded, picked up the brush and dipped it in ink. As he slowly closed his eyes, Zhu Houzhao noticed that Jiang Xia's demeanor had changed. He was no longer so glib and erratic, but rather like an old monk who had been sitting in meditation for a hundred years, exuding a calm and composed aura.

  In the adjacent Peony Pavilion, Kang Qingyan watched Jiang Xia's every move and listened to his every word with Liu Jin. Seeing Jiang Xia like this, she couldn't help but feel a little moist. In her heart, she kept shouting: "Too much, too unreasonable! How can it be like this? How can you be so shameless? Are you still human?! Jiang Xia, if I, Kang Qingyan, don't take you down in this life, I swear I won't be human!!!"

  As soon as he saw the change in Jiang Xia's momentum, Zhu Houzhao also became serious. He looked at Jiang Xia with a face full of expectation, and Jiang Xia suddenly opened his eyes and began to write.

  After the dragon and phoenix danced with iron painting and silver hook, Jiang Xia put down his pen.

  Looking at the fourteen new pictures on the rice paper, as well as the detailed route of operation, Zhu Houzhao was stunned. The problem that had been troubling him for a long time was... solved like this?

  Jiang Xia smiled and asked: "How is it, little brother, this picture..."

  "Who are you calling little brother? Is my master someone you can refer to as a sworn brother?" Zhang Yong rebuked Jiang Xia, unable to hold back.

  Jiangxia ignored Zhang Yong and asked Zhu Houzhao: "Brother, may I address you as such?"

  Zhu Houzhao nodded and said: "Of course, sir. I don't know how to repay your great kindness. Why don't you tell me what you want, and I'll see if I can give it to you."

  Jiang Xia laughed and shook his head, saying: "I don't want any repayment, it's just that when I see my brothers, I have a feeling of being old friends. If you're not ashamed of me, why don't we become sworn brothers today?"

  "Sworn brothers?" Zhu Houzhao's eyes lit up, he thought this was extremely interesting, and immediately nodded: "Alright, let's become sworn brothers of different surnames."

  Hiding beside the Peony Pavilion to sneak a peek and eavesdrop, Liu Jin suddenly lifted his head, took a deep breath, and muttered to himself: "It's all over, this young man named Jiang Xia is destined for greatness."

  PS: Thanks to MuMu YouYou, HuangHun's HuoYan, WuMing QunYan, Wang XieYi, TongTian BoXueShi, Yan NanZheng, ShuXia LongShe and several other big shots for their generous support. The new book needs everyone's support to go further, otherwise it will face the fate of being cut off at the waist. I hope all book friends can give their full support, collect, red tickets and other free supports, thank you very much!