Chapter 17: Divine Courtesan

Chapter 17: Divine Courtesan

"In the past, in Jinzhou Harbor, during my younger days, I was rather conceited about my charm and thus acquainted myself with many individuals from all walks of life. Among them, I knew a woman of the Hu ethnicity, named Luan Ji."

This Luan Ji's mother was a Hu woman, while her father was a dissolute man. Upon her birth, her mother, the Hu woman, tragically passed away due to complications in childbirth. As she was a girl with striking heterochromatic feline eyes, the brothel madam saw her as a rare commodity and decided to raise her.

As she matured, her beauty blossomed, and naturally, she began to entertain clients, quickly becoming a favorite among patrons. Growing up in that licentious environment, a hub for travelers from all directions, she was exposed to various exotic skills and amusements. Being exceptionally clever, she realized she had no inherent talents or support, so she learned a multitude of miscellaneous abilities from her affable clients and the brothel's mentors. Among these skills was ventriloquism, the art of speaking without moving one's lips, as if merely sleeping, yet managing to produce the voice of a man using her abdominal muscles.

She was a lively and mischievous soul, always up for a prank. On one occasion, while entertaining guests with a divination ritual, her playful spirit took over, and to amuse herself and earn more gifts, she used ventriloquism to pretend that the divine had descended during the ritual. She fabricated a story, telling the guest that his upcoming voyage would be fraught with great danger. To avert this calamity, he was advised to offer nine taels of gold before setting sail, ensuring his safety and turning misfortune into good fortune.

"Because the sea guest has always been very superstitious and believed it to be true, he actually offered nine taels of gold as an offering and left. Unexpectedly, when the sea guest came back a few months later, he actually prepared a generous gift and came to thank Hu Ji with loud gongs and drums.And he was willing to redeem her with generous gifts and make her his wife. It turned out that this seafarer was really caught in a storm at sea, and the ship was broken. After a narrow escape, he drifted on the sea and ended up on an island, which was where the pirates hid their silver. The seafarer was clever and twists and turns.I wanted to take the money and return to my hometown in fine clothes. I was very grateful when I remembered what I had done to support the shackles, so I came here to repay my kindness. "

Upon the news spreading, Luan Ji's reputation soared. Of course, she never married, claiming to disdain the merchant for his old age and ugliness. She accepted the compensation and bought her own freedom, but she had no other skills except for her dedication to spirit mediumship and invoking deities. Naturally, she occasionally entertained guests who caught her fancy. Clever and quick-witted by nature, she sought guidance from others, refining her divine oracles to become even more ambiguous. Thus, her name as a "divine courtesan" spread far and wide. She also cultivated connections with influential aristocrats and wealthy merchants, becoming the talk of the town for a time. Her days were comfortable and fulfilling.

Princess Yi Yang smiled. "I suppose Zheng Tanhua is also one of the honored guests in this inner chamber, then?"

Zheng Changyuan chuckled. "In my youth, driven by curiosity, I secretly visited under an alias. Immediately, I realized it was ventriloquism. At that time, I saw that she was vulnerable and had no ill intentions. She only did it for self-preservation, so I didn't expose her. Upon realizing that I had seen through her act yet chose not to divulge it, she felt grateful and went on to do several favors for me. Our private relationship was quite amicable, something that few people were aware of."

"However, she has always been in Jinzhou Port, but a few days ago, she suddenly wrote me a letter, asking me to help her hide her identity and board a ship to leave the Great Yong. I found it quite strange. Her heterochromatic eyes are not easy to conceal anywhere, and it is indeed difficult for her to find a foothold in the Great Yong. But I do not know what kind of person she has offended or what kind of great disaster she has caused, to be so afraid that she is willing to leave her hometown and travel far away - at least in Jinzhou, it is not difficult for our original family to protect her."

Thus, I secretly arranged for my trusted aide to discreetly fetch her and inquire privately. She revealed that a while back, someone approached her with a generous offer to perform a divine consultation and follow their instructions for fortune-telling. The price was too tempting for Luan Ji, who was greedy for wealth. Besides, she often received similar requests from those vying for favor within the household. So, she agreed.

"On the appointed day, Luan Ji said that the person brought in a scholar dressed in a Taoist robe, around fifty or sixty years old, with an air of nobility that didn't resemble an ordinary individual. Luan Ji remained vigilant. While she followed the instructions for most of the divination, she altered the solution by changing 'this diminishes, that increases' to 'avoid and keep distant,' leaving a sliver of hope."

"Afterward, the client was indeed very dissatisfied but still paid the agreed sum."

"Following this, Luan Ji encountered a series of incidents. First, her house cat mysteriously died after eating a pastry from the table, then a fire suddenly broke out in the adjacent residence. Luckily, a heavy rain allowed her to escape. Terrified, she pretended to be dead and hid away, claiming to have perished in the fire."

Princess Yi Yang straightened her spine, her eyes cold. After a moment, she asked icily, "What did that person ask the divine?"

Zheng Changyuan replied, "They inquired about their life's course."

"The response was: innate prosperity, profound blessings, a life filled with romantic encounters, exceptional talent, and a capable spouse, with great advantages for offspring. Yet, despite the high value of their life, their lifespan is somewhat limited, like a flawless white jade with a minor blemish."

"Second, they asked if they could attain enlightenment."

"The answer was: their lifespan doesn't permit it, the path to enlightenment has not yet arrived."

"Third, they asked why their lifespan was insufficient."

Princess Yi Yang had already risen abruptly. Zheng Changyuan spoke calmly, "The answer is that the guest should sincerely worship and avoid those with names containing metal, for then their fortune can be preserved, breaking this fated predicament."

Princess Yi Yang's face had turned ashen. She shouted, "Servant! Fetch me the gazettes from these past days!"

Zheng Changyuan waved his hand. " Princess, are you looking at recent official appointments? I've already taken note and checked with the Ministry of Personnel. Indeed, many names with the character 'jin' have been demoted or sent away from the capital recently. Even a group of eunuchs and palace maids were dismissed from the palace..."

Princess Yi Yang's eyes burned with anger. "What a treacherous Bao Han Palace! Concealing its sharpness like water eroding ice, pretending to seek immortality... Father..." She paused, choking back sobs, tears streaming down her cheeks. The crown prince was named Yuan Jun, young and sharp, like a newly sharpened blade. The emperor had deliberately appointed him to the Bao Han Palace, a move whose meaning was all too clear.

Zheng Changyuan seemed not to have heard. After a long moment, Princess Yi Yang said, "At the beginning of the year, he was indeed unwell for a time. It seems suspicion had already begun to grow then."

She slumped, despair in her brows. "In the end, he fell prey to a deceitful woman!"

Zheng Changyuan stood up. "The story is finished. I should be on my way back."

Princess Yi Yang said, "Then about Princess Luan Ji..."

Zheng Changyuan fell silent for a moment before he replied, "On that day, the Lingzhi Palace had yet to be engulfed in flames. I merely took her account of a domestic secret as just that and didn't pay much attention. I arranged for her to depart by sea that very night. With the vastness of the ocean, communication was cut off, and she drifted away from Great Yong. At that time, she didn't tell me where she intended to go. Clearly, she knew that after revealing such information, even I wouldn't be trustworthy anymore. It wasn't until the mysterious fire at the Lingzhi Palace that I recalled the incident and decided to inform the princess, as a precautionary measure."

After a while, Princess Yi Yang whispered, "I'm sorry."

She understood that if Zheng Changyuan truly wanted to find her, he could. However, it would be useless now. The emperor's suspicions had arisen, and a rift had formed between father and son, daughter. The Zheng family would no longer stake their centuries-old family's future on an orphaned brother and sister. Zheng Changyuan secretly coming to inform her today was likely his personal initiative... Perhaps out of pity, admiration, or hedging his bets. Regardless, without sufficient benefit, what Zheng Changyuan had done could already be considered loyal.

Zheng Changyuan gave a bitter laugh. "Apologies." He had feelings for the princess but had always held back due to her status. Today, he had already done all he could, yet he still carried the weight of responsibilities for his clan and couldn't act impulsively.

For a moment, they gazed at each other in silence. Then, Zheng Changyuan rose to his feet and spoke respectfully, "Princess, in recent days, do exercise utmost caution in all matters. After all, as the direct elder sister of the Crown Prince, you are the first line of defense should anyone seek to move against him."

Princess Yi Yang gave a bitter smile. "I know. I've been rather conspicuous these past few years. I've implicated Jun-ge because of it—and they've already made their move."

Prince Zheng Changyuan looked at Princess Yi Yang with a start. The princess whispered, "The other day, the Metropolitan Procuratorate and the Commander of the City Guards suddenly arrested a thief in the middle of the night and insisted on searching my personal treasury. They claimed they had seen the thief hiding inside."

Prince Zheng Changyuan gasped in astonishment, for he knew that if the hidden compartment contained weapons or poisonous charms... Princess Yi Yang interjected, "Fortunately, my clever maid discovered it beforehand and informed me. We removed an old dragon robe and created a new one in its likeness, a work-in-progress that fits Jun Ge perfectly."

Zheng Changyuan turned his head to glance at Rong Bi, his gaze imbued with scrutiny and composure. "How did this maid come to know of this?"

Princess Yi Yang replied, "It was purely by chance."

Zheng Changyuan shook his head and stood up. "To resort to such a sinister plan, it's clear that this matter won't end well. Princess, you must be on your guard for further moves. Exercise the utmost caution."

Princess Yi Yang remained silent for a long while before she spoke with a bitter tone, "With my father as the sovereign, what can I do even if I face execution?

Zheng Changyuan tried to reassure her, "This turmoil seems to be caused by underhanded individuals. It likely doesn't reflect the Emperor's true intentions."

Princess Yi Yang whispered softly, "The rift has formed, and there's no going back..." Her words were filled with bitterness, and she didn't continue her sentence. She and her brother now had only one path left!

Zheng Changyuan fell silent. He couldn't become too deeply involved. Though he couldn't simply stand idly by, he also couldn't offer direct assistance. Should his support fail, it would mean ruin for his entire family. As long as the Emperor was alive, the Crown Prince would always remain the Crown Prince. Once anyone entertained the idea of seizing the throne, they'd be labeled a traitor. How many Crown Princes in history had met their ends before even ascending the throne? The decline of the Crown Prince would spell doom for the countless officials and families who had aligned themselves with him. They would be seen as conspirators trying to sow discord between the imperial father and son, becoming the first to bear the brunt of punishment as sacrificial pawns.

He rose to take his leave, bowing respectfully. Princess Yi Yang also stood up to see him off, her expression grave. "I will forever remember the righteousness you've shown today, Zheng Tanhua. If there comes a time when I can repay you, I will repay you in full."

Zheng Changyuan bowed again. "Your Highnesses might consider enduring humiliation and keeping a low profile. Only by enduring for now can you plan for the future."