Chapter 18: This Creature Is Not Human

“My dear girl, what silly things are you saying!”
Lady Du, who stood by, shook her head and smiled wryly. “You’ll marry one day, how could you spend your whole life at your parents’ side?”
“I don’t care!” Du Xiaomei pouted, her face resolute. “I’d rather spend my whole life by Father and Mother’s side than ever get married!”
Yet the more firmly Du Xiaomei spoke, the more comforted Du Ruhui and his wife felt in their hearts.
At the same time, their affection for Du Xiaomei only deepened.
Just then, Du Ruhui saw the moment was right. He suddenly smiled and asked, “Little sister, what do you think… of the third son of the Li family? That is, Li Yi—Li Bo’an, your Uncle Li Jing’s son.”
“I don’t…”
But before she could finish the word “want,” Du Xiaomei’s expression froze, her words cut short, and she lapsed into silence.
She no longer held her former resolve.
Instead, her delicate face suddenly bloomed with a blush like rosy clouds, shy and radiant, her smile gentle as spring.
Seeing this, Du Ruhui and Lady Du could hardly fail to discern her thoughts.
This little girl surely held Li Yi dear in her heart!
Du Ruhui said nothing, choosing to smile in silence.
Lady Du, however, deliberately shook her head and sighed, “Since that’s how it is, your father and I shall have to find you another suitable husband…”
“Father, Mother!”
Afraid her mother might change her mind, Du Xiaomei hurriedly interrupted, lowering her head and speaking in a voice as light as a whisper, “I… I am willing…”
“Haha!” Du Ruhui laughed aloud in delight.
Lady Du, too, covered her mouth and chuckled quietly beside him.
“Ah…” After a while, Du Ruhui shook his head, gazing at Du Xiaomei’s bashful cheeks, and teased, “Indeed, daughters can never be kept… You just said you’d stay with us forever, but mention Li the Third and you’re a different person!”
Lady Du played along, shaking her head and sighing, “Isn’t it so, my lord…”
“Father, Mother…”
Du Xiaomei’s cheeks burned red as she tugged at Du Ruhui’s hand, swinging it back and forth, her pout giving way to a joyful smile.
Though she knew they were teasing her, Du Xiaomei’s heart brimmed with happiness, an unspeakable joy.
If Lady Du went to the Minister’s residence tomorrow to discuss the marriage with Li Jing and his wife, and the Li family consented, she would become Li Yi’s wife.

Just thinking of this made Du Xiaomei’s smile blossom like peach flowers.

…

The next morning, Li Yi awoke refreshed from a deep sleep.

With Yue’er attending him, he could not help but tease her, making her blush shyly as she helped him dress and put on his shoes.

After rinsing his mouth, Li Yi set out with Yue’er.

Walking together down the bustling avenue, Li Yi thought to himself, “Since Father forbids me from entering officialdom early, I’ll simply choose another path. Isn’t that enough?”

On Vermilion Bird Street, carriages and people moved in a constant stream, the scene lively and grand.

Seeing Chang’an’s prosperity, Li Yi’s resolve only grew stronger.

—He would become a merchant!

Yet the thought of “scholars, farmers, artisans, merchants,” and the invisible pressure those words carried, made Li Yi cautious.

After all, merchants, whether in the Tang dynasty or any era, always belonged to the lowest class.

And they were held in contempt.

Along the way, Li Yi silently observed and made his own market investigations.

As expected, the most lucrative business lay in cosmetics beloved by ladies, and the delicacies favored by noble youths.

But Li Yi considered, if he devoted himself solely to profit, and his father Li Jing learned of it, he would surely be furious, and even Lady Hongfu would scold him.

Thus, after much thought, Li Yi decided to abandon this “dangerous” idea for now.

Just then, a familiar voice called out, “Third Brother! Third Brother! Over here!”

Lost in thought, Li Yi paid no attention, but Yue’er, hearing the call, gently reminded him, “Young master, the eldest son of the Du family is calling you.”

Li Yi snapped out of his reverie.

“Doggy?” Li Yi exclaimed in surprise, raising his brows to see Du Gou, accompanied by two attendants in green caps, walking toward him. Li Yi shook his head and laughed, “It really is Doggy!”

Yue’er, at Li Yi’s words, could not help but twitch her lips, stifling a smile.

“Probably only my young master would dare call the eldest son of the Du family ‘Doggy’ so casually,” she thought, shaking her head in amusement.

Now Du Gou stood before Li Yi, seeing Yue’er barely suppressing her laughter, and Li Yi smiling mischievously at him. Du Gou suddenly felt quite out of sorts.

“Perhaps I shouldn’t have greeted Third Brother like that,” Du Gou regretted inwardly, feeling as if he’d lost all hope.

His steps faltered as he considered turning away from Li Yi.

Seeing Du Gou’s awkwardness, Li Yi was puzzled. “Doggy, what’s wrong? Did someone bully you?”

Li Yi was mystified by Du Gou’s sudden change of mood.

He’d been fine before—why the sudden shift?

“Ahem, ahem…”

Du Gou quickly cleared his throat, rolled his eyes, and pulled Li Yi into a hug, whispering in his ear, “Third Brother, there are others around, give me some dignity and stop calling me ‘Doggy’!”

“Oh, understood, Doggy.” Li Yi nodded, finally realizing that Du Gou was upset over the nickname.

“….” Du Gou’s face darkened, his mouth twitching twice, feeling he’d miscalculated.

“By the way, Third Brother!” The next moment, as if to divert Li Yi, Du Gou grinned wickedly, “I heard a peerless beauty has appeared at Pingkang Lane lately. Let me take you to see her!”

With that, Du Gou dragged Li Yi straight toward Pingkang Lane.

Li Yi was speechless, cursing Du Gou inwardly for his antics.

But then Li Yi thought, since he was now a carefree nobleman, he might as well go along and see what made this famed beauty so renowned.

Li Yi and Du Gou crossed Vermilion Bird Street and arrived at Pingkang Lane, adjacent to East and West Street.

Pingkang Lane, simply put, was much like the modern red-light district.

However, there were also famed courtesans of the capital who sold their art, not themselves.

As soon as they reached the gatehouse of Pingkang Lane, Li Yi saw countless young, beautiful women decked in finery and cosmetics, vying for attention at the doorway and on the balconies above, doing their utmost to attract patrons.

“My lord, come inside and enjoy yourself…”

“Don’t leave, young master, I’ve missed you so…”

Enticing voices drifted constantly from within Pingkang Lane.

Many passersby, embarrassed by empty pockets, though tempted, blushed and hurried away, provoking laughter from the women.