Chapter Twenty-Nine: Drinking and Flirting

“Miss, forgive my boldness, but may I ask your name?” The handsome young man before her bowed politely.

This was the first time since joining the bandit army that Qin Tianxiang had appeared in public as a woman, and even more so, it was the first time she had been approached by such an extraordinary young gentleman. The natural shyness of a girl made her flustered.

Seeing that she didn’t reply, the young man continued, “Miss, if you do not mind, would you honor me by sitting for a while in the pavilion ahead?”

“I…” Qin Tianxiang hesitated, unsure how to respond.

The young man was exceedingly courteous.

Still, Qin Tianxiang had no intention of accepting. Speaking with a strange man was not her style. But just then, she caught sight of a beautiful boat in the middle of the river—not far off. In the mouths of those who frequented the pleasure districts, such boats were called “flower boats”; the wine served there was “flower wine,” and there were usually one or two painted beauties on board. That alone was no matter; the crucial point was that Qin Tianxiang could just make out the figures of Xiao Fei and Li Shishi upon the boat.

“Hmph, that damnable Xiao Fei!” Qin Tianxiang cursed inwardly and, out of spite, walked toward the pavilion the young man had indicated.

The young man signaled triumphantly to several young gentlemen waiting in the pavilion, letting them know he had succeeded.

This young man was none other than Li Tiande, the nephew of General Hu, serving as an aide under his uncle’s command. He was highly valued, and through his uncle’s matchmaking, engaged to the cherished daughter of Jin Shaohua, the city’s military governor. Especially after Hu Changqing betrayed his uncle and joined the bandits, Hu, now without a son, placed even greater trust in this nephew.

Li Tiande, though outwardly refined, was treacherous at heart, colluding with Hu and engaging in all sorts of villainy. Were it not for the upright and strict Governor Jin Shaohua, Li Tiande’s arrogance would have known no bounds.

Moreover, though he coveted his fiancée Jin Wanyu’s beauty, he was wary of his future father-in-law’s authority and dared not act recklessly in public. Behind closed doors, however, it was another story.

Tonight, beneath the radiant moon, Li Tiande had gathered a band of decadent friends, including the sons of foreign diplomats, to occupy the most luxurious pavilion on the Qinhuai River.

From afar, they had spotted Qin Tianxiang, an ethereal beauty walking alone by the riverbank. They wagered: whoever could invite the young lady to join them for a drink would win a hundred taels of gold; to steal a kiss would earn five hundred from each man.

Li Tiande boasted shamelessly that not only could he steal a kiss, he could bring the girl to his bed. The others egged him on, raising the stakes to a thousand taels apiece if he succeeded, and the same sum he would lose to each if he failed.

Thus, Li Tiande eagerly approached Qin Tianxiang. Had she not been vexed with Xiao Fei, Li Tiande would never have had the chance to bring her to the pavilion and would have lost the wager.

The moment Qin Tianxiang entered the pavilion, regret seized her. All around were wealthy heirs, some with high noses, blue eyes, blond hair, and pale skin, speaking various foreign tongues, all ogling her as if she were a bone tossed to a pack of starving dogs.

There were also several heavily made-up local and foreign women.

Just as she was about to leave, Li Tiande said, “Please sit, miss. These are my friends, and some are foreign guests who have come to admire our Chinese civilization.”

Unable to refuse his persistent hospitality, Qin Tianxiang reluctantly sat down. After all, it was only a seat—what harm could come of it? Though those foreigners looked unsavory, the refined young man before her seemed genuinely decent.

“My, what a lovely young lady! Whose daughter might you be? Young Master Li has excellent taste,” said one of the women—a courtesan, to be precise—as she reached out to take Qin Tianxiang’s arm.

Qin Tianxiang instinctively dodged and glared at her.

“Indeed, such innocence and charm,” another courtesan chimed in, taking Qin Tianxiang’s hand.

As the courtesans drew near, a thick wave of perfume assailed her, making her even more repulsed.

“Take your filthy hands off me!” Qin Tianxiang said coldly.

“Tch, in a world this chaotic, who are you pretending for?” The women sneered and withdrew.

Li Tiande realized more than ever that this girl was not easily trifled with, which only stoked his desire to conquer her.

Such is the way of men: the easier the prey, the less the thrill; the harder the conquest, the greater the allure.

What’s more, Li Tiande found that this young lady could rival his own fiancée, Jin Wanyu, in beauty, demeanor, and figure—especially their tempers, which were strikingly similar.

Having suffered many refusals from Jin Wanyu, Li Tiande was all the more determined to possess the girl before him.

“Miss, allow me to introduce myself: my surname is Li, given name Tiande. May I ask your name?” he inquired politely.

This was the second time he had asked. To refuse again would seem discourteous. Qin Tianxiang replied coldly, “Qin Tianxiang.”

“Qin Tianxiang… What a splendid name. ‘Qin’—the surname of the First Emperor, the sovereign of our five-thousand-year civilization. ‘Tianxiang’—pure and natural, a lotus emerging from clear water. Truly a beauty among beauties. This name must have been created just for you,” Li Tiande praised effusively.

They say men are creatures of sight, women of words. For a pure-hearted girl like Qin Tianxiang, such praise brought secret delight. She couldn’t help but recall the first time she told Xiao Fei her real name—how he jokingly compared it to “night fragrance” and “heavenly fragrance,” which had infuriated her.

Why was she thinking of that scoundrel again?

As these thoughts arose, Qin Tianxiang involuntarily glanced toward Xiao Fei’s pleasure boat. There he was, carousing and whispering with Li Shishi, laughing and drinking, thoroughly enjoying himself. The sight only fueled her anger.

At that moment, Li Tiande offered her a glass of wine. “Miss Tianxiang, it is an honor to meet you. Allow me this toast.”

In her anger, Qin Tianxiang accepted the drink without hesitation and downed it in one gulp.

But she did not know that Li Tiande had secretly slipped a packet of tasteless, colorless powder into the wine—a potent aphrodisiac known as “Hehuan San,” infamous in the brothels of the late Qing and early Republic.

Li Tiande rejoiced in his heart; he hadn’t expected Qin Tianxiang to drink so readily. He’d thought he would have to coax her for quite some time. It seemed, he mused, that all women were much the same—save for the insensible Jin Wanyu. He realized he had overestimated Qin Tianxiang by comparing her with his fiancée.

The others, both men and women, were astonished by Li Tiande’s prowess, and even more so that he always carried such drugs with him.

“To drink and sing with beauties—what could be more delightful?” Xiao Fei, weary of constant violence, yearned for the peaceful life he once knew. Fate had cast him into this war-torn era, forcing him to take up arms and witness lives snuffed out at his feet. At least, for now, the turmoil had subsided. Tonight, he wished to indulge himself—eating, drinking, singing loudly.

“Ah, winter brother, you little scoundrel…” Li Shishi’s laughter rang out.

While laughter echoed from the boat, each peal sounded harsh to Qin Tianxiang’s ears. She did not know when Xiao Fei had crept into her heart—perhaps it was when he had so often come to her rescue, or when he had first glimpsed her true identity. In any case, Qin Tianxiang had long since made up her mind: in this life, she would marry no one but Xiao Fei.

Yet the man she loved was now drinking and carousing with another woman. How could she not be angry?

“Bring me more wine!” Overcome with frustration, Qin Tianxiang seized the jug herself before Li Tiande could pour, and drank freely.

This took everyone by surprise.

After several cups, Qin Tianxiang’s head began to spin, her vision blurring—an understandable effect of wine. But the real change was more insidious: a subtle fire ignited within her, burning ever hotter, threatening to consume her.

“Young Master Li, what kind of wine is this? I feel so hot…” Her speech was already beginning to slur.

A wicked smile curled at Li Tiande’s lips. The time had come. He signaled to his cronies, preparing to carry Qin Tianxiang away.