A true desire to love
"I'm not your usual girl,
Life with me will be a whirl,
Imperious, powerful and dizzy!
An experience to live, trust me!
It's not for the fainted heart!
We will explore worlds off chart,
During thousands sleepless nights
I shall keep your secrets tight,
From sweet love to hidden desires,
For some gold, my passion is for hire."
Character presentation
During the Ming Dynasty, the talents of courtesans such as geji were widely cultivated to distinguish them more heavily from common prostitutes.
- The 書寓 (shuyu) were the highest class. These were skilled in cultured entertainments. Additionally, these were picked for beauty, trained in sophisticated conversation, and known for their extravagant dress. The shuyu would eventually become assimilated into the Changsan class of prostitutes.
- The 長三 (changsan, "long three") were the highest class of prostitutes in later stage. The term originally came from them charging three yuan for company and three more to spend the night. They maintained the class and artistry akin to the shuyu, while still being distinctly part of the sex trade. The relations between them and patrons were neither permanent nor monogamous.
- The 幺二 (yao'er, "one two") was the lower tier equivalent of the changsan. They were named this way because they traditionally charged one yuan for entertainment and two for sex. Originally, there was an intermediary class called the 二三 (ersan, "two three"). Over time, these were considered the same class as the changsan. While yao'er prostitutes were lower tier than changsan, they still focused on entertainment as well as sexual services. However, they charged less than the changsan, and accordingly provided lesser services.The relationships between literati (scholar-official of imperial China) and the geji often became heavily romanticized during the late Ming Dynasty, and even married women associated openly with geji, inviting them to parties.
On some special days in the Revelry Hall, a new face can be seen
among the other the beauties, wild aster in a field of buttercups.
Unlike the others, she wears a purple and gold dress, matching her
unique hair and eye gradient. It is presumably a custom-made attire,
gifted by some rich patron. Also, in contrast to the sweet, laced
and honeyed attitude of her Revelry sisters, she seems to hold a
particular aura of fresh candor, some carefree attitude which may be
tied to either her inexperience in Velvet Shades waters, or to her
very personality.
While some Flowers are well known for excelling in certain arts
-dance, calligraphy or pipa for example-, she has been seen
practising a little of everything, a jack of all trades and a master
of none, for now. Will you help this new geji reach new heights, or
will you just observe her from afar?
Story introduction
"A shuyu? Are you really sure? It's not a decision to take
lightly. Mother-
- Mother has never accepted my way of life, nor my goals,
nor-
- Ye Yu... You told her you wanted to be a Martial Artist! Which
mother would happily let their child be a financial burden for
years, only to risk their life in the Jianghu? With all the
Khitans, bandits and scoundrels out there? You decided to follow
your own path, fine! So, how strong are you, now that you've left
home?
- ... I--... It takes time to master such skills! But I can't
spend all my days on training, I need to find money to eat
and-
- Isn't that exactly what Mother told you?
- No! She told me I was a dumb head with stupid dreams, that I'd
never be a Martial Artist, nor just an Artist and that I should
focus on helping the-"
The older woman sighed deeply and shook her head. She sipped on her
tea, studying the young woman who had come to her home to her to
plead her case.
"... and I'm not playing that badly. I'm actually slowly
increasing my repertoire! If I could afford to buy a-
- With my money, I suppose? Tell me, Ye Yu, didn't you tell
Mother that your art would grant you the life you aspired to? And
how is it going? Surviving from thievery and whoring...
- Hey Jiejie! That's unfair! I'm not stealing, just...
borrowing."
The second woman raised an eyebrow sceptically and sighed again. She
mechanically removed a petal that had flown into her cup.
"- Even not denying... At least, you're pretty. For some times, you will survive
and-
- And I am free! I don't have to put up with the routine of
family life or a husband or-
- Oh, true, I did forgot about your yin-yin harmony affinity" the older
sister laughed, earning a
pout from her younger one.
"- It's fine to prefer lotus to bamboo... Besides, I'd rather live
a short, intense life than slowly agonise in boredom for
decades."
The elder sister rolled her eyes, but a slight, fond smile played on
her lips.
"- Meimei... I still don't know
if it's just your youth talking or
if you're truly bizarre... Yet, I hope you'll find a man-
- Why a man?"
She sighed and corrected herself.
"-
I wish you'll find someone -happy now?- who will teach you the
true bliss of having a home to return to. A safe place with
familiar routines and entourage, the beauty of learning to enjoy
the same company day after day and... Hey! Listen to me!"
Ye Yu opened her eyes, pretending she to be asleep on the garden
table and snoring loudly.
"Shuō de hěn duì, xià cì bié shuō le!" she laughed.
"No, thanks Jiejie. I love love songs, but I can't see
myself falling for someone. It would also be bad for my business!
- Well... You know, love and avarice can be intertwined in a
lucrative way. You should know it, as a Geji..."
She sighed again, stood up and started to walk in her garden with
her younger sister beside her, clung to her arm, her head on her
shoulder.
"- Alright. I know you won't change your mind, you stubborn and
obstinate
Jianghu Tiánshǔ. I'll help you.
It's
not like you're going to settle down
anytime soon. At least, maybe you'll live a little longer? Take
this letter and give it to Xu Geling. She's a friend of mine and
owes me a favor. She'll let you in. But then, you'll be on your
own.
- I've always been, Jiejie...
- Always been on your own with a wonderful, generous and caring
sister to help you when you were in dire situations, you mean.
-
Wǒ jiù xǐ huan nǐ zhè fù jiāo ào de yàng zi!"
The big sister smiled and took Ye Yu by the shoulders, with a more
serious look.
"- Ye Yu, in there, it won't be like in inns and cabarets you
know. It's a real vipers' nest. Trust no one. Everything is about
appearances and sweet lies. Everyone and everything looks pretty,
but behind the veil, dirty secrets are well hidden. Upset the
wrong person and you'll find poisonous fangs in your dress or in
your tea. I don't know... Of course, it sounds logical given
your... career path, but it's really dangerous.
- Hey, don't you worry, Jiejie! I promise I'll be
careful and
won't waste that opportunity. I'll drink only one poisoned tea per
day!"
Hugging her sighing again older sister, Ye Yu put the introduction
letter in her pocket.
"- Promise me you won't sneak into places you're not supposed to,
or put your hands on things that aren't yours, not-
- Hey, don't you think the biggest threat would be me falling in
love with some rich and powerful patron and becoming their
concubine? Mother would eventually have to admit that I was right
and, maybe she would even encourage you to follow my path!"
The two women burst into a light laughter.
"- You? Falling in love with someone? Becoming their concubine?
Only a masochist could handle your spirit on a daily basis! No,
I'm not worried and do I need to remind you I'm already married?
First, find a
Dajie
who accepts to protect you and teach you the ropes. We can worry
about your poor patrons later. I still do hope you'll find some,
so you stop coming to me asking for money, it's almost like a
robbery!
- Oh, come on Jiejie! I don't just come for your
gold... ... I
also come for the free food! And your husband.
- Hey! Tss,
bié zuò bái rì mèng le! We're not going to support you! Leave him alone! I-... what
with that idea?!
- What, Jiejie? Feeling threatened suddenly? Then I
guess I still
have my chances with patrons!" Ye Yu laughed, seeing her sister's tender exasperation.
"- On second thoughts, I'll go with you to introduce you to Xu
Geling. You may be right: it's not for you I should be worried
about... I feel like I'm letting the mongoose in the vipers' nest
after all.
- Who are you calling a goose?
-
Zhēn bù zhīdào shuō nǐ shénme
hǎo...
Holding hands, they left the house together, heading for the Revelry Hall.