Moonlit Reunion [子夜归]

Chapter 13

Mei Zhuyu had no idea of the complex thoughts running through Mei Si's mind; he simply corrected his cousin's mistaken address, "As I recall, I'm your older cousin."

Mei Si could only laugh awkwardly. "I—I remembered that too, just now."

Fortunately, Mei Zhuyu didn't press the issue and instead asked, "So, what brings you here?"

Mei Si kept up his nervous laughter. "Haha, well, actually, it's nothing major. I just have some friends who wanted to invite you out for a drink."

The moment he heard drink, Mei Zhuyu was ready to refuse, but then he heard Mei Si's next words— "Everyone there is close with Lady Wu. Since you're going to... marry her, you'll probably see them often in the future. Getting to know her friends a bit in advance is quite necessary, don't you think?"

With those words, Mei Zhuyu couldn't bring himself to refuse. He hesitated a moment before finally nodding under his cousin's hopeful gaze.

Successfully fulfilling his mission, Mei Si received approving looks from his friends, and soon the group made their way to one of the entertainment venues they frequented.

This establishment, located in the Eastern Market, was close to Mei Zhuyu's usual leisure spot, yet he'd never been here before. Although he'd long heard of Lady Wu's reputation and knew she enjoyed places like this, he himself had never set foot in such a venue and only had a vague idea of what went on inside.

It was somewhat unbelievable, given that nowadays, men of status often gathered in such places to drink and socialize—not always for pleasure, but because it was a widely accepted activity, like aristocrats going on hunts together. Whether they liked it or not, men gathered here to chat and bond, as a way to fit into certain social circles.

Mei Zhuyu alone, despite having been in Chang'an for a year as an official, was still out of place amid the city's lively celebrations and gatherings. Because he didn't enjoy such activities, he was often on the fringes of his social circle at work, nearly to the point of being shunned. Not that he minded—it wasn't due to arrogance, as some colleagues claimed; he simply didn't enjoy it, so he chose not to attend, that was all.

Today, following a group of unfamiliar young men into one of these entertainment halls, Mei Zhuyu's first reaction was to realize that this lavish, bustling scene was even more lively than he'd imagined. So, this was the kind of place she enjoyed?

"Come, come, sit down, make yourself comfortable. Today, we'll give our cousin here a warm welcome," said Cui Jiu, laughing as he found a spot for Mei Zhuyu.

The group, informal in their manner, used various names to address him. Some called him 'big cousin,' some 'big brother,' while others even called him 'brother-in-law,' filling the room with cheerful noise.

The familiar musicians had already entered with their instruments, seating themselves and starting a piece titled Spring Silken Drapes, while lithe dancers began to twirl on the intricately patterned carpets, casting glances at the young men at the table, drawing rounds of appreciative cheers.

Mei Zhuyu, however, was unaccustomed to such an atmosphere of warmth and beauty. Despite sitting on soft cushions, he remained upright and proper. In contrast, the others, having sunk back into the cushions, looked like a pile of slumped bodies beside him. Mei Si, being his cousin, kept an eye on him, and seeing him sit so solemnly, subconsciously straightened his own posture.

Gradually, nearly everyone adjusted their positions slightly, sitting up straighter, though looking a bit uncomfortable as they did so.

When the dancers finished their routine, it was customary for them to sit beside the guests and pour wine. Since this gathering was held in Mei Zhuyu's honor, the lead dancer sat next to him. With years of experience in these settings, she could see that the regulars wanted to treat this reserved newcomer well, so she leaned closer, speaking softly in an attempt to ease him into the atmosphere.