As midnight approached, the festive atmosphere in Jiangning City gradually reached its peak. The carriage from the Su residence cut through the less crowded streets, slowing down as it neared Wu Yi Alley.
Along the way, the carriage was surrounded by flickering lights. Pulling back the curtain to look outside, even the usually quiet streets were bustling with activity. When they reached the commercial street near Wu Yi Alley, the road ahead was packed with people, making it feel as if the carriage was stuck in a quagmire. A procession with a dancing dragon was coming through, and the young driver had no choice but to pull the carriage to the side.
"Sis Xiao Chan, it's getting hard to get through up ahead."
The boy, likely a year or two older than Xiao Chan, still called her "Sis." Although it seemed Xiao Chan had merely been following Ning Yi around for the past few months, she and her two sisters had actually trained under Su Tan'er for many years. Since Su Tan'er was likely to take charge of the Su family in the future, her most trusted maidservants would definitely command some respect. This was why Xiao Chan could easily order a carriage. The boy, who had just signed a twenty-year servitude contract after entering the Su residence, understood her status and regarded her with a mix of respect and curiosity.
"I see. I'll get off here, you can head back." Xiao Chan lifted the curtain and jumped down from the carriage, turning to smile at him and waved her hand. "Thanks!"
"I—my name is Dong Zhu." The boy gathered his courage and stuttered out his name, then looked up and said, "There are too many people ahead; let me take you through."
"Dong Zhu, thank you!" Xiao Chan smiled and bowed slightly. Then she waved her hand and turned away, darting into the crowd like a butterfly. Her small hand could still be seen waving in the air before she disappeared.
Xiao Chan had been around Suzhou City many times and was very familiar with it. Regardless of the circumstances, when it came to socializing, handling affairs, or dealing with minor troubles, the seemingly simple and cute Xiao Chan was actually much more capable than the rural boy Dong Zhu. Besides, in a gathering place like this, it was unlikely that anyone would trouble a young girl out for a bit of fun. While there were indeed plenty of ruffians and wastrels around, they were not so easily encountered.
Navigating through the noisy crowd of dragon dancers, the distant sound of soft singing from a nearby brothel mingled with the lively sounds of the bustling market. Before long, someone came running with a piece of paper from the other end of the street: "Lichuan Poetry Meeting, Master Tang Yu's new poem on bamboo…" The paper was then posted on a poetry board in front of a shop, and a nearby elderly man pushing a cart selling tea eggs and layered pancakes smiled as he avoided the crowd. Xiao Chan hurriedly dodged the cart, laughing as she moved ahead to join in the excitement.
After glancing at a few lines, Xiao Chan quickly followed the flow of people toward the riverside at the end of the street. Wu Yi Alley was not far from this street; although narrow, it was filled with a vibrant atmosphere, brightly lit and bustling with people. Near the riverbank, the lively Confucius Temple could already be seen.
This riverside street was the brightest jewel in all of Jiangning City. The road was adorned with exquisite lanterns, and the six connected boats from the Puyuan Poetry Meeting had been cruising along the Qinhuai River all evening. By this time, they would certainly be passing through here. Xiao Chan had experience attending poetry meetings, so she ran over to wait. She approached a curiosities shop run by the Pu family, presented her invitation, and the staff quickly called someone to intercept a small boat. At that moment, the magnificent water palace was already appearing at the far end of the Qinhuai River, sailing toward them amidst the numerous pleasure boats.
The small boats along the river came and went, and one of them gracefully departed from the shore, heading toward the large connected boat approaching in the center of the river. On the bow, a little girl delicately hooked her fingers in front of her, tilting her head back to gaze at the gradually approaching boat. The lanterns on the painted boat illuminated her lovely bun and her face, which held a hint of yearning. Music wafted from the riverside, indicating that another performance was nearing its conclusion. However, she didn't feel any regret; being able to come out and enjoy herself was already wonderful. If she could learn a few songs here… She thought of how her husband liked to listen to music at night… Yes, he would definitely be pleased.
As the singing and dancing on the boat faded, enthusiastic applause erupted. Soon, small boats from the shore delivered several outstanding lines from the major poetry conferences, some accompanied by compliments and evaluations from well-known figures. A poetry conference was not merely a gathering of people sitting around reciting and writing poetry; since the painted boat set sail, there had been numerous performances—listening to lyrics, guessing lantern riddles, and enjoying the scenery, all creating a lively atmosphere. However, at this point, the gathering was entering its most critical phase. Although the festivities might continue until the early hours, past midnight, the poetry conference would gradually dwindle.
The main reason was that most of the older attendees or middle-aged people with poor health—poets often fell into this category—would only gather until this point. After this time, they couldn't sustain their spirits any longer, and it would be time to go home. Among the literary circles, these individuals naturally held considerable renown, and their opinions were the main attraction for anyone hoping to make a name for themselves tonight. Once they left, what remained was the real game of talented scholars and beautiful women. Flirting would become the theme after midnight, resembling a grand gathering for courtesans. Although such gatherings could indeed be dressed up in elegant terms in this era of courtesans, their significance was no longer as paramount; for most men of this time, fame and beauty were their first choices.
Thus, by this time, various excellent poems had already been recited. The best ones had already made their way through, and tonight, several moon-themed poems had garnered exceptional praise. Su Tan'er had copied a few onto the white paper in front of her and was currently engaged in quiet conversation with a familiar lady from the Wu family nearby.
She had a love for poetry, even though she was not particularly skilled at it. In this era, poets were akin to modern celebrities; what girl didn't have a bit of romantic sentiment in her heart? Her lack of expertise made her appreciation for poetry even deeper. The sight of a talented scholar displaying his literary prowess in front of everyone was naturally thrilling for her.
Of course, this is just a part of the spiritual pursuits in life, much like how many modern girls admire Andy Lau (a famous Chinese singer). While she appreciates him, she wouldn't express it too much, especially since her husband, Ning Yi, probably doesn't know much about poetry. After seeing the line "son fo b*tch" (Note: Here is Ning Yi using English pronunciation translated into Chinese, so it is not understood correctly as an ancient person.) she understood clearly, and he himself had confessed it. But that didn't really matter.
After a while, Xiao Chan came over with a maid leading the way.
"Has my lord gone to bed?"
"Mm, he has."
"Should I have Juan'er and Xing'er come over to add a cushion?"
"Alright, I'll go over, Miss… Good evening, Miss Wu San."
After greeting the women from the Wu family beside her, Xiao Chan jogged over to the two little girls waving at her. At this moment, Juan'er and Xing'er were seated at a short table filled with various exquisite fruits and snacks. Xiao Chan squeezed in between them, and the three girls giggled and huddled together.
Not far away, Su Tan'er stood up and moved around with the women from the Wu family. Such gatherings usually have men and women separated, often with screens in between, though it's not strictly enforced. The poetry gathering at Puyuan didn't invite only unmarried young ladies, but mostly couples came with their families. Although there was some separation, everyone maintained a bit of decorum. However, couples could still see and speak to each other. Su Tan'er accompanied the Wu family women to the ship's railing, gazing at the lights on the shore, when their husbands approached. The Wu family was the largest cloth merchant in Jiangning, and both sides were acquainted. After some casual pleasantries, they chatted about fabrics. Su Tan'er wanted to give them some privacy, so she let them talk, while a short distance away, Xue Jin and a few other young men approached with folded fans. They were dressed in scholar attire instead of merchant clothing, and the evening breeze gave them a somewhat refined look.
Xue Jin was drawing attention tonight after writing a poem about the moon that received much praise, making it one of the standout pieces at the Puyuan poetry gathering. As he approached, the man from the Wu family clasped his hands and smiled, "Brother Xue, your talent will surely attract Miss Qilan's favor tonight. Congratulations."
Qilan was one of the renowned courtesans in the Qinhuai area over the past few years, known for her talent and beauty, and she had a connection to the Pu family, which is why she could be invited. She would often choose to sing popular poems from the gathering, prepared some of her own, but her selections usually highlighted the most celebrated works of the evening.
The dynamics involved were complex; it wasn't purely about talent, but talent certainly played a significant role. Given Xue Jin's good poetry and his family background, he was likely to be a featured performer. If he gained favor tonight, he could have opportunities to get closer to Miss Qilan over the coming months, possibly being invited to banquets or poetry discussions, which would be quite impressive. If he could take things further and gain her affections, it would be a testament to his ultimate charm as a man.
For hundreds of years, the Qinhuai River has seen stories like this every year, becoming popular topics of conversation for varying durations. In such discussions, men naturally bask in the limelight, followed by the mention of their names, evoking envy from others for being a charming talent with a noteworthy reputation.
As Xue Jin was complimented, he humbly deflected, while the women from the Wu family smiled and said, "Young Master Xue's poetry has truly touched me." Su Tan'er also expressed her admiration for the poem. Those familiar with each other, like the Wu family women and Su Tan'er, understood that many of these poems were likely bought from famous poets to gain prestige.
Xue Jin smiled happily, exchanged pleasantries, and then remarked, "It's a pity Ning Yi isn't here; if he were, I'm sure he would have produced something wonderful amidst such a gathering…"
Su Tan'er frowned slightly. While they appeared to be in high spirits, a middle-aged man from the Pu family, the younger brother of the family head named Pu Yangyu, approached. He had once been a successful scholar and had some talent himself. He mingled and smilingly interrupted, asking what everyone was discussing. Xue Jin explained that Su Tan'er's husband, Ning Yi, had intended to come but had unfortunately caught a cold recently.
"I doubt that," someone from the back chimed in. "I heard that although Ning Yi studied for a few years, he's just an average talent. It wouldn't make a difference whether he came or not."
Xue Jin turned around with a smile, "Brother Feng, don't speak carelessly. I've seen Ning Yi's demeanor and grace; the Su family chose him out of many…"
The people from the Wu family, who were familiar with Su Tan'er's husband Ning Yi's lack of talent, were aware of the subtleties in the conversation. While they inquired about Ning Yi's health, they avoided mentioning his poetic abilities. Watching the exchange, the two from the Wu family realized Xue Jin's intentions. Xue Jin had previously pursued Su Tan'er and was rejected, harboring some resentment and using a few tricks. Frankly, his performance lacked technical merit, but its impact wouldn't wane. If this continued, rumors might spread in their circles about Su Tan'er marrying a useless man. The Wu family woman shot her husband a glance, signaling him to intervene. He hesitated, seemingly deep in thought. Su Tan'er wore a gentle smile, about to speak, when Xiao Chan popped out from beside her.
"Yeah, my lord is quite good at writing poetry!" Xiao Chan, who had been playing and eating with Juan'er and Xing'er, had just attempted to perform a magic trick that Ning Yi taught her using a piece of cake, but it fell to the ground instead. The three of them noticed what was happening over here, and Juan'er and Xing'er commented that Xue Jin from the Xue family had ulterior motives. Thinking for a moment, Xiao Chan leaned closer and said, "My lord even wrote a poem tonight."
As soon as the little girl spoke, both Xue Jin and Su Tan'er paused, surprised. After a moment, Xue Jin smiled, "Oh, did Brother Ning also produce a masterpiece? That's wonderful! We should share it with everyone for some discussion."
His surprise seemed genuine, but inside he was already laughing. He had long since inquired about Ning Yi's abilities. Though he had studied for years and could write poetry, the quality of what he produced was uncertain. At that moment, he assumed Xiao Chan simply didn't appreciate good poetry. If things were different, a few people might have made casual remarks, but it wouldn't matter much. However, if a poor poem were actually presented for everyone to "appraise," it would solidify his point.
"Mm, great!" Xiao Chan nodded and pulled out the folded paper from her clothes, chattering away. "My lord wasn't feeling well tonight and wanted to hear me sing, so I took a poetry book for him to choose a poem. But my lord said he didn't really like any of them, so he wrote one himself. Here it is; I copied it down…"
"He didn't like any, so he wrote one himself…" The arrogance in her tone made both Su Tan'er and Pu Yangyu furrow their brows, while Xue Jin's smile grew even brighter and more sincere. As Xiao Chan spoke, she handed the paper to Su Tan'er, who looked at it with uncertainty. After confirming there were indeed words on the xuan paper, she glanced at Xiao Chan again and then turned her attention back to the poem, her lips gently parting as she began to read it silently.
Halfway through, the speed of her reading slowed, and the expression in her eyes became increasingly complex. After a moment of reflection, she stole another glance at Xiao Chan before continuing to silently read the poem. Meanwhile, Xue Jin, smiling, stretched his neck to peek, feeling joy even without seeing the text.
What's the point of reading it silently? You'll still have to show it to everyone eventually. I'll read it out for you then, ha!
He thought to himself, delighted as if his little prank had succeeded.
After a moment, a large burst of fireworks shot up from the side of the boat. Amidst the brilliant lights, Su Tan'er finally handed over the poem.
"Please give us your thoughts, Uncle Pu Yangyu…"
Pu Yangyu had already sensed the situation and nodded with a smile. He was quite fond of this seemingly delicate but actually strong-willed lady from the Su family. Even if her husband lacked talent, it was not uncommon; in fact, he found Xue Jin's brashness and meanness unpleasant. He decided that even if the poem wasn't good, he would say a few kind words to ease the tension. Taking the poem, he looked down, contemplating how best to comment on it.
With the fireworks rising, everyone waited for his first remark. Xue Jin maintained an elegant smile, appearing gentle and modest. Su Tan'er glanced at him, her gaze returning to the paper in Pu Yangyu's hand as she gently bit her lip.
In the flickering flames, her expression was complicated and hard to describe…