At the same moment, in the back courtyard of the Pan Mansion, the women participating in the performance were either applying makeup or resting in their respective rooms. The Zhishui Poetry Gathering was just a wall away; if they stepped out into the corridor, they could peek through the gauze curtains at the gathering.
Most of the women attending the performance tonight were already somewhat renowned along the banks of the Qinhuai River, each possessing their own charm. In a typical poetry gathering, any one of them could take center stage, but tonight was different. The Zhishui Poetry Gathering wasn't exclusively for men; many attendees brought companions, such as Master Qin, who had brought his cultured concubine, Yunnian, while others brought their wives or daughters. In such circumstances, these women could not take the spotlight; even during the performance, drawing attention to themselves would be inappropriate.
However, even if they were only to perform songs and dances, possessing outstanding talent would leave a lasting impression. For women like them, if surrounded by numerous men, they could afford to adopt a more elevated and reserved demeanor. In this setting, they would quietly play the role of supporting characters, subtly ensuring they were remembered. Pride and reserve were merely tools; reputation was what truly mattered.
Among the two most renowned women present tonight were Yuan Jiner from Jin Feng Lou and Lu Caicai from Yin Chun Ge. At this moment, Yuan Jiner was admiring her made-up reflection in a bronze mirror, while her maid, Kou'er, stood beside her, playfully chatting, "Miss, when you were performing earlier, that Young Master Cao was staring at you the entire time without even blinking!"
Yuan Jiner glanced at her with a smile, "Of course they'd look at me when I'm performing; what's so surprising about that? It's you, Kou'er, who seems to have noticed only Young Master Cao; that's rather odd."
"Miss, it's true!" Kou'er protested, her cheeks flushing red. "He was watching you intently!"
"If you weren't staring at him so intently, how would you know he was staring at me?" Yuan Jiner continued teasingly. The little maid pouted in embarrassment and decided to ignore her, but after a moment, she leaned in again, "Miss, who do you think will win tonight's poetry contest?"
Yuan Jiner tilted her head and pinned a small flower into her hair, "There's no absolute first in literature, and poetry contests don't have a real standard. How can there be a true champion? You always ask such things. But if we're talking about the poems that will be remembered the longest, some are quite clear." She picked up several slips of paper from the table, "There's Young Master Wang's, Young Master Xi's, and of course, your favorite, Young Master Cao's: 'The azure sky is like water, and the silver moonlight is shallow.' Ah, this one is probably the best. That should make you happy… and then there's Young Master Li from Lichuan, and Young Master Tang…"
The little maid pouted, "Who likes Young Master Cao?"
"Um, you don't like him?" Yuan Jiner asked, her eyes sparkling.
"Not really, but I'm just thinking of you, Miss. Young Master Cao likes you, and you came here with him tonight. If he were to help you, the title of Qinhuai Flower Queen next year might just go to you. And if Young Master Cao excels in the imperial examination next spring…"
Kou'er babbled on, and Yuan Jiner laughed, playfully pinching her nose, "Got it." She then picked up the poem written by Cao Guan to read. Between her and Lu Caicai, Lu Caicai was skilled at the pipa, while Yuan Jiner excelled at the guzheng. In terms of singing, she had the upper hand. This poem was what she was going to sing later, and as she read, she lightly hummed it to herself, a blissful smile forming on her face, looking very much like someone being pursued by a great talent.
In fact, most of the courtesans working along the Qinhuai River claim to have experienced a difficult past. While many of these stories are fabricated, the concept of having a troubled history isn't entirely false. For renowned courtesans like Yuan Jiner and Lu Caicai, who have learned poetry and literature, it's natural for them to admire various talented scholars. However, although there are rare tales of famous courtesans marrying impoverished scholars purely out of admiration, such instances are exceedingly rare. Yuan Jiner had come to the Pan Mansion at the invitation, riding alongside Cao Guan, which already suggested a close relationship. She respected his talents but was unsure if she truly liked him, as Kou'er had suggested. For women in their position, it may appear that they are the center of attention, but the actual opportunities for choice are quite limited.
Nonetheless, if she could set aside those thoughts, she found tonight's poetry gathering to be quite rewarding.
She repeatedly sang the lyrics, and after a moment, Kou'er came in from the doorway, "Miss, miss, it seems there's more good poetry; let's go take a look."
"Oh?" Smiling, she set down her paper and stepped outside with Kou'er, heading toward the gauze curtains at the corridor entrance. Several women had already gathered there, including Lu Caicai. She softly asked, "Sisters, what's happening?" They leaned closer to the curtain, listening to the voice reciting "Raising a glass to the blue sky." Earlier, Pan Guangyan had already recited this, and now it was the second reading by one of the students.
The atmosphere of the poetry gathering was somewhat peculiar at that moment; it had quieted down. Previously, everyone had been eager to compose and recite poems, laughing and chatting. Now, it felt as if a certain aura had subdued the room. The women were still savoring the poetry, and soon they managed to find a slip of paper with the poem written on it. They gathered around to read it through, then read it again. Yuan Jiner looked up and met Lu Caicai's gaze.
"The Puyuan Poetry Gathering…"
"How is that possible…"
"Su Mansion, Ning Yi, Ning Liheng—who are this people?"
"I've never heard of them…"
While the scholars outside were lost in the poetry, the women here, upon realizing the significance of the poem, were primarily concerned with its authorship. They examined the signatures multiple times, questioning each other, but none had heard those names. At that moment, someone outside asked, "What does everyone think of this poem?"
"People have joys and sorrows, the moon has its phases; this has always been difficult to achieve…"
"This poem…"
"Who wrote this poem?"
For a moment, no one could provide an evaluation, but someone murmured, "It's exquisite," and then the reciter picked up the signature again: "Su Mansion, Ning Yi, Ning Liheng. Does anyone know who this person is?"
A moment of silence ensued.
"However, if his surname is Ning, why is it signed from the Su Mansion?"
"Which Su Mansion?"
"The one from the Puyuan Poetry Gathering, isn't it the Su family's cloth shop?"
"Could he be a steward or something from the Su Mansion?"
"I've never heard of this person before…"
The crowd exchanged glances, murmuring amongst themselves, all puzzled by the unfamiliar name. Pan Guangyan then had to call over the one who had gone outside for the poem. This person wasn't a servant but rather his half-disciple, who had some talent. When the teacher inquired, he smiled and shared what he knew.
"Oh, I've heard that he is a son-in-law of the Su Mansion, having only married into the family a few months ago as the husband of the second Miss Su, Su Tan'er. Interestingly, I also heard that Ning Liheng caught a cold today and didn't attend the Puyuan Poetry Gathering. He was at home recuperating and shared this poem with a little maid for his own amusement. Unexpectedly, someone at the gathering said he had no poetic talent, and this maid couldn't bear it, so she brought out the poem… Haha, that's how I heard it; I can't vouch for its truth."
"Su Mansion… a son-in-law?"
As soon as these words were spoken, not only the people present but also the women behind the gauze curtains exchanged looks, and the chatter grew louder.
"He didn't attend?"
"This is too strange…"
"I've never heard of a son-in-law with such talent…"
"Ning Yi and Ning Liheng? I truly haven't heard of them…"
From behind the curtain, the little maid Kou'er spoke up, puzzled, "Isn't this what the Puyuan Poetry Gathering wanted to promote, buying their way to fame?"
Every year at the poetry gathering, it's not unusual for someone to buy poems for recognition; everyone knows the ins and outs of it. However, even if they were bought, it was unlikely they would be of such quality. After learning about the author's identity, doubts began to stir in everyone's minds. If he truly had such talent, why would he marry into the family? At that moment, someone voiced their confusion.
"It's hard to believe…"
"Could it be that the Su Mansion bought this piece to gain fame?"
This voice was not loud, and the speaker had a tentative tone, but everyone could hear it. After a brief silence, someone clearly expressed agreement: "This sort of thing…"
Initially moved by the poem, the audience hadn't thought too much about it. However, the words "son-in-law" and "unknown nobody" came to mind, creating a stark contrast with the quality of the poem. Some doubts rose almost uncontrollably. While some composed individuals held their tongues, the competitive atmosphere of the evening led many to speak up. Just then, a stern voice suddenly rang out from the stage: "Yu Zixing! Shut up!"
The speaker, Yu Zixing, jumped at the sound. Looking up, he saw Master Kang holding a brush, his expression serious, radiating authority that quelled all discussion. The room fell silent at once.