With a loud bang, fireworks burst in the sky near Bailuzhou, lighting up the area below. Amidst the crowd, Xiao Chan clutched Ning Yi's sleeve as they walked forward, looking up at the sky. Occasionally, she stumbled over small stones underfoot, bumping her head lightly against Ning Yi's back.
Although the Flower Queen competition was said to take place on Bailuzhou, it was actually happening at a relay station between Bailuzhou and Jiangning. This area, nestled against mountains and surrounded by water, boasted wide expanses of green fields, and a large gathering area had already been enclosed. The nearby river was crowded with brightly decorated pleasure boats connected end to end. As the flower-adorned carriages arrived one by one, people gathered on the open grass fields outside, where various street foods and entertainers were set up, filling the area with a lively atmosphere illuminated by rows of torches.
Getting into the venue to watch the performances was relatively straightforward; the entry fee was a single flower. Inside, if one saw a favored girl, they could present her with a flower. Each flower cost one tael of silver, equivalent to a thousand coins. Though Jiangning and the surrounding area in the Wu Dynasty were prosperous, this fee was still a considerable expense for an average family. Nearly ten thousand people had come for the event, but only about three thousand would be able to enter. The rest would enjoy the festivities outside, wait for the contest results, or simply return home halfway through.
To Ning Yi, this was a society with a stark wealth gap, even greater than what would exist a thousand years later. Though some grumbled about it, most people had long accepted the reality and considered it a natural part of life. Families gathered on the bustling grasslands or riverbanks, spending dozens or even hundreds of coins to indulge a little. Those with fewer means came to watch the street performances, listen to the music from the venue, and celebrate as though they were part of the festivities when a girl won the title of Flower Queen.
Of the three thousand attendees, many weren't particularly wealthy. Some poor scholars would spend just to indulge in the atmosphere or make connections, while others dug deep into their pockets, not wanting to miss out. However, the truly wealthy—the top few hundred—would likely contribute over ninety percent of the night's revenue. These donations ranged from tens of taels to hundreds, even thousands, with some reaching the tens of thousands, stories that would be relished for a long time afterward. In places like Yangzhou and Bianjing, the Flower Queen competitions were said to be even grander than in Jiangning.
When Ning Yi and Xiao Chan arrived, the carriages had already gone inside, and the entryway was crowded with ticket holders, causing a traffic jam. Ning Yi and Xiao Chan headed over to a quieter area on the grass and found a small stall selling tofu pudding. From there, they watched the lively scene. Voices calling to friends and familiar faces greeting each other rose from the crowd, and occasionally, someone trying to sneak in was chased away, leading to some grumbling exchanges. It seemed they would have to wait a bit longer to enter. Xiao Chan sat at the small table with her bowl of tofu pudding but didn't start eating; instead, she pulled out a few dried plums and other preserved fruits, placing them on top as decoration. Ning Yi could only sigh at this.
"Can you even eat it like that?"
"It looks pretty, doesn't it?" Xiao Chan replied, scooping a spoonful of pudding with a plum and savoring it slowly, a look of bliss on her face. Ning Yi admired her ability to stretch out a single bite for so long, and it reminded him of a distant memory—perhaps he too had once made a single stick of cotton candy last an hour. He looked at her expression and couldn't help but smile, setting down his spoon and relaxing as they waited.
For Ning Yi, relaxation usually required patience, something he had cultivated over the years. Since arriving in the Wu Dynasty, patience had become a habit, the kind that left him calm even in the face of major upheavals. But sitting here with Xiao Chan, amidst the bustling crowd, he felt a rare, genuine sense of ease. After a moment, Xiao Chan pointed towards the crowd, "Oh, look, My Lord, it's Young Master Wending and Young Master Wenfang!"
Indeed, within the crowd were Su Wendeng and Su Wenfang from the Su family, along with a few of their friends, most of whom were minorly famed scholars. Upon noticing Ning Yi and Xiao Chan, they appeared somewhat awkward.
These young men generally had little to discuss with Ning Yi, only exchanging occasional pleasantries at the Su household. Recently, however, Ning Yi had been present whenever they approached Su Tan'er for money, claiming various reasons related to business ventures and grand aspirations. Each time, Su Tan'er would offer lengthy advice, providing them with business tips and insights. While they likely understood that their cousin knew exactly what they were up to, encountering Ning Yi now left them a bit uncomfortable.
From the perspective of Su Wendeng and his group, Ning Yi, though a live-in son-in-law, possessed undeniable talent—a fact widely acknowledged within the Su family, so no one dared underestimate him. Moreover, out of respect for Su Tan'er, they hesitated over whether to greet him. Sensing their dilemma, Ning Yi merely nodded and smiled in their direction, relieving them of any obligation to come over.
Not long after, the procession from Master Kang's household passed by, and eventually, the entrance grew less crowded. Ning Yi and the leisurely Xiao Chan, now having finished their tofu pudding, made their way toward the venue. Soon they ran into Li Pin, who was accompanied by two other scholars. They exchanged introductions, and Xiao Chan politely greeted the newcomers before they entered together.
On the third day of the month, the competition venue itself was fairly spacious. With over a hundred women participating in the performances, having only one stage would have meant performing until daybreak.
Upon entering, attendees were greeted by a renovated relay station and various teahouses and taverns. Most buildings had already existed there, offering food, drinks, and resting areas. The setting—decorated hills, streams, small circular stages—resembled something of a theme park.
There were five stages in total: a riverside pavilion, a teahouse theater, a small building by the river bend, a mountain lodge, and a central circular drum stage. Each woman had a scheduled performance time and location. The order was generally decided by drawing lots, though there were deliberate adjustments to avoid overlap. For example, the performances by the Four Great Courtesans and other popular figures were staggered to prevent conflicts that would make it difficult for spectators to choose which performance to attend.
The decorated pleasure boats were reserved as resting areas for the performers, and smaller tents surrounded the venue, marking different brothels' territories, with entry granted only to invited guests. Nearby teahouses displayed poems and literary works meant to boost the popularity of specific courtesans, drawing in admirers. Presenting a flower on stage was a formal affair, requiring registration rather than tossing it directly onto the stage.
"This time, it's certain that the famed Miao Miao, one of the Four Great Courtesans, has caught the favor of Brother Gu," one gentleman toasted. "The 'Pity for the Fragile' poem Brother Gu composed for her last time was like a rare delicacy, lingering in the heart long after. Brother Gu's poetic talent is admirable. Come, a toast to Brother Gu."
Night had fallen, and with fireworks subsiding, performances on various stages had already begun. People drifted through the venue, heading toward their preferred stages. Meanwhile, in the nearby Wenmo Pavilion, Gu Yanzhen and his companions took a break. As a devoted admirer of a young courtesan named Luo Miao Miao, Gu Yanzhen, along with his companions, supported her fervently. Though relatively new, Luo Miao Miao was immensely popular, drawing countless admirers. With a near-certain spot in the top sixteen, she was a strong contender for one of the Four Great Courtesan titles, and Gu Yanzhen had written several poems for her in recent days, further boosting her reputation.
As the group exchanged a few more flattering words, a beautiful woman approached to greet them. Gu Yanzhen had previously written poems for her, and having just finished her performance, she came over to express her gratitude and joined them for a couple of drinks. It was clear she had some feelings for Gu Yanzhen, though she understood he was now pursuing Luo Miaomiao. After a brief exchange, realizing her hopes were slim and with other matters to attend to, she took her leave.
In the Wenmo Pavilion, it wasn't uncommon for madams to escort their courtesans to thank their patrons, creating a lively atmosphere. After the initial buzz, Gu Yanzhen's friend Shen Miao poured him another drink, saying with a chuckle, "Truly enviable, Yanzhen, to have admirers wherever you go."
Gu Yanzhen laughed, "But what use is admiration when the one I admire doesn't feel the same?"
The others, assuming he referred to Luo Miaomiao, grew curious and asked about it. Gu Yanzhen, always good-natured, shared a story from some days prior about pursuing a woman he intended to take as a concubine and bring back to Leping, only to be met with a slap. His tone was casual, and the others were impressed by his openness, admiring his ability to take things lightly. Shen Miao, however, knowing Gu Yanzhen well, teased, "That's not really how you feel, is it?"
"What else could I do?" Gu Yanzhen replied calmly, clinking glasses and downing his drink.
"So, have you found out who it is that Miss Nie truly favors?"
"Hard to say—there's nothing conclusive yet."
"Could it be that she genuinely has a simple heart and no desire to marry?"
"Do you really believe that?" Gu Yanzhen lowered his voice, speaking quickly. "At the century egg incident, there was definitely someone orchestrating things behind the scenes! Infuriating… Unfortunately, when I questioned Dexin, he protected that person without letting a single detail slip. Hmph, I just want to know who this mysterious person is. If he truly is extraordinary, I'll admit defeat."
"No one else has any information?"
"From what I gathered, it was just a friendly bet. The person enlisted Dexin's help but insisted on no use of his reputation. He's probably a scholar of some renown… Alas, with Yun Zhu's temperament, anyone she admires would surely be of that sort. Back then, Yun Zhu's maid, Hutao, subtly encouraged me to pursue her mistress, hinting that Miss Nie might have someone in mind. But she implied the attachment was shallow and that the match would be unsuitable for her mistress. After that incident, she likely knew any chance I had was gone and stopped giving hints."
Gu Yanzhen shook his head. "If I had to guess, Yun Zhu's affections are probably directed at some old sage, dazzled by his talents and wisdom, clouding her judgment… Yun Zhu isn't the type to care about status, and with her simple heart, it's entirely possible."
The Jiangning area was home to many celebrated individuals, so if Nie Yun Zhu truly admired some distinguished elder, there was little Gu Yanzhen could do despite his wealth and position. Such men typically had extensive networks, and if Yun Zhu's heart was set on one of them, it would be beyond the reach of a young scholar like him. As they continued their discussion, a commotion arose on the other side of the pavilion, suggesting some altercation was taking place.
Looking over, they saw two groups of scholars in a heated argument, with a courtesan who had come upstairs to offer her thanks now flustered as she tried to mediate without success. One young man in particular was red with embarrassment, appearing rather uncomfortable under the ridicule.
A nearby companion of Gu Yanzhen approached, holding a piece of paper and explaining with a grin, "Haha, that courtesan is Tang Jing from the Liuyelou. After her song and dance, her reputation rose a bit. This young man offered her a hundred flowers, so she came to thank him. But then he recited a poem, which was quite a disaster. Here, have a look at this so-called poem!"
Among Gu Yanzhen's group, most were prominent scholars with knowledge far surpassing that of the average person. When they examined the poem, they couldn't help but laugh. It merely followed the rhyme scheme, with forced and heavy-handed phrasing—almost bordering on doggerel. Gu Yanzhen chuckled, "Such a poem… I'd wager this man hails from a merchant family."
In these times, many enjoyed feigning elegance through poetry, though the setting mattered. Merchants occasionally composed such crude verses, but in gatherings of eminent figures, failing to recognize one's limits could invite ridicule. The young man across the way was thoroughly humiliated, and someone in Gu Yanzhen's group remarked, "Yanzhen, your insight is spot-on. That man's family deals in textiles—he's Su Wendeng, with little talent to speak of. He must have a grudge with someone over there, leaving him unable to escape the mockery."
"Wen-deng—impossible," Gu Yanzhen shook his head, amused as he watched the scene unfold. "Just let them be."
The unfortunate targets of the mockery were indeed Su Wenfang and Su Wendeng. Su Wenfang was infatuated with Tang Jing, and he had saved up to support her and even wrote a heartfelt poem. But his literary skill was lacking, so the others took the opportunity to laugh at him. Among his companions, however, one was slightly more skilled and shot back, "What about your so-called poetry—is it any better?"
On the other side, someone laughed and retorted, "Better than you could manage."
This sparked an impromptu poetry duel between the two groups. After just a couple of rounds, Su Wenfang's side was quickly struggling to keep up, while one of their opponents, with notable poetic talent, composed a poem praising Tang Jing that immediately overshadowed the rest. Tang Jing, though an artist herself, rarely dealt with such public competition for her favor and was momentarily at a loss on how to handle the situation. Meanwhile, others nearby started laughingly relaying Gu Yanzhen and his friends' comments, gesturing in their direction.
Though Gu Yanzhen didn't wish to get involved, it was inevitable that his group's remarks would make their way over. He simply continued watching the show unfold. Su Wenfang, Su Wendeng, and their group felt even more humiliated as their rivals began openly courting Tang Jing through poetry, leaving them unable to respond despite their self-professed literary prowess.
Someone from the other group sneered, "Brother Jiwen's poetry is beyond your reach. Even at the Zhi Shui and Li Chuan Poetry Gatherings, his work would earn admiration. You all shouldn't have mentioned a poetry contest if you couldn't deliver. Daring to make such an embarrassing attempt—I'll teach you how to compose properly."
With that, he wrote a decently crafted poem. Another person followed suit, and the atmosphere grew lively as more people joined in. Chen Jiwen's reputation as a skilled poet was well-known—Gu Yanzhen had likely heard of him too. Watching the energetic scene unfold, Gu Yanzhen idly wondered if things might get physical; if they did, the participants would probably be thrown out. He then let his gaze drift to the street below.
A familiar figure was approaching the teahouse—it was Li Pin, also known as Li Dexin. The two of them used to be close, but after Gu Yanzhen was slapped by Nie Yun Zhu, he had gone to Li Pin seeking information about the mysterious person supporting her. Although he had brushed off the incident earlier, Li Pin had been adamant in refusing to reveal the person's identity, even cautioning, "Knowing your temperament, I'd advise against pressing further." In a way, their friendship had been severed from that moment.
Gu Yanzhen's brows knitted slightly at the sight.
Beside Li Pin walked a young man whom Gu Yanzhen didn't recognize, engaged in quiet conversation with him. Trailing behind them was a lovely maid in a white dress with floral patterns, seemingly accompanying the unfamiliar man.