In the cabin of the pleasure boat, a playful scuffle broke out, and before long, the two heads were pressed together, peeking out the window. The sunset's golden light shone across the distant crowd, where, sure enough, Ning Yi's figure could faintly be seen. Yuan Jin'er, with her sharp eyes, let out a disappointed sigh after a moment. "Looks like his nagging old wife is here too… Yun Zhu, have you ever met her before?"
Across the crowd, Ning Yi walked side by side with none other than Su Tan'er, accompanied by three maidservants. From this distance, Nie Yunzhu couldn't make out her features, but her mind wandered back to the spring outing, where she had seen Ning Yi and Su Tan'er sitting together. With a gentle smile, she nodded, "Yes, I've met her. She's hardly a nagging old wife; she's quite the match for Li Heng…"
"Well, maybe not that old. But Yun Zhu, you're really defending her…" Before she could finish, Jin'er received another well-deserved smack. She clutched her forehead and slumped onto Yun Zhu's shoulder, wriggling like a worm and mumbling, "I was wrong, Yun Zhu… Don't hit so hard…"
Nie Yunzhu pushed her away with an exasperated smile, her expression growing serious. "Ning Gongzi and I don't have that sort of relationship, Jin'er. You shouldn't say such things—it wouldn't be good if others overheard."
"Alright, alright…"
Yuan Jin'er gave a small nod and turned her gaze back toward the scene outside. When the crowd came closer, she murmured, "She's not as old as I thought…" In truth, Su Tan'er was a beauty, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Yun Zhu in charm. The difference was in their distinct temperaments. Su Tan'er carried a particular air of confidence, honed from her role in business, which became all the more evident as she approached. When a group of people moved to greet her, Jin'er sighed, "Well, she certainly has connections…"
The crowd that had gathered were merchants—figures like Wu Qihai, Wu Qilong, and Pu Yangyi, the top patrons of the courtesan contest. Of course, Pu Yangyi, the wealthiest man in Jiangning, was backing Qilan, but the other patrons were still open to persuasion. For now, they had gathered, sparking envy in onlookers.
"But you know, it's impressive," Jin'er continued, resting her head on Yun Zhu's shoulder with a sigh. "See those big shots? Even though they're greeting Su Tan'er, they're keeping a keen eye on Ning Li Heng, especially Pu Yangyi, who's been trying to get close to him. It's rare for a man in his position to receive such respect…"
As someone well-versed in social circles, Yuan Jin'er saw through the situation clearly. While Su Tan'er, as a fellow business figure, was the main point of contact, typically, a man who married into a wife's family would have little status, merely standing beside her, if even noticed. Respect, when shown, would reflect the wife's stance, as it's her image he'd uphold. But here, Ning Yi's poised demeanor drew genuine acknowledgment. Pu Yangyi, in particular, engaged him directly, far beyond the mere courtesy of appeasing Su Tan'er.
"The famed talent of Jiangning… Yun Zhu, if he were to sit with us tonight, do you think I could win the contest?"
Nie Yunzhu chuckled at her, "That's up to him and his wife. I have no say in that… Besides, don't you keep saying you don't care about winning the contest? What are you scheming about now?"
"Whether I care is one thing! But Yun Zhu, since he's your…uh, close friend, shouldn't he be here supporting me? If he were, I'd look pretty impressive. And if he brawled with Cao Guan, I'd look even more impressive…"
"Vanity."
"Hehe…" Jin'er laughed mischievously, glancing again before jumping up with a shriek, "Ah! Oh! That's low! Yun Zhu, look! Qilan is there too! She's cozying up to Ning…cough, I mean your good friend! This is unacceptable! Yun Zhu, we need to go out there! We can't let Ning Li Heng sit with her!"
Below, Qilan, clad in white, had approached under Pu Yangyi's introduction to greet Su Tan'er and Ning Yi, sharing lighthearted conversation. Jin'er fumed at the sight, bouncing with indignation, and seeing that Nie Yunzhu remained unbothered, sulked as she returned to her seat. "They're laughing together! How fake… Traitor, traitor…"
Nie Yunzhu chuckled, "Why is he suddenly a traitor?"
"Of course he is! Since he's your good friend, I treat him as one of us, and now he's talking to the enemy—that makes him a traitor!"
Pouting and fussing for a while, Jin'er glanced at Yun Zhu, who was quietly watching the scene outside, her expression gentle yet tinged with complexity. Jin'er pursed her lips, whispering, "Yun Zhu, don't look like that. Jin'er will always love Yun Zhu…"
Yun Zhu smiled, gently lifting her chin, "Then if Jin'er wins the contest, I'll redeem you myself. We'll leave a story worth telling…"
"Yes, please… Yun Zhu, have mercy on poor Jin'er…"
At her words, Jin'er's eyes sparkled with playful flirtation. They leaned in closer and closer, until their lips met—soft and warm.
Their eyes widened, and after a moment, they pulled apart. Nie Yunzhu clutched her lips, while Jin'er let out a flustered gasp, her cheeks flushed. "Yun Zhu, why didn't you dodge?"
"You really leaned in…"
"I thought you would dodge…"
They stared in awkward silence before bursting into laughter. Jin'er touched up her lipstick at the mirror, while Nie Yunzhu, in her male attire, wiped away the smudged color with tea, casting a glare at Jin'er. The latter grinned impishly, whispering, "Yun Zhu, have you ever tried this with anyone else?"
"No."
"Let me tell you, a couple of years back, I met this young man from Yangzhou, so delicate he looked like a girl, but he definitely wasn't! So shy and adorable, my heart was pounding, and I wanted to…you know, kiss him. But he only visited once, then left for the capital to take the exams…"
"Did you like him?"
"No! We barely spoke. But…this is fun! Yun Zhu, should we try again? I didn't feel much that time…"
"Get lost!"
Their laughter and playful whispers filled the room as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting its final glow across the city. As night fell, the grand finale of the courtesan contest awaited.
In Jiangning, among the four leading courtesans, Yuan Jin'er is lively, Feng Xiaojing is dignified, and the newly rising Luo Miaomiao often leaves an impression of vibrance. Meanwhile, the previously unsuccessful Lu Caicai is commonly likened to a quiet orchid, skilled in playing the pipa—her music often evokes an aura of melancholy. Then there's Qilan, known for her scholarly air and literary skills; her talent is well-regarded, and it's said that she occasionally receives guests dressed as a refined scholar in the brothel, which has won her considerable admiration.
For the past six months, rumors of Qilan's interest in Ning Yi have sporadically surfaced, prompting Su Tan'er to tease Ning Yi about it. But to the merchant circles, whether this gossip holds any truth remains debatable. Among the wealthy families, the closest allies of the Su family are the Xue and Wu clans. Though Xue Jin once attempted to humiliate Ning Yi and was promptly put in his place, this encounter didn't exactly pique his curiosity about Ning Yi. Presently, it's the Puyang family that seems most intrigued by Ning Yi, as Qilan happens to be the star courtesan under their wing. Whether the Puyang family is intentionally spreading word to approach Ning Yi, or if it's truly Qilan's own sentiment, is difficult to ascertain.
With Su Tan'er present, Puyang Yi had Qilan come out to offer her respects, formally introducing her to Ning Yi. They naturally didn't discuss poetry or anything substantial. The graceful young woman expressed her admiration for Ning Yi's literary talent while, at the same time, showing due respect to Su Tan'er. They all mastered the art of social pleasantries, appearing to converse amiably, though their exchange bore little substance. Before long, Ning Yi and Su Tan'er took their seats near the front of the stage, in an area primarily occupied by merchants.
"No surprises here—this time around, Qilan's bound to win the Flower Queen title."
As the sun dipped below the horizon and the lanterns began to light up, people continued filing in amidst a lively buzz. Su Tan'er picked up a loquat from the table in front, peeled it, and handed it to Ning Yi, fulfilling her duties as a wife. He accepted it with an indifferent expression and took a bite.
"You called it right from the start. What's the point of watching if there's no suspense... Sitting with you is really no fun..."
"The Puyang family planned to promote Qilan as Flower Queen two years ago but kept their moves measured, worried people would say they were just buying her title. So, they stopped at making her a prominent courtesan. Now, the momentum's built, and there's hardly any suspense left. She's bound to ascend this time," Ning Yi replied, his tone unamused. His words might have sounded harsh to outsiders, but Su Tan'er simply laughed, not showing the slightest displeasure. She peeled another loquat and passed it to him. "It's all just for show... Who else do I have to show off to, besides you? You should be proud of me, shouldn't you?"
"All right, all right, Tan'er, you're the sharpest, with the best insight."
"Hehe… Happy to hear it."
Su Tan'er genuinely seemed pleased. After a while, other members of the Su family came over to greet Ning Yi and Su Tan'er, including Wen Ding, Wen Fang, and others, before respectfully making their way elsewhere. Even Xi Junyu came by to exchange pleasantries with them, before settling at a round table a little behind them—a seating option in such a venue generally denoted some level of status.
Old Master Qin, along with his two wives, had also arrived and were seated among the distinguished guests, alongside Kang Xian and others. As night finally descended, the venue filled to capacity. The soft sounds of stringed instruments wafted through the air, gradually quieting the crowd. The rippling waters of the Qinhuai River glistened under the night breeze, as the official presiding over the Flower Queen competition took the stage, made a few ceremonial remarks, and declared the event open. On cue, the stage musicians brought their instruments to a halt.
In the silence that followed, a sudden burst of music resounded. Fireworks shot up from beneath the stage as Luo Miaomiao, the newly anointed courtesan, spun onto the stage, ascending with trailing silk ribbons like a peacock unfurling its feathers. In the splendor of the bustling city night, the Flower Queen competition commenced with grandeur.
In the distance, supporters of Luo Miaomiao cheered exuberantly, filling the atmosphere with excitement. Among them was a man named Gu Yanzhen, clapping and smiling, but every now and then, he would glance around, subtly searching the crowd, his eyes sweeping over the gathering, looking for where Nie Yunzhu might be…