Chapter 59: Shock (Part 1)

**Episode 2: Undercurrents in the Pond**

With a bang, fireworks lit up the sky near Bailuzhou. In the crowd gathered below, Xiao Chan held onto Ning Yi's coattail, walking forward while looking up. Occasionally, she would stumble on a pebble, her head bumping against Ning Yi's back.

The venue for the courtesan competition was said to be at Bailuzhou, but it was actually near a post station between Bailuzhou and Jiangning. This area was backed by mountains and bordered by water, with vast green spaces. A massive gathering area had already been cordoned off, and the river nearby was covered with pleasure boats and painted barges, forming a continuous expanse. As the decorated floats arrived one after another, the green spaces outside were now also filled with crowds. Various snacks and juggling acts were set up across the lawns, and the flickering lights of the stalls created a lively atmosphere filled with drumming and chatter.

Entering the venue to watch the performances was quite simple: the admission fee was a single flower. Once inside, if you saw a girl you liked, you could present her with a flower. Each flower cost one liang of silver, or one thousand Wen. Although the Jiangning region of the Wu Dynasty was prosperous, this was still a considerable sum for ordinary families. Nearly ten thousand people came for the event, but only about three thousand could enter the venue. The rest would likely amuse themselves outside, waiting for the competition to end, or simply go home to sleep midway through.

From Ning Yi's perspective, this was a society with a significant wealth gap, far greater than that of a thousand years later. However, despite some complaints, most people had grown accustomed to many things. In their minds, such circumstances were simply natural. Families with children would relax and cool off together on the lively lawns and riverbanks outside, spending a few dozen or a hundred Wen as a luxury. There were also those with no money who simply came to watch the juggling acts and listen to the music emanating from the venue, joining in the general revelry when a girl was crowned courtesan.

Of the three thousand who entered, most were not wealthy. Poorer scholars wished to dabble in elegance and meet new people, while many others gritted their teeth and paid, unwilling to miss such an event. The truly wealthy comprised perhaps the top few hundred individuals. It was estimated that within a single day, they would contribute over ninety percent of the event's income, ranging from tens, hundreds, or thousands of liang, with some even spending over ten thousand – figures that often became topics of delighted conversation for quite some time. In Yangzhou and Tokyo, it was said that the courtesan competitions were even grander, surpassing the spectacle in Jiangning.

By the time they arrived, all the decorated floats had already entered. Admission at the gate was by ticket, and the crowd was bustling and densely packed. Ning Yi and Xiao Chan went to a nearby patch of grass, found a less crowded stall, and ordered bowls of tofu pudding, observing the grand scene from there. Amidst the throng, familiar voices calling out greetings could be heard periodically. Occasionally, people trying to sneak in were caught and ejected, leading to heated exchanges. It would likely be a while before they could enter. Xiao Chan sat at the small table; she bought her tofu pudding but didn't eat it, instead pulling out a few preserved plums or similar fruits from her pocket to garnish the bowl. Ning Yi watched, amused but helpless.

“Can you even eat that?”

“It looks pretty,” Xiao Chan replied, taking a spoonful of tofu pudding with plum pieces and savoring it slowly for a long time, quite enchanted. Ning Yi admired her ability to make a single spoonful last so long. He was reminded, unintentionally, of a time long, long ago when a single cotton candy could be licked for an hour. He couldn't help but smile at Xiao Chan's expression, then put down his spoon and leisurely waited, observing their surroundings.

For him, leisure was, in most cases, a form of patience. Most situations since his arrival in the Wu Dynasty had been similar, largely a habit cultivated through patience – a composure honed over years, like Mount Tai unmoving before a collapsing mountain. However, amidst the noisy crowd at that moment, sitting there with Xiao Chan, what he felt was perhaps true leisure. A moment later, Xiao Chan pointed towards the crowd. “Oh, Young Master-in-law, it's Young Masters Wen Ding and Wen Fang and their companions.”

Indeed, it was Su Wen Ding, Su Wen Fang, and others from the Su family in the crowd. They were accompanied by several friends Ning Yi had heard of before, mostly minor scholars of some repute. When Ning Yi and Xiao Chan looked over, the others had already noticed them, and seeing Ning Yi and Xiao Chan, they seemed a little awkward.

These individuals usually had little to talk about with Ning Yi, only exchanging a few polite words at the Su household. However, Ning Yi had been present each time they recently tried to extort money from Su Tan'er, using various business ventures and ambitious reasons as excuses. Su Tan'er would always grumble for a long time, yet still offer tips and advice on doing business. Although they likely knew that their cousin was fully aware of their schemes, encountering Ning Yi at that moment still made them feel a degree of embarrassment.

For Su Wen Ding, Su Wen Fang, and the others, Ning Yi was an in-marrying son-in-law, yet he genuinely possessed talent, a fact that had already spread throughout the Su family, so no one dared truly belittle him. Even without that, they still had to save face for Su Tan'er. At this moment, they probably hesitated, debating whether to come over and greet him. Ning Yi simply nodded and smiled at them, effectively relieving their dilemma, and they did not approach.

Soon after, they saw the retinue of the Kang family. After a while longer, there was finally some space at the entrance, and the flow of people decreased slightly. Ning Yi and the slow-eating Xiao Chan had finished their tofu pudding and headed towards it. Subsequently, they ran into Li Pin, who was accompanied by two other scholars. After introductions were made and Xiao Chan politely greeted them, they all entered together.

The venue on the third day of the lunar month was actually quite spacious. After all, with over a hundred girls performing, if they took turns on a single stage, it would be almost dawn the next day before everyone finished.

Participants entered through the cordoned-off gates and first saw newly decorated post stations, restaurants, and other establishments, most of which were pre-existing structures. Inside, drinks, tea, and meals were provided, along with various resting areas. The arrangement of nearby rock formations, riverbanks, and circular stages varied, creating an atmosphere much like a theme park.

There were five stages in total: a pleasure boat and waterside pavilion, a teahouse dance floor, a small building by the river bend, a small inn against the mountain, and a central circular drum stage. There were also arrangements for which girl would perform where and approximately when. The order was usually determined by drawing lots, but there were also deliberate adjustments. For instance, the 'Four Great Houses' or other widely recognized popular girls would have their performance times staggered to prevent them from all performing at different locations simultaneously, which would leave people unsure of whom to watch.

The pleasure boats and painted barges naturally served as resting places for the girls. Around the venue, there were also various large and small tents, which were the territories of different brothels. One could only enter and meet the performers by invitation. The surrounding restaurants were generally fragrant with literary works, with better poems and verses displayed to drum up support for particular girls. Presenting flowers on stage was not a matter of simply throwing them up; there were naturally staff nearby to register the donations.

“To receive Brother Gu’s favor this time, Miss Miaomiao is surely destined to enter the Four Great Houses. Your poem ‘Pity the Secluded,’ composed for Miss Miaomiao last time, was like a rare delicacy; its fragrance lingered for days after reading. Brother Gu, your poetic talent is truly admirable. Come, a toast to Brother Gu.”

Night had fallen, and the fireworks had concluded. Performances on the various stages had already begun, with crowds gathering and dispersing throughout the venue, heading to their preferred stages to watch the acts. Meanwhile, in the nearby Wenmo Tower, Gu Yanzhen was taking a break with several companions. Among this group, Gu Yanzhen was the leader, primarily due to his admiration for a girl named Luo Miaomiao. Though she had only recently debuted, her reputation was already significant, and she had many admirers. In this competition, she was expected to easily make it into the top sixteen and was a popular candidate to join the Four Great Houses. Gu Yanzhen had composed several poems and verses for her in recent days, helping to boost her prominence.

At this point, the group exchanged a few flattering remarks. A moment later, a beautiful woman came over to greet them. Gu Yanzhen had previously written poems for her. Having finished her performance, she came to express her gratitude and shared two cups of wine. She clearly had some interest in Gu Yanzhen, but she also knew he was currently pursuing Luo Miaomiao. After a short while, feeling there was no hope, and having other matters to attend to, she excused herself.

It was quite lively in Wenmo Tower, with courtesans often coming up with their madam to express thanks. After the initial flurry of activity, his friend Shen Miao poured some wine and remarked, “How enviable! Yanzhen, you have beauties favoring you wherever you go.”

Gu Yanzhen chuckled, “What does it matter if beauties favor me? The beauty I favor doesn’t favor me.”

Those nearby thought he was referring to Luo Miaomiao and asked with interest. Gu Yanzhen, being open-minded, recounted how he had pursued a woman some time ago, intending to take her as a concubine and travel with her to Leping, only to be slapped by her. He spoke of it so naturally that others admired him, praising his ability to both take things up and let them go. Shen Miao, however, knew his character. After a moment, he leaned over with a smile. “That’s not what you’re really thinking, is it?”

“What else can I do?” Gu Yanzhen said calmly, clinking his cup with Shen Miao's and draining it in one gulp.

“Do you know who that Miss Nie truly likes?”

“Probably nothing can be found out.”

“Perhaps Miss Nie truly has a detached nature and simply doesn’t wish to marry?”

“How is that possible?” Gu Yanzhen frowned slightly, lowering his voice and speaking more quickly. “During the pine flower egg incident, someone must have been manipulating things from behind the scenes—it’s infuriating… Unfortunately, when I pressed Dexin that day, he protected the person, not revealing a single detail. Humph, I only wish to know who this person truly is. If they are genuinely astonishingly talented, I, Gu Yanzhen, would naturally be completely convinced…”

“You couldn’t ask anyone else?”

“All you know is that the person made a joke and a bet with a friend, so they used Dexin to find someone to act as a stooge, and also requested that no fame be used to help. This person might also be a well-known scholar… Alas, given Yunzhu’s character, she would naturally be attracted to such an individual. That day, Yunzhu’s maid, Hu Tao, hinted that I should pursue her mistress, subtly revealing that her mistress seemed to have someone in mind, but the entanglement wasn't deep at the time, and the other person was absolutely unsuitable for her mistress. After that incident, knowing there was likely no hope for me and her mistress, she naturally protected her mistress and refused to reveal the other person’s identity…” Gu Yanzhen shook his head. “If I were to guess, I’m afraid Yunzhu has fallen for some eighty-year-old esteemed elder, captivated by his talent and insight, and has become completely infatuated… Yunzhu is not a snobbish person, and with her detached nature, such a possibility is not out of the question.”

The Jiangning area was home to many famous people. If Nie Yunzhu had truly fallen for some renowned old man, even with Gu Yanzhen’s wealth and his new official position, he would likely be helpless. Such elders typically had extensive connections, and if Yunzhu had genuinely given her heart to one, he, a mere young scholar, would be no match. As the two discussed this, a faint commotion arose from the other side of the restaurant, as if something was happening.

Looking over, it appeared to be two groups of scholars mockingly arguing with each other. A girl who had come upstairs to express her thanks was somewhat flustered, her attempts to mediate proving ineffective. One of the young men seemed to have turned scarlet with embarrassment from the ridicule.

Then, someone from their own group came over, laughing, holding a piece of paper, and explained the situation: “Haha, that girl is Tang Jing from Willow Leaf Tower. Her singing and dancing performance has concluded, and she’s gained a good reputation. This gentleman here presented a hundred flowers, so she came up to thank him. Afterwards, he composed a poem, but it turned out to be quite embarrassing, hehe. Everyone, take a look, what kind of poem is this?”

Most of those with Gu Yanzhen were renowned scholars whose learning was far beyond that of ordinary people. They took the poem and then burst into laughter. The poem was indeed terrible; it merely adhered to the tonal rules, with heavily forced poetic craftsmanship. If it had been any worse, it would have been doggerel. It was unbelievable that someone could compose such a piece and still pretend to be a scholar. Gu Yanzhen looked at it and smiled. “Such poetry… Heh, this person is probably from a merchant family, isn’t he?”

In truth, many people nowadays wrote poor poetry yet still tried to appear cultured. It just depended on the context. Some merchants might write doggerel, and in certain settings, they might even be praised. But if you lacked self-awareness and composed such verses in places where esteemed elders and renowned figures gathered, then you couldn’t blame people for laughing. At that moment, the man was being thoroughly ridiculed. One of Gu Yanzhen’s companions also laughed, “Yanzhen, your insight is truly sharp. This man’s family runs a cloth business; his name is Su Wen Ding. He has no real literary talent. It seems some of the opposing group have a long-standing grudge against him, and now they’re making him lose face.”

“Heh, Wen Ding, he’s in a tough spot,” Gu Yanzhen said, shaking his head and smiling as he watched the scene. “Don’t bother with them; let them be.”

The ones being ridiculed were indeed Su Wen Fang, Su Wen Ding, and their companions. Su Wen Fang’s current favored girl was Tang Jing. He had saved money to support Tang Jing this time and had composed a poem, which came from his heart, but unfortunately, his literary skill was truly lacking. Now, he was being relentlessly mocked. However, there was someone on his side with slightly more literary talent who immediately spoke up: “What kind of crooked poems can you all write?”

The other side laughed, “Better than anything you could compose.”

The two sides then began a poetry duel. However, after only a few exchanges, Su Wen Fang’s group was immediately at a disadvantage. On the opposing side, one person with excellent poetic talent composed a single verse praising Tang Jing, which immediately overwhelmed everyone else. Although Tang Jing had artistic skill, her reputation was usually not prominent, and she struggled to handle this kind of jealous rivalry. Afterwards, some people came over, laughing, and relayed Gu Yanzhen’s group’s comments to Su Wen Fang and his companions, pointing towards Gu Yanzhen’s side.

Although Gu Yanzhen did not wish to get involved, the comments from his group eventually reached the other side. This was a common occurrence, so he simply watched the show. Su Wen Fang, Su Wen Ding, and their companions were even more embarrassed. The opposing party was openly pursuing Tang Jing with poetry, yet they, who prided themselves as scholars, had no way to retaliate.

The other side chuckled, “How could your poetic talent possibly compare to Brother Ji Wen’s? Even at the Zhishui Poetry Society or the Lichuan Poetry Gathering, everyone would praise his verses. You just said you wouldn’t compete in poetry, but dare to show off such paltry poetic skill? Let me teach you how to write poetry.”

Saying this, he wrote a verse, which was quite decent. Then, another person wrote one, and for a moment, enthusiasm ran high among the crowd. Chen Ji Wen’s poetic talent was indeed good; Gu Yanzhen had probably heard his name. Watching the commotion, he idly wondered if a fight would break out later. If they fought there, they would most likely be kicked out. Then, he turned his gaze downstairs.

An acquaintance was approaching the restaurant.

It was Li Pin, also known as Li Dexin. They used to be close, but after Nie Yunzhu slapped him, Gu Yanzhen had sought Li Pin to inquire about the person behind Nie Yunzhu. Though he had spoken lightly of it just now, Li Pin had been unwilling to reveal the person's identity, even saying, “I know your character; let's not discuss it further at this moment.” In a sense, their friendship had broken.

Therefore, he frowned slightly.

Accompanying Li Pin was a young man Gu Yanzhen had never seen before. The two were engaged in conversation, and behind them followed a graceful maid in a white floral dress, presumably having come with the unfamiliar man…

Next update: tomorrow morning.