Chapter 72: Game Scenes

Fictional History

"...It was rumored that in February of that year, during the Liao Dynasty's 'Chun Nabo' festival, all tribal leaders attended the 'First Fish Feast' hosted by Emperor Yelü Yanxi. At that time, Wanyan Aguda stood up and demanded that Yelü Yanxi return the land of Ashu, but Yelü Yanxi ignored him. Later, as the feast reached its climax, Yelü Yanxi ordered the tribal leaders to sing and dance to entertain, but Wanyan Aguda remained motionless, replying that he could not. Yelü Yanxi flew into a rage and almost drew his sword to kill Wanyan Aguda on the spot. Now, Wanyan Aguda is in the prime of his life, ambitious, and a war between the Jin and Liao states is inevitable, a fight to the death. Our Great Wu state should profit from the situation by playing both sides and weighing the regional dynamics. In my opinion, once war breaks out, our imperial army should first feign weakness, and then seize Yingzhou..."

***

It was also noon on the Dragon Boat Festival. At a riverside restaurant, Gu Yanzhen was chatting with several companions. Below, various festive scenes unfolded, and people came and went on the inn's upper floor. The group arranged their bowls, chopsticks, and plates on the table, as if mapping out strategies, and discussed for a long time.

"I never imagined Yanzhen possessed such military strategic skill; I'm truly impressed!" Among his companions, one, a minor military official, cupped his hands and chuckled. Then another person in the group clapped their hands. "More than just military strategy, Yanzhen is not only exceptionally intelligent but also possesses both wisdom and courage. It is said that on his journey to the capital this time, he encountered bandits, but Yanzhen cleverly escaped. He then brought in reinforcements and captured the entire band of bandits. When I heard this, I was truly captivated!"

"Is that true?" Someone's eyes widened.

"Haha, it was merely a fortunate coincidence, a matter of being in the right place at the right time," Gu Yanzhen chuckled. "However, I've always believed that civil and military arts, like a bowstring, should be alternately taut and slack. Given the current state of affairs, one should cultivate both. After I go to Leping this time, if I achieve something in a few years, I even intend to forsake my pen for the sword, emulating Ban Chao's ambition..."

He was to take up his post in Leping in July, so he was expected to leave Jiangning in June. The group chatted and laughed, followed by another round of compliments. Once the small gathering dispersed and everyone had left, he sat by the window, gazing at the outside scenery and pondering. Soon after, his attendant, Xiao Si, came up.

"Found anything?"

"Reporting to Young Master, from yesterday until now, I've uncovered a lot of information about Ning Yi. However, I came primarily because there's news from the workshop."

"Oh?"

"The matters concerning the century eggs are all prepared."

"This matter..." Gu Yanzhen frowned. "It no longer holds much significance... but never mind, let's go take a look. On the way, tell me about Ning Yi."

"Yes, it is said that Ning Yi has always been low-key and skilled at concealing his talents. Yesterday, I investigated his background; everyone around his former residence said..."

Xiao Si chattered on and on as the two walked through the market, turned into an alley, and entered a small, unsanitary workshop. A moment later, Gu Yanzhen emerged, pinching his nose and frowning. "Fine. Since it's ready, start putting it on the market tomorrow. She sells for twenty coins, we sell for ten. I won't come back here; it's just a small matter. Have Old Hu oversee it himself."

"Yes, but... Young Master is leaving for Leping next month. Old Hu is concerned that even with this, a month's time might not be enough to break her business."

"Who said we must ruin her business? What good would ruining her business do? Don't concern yourself with this; just do your job."

Frowning, Gu Yanzhen walked forward. His family were originally landowners and wealthy; producing these century eggs wouldn't cost much silver. At the time, he had wanted to discover the person behind Nie Yunzhu but found no clues, so he sent people to do these things. If Nie Yunzhu truly had a reputable old man backing her, the matter might have held some significance, but by now, it had become somewhat redundant. Nevertheless, a little time would be enough to make her understand how fragile her unrealistic fantasies of independence were.

Recalling what Xiao Si had just said, that Ning Yi usually dabbled in all sorts of peculiar things. On serious matters, however, he seemed rather unconventional, even rebellious. It was said he concerned himself with trivialities like chalk and blackboards. Hmph, no wonder he associated with people like Li Pin; he was probably another arrogant individual who thought himself uninhibited. The century eggs must have been his doing. Recalling the painting on Nie Yunzhu's cart... it was too crafted, lacking true artistic elegance.

Later, to promote the century eggs, no novel methods were employed; it was merely a crude tactic of using shills. The art of war involves both conventional and unconventional tactics, but such methods seemed utterly insignificant to him. He had thought of several methods, all vastly superior to hiring shills... But thinking about it now, it was pointless. He had originally thought that Yunzhu was a woman of refined character, but he never expected her to be swayed by such petty tricks. How ridiculous...

Walking through the bustling streets, he pondered these matters, thinking of those two individuals, Yunzhu and Ning Yi. He had initially believed them to possess noble characters, that Yunzhu had found some virtuous person, that there were truly complex circumstances beyond his imagination at play. Now, looking back, it was utterly disappointing.

A courtesan who, like a frog in a well, saw only her limited world yet imagined herself pure and unsullied. A merchant's live-in son-in-law who employed crude, unorthodox tactics yet fancied himself a refined scholar. Thinking about it, they were even more laughable and vulgar than the crude affairs between common folk... It was regrettable that he had previously been so entangled by these matters.

With these thoughts, by evening, he once again saw the two of them.

***

Just as Su Tan'er had predicted that morning, after the assassination attempt last night, entry and exit from the city were subject to strict searches today. It was impossible for large groups of people to move in and out freely. The final night's performance of the Flower Queen Competition was therefore relocated to a large training ground by the river, east of the city. The scenery here was naturally not as beautiful as outside the city, but with temporary arrangements, though slightly more crowded, it could comfortably accommodate three thousand spectators. The adjacent waterway could also accommodate pleasure boats. After all, this Flower Queen Competition represented a significant source of income for Jiangning Prefecture and could not be canceled arbitrarily.

The assassination of an imperial official meant little to ordinary citizens. After meals, most discussions about it probably involved people applauding the event. Thus, even with this incident, it did not dampen people's enthusiasm for the performance; if anything, it heightened it slightly.

In the afternoon, Ning Yi and Su Tan'er, along with others, rode in a carriage around the city. They sampled interesting snacks whenever they saw them. All they heard were discussions about the female assassin. In the carriage, Chan'er and Juan'er used two boxes to act out a battle between "Pillars" (eight feet tall, eight feet around the waist) and "Blocks."

Su Tan'er had by now recovered her spirits, occasionally lowering her head to smile and chat with Ning Yi about various things. Previously, when they were cautious and played the part of an ideal couple at home, she would never mention business. But now, her conversations often revolved around business, for instance, how closing the city gates had delayed their shop's operations, and how much revenue they were expected to lose, followed by a small sigh. In reality, it was mostly jest. Although she sighed, she didn't take these minor issues to heart.

Ning Yi, meanwhile, occasionally offered outlandish ideas. For example, he suggested printing the texts of the Four Books and Five Classics onto fabric, then making clothes from it. When one walked out, covered in characters, the style would be novel and incredibly imposing. Su Tan'er chuckled and said she would make one for him next time; it would just be a bit troublesome to embroider the texts of the Four Books and Five Classics. She added, "But dear husband, you really must wear it out!" Ning Yi, naturally uninhibited, nodded in agreement.

While eating by the river, Ning Yi took out his brush and ink to draw several portraits for them. These were, in fact, simple, cartoonish, Q-style caricature portraits. On the rice paper, the four women's expressions were exaggerated but distinctive. After laughing, Su Tan'er and her three servants criticized Ning Yi extensively. In those days, people were naturally unaccustomed to such drawings. Ning Yi debated with Su Tan'er for a bit, and amidst protests from Chan'er, Juan'er, and Xing'er, he decided to bet Su Tan'er that he would set up a roadside stall to find kindred spirits. Su Tan'er had initially said, "Alright, go ahead and set it up!" But when Ning Yi actually moved a stool and sat by the roadside, ready to draw and write, Su Tan'er and Xiao Chan laughed and pulled him back.

Ning Yi burst into laughter. "Does this mean I win?" Su Tan'er's face flushed crimson from laughter. "My dear husband is always playing around; I can't afford to be embarrassed like this!" Chan'er quietly added, "Chan'er can't be embarrassed either..." Juan'er nodded vigorously. Ning Yi then playfully tapped both of his teasing companions. All of them knew Ning Yi was easygoing and didn't mind a little jest now and then.

Since the assassination attempt last night, the prefectural yamen officials had realized that the Flower Queen Competition could no longer be held outside the city. Consequently, changes to the venue had begun from early this morning. By evening, Ning Yi and Su Tan'er, along with others, arrived by carriage. As the sun set, the streets and buildings surrounding the venue were already adorned with lanterns and colorful streamers, with silks fluttering in the breeze. Across the training ground, pleasure boats were lined up along the waterway. Although their lanterns hadn't been lit yet, people were already bustling aboard them, making the scene quite lively.

In the pleasure boat room belonging to Jin Feng Tower, Yuan Jin'er was preparing for her performance tonight. This evening, four leading courtesans were vying for the title of Flower Queen, each performing three times. The period from evening until their appearance was usually reserved for quiet rest, with few disturbances. Of course, performers also had the right to arrange their own time; if they truly had a beloved, they might even be invited into the room to spend a moment together. At that moment, another person was in Yuan Jin'er's pleasure boat room—not her maid, but Nie Yunzhu, disguised as a man. The two were standing by the window, chatting as they watched the crowd entering from the training ground.

"Tonight is very important, isn't it?" Yuan Jin'er asked Nie Yunzhu.

Nie Yunzhu nodded, seeming more nervous than Yuan Jin'er. "Yes, if tonight goes well, there will be many things to do starting tomorrow."

"I'm not nervous at all," Yuan Jin'er secretly took a bite of a mung bean cake. Nie Yunzhu glared at her, then snatched the remaining half. Nie Yunzhu popped the mung bean cake into her mouth, chewed it vigorously, swallowed, and then puffed out her cheeks before taking a drink of water. "I told you not to keep eating these things!"

"But I'm not nervous. I don't even want to be Flower Queen. Feng Xiaojing wants it, Qilan wants it, Luo Miaomiao wants it; they can have it. Sister Yunzhu, you're really strange. If you were to participate in this competition, you probably wouldn't feel anything, yet now you're nervous about something so minor..."

"This is the first time I've done something to this extent, so of course, I'm nervous. If there are no accidents tonight, the reputation of our century eggs might truly take off. As for past performances, if you don't take them to heart like Jin'er, naturally you won't be nervous."

"Don't worry, Jin'er will help you, Brother Yunzhu." Yuan Jin'er smiled, then suddenly her expression changed as she remembered something, her eyes narrowing sharply. "Oh right, Sister Yunzhu, a few days ago, I heard that counterfeit century eggs appeared, and someone else is selling them, trying to steal your business. What should we do about that...?"

"Huh?" Nie Yunzhu was slightly puzzled, then frowned. "They've already appeared?"

"No way! Jin'er has been so worried, asking around everywhere, and you, Sister Yunzhu, as the boss, don't even know? Then what have I been doing these past few nights, cursing that person who's trying to steal your business...? It infuriates me!"

"No, he had already anticipated this matter," Nie Yunzhu said, smiling slightly. "He said if this happened, he would handle it and told me not to worry, so I haven't investigated these past few days. I've been entirely focused on tonight's event..."

"That amazing?" Yuan Jin'er glanced at her, looking annoyed. "Hmph, I'd like to see what he can actually do..."

After saying this, she turned her head to look outside. She quickly scanned the crowd, then suddenly perked up, blinking her eyes. "Oh, speak of the devil! Sister Yunzhu, look, look! Your beloved... Ah... mmm, Brother Yunzhu, I was wrong..."