Chapter 74: Expectations, Bet

Some things are best left unnoticed. The more one observes, the more thoughts surface, and certain impressions become even more deeply etched.

She was a truly remarkable woman.

As lights flickered and swayed, music resonated from the stage, and a gentle mist danced in the air. Gu Yanzhen observed the scene and formed an opinion of the woman, who he presumed was Su Tan'er.

He had previously learned that Ning Liheng was a live-in son-in-law, having married into a merchant family. While he hadn't given much thought to Ning Liheng's wife before, observing her now, a distinct impression began to form in his mind. The image she presented was indeed striking and left a deep mark.

At first glance, they might have appeared as simply a beautiful and gracious wife sitting with her husband, enjoying the performance. Well-bred and worldly young ladies from esteemed families could also project such an image and demeanor. However, what truly captured Gu Yanzhen's attention was not merely their appearance, but the dynamic between the couple as they interacted with others.

Almost everyone who approached them chose to address Ning Yi's wife first. Even the unlearned Su brothers, whom Gu Yanzhen had encountered previously, and other passersby, would speak to her before acknowledging her husband. Considering Ning Liheng had just helped the Su brothers out of a predicament at Wenmo Tower the day before, their immediate focus on Su Tan'er spoke volumes about her impressive standing.

Gu Yanzhen was quite confident in his judgment of people, an insight that numerous past events had consistently validated. In this world, it was challenging for a woman to be truly capable. To temper that capability to the degree she exhibited, seamlessly blending a seemingly gentle demeanor with an undeniable strength, was truly astounding. Observing the harmonious atmosphere surrounding them, it was evident that she was in command. She not only maintained her own prominence and the respect of others but also skillfully ensured her husband's presence was acknowledged, preventing him from becoming a mere accessory. Her finesse was truly exceptional.

She was a woman... Gu Yanzhen pondered this. If a man of similar caliber had become his rival and won Yunzhu's affection, he might truly have conceded defeat. But when it came to the man beside such a powerful and exceptional woman, who appeared to be merely a consort...

He couldn't dwell on this observation for too long, occasionally chatting with those beside him or applauding. The first round of performances showcased the unique strengths of the Four Great Courtesans. Luo Miaomiao's colorful ribbon dance was dazzling and splendid, Yuan Jin'er's performance was lively and agile, and Feng Xiaojing's "Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix" dance retained its dignified grandeur. Finally, Qi Lan performed an ancient-style dance depicting Confucius questioning Laozi. Adorned in ink-colored robes with wide sleeves, her ethereal grace and leisurely movements truly exuded a sense of scholarly elegance, bringing her intellectual aura to its peak.

Among the four, Gu Yanzhen wasn't particularly fond of Luo Miaomiao. While her vibrant singing and dancing created a strong initial impact, she lacked the depth and composure of the other three. His initial support for her was primarily influenced by the Yunzhu matter; her colorful dance style also lent itself easily to poetic inspiration, making it a rather perfunctory gesture on his part. After her performance, he had intended to compose a poem, but for some reason, after glancing towards Ning Yi, he decided against it. Instead, he called the person in charge of tallying the flowers and purchased five hundred for Luo Miaomiao.

Five hundred flowers, equivalent to five hundred taels of silver, was a notable expenditure for him. But since he hadn't composed a poem, he simply paid the sum outright. Soon after, during the thank-you segment, as some performers presented additional acts, the announcement "Young Master Gu Yanzhen presents five hundred flowers to Lady Miaomiao" was made. He responded by cupping his hands and exchanging pleasantries with those nearby. Meanwhile, Su Tan'er appeared to signal someone over. The flower tally was continually updated on a large wooden board behind the stage, with any donation over a hundred being loudly proclaimed. Then, that familiar voice was heard:

" 'Young Master Ning Liheng presents two thousand flowers to Lady Qi Lan!' "

A wave of excitement swept through the crowd. Two thousand flowers was an astonishingly grand gesture; typically, such generous patrons would wait until all three performances were over before making their move. Ning Liheng, the name of the somewhat enigmatic 'foremost scholar,' with his talent and generosity, was certainly enough to become the talk of the town. Gu Yanzhen, however, understood this was the woman's doing. To orchestrate such a grand display for her live-in husband in such a public venue—beneath her gentle exterior, this woman was truly formidable in her strength and confidence.

He recalled the matter of the preserved eggs; his own investment had been less than a hundred taels. Compared to the spectacle before him, what Ning Liheng had done seemed comically trivial.

As these thoughts crossed his mind, Shen Miao leaned over, also gazing in that direction. "What a grand gesture," Shen Miao remarked. "Yanzhen, you've been watching them for quite some time. Could it be that you're genuinely intrigued by Ning Yi's scholarly talents? If so, tonight's Courtesan Gala promises a fierce rivalry and a truly good show."

Gu Yanzhen remained silent for a moment, then smiled. "Brother Zishan," he began, "do you know who the man behind Yunzhu truly is?"

" 'Haven't we found out—' Shen Miao started, then caught himself. 'Could it be that... Ning Yi?' "

" 'Indeed, it is him.' "

" 'He... he's a live-in son-in-law.' "

Gu Yanzhen remained silent, a faint, unreadable smile on his lips. Shen Miao chuckled, shaking his head.

" 'In that case, if this matter were exposed, wouldn't it make for an entertaining spectacle? What are your thoughts on this, Yanzhen?' "

Gu Yanzhen regarded him for a long moment before finally sighing. "Brother Zishan," he said, "if this matter were to be exposed, what would truly happen next?"

" 'Between that couple, at best, a rift would form. At worst, that formidable merchant's daughter would likely go to Lady Yunzhu's door, and then... ah, seeing your apparent reluctance, Yanzhen, I presume you still possess a compassionate heart for fair ladies. Such magnanimity is truly admirable.' "

Gu Yanzhen smiled. "To be frank, Brother Zishan, my reasons are not quite as you imagine. What you've said is indeed correct: at best, it would cause a rift; at worst, they might even come to Yunzhu's home and cause a commotion. But even if it truly spiraled into an irreconcilable conflict, you and I would simply have been spectators to a drama. Tell me, Brother Zishan, would I then have won Yunzhu's heart?"

" 'Ah...' "

" 'One who aims for greatness does not bother with petty details. Our actions should not be swayed by trivialities, but rather stem directly from our true intentions. Even if I were to carry out such a scheme, I would ultimately gain nothing, and it would only spread ill repute about me. I disdain such tactics.' "

Though his words carried an air of pride, his tone at that moment was remarkably humble. Shen Miao pondered for a while, then cupped his hands in a gesture of acknowledgment. Gu Yanzhen smiled, deftly changing the subject, and turned his gaze towards the performers on stage. After discussing the performance for a bit, amidst the shimmering lights, he cast a subtle glance at Shen Miao.

Shen Zishan, merely a common man, full of a scholar's impractical ideals, unlikely to achieve great things...

" 'Two thousand flowers, quite a grand gesture indeed.' "

When the onstage announcer declared Ning Liheng's donation of two thousand flowers, Ning Yi shook his head with a faint, amused smile, adopting an air of detachment amidst the murmuring crowd, as few people truly knew him anyway. He merely turned his head to see Pu Yangyi approaching, cupping his hands in a gesture of gratitude.

" 'I don't know much about poetry or literature myself,' Su Tan'er said softly, 'but since she honored my husband, I offered her the silver. That's simply how it was.' "

Su Tan'er lowered her head, speaking with gentle composure and a demure smile. Ning Yi, naturally, understood the true reason behind her actions. He chuckled lightly. The couple, however, had no way of knowing that Gu Yanzhen, seated on one side of the venue, was intently observing their every move. Meanwhile, backstage, upon hearing the news of the two thousand flowers, Yuan Jin'er momentarily froze, then puffed out her cheeks and glared, before going to complain to Nie Yunzhu.

" 'Sister Yunzhu, he's being a bully!' "

" 'Oh, it was clearly his wife who sent the flowers; what does that have to do with him?' "

" 'I don't care about that! He's just using his wealth to bully people... I won't help sell the preserved eggs later!' " After a brief moment of sulking, she grabbed Su Tan'er and ran toward the dressing room. " 'Sister Yunzhu,' she called out, 'I need to get ready again so my next dance is even better and I can save face!' "

Although she no longer intended to vie for the title of Courtesan Queen, saving face was paramount, so she still had to put up a fight.

However, since she hadn't originally planned to contend for the Courtesan Queen title, her performance was based on standard expectations. No matter how diligently she tried now, the final outcome was unlikely to change significantly. The competition continued, with dazzling singing and dancing in diverse styles. By the end of the final round, Qi Lan's performance, a song and dance titled 'Mountain of Books, Sea of Ink,' overshadowed all others. While she had the Puyang family's backing, they were now particularly concerned with their reputation, and Qi Lan's performance clearly demonstrated immense effort. Following this piece, Pu Yangyi legitimately presented fifteen thousand flowers, crowning the white-robed, gracefully flowing figure on stage as the Courtesan Queen.

Some, like Su Tan'er, had already anticipated this outcome. However, the Puyang family's two-year delay in making this move was considered a very measured and appropriate action, so those who had foreseen it generally held no strong objections. The singing and dancing that evening were also beautiful, though slightly shorter than on the previous two days. Afterwards, a grand Courtesan Queen banquet would serve as the culmination. This banquet was a customary post-competition event, hosted by the Prefect, with the heads of the four courtesan houses in attendance. It was held to express gratitude to all who had generously supported the competition over the past three days. The heads of the four houses would also prepare elaborate dances for the banquet, where scholars and merchants would gather, and such occasions often became legendary tales.

Gu Yanzhen had spent the entire evening subconsciously searching for Nie Yunzhu, but to no avail. It wasn't until he attended the banquet with Shen Miao that he inadvertently caught sight of a figure at the side of the hall. Dressed in servant's attire, the figure seemed to be blending in with the staff, hidden behind a tree outside the main hall as if in anticipation. So familiar was he with this silhouette that Gu Yanzhen recognized her at once.

Only after entering the banquet hall did he suddenly understand what that figure outside had been anticipating.

" 'I never imagined... that Lady Yunzhu would bring her business here so swiftly...' "

Shen Miao sighed softly. It turned out that at the center of every table at the Courtesan Queen banquet, there were peeled preserved eggs, their intricate patterns visible and their texture translucent. For the past two months, although the preserved egg business had steadily expanded, Nie Yunzhu had maintained a low profile, hiring assistance but making few new moves beyond supplying various restaurants. It seemed that starting from this evening, she was finally ready to significantly expand her enterprise.

That woman, had she attended this banquet in the past, would have been a distinguished guest at the very least. Even if she had chosen to remain low-key and not contend for the courtesan queen title, she would still have been the center of attention. Yet now, for the sake of these mere items, she was hiding outside like a servant, observing the revelry within, anticipating the success of this small venture... He wondered if she had seen him.

He suddenly recalled the events of that afternoon. He hadn't given much thought to the preserved egg business then, deeming a venture worth less than a hundred taels to be insignificant. But seeing her expectant expression now, he couldn't help but let out a wry chuckle. What a twist of fate! He wondered how she would feel tomorrow, after putting so much effort into this grand beginning, full of joyful anticipation, only for it to serve only to benefit others.

" 'I, Gu Yanzhen, do not stoop to such pathetic, petty revenge,' he told himself. Yet, encountering such a coincidence, he still found it rather amusing."

He then smiled at Shen Miao. "This item seems interesting," he said, "though the production process might not be as complex as it appears. Several months have passed since its introduction. I'm willing to wager ten taels of silver with you, Brother Zishan, that within half a month, imitations of these preserved eggs will flood the market. She has put in great effort, but I fear it will ultimately serve only to benefit others. The marketplace is like a battlefield; it's not so simple."

Theoretically, to win this wager, one would only need to wait until tomorrow; to lose, it would require proof over half a month. The two men chatted, took their seats, and soon dismissed the matter from their minds. However, as if some unseen force had long ago ordained a different outcome, merely a quarter of an hour later, Gu Yanzhen somewhat grimly realized that he had lost those ten taels of silver prematurely.

Well... I guess I was just trying to be playful.