Spring passed into summer, and as April's weather warmed further, the busy farming season began outside Jiangning city, and being in its midst, the whole world radiated vibrant vitality. For people of this age, summer and autumn were probably the best seasons—without spring's languid softness or winter's biting cold, the sunlight abundant and white clouds drifting like cotton floss, everything bright enough to refresh the spirit.

The Su family was also busy, with the first batch of spring silk—the year's most important—already out, and their small workshops scattered throughout the region had begun operating in full swing. Though ordinary people weren't particular, the business of rotating new goods onto shelves while diverting old stock still needed doing, and Su Tan'er continued her hectic pace since spring's opening, often working late into the night. Every few nights when she felt somewhat free and spotted Ning Yi upstairs in the opposite building, she'd quietly go over to chat and nibble on fruit and snacks she normally avoided, though sometimes when she wanted to talk, he wouldn't be there, leaving her with a faint sense of disappointment.

Since New Year, she'd noticed certain things—when she worked late, pondering next steps based on reports from various locations, organizing accounts, or handling problems, Xing'er would come in to refresh her tea while Chan'er and Juan'er played gomoku outside, sometimes dozing off. But no matter how late it grew, whenever her bedroom and living room lights burned here, one window in the opposite building also remained lit, where Liheng would be reading or writing, and that light would extinguish silently only after things wrapped up here and Xiao Chan had gone to bed.

At first she'd thought it coincidence, but after deliberately paying attention, she confirmed her suspicion, and some nights after finishing work, she'd purposely linger before blowing out her lamp—and soon after, his figure would appear at the window to extinguish his own light.

She kept this discovery to herself, not questioning why he did it—some things needed neither words nor explanations, and from then on, she'd habitually glance across before bed, waiting in the darkness until that distant light went out before she could rest, wrapped in warmth.

For Ning Yi, it was perhaps just casual habit, and having sworn off troublesome matters and grand ambitions—except, of course, becoming the martial world's supreme master—he still couldn't quite stomach the idea of sleeping peacefully while watching a girl who reminded him of his former self work late into every night. Waiting for her light to go out before sleeping was merely his way of settling his own conscience, for what Su Tan'er did with her time was her business, and he had no intention of offering advice.

As summer approached, Old Qin had begun setting out his chess stall again, playing with various opponents—all older than Ning Yi's twenty-one years in this body, and while several had reputations, most were simply ordinary chess enthusiasts he'd gotten to know last year. When newcomers asked if he was the talent who wrote Water Melody Prelude and Green Jadeite Bowl, he'd simply smile and nod.

His relationship with Li Pin had grown considerably closer, and they'd occasionally grab meals together after noon classes—partly because Ning Yi still felt he owed him for help with the century eggs, despite the later complications with Gu Yanzhen that weren't Li Pin's fault.

Li Pin was a man who deeply understood propriety, and over several months, Ning Yi had come to grasp his character and history—years earlier, he'd passed the jinshi examinations in the capital, but his policy essays proved too radical, offending a high official in the Ministry of Personnel and costing him any chance at an actual position. Though outwardly modest, he'd probably be labeled an angry youth if transported a thousand years forward—his true thoughts inevitably surfaced whenever scholarly discussions arose, despite his attempts to keep them hidden during casual conversation.

The fellow came from a well-off family and had mastered not only Confucianism and arithmetic but also showed proficiency in archery and charioteering—commanding all six gentlemanly arts¹was impressive for this era. While perfectly proper in social interactions, his active mind led him to despise pedantic Confucians in favor of practical action within orthodox bounds, and he burned with the classical ambition to establish order for heaven and earth, care for the common people, preserve lost wisdom, and create lasting peace²—but his path had been cut short. Most Confucian students who offended high officials would sink into lifelong depression, and Li Pin had indeed suffered a gloomy period before pulling himself together to contemplate Confucianism, the Wu Dynasty, and his future path, for he was, after all, still young enough to pick up and put down such setbacks.

If passing several more decades, perhaps he'd become like another Qin Siyuan, and Ning Yi appreciated smart people, didn't like mixing randomly with other groups of literati and talents, but with Li Pin he could still chat about some things. Of course, the way of friendship strictly avoided shallow acquaintance but deep conversation, and Li Pin also had propriety, so now the two counted as colleagues with relatively good relations at the academy. To say good friends or bosom friends or such—that was still early.

Of course, actually now at Yushan Academy the slightly younger teachers were just the two of them, and because Li Pin came here, though without much promotion, this year's first half the academy actually accepted over ten more students... This was beside the point.

Time gradually passed, and Ning Yi's days reaching Jiangning had already filled a year. If thinking about it, this year hadn't experienced too many things—casually copied two poems, gained some reputation, met some people, became familiar, counted as somewhat adapting to this era, and current days remained completely leisurely. Occasionally hearing discussions of northern Jin and Liao countries' friction, occasionally also hearing some merchants and escorts speak of unrest on outside roads, bandits everywhere occupying mountains as kings, several relatively large ones the court was currently suppressing and such news. Rebellion matters didn't spread widely, and hearing it in currently prosperous Jiangning also felt somewhat unreal.

Reaching late April, after seedlings were planted, festive atmosphere quietly rose inside and outside Jiangning, and this wasn't like New Year, mainly because the Dragon Boat Festival approached. Besides the dragon boat races on the Qinhuai River on the fifth day of the fifth month, another grand event lasting six days would be held during the Dragon Boat Festival, when Jiangning area's brothels would take this time to hold an event—deciding superiority, selecting the top courtesan³.

If Jiangning's annual festival poetry gatherings—Mid-Autumn and Lantern Festival were roughly talents' carnivals—this top courtesan selection in early May should be beauties' grand event. Of course, most real ladies from good families or already married true "beauties" often weren't very happy these days—perhaps a matter worth pondering, but no need for criticism. This era, customs were thus, and stories involving the world of dust were more often considered refined rather than lowly and dirty.

As one of the year's most refined matters, like Mid-Autumn and Lantern Festival carnivals, behind it actually had government support. Poetic talent had no ranking, and smoke of battle between talents wasn't thick, more the free judgment of "no first in literature," so the government only needed to maintain basic order. But this time counted as having true competition meaning—deciding four leading courtesans⁴, then deciding the top courtesan from among them—needed a judge as fair as possible, and this relatively fair judge was actually undertaken by the government, to prevent cheating and various disputes.

The entire competition's rules were actually simple speaking of them—top courtesans, after all, came out to make money, so being able to pull people throwing money in support was enough. But speaking in detail also had complex aspects—six days' time, Jiangning's brothels almost opened welcoming guests, canceling various liquor fees, or on prepared terraces, letting their courtyard's girls perform. If liking them, buy flowers to send over, and these flowers were proof of popularity. During this period, actually had various promotional techniques—how to mobilize seated spectators' emotions, how to set off the heated atmosphere of selecting top courtesans, how to add refined elements, raising girls' value, for instance having friendly talents write poems praising them and such... In short, all depended on each brothel's methods.

Jiangning's ten li of Qinhuai, inside the city roughly sixty to seventy brothels large and small, and the initial three days were actually just the beginning, heating up the atmosphere. At this time each brothel would very tacitly continuously promote, but those working hardest on performance stages were actually women whose normal reputation wasn't great—some only sold art, some sold both art and body. Having or not having foundation, relying on these days' performances could always pull quite a bit of popularity.

These days' guests who supported her she'd also remember, and patrons feeling they hadn't much literary talent or hadn't much money, impossible to get famous women's favor, naturally would also choose these women. For instance the Su family's group of cousins—though all day considering themselves talented and romantic, mouths mostly mentioning thinking of Lu Caicai, Yuan Jin'er these people—but actually their intimates in brothels naturally were all women of slightly lower reputation. These days they extorted money from Su Tan'er rather diligently, roughly to come support these days, show face for women they liked.

Then reaching the latter three days would be the main event, and though daytime was no different from the previous three days, at night large gatherings would be held near White Egret Isle. The prefect and various social celebrities would also attend, jointly participating in this refined grand event, and according to the previous three days' results, basically each brothel would have one to two quotas. The third night altogether over a hundred women performed here, selecting sixteen among them, the fourth night, from the sixteen selecting four leading courtesans, and the fifth night was when the top courtesan was born. These three nights those able to come participate in the grand event were roughly also rich people, and the top courtesan naturally was also produced under their support.

"...This selecting top courtesans matter, annually handled by Jiangning government, and those flowers, also all prepared by the government. So-called sending flowers is just making noise—previous years even had people sending ten thousand at once. Heh, where would there be ten thousand flowers for him to send... But these matters are done beautifully too, for relying only on brothels, they couldn't manage this, but through government it can become lively. Silver for buying flowers, government levies twenty percent, monthly taxes still calculated as usual, and this twenty percent comes from thin air. Every year this silver is quite a bit..."

By the Qinhuai River, noon time, Ning Yi and Li Pin were just coming down from a restaurant, and Li Pin was also smilingly telling Ning Yi about the recently hotly discussed top courtesan selection matter. Today was April thirtieth, and the first day of the top courtesan competition had already begun, with various brothels in Jiangning city all making it very grand. Silk and bamboo music came from afar, a painted boat was slowly moving on the river surface, colored silk waving, and a small boat poled along the Qinhuai riverbank. On the small boat besides the boatman, there was actually a beautifully dressed woman suddenly waving and calling toward here: "Young Master Li, Young Master Li..." She'd recognized Li Pin.

"Noon is hot. If the two young masters have nothing to do, would you come to the boat for tea, rest a while?"

Ning Yi looked at Li Pin somewhat strangely, and Li Pin seeing his expression, smiled, clasping hands to refuse the girl on the small boat. That girl spoke a few sentences, finally not insisting further, and after walking a bit farther, Ning Yi smiled: "Haha, Brother Li has wide social connections."

"Went before, she remembered." Li Pin smiled also somewhat proudly. "If Liheng had been interested just now, we'd go up and sit, and the other party would have to respectfully welcome us—money wouldn't need spending. If able to write a poem praising some girl, that side would even have payment for the writing, and talents with greater reputation—the other party offering themselves would be willing..."

"With Brother Li's talent and reputation, those offering themselves must be many?"

"Indeed there have been, but if Liheng was willing to speak his name, entering the inner chambers would be simple. Hehe, afraid not many women could refuse, and since the Lantern Festival, I've also met with that Lady Qilan several times. She's quite concerned about Liheng, so I think if Liheng was willing to compose a poem for her, even intimate contact wouldn't be impossible. Haha."

Previously Li Pin and Ning Yi didn't often speak of these things, but now having started, they chatted and laughed on. Talents' poems became famous because of beauties, and beauties also couldn't leave talents' accompaniment, so every year's top courtesan assembly naturally couldn't lack various poems as backdrop. With Li Pin's status, if writing a praising poem for some woman, it could immediately raise the other party's value, and last year's four leading courtesans were respectively Qilan, Lu Caicai, Yuan Jin'er, and Feng Xiaojing who became top courtesan. Reportedly Li Pin stood on Feng Xiaojing's side, one of the talents cheering and supporting her.

"Speaking of it, actually it's a contest of pride." Li Pin shook his head smiling. "The year before last's Lantern Festival, last year's Lantern Festival, Zhishui Poetry Gathering and Lichuan Poetry Gathering couldn't determine superiority, so both sides developed some temper. At that time Cao Guan greatly showed off, becoming head of Zhishui's talents, and he wrote two poems for Yuan Jin'er while the rest of Zhishui also stood on Yuan Jin'er's side. So... hehe, a group from Lichuan chose Feng Xiaojing, and at that time Lady Qilan supported by the Wu family actually had the strongest power, but the Wu family were merchants, wanting to be low-key, so they didn't throw money randomly. In the end surprisingly let Xiaojing gain the upper hand—this was really strange... This year won't be like that, mainly Liheng appeared from nowhere, so now everyone's hearts feel empty, afraid there won't be contests of pride. But this is hard to say—if Liheng also has someone in mind, haha, perhaps everyone would attack together..."

Ning Yi normally didn't visit brothels, didn't socialize much, and Li Pin also knew clearly. After saying this he smiled: "Does Liheng have plans these days?"

"Go to White Egret Isle the third night to see performances."

"Your wife allows you to go? That needs good planning..." Li Pin said teasingly. Actually he now taught at Yushan Academy, and from a certain meaning almost counted as having Su family retainer status—the Su family had also invited him to eat several times, meeting with Old Master Su and Su Tan'er, and Su Tan'er occasionally also went to the academy. He clearly knew Su Tan'er wasn't some evil wife, just sometimes, women were ultimately women. What he said about planning now was which beauty's banquet to attend after performances, for usually speaking, if you helped which woman, that night naturally also had a celebration banquet where the other party came out to thank, performed extra, and this side's various talents satisfied would produce poems, spreading her fame, also spreading their own fame.

Hearing Li Pin finish saying these things, Ning Yi smiled shaking his head: "Going together with Tan'er."

Li Pin was stunned, then reacted: "That's also true—those days' performances, everyone naturally uses all their abilities, so just watching is also quite good."

This time counted as Jiangning's highest level performance appreciation, and several days earlier when Ning Yi and Su Tan'er chatted by the second floor railing, Su Tan'er had said she'd free up time to go see with Ning Yi. Actually she also knew Ning Yi liked joining such excitement, and Li Pin felt it somewhat a pity. He had wife and concubines at home but didn't plan to bring them, mainly the banquets afterward weren't just about approaching beauties—making connections, expanding social circles, spreading reputation—these were his main purposes.

The two walked a while, going different directions at an intersection, and Ning Yi had nothing to do, walking home all the way. Su Tan'er and several maids had also returned, and Chan'er and Juan'er chattered about performances seen on the road today and things heard, yearning for the performance grand occasions of the third, fourth, and fifth days. But reaching evening, a letter was delivered, then two managers hurriedly entered the residence, discussing long with Su Tan'er in the neighboring courtyard, and only at dinnertime did Su Tan'er somewhat apologetically speak of not being able to go see performances.

"Something urgent came up—I'm afraid I can't accompany you after all, so you should go with Xiao Chan." Shortly after, she added with the same quiet smile they shared upstairs: "Wending and Wenfang have their dozens or hundreds of taels, but I'll give Xiao Chan some of my private money. If you see a girl who performs well, go ahead and send her flowers—send enough and you'll even get invited to the thank-you banquets afterward... Just don't call me stingy when you're basking in their favor..."

"Profiteer..." Detecting certain small calculations from the other party, Ning Yi sighed, laughing.

Su Tan'er smiled wrinkling her nose: "Hmph!"

Afterward she called Xiao Chan in and told her with her usual smile about watching the performances on the third, setting out some silver notes as well, and the little girl seemed dejected that Juan'er and Xing'er couldn't go, though she was happy she could go herself. After struggling with herself for a while, she finally said: "Young Miss, let me... switch with Juan'er to accompany Young Master. I'll go with Sister Xing'er to help you with the workshop matters... Juan'er has been wanting to watch for so long..."

"Finish handling matters on the fourth, we can all go watch together on the fifth." Su Tan'er smiled, then reached out gently touching Chan'er's cheek, looking at the little girl's beautiful features, then turning back, looking toward the window on that side of the courtyard. Thinking a while more before taking a deep breath, making a certain decision.

"Xiao Chan, you actually like Young Master, don't you?"

Silence fell from the other side as Xiao Chan's body went rigid, her eyes darting about frantically, adorably panicked, while her entire face flushed crimson. In that moment, she seemed to physically shrink into herself, becoming somehow smaller...

(End of Chapter)