With a bang, fireworks lit up the sky near White Egret Isle. In the converging crowds below, Xiao Chan held onto Ning Yi's sleeve corner as they moved forward, looking up as she walked. Occasionally stumbling on a pebble, her head would bump into Ning Yi's back.

The courtesan competition venue was said to be at White Egret Isle, but actually it was near a relay station between White Egret Isle and Jiangning. This place backed onto mountains and faced water with expansive green spaces. The huge assembly ground had already been enclosed, and on the nearby river surface, tower boats and painted boats formed continuous rows. With the flower carriages arriving one after another, the green spaces outside were now packed with crowds, various snacks and performances spread across the grass, and amid the extending firelight, the clamor and bustle created great excitement.

Getting into the venue to watch performances was actually simple—the fee was one flower. Once inside, if you saw a girl you liked, you could present flowers to her. One flower cost one tael of silver, recorded as one thousand wen. Though the Wu Dynasty's Jiangning area was prosperous, for ordinary families this was already a considerable sum. Nearly ten thousand people had come this time, but only about three thousand could enter. The rest would probably enjoy entertainment outside the venue, waiting for the competition to end, or go home to sleep midway through.

Looking through Ning Yi's perspective to deconstruct this, it was a society with quite large wealth disparity—actually much larger than a thousand years later. Though some complained and were dissatisfied, everyone had already grown accustomed to too many things. In their thinking, such situations were only natural. Those with families enjoyed the cool evening with relatives on the lively grass and riverbanks outside, spending dozens or hundreds of wen as an extravagance. Those without money simply came to watch the variety performances, listening to music drifting from the venue, and when a certain girl won the top courtesan title, they'd celebrate joyfully together.

Of the three thousand who entered, most weren't wealthy either. Poorer talents wanting to appear cultured and make connections, and many who gritted their teeth and paid, not wanting to miss such events. The truly wealthy were probably the few hundred at the very top—likely not even reaching a thousand. They would contribute over ninety percent of this grand event's income, ranging from dozens of taels to hundreds, thousands, or even breaking ten thousand, always giving people something to discuss enthusiastically for quite a while. In Yangzhou and the Eastern Capital, during each courtesan competition, the grandeur was reportedly even more unprecedented, surpassing Jiangning.

When they arrived, the flower carriages had already entered. At the gate, people entered by showing tickets, and the bustling crowd created severe congestion. Ning Yi and Xiao Chan ran to the grass beside, finding a relatively free small stall to eat a bowl of douhua¹while watching the grand scene. Amid the crowded masses, sounds of acquaintances waving and greeting rang out constantly. Occasionally someone trying to sneak in was driven out, both sides cursing at each other. Getting in would probably take some time. Xiao Chan sat at the small table having bought douhua but not eating it, taking several preserved plums and such from her bosom to decorate the douhua bowl. Ning Yi watched helplessly.

"Can you eat it like this?"

"It looks nice." Xiao Chan said while scooping a spoonful of tofu pudding with plum pieces into her mouth, holding it and slowly savoring for a long time, somewhat intoxicated. Ning Yi admired her ability to make one spoonful of tofu pudding last so long. Unintentionally, he recalled that long, long ago, there seemed to have been times when a cotton candy could be licked for an hour. He couldn't help smiling at Xiao Chan's expression, put down his spoon, and leisurely waited while watching the surroundings.

For him, leisure in most situations was actually a kind of patience. After coming to the Wu Dynasty, it was mostly like this—more a habit formed from patience, a composure cultivated over years to remain unmoved even if Mount Tai collapsed before him. But sitting here with Xiao Chan amid the clamorous crowds, what he felt was perhaps true leisure. After a moment, Xiao Chan pointed at the crowd: "Oh, Young Master, it's Young Master Wending and Young Master Wenfang."

In the crowd were indeed Su family's Su Wending and Su Wenfang with several friends. Ning Yi had heard of them before—probably talents with some minor fame. When they looked over from here, those over there had already seen them too. Spotting Ning Yi and Xiao Chan, they seemed slightly awkward.

These people usually had no topics with Ning Yi, occasionally exchanging pleasantries at the Su family. Recently when they came to extort money from Su Tan'er, Ning Yi had been present. They used various business ventures as excuses, all sorts of ambitious reasons. Su Tan'er would nag at length each time, even offering guidance and opinions about doing business. Though they might understand that this cousin sister-in-law saw through their activities, encountering Ning Yi now was still awkward.

From Su Wending and Su Wenfang's perspective, on one hand Ning Yi had married in, but on the other hand he truly had talent—this had spread through the Su family, and no one dared truly look down on him. Even without this, they had to give Su Tan'er face. They probably hesitated now, considering whether to come greet him. Ning Yi just nodded and smiled at them, solving their dilemma so they needn't come over.

Later he saw Kang Xian's household retinue, and after a while, the gate finally had some leeway with the crowd thinning slightly. Ning Yi and the slowly-eating Xiao Chan had finished their douhua and headed over. Then they encountered Li Pin, accompanied by two other talents. After mutual introductions and Xiao Chan politely greeting them, they entered together.

The venue on the third day was actually quite spacious—after all, with over a hundred girls performing, if they took turns on one stage, they'd be performing until tomorrow's dawn.

Participants entered through the enclosed gate to first see the newly decorated relay station, restaurants and such—most buildings already existed. These provided wine, tea, meals, and various resting places. Nearby mountain rocks, beaches, circular stages and other arrangements all differed—it was almost like a theme park.

Five stages were set up together: tower boats and water pavilions, teahouse dance floors, river bend towers, mountain-side platforms, and the central circular drum. Which girl would perform where and roughly when was all arranged. Usually the order was drawn by lots, but there were also deliberate adjustments—for instance, the four leading courtesans or recognized popular girls had staggered performance times, trying to avoid situations where all four leading courtesans performed simultaneously at different venues, leaving people unsure whom to watch.

The tower boats and painted boats naturally served as the girls' resting places. Around the grounds were various large and small tents, similarly the territory of each brothel—one needed an invitation to enter and meet the performers. Several surrounding restaurants were fairly literary, with better poems hung up to build momentum and support for certain girls. Presenting flowers on stage wasn't done by throwing them up—naturally there were people alongside doing registration.

"To receive Brother Gu's favor this time, among the four leading courtesans, Miss Miaomiao will surely advance without doubt. The 'Pitying the Lonely' poem Brother Gu previously wrote for Miss Miaomiao was like fine cuisine—after reading it, the fragrance lingered for days. Brother Gu's poetic talent is admirable. Come, a toast to Brother Gu."

Night had fallen and fireworks had been set off. Performances on various stages had actually begun, with crowds in the grounds gathering and dispersing, going to watch performances at their preferred stages. In the nearby Literary Ink Building, Gu Yanzhen was taking a brief rest with several people. Among them, with Gu Yanzhen as the leader, they mainly admired a girl named Luo Miaomiao. This girl had debuted recently but already had high fame with many pursuers. In this competition, making the top sixteen seemed certain—she was a popular candidate for the four leading courtesans. Gu Yanzhen had written several poems for her in recent days to boost her momentum.

At this time, after mutual flattery and some time passing, a beautiful woman came to greet them. Gu Yanzhen had previously written poems for her too. Having finished performing, she came to express thanks and accompanied them for two cups of wine. She clearly had some interest in Gu Yanzhen but knew he was currently pursuing Luo Miaomiao. After a while, feeling hopeless and having other matters, she took her leave.

Madams occasionally brought girls up to this Literary Ink Building to express thanks, making it quite lively. After the first wave of enthusiasm, his good friend Shen Miao poured wine and came over: "How enviable—Yanzhen has beauties admiring him everywhere."

Gu Yanzhen laughed: "What use is beauties' admiration when the beauty I admire doesn't admire me?"

Others thought he meant Luo Miaomiao and asked with interest. Gu Yanzhen was forthright, telling of pursuing a woman days ago, wanting to take her as a concubine to Leping, only to be slapped by her. He told this naturally, and others admired him, praising his ability to take things in stride. Shen Miao knew his character and later smiled as he approached: "That's not what you're thinking in your heart."

"What else can I do?" Gu Yanzhen calmly clinked cups with him and drained it in one gulp.

"Do you know who that Miss Nie likes?"

"Probably can't find out anything."

"Maybe Miss Nie truly has an indifferent nature and doesn't want to marry?"

"How is that possible?" Gu Yanzhen frowned slightly, lowering his voice and speaking faster. "During the century egg matter, someone must have been manipulating things behind the scenes! Hateful... Unfortunately when I questioned Dexin that day, Dexin protected that person with lips sealed tight. Hmph, I just wanted to know what kind of extraordinary person this was. If truly brilliantly talented, I, Gu Yanzhen, would naturally be convinced..."

"Can't find out from others?"

"As you know, that person was just joking with friends, made a bet and thus had Dexin find people as shills, even requiring they not use reputation to help. This person might also be a famous talent... Ah, with Yunzhu's nature, she'd naturally like such people. That day Yunzhu's maid Hutao hinted I should pursue her young miss, vaguely revealing her young miss seemed to have someone in mind, but the entanglement wasn't deep yet, and that person was absolutely unsuitable for her young miss. After that incident, she knew there was probably no hope between her young miss and me, so naturally protected her young miss, no longer revealing the other's identity..." Gu Yanzhen shook his head. "If I had to guess, Yunzhu probably fell for some seventy or eighty-year-old elder celebrity, admiring his talent and insight, and got carried away... Yunzhu isn't materialistic, so with her indifferent nature, this isn't impossible."

In the Jiangning area with its many celebrities, if Nie Yunzhu truly liked some famous old man, even with Gu Yanzhen now having money and an official position, there'd probably be nothing he could do. Such old men mostly had extensive connections—if Yunzhu truly gave her heart, it absolutely wasn't something a young talent like him could handle. As the two discussed this, faint sounds of commotion came from the other side of the restaurant, as if something was happening.

Looking over from here, it appeared two groups of talents were mocking and arguing with each other. A girl who'd come up to express thanks was now somewhat flustered, trying to mediate without effect. One young man seemed to have been mocked until his face was red with considerable embarrassment.

Then someone from their side came over laughing, holding a piece of paper and explaining the situation: "Haha, that girl is Tang Jing from Willow Leaf Tower. Her singing and dancing are finished with good reception. This young master here presented a hundred flowers, so she came up to thank him. Later he composed a poem but made a fool of himself. Hehe, everyone look—what kind of poem is this?"

Those with Gu Yanzhen were mostly famous talents whose learning far exceeded ordinary people. Taking the poem to look, they burst out laughing. The poem truly was terrible, merely following tonal patterns with overly obvious craftsmanship. Any worse and it would become doggerel. How could this person write such a thing and still try to act like a talent? Gu Yanzhen looked and smiled: "Poetry like this... heh, this person must be from a merchant family."

Actually, many people wrote poor poetry while affecting culture, but it depended on the place. Some merchants writing doggerel had people flattering them in certain settings, but if you lacked self-awareness and created randomly where elders and celebrities gathered, you couldn't blame others for laughing. Right now that person was being thoroughly mocked. Someone on Gu Yanzhen's side also laughed: "Yanzhen has keen eyes indeed. This person's family runs a cloth store, called Su Wending. He has no real learning—among the opposing group there's probably an old grudge, now making him lose face."

"Heh, Wending—'literary stability' is difficult." Gu Yanzhen shook his head, smiling as he watched the show. "Don't bother with it, let them be."

Those being mocked over there were indeed Su Wenfang, Su Wending and others. Su Wenfang currently liked that Tang Jing and had saved money to come support her, even writing a poem from the heart. Unfortunately his literary talent truly wasn't enough, and now he was being continuously mocked. But his side also had those with slightly higher learning who immediately came out saying: "What crooked poems can you write?"

The other side laughed: "Naturally better than yours."

Both sides immediately began competing with poetry, but after just two rounds, Su Wenfang's side was struggling. On the opposing side, one person had excellent poetic talent and now wrote just one praising Tang Jing that immediately overwhelmed everyone. Though Tang Jing had artistic skills, her usual reputation wasn't prominent, and she couldn't handle such jealous competition well for the moment. Then someone came over laughing to tell Su Wenfang and others about Gu Yanzhen's group's evaluation, pointing at Gu Yanzhen's side.

Though Gu Yanzhen didn't want to get involved, their evaluation had still spread over—this was quite normal, so he just watched the show from here. Su Wenfang and Su Wending's group felt even more embarrassed. The opposition was openly pursuing Tang Jing with poetry, yet they who fancied themselves talents had no way to counter.

The other side laughed: "Brother Jiwen's poetic talent—how could the likes of you reach it? Even at Zhishui or Lichuan Poetry Gatherings, everyone would praise it highly. You lot should have just not mentioned poetry competition. With such talent you dare show off? Let me teach you to write poetry."

As he spoke, he wrote one that was quite proper, then others wrote more, creating enthusiastic participation. That Chen Jiwen's poetic talent was indeed good—Gu Yanzhen had probably heard the name. Watching the commotion, he casually wondered if they'd start fighting. Fighting here would probably get them thrown out. Then he turned his gaze downstairs.

A familiar person was coming toward this restaurant.

It was Li Pin, Li Dexin. The two had been familiar before, but after receiving a slap from Nie Yunzhu, he'd gone to ask about the person behind Nie Yunzhu. Though he'd spoken lightly earlier, Li Pin refused to reveal the other's identity, even saying: "I know your character—speak no more of this now." In a sense, the two had already broken off relations.

Therefore, he frowned slightly.

Coming with Li Pin was a young man he'd never seen before. The two were conversing about something. Behind them followed a pretty maid in a white dress with small flowers, apparently accompanying that unknown man...