"...It's said that in February of that year, during the Liao Kingdom's 'Spring Nabo'¹festival, all the tribal chiefs participated in the 'Head Fish Banquet' hosted by Yelu Yanxi. At that time, Wanyan Aguda stood up and demanded that Yelu Yanxi return the land of Ashu, but Yelu Yanxi ignored him. Later when the banquet reached its climax, Yelu Yanxi ordered the leaders to sing and dance for entertainment. Wanyan Aguda also remained motionless, answering that he couldn't. Yelu Yanxi flew into a rage and nearly drew his sword to kill Wanyan Aguda on the spot. Now Wanyan Aguda is in his prime, wildly ambitious. When war breaks out between Jin and Liao, it will be a fight to the death. Our great Wu Dynasty should profit as the fisherman while they fight. Weighing the situation on both sides, in my view, once war erupts, our dynasty's armies should first show weakness, then take Yingzhou first..."

At noon on the same Dragon Boat Festival, in a restaurant by the river, Gu Yanzhen was chatting with several companions. Below were still various festive scenes. People came and went in the restaurant as the group arranged bowls, chopsticks and plates on the table in formations, discussing for a long time.

"I didn't expect Yanzhen to have such accomplishments in military strategy as well. Admirable, admirable." Among the companions was a minor military official who cupped his hands and smiled. Then someone else in the group clapped: "More than just military strategy—Yanzhen is not only exceptionally clever but also wise and brave. I heard that on his journey to the capital, he encountered bandits but escaped through clever planning, then brought reinforcements to capture the entire gang. When I heard about it, I was truly impressed."

"Did that really happen?" Someone's eyes widened.

"Hehe, it was just coincidence, being in the right place at the right time." Gu Yanzhen smiled. "However, I've always felt that the civil and military arts complement each other—one tense, one relaxed. Given today's situation in the world, one should cultivate both. When I go to Leping, if I can achieve something in a few years, I even want to abandon the brush for the sword, following Ban Chao's²ambition..."

He would take office in Leping in July, probably leaving Jiangning in June. The group chatted and laughed with another round of flattery. When this small gathering dispersed and everyone had left, he sat by the window gazing at the scenery outside, thinking. Before long, his attendant called Xiao Si came up.

"Found out?"

"Answering Young Master, from yesterday to today, we've discovered much information about that Ning Liheng. However, I came mainly because there's news from the workshop."

"Hm?"

"The century egg matter is all prepared."

"This matter..." Gu Yanzhen frowned. "It no longer has much significance... But never mind, let's go see. Tell me about that Ning Yi on the way."

"Yes, they say this Ning Yi has always kept a low profile, good at concealing his abilities. When I investigated his original background yesterday, all the people around his former residence said..."

Chattering away, the two passed through the market, turned through alleys, and entered a small workshop with poor sanitation. A moment later, Gu Yanzhen came out covering his nose with a frown: "Fine, since it's already prepared, start putting them on the market tomorrow. She sells for twenty wen, here we sell for ten wen. I won't come here again—it's just a small matter. Let Boss Hu handle it himself."

"Yes, but... Young Master will leave for Leping next month. Boss Hu worries that even so, one month won't be enough to defeat their business."

"Who said we must defeat her business? What use is defeating their business? Don't worry about this matter, do your job."

Frowning, Gu Yanzhen walked forward. His family were originally landlords with money. Making these century eggs wouldn't cost much silver. At the time, it was because he wanted to know who was behind Nie Yunzhu, but had no clues, so he had people do some things. If there really was a prestigious old man behind Nie Yunzhu, this matter might still have some significance. But by now, it had become somewhat superfluous. But never mind—a little time would be enough to let her understand how vulnerable those unrealistic fantasies of independence were.

Recalling what Xiao Si had just said, that Ning Yi usually liked to tinker with random things but was rather unorthodox in serious matters, supposedly making things like chalk and blackboards and such trivial details. Hmph, no wonder he mixed with people like Li Pin—probably another arrogant type who thought himself unconventional. The century eggs were likely his creation. Thinking back, the painting on Nie Yunzhu's cart... full of artisan's vulgarity, not fit for refined halls.

Later to spread those century eggs, he used no novel methods either, merely finding shills and such inferior tactics. The art of war has both orthodox and unorthodox approaches. Such methods seemed insignificant to him. He had thought of several methods, all far superior to using shills... But thinking about it now, this matter was useless anyway. He had originally thought Yunzhu was a woman of refined character, but unexpectedly she was deceived by such petty tricks. How laughable...

Walking through the noisy streets, he thought about these matters, about those two people—Yunzhu, Ning Liheng... He had originally thought the other party had noble character, thought she had found someone good, thought there were truly circumstances beyond his imagination involved. But thinking about it now...

How disappointing...

A brothel courtesan who sat in a well watching the sky yet thought herself pure as ice and jade, a merchant son-in-law who used clumsy tricks and petty methods yet thought himself a romantic talent. Thinking about it, it was truly more laughable and sordid than liaisons between crude commoners...

How lamentable that he had previously been drawn into these matters.

Thinking thus, by evening, he once again saw those two people.

Just as Su Tan'er had predicted in the morning, after last night's assassination incident, inspections entering and leaving the city were strict today—they couldn't let large groups of people in and out. The performance for the final night of the courtesan competition had been moved to a large parade ground by the river in the eastern part of the city. The scenery here naturally wasn't as beautiful as outside the city, but with temporary arrangements and being a bit crowded, accommodating three thousand spectators was no problem. The nearby waterway could also accommodate moored painted boats. After all, this courtesan competition represented enormous income for Jiangning Prefecture—they couldn't just cancel it casually.

A court official being assassinated meant little to ordinary citizens. In idle conversation, most would probably applaud. So even with this incident, it couldn't dampen everyone's enthusiasm for watching performances—if anything, it made them more excited.

In the afternoon, riding in the carriage with Su Tan'er and the others around the city, they would eat whenever they encountered interesting snacks. What they heard were all stories about the female assassin. Chan'er and Juan'er used two boxes in the carriage to stage "Cylinder versus Square Battle" with "eight chi tall and eight chi waist."

Su Tan'er had recovered her spirits by now, occasionally lowering her head to smile and chat with Ning Yi about various matters. In the past when everyone had reservations, performing the model couple act at home, she absolutely wouldn't mention business. But now it was mostly business-related—for instance, mentioning how much business the shops would lose with the city gates closed, estimating how much less income there would be, sighing slightly. Actually, it was mostly joking—though she sighed, she didn't take these small matters to heart.

Ning Yi would occasionally suggest unreliable ideas beside her, like printing the text of the Four Books and Five Classics on cloth, then making clothes from such fabric. Walking out with characters all over oneself—novel style, imposing presence. Su Tan'er smiled and said she'd make one for her husband next time, though embroidering the Four Books and Five Classics would be troublesome: "But husband must really wear it out." Ning Yi naturally had no taboos and nodded in agreement.

While eating by the river, he took out brush and ink to draw portraits for them—actually just simple line-drawing Q-version cartoon portraits. On the rice paper, the four women's expressions were exaggerated but each had their characteristics. After Su Tan'er and her maids laughed, they criticized Ning Yi thoroughly. People in this era naturally couldn't appreciate such drawings. Ning Yi debated with Su Tan'er, and amid protests from Chan'er, Juan'er and Xing'er, decided to bet with Su Tan'er by setting up a stall on the roadside to find appreciative souls. Su Tan'er originally said: "Fine, go ahead and set up." When Ning Yi really moved a stool to sit by the roadside preparing to write and draw, she and Xiao Chan laughingly pulled him back.

Ning Yi laughed heartily: "Does this count as my win?" Su Tan'er's face flushed red with laughter: "Husband is always fooling around—I can't afford to lose face like that." Chan'er whispered beside them: "Chan'er can't afford it either..." Juan'er nodded vigorously, then both troublemakers got a light knock from Ning Yi. They all knew Ning Yi had an easygoing personality and didn't mind occasionally joking like this.

From when the assassination occurred last night, people in the prefecture offices had already realized the courtesan competition couldn't be held outside the city. So changes to the venue had begun since early this morning. By evening when Ning Yi and Su Tan'er's group arrived by carriage, the sun was setting in the west. The streets and buildings around the entire venue were already decorated with lanterns and colored silk flying. In the waterway opposite the parade ground, painted boats were lined up one after another. Though the lamps weren't lit yet, people were coming and going on them, already very lively.

In the painted boat room belonging to Golden Wind Tower, Yuan Jin'er was preparing for tonight's performance. This night, four leading courtesans would compete for the top courtesan title, each performing three times. The period from evening until going on stage was usually for quiet rest without many disturbances. Of course, performers also had the right to make their own arrangements. If they truly had close companions, they might be received in the room for intimate moments. In Yuan Jin'er's painted boat room at this time, there was indeed another person—not her maid, but Nie Yunzhu dressed as a man. The two were by the window, watching the scene of crowds entering from the parade ground side while chatting.

"Tonight is very important, right?" Yuan Jin'er asked Nie Yunzhu.

Nie Yunzhu nodded, seeming more nervous than Yuan Jin'er: "Yes, if there are no problems tonight, starting tomorrow there will be lots to do."

"I'm not nervous." Yuan Jin'er secretly took a bite of mung bean cake, then got a glare from Nie Yunzhu, who snatched away the remaining half. Nie Yunzhu threw the mung bean cake in her mouth, chewed hard and swallowed, then drank water while puffing up: "I told you not to keep eating these things!"

"But I'm not nervous. I don't even want to win top courtesan. If Feng Xiaojing wants it, if Qilan wants it, if Luo Miaomiao wants it, let them have it. Sister Yunzhu, you're really strange. If you were participating in this courtesan competition, you probably wouldn't feel anything, but now you're nervous about that little matter..."

"It's my first time doing something to this extent, of course I'm nervous. If there are no surprises today, the reputation of century eggs might truly spread. 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 remembered something and instantly changed expression, squinting her eyes fiercely. "Oh right, Sister Yunzhu, I heard a few days ago that there are fake century eggs—someone else is selling them too, trying to steal your business. What should we do about this..."

"Ah?" Nie Yunzhu was slightly puzzled, then frowned. "Already?"

"Really, Jin'er was so worried, asking around everywhere. Sister Yunzhu, you're the big boss and don't even know. Then what was the point of me cursing that guy stealing Sister Yunzhu's business with voodoo dolls every night these past few days... I'm so angry!"

"No, he had already anticipated this." Nie Yunzhu spoke with a slight smile. "He said if this happened he would handle it, told me not to worry about it. So I haven't investigated these past few days, being completely preoccupied with tonight's matters..."

"That amazing?" Yuan Jin'er glanced at her unhappily. "Hmph, I want to see what exactly he can do..."

After saying this, she turned to look outside, scanning the crowd briefly before suddenly perking up and blinking: "Oh my, speak of Cao Cao and Cao Cao arrives. Sister Yunzhu, look look, your sweetheart... ah... wu, Brother Yunzhu I was wrong..."