Chapter 55: Celebration

The third day of the fifth month was bright and sunny.

For Ning Yi, it wasn't particularly special—he ran as usual, ate as usual, and taught as usual. Of course, Jiangning city had been quite lively these past few days, and walking through the streets, one could occasionally see brothel performances. People delighted in such things, often discussing how many flowers a certain girl had received or which two men had fought over jealousy. Even ordinary matters, when told in teahouses and restaurants, gained many twists and turns, becoming quite dramatic.

During these two or three days, Su Tan'er had indeed been somewhat busy, leaving early and returning late. Her activities were somewhat secretive, though Ning Yi vaguely knew the outline—likely related to "palace licenses¹" or something similar. Many of Su Tan'er's recent actions appeared unremarkable on the surface but were secretly aimed in this direction. She wanted to become an imperial merchant, establish connections with Bianliang, and... had apparently already found her approach.

Imperial merchants in this era came in two types. Since the Tanyuan and Black Water peace treaties, compensation to the north required large amounts of cloth and silk. The imperial family wouldn't pay high prices, but it meant high volume with low margins, and after establishing relations with the imperial family, there would always be some compensatory benefits. On the other hand, the Wu Dynasty court now collected fine things everywhere, and if truly excellent silk could be sold to the palace, establishing this connection would bring numerous advantages. Su Tan'er wasn't merely fantasizing—while finding connections on one side, she was improving technology on the other, seeking breakthroughs. This time, the issue likely involved the technical team she'd secretly assembled. In certain key technical areas, merchants maintained extreme secrecy, and once something happened, besides Su Tan'er and Su Boyong, even the responsible managers might struggle to make decisions. But it wasn't truly busy—she just couldn't relax.

Ning Yi still didn't understand Su Tan'er's complete plan, having only fragments from casual conversations to speculate with. But his wife—only nineteen and usually gentle and courteous—having such a large appetite in this area was admirable. There were never brilliant schemes in this world, just differences between large appetites and larger appetites. Once this matter was properly accomplished, Su Tan'er taking over the Su family would be beyond doubt, while the other two branches would probably still waste effort on basic troublemaking and tripping people up. Different levels of vision.

And though no one could react to it, Su Tan'er wasn't taking shortcuts—she was ultimately working on technical improvements before seeking opportunities. This approach was solid and practical. Though perhaps luck played a part, in a sense, Ning Yi could only acknowledge that when certain women of this era set their minds to business, they were probably more pragmatic than many current men. Su Tan'er was nineteen this year—who knew how long she'd been planning these things.

"Is something... wrong with your family?"

"Eh?"

"You've been a bit off these past two days... If your family has troubles, we should help where we can. You can tell me..."

As Ning Yi spoke, the little maid first blushed, then shook her head vigorously.

"No, nothing's wrong with Xiao Chan's family... Really, nothing..." After emphasizing this, she looked at Ning Yi guiltily. "Um, it's just... I'm happy. Tonight will be very lively. A few years ago, Young Miss took us to watch once. Back then Young Miss and we all dressed as boys—Young Miss looked so handsome, but Juan'er and I couldn't pull it off well, heehee..."

Ning Yi curled his lip—there shouldn't be anything wrong. Since Xiao Chan wouldn't say, he naturally had no need to press further. "So will Xiao Chan dress as a man again today?"

"Ah..." Xiao Chan had dressed prettily today in a white summer dress dotted with small flowers, looking graceful and well-behaved. She looked down at herself somewhat troubled. "It's not absolutely necessary to change... Xiao Chan spent so long getting ready this morning..."

"Then don't change."

Ning Yi waved his hand, and Xiao Chan's nervous expression relaxed. She grabbed Ning Yi's sleeve and trotted behind him for a few steps, her fair wrist visible: "Young Master is so good... wise and mighty..."

"Ignorant and unlearned..." Ning Yi laughed.

It was still early, and tonight Jiangning's city gates wouldn't close. The main contingent heading to White Egret Isle for performances would generally gather in the evening when painted boats and flower carriages would start moving, parading and converging along the way. Of course, some people went there for outings in the afternoon, and various vendors and performers would also head over. Even if many couldn't enter the main venue at night, they'd watch performances nearby, and after the venue performances ended, they'd return with the painted boats and flower carriages, appreciating many beauties' songs and dances along the way.

Ning Yi wasn't planning to go to White Egret Isle yet—he had no beauties to support. He and Xiao Chan headed toward where Old Qin set up his chess stall. Qin Siyuan wouldn't join the excitement tonight, but supposedly Kang Xian would go.

A breeze blew along the afternoon riverbank as willows swayed gently and waves lapped rhythmically against the shore. Ning Yi chatted with Old Qin while playing chess, while Xiao Chan sat on a nearby stool, her legs kicking beneath her skirt hem, embroidered shoes swaying gently as she watched the scenery and nodded along singing. She sang "When Will the Moon Be Round" that Ning Yi had taught her, feeling relaxed and content. She hadn't tied her hair in buns today, letting it flow with the wind—pure and innocent, yet somehow seeming more grown up.

Her singing mingled with the afternoon riverside breeze, perfectly harmonizing with the wind and water's melody. Old Qin smiled: "Though the tune is somewhat strange, Miss Xiao Chan sings it beautifully." Xiao Chan became happy—she'd practiced this song for a long time.

As time passed toward evening, in the small courtyard behind Golden Wind Tower, Yuan Jin'er had removed her makeup and was enjoying her brief moment of relaxation. Though her formal performance was tonight, she'd had many social obligations these past few days. Starting from morning, dealing with visits from various talents and patrons, maneuvering between males who disliked each other due to mutual jealousy, stabilizing situations, controlling atmospheres, trying not to let anyone truly get angry, letting them have competitive spirit and secretly compete without really tearing off masks—for her, this was mentally exhausting work.

Actually, the courtesan competition's hidden battles had begun half a month ago, and these days had been mostly like this. Only this afternoon had she gotten slightly free, only dealing with greetings from important guests like Cao Guan. She'd just played a qin piece on the outside stage, listened to everyone's praise, graciously thanked them, then returned to remove her makeup. During this time Cao Guan and others came to see her once more before she got a brief respite. From now until evening when the flower carriages started moving belonged to her, and as one of the four leading courtesans and Golden Wind Tower's star attraction, she didn't need to perform on the flower carriages—just conserve energy and prepare for tonight's performance.

"Tonight's no problem, just need to ensure top sixteen... Been so busy these days, hungry but can't eat much. Mother still tells me to eat less—she basically wants to starve me..."

In shorts and a short shirt—actually just wearing undergarments—without much makeup after removing it, her hair also messy, Yuan Jin'er lounged lazily on the daybed, her fair and tender shoulders, neck, bare feet and wrists exposed without defense as she talked while hugging a plate of guest fruits and candied treats to her chest, stuffing them in her mouth. Then that fruit plate was snatched away by the other person in the room.

"Mother tells you to eat less because she's afraid you'll be bloated during performance. If you want to eat, have some rice soup. Stuffing yourself with fruits now and not eating dinner—what if you get bloated during performance? Spit out what's in your mouth too, aren't you afraid of choking..."

Yuan Jin'er originally wanted to snatch back the fruit plate, but that hand reached greedily toward her mouth. She closed her mouth with an "mmm," puffing her cheeks and refusing to open no matter what, then struggled a bit. That hand smacked her face in exasperation, and she crawled to the inner part of the daybed, chewing and swallowing everything with gulping sounds, then coughed for a long time, covering her throat: "Uh... I swallowed the pit, cough cough..."

That hand poured a small half cup of water: "Only one sip allowed, dinner's coming."

"I know, Sister Yunzhu... ah no, Brother Yunzhu."

The other person in the room was Nie Yunzhu, dressed today in black men's robes with her long hair tied up and wearing a scholar's cap. If she held a fan, she might truly have some of that feather-fan-and-silk-scarf elegant bearing. Of course, at first glance some might take her for a man, but recognizing her was still easy. Cross-dressing required not just makeup and good acting but natural talent, and while Nie Yunzhu might be good at makeup and acting, she unfortunately lacked the talent.

In the past, Nie Yunzhu wouldn't have easily approached Golden Wind Tower, but things had begun changing. Over these two months, century eggs had been quietly developing their reputation. Following Ning Yi's guidance, she'd hired some people, and when she needed to hire one or two cooks, she'd gone through Yuan Jin'er's connections—after all, these were the only connections she could find now. She was gradually thinking of herself as a merchant, though she usually didn't seem like one at all and didn't have complicated business negotiations.

In two months' time, century eggs had opened up recognition as Ning Yi predicted, but the business developed silently and low-key, with some brewing matters not yet emerged. Nie Yunzhu had resumed occasional contact with Yuan Jin'er, mainly because Yuan Jin'er wanted to make a splash in this courtesan competition, and Golden Wind Tower's madam had agreed that if Yunzhu could help a bit, they'd try to help with whatever she wanted to do in the future.

"Actually speaking of it, Cao Guan is really enthusiastic this time—compared to last year, he's working many times harder. Jin'er, look at these poems, truly heartfelt..."

Nie Yunzhu smiled while organizing some poetry manuscripts on the table. Jin'er laughed and stood up on the daybed, smoothing her hair while wearing only undergarments, the girl usually known for liveliness now seeming somewhat alluring: "Him? He just wants to get back at last year's events." As she spoke, the girl's body stretched gently on the bed, swaying with predetermined dance steps, her slender bare feet casually tapping, making light sounds on the daybed. With one sway, her soft body bent backward with her hand gesture, seeming about to fall, but then quickly spun around, her hair whirling in a circle as she stepped forward, freezing in place, then naturally bowing gracefully in thanks.

"Actually Jin'er doesn't care about becoming top courtesan. Being one of the four leading courtesans is fine—who knows what would happen if I became top courtesan. After Feng Xiaojing became top courtesan, I heard one day Commander Cheng forced her and she almost jumped from a building. If not for someone mediating, that Cheng Yong would probably have drawn his sword and killed her. If I became top courtesan, I'd probably have to immediately find someone to marry..."

"By then your redemption price would be even higher."

"There'd always be someone willing to marry me—a top courtesan! Even marrying me to brag about would be good..."

"Could it be Jin'er still hasn't found someone she'd willingly marry?"

Yunzhu asked with a smile. Yuan Jin'er wrinkled her brow, then nearly twisted her mouth into a pig snout, walking to the table and sitting down huffily, reaching for the fruit plate only to have her hand slapped away by Yunzhu.

"Sister Yunzhu likes saying these discouraging things. Men... hmph, anyway Sister Yunzhu always has good men liking her. Oh right, I heard a few days ago that Gu Yanzhen came back in March, pursuing Sister Yunzhu and helping her sell century eggs, but Sister Yunzhu slapped him on the street, completely humiliating him... Gu Yanzhen passed the examinations, has an official position, returned home in glory, and has money—Jin'er would want to marry this kind of man. Sister Yunzhu doesn't know how blessed she is."

Yunzhu laughed: "Jin'er, you said it yourself—men... This way aren't I the same, unable to find someone I'd willingly marry? If Jin'er truly wanted to marry, could you really not find men like Gu Yanzhen?"

"But I don't like them. Maybe Gu Yanzhen is a good man..." Yuan Jin'er was originally joking but now shrugged slightly, discovering a melon seed at the table corner and secretly peeling it to toss in her mouth. "Then... what about Sister Yunzhu's talented scholar Liheng? Don't you want to marry him either?"

Yunzhu threw an outer garment at her face, laughing: "Don't speak carelessly about this. I might not care about reputation, but Liheng has a family—don't soil his good name."

"I know, I know Sister Yunzhu protects him." Yuan Jin'er pulled the clothes off her face, muttering: "Sister Yunzhu, didn't you say he'd be there tonight? After you introduce us, Jin'er will seduce him to see what kind of person he really is. Hmph, when his wife finds out, she can send people to beat me to death with clubs at Golden Wind Tower. Jin'er will fight her—let's see who wins... Maybe then Sister Yunzhu can elope with him and live happily ever after..."

"Talking nonsense..."

"Heehee." Yuan Jin'er laughed. "Speaking of which, why did Sister Yunzhu slap that Gu Yanzhen? Jin'er only heard it happened but doesn't know the specifics."

Nie Yunzhu thought for a moment and took a deep breath: "He truly was a modest gentleman, just too forward that time, so I slapped him... He's not a bad person. This matter probably can't be divided into right or wrong—let's not speak of it anymore."

Looking back, after making her decision in March, when she saw Gu Yanzhen again she'd laid her cards on the table—naturally not mentioning Ning Yi or anything. But this rejection was truly thorough. Gu Yanzhen probably panicked somewhat, saying many explicit things and asking if she had a lover. In the end he actually grabbed her hand, and she instinctively slapped him. Afterward she washed her hands many times but still felt somewhat disgusted.

It happened on the street with many passersby, and Gu Yanzhen had a friend present. The slap wasn't heavy but stunned him, and he hadn't come to pester her since. But Gu Yanzhen's previous publicity had been too high-profile, so news of the slap spread within certain circles. She hadn't expected even Jin'er to know—this was something Nie Yunzhu didn't want to see. Though she was somewhat annoyed at that forward grab, when gentlemen part ways they don't speak ill of each other, and she naturally didn't want these rumors to deepen and soil his reputation.

Yuan Jin'er probably understood her thinking and smiled with a nod: "However, that Young Master Gu will also be there tonight. Sister Yunzhu... no, Brother Yunzhu—what if he recognizes you?"

Yunzhu smiled: "I'm dressed all in black and will only hide in dark places. Who could really recognize me? I'm only going to cheer for you, Jin'er—I don't want to interact with anyone else."

"Eh? What about Young Master Ning?"

A moment of silence, then...

"Jin'er was wrong! Sister Yunzhu spare me—"

Pleas for mercy faintly emerged from the courtyard, mixed with silver bell-like laughter as the yellow of sunset gradually spread from the west.

On the other side, by the Qinhuai River, Old Qin packed up his chess stall and with Ning Yi and Xiao Chan's help, carried his things toward home. Old Qin invited Ning Yi to dinner at his house—they were familiar enough that excessive politeness wasn't needed. After dinner was finished, Old Qin with his two wives, plus Ning Yi and Xiao Chan—five people total—strolled together toward the main road. The sunset colors were magnificent. Ning Yi and Old Qin conversed in front while behind, looking like three generations of women from one family, young Xiao Chan was being teased by the second wife Yun'niang, who'd been a famous courtesan, making the little girl blush furiously while Old Qin's first wife watched kindly from the side.

Gongs, drums and music had already started sounding in the streets, with various processions passing by occasionally. Old Qin smiled while talking to Ning Yi: "If you see Mingyun, give him my regards." Though he wasn't going today, he'd probably take his family to join the excitement for the dragon boat races and top courtesan selection on the fifth. Then a procession approached on the road and everyone stood aside—it was the prefectural magistrate's retinue, a large group of soldiers accompanying in mighty array. The Jiangning Prefectural Magistrate rode his horse at the front, and passing by here he apparently saw Old Qin and actually saluted in this direction. Old Qin, now technically a commoner, returned the courtesy, then tilted his head toward Ning Yi with a smile:

"A few days ago you asked about Captain Song Xian. Now the Ardent Wu Army's Commander Cheng Yong and Captain Song Xian are both here, look."

In the procession, two men riding horses behind the prefectural magistrate seemed to also glance this way inadvertently. Cheng Yong was slightly plump, looking at the crowds on both sides of the road with a smile. Song Xian's gaze was cold and serious, quite imposing. Ning Yi smiled—actually after asking around recently, this Song Xian had already "encountered" him several times on the street. To him, he'd long recognized him. But with the Lantern Festival past, recognizing what he looked like now served no purpose.

The group separated at the intersection ahead—Old Qin went home while Ning Yi and Xiao Chan walked toward the city outskirts in the magnificent sunset. By now, sounds of silk and bamboo music, gongs, drums and firecrackers had risen in Jiangning city. On the Qinhuai River, painted boats with colorful silk banners formed long lines. On city roads, flower carriages surrounded by crowds and gongs and drums moved forward, converging throughout the city with torches and lanterns in mighty array, spreading toward here...

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1. Palace licenses (宫引) - Special permits allowing merchants to trade with the imperial palace, highly coveted for both profit and prestige ↑