“Miss Qingluo received a total of one thousand nine hundred thirty taels and seven qian in rewards. Congratulations, Miss Qingluo,” the bailiff announced loudly.
“Miss Mulan, I recall the courtesan contest lasts three days with twenty-four women competing, right?” Guan Xiaorou covered her mouth in shock. “Just Qingluo alone earned over nineteen hundred taels. How much will the whole contest make?”
“It’s not like that. This is the first round, and with the prefect leading, it seems like a lot. Later rounds won’t be as much. The merchants’ money doesn’t grow on trees,” Qing Mulan explained. “The common folk are the same. After the initial excitement, fewer will buy flowers. Plus, hosting the contest costs the authorities a fair bit.”
As Qing Mulan predicted, the second contestant’s rewards barely topped a thousand taels, a sharp drop. The third was worse, with just over six hundred taels. The fourth, a top star from Xiaoxiang House, did better, breaking a thousand taels again. But the next few were lackluster, the lowest earning just over a hundred taels.
When the contest was halfway through, Lüliu from Jiaofangsi took the stage.
The atmosphere had cooled considerably. Unlike a stadium, the riverside had no seats, and many spectators, tired from standing, sat listlessly on the bank.
But Lüliu, a three-time consecutive courtesan, had strong appeal. Her appearance sparked cheers from familiar scholars and many commoners, reigniting the crowd’s energy.
Lüliu’s three-year reign wasn’t for nothing. Her outfit was perfectly tailored, her dance captivating, complemented by her backup dancers. Graceful yet not vulgar, alluring yet not garish, even Jin Feng, a dance novice, couldn’t help but applaud.
When her performance ended, Jin Feng called in the servant at the entrance and tossed him a ten-tael silver ingot, his first reward of the contest.
“Does my husband fancy this girl?” Guan Xiaorou asked with a smile.
“Her performance was impressive, and we’ve met once before. I should show some support,” Jin Feng replied, smiling.
“How does sir know Lüliu?” Qing Mulan asked, puzzled.
She’d tracked Jin Feng’s movements clearly: he’d only been to the inn, Chunfeng Tower twice, and the blacksmith to buy smelting supplies. Neither Chunfeng Tower nor the forge were places Lüliu would visit.
“Yesterday, when I went to Chunfeng Tower to see Miss Xiao Bei…” Jin Feng recounted their meeting. “As the saying goes, a hundred years to share a boat, a shared carriage is fate too. I doubt I’ll have time to visit Jiaofangsi to support her, so ten taels is my fare for that ride.”
As he spoke, a shout came from outside: “Mr. Jin from Jinchuan rewards Miss Lüliu with ten taels of silver!”
Jin Feng’s eyes narrowed, then he shook his head with a smile.
He’d thought the contest’s tallying was fair, with the courtesan title earned by skill alone. Now he realised there was orchestration behind it.
“Husband, don’t they only announce rewards of fifty taels or more?” Guan Xiaorou asked curiously.
“Someone’s using sir’s name to boost Lüliu,” Qing Mulan said with a laugh.
Outside, the crowd’s murmurs grew louder after the announcement.
“What’s this? Don’t they only announce rewards of fifty taels or more?”
“Is Mr. Jin like the others? Even if he gave one copper coin, they’d announce it.”
“Who’s Mr. Jin?”
“You don’t know Mr. Jin? He wrote ‘No Idle Fields in the Four Seas.’”
“Oh, him! I know, he also wrote ‘Hoeing at Noon’ and ‘Entering the City Yesterday.’”
“Few write poems for us common folk. Since Mr. Jin rewarded Lüliu, I’ll do it too.”
“Count me in!”
The crowd’s enthusiasm surged, with people eagerly offering silver to support Lüliu. Even the prefect joined in, giving her another hundred taels.
Lüliu’s total rewards soared past Qingluo’s, reaching two thousand five hundred taels, making her the top earner so far.
“Thank you, Lord Prefect! Thank you, Mr. Jin!” Lüliu had thought her chances of winning were slim, but Jin Feng’s reward rekindled her hope. She nearly cried on stage.
After their performances, contestants could leave. Lüliu, still in her stage outfit, took a small boat back to shore immediately.
“Sir, Miss Lüliu is here and wants to thank you,” Tie Chui whispered, seeking permission. “Shall I let her in?”
Jin Feng glanced at Guan Xiaorou and sighed. “Let her in.”
She was already here; refusing would seem suspicious.
Moments later, Lüliu entered with Tie Chui, smiling and curtsying. “This humble woman, Lüliu, greets Mr. Jin, Madam Jin, and the ladies.”
Her demeanor was humble yet poised, her movements graceful.
“Up close, Miss Lüliu is even more beautiful than on stage. No wonder she’s a courtesan,” Guan Xiaorou said, admiring Lüliu’s clothes and hair accessories.
Guan Xiaorou was no less beautiful, but as a mountain girl, she never wore makeup or knew how to dress up. Standing before the radiant Lüliu, she felt a bit inferior.
“Miss Lüliu is indeed graceful and stunning, but Xiaorou, you’re a natural beauty. Without makeup, you’re already a rare gem. If you dressed up, how could I focus on work?” Jin Feng teased, knowing Guan Xiaorou’s insecurities.
“Husband, what nonsense are you saying? Have you no shame?” Guan Xiaorou blushed to her neck, playfully punching his arm.
“Sir speaks the truth. If I wore makeup and changed clothes, I wouldn’t even be fit to carry Madam’s shoes,” Lüliu said, glancing at Guan Xiaorou with a hint of envy.
She could tell Jin Feng genuinely cared for Guan Xiaorou. Finding a true partner to grow old with was her deepest wish, one she knew she’d likely never fulfill.
“Don’t tease me, Miss Lüliu,” Guan Xiaorou said, glaring at Jin Feng before smiling. “Tie Chui, fetch a stool for Miss Lüliu.”
“Xiaorou, Miss Lüliu must be tired from performing. Let her rest,” Jin Feng said with a smile.
They weren’t here just to watch the contest. Tang Xiao Bei would perform soon, and having an outsider in the tent would make things awkward.
Lüliu, now aware of Jin Feng’s influence after the announcement, had come to curry favor, but since he’d declined, she didn’t dare insist.
“Thank you for your kindness, Madam. This outfit is indeed cumbersome. I’ll visit another time,” she said, curtsying and leaving.
Guan Xiaorou, fond of Lüliu, kept talking about her after she left.
Then Tang Xiao Bei took the stage.
