Chapter 58: A Pair of Siblings

Chapter Fifty-Eight: A Pair of Siblings

The next morning, after his run, the bright sunlight was already streaming from the east. The days had not grown too hot yet, but the weather remained fair, and all felt well. The anticipated assassination during last night’s courtesan contest did not occur—what Ning Yi had glimpsed earlier, that unsettling gaze, must have been a trick of the mind. He had wandered with Xiaochan between the stages, watching the singing and dancing, then returned home. The night passed uneventfully. It was only when he went running in the morning that Nie Yunzhu spoke to him of the previous evening.

“Last night, Jin’er and I saw you behind the stage. You were standing close to the front, holding a large pastry and eating. Jin’er laughed so hard, saying it was hardly befitting—how could the esteemed scholar look so carefree, chomping on a cake while she was dancing? She said if there were such a scholar gnawing on a pancake while she performed at Golden Breeze Pavilion, it would be quite amusing...”

Ning Yi recalled then that Yuan Jin’er’s performance had been scheduled late, and hunger had led him to watch the whole show with a pancake in hand. He smiled at the memory.

“But that Jin’er girl is clever and mischievous; now that she knows you, if she spots you again tonight, she might come over to stir up trouble. You’ll have to bear with it, Liheng...”

Once he finished his run and returned home, Su Tan’er was already washed and dressed, waiting for him at breakfast. “Just now, Wen Fang and Wen Ding came by to thank you for your help last night, but they had an appointment and dashed off again. Not a hint of sincerity!”

She spoke with a laugh, and Ning Yi shook his head. “I didn’t really help, just happened to be there.”

“You’re being modest again, husband. When Juan’er and Xing’er went out earlier, they heard the servants discussing how you made Chen Jiwen lose his nerve without a fight—just sitting beside him, he couldn’t bring himself to write poetry, his bravado gone. Such a shame I wasn’t there last night to see it myself...”

“How did the news spread so fast...”

Su Tan’er laughed. “Just now, Wen Fang and Wen Ding also said that a single word from you let Miss Tang enter the top sixteen of the courtesan contest.”

This was rather remarkable, and Ning Yi touched his nose. “That had nothing to do with me.”

Truthfully, whether it did or not was hard to say. In last night’s contest, Tang Jing was not favored—her reputation modest, lacking the showmanship of Qilan or Lu Caicai. Her dancing and looks were decent, but tinged with nervousness and inexperience.

Few expected her to make the top sixteen, yet when the rankings were announced, she slipped in at the very last spot, to everyone’s surprise. Then the tale spread of Ning Yi intimidating Chen Jiwen atop Wenmo Tower, and how both Ning Yi and Li Pin praised her dance as “very beautiful”—how widely this rumor had spread before was unknown, but now it grew all the more wondrous.

Other scholars composed countless poems, yet Ning Yi merely used five words: “Very beautiful dancing.” It was said his remark, “It is precious for its sincerity,” rendered others unable to criticize a poor poem. It was also rumored that after hearing Ning Yi’s “very beautiful dancing,” Puyang Yi, the young master of the Puyang family, awarded Tang Jing five hundred flowers, propelling her into the top sixteen.

Though three thousand is not a vast crowd, the story spread among them, and Tang Jing’s entry into the top sixteen became the most storied event of the contest’s opening night, with all the twists and turns of a tale. Ning Yi could only feel resigned.

During the day, classes continued as usual. Jiangning was lively as ever. By evening, Ning Yi and Xiaochan headed to the area near Egret Isle; the event venue had already been rearranged.

Last night, five stages scattered the grounds, with attendees wandering loosely between performances. Tonight, things were much more formal. The brilliance of the site’s location now became clear—a grand stage stood near the riverbank, backed by a gently rising hillside dotted with seats. Alongside the river, painted boats and nearby small towers served as viewing points. Behind the stage, various tents formed the background, each belonging to different establishments and participants.

Sixteen young women would each perform twice tonight, and the surrounding seats were divided into sections. The finest viewing boat was reserved for dignitaries; the sixteen brothels each marked off seating for their supporters, most of which were prime spots. On the boats, in the towers, or the open space near the stage, banquets were prepared, and even where there were no tables, girls circulated with delicious snacks for the guests.

Ning Yi and Xiaochan had bought only a single flower, their seats likely in the middle or toward the back, but it mattered little—Xiaochan had brought plenty of snacks. After finding a seat with decent view, however, it proved not so simple.

First, Su Wendin, Su Wenfang, and Tang Jing approached, Tang Jing thanking Ning Yi, and then the madam from the brothel invited him to sit up front. After he declined, a familiar scholar passed by. “Why not sit up front, Brother Ning?” Not long after, Puyang Yi came over, chatting with him for a while, but this time made no invitation—once he was sure Ning Yi wished to watch the show in peace, he left.

Li Pin soon spotted him and came over to speak. Li Pin was there to cheer for Lu Caicai but understood Ning Yi’s temperament—if he sat up front, endless socializing would follow, so Li Pin offered no persuasion.

In short, those front seats were filled with notable figures. Occasionally, someone would point in Ning Yi’s direction, likely discussing last night’s story about Tang Jing. When visitors stopped by, Xiaochan sat quietly beside him, devouring snacks like a greedy little mouse, finally asking, “Why doesn’t Master go up front?”

“Would you like to?”

“No.” She smiled sweetly. “I think this place is just right.”

Xiaochan understood the contest better than Ning Yi; during breaks, she told him stories of past competitions she had attended with her mistress, sharing amusing anecdotes. During this, Ning Yi spotted Yuan Jin’er, who was likely thanking supporters before her performance, wandering the front rows and glancing toward him. Technically, she and Ning Yi had yet to be formally introduced, so she would not approach; after she returned, Ning Yi saw Nie Yunzhu peering from the shadows, Yuan Jin’er laughingly pointing toward them before pulling Nie Yunzhu back.

“Master Ning.” Just before the contest began, another acquaintance arrived—Lu Aguai, who served with Kang Xian. After greetings, he pointed to a certain boat. “The master is over there. Seeing you and Miss Xiaochan here seems a bit disturbing; if you wish to avoid unnecessary socializing, you might as well watch from that boat. It belongs to the Princess’s estate, and the second floor is quiet, with plenty of space and a good view.”

Ning Yi looked over—the boat’s location was indeed excellent, and the second floor sparsely populated. He glanced at Xiaochan, then smiled and nodded. Led by Lu Aguai, they ascended to the second floor, finding few people, mostly young guests, while maids and servants bustled about. Lu Aguai settled them by a window, where the tea table was laden with fruit and snacks. Compared to the crowded lower decks, it was quiet and cool. Lu Aguai grinned, “If you have friends, invite them up—the space is ample. Anything you need, just tell the staff. Oh, the master is over there.”

Kang Xian was busy with the dignitaries on the main boat, separated by another painted barge. As Lu Aguai spoke, Kang Xian glanced their way, smiling and nodding in greeting.

Seated nearby at another window were two unknown young men, who, seeing Ning Yi and Xiaochan arrive, saluted him politely and questioned Lu Aguai about Ning Yi’s identity. Xiaochan glanced at them now and then, but soon dragged her chair close to Ning Yi, ready to watch the show in comfort.

On Ning Yi’s other side sat a pair of siblings—the sister appeared younger than Xiaochan, perhaps thirteen or fourteen, solemn-faced like a little adult. She had been turning to observe Ning Yi, but whenever he looked her way, she returned her gaze to the stage, only to peek back the moment he looked away, as though she had planned to watch him for five seconds but, caught after four, felt obliged to finish the last second openly. The brother, around eleven or twelve, sat beside her, curiously glancing about. As the show began, he dragged his chair closer, as if to share a secret with Ning Yi.

“Hey, are you Ning Yi—Ning Liheng? The one who wrote ‘Song of the Water Clock’ and ‘Jade Table’? I have a few questions to test you—if you can answer…”

“No.”

“Huh?” The boy blinked in surprise.

Ning Yi leaned in conspiratorially, covering his mouth with his hand. “I’m not Ning Liheng.”

“…Oh.” The boy stared blankly for a moment, then sulkily dragged his chair back to his sister, likely reporting his findings. The sister lowered her head and said something—perhaps, “He’s tricked you…” The rest was lost.

As Lu Aguai had promised, no one disturbed them up here. Below, the performances were lively, applause booming at times. Ning Yi and Xiaochan watched, nibbling their snacks. Between acts, announcements rang out about who had offered how many flowers to which girl, and which scholars had composed masterpieces, their works read aloud after being vetted by celebrities, raising the atmosphere. The dignitaries on the main boat also had favorites among the girls, and occasionally one would ascend to offer thanks. The main officials of Jiangning—Chen Yong, Song Xian, and others—were present, but Ning Yi, unlike the night before, had no worries, content to enjoy the show.

After several performances, Xiaochan fetched a Go board, and together they played Five-in-a-Row on the fruit table, the shifting lights below contrasting with the tranquil, leisurely atmosphere at their window. After a while, the young boy dragged his chair over again, propping his chin on the table as he watched. At length he remarked, “That’s not how you play Go…”

It was during such a moment that a woman walked through the crowd below, gazing up at the main boat for a while before vanishing into the throng.

By the riverside in the night, the festive and peaceful mood deepened, as singing and dancing carried the evening to ever greater heights...

Second update complete—begging for monthly votes.