Chapter 22

The courtesan competition wouldn't start until the ninth hour, but just after the seventh hour, the Youqing Valley was already packed with people. It was unclear why, but this year, there were particularly many attendees. Standing on a high rock, Zhao Yougong idly counted the heads, but he kept losing count. Sigh, couldn't these people just stand still?

"Hey, brother in front, standing so high, aren't you blocking others from watching the show?" The voice was peculiar, rough yet delicate. Zhao Yougong was quite surprised; he couldn't tell if the person behind him was male or female.

Turning around, he saw a young man in a white robe, holding a shirt and wearing a jade crown, smiling at him. The young man was handsome and extraordinary, but Zhao Yougong pouted, "Fourth Sister, you have some nerve, daring to dress up as a man and come here to cause trouble!"

Zhao Yougong's voice wasn't low, and Zhao Fujin's face tightened. She quickly pulled him off the big rock, "Ling Brother, be quiet, I came here secretly. Hehe, it's my first time watching the courtesan competition, Ling Brother, you have to protect me!"

Seeing Zhao Fujin's excited face, Zhao Yougong muttered a few words to himself. A woman interested in the courtesan competition showed how bored Zhao Fujin must be. Waving his hand, he waited for Zhao Fujin to come closer, then grabbed her wrist and whispered, "Fourth Sister, don't talk recklessly later. There are many people here who know you. Don't let them find out!"

"Okay, I understand, Ling Brother. Where are we going now? Should we wait here?"

Wait here? Zhao Yougong raised an eyebrow, looking both amused and exasperated. From the big rock to the stage, it was still dozens of yards away. How could they see anything from here?

"Hehe, follow me, let's find a better spot!"

In fact, Zhao Yougong had already found a good spot. There was a sloping path in the Youqing Valley, but the entrance was blocked by shrubs, so ordinary people didn't know about it, especially the young nobles. Zhao Yougong knew about this path because he had heard it from a medicine collector by chance. Climbing up the path, they could see the stage below. With such a good spot, why would they need to fight for a place with so many people?

Leading Zhao Fujin through twists and turns, they quickly reached the entrance. Pushing aside the shrubs, Zhao Yougong glared at the few lackeys behind him, "You guys guard this place. If anyone dares to intrude, drive them out!"

"Yes!" The lackeys stood up straight, looking dignified. Despite their confident appearance, they knew no one would come here. This place was so hidden, who would think of coming here to watch the courtesan competition?

Entering the shrubs, they felt a cool breeze. The valley was lush with trees, and the air was fresh. Walking down the narrow path, Zhao Fujin found a spot and excitedly said, "Ling Brother, come here. The view is so clear, it's really a good spot! Look, isn't that Cai Wulang, Third Brother, and Ninth Brother?"

Hearing Zhao Fujin's shout, Zhao Yougong also looked with interest. Goodness, not just Cai Wulang and the fat guy, almost all the young nobles from the capital were gathered in front of the stage. Especially Zhao Gou, the Prince of Kang, who was only twelve years old and still had a childish face, had come to watch the courtesan competition. Sigh, it seems the Zhao family is full of playboys. Speaking of Zhao Gou, one couldn't help but mention Zhao Kai, the Prince of Yun, who was a rare talent in Tokyo, excelling in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, and deeply favored by Emperor Zhezong. Because of his existence, Prince Zhao Huan's position as the crown prince was in jeopardy.

In fact, it wasn't that Zhao Kai was particularly excellent, but rather that Zhao Huan was too weak and indecisive, lacking a specific position, showing how little Emperor Zhezong thought of him.

Looking at the crowd below, Zhao Yougong accidentally saw someone who shouldn't be there. In a corner of the high platform, a man in a white robe, holding a long sword, was expressionlessly looking at the clouds above. Beside him, an elegant woman was talking. The woman had a bun, a round face, and beautiful eyebrows, with a butterfly ribbon tied behind her hair, truly a beautiful and extraordinary sight. Was this the legendary Meng **? Hehe, Du Gu, you have good luck.

Zhao Yougong's heart filled with a malicious laugh, and his face showed a strange smile. Zhao Fujin, hearing the chuckle beside her, turned and pushed Zhao Yougong's shoulder, "Ling Brother, what are you laughing about? Why such a sly smile?"

"Fourth Sister, you're so domineering. Can't I laugh?"

"Hmph, just that your smile is too ugly. Hey, are you really going to give all the peony flowers to Nian Nu?"

"Not to Nian Nu, then to Li Shishi?" Zhao Yougong squinted, still with a sly expression. He blinked, and Zhao Fujin huffed, turning away and not speaking.

Not knowing why Zhao Fujin was so angry, her father often went to Li Shishi's place. What was wrong with Zhao Yougong going to Nian Nu's bed? Taking a few steps, he tapped Zhao Fujin's shoulder and whistled lightly, "Hehe, if Fourth Sister were on stage, I would definitely buy all the peony flowers for you."

Which woman doesn't like to hear sweet words? Zhao Fujin, who was not yet fourteen, couldn't resist. She turned and pouted, hitting Zhao Yougong, "Ling Brother, you're always so smooth-talking!"

After a few playful words, Zhao Fujin's eyebrows furrowed, "Ling Brother, you shouldn't have sold the land in Tongxu Town to Chai Keyan. If it were another family, I could help you get it back."

The Chai family was a special case. If they didn't rebel and start a rebellion, the imperial family couldn't touch them. So, even if Zhao Fujin wanted to help Zhao Yougong, she couldn't.

Seeing Zhao Fujin's deeply furrowed brows, Zhao Yougong laughed heartily, pointing at her nose, "Fourth Sister, you have such thoughts too?"

"Go away, if it weren't for Ling Brother, I wouldn't bother!" Zhao Fujin said, somewhat helplessly. In fact, besides Zhao Yougong, who needed her among the other brothers and sisters? Not to mention selling land, those people were all rich and didn't need to sell land.

"Thank you, Fourth Sister. I thought I could get the money and not acknowledge it, but I didn't expect it to be Chai Junzhu. I guess I'm just unlucky!"

Zhao Yougong said this lightly, and Zhao Fujin lifted her face, glaring at him. This was the real Ling Brother. Sigh, it's a pity that a good plan met with Chai Keyan, an oddball.

Chatting with Zhao Fujin, they didn't realize it was already the ninth hour. A gong sounded, and the long-awaited courtesan competition finally began.

The courtesans in Tokyo were not just two. Besides Li Shishi and Cui Nian Nu, the two leading courtesans, there were several others, such as Liu Yingying, Nie Jin'er, and Zhou Jie'er. These ladies were not easy to deal with, so the competition was truly a gathering of beauties.

The competition began with the chief judge, Li Gang, reading an opening speech. Li Gang was extremely unwilling to take on this role, but as a minister, he couldn't go against the emperor's command. Unfolding the silk paper in his hand, he read the pre-written article. Thousands of people listened, but their eyes were fixed on the curtain behind the high platform.

Sigh, it seems all men are the same. Who cares about Li Boji now? The old man should quickly finish reading and bring out the beauties.

Li Gang stepped down, and the gong sounded again. The courtesan ladies slowly walked to the front of the stage, and for a moment, the stage was a riot of colors, a feast for the eyes. The women didn't feel it, but the men were already holding their breath in excitement. They were truly beautiful, especially Li Shishi and Cui Nian Nu. One in white, one in red, one cold and beautiful, one passionate, one with a frosty face, one with a radiant smile. If Li Shishi was ice, then Nian Nu was fire. Would the ice extinguish the fire, or would the fire dry up the ice?

Someone shouted, and the crowd instantly erupted, "Flying General... Flying General..."

Seeing the excited crowd and hearing the deafening shouts, Zhao Yougong's smile disappeared, replaced by a sense of worry.

This was Li Shishi. She didn't need to smile or show any expression; just standing there was enough to conquer the hearts of men. Sometimes even Zhao Yougong felt that Li Shishi shouldn't be in the De Yue Lou; she seemed more like a fairy from the Milky Way, wandering through the mortal world.

He understood this, but was Nian Nu any less? She was not at all inferior. Compared to the ethereal Li Shishi, she was more down-to-earth and understood the hearts of men.

The first round was a painting competition, lasting one hour.

There were seven courtesan ladies, and they sat at their desks, served by their maids, laying out paper, grinding ink, and applying colors, all familiar tasks. A man in his thirties held up a white sheet of paper and loudly announced, "The first round is a painting competition. The theme is 'Temple in the Clouds.' Please think about it, ladies."

"Temple in the Clouds?" Not only the courtesan ladies pondered, but the scholars and literati in the audience also thought about the theme, eager to show their talent. This was another charm of the courtesan competition. People came here not just to see the beauties but also to solve the riddles and show their talent.

What is a temple? From the highest officials to the lowest peddlers, almost no one didn't know about temples. Since everyone knew about them, the question wouldn't be so simple. It seemed this round was testing not just painting skills but also the artistic vision. Otherwise, such a theme wouldn't have been chosen.

On the stage, some of the courtesan ladies furrowed their brows in thought, while others picked up their brushes and started painting. The audience was quiet, no one wanting to disturb the serene atmosphere.

The valley was unusually quiet, but Zhao Yougong's face showed a hint of anger. Just as the competition started, he heard a commotion at the entrance of the mountain path.

"Ling Brother, go check it out, make sure nothing happens!"

"Okay!"

Zhao Yougong nodded and turned to the entrance. He wanted to see who dared to cause trouble here. It was truly strange!