Chapter 24

In the first event of the courtesan competition, the skills of music, chess, calligraphy, and painting were tested, but not all of them. This year, the focus was on calligraphy, painting, and chess. Speaking of chess, it was worth mentioning that after the Song Dynasty's Chu-Han Xiangqi (Chinese chess) was improved, it reached its peak by the end of the Northern Song Dynasty. The most famous players were Sima Guang and Wang Anshi. Sima Guang's work, "The Seven Kingdoms Chess," was widely circulated, and even the Ming Dynasty's "Secrets of the Orange Grove" and the Qing Dynasty's "Plum Blossom Spectrum" drew heavily from Sima Guang's masterpiece.

Chinese chess, as a form of entertainment for the Song Dynasty's nobility, had surpassed the traditional game of Go. After the calligraphy and painting competition, the next test was chess. If Go emphasized stability, Chinese chess emphasized combat. In a chess match, the player who could launch an offensive spear more quickly often gained the decisive advantage. The chess competition was scheduled for the afternoon, and Zhao Yougong was genuinely worried. While calligraphy and painting could be faked, chess could not. It was a true battle, and the result was entirely determined by the players. The winner would receive a thousand peonies, which was very important for every courtesan.

In chess, a steady player naturally had an advantage. Although Zhao Yougong had never seen Li Shishi and Nian Nu'er play chess, he felt that Nian Nu'er's outgoing personality made her slightly inferior to Li Shishi. Moreover, it was said that Li Shishi often played chess with Emperor Huizong, and they had both won and lost against each other. Emperor Huizong might not have been a good emperor, but his skills in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting were undeniable. Even he could not consistently beat Li Shishi, which showed how formidable this cold beauty was.

Worried as he was, Zhao Yougong could not help much with the chess competition.

After the first round of the competition, there was a break. Most people left with laughter and conversation, but Zhao Yougong and his group stayed, continuing to sit on the stone benches and eat and drink.

From morning to noon, Zhao Yougong's absence had disappointed many people, especially Gao Yannai. He had thought that today would be a good opportunity to compete with Zhao Yougong, but he never saw him.

"Strange, have any of you seen Zhao Yougong?"

"Never seen him!" Cai Jing and others also enjoyed the spectacle. Zhao Yougong had announced that he would challenge Shishi, which was a direct challenge to the emperor. Such a foolish idea was truly laughable. They had expected a fierce battle between Zhao Yougong and Gao Yannai on the first day, but all they saw were the courtesans displaying their calligraphy and painting, which was rather boring. Perhaps other young masters still cared about the courtesan competition, but people like Cai Jing and Wang Tenghui did not. For them, what they could obtain was the best. A woman like Shishi was only for looking, not for enjoying, and they were mostly here to give the emperor face.

"Ha ha, Baolang, do you think Zhao Yougong is afraid of you? Ha ha ha..." Wang Tenghui, dressed in a blue robe, waved his fan and looked like a refined young master, but his smile was rather unpleasant.

Zhao Kai and his group were not far from Gao Yannai and the others. They had planned to leave but heard Wang Tenghui's arrogant laughter. Zhao Gou did not react, but Zhao Kai frowned tightly. No matter how incapable Zhao Yougong was, he was still a member of the Zhao family, and he could not tolerate others insulting him. He coughed twice and stepped forward.

"Wang Erlang, it's better to watch your words. Don't you think so?" Zhao Kai's expression was not good, and Wang Tenghui and Cai Jing did not dare to offend him. They had to stop and bow. "It's Prince Yuncheng. Why are you here?"

Wang Tenghui's words seemed to be a question, but they were actually a veiled insult, suggesting that a prince like Zhao Kai should not be interested in such a courtesan competition.

Zhao Kai was a smart person. He smiled and looked at the empty platform. "I came to see the calligraphy and painting competition and study the famous games of the time. Isn't that interesting? Erlang, do you have any insights into the Daoist temple in the clouds?"

"Uh..." Wang Tenghui was immediately at a loss. He and Cai Jing were mostly playboys who came here for the spectacle and the beauty, not for the art.

"This... Shishi's painting is good. What does Prince Yuncheng think?" Gao Yannai, with his thick face, closed his fan and smiled.

Looking at that plump face, Zhao Kai pursed his lips and turned away. "Yes, the painting is good, but why is there no cloud in the Daoist temple in the clouds? You see the Three Pure Ones and assume there must be clouds outside the temple? Boring, truly boring..."

Zhao Kai gently waved his fan, and with his brocade robe, he looked incredibly elegant.

If the others did not understand the deeper meaning of the painting, they understood Zhao Kai's words.

Gao Yannai's face turned red. He felt that Zhao Kai was mocking him, but he could not do anything about it...

Wang Erlang bit his lip and quickly relaxed. If it were not for Zhao Kai's status, he would have wanted to beat him up.

At the entrance of the valley, Dugu Qiubai walked out with a stern face. If not for Meng Jinling's insistence, he would not have bothered to come to the courtesan competition. He could have spent that time studying the "Yi Jin Jing" instead. Now, Meng Jinling was not letting him leave, clinging to his arm with a smile.

Frowning, Dugu Qiubai looked straight ahead and said coldly, "You are a woman!"

"So what? Can't women watch the courtesan competition?"

Dugu Qiubai was a man of few words, and each sentence was no more than eight characters. Even Zhao Yougong found it difficult to communicate with him, but Meng Jinling understood him well. Perhaps this was a kind of destiny.

"What's the point of watching?"

"Does everything have to have a purpose? By your logic, what's the point of eating, since everyone dies anyway?"

"Sharp-tongued!"

"He he, that's called reason. Hey, Old Bai, what's your real name?"

Dugu Qiubai did not want to say more, but Meng Jinling laughed happily. Dugu Qiubai always wore white, and even his hair was a bit white, so calling him "Old Bai" was quite fitting.

Dugu Qiubai had been looking for Zhao Yougong, but he could not find him. Meng Jinling could sense that he was paying attention to something. Now that they were alone, she asked softly, "Old Bai, are you waiting for someone?"

"No!"

"No? Then why are your eyes always wandering?"

"Avoiding someone!"

Dugu Qiubai hoped Meng Jinling would be angry, but she remained calm and unaffected. "Old Bai, I'll tell you, you can't avoid me in this life unless you kill me!"

What a fearless woman! Faced with such a woman, Dugu Qiubai was helpless. Sometimes he did not understand why he could not be harsh with Meng Jinling.

The spring breeze caressed the entire valley, and a fragrant aroma filled the air, refreshing and delightful. The most enchanting sight in the valley was the sea of poppies. If one knew when the spring flowers and autumn moon would end, one should also appreciate the flowers in the spring breeze.

Poppies, a symbol of springtime longing, a reality without illusion, their beauty drifted with the wind, nourishing the world.

Picking a poppy, the delicate flower spun in his hand. Smelling it, he smiled, and pulling a petal, Meng Jinling lowered her head. "Old Bai, do you know? Everyone says I'm a disaster, and even my father is gone, but I'm not afraid. What's there to be afraid of? I've seen it all. I just want to find a man I can rely on, and I like him. What's the point of life and death? If I am truly a disaster, I'll go with him. So, since I've met you, I'll follow you..."

Looking up, her eyes were filled with a sea of red flowers. The beauty here was captivating. "If you like me, that's good. If you don't, you can kill me with one sword. Otherwise, I'll stay with you for life."

Dugu Qiubai said nothing. He just looked at the sea of poppies. This was the first time in his life he had truly appreciated a flower. Honestly, he did not understand flowers.

The spring breeze brought warmth, but did it warm the heart?

In the mountain path, the special banquet continued. Zhao Fugong was having his first meal in the mountains. At first, he did not notice, but gradually, he found it quite enjoyable.

Drinking a bit too much, Zhao Yougong stretched and yawned. Glancing into the valley, he saw the white-robed figure standing among the red flowers. Ha ha, Dugu Qiubai, it seems you can't avoid Meng Jinling in this life.

Emotional debts, both fortunate and unfortunate, suddenly Zhao Yougong thought of his Sakura. When would that strong woman show a happy smile?

Although Lu Zhishen looked rough, he was very sensitive. From the beginning, he felt that Zhao Yougong and his sister were not ordinary. But since they did not want to reveal their identities, he did not ask. Sometimes, knowing the truth was not a good thing.

"Brother Zhao, do you have any plans for coming here?"

Hearing Lu Zhishen's question, Zhao Fugong pouted and said softly, "Monk, you're not being honest. Why are you interested in this? Lingge is thinking about Nian Nu'er!"

"Nian Nu'er? Is she Cui Nian Nu?"

Although he had not been in the capital for long, he had heard of the two most famous courtesans in Tokyo, especially Li Shishi, who was said to have some connection with the emperor. Lu Zhishen was quite angry about Li Shishi's situation. No wonder the court was in chaos, with the emperor indulging in pleasure and the officials following suit.

"Who else could it be? Hey, monk, can you tell me the truth? Are you really a monk?"

Seeing Zhao Fugong's expression, Lu Zhishen was a bit annoyed. He put down his chopsticks, pointed to his bald head, and said roughly, "You're really annoying. Do you think this is fake? If you don't believe me, you can visit the vegetable garden of the Xiangguo Temple another day."

"I don't care to go!"

Watching Zhao Fugong tease the monk, Zhao Yougong shook his head. His innocent fourth sister was so much like the poppies in the valley.

Poppies bloomed on the hillsides, and how many people would find true love and support each other forever? If heaven has ears, please grant blessings and ensure that the future is not an illusion.

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