Chapter 344: The top courtesans of the three families, Su Yun

【You watch Li Yutong and Xie Renfeng leave.】

【You have already determined in your heart that the appearance of Shen Kuan at the carriage pavilion was related to this person.】

【You know it should be the relationship between this father and son, Xie Hong, who is taking his anger out on you.】

【There is no such thing as defending against thieves for a thousand days in the world.】

【Moreover, this person previously had ulterior motives towards Sister Wu Tong, and you have already made up your mind.】

【Just at this moment, Xu Xiyue walks over gracefully, saying softly: "Young Master Guan, I will head to the Flowers Banquet first, so as not to worry the Master."】

【"Gongsun Gongsun Niangzi Xu, see you again!"】

【"Young Master Guan, if there is any trouble, you can come to find me, I will definitely do my best."】

【The three guards also hurriedly walk up, respectfully saying, "Young Master Guan, we take our leave."】

【Xu Xiyue and Sima Muqing leave first.】

【Zhang Yunzhi watches this scene quietly from the side, sighing inwardly. She has never seen this Gongsun Gongsun Niangzi of the Sima family treat anyone so gently, let alone a young junior like Xie Guan.】

【She can't help but recall the scene when she first saw Xie Guan in the small courtyard; he was just a youth reading in the courtyard, but now he has begun to reveal his edge.】

【Xie Yuan hurriedly walks over: "Brother Guan, we should set off, the Flowers Banquet is about to begin."】

【They indeed delayed quite a bit of time waiting for Xie Guan here.】

【Except for the Eleventh Prince, Chen Yong, the others present are not qualified to go to the Invite Immortal Pavilion.】

【Originally, the Flowers Banquet did not have an "Invite Immortal Pavilion," only the A, B, C, and D areas of tables and chairs in the front, totaling nine hundred seats.】

【All can be watched at close range; in the past, they were all dignitaries and wealthy merchants from various regions who spent heavy gold to be qualified to take seats.】

【The A-grade area is the most noble.】

【Previously, Xie Yuan and Xie Ling were in the C-grade area.】

【This year they were changed to the A-grade area.】

【This year there is an Invite Immortal Pavilion, and the seats below are vacant. Most seats can be purchased with money, and all proceeds are used to provide disaster relief for the victims in Jiangnan Road.】

【All proceeds from this Flowers Banquet are used for repairing the Yellow River and disaster relief in Jiangnan Road.】

【The benefit of this area is that as long as the elders of the Invite Immortal Pavilion invite, one can directly ascend to the Invite Immortal Pavilion.】

【Li Shuwan, as a young lady of the Li family, with her father being the current pillar of the country and being a legitimate daughter, is actually qualified to go to the Invite Immortal Pavilion, but the Li family has been keeping a low profile all these years.】

【Xie Ling has long wanted to see the top courtesans, clapping her hands: "It is said that the opening act is Sister Nihuang of the Moon Splendor Pavilion. She has been the number one top courtesan of the Moon Splendor Pavilion for ten years and hasn't taken the stage for a full ten years."】

【"This time it is because the Third Master is coming to the Flowers Banquet that she is dancing for him; we can't miss it."】

【Xie Yuan naturally knows that Sister Nihuang of the Moon Splendor Pavilion is famous far and wide; although she has reached the age of thirty, she is still charming and increasingly moving.】

【The event that shook Above Bianjing that year was when the Third Master, known as "Thirty years of Hongye said to the mountain ghost, hanging the seals of several countries," arrived at the Moon Splendor Pavilion, drunk and lying in it, with Sister Nihuang serving by his side, not sleeping all night, singing and dancing lightly. When the Third Master sobered up, he left a poem.】

【The poem says: "Like the bright moon floating on the cloud river, the body like a light wind moving flowing waves."】

【"Thousands of songs and dances cannot be counted, among them I love the Neon Costume Dance the most."】

【For a time, Sister Nihuang's name resounded through the capital, and the people of Above Bianjing all regarded her as the Third Master's confidante, passing it on as a good story.】

【With the Third Master's reputation, Sister Nihuang became famous overnight, sitting firmly as the head of the top courtesans of the Moon Splendor Pavilion for as long as ten years.】

【The Eleventh Prince, Chen Yong, is deeply moved: "One poem can carry a thousand gold, can be passed down through the ages, truly romantic!"】

【Li Shuwan nods in agreement. In Above Bianjing, there are many who revere the Third Master, and Sister Nihuang's name has also risen with the tide.】

【Xie Yuan laughs: "Today is a chance to see the demeanor of the head of the top courtesans of the Purple Xiao Pavilion, Gongsun Gongsun Niangzi Gongsun, whether she can dance and move the city of Above Bianjing with a sword."】

【Gongsun Gongsun Niangzi Gongsun, the head of the sword family among the eighteen families of Above Bianjing, Master Jin Zitan once praised: "In the past, there was a beauty, the Gongsun clan, whose sword dance moved all directions."】

【"Coming like thunder and lightning, collecting anger, stopping like the river and sea condensing clear light."】

【"Gongsun Gongsun Niangzi Gongsun hasn't left the pavilion for five years; today at the Flowers Banquet, she vows to compete for the top spot."】

【Zhang Yuzhi looks at Xie Guan, seemingly asking, but turns to ask Li Shuwan: "Shuwan, which top courtesan are you thinking of in your heart?"】

【Li Shuwan smiles beautifully: "Everyone mentioned the top courtesans of the Moon Splendor Pavilion and Purple Xiao Pavilion, how can I not mention Su Shishi of the Qimo Spring Workshop?"】

【Su Shishi's name is even more famous than Sister Nihuang and Gongsun Gongsun Niangzi Gongsun.】

【This woman, when she first hung her sign to receive guests, shocked Above Bianjing with her peerless beauty.】

【It is said: "Distant mountain eyebrows are long, slender willow waist is swaying. One smile overturns the city, another smile overturns the country."】

【The people of Above Bianjing all praise her as a "fairy," saying she is like a painting on the wall, floating out of the world, not like a person in the mortal world.】

【There is even a strange story: that Zhuge Ziqing of the Zhuge family, who has a male appearance but a female heart and is noble beyond measure, wanted to visit Su Shishi but was politely refused.】

【This woman does not receive guests and rarely shows her face, and there has never been any tea-drinking event, yet everyone who sees her once is captivated by her.】

【Among them are many powerful people in the court, and even the talents of the current era.】

【Chen Yong laughs hearing this: "Shuwan, you really spoke my heart."】

【"Even Second Brother is obsessed with this Miss Shishi. Although there is a marriage granted by the Imperial Grandmother, and he is respectful to my talented Second Sister-in-law, it has been three years, and there is still no movement in her belly."】

【Chen Yong mentions this, his tone carrying a bit of unspeakable meaning.】

【As the saying goes, every family has a scripture that is hard to read, not to mention the royal family with deep palace walls and power struggles.】

【In the current Great Qi, imperial power is declining, and the deposition of the Crown Prince is commonplace. In ten years, the position of Crown Prince has changed more than four times.】

【The current Crown Prince and the Second Prince are equal in power in the court, hard to distinguish.】

【And the stance of the Nine Great Clans determines which way the balance of imperial power leans.】

【Chen Yong, as the Eleventh Prince, although his mother comes from the Nine Great Clans, she is not of the direct bloodline. Born into the royal family, that dragon chair symbolizing supreme power is like a mirror flower and water moon to him, out of reach.】

【In the eyes of others, Chen Yong is just a sickly person with no ambition, only wishing to be a carefree, idle prince, waiting for the time in the capital to arrive, then moving away from Above Bianjing and being enfeoffed to various parts of Great Qi.】

【Zhang Yuzhi turns to ask Xie Guan after Li Shuwan finishes speaking: "Young Master Guan, I don't know which top courtesan you are looking forward to most?"】

【Xie Guan shakes his head gently hearing this: "I haven't had one."】

【Xie Yuan jokes: "Brother Guan, until today, you have stepped into this West Wing Pavilion for the first time, never seeing the true face of the top courtesans, so how can you talk about wanting to see them?"】

【"I'm afraid that apart from the beauty in the books, I only know Shuwan and Fourth Cousin," Xie Guan laughs.】

【Zhang Yuzhi's cheeks turn slightly red hearing this.】

【Just at this moment!】

【Two luxurious carriages drive over slowly, the sound of horse hooves urgent!】

【The carriage curtain is lifted slightly, revealing the person inside, it is Su Yun.】

【Chen Yong strokes the civet cat in his arms; Su Yun's arrival undoubtedly attracted his attention. As the only male descendant of the Su family walking outside in this generation, even the Second Prince and several other princes dare not easily offend him.】

【Li Shuwan frowns slightly.】

【Su Yun lifts his robe, ignoring the servant's help, and hurriedly walks down from the carriage. He notices Li Shuwan, his face happy: "Shuwan, you are here too!"】

【Li Shuwan only greets him politely.】

【After Su Yun gets off the carriage, another person comes down from the carriage.】

【The few recognize him, Seventh Brother Xie Xuan of the Xie family's Great Courtyard.】

【Xie Xuan looks at the few people present, his face not good.】

【The second carriage following Su Yun also stops slowly.】

【The coachman pulls the reins, and two women lift the carriage curtain, revealing two beautiful and moving faces.】

【The two women walk down from the carriage slowly, following Su Yun.】

【One of the women is wearing a lotus-colored lined jacket, with a bright red fur cloak on the outside, paired with a yellow embroidered long skirt inside, with sloping shoulders and a slender waist, a duck-egg face, and a pair of eyes that are gentle like water and full of charm.】

【You have already recognized this woman; she is Hu Yunniang, the top courtesan of the Moon Splendor Pavilion who followed Su Yun into the Hongjing Courtyard that day.】

【The other woman is wearing a green silk skirt, with a graceful figure and gorgeous features, but her temperament is completely different from Hu Yunniang's; there is a bit more coldness between her eyebrows.】

【Zhang Yuzhi recognizes the green-skirted woman at a glance; she is "Chenxiang," one of the top courtesans of the Moon Splendor Pavilion.】

【One red and one green, the two top courtesans each have their own merits.】

【According to common sense, the two women should be busy preparing for the Flowers Banquet at this time, so why would they appear here?】

【After Su Yun gets off the carriage, he walks straight over, as if "no one is in his eyes," not even paying attention to the Eleventh Prince, Chen Yong. He walks quickly to Xie Guan, his tone carrying a bit of urgency: "Young Master Guan, you finally arrived?"】

【Xie Guan's eyes are slightly puzzled, not knowing why, but he notices that Chen Jiuyan, the woman who is good at chess and followed Su Yun last time, did not come along.】

【Hu Yunniang and Chenxiang also walk over, greeting Chen Yong, the prince, and greeting others one by one.】

【As top courtesans of the Moon Splendor Pavilion, they are naturally familiar with the juniors of the Nine Great Clans, not shy, behaving appropriately and generously.】

【Chen Yong looks at Su Yun, curious in his heart, why did this Su Yun come to find Xie Guan, what is it for?】

【He laughs and greets: "Brother Yun, it's been a while since you entered the palace. Imperial Grandmother often mentions you."】

【Su Yun is the grandson of Su Jing, and he was in the cabinet and imperial palace when he was young, and was even raised by the Empress Dowager for a period of time.】

【The Zhuge family and the Su family have a relationship like glue and lacquer.】

【"Brother Yun, why did you come here? Didn't you go to the Invite Immortal Pavilion?" Chen Yong asks, trying to explore Su Yun's intention.】

【Su Yun was actually surprised to see Xie Guan, and his expression was no longer anxious. He had a very good impression of this Chen Yong; born into the imperial family, he did not care for power struggles, but instead poured his feelings into poetry, which was somewhat similar to himself.】

【"Your Highness Yong, I have been too busy lately, I will go to pay respects to the Imperial Grandmother later."】

【"Hey!"】

【"This Beiluo Shimen, it's been a while, how did it get so fat."】

【Beiluo Shimen is the name of the civet cat Chen Yong is holding.】

【The large golden-furred civet cat meows dissatisfiedly, as if it understood.】

【Chen Yong strokes the soft fur of the civet cat, laughing: "It's winter, so it grew some autumn fat."】

【Su Yun doesn't care about the fatness of the civet cat, turning to say seriously: "I came here this time mainly for the poetry society."】

【Chen Yong shows a look of doubt hearing this. He knows Su Yun has always had the heart to revitalize the poetry society, and has been running around for it for the past few years.】

【And the Flowers Banquet is undoubtedly an excellent opportunity to make a name for himself.】

【At the Flowers Banquet, the top courtesans who take the stage to perform will all choose a set poem to end their performance.】

【After the performance, the top courtesans will set a topic on the spot, inviting the talented scholars under the stage to answer with poems.】

【Therefore, apart from the beauty's performance, it is poetry appreciation.】

【There is actually a trick to this; most top courtesans will reveal the topic in advance, inviting their favorite scholars to write poems early to prepare for any eventuality.】

【Years ago, there was a woman whose talent and appearance were not outstanding, but because of a scholar's wonderful set poem, she became a top courtesan overnight, becoming a dark horse at that Flowers Banquet.】

【Beauty lies in skin and bones, and will eventually pass away, in this country of Great Qi that has been influenced by poetry, books, and rites for many years.】

【Beauty is made more charming by poetry, and the two complement each other.】

【The Flowers Banquet, as an annual grand event, is not only a stage for beauties to showcase their talents, but also an excellent opportunity for many scholars and talents to fight for a start and make a name for themselves.】

【Therefore, every year at the Flowers Banquet, several excellent poems will emerge. These poems are not only widely circulated, but also marked with the author's name and the name of the poetry society they belong to.】

【Su Yun is exactly looking at this point, choosing to make a name for the poetry society at the Flowers Banquet.】

【Because once an excellent poem flows out and is marked with the name of the poetry society, then this poetry society will often be known to the world overnight and become famous.】

【However, Chen Yong still doesn't understand what this has to do with Xie Guan, looking at Su Yun with doubt.】

【Su Yun turns around, his eyes sincere, saying to you: "For this poetry society matter, I ask Young Master Guan to help."】

【"Su Yun, this time there is a reason that cannot be lost."】

【At this time, Chen Yong suddenly realizes, so Su Yun wants to ask Xie Guan to help write poems.】

【Could this concubine-born son of the Xie family have the excellent poetic talent that Su Yun favors?】

【Zhang Yuzhi and Li Shuwan had already foreseen it; Su Yun had sincerely invited Xie Guan in the small courtyard last time.】

【Xie Ling feels a trace of curiosity in her heart; this Ninth Cousin of hers seems to really have unusual talent, otherwise her father wouldn't have summoned him alone.】

【It wouldn't be that the Su family young master would come so urgently.】

【Xie Yuan stands to the side, his face happy, feeling it should be so.】

【Hu Yunniang shows anxiety; she had already selected a set poem, but always felt it was not enough.】

【The Flowers Banquet is about to begin, and she hasn't even determined the set poem, how can she not be anxious?】

【Chenxiang, the green-skirted woman who is also a top courtesan of the Moon Splendor Pavilion, knows everyone present, but feels strange about this Xie family concubine-born son, Xie Guan.】

【Su Yun's high praise for him, but she doesn't think so in her heart.】

【Although she has occasionally heard of Xie Guan's name recently, she only regards him as a pedantic scholar who occasionally gets a good sentence.】

【If Xie Guan really has talent and ambition in his heart, why does he need to be invited to write poems?】

【A concubine-born son with no one to rely on, really wanting to break free from that kind of quagmire, the cage of the big mansion.】

【How could he not grasp this kind of opportunity!】

【It's just a person with a false reputation, afraid of exposing his true talent, hiding his head and showing his tail!】

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 345 =====