Chapter 385: The Seating of the Courtesans: How Does It Feel to Be Outwitted by a Mortal?

"Sir, you have finally revealed yourself?"

Su Jing's lips curled slightly, his smile tinged with a hint of anticipation.

The moonlight was like silk, and suddenly, thousands of fireflies bloomed across the firmament.

The Third Master's gaze swept over the courtesans at the Flower Banquet, then across the dignitaries and wealthy merchants in the A, B, C, and D zones below. Everyone was looking up at the sky, as if this magnificent spectacle had been meticulously planned by the Bianjing Academy or the Imperial Court.

The sky was brilliant, bright as day.

Everyone's attention was captured.

Yet, the Third Master turned his gaze toward the Zhishui River and spoke slowly:

"This time, Sir, you do not intend to conceal yourself any longer?"

Su Jing nodded slightly, his expression calm as usual. "Sir's temperament has always been cautious; if he did not have an eighty or ninety percent certainty, he would never show his true self. It seems that this time, Sir is prepared to conclude the game."

He turned to the Third Master and smiled. "Third Yu Shixiong, we were meant to settle our grievances today; why not just let it end here?"

"No matter what, we must eventually reach a conclusion regarding our grievances with Sir."

The Third Master looked toward the direction of the Academy, his expression slightly grave: "Second Yu Shixiong is still at the Academy; I cannot set my mind at ease."

Su Jing seemed to have anticipated this. His expression remained calm as he said indifferently, "Third Yu Shixiong, if you miss this opportunity today, do not regret it later."

The Third Master fell silent and did not speak again.

A moment later, his voice rose again, carrying a trace of imperceptible depth.

"Wuxin, do you have no curiosity in your heart to witness with your own eyes the existence that Sir spoke of so vaguely?"

Su Jing shook his head upon hearing this, his expression indifferent.

"A gentleman does not stand under a crumbling wall; a wise man does not trap himself in a collapsing nest."

"I am well aware of Sir's methods and terror. Since he chose this moment, he must have been fully prepared long ago."

"Furthermore, Sir has always been meticulous in his actions, with every step carrying profound meaning. If I were to intervene rashly, he would surely have pieces prepared to deal with me, which would only disrupt previous layouts and add variables."

Speaking of this, the corners of Su Jing's mouth curled into a faint smile.

"A gentleman does not save, and a sage is duty-bound. Unfortunately, I, Su Jing, am neither a gentleman nor a sage."

"Being the fisherman is always better than being the snipe or the clam."

Su Jing looked at the scene outside the window, which had been bright as day.

It lasted only for a few moments.

Like fireworks rushing into the sky, it slowly faded away.

The night sky remained the same night sky.

A full moon hung high in the sky.

A few faint white clouds drifted across the sky.

The magnificent scene just now seemed like an illusion, disappearing after appearing for only a short while.

The Third Master had a faint luster in his eyes as he looked at the night sky above Bianjing.

It was covered with a cyan glazed layer, like a roof.

Ordinary people could not perceive it.

"Is this the God-Startling Array that Sir obtained when he sought immortals in the East Sea?"

Su Jing also showed a grave expression upon seeing this.

The bustle of the Flower Banquet was gradually drawing to a close. In the dim light, only one most brilliant anticipation remained to be unveiled—the most beautiful woman in Bianjing, the world-renowned courtesan Su Shishi, had yet to take the stage to perform, drawing everyone to crane their necks in expectation.

The bead curtain swayed gently!

The Chief Eunuch bowed and reported in a low voice, "Prime Minister Su, today at the Flower Banquet, the top nine courtesans have been determined. A seat has been specially reserved for Fairy Su."

As he spoke!

With a slight rustle, a delicate booklet passed through the gap in the bead curtain and landed lightly on the desk.

"This booklet records the poems and rhymes of today's courtesans, as well as the number of hairpins received. Some people from the Academy and the Nine Great Clans also cast hairpins, and they are all recorded in the booklet."

"Prime Minister Su, please review and determine the top ten rankings for today's Flower Spectrum."

Su Jing took the booklet and scanned it. The number of hairpins for the top nine had all exceeded one million, showing the fierce competition.

Two people had received far more hairpins than the others: Gongsun Gongsun Niangzi Gongsun of the Zixiao Pavilion and Nihuang of the Yuehua Pavilion.

There were two others whose hairpin counts were superior to the other courtesans, though the gap was not wide. These two were:

Hu Yunniang of the Yuehua Pavilion.

Yun Wan of the Yuehua Pavilion.

The hairpin counts were out, but the final decision still rested with Prime Minister Su.

Su Jing nodded with some satisfaction as he looked at the hairpin counts.

The gold and silver raised for disaster relief in the Jiangnan Circuit had far exceeded expectations.

"It seems that these Nine Great Clans and the officials and wealthy merchants of Bianjing have filled their treasuries, but they are still sensible enough to worry for the country."

The gold and silver raised for disaster relief at the Flower Banquet actually carried Su Jing's intentions as well.

It was merely using the name of the courtesans at the Flower Banquet.

If any of the Nine Great Clans had not contributed enough gold and silver, Su Jing would definitely pay them a visit tomorrow.

Su Jing's gaze slowly swept over the poems of the nine courtesans, finally stopping at the entry for "Nihuang."

He looked up, a meaningful smile in his eyes, and turned to the Third Master: "I heard that this Nihuang was once your confidante, Yu Shixiong, and even added fragrance to your sleeves. I wonder if this is true?"

The Third Master did not say a word, as if he had not heard.

Su Jing saw this and picked up the cinnabar brush, drawing a striking "Two" under Nihuang's name, as red as blood.

He spoke leisurely, smiling, "Yu Shixiong's face must be given. If Yu Shixiong were willing to speak, the first position would not be impossible."

As he spoke!

His gaze turned to the poems of the other courtesans, finally stopping at Gongsun Gongsun Niangzi Gongsun's entry.

The poem behind her was sonorous and powerful, carrying a heroic spirit:

"Counting the gall and courage of my life, I have often been hot-blooded for others... Who in this vulgar world recognizes my chest? A hero at the end of the road must be ground down. Where in the vast red dust can I find a soulmate?"

Su Jing recited it in a low voice, a flash of appreciation in his eyes, and smiled:

"If Second Yu Shixiong were here, he would surely be overjoyed to see this poem. Moreover, this Gongsun Gongsun Niangzi Gongsun is famous for her sword dance, which is quite compatible with Second Yu Shixiong's temperament."

He picked up the cinnabar brush and annotated a "Three" behind Gongsun Gongsun Niangzi Gongsun's entry.

Su Jing's gaze continued to wander between the poems of the other courtesans, finally stopping at the poems of Yun Wan and Hu Yunniang.

Yun Wan's lines were delicate and lingering: "Leaning against the high tower, the wind is fine. Looking to the horizon, spring sorrow grows dim... My belt grows loose, but I have no regrets; for her, I grow haggard."

The words carried a deep obsession, as if they could crush a person's heart.

Hu Yunniang's "Water Dragon Chant" was magnificent: "A thousand miles of clear autumn in the Chu sky, the water follows the sky into the boundless autumn... I look at my Wu hook, patting the railing, no one understands my intention of climbing... Who can call out, with red scarves and green sleeves, to wipe away a hero's tears!"

The heroism and loneliness intertwined in the lyrics, lamenting talent unrecognized and being born at the wrong time, which was truly moving.

Su Jing savored it carefully and said softly: "I still prefer this 'Water Dragon Chant.' 'I look at my Wu hook, patting the railing, no one understands my intention of climbing' is the most brilliant part."

"What does Yu Shixiong think?"

The Third Master pondered for a moment and said, "There is no difference in quality between the two; they both come from the same hand. The victory or defeat depends entirely on personal preference."

He paused, his gaze falling on Yun Wan's poem, his voice softening with a trace of imperceptible gentleness: "I actually prefer this line: 'My belt grows loose, but I have no regrets; for her, I grow haggard.'"

Su Jing smiled upon hearing this, his smile carrying a hint of understanding:

"In that case, let us determine the seating based on Yu Shixiong's eye for it."

Su Jing picked up the cinnabar brush, the tip turned lightly, drawing a "Four" under Yun Wan's name, and wrote "Five" after Hu Yunniang's name.

As for the remaining courtesans, he had no heart to investigate further and arranged their seating at will.

Finally, his gaze fell on the three characters "Su Shishi." The tip of his brush paused, and then he steadily wrote the character "One."

The seating for the courtesans was determined, and Su Jing handed the booklet to the Chief Eunuch, signaling him to announce the results.

The Third Master caught sight of Su Shishi's name, his brow furrowed, as if he had remembered something, and said indifferently:

"A princess of the Great Sui, yet you keep her in the West Chamber; this does not seem to fit your temperament?"

"According to Yu Shixiong's meaning, should I have found people from the Nine Great Clans long ago, like breeding livestock in a dungeon, to let this former dynasty princess give birth to several generations of dragon sons, locking the Great Sui's destiny in the deep palace of the Great Qi?"

As a former princess of the Great Sui, Su Shishi carried the dragon vein destiny of the Great Sui. If she left descendants in the Great Qi, it could indeed shake the foundations of the Great Sui for several generations.

Su Jing shook his head, his voice rarely revealing a trace of gentleness: "Su Shishi's appearance is too much like A-Mian's. Every time I see her, I cannot bear to treat her as a chess piece. I simply raise her by my side as a child, which can be considered a good deed I left behind after Su Jing has done all the evil in the world."

A-Mian was Su Jing's wife, who followed him when he was still playing chess in the alleys and struggling to support his family.

She gave birth to three children for him.

The two were extremely loving.

It was just that although the woman stepped into cultivation with Su Jing's help, she could not break through the Yang Spirit realm and could not live for more than two hundred years.

Su Jing never remarried afterward.

The Third Master fell silent upon hearing this and did not speak again.

Just then!

A light sound of footsteps came from downstairs.

The Chief Eunuch in a python robe bowed and approached the bead curtain, reporting in a low voice:

"Prime Minister Su, Third Master, Xie Hong requests an audience."

Su Jing heard this, a flash of knowing smile in his eyes, and waved his hand.

"Invite him up!"

A man walked up the stairs slowly, his steps steady.

The Chief Eunuch did not dare to be the slightest bit negligent toward this Xie Hong, gently parted the bead curtain, bowed, and let him pass, whispering:

"Master Hong, please."

Immediately, he lowered his head and retreated carefully, not daring to look more.

Su Jing's gaze turned toward the entrance, and a middle-aged man walked in slowly.

He was slender, wearing a simple long gown and plain cloth shoes, looking exceptionally calm.

Strands of white hair were mixed in his black hair, and although his face still showed the handsome style of his youth, it now carried a few more traces of vicissitudes.

His expression was dim, and his eyes seemed to have lost their former luster, appearing somewhat exhausted.

Su Jing smiled slightly, his voice carrying a hint of familiarity.

"Chongshan, you have been back from Qingliang Temple for more than a month, yet you haven't come to greet me at home?"

Xie Hong, courtesy name Chongshan.

Xie Hong's body stiffened slightly upon hearing this, and he immediately straightened his clothes, respectfully bowing to the Third Master and Su Jing, his voice steady.

"Greetings to the Third Master and the Fourth Master."

When the Third Master and Su Jing became famous throughout the world, Xie Hong was just a junior who had just started his career.

The Third Master was always serious, but looking at Xie Hong now, a rare gentle smile appeared in his eyes:

"Second Yu Shixiong often mentions you; you should go to the Academy to see him when you have time."

Xie Hong and the Second Master were friends of different generations, a story that had long been passed down as a beautiful tale in Bianjing.

His status in the Academy was extremely special, and the Second Master had even intended to accept him as a disciple on behalf of his master, making him the Fifth Master of the Academy.

Xie Hong felt a flash of imperceptible pain in his eyes upon hearing this, but it vanished in an instant, and his expression returned to normal.

Su Jing's gaze fell on Xie Hong, carrying a hint of inquiry:

"Chongshan, what brings you to the fourth floor?"

Before the words fell!

Xie Hong's knees hit the floor, making a dull sound.

He bowed in a posture like a broken sword, but his spine was held straight:

"Xie Hong is here to plead guilty!"

Su Jing's fingertips lightly touched the cold table, his expression unmoved. "What is your crime?"

"Xie Hong colluded with the Heavenly Master of the Great Sui's Three Truths Sect to incite the demons of Zewu Lake to sneak into the Flower Banquet."

Xie Hong's voice was exceptionally clear. "Xie Hong is sorry to the Academy, and sorry to the Great Qi."

Su Jing asked, "Is what you say true?"

Xie Hong lowered his head. "Every word is true; I dare not conceal anything."

Su Jing's expression was inexplicable. "Then why did you plead guilty yourself?"

～

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Yu Ke watched the array unfold in the sky, its brilliance lasting only for an instant.

The night curtain appeared once again.

A full moon hung in the sky.

The mist by the river wrapped around this place again.

In an instant!

Yu Ke only felt as if a wave had rushed over him, and he felt drowsy, as if he wanted to be washed away with the waves.

His memory also became blurred.

He forgot whether he was Yu Ke, Lu Chen, or... Xie Guan.

The great cauldron in his heart chimed, and a divine intent flowed through his whole body.

This discomfort slowly disappeared.

Yu Ke clearly felt that after this 【Personal Participation】, the connection that allowed him to end 【Personal Participation】 at will had completely disappeared.

The light of the array in the sky was like a flash in the pan, disappearing in an instant.

The night curtain reappeared.

A full moon hung alone, the cold moonlight spilling onto the river, intertwining with the blowing mist.

It wrapped around Yu Ke and the Master.

Yu Ke only felt an invisible tide sweeping over him, his consciousness as if being rolled into the deep sea, rising and falling with the tide.

His memory began to blur, forgetting who he actually was—was he Yu Ke? Was he Lu Chen?

Or was he Xie Guan?

Just as his consciousness was about to sink, the great cauldron in his heart suddenly hummed, the ancient sound like a great bell, shaking his spirit into clarity.

A profound divine intent gushed out from the cauldron, flowing through his whole body, dispelling that drowsy power.

Yu Ke slowly opened his eyes, gradually waking up, his brow furrowed.

It seems that the God-Startling Array in Bianjing can still affect him.

No wonder the Master is so confident; this God-Startling Array is one of his reliances. I wonder where he learned it?

He clearly perceived that after this 【Personal Participation】, the sense of control that allowed him to leave at will had completely vanished.

At this moment, he felt as if he were bound by invisible chains, tied firmly to this piece of heaven and earth.

The Master stood quietly, the moonlight stretching his somewhat hunched figure long.

He slowly raised his eyes, a flash of brilliance in them:

"Since the God-Startling Array is open, you will find it hard to escape."

"Can you still leave now?"

Yu Ke felt the invisible shackles around him, as if thousands of threads were entwining him, binding him firmly to this heaven and earth.

He nodded calmly: "Indeed, I cannot leave."

Dong Chen wore a mocking smile on his face.

"How does it feel for a high and mighty existence to be outwitted by a mortal?"

(End of Chapter)