Ten miles of Qinhuai has been the place of fireworks since ancient times. The smoke willow style on the Qinhuai River has also been talked about by literati and celebrities since ancient times. That night, Shen Fang made a careful arrangement, that night on the Qinhuai River painted boats, singing like clouds, along the red street, green buildings flying songs, it was really beautiful.

However, there are many good deeds among the officials, and the governor of Taiping Prefecture, Ai Gaoshi, suddenly asked in a drunken daze: "Jiangning City Smoke and Willow Resort, the ancients also said, 'Ten years of Yangzhou dream to win the name of Qinglou Bo Xing'. In recent years, Hangzhou has been called the first prosperous place in the southeast flower world. But I don't know the three prefectures of Jiangning, Hangzhou and Yangzhou, who is the first capital in the southeast and who is the first resort for fireworks? ”

As his name suggests, this guy is really troublesome, and when this statement comes out, it is obvious that he is going to provoke a debate. Shen Fang naturally took the lead and boasted about Jiangning Mansion fiercely, and at the same time he was quite unimpressed with Yangzhou and Hangzhou Second Mansion in his words. Liu Sheng, the prefect of Yangzhou, was unwilling to show weakness, so he naturally spoke back and blew his Yangzhou Mansion into a flower, and spurned Jiangning and Hangzhou into a pile of scum. Everyone was drinking, and it wasn't an official occasion, so they couldn't help talking, foaming at the mouth, and arguing.

Yan Zhengsu didn't think so at first, thinking that these guys were boring, and there was nothing to argue about. So I watched the excitement silently on the sidelines. Until Shen Fang and Liu Sheng became more and more open-mouthed, they never forgot to bring Hangzhou to Hangzhou and belittle Hangzhou when they derogated each other. Yan Zhengsu was unwilling to let them slander them like this, so he said a word with the strength of wine.

"Jiangning and Yangzhou only have to fight, but the name of Hangzhou is the first capital in the southeast is not something you can fight for. Regardless of the strength of other aspects, only in the Qinglou flower world, my Hangzhou August 15 Oiran Contest can attract the attention of the whole week, which of you can do this? ”

Unexpectedly, this sentence stabbed the hornet's nest and aroused the hatred of Shen Fang and Liu Sheng. Originally, he was very unconvinced by the name of Hangzhou as the first capital in the southeast, as the prefect of Jiangning and the prefect of Yangzhou. These two state capitals are also the places where goods are distributed and the north and south are connected. Its degree of development is not much worse than that of Hangzhou. But people throughout the Great Zhou Dynasty said that Hangzhou is the first capital in the southeast, which has long been unconvinced. It is not tolerable to say this solemnly and solemnly now. Moreover, although there may be some gaps in population, commerce and finance, but in terms of the strength of the flower world, Jiangning and Yangzhou are both old fireworks resorts, and they are not inferior to Hangzhou. At this point, you are not willing to admit defeat.

So, under the coaxing of many officials who did not think it was a big deal to see the excitement, Shen Fang and Liu Sheng challenged Yan Zhengsu and proposed to participate in the Oiran Contest on August 15 in Hangzhou this year, threatening to take away the Oiran and let the world see who is the first capital in the southeast and who is the place where fireworks are at their best.

Yan Zhengsu originally thought that this matter was very boring, but as the prefect of Hangzhou, facing the challenges of Shen Fang and Liu Sheng, and in front of many officials and colleagues, Yan Zhengsu, who was already tough and stubborn, was willing to lose. So he immediately accepted the challenge, and the Oiran Contest in Hangzhou was officially upgraded to the Oiran Contest in the Three Southeast Provinces. These three cities are the three most prosperous and wealthy cities in the southeast, and these three cities represent the highest level in the southeast. Therefore, although it is a three-city hegemony, it can actually represent the strength of the entire southeast Zhulu.

In fact, this incident has already caused a sensation in the southeastern state capitals, and everyone is full of interest and looking forward to this dragon and tiger fight. And public opinion in Hangzhou has long been boiling, but Lin Jue has been busy with various things within the Lin family and business, and has not paid attention to this matter. If it weren't for the invitations sent by Yan Zhengsu and King Liang, he wouldn't even know that this year's Oiran Contest was so uproarious.

After learning the truth of all this, Lin Jue was speechless. It turns out that officials will also use such things to compete with each other. It's child's play.

However, Lin Jue could actually see the hidden essence behind this boring thing. It seems to be a so-called Oiran battle that is a bit of a child's play, but in fact, it is a competition between the status of the state and the prefect officials to show their strength and ability.

Compared with the officials of the important large state capitals and the officials of those inconsequential small state capitals, although they are of the same rank, their futures are absolutely different. The chief officials of large state capitals such as Hangzhou Mansion, Jiangning Mansion, Yangzhou Mansion, and Yingtian Mansion can be directly transferred to the center of the imperial court to hold important positions. It is impossible for the officials of the small state capital to ascend to the sky in one step, and even if they are transferred to the imperial court, they can only serve as officials in some irrelevant departments, and it is extremely difficult to enter the center. This time it seems to be a competition for an Oiran, but in fact, it is to show off his strength and show off his governance talents and achievements.

Although the fireworks controversy is not a measure of political performance, but in the prosperous era of the Great Zhou Dynasty, people often pay attention to these eye-catching things. The strength of the flower world is also a part of the strength now, winning the name of the southeast Oiran, suppressing the other party and greatly enhancing the popularity and exposure of the state capital, attracting the officials of the Great Zhou Dynasty, why not?

This is actually one of the reasons why the Hangzhou Oiran Competition has been held for many years, and even old-fashioned people like Yan Zhengsu have strongly supported it. It is an attractive business card of a city and a manifestation of soft power. Yan Zhengsu is about to step down as the prefect of Hangzhou, he is already a perfectionist, he doesn't want to be robbed of the Oiran by Jiangning Mansion and Yangzhou Mansion in the last Oiran Contest, wouldn't that be an imperfection before he left office.

After Lin Jue figured out all the ins and outs, he also understood Yan Zhengsu's mood. However, Yan Zhengsu wanted to help himself, but Lin Jue didn't know where to help. This kind of thing is arranged by the government, and it is not their turn to participate in the arrangement and organization of some trivial matters. Yan Zhengsu actually didn't know what Lin Jue could help, but he just felt that Lin Jue should be invited to participate, but as for how to participate, he didn't know much. Lin Jue told Yan Zhengsu that he was ready to be sent at any time, but if the prefect was in need, he would definitely go all out.

On the morning of August 13, someone from Liang Wangfu invited Lin Jue to go to the palace, saying that Liang Wangye wanted to see Lin Jue. Lin Jue knew that this must also be about the Oiran Competition. In desperation, I had to leave. Originally, this matter had nothing to do with me, but now it seems to have become a sweet tooth.

When Lin Jue arrived in the palace hall, he was surprised to find that there were already several people sitting in the hall. Lin Jue knew all these people, one of them was Li Youyuan, who acted for the palace to take care of the affairs of the Qinglou, and the other two were Chu Xiangxiang and Gu Panpan, the two top names of Wanhualou and Qunfangge, who had already dealt with each other last year. There is also a picturesque girl, but Lin Jue doesn't know her. Lin Jue suddenly understood that what he was thinking was not bad, and it was for the Oiran Contest that he had asked to come to discuss today.

The prince and the little prince were not in the hall, Li Youyuan, Gu Panpan, Chu Xiangxiang and others knew Lin Jue. Last year's Oiran Contest was destroyed in the hands of this person, and Gu Panpan and Chu Xiangxiang were angry with Lin Jue for most of the year. Later, this Lin Gongzi made a big move again, made great contributions and was commended by the imperial court, and the two top brands were interested in Lin Jue from anger. In addition, Mochizuki Tower withdrew from the flower world, which is said to be the idea of this Lin Gongzi, and since then, no one in the Hangzhou flower world has shaken the status of Wanhualou and Qunfang Pavilion, so I feel a little relieved. However, because I didn't have an Oiran, I always felt that this status was a little unauthentic.

"Young Master Lin, the slave family is polite."

"The slave Chu Xiangxiang has given Lin Gongzi a gift."

When the two glamorous head cards saw Lin Jue get up and salute, Lin Jue hurriedly returned the salute. Although he saw a lot of beauties, facing the two Qinglou red cards face to face, Lin Jue was still amazed by their beauty and temperament. can become the top brand of the two famous buildings, naturally they have their uniqueness. That Gu Panpan's eyebrows are cold, quite heroic, and he has a capable and vigorous temperament, which is quite like a woman among women. Chu Xiangxiang's temperament is more gentle, with a feeling of weakness between her eyebrows, if you don't say that she is a red card in the Qinglou, you will think that she is a deep boudoir woman of everyone's big family, and she behaves warmly and politely.

It's just that the two women have one thing in common, that is, a faint charm in their eyebrows and eyes. The trace of wind and dust revealed in his eyes is also difficult to hide.

"Two sisters, this one is the Lin Gongzi who caused you to lose your Oiran?" The beautiful girl on the side looked at Lin Juedao.

"Qianqian, don't be rude, don't give Lin Gongzi a courtesy?" Chu Xiangxiang hurriedly stopped. Turning his head to Chu Xiangxiang and Lin Jue, he smiled and said, "Lin Gongzi don't want to laugh, this is Qianqian, my little sister and Panpan." Children can't speak, so don't worry about Lin Gongzi. ”

Lin Jue smiled and nodded, it turned out to be a rising star. The competition in the Oiran industry is fierce, and it is a youth meal, and the red card can only be red for two or three years. After the age of eighteen, it will go downhill. This girl is only the same age as Green Dance, and she is about to make her debut to become popular, and she will replace Chu Xiangxiang and Gu Panpan in the future.

The girl Qianqian was scolded by Chu Xiangxiang, and she came to salute Lin Jue with a red face. Lin Jue glanced at the girl's figure. sighed in his heart: "A beautiful little girl is going to fall into the dust in the future." ”

"Qianqian is right, if it wasn't for Lin Gongzi's intervention last year, how could we lose the name of Oiran? This year, I have been haunted. Lin Gongzi, if you don't participate in this year, you have to help us once, and then it's settled. Gu Panpan laughed coquettishly beside him.

Chu Xiangxiang looked at Gu Panpan gracefully, turned his head to Lin Jue and said, "Lin Gongzi, don't listen to her nonsense, last year's affairs are not Lin Gongzi's affairs." We already knew that there was a great talent like Lin Gongzi in Hangzhou, so why did we go to the near and far to invite Sima Qingshan and Dongfang Weiming to come? As a result, he was defeated by Lin Gongzi. It's only our own eyes that are not beaded. ”

"The two people of Moti are famous and scared to death, what a big Zhou word altar with two walls. The result is...... Silver-like pewter tips...... Hee-hee...... It's not useful. Lin Gongzi is also really, such a capable person is not obvious. Visiting the Qinglou also has a unique taste, but I went to the Moon Tower and picked up a cheap one for Xie Yingying. Don't you know the fame of my Wanhualou and Qunfang Pavilion? Why don't you go where we are? That's not that much to do. Gu Panpan said with a grin.

Lin Jue laughed and said: "Miss Panpan will say crooked reasoning, who said that you have to go to Qunfang Pavilion and Wanhua Building when you visit Qinglou?" Everyone has their own taste. Besides, your two girls are so red and purple that I don't know how many people are lining up to see you, and I'm impatient, so I can't wait. ”

Gu Panpan grinned and said: "It turns out that the son is an anxious son, I didn't say it, if the son helps us win the southeast Oiran this time, in the future, if you come to Wanhualou and Qunfang Pavilion, we will drive everyone and let you enter the hall directly." Sister Xiangxiang and I can accompany whoever you want, you don't have to queue, you don't need silver, you can stay as long as you like, and you can live there. ”

Chu Xiangxiang blushed and said, "Die panpan, what did you say." ”

Lin Jue also blushed, he didn't expect Gu Panpan to speak so boldly and explicitly, but he couldn't answer for a while. Gu Panpan grinned proudly, enjoying the pleasure of teasing the man. She is actually not such a blatant person, in fact, she is more selective than Chu Xiangxiang, and it is difficult for people who don't look down on her to smile no matter how much money they spend, but she is just bold and frivolous in her words.

When Gu Panpan's smiling flowers trembled, several guards entered from the back of the hall and quickly occupied various positions in the four corners of the hall. Everyone immediately understood that the prince was coming. Before the prince arrived somewhere, the palace guards all arrived in advance and stood guard.

Sure enough, the guard's loud voice came from behind the hall: "The prince has arrived!" ”

The bamboo curtain at the back of the hall was lifted, and Guo Bing strode in with his stomach up, followed by Guo Kun and Shen Tan and others. "See the prince, see the little prince, see the county lord." Everyone in the hall hurriedly saluted loudly.

Lin Jue also bowed down to greet him, and suddenly Lin Jue's eyes lit up, because he saw Guo Caiwei, the little county lord walking in behind. Guo Caiwei is wearing a lake-green dress today, draped in a moon-white shawl, her hair is like a cloud, and she is full of fragrance.

The little county lord has a smile on the corner of his mouth, his face is picturesque, his eyes are bright, and he is really beautiful and cannot be forced to look at. As soon as she entered the room, the whole room seemed to be lit up, as if bathed in a spring light. Originally, there were Gu Panpan and Chu Xiangxiang and the girl named Qianqian in the hall, these three girls were all first-class in appearance, but at this moment, after the little county lord came in, these three people were suddenly overshadowed by comparison.

The little county lord also saw Lin Jue, the smile on the corner of his mouth was even stronger, he secretly winked at Lin Jue, and shook his white and tender little hand to say hello. Lin Jue's heart was agitated, and he hurriedly turned his head and didn't dare to look. The prince and the little prince are here, and he doesn't dare to make eye contact with the little county lord.

"That's it, let's be exempt." Guo Bing sat on the chair with his hands in his hands, and said loudly, obviously he didn't realize anything.

Everyone thanked each other and got up, Guo Bing turned his neck and said, "What about Lin Jue?" Didn't you say he was coming? ”

"Lord Wang, the grass people are here." Lin Jue hurriedly arched his hand.

Guo Bing smiled and said, "Why are you standing so far away?" Come, come, sit down beside the king. ”

"The grass people don't dare." Lin Jue bowed and said.

"Hypocrisy? You dare to reprimand this king, but you don't dare to say it again? It's all your own people, so you don't have to be formal. Come on, come on, sit here. Kun'er, you sit next to you, let Lin Jue sit here. ”

Guo Kun rolled his eyes and promised in a deep voice. So he got up and walked to a stool on the other side and sat down. Lin Jue was not polite, thanked him and walked over to sit down, but the seat was right in front of the little county lord. Originally, the little county lord stood between his father and brother, but now he stood between Guo Bing and Lin Jue.

Lin Jue's nose only smelled a faint familiar fragrance, which was the fragrance emanating from the little county lord, and he heard the little county lord's gentle breathing in his ears, and for a while, his body was like a spider crawling, and his heart was full of emotion.

"Li Youyuan, how is the matter going? Have all the invitees arrived? Guo Bing said in a deep voice on the side.

Li Youyuan hurriedly stepped forward and bowed and saluted: "Lord Wang, the villain is incompetent, and the matter has not been done." Several celebrities and people who were good at lyrics and music who had agreed to come said that they couldn't come because of something at home. Two of them were halfway there, and suddenly they ordered someone to deliver a letter saying that they had urgent matters to do, and turned around and went back to Beijing. ”

"What? What do you do? How could such a thing happen? Li Youyuan, you idiot, you are going to hurt me. Guo Bing said in astonishment.

Li Youyuan fell to his knees and kowtowed: "The villain is guilty, the villain is guilty, but the villain doesn't know what's going on." It's all said, why have they all changed? I can't figure it out either. ”

Before Guo Bing could scold, Guo Kun arched his hand and said: "Father, this is someone who is making an obstruction, you can't blame Li Youyuan." A few days ago, the capital sent news that several big green buildings in Yangzhou Mansion and Jiangning Mansion went to the capital to ask celebrities to help them, and they offered extremely high prices. The Hanlin Academy was all invited by them to be empty. Even the slightly famous people in the capital received an invitation. These people have changed their hexagrams, and they must have also been invited by those people in Yangzhou and Jiangning Mansion to pay a lot of money. ”

Guo Bing said angrily: "What? Is this going to be difficult to get along with my palace? Are these guys so bold? For a few dollars, even my Liang Wangfu dares to release pigeons? ”

"Father, they don't know that Wanhualou and Qunfang Pavilion are our property, they only think that Li Youyuan invited them, if they knew that it was our palace that invited them, they would not dare to make such a mistake. But this time, it was Shen Fang and Liu Sheng who came forward and walked in the capital, otherwise where would they have the ability to invite all the celebrities in the Hanlin Academy? Someone showed them the way and nodded. Guo Kun said in a deep voice.

Guo Bing frowned and said, "Why didn't you tell me earlier?" How can you say it now? ”

Guo Kun said: "Didn't the child just go home?" As soon as I went to see my father, I said that Lin Jue and the people from Wanhualou Qunfang Pavilion were here, didn't the child have time yet? ”

Guo Bing frowned and said: "Shen Fang and Liu Sheng are bound to win, and they are competing with Yan Zhengsu." However, the manpower invited by our Wanhualou and Qunfang Pavilion is all lost? None of them? ”

Li Youyuan said with a sad face: "Some came, but they were all not famous." I thought that something was better than nothing, and left them ready. Let them gather together to make a few good songs, and the three stinkers will be Zhuge Liang, maybe it will be useful. ”

"There's a fart, this is writing lyrics and songs, should you be the strength of the competition? How many people have a fart? Guo Bing scolded.

"Yes, yes, the villain is stupid, and when he turns around, he drives them all away. Lord Wang, didn't Sima Qingshan and Dongfang Weiming follow the prince as guests? That's when they should come forward. Li Youyuan said busily.

"Fart, they're all dead." Guo Bing scolded.

"What?" Li Youyuan was taken aback.

"I mean, they said they were going out to play, and now they don't know where they're dying, and they can't be found anywhere. I don't know where it was really in the deep mountains and old forests where it was eaten by wild beasts. You can't count on them. Guo Bing consciously lost his words and hurriedly covered up.

"Oh, then the prince, what can I do now?" Li Youyuan said.

Guo Bing glared at him, turned his head to look at Lin Jue and said, "What should I do?" Fortunately, we still have Lin Jue, do you think this king will be unprepared? Lin Jue, did you hear what we just said? ”

Lin Jue lowered his head and didn't know what he was thinking? It doesn't seem to have heard Guo Bing's words. Guo Bing raised his voice and asked again, Lin Jue raised his head in startle, with a panicked look on his face, which was a little strange.