At the beginning of May, the giant city of Jinling bloomed with charming charm in the singing and dancing of the Oiran Competition. Pen? Interesting? Pavilion wWw. ｂiquge。 infoLively, noisy, crowded, commercial, prosperous, etc., all words that can be used to praise the great vitality of the city, the abundance of materials, and the peace and contentment of living and working can be used at this time. Jinling, the cultural capital and political capital of Jiangnan!

One hundred and fifty years after the establishment of the dynasty, the four directions were peaceful, and the people were enjoying a rich, peaceful and rich life after recuperation. In such an atmosphere of peace and prosperity, national peace and security, people unconsciously forget the swords and swords in the dark, and forget the turbulent waves intertwined with power and interests.

At the end of April, Gao Yushi, who was ordered to check the Jiangnan Weaving Bureau's deficit of millions of taels of silver, had entered the city.

And this incident was covered up under the grand farewell ceremony of Tianxia Zongfang Wang's entry into Beijing in early May, and was concealed in the smoke and prosperity of Jinling City. However, the knife was already on the neck of the Zhen family. The chill on the blade was chilling.

At this time, in a quiet corner of Jinling City, Jia Huan was still reading quietly, quietly. A small lifter, in this vast and huge historical picture, is so inconspicuous! In the picture: peasants who have lost their land, soaring salt prices, depreciating money, empty treasury, and corrupt officials running rampant.

Jia Huan is in the corner of this drawing. The reform of Nanjing Guozijian, the Qinglou that has changed the temptation of clothing for a thousand years, the Oiran Contest mixed with interests in the bustle, the family friendship between the Jia family and the Zhen family, the entanglement of the salt merchant general merchant system, and the disgust for Jia Yucun, these scattered threads are invisibly weaving a big net, pulling him into this dangerous and turbulent tide in the near future.

Is it to sink in the long river of history and die in obscurity, or to be a tide maker and stand at the head of the tide?

…

The night in Jinling is always so beautiful. On the Qinhuai River, the sound of oars, lights and shadows, and singing are intertwined with intoxicating and fascinating pictures.

Tomorrow, May 9, is the rematch of the Oiran Contest. In the darkness of the night, the ten shortlisted prostitutes sat in their respective small buildings to prepare. More famous prostitutes from the south of the Yangtze River floated in the painting boats on the Qinhuai River, singing harmony with the literati. Dark tides are surging.

In the boats, there was talk of overnight pay; Some people are advocating that a certain popular girl will inevitably win the championship, four out of ten, and the competition is fierce. The "water army" is sparing no effort to tout, influencing the literati and scholars who have the right to speak. The first Oiran is even more of a competition between several powerful eunuchs. The Chen family, the Zhen family, the Deng family, the cultural circle. The words of the literati are like knives, competing for public opinion in the night.

Also, some people secretly spread the "truth" about the Zhen family's deficit, which caused a burst of echoing and sighing from time to time. The Zhen family should be worry-free. Under such circumstances, everyone knows that the Zhen family has done their best for the royal family. It is impossible for the Son of Heaven to order the recovery of stolen goods.

In the dark night, Gao Yushi, who lived in the post house, wrote a chapter under the lamp, with a sneer on the corner of his mouth; Somewhere in Jinling City, the captains of the Jinyi Guard were compiling the latest two days' news; Wei Hong, the head of Nanjing's household department, drank and laughed with the visiting Zhen Yingjia at home, and circled with Zhen Yingjia; Jia Yucun, the prefect of Jinling, was drinking with his concubine, he had no close contact with the Zhen family, and this ** could not fall on him; The father and son of the Chen family were discussing in a low voice, and there was no one around the study for ten meters.

"Are you all ready?"

"Foolproof. Zi Nan will definitely win the Oiran, and my Chen family can eat the transaction amount of 100,000 taels of silver. The casino is also arranged. ”

"Okay."

Zhen Li, who has been busy, was idle before the rematch, and drank a meal at home with the visiting guests, Zhen Li took the long entourage out of the house, and went to the Yunyan Courtyard in Zhushi City on the south bank of the Qinhuai River to see the famous prostitute Su Shishi.

He couldn't forget her beautiful and elegant beauty. It's just the right time for him to relax tonight, isn't it?

Su Shishi just lived in the Yunyan Courtyard, one of the four famous museums in Jinling. Although she is quietly preparing for tomorrow's rematch tonight, the mother of Yunyan Academy will not offend the eldest young master of the Zhen family for her. A moment later, Su Shishi, who lived in a small building in the backyard of Yunyan Courtyard, came forward to entertain Zhen Li, who came uninvited.

She was dissatisfied. Tomorrow's semi-final, on the first day, she will perform lyrics, she has the fine beauty words given to her by Jia Huan in her hand, and the content will not be inferior to others, but she is not good at singing, and she needs to prepare well.

Zhen Li looked around the beautifully furnished living room, where pink decorations could be seen everywhere, full of feminine atmosphere, turned around, his eyes fell on Su Shishi's pretty face, and said with a smile: "Miss Shishi is worried about tomorrow's game?" ”

"Hmm."

"Actually, you don't have to worry. I can guarantee that Miss Poet will make it to the top four. ”

"Huh?" Su Shishi looked at Zhen Li in surprise, twenty-eight years old, with clear eyebrows. He has a long body, wearing an aqua blue silk shirt, a noble son's outfit. Very good man. During her time in Jinling, she naturally knew what the status of the Zhen family was. However, the Zhen family is holding Yuan Jingxiang, a famous prostitute in Jiangnan, how could they praise her for no reason?

Su Shishi looked at Zhen Li inquiringly.

Such a smart beauty, Zhen Li smiled slightly, and took half a step closer, "After the poetry girl came to Jiangnan, it seems that she hasn't left anyone for the night, I don't know if I can kiss Fang Ze tonight?" This is the most direct and original thought in his heart right now.

Su Shishi's face changed slightly, she leaned back to widen the distance between her and Zhen Li, stood up, and said with a reluctant smile: "Shishi doesn't sell her body, I hope that Zhen Gongzi will forgive me." ”

"Really? Hehe. Zhen Li laughed sarcastically. A prostitute told him that he didn't sell his body for his art? Funny! Amusing!

Zhen Li didn't intend to use coercive means to force it, it was a very tasteless thing, and only the fourth son of the Chen family, who had a worrying IQ, would use the road. Instead, he looked into Su Shishi's eyes, "In that case, Miss Shishi doesn't have to participate in tomorrow's semi-finals." You're eliminated. ”

Su Shishi took two steps back and said softly: "I'm afraid Zhen Gongzi can't decide tomorrow's rematch list." His voice was resolute, but his heart was worried.

"Haha!" Zhen Li smiled openly, stood up from the round table, walked to the window, pushed the window open, and a lively voice came from the window, "Miss Shishi doesn't believe it." Why don't I show it to you now? ”

Zhen Li asked the little girl waiting downstairs to call Su's mother from Yunyan Courtyard, and said lightly: "I have a little holiday with Miss Shishi." If you want to keep it open, don't take her in. Her qualification to sign up for the Oiran Contest in the name of Yunyan Academy will also be cancelled accordingly, so you can go to Mochou Lake tomorrow to be a witness. ”

Su Shishi bit her lip hard. How can this be? How can this be? The long-held wish was dashed. There has been a huge pressure recently, and a feeling of dizziness hit, so she held on to the back of her chair so that she didn't fall down.

Su's mother was immediately dumbfounded. She also counted on Su Shishi to help her make a name for herself in addition to Liu Ruyan. Su Shishi lives with her, and of course she has to take a cut. Busy playing the round, "Uncle Zhen, poetry girl..."

Dan'er came in, Li's mother also came in, and her friend Liu Ruyan also came over. The words of laughter and convincing sounded in Su Shishi's ears. Drifting, far and near. Su Shishi was about to hear clearly, and Zhen Li's gentle voice suddenly came from her ears, "Since the few people are so persuasive, I don't care about myself, as long as Miss Shishi apologizes to me and has a glass of wine with me." ”

I don't know where the strength came from, Su Shishi raised her head, her eyes returned to focus, looked at Zhen Li's handsome, but extremely disgusted face, and scolded: "You are shameless!" Two lines of clear tears fell.

This is a broken, uncompromising attitude.

Zhen Li was stunned.

The so-called "selling art but not selling one's body" is a joke in the Qinglou, but the price is not enough. What he did was staged every day on the Qinhuai River. Not at all surprising. The difference is only that he doesn't want to marry Su Shishi as a concubine, he just wants to play with her for a few nights. I didn't expect Su Shishi to have such an attitude.

Half an hour later, Su Shishi, Li's mother, and Dan'er left Yunyan Courtyard with their luggage. In the small building of the famous prostitute Liu Ruyan, Zhen Li watched the carriage go away from the window with a sneer on his face.

kicked a famous prostitute out of Jinling without a backstage, and it was easy to use the strength of the Zhen family. Since the toast does not eat and drink, so be it!

…

The carriage walked on the bluestone slab. It's a loss to be in a prosperous place like Zhu City, otherwise there would be no carriage at night.

In the carriage, Su Shishi bowed her head and wept without saying a word.

Mother Li sighed and nagged: "What a big deal, how did it get like this?" When you were in the capital, you were protected by Mr. Longjiang, and you had the fame that Mr. Jia touted. It can be up to you. It's not that your mother is snobbish, if you want to make a name for yourself in Jinling, you always have to take that step. With a shelf, how can it be done? Alas..., this year..."

Dan'er pouted dissatisfiedly: "Mother Li, don't say it." The girl is sad. ”

Mother Li glared at Dan'er, "Hey, you little girl dare to talk to me like this?" ”

The carriage gradually disappeared into the darkness, and the quarrel between Mother Li and Dan'er gradually faded away.

…

The morning light was faint, and it was raining lightly outside. Jia Huan recited the scriptures in the study.

The chores of perfume making were left to the housekeeper Li in Jiafu to deal with, such as ordering porcelain bottles, purchasing wine, spices, flower petals, and so on. Only the final blending was done by him alone. Recently, he has been distracted from business and has fallen behind in his schoolwork.

After memorizing the book for a while, Jia Huan's eyes fell on the calendar, May 10, the first day of the rematch of the Oiran Contest. Mr. Nakasan once invited him to go to the Shengqi Building in Mochou Lake to write poems for famous prostitutes. He was going to go in the morning. Let Mr. Zhongsan send someone to invite, it shows that he is too unpopular. Of course, there is certainly no poetry. The fine beauty words in his stomach can't be squandered like this. He had an alternative.

After finishing the morning reading, Jia Huan went to the living room to have breakfast. He had breakfast separately from Daiyu and Aunt Pei. Wake up time is not the same. As soon as he sat down at the dining table, he took a bowl of sweet rice porridge from Qingwen's hand, and the little maid outside came in with Su Shishi's maid Dan'er.

Dan'er held the perfume bottle she had taken away the night before yesterday in her hand, her eyes were red and swollen, "Mr. Jia, my girl is leaving Jinling today to promote perfume, please forgive me for not being able to do anything." (To be continued.) )