023
On the stage, Miss Sisi's graceful dance and melodious pipa music drew thunderous applause. Finally, after the dance and music ended, the playboy Wu, in high spirits, began to throw money around wildly, adding to the madness of the lively scene.
The selection of the courtesan queen was just a formality; almost all the sachets were thrown at Yao Sisi's feet, making her the undisputed reigning courtesan queen.
Next, we will discuss who will be the top courtesan today.
Generally speaking, the highest bidder gets to spend the night with the most beautiful courtesan, and they can do whatever they want with her; she's not some aloof geisha.
The young master of the Wu family seemed determined to win. He immediately offered one hundred strings of cash, silencing the gossips of the crowd below. Everyone understood his meaning and didn't want to argue with him and make a fool of themselves.
One hundred strings of cash, which is two or three years' income for an ordinary family, was given to this young master as if it were water, and he didn't care at all.
At this moment, a drunk man in the hall started a commotion, saying, "I'll offer 120 strings of cash! Just have Miss Sisi drink with me!"
The young master of the Wu family gave a wink, and his servant stepped forward and said in a low voice, "Our young master will contribute one hundred and fifty strings of cash."
The madam on stage smiled so hard her eyes narrowed into slits, but Qin Sang noticed a slight melancholy on Yao Sisi's face. Then, looking at the young master Wang in the private room to her right, whose expression was a complex mix of a smile and a hint of something else, she understood.
At this moment, Young Master Wang finally spoke up. His words were very calm, as if he were having a casual chat with someone: "I will also contribute one hundred and fifty strings of cash."
Yao Sisi glanced at it indifferently, then quickly looked away.
Young Master Wu was not about to back down. He sat in his armchair, his slender fingers supporting his chin. He only moved two fingers slightly, and his subordinates nodded, preparing to raise the price again.
At this moment, Qin Sang seized the opportunity and said loudly, "Miss Sisi is not an object, why are you auctioning her off? It's so unbecoming!"
Prostitutes are considered of low social status, practically equivalent to objects that can be sold at will—everyone knows this. But Qin Sang bets that young master wouldn't openly swear or belittle Sisi as merely an object in front of everyone.
This was an insult to the beautiful woman, not only ruining their future friendship but also making the person who said it seem vulgar and uncouth.
Xie Sui'an was watching the commotion when he suddenly heard Qin Sang say something, and he quickly turned to look at her in surprise. Although he didn't know what she was going to do, he had already made up his mind to protect her, so no matter what she did, he would be there to protect her.
Qin Sang spoke loudly through the curtain: "Just now, Miss Sisi's song and dance were breathtaking. The title of courtesan was earned by us one sachet at a time. How can she be reduced to a commodity to be snatched away by others? Where does this leave us admirers?"
Xie Sui'an snapped his folding fan shut and chimed in, "Exactly! I've heard that Miss Sisi is exceptionally talented and must have a clever and shrewd mind. How can such a remarkable person be so easily trampled on with money? Letting the highest bidder win is probably inappropriate!"
Qin Sang hadn't expected Xie Sui'an to react so quickly. She glanced at him, suppressed a laugh, and looked at Young Master Wang on the second floor to her right, saying, "Since both of you gentlemen have offered high prices, why not do something more interesting? Let Miss Sisi set a topic, and you can choose for yourselves. Wouldn't that be fairer?"
Although Yao Sisi lowered her head slightly, you could still see her bright eyes glancing at the madam.
Xie Sui'an and Jin Yun joined in the commotion, saying, "That's right, let Miss Sisi set the questions and choose for herself!"
More people joined in the commotion. Naturally, no one wanted to let the rich and foolish young master Wu take all the advantage. If it was just about throwing money at people, what would be the point of the competition? What would be the point of the courtesan election?
Young Master Wu was clearly angry just now, and seeing everyone making a fuss, he didn't want to offend them, but he refused to back down.
Qin Sang then said, "Young Master Wu, you wouldn't dare to give it a try, would you? Miss Sisi is just a courtesan and has never attended a private school. I imagine the questions won't be too difficult. Why not give it a shot?"
Young Master Wu was finally put on the defensive. He snorted, "Give me a question, I'm not afraid of anything. Come on, Sisi, go ahead and give me the question!"
Yao Sisi finally stepped forward, bowed gracefully to all four directions, and then said, "I am flattered by your kindness. In that case, I will present a simple first line of a couplet for today's round. Once the second line is completed, I will leave it to you learned scholars to judge."
Everyone applauded.
Yao Sisi pondered for a moment, then quickly replied, "My first line is: The sound of pines and bamboos, the clear sound of a zither on a couch."
Everyone silently recited the first line of the couplet, racking their brains to win a smile from the beauty.
Xie Sui'an asked Qin Sang with a smile, "Can you come up with the answer?"
Qin Sang countered with, "Can you come up with the answer?"
Xie Sui'an: "If I answered correctly, wouldn't I have to accompany that courtesan tonight? I am a man of integrity and will not get involved in such a mess. I have no interest in courtesans."
As if she had heard something strange, Qin Sang remained silent, only smiling with her lips pursed.
Xie Sui'an slapped his folding fan: "What's the meaning of your smile? Don't you believe me?"
Qin Sang said, "If I were a man with money, I would also be willing to come to such a place with beautiful women and fine wine. Isn't what you're saying a bit too unrealistic?"
Xie Sui'an's face darkened. He never expected Qin Sang to be such a flirtatious woman. He said, "According to you, if there were a place that offered handsome men, fine wine and delicacies, and you had money to spare, you would go there without hesitation?"
Qin Sang thought about it carefully. The image of all the handsome men dressed in white, with their muscular figures and revealing but not revealing skin, surrounding her, serving her wine and food, and flattering her, sent a chill down her spine. She touched her earlobe and said, "Then I'll pass. Thank you."
Xie Sui'an clearly noticed her suddenly reddened earlobes, his heart skipped a beat, and he said, "What were you thinking about just now?!"
Qin Sang: "What? What?"
Xie Sui'an: "Why are your ears red?"
Qin Sang: "Stop fooling around, just watch the show. Look, a lot of people have gone up to write couplets."
Xie Sui'an reluctantly pulled his gaze away from her ear. Still feeling indignant, the maids running around the brothel had already retrieved the matching lines from the various private rooms.
Miss Yao Sisi read the couplets one by one herself, but did not read out the name of the person who wrote the second line. Qin Sang thought to herself that this was even better. Not reading out the name would be fairer and would prevent someone from taking advantage of their power to bully others.
The final line of the couplet, which received unanimous praise, was: "Cloud shadows and sky light enter the painted pavilion."
Put together, it becomes—"The sound of pines and bamboos, the zither's melody, the shadows of clouds and the light of the sky enter the painted pavilion"①, which is indeed a well-matched couplet, full of poetic and picturesque charm.
Yao Sisi said softly, "This couplet was composed by Young Master Wang Shizhen. Young Master Wang," she bowed slightly in Wang Shizhen's direction, "It's a fine couplet."
In fact, from the moment she said she wanted to compose a couplet, Wu Jialangjun had already lost. How could an ignorant and boastful person like him compare to the top student in the school? Yao Sisi just wanted to choose Wang Shizhen.
Qin Sang knew that Wu's young master would definitely not be convinced, and sure enough, a teacup was smashed down from upstairs and shattered with a crash.
Yao Sisi's leg was cut by the shattered ceramic shard. She stepped aside and looked towards Young Master Wu's private room. Young Master Wu, with a half-smile, was holding a wine pot and leaning against the railing looking down. Suddenly, he spread his fingers and let the wine pot fall from the second floor, shattering into pieces with a loud bang.
Young Master Wu smiled lazily: "Congratulations to you both, but I didn't bring any firecrackers, so I'll use this instead."
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