Chapter Nineteen: The Courtesan Selection Tournament

Oh ho... I know this trick all too well! No need to guess, those so-called tickets must be bought with real silver, just like those struggling writers begging for tips and monthly votes.

“So, Miss Wu’er, what do you mean by this?”

“Mister Feng, my lady has prepared the finest wine for you, and hopes you can come early this evening…”

The little maid produced a pink invitation card from her sleeve, much like a formal invitation.

“This evening? Isn’t it supposed to be the second day of the second month?”

Feng Jingzhe took the card and opened it. Inside, a line of elegant small script greeted his eyes.

One can tell a person by their handwriting, and this was truly pleasing to behold. The dragon raises its head on the second day of the second month—he’d been so busy eating and sleeping these past few days, he’d forgotten the exact date.

“Thank you. Please tell your lady that I’ll be there right on time tonight…”

Of course he’d go—two hundred taels of silver were at stake! It wasn’t as if his money grew on trees.

The little maid, seeing how readily he agreed, looked down on him in her heart, but her face was all smiles. With her task complete, she wanted nothing more than to leave immediately.

After a bit of polite conversation, she picked up her food box and hurried off, not lingering a moment longer.

For Feng Jingzhe, this was nothing more than a minor episode in an otherwise lazy day.

Spring sunlight was at its gentlest. After refilling his teacup, Feng Jingzhe placed the pink invitation over his face and drifted back to sleep…

As the moon climbed above the willow branches, two people had arranged to meet after dusk. Lanterns now hung high above the entrance to Pink Sleeve Pavilion.

The Chang’an Courtesan Competition had been in preparation for some time; by now, the road outside Pink Sleeve Pavilion was already jammed with countless carriages.

As the most renowned brothel of the moment, the competition drew the city’s wealthiest merchants and the sons of high officials alike.

Twelve courtesans, each famed for both beauty and talent, would take the stage tonight. Their performances would be judged by the number of votes—each purchased with generous tips—from their supporters, to determine who would be crowned Chang’an’s top courtesan.

All the major gambling houses had opened betting pools, and currently, there were four favorites: Zixuan and Tang Hongdou of Pink Sleeve Pavilion, Shen Xixi of Spring Breeze House, and Meng Xiaodie of Warm Jade Chamber.

Of the four, only Tang Hongdou remained something of a mystery; the other three were already household names throughout Chang’an.

Feng Jingzhe arrived early—mainly to save himself the cost of a meal. He’d already heard that all food and drink would be free in Pink Sleeve Pavilion tonight.

Determined to take full advantage, he’d even skipped lunch, arriving with an empty stomach and every intention of feasting.

After squeezing his way past a dozen carriages, he showed his invitation and was soon greeted by a servant who led him inside.

The main hall of Pink Sleeve Pavilion was spacious, its layout reminiscent of a modern nightclub from a previous life.

A large stage stood at the center, surrounded by small tables arranged in private booths. Closest to the stage were twelve meticulously decorated tables.

The tables themselves were large, but the chairs were few—four or five per table—clearly set apart from the outer tables, where seats were packed ten to a table.

Feng Jingzhe was led to one of these tables. He was among the earliest arrivals, and for the moment, the inner circle was empty but for him.

Several plates of pastries and snacks had already been set out, and in the center of the table was a basket of flowers, with a small wooden plaque inscribed with the name "Zixuan."

So it was true—the twelve inner tables were VIP booths reserved for the most devoted supporters, each invited by the contestants themselves.

As for those without invitations, they’d likely have to pay just to get in.

Feng Jingzhe, however, paid little attention to any of this. His main goal tonight, aside from recouping his two hundred taels, was simply to eat his fill.

With the other guests yet to arrive, he immediately called a servant over, urging him to bring out the wine and dishes at once.

It should be noted that the twelve inner tables were prepared at the contestants’ own expense.

Now, being asked to serve the food before all the guests had arrived left the servant at a loss, and he could only scurry off to consult his superiors.

Soon enough, Feng Jingzhe’s request was relayed to little Wu’er. In her eyes, Feng was nothing but a fool with more money than sense and no manners to speak of. Still, she didn’t dare risk offending him should he cause a scene, so she gritted her teeth and gave her consent.

One after another, exquisite dishes were brought to his table. Judging by the lavish spread, Miss Zixuan had spared no expense.

A rough estimate suggested the meal was worth no less than twenty taels of silver.

Each dish had clearly been chosen with care. After all, if a guest at the inner circle’s main table found his food inferior to the others, it would be a clear sign of disrespect.

Zixuan had deliberated over every detail.

Feng Jingzhe, for his part, had no concept of restraint. He ignored the stares from those around him and simply buried himself in the meal.

He drank bird’s nest soup like water, swallowed abalone in a single gulp, tore into whole lobsters with his hands, and wolfed down three or four slices at a time of the sea snails braised in twenty-year-old huadiao wine. He even ate thick slices of fish maw as though they were rice.

Such a display made Wu’er, watching from a second-floor window, wince in pain.

“That man must have starved to death in a previous life! Twenty-eight taels for a table, and how are the guests coming later supposed to eat after this?”

She slammed the window shut with a bang, unable to watch any longer.

“I told you not to send him an invitation! Look what’s happened now!” Wu’er complained bitterly to her mistress.

Before the dressing table, a graceful woman frowned in distress.

It had been a last-minute decision by Su Zixuan to invite Feng Jingzhe. Were it not for the recent rumors swirling about him, she would never have been so rash.

She had thought the newly rich Feng might be her secret weapon tonight, but now it seemed he was only here to spoil the occasion.

“Go to the kitchen and tell them to prepare another table’s worth of dishes, exactly the same as before. Once the guests arrive, replace everything immediately!”

Su Zixuan was nothing if not decisive, though Wu’er’s heart nearly broke at the order—her own monthly wage was only three taels and three coins.

“Hurry, or the other guests will arrive soon...”

While the mistress and maid fretted, others saw only a joke.

In the neighboring rooms, exaggerated laughter rang out—whether by chance or design was hard to say.

“Cluck, cluck, cluck... Miss, look at the guest Su Zixuan invited tonight. Like a starving ghost—hasn’t he eaten for days?”

“I heard from the kitchen that Zixuan spared no expense tonight—nearly thirty taels a table, and it’s all been ruined before the event even started. Let’s see how she entertains her guests when they arrive…”

Shen Xixi, applying rouge, sneered as she spoke. In both talent and popularity, she’d always been confident of surpassing Su Zixuan, and this new mishap only increased her odds.

Meanwhile, in another room, Meng Xiaodie was finishing her makeup at the dressing table when her maid rushed in, brimming with excitement as she recounted the commotion outside.

At first, Meng Xiaodie took it as nothing more than a joke, but the more she thought about it, the more uneasy she became.

When she heard Wu’er had already ordered another table’s worth of dishes, realization struck.

“Hurry to the kitchen and have them prepare another identical table for us as well.”

“But miss, it’s still early—the guests haven’t even arrived. Besides, our guests would never behave so disgracefully! If only you’d seen Wu’er just now—she covered her face when she saw me…”

The little maid was puzzled.

“Enough talk, just go! If you wait any longer, it’ll be too late…”