#91 - Flower Ranking - I am the villain in the book

At Xu hour (7-9 PM), Liang Zhen finally "got his wish" and accompanied Wei Changtian to the "Flower Ranking" event—

An embroidered building located by the river.

Eight long red silk ribbons stretched from the top of the building to the bottom, the building was brightly lit, and the outside was adorned with clusters of flowers.

Countless scholars, poets, wealthy merchants, and dignitaries were either sitting or standing inside the embroidered building, and it wouldn't be an exaggeration to describe the atmosphere as extremely lively.

"Did you have such a grand scene when you were chosen as the top courtesan back then?"

Wei Changtian looked around while asking Yang Liushi, who was next to him and hidden behind a veil.

Yes, ever since Wei Changtian mentioned it that day, she had really gotten a veil and would wear it every time she went to crowded places.

"The scene in the capital was naturally more impressive than here."

Yang Liushi smiled and said, "But this place isn't bad either. At least the surroundings of this embroidered building have gathered a hundred beauties."

"A hundred beauties? Do you mean a hundred kinds of flowers?"

Wei Changtian was taken aback and realized that the flower clusters surrounding the embroidered building did seem to be of different varieties.

"Yes."

Yang Liushi explained, "Since it's a flower ranking, there must be a hundred flowers blooming in competition. However, most 'flower ranking' events in other places can't gather so many varieties, and most only have a few dozen."

"Therefore, it's not easy for this place to gather a hundred kinds, even though many are nameless wildflowers."

Good heavens, it really isn't easy.

It was already the beginning of winter, and who knows where these flowers were found.

Wei Changtian curled his lips and sighed, "They really know how to have fun," then shifted his gaze to Liang Zhen, who was walking next to him.

He was chatting happily with the fat county magistrate who had come along, probably with his mind already filled with the "young lady" he hadn't met yet.

Wei Changtian really admired Liang Zhen for insisting on coming out to "care for the common women" even with his own daughter knowing, but he also knew that the ancients were indeed quite tolerant in this regard.

For men, visiting brothels was basically the same as getting a foot massage in his previous life, and most women could accept it.

For example, himself, wasn't he often swaggering around to find Yang Liushi in front of Lu Jingyao before...?

...

The Flower Ranking activity originally originated from the perverted tastes of scholars and poets.

Perhaps they were really full and had nothing to do, so these scholars who frequented brothels, in addition to venting their desires, also had to vent their poetic talents, so they would write some erotic verses to comment on the talents and appearances of the courtesans.

However, as they gained more experience, they began to be dissatisfied with this simple evaluation method and wanted a "comprehensive, objective, and fair" scoring system.

Finally, they imitated the imperial examination and created the so-called "Flower Ranking."

At first, the "Flower Ranking" only evaluated appearance, but this was a matter of personal preference, and it was difficult to choose an absolute first place.

In order to increase the "credibility" of the selection results, they later added examination content such as demeanor, speech, poetry, songs, zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting, making the difficulty no less than the college entrance examination in his previous life.

Good heavens, it really lived up to the saying—

Three hundred and sixty professions, every profession produces a champion.

"...Ladies and gentlemen, I have finished writing my words, and I hope you will not laugh at me."

When Wei Changtian and the others sat down in the VIP seats in the embroidered building, the woman on the stage had just finished the "talent show" segment.

Poetry, calligraphy, singing, zither, painting.

It seemed that she had drawn "calligraphy".

Several maids came on stage and held up the words she had just written, and there was a burst of applause from the audience, along with a dozen or so red peonies being thrown at the woman's feet.

Presumably, these were the votes.

Wei Changtian looked up at the calligraphy, which was a poem.

The breeze is gentle and caressing, and the fragrance of flowers flows in the path. Qingming has passed, unbearable to look back, clouds lock the vermilion building. The oriole's voice is clever when I wake up from my nap at noon, where does it call for the sorrow of spring? In the shadow of green willows, by the branches of crabapples, at the tips of red apricots.

"..."

Five hundred taels?

Good heavens, why don't you just rob me??

No matter how out of season these peony flowers are, they shouldn't be this price!

Of course, Wei Changtian wasn't unable to take out five hundred taels, but he simply felt it wasn't worth it.

So he wasn't embarrassed and immediately changed his words, "Then I only want two flowers."

"Okay, young master."

The attendant didn't show any contempt for his "stinginess" and respectfully asked after handing over two large peonies:

"May I ask for your honorable name, young master? And where is your residence?"

"My surname is Wei."

Wei Changtian took the flowers and threw them on the stage casually, shaking his head and only giving his surname.

"I understand."

The attendant knew that Wei Changtian didn't want to reveal too much personal information, so he didn't ask any further, but raised his voice and shouted, "Young Master Wei, rewards Miss Yumeng with two peonies!"

Many people turned to look over here, and the woman on the stage named Yumeng also immediately turned around and gave a gentle salute.

The experience wasn't bad.

Wei Changtian smacked his lips, suddenly understanding why so many tycoons would give gifts in the live broadcast room in his previous life.

After he threw these two peonies, no one else threw flowers, and the maid on the stage waited for a few more breaths before picking up the flowers one by one and leaving the stage with the woman.

Wei Changtian thought that this matter was over, but after waiting for him to drink two sips of tea, someone sent over a small handkerchief.

Was there even a souvenir?

Wei Changtian looked blank, while Yang Liushi smiled beside him: "Congratulations, young master, for giving the most flowers. Tonight, you can enter Miss Yumeng's embroidered room."

"What?"

Wei Changtian instantly guessed that he might be enjoying the treatment of the "top fan," but he was still a little confused.

"That's not right, I saw that there were quite a few people throwing flowers to her, how come I'm the most with only two flowers?"

"Hehe, young master, you don't know..."

Yang Liushi explained, "That Miss Yumeng may be a popular card in her own building, but she's probably not as good as others at this flower ranking event."

"But girls always have to save face, so..."

"So she spends her own money to buy flowers?"

Wei Changtian was surprised: "Isn't this pretending to be a big shot?"

"Pretending to be a big... shot?"

Yang Liushi blinked her eyes outside the veil, seeming very puzzled.

Wei Changtian quickly glossed it over: "Cough, what I mean is... what's the point of doing this?"

"Young master still doesn't understand women's hearts."

Yang Liushi covered her mouth and smiled, "For us, some things, even if they are fake, can't be without."

"Vanity."

Wei Changtian rolled his eyes, just wanting to continue watching the next "contestant" perform, but suddenly remembered something.

"By the way, how many flowers did you get when you were ranked as the top courtesan back then?"

"Um... this many."