Chapter 26: Oiran Election

At this moment, the Qingyao Painting Boat, thanks to the two major gimmicks of "Oiran Contest" and "Literary Gathering", is packed with guests. Some come with a purpose, some without, some just for fun, and some just to join in the fun, all of them are discussing this topic.

But not everyone can come. Those who want to participate in the Oiran competition have to pay an entrance fee of five taels of silver.

Although there was no money required to participate in the literary competition, one had to improvise an outstanding poem to enter, but women could enter for free.

This is the so-called threshold, which can both screen out the "poor" and screen out the "talented" scholars.

However, those young ladies who come to join in the fun can attract more noble men.

This boat owner is indeed quite capable and has a very modern operating model. He can make a lot of money and build a reputation at the same time. He is a talented person.

Lu Zhanxing was secretly amazed. The boat approached the pleasure boat and Lin Tao was about to pay the boarding fee.

The man guarding the entrance smiled and said, "Master Lu, Master Sun, Master Lin, the boat owner has said that anyone who spends more than 100 taels on the boat can enter for free. Please come in."

"This new boat owner is quite a good person." Sun Qiming quickly opened his paper fan, feeling quite happy.

Especially after seeing Yang Jingyi being humiliated, he felt even happier.

The three of them were brought into the boat by a maid. The three-story boat was huge, with a hollow design in the middle, similar to the inn, with red silk and red lanterns hanging all around.

As soon as you enter, you can hear the sound of piano and soft conversations, which are elegant and unconventional, making you feel relaxed.

"Greetings to the three young masters. Oh, Master Lu hasn't been here for a long time!"

I saw a beautiful woman with a lingering charm coming forward with a smile and bowing. Her bow was obviously very formal, yet she inadvertently revealed a bit of seduction. This woman knew how to attract men.

"Eh? Aunt Zhou, hasn't there been a new boat owner? Why are you still here?" Lin Tao looked at the former boat owner curiously.

Mother Zhou smiled and said, "I have been hired by the new owner as a steward at a high price. I will still be in charge of the pleasure boat from now on. Please follow me to the third floor and take a seat."

The three of them looked at each other and wondered if their mother was a little too enthusiastic this time.

They are all regular customers, so there’s no need to be so enthusiastic, right?

When the three of them arrived at the third floor, they realized that this was to let her new boat owner introduce guests with a noble family background. No wonder they were brought to the third floor.

I saw a woman in a black dress standing at the stairs, with a woman's hairpin, a black veil covering half of her face, a beautiful white forehead, and a pair of beautiful eyes below, shining with a breathtaking luster!

When you see those eyes, you can tell that the face under the black veil is not bad.

"Master Fang, this is the Second Young Master Lu from the Anguo Mansion, this is Young Master Sun, the son of the Minister of Rites, and this is Young Master Lin, one of the Eight Imperial Merchants."

The woman in the black dress bowed gracefully: "Qingyao greets the three young masters. Please take good care of this pleasure boat in the future."

Sun Qiming was very interested: "So you are the owner of Xinfang, why are you wearing a black veil?"

Shen Qingyao had long been accustomed to such questions from others: "To answer Young Master Sun, I was born with evil spirits. Not only did I kill my parents and family, but even my three husbands were killed by me. That's why I wear a veil to avoid offending you gentlemen."

Hearing this, Sun Qiming and Lin Tao subconsciously took a step back, thinking it was dangerous! !

Lu Zhanxing rolled his eyes speechlessly, two cowards!

"Okay, take us to our seats. We need a good view."

The reason she came here today was not only to watch the fun, but also to prevent her eldest brother from being ambushed.

Shen Qingyao was stunned and thought that this Mr. Lu was very interesting. There was only admiration in her eyes, but she did not have the kind of lustful fantasies that those men had when they saw her. He was also indifferent after hearing about her life story and became a little curious about her.

Lu Zhanxing and his companions were taken to private rooms where they could see the stage on the first floor. The seats were covered by screens, so people on either side could not tell who was sitting next to them.

The original owner of this pleasure boat had been here before, but it wasn't so fancy. This time it was a different experience.

Then, Mother Zhou went to the door of the first floor again. Whenever she saw someone of noble status, she would take him to the third floor and introduce him to her employer.

If the son of an official below the fourth rank is a son of an official, he will be taken to the second floor. If he is very wealthy, he will also be taken to the second floor. As for those of ordinary status, they will sit on the first floor.

Of course, if you are accompanied by a master of status, you can also go upstairs with his master. After all, this is also part of your ability.

Lu Zhanxing was sitting in a private seat on the third floor. Looking down, he soon saw that the Fourth Prince and his entourage were also being brought up to the third floor.

Then, she saw that her elder brother was also brought in by two colleagues, but he was a little far away from her. The ceremony of selecting the most beautiful girl was about to begin, and she didn't know whether the two colleagues beside her brother were the Fourth Prince's spies, so she could only wait.

He also told Bai Jing to keep an eye on her brother's location and to inform her in advance if he had any special moves.

Bai Jing responded with a "yes", while paying attention to his master's safety, he stared in the direction of Lu Zhanyan.

"A lowly woman in a brothel is just a lowly woman. She makes things so fancy..."

Amidst the countless curious and fascinated admirations, this low curse was undoubtedly drowned out in an instant, and several young men dressed as nobles were seen sitting around a table on the first floor, seeming to be angry about not being able to book seats on the second and third floors.

"It's really abominable. It's just a pleasure boat, but you're so hard to talk to. I've already given it several ingots of gold..."

"Son."

The man dressed as a servant next to him quickly looked at the complaining person to remind him.

The man immediately closed his mouth vigilantly.

"Qianyue, keep your voice down. Now that you're here, just take it as a chance to see something new. I want to see why the Qingyao Painting Boat makes such a big fuss, and how stunningly beautiful the chosen courtesan is," said another young master indifferently.

Only at this moment did they realize that the two young noblemen were actually the legitimate daughter of Marquis Zhongyi, Gu Qianxue, and the concubine's daughter, Gu Qianyue, who were disguised as men.

If you look closely, you can still see quite a few young ladies dressed as men in the hall. After all, the world is still a bit harsh on women, and this is a place of entertainment, so they all consciously dress up as men.

But there are also some women who don't care about details and come in their best clothes.

There are many young men coming to participate in the next literary gathering today, maybe they can find their own marriage partner.

Gu Qianxue looked at the elegant seats on the third floor and saw from afar the handsome, cold and noble man. That day, Mrs. Lu went to the Gu family to inquire about the situation, and her mother had already agreed. She thought she would marry him and was happy for a long time.

But the fourth prince visited the next day and the parents immediately changed their minds.

She was really disappointed. Rather than being a royal daughter-in-law, she wanted to live the life of a wealthy lady, and the Duke of Anguo's Mansion was one of the most prestigious families.

But his identity meant that he would not be eliminated in the talent show. Who would be lucky enough to be chosen by such a cold and noble person?

Gu Qianyue closed her mouth, but her eyes were fixed on the circle of elegant seats on the third floor. Every one of them was a nobleman from a wealthy family. If she could marry one of them, it would be a great blessing.

Of course, she also saw the handsome and noble Lu Zhanyan at first sight. She had long known that the Anguo Mansion had sent Madam Lu to test the waters, but unfortunately her sister was favored by the royal family, so the matter had to be left unresolved.

How great it would be if I could marry into the rich and powerful family of Duke Anguo?