The Qinhuai River Oiran Competition is a grand event held by Jiangnan literati. Yingtian Mansion is known as the Small Cabinet. Most of the officials here are losers who have been defeated in the officialdom struggle in the capital.

Unable to express their ambitions in the officialdom, they could only devote their energy to such elegant affairs as holding cultural gatherings and organizing oiran competitions.

After Jia Yucun took office as the prefect of Jinling, in order to build a good relationship with local officials, he put aside his dignity and actively prepared for this oiran competition.

…

The Oiran Competition is usually held for fifteen days. The judges are selected from celebrities and gentry in the south of the Yangtze River and veterans who have reached official positions. Officials and wealthy businessmen around Jinling will participate and provide financial sponsorship.

In previous years, the Oiran Competition was held in March of Yangchun. This year, the new prefect made an exception and moved the time forward to mid-February.

There are only two rounds on the schedule, the preliminary round and the final. The preliminary round is very simple, and the top sixteen players are determined by the number of flowers thrown by the audience.

In the final, the judges composed of celebrities, officials, and businessmen will vote and select the final oiran.

…

The Qinhuai River flows from Dongshuiguan to Xishuiguan and is known as the Ten Miles of Qinhuai. Mochou Lake is just outside Xishuiguan. It is known as "the first lake in the south of the Yangtze River".

In early spring, the lake is slightly cold, but pedestrians still wear cotton-padded clothes and jackets.

Lin Yun and others followed the crowd and walked forward slowly. The willow trees by the lake had just sprouted new buds and were swaying gently in the breeze. It proved the saying that the spring breeze in February is like scissors.

Five large stages with colorful flags flying were set up in the open space by the lake. This is a venue for contestants to perform their talents.

There are many colorful booths and auditoriums set up along the way, and further outside is a wider activity area, which is crowded with vendors and people, and it is very lively.

Feng Ziying suggested to Lin Yun: "Brother Lin, why don't we rent a boat, so that we can watch whenever we want, and we can rest if we don't want to."

Lin Yun was right. Renting a boat would give him more freedom. It would be no problem for a few people to rest directly on the boat at night.

He immediately nodded in agreement and asked Xiao Mo and Du Sha to rent a boat.

There were many wealthy people in Jiangnan, which caused the price of boat rental to skyrocket. Lin Yun finally chartered a cruise boat for fifty taels of silver per day.

As a few people boarded the boat and looked out into the distance, they immediately felt like they were condescending.

Feng Ziying stood in front of the window of the cabin on the top floor and said happily: "It's better to have money and watch the show on the boat. You can watch whatever you want to see. If you don't want to watch, you can also take a nap."

Xiao Mo: "It's just too expensive. It costs fifty taels of silver a day."

Lin Yun smiled and said: "Don't worry, this money will be earned back soon."

Feng Ziying hurriedly asked: "How to make money back?"

"It's very simple. On the day of the finals, we will sell tickets on the boat. Anyone who wants to come up and watch the performance can pay ten taels of silver. This is not too much."

Feng Ziying: "Is this okay?"

"Why not? By the time the final day comes, not only will the boat be gone, but even the good seats on land will have been taken away."

"It seems really possible."

…

While talking, a luxurious cruise ship came from the side. Just as the two ships passed by, Lin Yun saw Jia Yucun from the open window sitting opposite an elegant-looking man in his fifties.

Drink tea and chat.

Xiao Mo stretched out his hand to poke Lin Yun and said, "Third Master, isn't that Mr. Jia? Do you want to go over and say hello to him?"

Lin Yun shook his head and said, "Didn't you see any guests on his boat?"

Feng Ziying asked from the side: "Brother Lin, is he Jia Yucun, the prefect of Jinling?"

"good."

…

On the cruise ship opposite, Jia Yucun was chatting with Xiao Jingan, the Minister of Rites of Jinling.

This Oiran competition was organized by Xiao Jingan. He had been an official in Jinling for many years and had a wide network of contacts. He was naturally comfortable organizing such an elegant event.

However, what the two of them were talking about at this moment was not the Oiran Competition, but a newspaper sent from the capital. Lin Ruhai was dismissed from the post of Salt Patrol Envoy of Huaihe River and Huaihe River, and was replaced by Yu Minshi.

Xiao Jingan was a junior minister in the cabinet during the period of the Supreme Emperor. Because the deposed prince was implicated, he was sent to Jinling by the then emperor to retire in his old age.

This man also had a strong temper and admired Lin Ruhai's vigorous and resolute style.

He took a sip of tea and said, "I didn't expect that all the princes in the court could not tolerate such talents as Ru Hai. It's really sad."

Jia Yucun said with a smile: "What's so strange about this? How many rats have been fattened by the private salt of Lianghuai River? It's strange that those rats are not in a hurry if Ruhai is cut down with such a knife."

Xiao Jing'an said happily: "To say they are mice is not an exaggeration at all."

Jia Yucun changed the subject and said: "Today is the beginning of the Oiran Competition, let's talk about Fengyue. Brother Xiao, in your opinion, which famous courtesan can win the first prize in this Oiran Competition?"

Xiao Jingan smiled bitterly and said: "It's really hard to say. Every year, there are people behind the scenes in the Oiran Competition. Who wins or loses depends on the support of their backers."

Jia Yucun: "Who won the Oiran title in last year's competition?"

Xiao Jingan: "She is the misty girl from Meixiang Tower in Yangzhou. She relied on the support of the Bai family to win the title of Oiran for two consecutive years."

Jia Yucun smiled and said: "So, I'm afraid she will lose the election this year."

"It's hard to say, she is already famous now. Unless someone is doing something secretly, she will probably win three consecutive championships."

Jia Yucun was stunned when he heard this. From Xiao Jingan's words, he could tell that the other party seemed to support the ethereal girl.

After thinking for a while, he asked tentatively: "Brother Xiao, what do you think of the newly rising girl Yimei?"

Xiao Jing'an said happily: "It must be Cao Shaoqian, the Imperial Academy's wine sacrificer, asking you to support Miss Yimei, right?"

Jia Yucun nodded and said: "Cao Jijiu was mentioned in front of me once. I don't know much about it, so I came to ask Brother Xiao a few questions."

Xiao Jingan: "Although Miss Piaomiao has lost the support of the Bai family, Mother Yin of Meixianglou is very capable, and she should be able to find a replacement soon."

Jia Yucun: "So, I'm going to break my trust in Cao Jijiu."

Xiao Jingan thought for a while and said, "If you can persuade Zhen Yingjia to support Miss Yi Mei, this matter may be possible."

Jia Yucun: "Could it be that Master Jiangning Weaving Zhen?"

"That's him."

While Jia Yucun was meditating, his servant came over and whispered a few words in his ear.

Xiao Jingan hurriedly asked: "Dear brother, is there something wrong?"

Jia Yucun smiled and said: "It's just that the young man saw an old friend and reminded me."

"Oh, but who is it?"

"Brother Xiao must have heard of the name. He is Lin Yun, Lin Ruhai's nephew."

Xiao Jingan hurriedly asked: "Could it be Lin Xiucai who wrote Ping Nance?"

"That's him."

"Since it's him, my dear brother, why don't you invite him to come over and meet me? I also want to get to know this young hero."
Chapter completed!