“Well…” Feng Yue forced a smile. “Young Master, while I’m delighted by your favor and honored to enter with you in front of everyone, but…”

But could you please not carry me around like a monkey? She had feet! She could walk! This made her look like she’d committed some crime and was being arrested!

Yin Gezhi acted as if he hadn’t heard a thing. After descending from the main hall, he deposited her at a round purple sandalwood table nearest to the stage that Madam Jin had prepared.

While the other courtesans were still preparing in their rooms, she was the only one brazenly seated at a guest’s table.

Unfriendly glances shot at her from all directions, but Feng Yue lowered her head, pretending not to notice as she nibbled on a piece of dried beef.

As night fell and red lanterns were lit high above, performances began on stage. Feng Yue glanced behind her—the Crown Prince hadn’t come, though the other regular patrons were all present.

That made sense. How could a nation’s Crown Prince truly have nothing better to do than frequent brothels?

As she turned back, intending to continue eating, a sudden round of applause nearly lifted the roof, startling her so badly she jumped. Her dried beef fell into her teacup with a “plop,” leaving an oily film on the surface.

Yin Gezhi frowned at her, his expression suggesting he’d like to stuff her into the teacup as well.

“Hehe.” Feng Yue laughed nervously and said softly, “Young Master, I’ve never been particularly elegant. You can pretend you didn’t see that.”

She might not need to be elegant, but shouldn’t she at least maintain some dignity? Sitting across from him and embarrassing herself like this? Yin Gezhi shook his head, instantly regretting why he’d chosen to sit at her table.

On stage, Duanxian finished her performance and bowed respectfully to the audience. The applause hadn’t died down when a scholar stood up and declared, “With such excellent qin skills and beauty, Maiden Duanxian naturally deserves the title of First Courtesan.”

Frequenting courtesans were considered refined entertainment, and each courtesan had her supporters. It was like betting on horses—one wanted their pick to win to prove their good judgment.

Thus, those who had bet on Feng Yue weren’t willing to concede. Someone stood up and argued, “In terms of beauty, how could Maiden Duanxian compare to Maiden Feng Yue?”

“What nonsense is this?” The scholar became indignant. “How can you judge someone solely by appearance? Though Maiden Feng Yue is beautiful, what else does she have? Another performance of the Flying Heavenly Dance while stripping?”

The crowd burst into laughter.

Weiyun couldn’t help but laugh, and Duanxian felt vindicated—she had long wanted to say these words. Having a customer say them publicly today was like giving Feng Yue a resounding slap across the face, the sound crisp and delightful.

Yin Gezhi slightly turned his head, glancing at the scholar.

Feng Yue remained unperturbed, waving her hand dismissively. “Why must everyone drag me into this? I had no intention of performing today. The competition for First Courtesan has nothing to do with me.”

Upon hearing this, the scholar immediately laughed. “Is it that you don’t want to compete, or that you simply can’t?”

Someone nearby angrily retorted, “Talents come in many forms. How do you know Maiden Feng Yue couldn’t compete? Duanxian can play the qin, but doesn’t Feng Yue excel at dance? Without someone to judge, isn’t the outcome just determined by popular opinion? Maiden Duanxian has been at Meng Hui Lou longer and has more patrons—how is that fair to Feng Yue?”

The scholar sneered, “Words are meaningless without proof. If we need someone to judge, then I could—”

“I will.” A cold, firm voice cut through the chaos like a divine needle, instantly silencing everyone around.

Madam Jin blinked, looking at Yin Gezhi with a placating smile. “Young Master, surely matters of judgment should be left to those well-versed in these arts to be convincing.”

Rising directly, Yin Gezhi walked past Madam Jin and headed for the stage. His white robes caught the lamplight with a gentle glow, causing the assembled courtesans to gasp in admiration.

What a handsome man! Those eyes held both romance and depth, and every movement of his sleeves carried boundless grace. No wonder Feng Yue would forgo performing to accompany him today. What woman wouldn’t want such a patron, or rather, such a man?

Before Duanxian could recover her senses, someone had already taken away the qin before her. White gauze robes fluttered as he settled in the right corner of the stage, drawing all eyes to him.

Feng Yue watched with pursed lips as Guanzhi handed him a stool.

Yin Gezhi didn’t face the audience but rather the center of the stage. After accepting the stool and sitting down, he placed the qin across his legs and began to play without ceremony.

The sound of “High Mountains Flowing Waters” rang out clear as a spring, instantly subduing all the brothel’s frivolity into silence. The qin notes were both powerful and tender, flowing with natural grace much like the player himself.

Experts see the technique while amateurs enjoy the show—those who didn’t understand qin music simply felt this piece was more pleasing than Duanxian’s earlier performance, but connoisseurs could tell that the man on stage had at least ten years of dedicated practice. His foundation was solid, his skill profound, and remarkably, his expression remained free and without any trace of rigid technique.

When the piece ended, it took the audience a moment to react before bursting into exclamations of amazement. Madam Jin, who understood qin music herself, didn’t dare to object further and simply smiled at the crowd, “This young master is indeed an expert. Having him judge should pose no problem.”

However, his performance had utterly overshadowed Duanxian. When people had only heard Duanxian play, those with limited knowledge might have thought she was talented and beautiful. But after this master appeared, anyone could tell the difference—Duanxian’s qin skills still needed much refinement.

The scholar who had spoken earlier now wore an uncomfortable expression, and Duanxian didn’t dare raise her head.

Yin Gezhi placed the qin aside and sat on stage watching, his gaze cool and without speaking a word.

The entire establishment grew serious. Feng Yue blinked repeatedly and pulled Guanzhi over to ask, “What’s gotten into your master? Why is he involving himself in such matters?”

Guanzhi shrugged, looking toward the stage. “Master probably acted on a whim. After all, since coming to Wu Country, he hasn’t touched these arts.”

Lingzhu stood behind Feng Yue, taking a long while to recover before muttering softly, “Looking at him now, this young master doesn’t seem so detestable anymore.”

Feng Yue laughed, turning back to tell her, “You little girl, your likes and dislikes are too simplistic.”

Pouting, Lingzhu said, “I just think capable people are likable and fierce people are detestable, but he…” Looking up at Yin Gezhi, Lingzhu’s little face scrunched up in confusion. “He’s too difficult to figure out!”

Shaking her head, Feng Yue continued watching the stage.

Learning from Duanxian’s example, Weiyun was very serious when she came up to play the flute. However, Yin Gezhi also knew how to play the flute and mercilessly performed the same piece. His continuity, emotion, and breath control were even more apparent when compared to the previous performance, making the difference clear. Even without Yin Gezhi’s commentary, the patrons below could discuss at length where Weiyun fell short.

It wasn’t clear if this master had come specifically to cause trouble, but for all the courtesans who went up afterward—whether they wrote calligraphy, painted, or demonstrated archery—he showed no mercy. Using the same paper and brush, the same bow and arrow, he thoroughly demolished their dignity.

Remarkably, the patrons below didn’t grow angry but instead marveled at Yin Gezhi’s regular script calligraphy and ink paintings. Even the previously disagreeable scholar’s eyes showed admiration.

How shameless!

When Yin Gezhi drew his bow on stage, Feng Yue covered her face, sympathetically peeking through her fingers at Jin Ling, who had chosen archery.

Everything else was manageable, but choosing martial arts at this stage and encountering Yin Gezhi… would surely fare worse than those who went before.

The outcome was predictable. After Yin Gezhi shot three arrows in succession, all hitting the bullseye, the patrons not only applauded but also commented that such talents were unsuitable for courtesans anyway. Then they continued praising the man on stage as a rare talent, accomplished in both civil and martial arts!

As the competition for First Courtesan approached its end, Feng Yue felt that today’s title should go to Yin Gezhi himself. Even the courtesans whose faces he had just saved now stood at the edge of the stage watching him with reverent expressions, harboring no grudges.

At this point, what else was there to say?

Who knew what had gotten into this usually low-key master that he would do something so attention-grabbing? As Feng Yue was rolling her eyes, she suddenly noticed everyone around looking in her direction.

Huh?

Bewildered, she looked up at the stage to see the great Prince Yin looking down in her direction, having set aside his brush, ink, and jade qin as if waiting for her to perform.

Really? Feng Yue forced a dry laugh and shrank back. Holding up her skirts, she quickly scurried to the edge of the stage and whispered, “Young Master, you can torment them all you want, but why trouble me?”

“Such a good opportunity, won’t you come up and try?” Yin Gezhi looked at her sideways.

Smiling broadly, Feng Yue shook her head vigorously. “No thanks!”

Giving her a look of disdain, Yin Gezhi turned and randomly pointed at someone to come up. “You, come here.”

He You, dressed in dance clothes, trembled and shook her head. “I’d rather not… I don’t feel very well-prepared.”

Yin Gezhi stared at her without a word.

Cold sweat ran down He You’s back. After hesitating for a long while, she still couldn’t withstand the pressure of this master’s gaze and went up to dance.

To be honest, He You had only come to join the excitement today. After all, her dancing wasn’t as good as Feng Yue’s, and she’d just hoped to make herself known. Who would have thought she’d be singled out by this master?

After forcing herself through a dance, He You didn’t know what awaited her. She stood trembling on stage, stealing glances at Yin Gezhi.

As the music stopped and dance sleeves fell still, Yin Gezhi nodded expressionlessly. “Not bad.”

The crowd gasped in surprise and burst into applause!

This was the first time tonight he had verbally evaluated someone on stage. What dance had that courtesan just performed? No one remembered, but since this master said it wasn’t bad, it must have been good!

The courtesans who had been busy watching the man in white robes suddenly came to their senses, shocked. Feng Yue applauded from below, nodding, “Not bad, not bad.”

Yin Gezhi descended from the stage, picked up Feng Yue, and headed upstairs to their room. Though people called for them to stay, Madam Jin blocked their way, preventing anyone from following.

“Everyone, tonight He You have won first place. Does anyone object?” Madam Jin asked.

“No, no!” The patrons all waved their hands and applauded in congratulation.