Chapter 133：Long Story Short

Madam Ye came to Yangzhou with the 'real' Second Lady Ye.

The well-planned visits and appearances of the two daughters changed the public's previous bad opinions. Of course, people would not believe that the Helian Mansion deliberately lied to cause trouble for Assistant Minister Mu's family so everyone just thought that it was all a misunderstanding.

Ye Jinrong was finally in the clear.

When she heard about this, Ye Jiayao wasn't the least bit worried. In fact, she was thrilled to see the Ye jumping around to cover their lies. After all, the higher they jump, the harder they fall.

Soon, it was the sixth day of the month and it was Ye Jiayao's birthday. She still found it strange that she and Ye Jinxuan shared the same birthday. Maybe that was why she was reincarnated in the latter's body.

Ye Jiayao had long forgotten that she had mentioned her birthday to Little Jing.

After a busy afternoon, she asked Zhong Xiang to make her a bowl of noodles with two extra eggs. 

Zhong Xiang joked, "Li Yao, it's not your birthday, isn't it?"

"My digestion hasn't been good recently. I would like to eat noodles to try and give my stomach a break," Ye Jiayao replied casually.

If the brothers knew that it was her birthday today, they'd definitely make a whole scene of it with meals and drinks. They might even get her gifts and Ye Jiayao didn't want that much trouble. All she wanted to do was go home and sleep.

In the afternoon, Eunuch Little Chuan came and gave Ye Jiayao a basket of red pomegranates as a reward from the Prince's wife because she liked the yogurt ice cream she made. 

Pomegranates weren't really worth a lot, but they arrived at the right time. Ye Jiayao took them happily and thanked the eunuch.

She saved five of it, one for herself and four for the Jiang family, and she shared the rest with brothers in the kitchen.

When she finished working that night, Little Jing was waiting for her.

"Yaoyao, let's go cruising."

"No, I'm too tired.

"Just for a little while. I will make the ice creams for you tonight." Little Jing looked at her expectantly.

Ye Jiayao returned his look with wariness. "No, that's okay. I don't want to trouble you."

Last time she asked him to crack eggs, he cracked it as if he was bashing a rock. He used too much strength and the bucket of eggs fell down the floor. He wasted a few dozens of eggs, nearly bringing Jiang Yue to tears.

Little Jing sneered at her. "I didn't have experience before! I assure you that I will not make a mistake this time. Let's go. I've rented a boat already. I heard that there will be a courtesan competition in Qinhuai River. We can go and have a look."

When Ye Jiayao heard about the courtesan's competition, her interest was piqued. She thought about the story of the eight famous courtesans in Qinhuai. They were rumored to be the most beautiful girls in Qinhuai and was so elegant they could pass off as royalties.

Her moment of hesitation was enough for Little Jing to get her to the dock.

When Ye Jiayao saw the small boat that Little Jing led her to, she asked, "We're going on a cruise on this little boat?"

"When I found out about the competition, the luxurious boats have all been rented out. The only ones left were this type of boats. I had to reveal to them my royal rank to rent it," Little Jing said, acting embarrassed.

What really happened was that he exchanged the luxurious boat with other's small boat. He wanted to tell Yaoyao something and he didn't want others overhearing him.

Ye Jiayao pictured Little Jing pulling rank on the boatmen to rent this measly boat and she couldn't help but laugh.

Once the two boarded the boat, the boatman unlatched it from the dock and pushed it softly. 

The boat just floated away - without the boatman.

"Wait! Why is the boatman on the dock? Who is going to row this thing?" Ye Jiayao asked.

Little Jing picked up the paddles and started to row the boat. He smiled reassuringly and said to Yaoyao, "I will."

"Wow! Not bad!" Ye Jiayao complimented when he saw how well Little Jing was doing.

Little Jing did a happy jig inside. Of course, I am good. I practiced for a whole afternoon just for this!

Qinhuai river was especially noisy tonight. Every light in the vicinity was on and there were countless boats on the river. Little Jing pointed to Yaoyao which big boat belonged to brothels.

"Do you know how they compete in this kind of competition?" Ye Jiayao asked curiously.

"The formal show has not started yet. Later, the courtesans from big brothels will gather together at one spot. See that? That's the water stage in the front. They will compete against each other using their talents and skills.

"Tonight is just a beginning. The competition will last for three days and then they will choose the most popular courtesan among them."

"How would they assess that? Is there a judge?"

"There's really no judge. They will just see who's the most popular. The one who would garner the highest bid would be the flower courtesan."

An auction in public? In the ancient era? Who knew! 

"Little Jing, would anyone among your friends bid in this? Like your brother, Xia Chunyu, Zhao Qixuan. Eh… I guess Zhao Qixuan wouldn't go," Ye Jiayao tested.

"Even though some royals would go, people like us who are traditional and decent would not bid. The best we can do is just watch," Little Jing said seriously.

Ye Jiayao sighed in relief. If Chunyu ever dared to join this kind of place, she'd leave him in the dirt so fast his head would spin.

"We can grab a good spot over the waterside earlier!" Ye Jiayao told him.

"Okay, I'm going to row there." Even though Little Jing managed to navigate around the river, he was still new to this. He almost hit other boats several times!

"Hurry up! It looks like it is about to begin." Ye Jiayao noticed that the other ships were beginning to move closer to the water platform.

"Emm..."

Pong!

Their small boat hit a luxurious boat next to them.

"Who is this? Do you even know how to row a boat?" someone from the boat came out and swore at him.

Ye Jiayao and Helian Jing looked up and the man immediately retracted his head.

Little Jing scowled at the big boat. "He's lucky that I'm in a good mood today. I'll deal with him some other day."

In the luxurious boat, Mu Qinchu swore at his bad luck. He just yelled at Young Royal Highness Jing and Li Yao! He just hoped that they didn't recognize him.

"Cousin, what happened? Who is it?" Wei Liujiang asked when he saw Mu Qinchu's pale face.

Mu Qinchu whispered the names to Wei Liujiang, whose face turned pale, too. They just came out to have fun, why was this happening to them?

"Ask the boatman to drive the boat further away," Wei Liujiang told the servant.

Ye Jiayao noticed the boat veering away and smiled. "He knew it was us so he ran away."

"He can't hide forever," Little Jing said with a cold smile.

"Oh, that reminds me. Did your brother came up with ideas on how to expose them?"

Little Jing shook his head. "My brother and Brother Chunyu are keeping their mouth shut about their plans. Whatever. I don't really care as long as those two suffer. I know that my brother and Brother Chunyu will make sure that they pay."

Little Jing finally managed to row the boat in front of the water platform. It was good timing since the competition just started.

Little Jing brought out a bunch of food and wine from the wooden box under his seat.

"You prepared for this," Ye Jiayao commented.

"Of course! We can't just watch and do nothing!" Little Jing told her, looking proud.

The music started and they saw seven girls with their beautiful bodies covered in even prettier clothes walked softly into the water platform. The cheers and shouting rose.

"Tonight is the group debut, tomorrow will be the personal talent show," Little Jing introduced.

"These are all of them?" Ye Jiayao asked doubtfully. They did have good body shapes and pretty faces, but weren't courtesans supposed to be held to a higher standard? 

"Yes. There is a competition every year but the quality for each year is different. I heard Zhao Qixuan said that the most beautiful girl was Liu Yiyi from the year before. She was certainly the real flower. The night after tomorrow, Liu Yiyi will appear."

Ye Jiayao couldn't wait to see Liu Yiyi as this year's courtesans disappointed her.

The audience was another matter. They were all cheering loudly, praising the girls' beauties. Some people even started to recite poems for them.

Ye Jiayao cringed. Unbelievable. 

Even Little Jing looked happy.

"I don't want to come tomorrow but I want to see Liu Yiyi. I trust Zhao Qixuan's judgment," Ye Jiayao said.

They haven't heard from Zhao Qixuan and Su Yi for a couple of days now. Su Yi didn't even come to look for her during the Su family's dinner party. Now that they're living the happily ever after, they forgot all about their wingman.

"Okay. I will rent a huge boat the day after tomorrow and I will ask Liu Yiyi to come and toast to you and play the qin for us," Little Jing said.

"For free?"

"Of course not."

"How much?"

"I'm not sure. Liu Yiyi was the most expensive bid in Qinhuai river. She wouldn't do anything for anyone expect Brother Chunyu."

What the f*ck? Chunyu had a relationship with a courtesan? Ye Jiayao felt like she was going to throw up.

"Why?"

"It's a long story."

"Then shorten it," Ye Jiayao demanded angrily.