Thousands of lights are lit on the Qinhuai River, and the lights are like stars, just like the Milky Way in the sky is nostalgic for the prosperity of the world, and merges into the Qinhuai River, driving away the loneliness of the eternal bright moon.
Yuan Rong had also stood up and walked to the side of the ship. Yang Ning couldn't help but follow him to the side of the ship. He saw Yuan Rong looking eastward and followed his gaze. He only saw a bright light in the distance. It is a huge painting boat, which is rare and five stories high. It surrounds the flower house, with lights like daylight and is magnificent.
"That's King Fang." Yuan Rong said with a smile: "This is the feast for you tonight!"
"King Fang?"
At this time, Pearl had also approached and explained: "Every year before the Spring Festival, the queen of flowers selection is held. This is an annual event on the Qinhuai River."
"Queen of Flowers Selection?"
"Yes, the eight girls selected by the public will be on this largest painting boat. Finally, one queen and two concubines will be selected. Once they can get the flower queen's crown, their worth will increase a hundred times, not to mention the gold and silver treasures. And there is a chance to be favored by the nobles and become the concubine of a wealthy family." Pearl explained: "So this day every year is the most lively day on the Qinhuai River."
Yuan Rong said with a smile: "If you miss such a grand event at home, you will really regret it. What's more, this year's queen selection is very different from previous years."
"Oh?" Yang Ning asked curiously: "What's the difference?"
Yuan Rong said: "The girls participating this year can be said to be the most talented and beautiful in the past." He glanced at Pearl and smiled: "Perhaps only the class four years ago can be compared."
Pearl smiled charmingly and said, "Master, are you afraid that Pearl will be jealous?"
Yuan Rong laughed and said to Yang Ning: "Zhenzhu was the Queen of Flowers in the Queen of Flowers selection four years ago. She was the most outstanding one in the past years."
"It turns out Miss Pearl is the Queen of Flowers." Yang Ning said with a smile, "She is indeed worthy of her name."
Pearl chuckled and said, "As people grow old and their pearls turn yellow, they have long lost their youthfulness."
"Youth is still the same." Yang Ning said with a smile. In fact, he knew in his heart that Qinhuai is ten miles away, and the wind and moon are boundless. Young and beautiful girls are replaced by the sun and the moon. Pearl is over 20 years old, and for this industry, he is already considered an old man.
Pearl just smiled slightly and said: "The Marquis and the young master will have wine here first, and Pearl will go and see if the cakes are ready." Yingying bowed and retreated first.
"Master Hou, are you wondering why she is still on the Qinhuai River since she is the Queen of Flowers?" Yuan Rong sighed.
Yang Ning nodded slightly and said: "I do have this doubt. But she has this boat, so she should be living a pretty good life."
"Of course the boat is not hers." Yuan Rong said: "Four years ago, Pearl became the Queen of Flowers with the support of Master Xue of Baibao Tower, and Master Xue was passionate about Pearl and spent a lot of money to marry her. Speaking of Mr. Xue, he is a passionate person, and he attaches great importance to love and righteousness, and his friendship with me back then was not shallow."
Yang Ning frowned and said, "Baibao Tower?"
"Baibaolou deals in antique jades and is one of the best merchants in the capital." Yuan Rong said with emotion: "Master Xue is really interested in pearls. He married Pearl into the family in a six-carriage sedan chair."
"In that case, why are the pearls still in the Qinhuai River now?"
Yuan Rong said calmly: "The Baibao Tower no longer exists, and Young Master Xue's family has been destroyed. What will happen to the pearl?"
Yang Ning was stunned for a moment.
"Back then, Pearl was already well-known before she was selected as the Queen of Flowers." Yuan Rong explained: "Not only Young Master Xue, but also someone else also took a fancy to Pearl. That person and Young Master Xue raised the Pearl together, but after After Pearl won the flower queen, Young Master Xue and the man spent a lot of money on the pearl. Young Master Xue’s family had a fortune, and they finally got the pearl."
"What happened next?"
"Actually, Mr. Xue knew very well in his heart that he shouldn't have offended that person, but for the sake of the pearl, he didn't care." Yuan Rong sighed, "He thought that the person would definitely regard him as his enemy afterwards, but he didn't expect that person The attack was ruthless, and in just one year, the Baibao Building was completely ruined, and Young Master Xue was eventually destroyed by that man. Pearl lived a good life for less than a year, and was robbed by that man again. , a year later, he was sent back to Qinhuai River."
Yang Ning didn't expect that Pearl would experience this, and frowned: "Who is that person?"
"Actually, you also know him." Yuan Rong said: "The eldest son Dou Lianzhong, the Minister of Hubu!"
"It's him!" Yang Ning's body was shocked.
Yuan Rong sneered and said: "This man has done too many things to steal and plunder, and he has killed many people. Young Master Xue is just one of the blood debts he owes." He raised his hand and pointed at the Qinhuai River where the singing and dancing swallows were dotted with stars, "Ten miles away There are many boats on the Qinhuai River, many of which are operated by Dou Lianzhong behind the scenes. Every year, relying on these, he makes a fortune every day."
"So, Miss Pearl is also under his control now?" Yang Ning asked with a frown.
Yuan Rong just smiled faintly and said nothing.
At this moment, someone suddenly heard someone shouting loudly: "Miss Pearl, my master asked you to come over and get ready quickly."
Yang Ning followed the sound and saw a small boat parked beside the boat. One of them was shouting at the boat in a rather arrogant tone.
Then I heard the maid's voice from before: "My girl won't see any guests today!"
"No guests?" The man sneered: "Tell you Miss Pearl, don't toast or eat as a penalty. Inviting her over is to give her face, but don't be ungrateful."
"My girl doesn't see guests, she doesn't see anyone." The maid said, "We don't eat any toast or fine wine."
The person on the boat sneered: "Okay, she won't regret it." He turned the boat around and left quickly.
Yuan Rong frowned and said, "It seems there is trouble."
"What trouble could this cause?" Yang Ning said calmly: "Since we don't want to see guests, we just won't see them. Is there anyone who dares to force us?"
"Who is not there on the Qinhuai River?" Yuan Rong said: "There are wealthy people in the world, princes and nobles, elegant and handsome men, all of them have some background."
Yang Ning glanced at Yuan Rong and said: "You and Young Master Xue have a good relationship. I really want to know how you helped Young Master Xue when he was in trouble? His family was ruined and Miss Pearl was left outside. You didn't help take care of her. ?" He put his hands behind his back and said, "Here you are now, but because you feel guilty about Young Master Xue, you come here to take care of him occasionally?"
Yuan Rong's eyes twitched slightly, and he turned to look at Yang Ning. Seeing that Yang Ning was calm and composed, he sighed and said: "Master Hou, actually I have been wondering whether you were pretending to be stupid all those years ago. ?”
Hearing the sound of footsteps at this time, Pearl had already come from behind, holding exquisite snacks in his hand, and said with a smile: "Master Marquis, Young Master, Pearl knows that Young Master is coming back today, so she made the snacks this morning, you guys try it and see how it tastes" how."
Yang Ning and Yuan Rong returned to the table and saw several kinds of pastries on the plate. They were all freshly steamed and steaming. The pastries were beautiful in shape and very delicate.
"Miss Pearl is really good at cooking." Yang Ning said with a smile: "It takes more than three or two days to just look at these kinds of noodles."
Pearl smiled and said quietly: "Back then, someone liked the pastry I made, so I worked hard to learn it. When I finished learning, he...!" He sighed and looked gloomy.
Yang Ning knew that the person she was talking about was probably Mr. Xue.
Suddenly, I heard exclamations coming from below, and then I heard a girl shouting: "What do you want to do?" After a while of noise, I heard a thumping sound coming from the stairs. It was obvious that someone was rushing upstairs. .
Yuan Rong frowned, and her pearly face changed color slightly, but Yang Ning calmly took a piece of pastry and put it into his mouth. It was soft and delicious, and praised: "Good craftsmanship!"
As soon as he finished speaking, he heard a cold and stern voice coming from behind: "Didn't you say you won't see guests? Who is here? A bitch is a bitch, and she always does things in secret."
Yuan Rong stood up suddenly and said coldly: "Who asked you to break in? Get out of here."
"Isn't this Mr. Yuan?" The man said with a smile: "Mr. Yuan, you come from a scholarly family. If you are looking for a bitch, you should also find something new. Do you like this rotten piece of shit?"
He obviously knew Yuan Rong, but he had no fear of Yuan Rong, not even a hint of respect, and his words were rude and full of ridicule.
Yang Ning turned around and took a look, only to see three or four big men rushing up. They were all tall and powerful. The first one had a fleshy face, a high nose and a wide mouth, a beard like a needle, and his hands were still holding fists.
Yuan Rong said sternly: "Be more respectful."
"We are not like Mr. Yuan, who comes from a scholarly family. We are all rough people and don't know how to be polite." The tall-nosed man sneered, turned to look at Pearl, and said in a deep voice: "I asked you to come over, you didn't Do you understand? Do you want to die?"
"Who dares to touch her hair?" Although Yuan Rong was elegant, he still clenched his fists and said, "Get out of here quickly."
The tall-nosed man laughed and said: "Touch her hair? Mr. Yuan, I'm afraid you are the only man on the Qinhuai River who has never touched her. Do you really don't know or are you just pretending to be stupid? A bitch is a bitch." We all know how many hairs there are on her body, let alone a single hair. Do you want us to tell you?"
He spoke extremely rudely, but the people behind him burst into laughter and were very arrogant.
Yang Ning originally thought that although Yuan Rong was elegant and weak, he was the grandson of the Minister of Rites after all, and he was also a son of a high-ranking official. Ordinary people would dare to offend this young master, but he never expected that those people would not take Yuan Rong seriously at all.
Yuan Rong gritted his teeth and his fair face turned a little red, but he was a scholar after all, so he couldn't do anything even if he wanted to.
"What are you waiting for?" The tall-nosed man shouted to Pearl: "The master is waiting over there with the guests. Don't disturb their interest, otherwise you will be unable to eat and walk around without following us."
Pearl's face was slightly pale, and she smiled sadly, and said to Yuan Rong: "Sir, you guys enjoy the tour here first. Pearl will go first and come back as soon as possible."
"I don't think I have to wait any longer." The tall-nosed man chuckled, "You have a lot of people to serve tonight, and I'm afraid you won't be able to come back for a while."