"Xiao Hong, when is Qin Niang coming out tonight?" asked the young master to the maid attending him.

  Xiao Hong batted her eyelashes at Shao Ye, squirmed in his arms, and cooed: "Hmph, Guo Gongzi, when you're with me, why are you still worried about Qin Mei? Hmph, I don't care, tonight I'm going to keep you company."

  Guo Wuchang burst out laughing and said, "Little hoof, don't be anxious, today you'll have a good time. Besides, I just wanted to hear Miss Qin sing a song or two, why are you eating these pickled mustard greens?"

  "Don't worry, Young Master Guo. Today's not just about you, look, there's also Young Master Cheng, Young Master Luo, and many other young masters who have come to show their support. Qin sister will definitely make an appearance. At that time, it'll depend on your skills."

  Young Master Biao's face suddenly looked unpleasant when he heard the names of Cheng Gongzi and Luo Gongzi, and his expression completely fell when he saw the two groups of people sitting on the other side.

  Lin Wanrong saw that Master Biao's expression was different and asked: "What's wrong, young master?"

  Young Master Bai didn't want to lose face in front of a few women of ill repute, so he smiled and said: "Nothing, just saw some familiar faces."

  Lin Wanrong glanced over and saw that the six tables in the distance were clearly divided into two groups, all of whom were young men in their early twenties. They each surrounded a young person and chatted enthusiastically, ignoring each other.

  The two princes in the lead, one on the left was over twenty years old, with a fair complexion and dignified appearance, but his eyes flickered uncertainly, clearly a man of cunning.

  The one on the right is a bit younger, about eighteen or nineteen years old, with a jade-like face and crimson lips, quite a decent look.

  The two young masters were visibly at odds with each other, occasionally exchanging a glance, both somewhat disdainful of the other.

  Is that Cheng Gongzi and Luo Gongzi? Judging from their demeanor, they're probably the sons of wealthy and noble officials. Lin Wanrong understood why Biao Shaoxia sighed. With Guo Shaoxia's abilities, neither his bearing nor his wealth could compare to theirs. As for talent, it was even more impossible for him to match up to Biao Shaoxia. It seemed that winning the Flower Crown tonight was almost an impossible task.

  "What's wrong, brother? Don't you recognize that Cheng Gongzi and Luo Gongzi?" The sister next to Lin Wanrong quietly stretched out her small hand into Lin Wanrong's chest and whispered in his ear.

  She flirted with him a few times, and his desire gradually ignited. Lin Wanrong was no longer a rustic man, but in this world, he was still a "virgin". He didn't want to waste his precious "first time" on a few prostitutes, so he restrained himself and pinched the girl's arm, saying: "Yes, brother, I'm here for the first time, sister needs to teach me more."

  The little girl was pulled by his big hand, her whole body felt sore and weak. She knew his strength, so she smiled slyly and said: "Brother, don't pretend anymore. If you're here for the first time, then I'm still a virgin, hehe."

  Lin Wanrong burst out laughing, and the sister let out a spring cry before saying: "These two young masters are really big shots. The one on the left is Mr. Cheng Rui Nian, the son of Commander-in-Chief of Jiangsu Province, Mr. Cheng De Cheng. And the one on the right is even more impressive, he's the son of our Governor of Jiangsu Province, Lord Luo Min Luo, and his name is Luo Yuan."

  Lin Wanrong had studied the classics left behind by Wei Lao and had some understanding of the local official system here.

  The local official system implemented in the Great China Dynasty is the governor-general, governor, and three departments. The three departments are the Department of Administration, the Department of Justice, and the Department of Military Affairs, which are responsible for administration, justice, and military affairs respectively. The governor-general and governor are the highest officials in a province, overseeing the three departments, and are powerful and authoritative figures.

  However, the ones inside are more special. All the commanders-in-chief are in charge of the military affairs of a province and need to listen to the governor's command, but they directly belong to the Ministry of War for deployment, which is also known as the centralization of military power.

  Therefore, the governor is nominally the superior of the commander-in-chief but has no right to command troops. This was a strategy set by the founding emperor of the Great Hua Dynasty to prevent local officials from becoming too powerful with their own armies.

  Jiangsu Governor Luo Min, although he was the superior of Jiangsu Commander-in-Chief Cheng De, but they belonged to different factions, so Cheng De had little fear of Luo Min, and naturally, this young master was not afraid of Luo Yuan Gongzi either.

  The two young masters were among the most powerful people in Jiangsu, each with a group of officials and aristocratic sons under their command. They often bumped into each other, so it was inevitable that they would clash. Competing for the title of "Flower Queen" was naturally something they couldn't yield to each other.

  Lin Wanrong thought for a moment and had already figured out the pros and cons. Compared to these two young masters, the identity of that certain county magistrate from Suzhou was not worth mentioning.

  It was already the time when the Chinese lanterns were first lit, and the streets of Miaoyu Lane were bustling with people coming and going. All sorts of laughter and shouts filled the air, making it extremely lively.

  That Qin Xian'er, the famous courtesan, had yet to appear, but Cheng Rui and Luo Yuan's people were already loudly shouting and cheering, clinking cups and saucers, making the atmosphere in Miaoyu Fang even more lively.

  It was Cheng Rui and Luo Yuan, the two young masters who seemed to be holding themselves back, although they didn't get along with each other, they were both suppressing their feelings. As scholars, they had come today to pay respects to Qin Shi, the flower queen, and naturally did not want to lose face in front of others.

  Luo Min, Luo Yuan? Lin Wan Rong suddenly remembered the shocking scene he saw on Xuanwu Lake that day, Feng Qiu Huang, directed by Hou Yuebai. The object of that was not Jiangsu Governor's daughter, the so-called Jinling's first beauty and talented woman? So to speak, this Luo Yuan should be the brother of that talented woman? Looking at Luo Yuan's small white face, the Luo family's young lady should also look good. Moreover, according to Qiao Qiao, Miss Luo has a kind heart, and it was because of her care that Qiao Qiao had the opportunity to read books and learn characters.

  Lin Wanrong was deep in thought, and the two little girls beside him thought he was a bit afraid, so they leaned on him and laughed: "Good brother, you don't have to be afraid. Those two young masters may have a big background, but I think they are just silver-plated wax guns, not very useful. Look at your build, brother, it's many times stronger than theirs. I like you this way."

  Lin Wanrong smiled, and before he could speak, a clear and crisp sound rang out, like the gentle rustling of celestial music past one's ears. The noisy commotion in the building immediately came to a halt.

  "It's Qin Xian'er!" A burst of enthusiastic cheers erupted from the followers beside Luo Yuan and Cheng Ruiyan, while on the other side, Biao Shaoxia, who was devouring tofu, sat there motionless as if he had been cast with a petrification spell, muttering to himself: "It's Miss Qin, is she coming out?"

  The door of a room in the middle of the second floor opened quietly, and a beaded curtain hung down silently. Looking vaguely into the distance, behind the beaded curtain sat a beautiful figure, unseen and unheard, but just one glance was enough to drive the men downstairs crazy.

  ahref=