There is a god in the sky

Chapter 169 The Dance Competition Scandal 4

Jifeng Study still sees a large number of visitors today.

The second volume of the book "The Serial Murders" is more popular than the first volume.

I heard that the casino owners made a lot of money because very few people could guess who the real culprit was.

"This woman not only broke her vows of chastity but also killed indiscriminately for her lover, yet she went unpunished. Are the officials in power dead?"

"The officials in the government are probably not even as high-ranking as her, how could they possibly punish her? Besides, isn't it written in the books? That woman's husband's family doesn't want their family scandal to be aired in public."

"So you're just going to let her go like that?"

Someone said mysteriously, "It's just a story. If a woman like that existed in real life, no family would tolerate her, probably..."

Everyone suddenly realized.

Yes, no family can tolerate a woman who has cheated on her husband, let alone one who is so vicious and ruthless.

Even her husband was probably afraid of having his head chopped off while they were in bed together, right?

When Shen Lan heard these words, she wondered curiously: Would the Princess Consort be secretly executed by the Prince Zheng's mansion?

"Shopkeeper, if you buy one hundred taels, you'll get a free deluxe edition set, right?"

Shen Lan snapped out of her daze and nodded to the person who had asked the question, "Yes."

"Then quickly get me one." The man waved the sticky note in his hand.

These sticky notes are freshly printed, have a light floral scent, and each page has a beautiful pattern, making them very popular with women.

Shen Lan instructed the shop assistant that if someone bought a total of one hundred taels, they should write a note to him in exchange for a deluxe edition book.

"Distinguished guest, our shop will be printing more hardcover editions of classic works after the New Year. If you don't mind the trouble, you can bring this paper to exchange for other books later."

The man hesitated. "What kind of books?"

"The Four Books and Five Classics, historical records, and collections of poems by famous people will all be available."

In comparison, a storybook is indeed less collectible than these books.

Many people take hardcover books home just to display them as a status symbol.

Since Shen Lan sold a book of erotic illustrations for fifty taels of silver, quite a few customers have come here looking for pictures.

Although they don't shout, they are very quick to pay.

Shen Lan's small picture book, priced at ten taels per book, almost sold out as soon as it hit the shelves.

On the last day before the New Year, she closed the shop and started to tally up the accounts, only to find that she had made a considerable profit.

The shop is owned, so there's no need to pay high rent. The printing costs are low; the expensive part is the cost of color printing plates and artwork.

But books with color illustrations sell for a higher price, so we still made a profit.

The dance competition at Bixiao Tower was a grand event.

Before long, news spread that the Princess had bestowed a pot of beautiful peonies upon Qingman.

One moment it's said that the eldest princess has recruited Xiuyun into her household as a dancer and will bestow upon her the title of first-class dancer.

"I can't even imagine how wonderful it would be if I could watch these peerless dancers compete in the Bixiao Tower."

"How could such a beauty be of any use to us mere mortals?"

"I wonder which young lady will be the champion today."

Shen Lan was half focused on listening to the news.

Even Xuan'er has run away several times, and each time she comes back, she looks disappointed.

"Do you want Miao Niang to win?" Shen Lan asked her.

Xuan'er nodded, "Of course, after all, we only know Miao Niangzi, and she's so beautiful."

Shen Lan gently pinched her nose. "Beauty is just a minor advantage they possess. They must conquer the princess and everyone else with their dance to win."

"It's so hard. They're all so talented, yet they still end up in prostitution."

"Sometimes you can't control your own identity, but no matter where you are or what you do, you have to have the determination to burn your bridges and the perseverance to never give up. They are working hard to break free from their constraints."

"So someone tried to harm Lady Miao last night, perhaps because they were afraid she would win the championship?"

"Maybe so."

Is this what you call striving?

“Fighting with one’s life is certainly a struggle, but since she failed to kill Miao Niang in the Bian River, she must bear the consequences of failure.”

At dusk, someone ran through the street shouting, "The dance competition has ended, and the winner is Lin Miaoniang from Tanzhou!"

"Clang!" Shen Lan accidentally smashed a plum vase.

"Who did he just say was the winner?" Shen Lan turned her head and saw Xuan'er clapping and cheering.

"Sister, you heard right! Lady Miao won the championship! She's amazing!"

"Lin Miaoniang, is that right?"

"That's right, so Lady Miao's surname is Lin."

"Yes, what a coincidence." Shen Lan pinched her palm to calm herself down.

There are many people with the same name, especially with such a common name.

She pressed the stone pendant to her chest and thought to herself: Perhaps even the heavens are pitying them and wishing them a speedy reunion.

"Lin Miaoniang is from Tanzhou. I heard that she was strongly recommended by Prince Zheng. I wonder if the Princess will keep her word and really give her an official position."

Some scholars sarcastically remarked, "How can a woman of low social status be allowed to hold office? It is an insult to scholarship."

"Dancers, who please others, should certainly not become officials."

Some people feel that this official position is just a nice-sounding title, with neither real power nor actual authority, and there's no need to take it too seriously.

To put it bluntly, it was just to amuse the princess.

"We are all commoners, so we don't need to worry about these matters of the court."

"Tch, if the court is to be tainted by such a filthy woman, then I'd rather not serve there!"

Shen Lan looked up, squinting as she sized up the indignant student—no, the old scholar.

She couldn't help but remind him, "Old man, why don't you first strive for excellence and come out on top, then decline the court's offer of an official position? That way, you might be able to achieve lasting fame."

At this age, if I could have gone to high school earlier, why would I have to wait until I'm all gray-haired?

He glared at Shen Lan, "A homeless woman like you naturally envies those who soar to the top, dreaming of becoming a phoenix on a branch. Dream on!"

Shen Lan wasn't angry; instead, she retorted, "I wonder how much you've contributed to your children? Have you ensured they have enough to eat and wear, or brought glory to the family?"

The old man comes every day and reads books for free every day, and Shen Lan never says anything.

But you could tell from his stingy appearance that he came from a poor family.

At his age, he's still studying. While his perseverance is commendable, it might not bring happiness to his family.

"Women and petty men are truly the hardest to deal with!" The old man flicked his sleeves and left, leaving behind the words, "I'll never come back!"

Even Xiao Ding joked, "If he doesn't come, I can boil one less kettle of water every day."

Qiu Yi stared blankly at a book, his mind replaying Shen Lan's words.

He's not young anymore, and he's only a Xiucai (a scholar who passed the lowest level of the imperial examinations). It will be even more difficult to pass the higher-level exams, but he also has family.

Although he earned his own money to buy books and pens, he could barely afford to study, let alone take care of his family.

If he still can't pass the imperial examination when he's old and gray, does that mean he'll have accomplished nothing in his life?

Shen Lan was unaware that her words had put someone in a dilemma. In a good mood, she paid out of her own pocket to have Xiao Ding refill the tea for the customers in the shop.

Before the tea arrived, new news came.

"Qingman is dead, and the murderer is the dance queen, Miao Niangzi!"