Yu Bai looked at Qin Yun solemnly and said, “A little silver, Brother Qin Yun, is beneath your notice. All I have are my talents, and that’s what I can offer. I’ve heard that Miss Chen Shuang shares a special bond with you, so I am willing to spare no effort in helping her.”


    Qin Yun casually poured himself a drink, then asked, “Can you make her famous throughout the world?”


    Yu Bai shook his head, “I can’t achieve that, but making her famous throughout Jiangzhou is within my capabilities.”


    Qin Yun asked again, “Can you make her the top courtesan in Guangling County in this year’s competition?”


    Yu Bai sighed, “It’s too soon. The competition for the title of ‘Top Courtesan’ is to be decided in just one month. Building a reputation takes time to ferment. Plus, there are forces behind the scenes manipulating the selection. What I can promise is that Miss Chen Shuang will certainly make it into the top ten this year, and the top three is within reach. By next year, she will be the most famous courtesan in all of Guangling County!”


    “And I will make her reputation spread through my writing, relying on my talent to bring her name to the public.” Yu Bai continued, “Only with genuine fame will it last. Those who become top courtesans through manipulation will only make others feel the process is unfair.”


    Qin Yun nodded. “How exactly do you plan to make her famous throughout Jiangzhou? Tell me more.”


    Yu Bai’s eyes lit up, clearly pleased by the opportunity.


    “This world of pleasure and flowers—I’ve spent half my life here and know its inner workings better than anyone.” Yu Bai immediately began to explain his plan.


    Qin Yun listened intently, his eyes gradually lighting up.


    “Looks like you’re really pulling all the stops for your son to enter a cultivation sect,” Qin Yun remarked with a smile after hearing the plan.


    Yu Bai smiled faintly. “If not now, when? While I still have the strength, I must pave the way for them.”


    “Alright, you help Miss Chen Shuang, and I’ll help you.”


    Qin Yun nodded. “Prepare the necessary writing materials.”


    Yu Bai was overjoyed.


    Soon, Qin Yun wrote a letter.


    “Send your son to the ‘Dongshan Temple’ in Nanjing County, Jiangzhou. Have him take my letter to meet with Daoist Jinguang.” Qin Yun said. “Remember to bring one thousand taels of silver as a gift for the master. When Daoist Jinguang sees the letter, he’ll understand.”


    “Good, good!” Yu Bai said, clearly excited. “One thousand taels won’t be enough; I’ll bring five thousand taels.”


    “That’s up to you,” Qin Yun said.


    Dongshan Temple was located on a small island in the East Sea, the only sect in Nanjing County with a large influence.


    In fact, as long as one joined a cultivation sect and obtained the identity of a disciple, it was enough to protect one’s family.


    “Remember what you’ve said,” Qin Yun warned.


    “I’ll head to Yan Feng Tower tonight,” Yu Bai said, filled with newfound determination.


    Qin Yun nodded. He felt pity for Miss Chen Shuang, and guilt too. He had not been there when she needed him most, leaving her to fall into hardship. He would try to make amends, as much as he could.


    That evening, Yu Bai, the great talent, went to Yan Feng Tower. After watching Miss ‘Chen Shuang’ perform her sword dance, he was so moved that, in front of his friends, he immediately composed the poem Chen Shuang Fu and then sought to meet her in person.Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.


    This news quickly caught the attention of the famous courtesans in Guangling County.


    “What? Yu Bai went to meet Chen Shuang? After watching her sword dance, he wrote a poem Chen Shuang Fu?”


    “How lucky is she, this Chen Shuang?”


    The courtesans were all envious and jealous.


    Meanwhile, in Ru Meng Pavilion, the brothel was owned by the famous courtesan ‘Ru Meng.’


    “I’ve asked Yu Bai to meet me several times, but he always avoids me. Now, he’s gone to see that young girl.” Ru Meng Pavilion’s owner, a striking woman of thirty-five, lay on a couch, her pale skin and alluring eyes still exuding the charm of youth thanks to her cultivation. Though some had criticized her victory as unfair in the flower competition, she knew her strength would have secured her a place in the top five anyway. It was just that with the fame of “Xiang Yi” and “Qing Qiu Xian Zi” overshadowing her, her victory appeared unjust.


    “Madam, here’s Chen Shuang Fu that Master Yu Bai wrote. I’ve had it copied and delivered to us.” A servant respectfully presented the manuscript.


    The owner of Ru Meng Pavilion casually took the manuscript and unfurled it.


    The handwriting was neat, but the prose seemed a bit stiff. However, upon reading it, her face changed.


    “Why doesn’t it mention me? Why is it about her?!” Ru Meng''s slender hands gripped the paper, her knuckles turning white, as blue veins popped on her wrists. “Could it be that this is really about that little girl, Chen Shuang?”


    Ru Meng was skilled in the arts of music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. While she couldn’t write the best prose herself, she could tell that this was a work of master-level talent. She could hardly believe it.


    “This must have been written with real emotions, only then could such a masterpiece come to be,” she murmured. “Could it be that Chen Shuang really touched his heart?”


    A well-crafted poem could easily become famous.


    Even with the status of Jiangnan’s four great scholars, very few of their poems and songs had gained widespread fame. Truly great works of art were often created in a moment of inspiration, while forced ones were usually quite mediocre.


    “Second Master, Second Master! I’ve been waiting outside Yan Feng Tower, and here is Chen Shuang Fu, written by Master Yu Bai. I bought it as soon as I got my hands on it and rushed back to you.” A servant quickly handed Qin Yun the poem.


    Qin Yun took it, unfolding it under the soft, warm light.


    “What a great piece of writing, what excellent talent,” he said with a smile.


    He clearly remembered the plan that Yu Bai had described earlier. This poem wasn’t just written now; it was a work Yu Bai had composed three years ago, inspired by a woman he once pined for, who eventually married another man. Yu Bai had written this poem in his unrequited love, which truly captured his emotions and was undoubtedly one of his finest works. However, after reading it three times, Qin Yun tore it up—if it were to circulate, it would only bring trouble to the woman who had married someone else.


    Now, for the sake of his son, Yu Bai was truly going all out.


    He took that poem, made a few minor adjustments, and thus Chen Shuang Fu was born.


    Fearing it might leak, Yu Bai never even told Qin Yun about it. He had waited until it was written at Yan Feng Tower to reveal it.


    Qin Yun was only just learning of it.


    “This is only the first poem, but there will be three more in the coming year,” Qin Yun said with anticipation. “These were prepared by Yu Bai long ago.”


    Not only were there prose and poetry, but there would also be ‘stories.’


    Yu Bai would pretend to be in unrequited love with Miss Chen Shuang. The poem Chen Shuang Fu, combined with three more poems to be released over the next year, would convey his longing and deep emotions.


    “From now on, whenever Yu Bai is mentioned, so too will Miss Chen Shuang. One poem Chen Shuang Fu and three more poems, and after a year of public circulation, her fame will certainly spread throughout Jiangzhou,” Qin Yun thought to himself. “This great talent, Yu Bai, is using his own fame to build Chen Shuang’s.”


    Day by day.


    As Chen Shuang Fu spread, Miss Chen Shuang’s fame grew. The courtesans of Guangling County were envious and amazed. The poem described her so perfectly—almost like a celestial being descended from the heavens. The price to meet her continued to rise, and within just a few days, it had reached fifty taels of silver! Still, many wealthy young men and noble families fought to meet her.


    Even the son of the County Magistrate had come to visit, further increasing Chen Shuang’s popularity.


    “Little Shuang, what are you thinking about?” Aunt Xue asked with a smile.


    Miss Chen Shuang sat before her desk, absentmindedly writing. “The past half month has felt like a dream,” she said quietly.


    “Yes, it feels like a dream. First, Master Yu Bai pursued you, and then Chen Shuang Fu made your name soar. Now, even the County Magistrate’s son and other influential figures are coming to see you,” Aunt Xue said.


    “Someone is helping me,” Chen Shuang replied.


    Aunt Xue was taken aback. “Helping you?”


    “Yes,” Chen Shuang nodded. “Mr. Yu Bai hinted that he was doing this on someone else’s behalf.”


    Aunt Xue was surprised. “On someone else’s behalf? Who has such power? Could it be Qin Yun? Or perhaps the County Magistrate’s son or some other powerful figure?”


    Miss Chen Shuang said nothing, only continuing to write.