The three clear-song troupes that stood head and shoulders above the rest in the West Wing Tower were:
Silken Lane Spring House.
Moonlight Pavilion.
Purple Xiao Pavilion.
This year's Gathering of Beauties Banquet was to be held at the Silken Lane Spring House. Its scale far exceeded previous years, so a magnificent stage had been built especially for it. To make room, the three houses had spared no expense buying nearby land and had asked the Ministry of Works to oversee construction and renovations. The work had taken more than three months.
Beside the Zhi River, a stage complex capable of holding over ten thousand people had risen from the ground.
At its center stood a square stage where the courtesans could display their talents.
Directly in front of the stage stood a four-story building with the best views. It was reserved for Academy scholars, senior officials, noble ladies of the Nine Great Surnames, beauties of the imperial harem, and Great Qi's renowned scholars.
A plaque hung above it: "Immortal-Inviting Tower."
The areas furnished with tables and chairs on the other three sides were divided into four grades. Most seats went to wealthy merchants from across the country, younger members of the Nine Great Surnames, and ordinary court officials.
As for Bianjing's common folk, they watched from afar on both banks of the Zhi River, as they did every year. Their cheers always shook the heavens.
Now!
The whole place blazed with light, its brilliant lanterns winding like a long dragon.
Strings of dazzling flower lanterns floated on the Zhi River's waves, while flower boats two stories high drifted at leisure.
People poured in from both banks. Tens of thousands gathered, and from above, the crowd was a dense sea of bobbing heads.
Parents lifted their children onto their shoulders