"Where did this wild horse come from? How dare it defile Fairy Yan's White Deer?"
"In broad daylight, it's doing something so depraved. It's a beast!"
"Too disgusting to look at! We have to kill the beast today to avenge Fairy Yan... No, to avenge Fairy Yan's mount, the White Deer!"
For a moment, the gathered scholars and young talents were outraged.
Seeing this, Xiao Yang was at a loss for words.
Earlier, when he'd summoned Big Black Horse, it had seemed listless and lazy. He hadn't expected it to be so wild now!
Dragons were lustful by nature!
This Cloud-Treading Black Dragon Colt carried the bloodline of an ancient black dragon and had naturally inherited its powerful reproductive instincts.
"Beast, die!"
Several of the Second Prince's lackeys drew their swords and rushed over, slashing at Big Black Horse.
Irritated at being disturbed, Big Black Horse kicked out with its hind legs.
"Bang! Bang! Bang..."
The men were sent flying as if they'd been hit by speeding trucks. Their breastbones shattered, and they spat blood on the spot.
"How is that possible?"
"How could a wild horse seriously injure Confucian scholars at the second or third rank?!"
"Could it be some kind of spirit beast?"
Everyone present was shocked.
"Fairy Yan, don't be afraid. I'm in the Fifth-Rank Gentleman Realm. I'll subdue this beast right now!"
Xiao Ziwen wanted to show off in front of Yan Ruyu, win the beauty's favor, and capture her heart.
"Wait!"
Xiao Yang stepped forward and said, "Second Brother, Big Black Horse is my mount!"
What?!
Hearing this, Xiao Ziwen looked as if he'd caught him red-handed. He gritted his teeth.
"When a mount commits a wrong, it's the owner's fault!"
"Ninth Brother, you've failed to keep your mount in line. It's committed such a vile act in broad daylight!"
"You've disgraced the scholarly world and defiled Fairy Yan. This crime is unforgivable!!!"
He slapped Xiao Yang with a grave accusation.
But Xiao Yang didn't care in the least. He shot back, "The Four Prefectures of the Northern Territory are all the king's land! Every living thing is one of the king's subjects!"
"This horse isn't just my mount. It's also Father King's subject. Second Brother, are you accusing Father King of failing to keep his subjects in line?"
"To challenge one's father as a son is a grave act of disrespect. According to Great Xia's laws, you should receive a hundred strokes!"
"I... Of course that's not what I meant!"
Xiao Ziwen was stunned.
He'd been trying to hold Ninth Brother accountable, but with just a few words, Ninth Brother had turned the accusation around, charging him with disrespecting Father King and threatening to punish him!
"Second Prince!"
Yan Ruyu suddenly stepped forward and spoke softly. "The reproduction of living creatures follows the way of Heaven. I don't blame Jiu Lang for this. Why don't we let the matter rest?"
"All right, then."
Xiao Ziwen was reluctant, but he couldn't refuse the goddess.
Since Yan Ruyu herself wasn't going to pursue the matter, he had no grounds to say anything as her self-appointed protector.
"Jiu Lang!"
Yan Ruyu saw Big Black Horse still mounting the White Deer. Her cheeks flushed, and she looked shyly toward Xiao Yang. "I'm going back now. Could you please help me...?"
"All right."
Xiao Yang was embarrassed, too. He hadn't expected Big Black Horse to cause such a commotion.
He hurried over and gave the horse a hard slap on the rump.
"Neigh..."
Big Black Horse snorted in annoyance, but it had just finished anyway. It broke into a gallop and disappeared into the night, like a heartless cad.
The poor little White Deer...
"Jiu Lang, I'll be staying at Xuelong Pass for a while longer, at the Academy Annex in the western city. If you have time, you're welcome to come discuss poetry with me!"
Yan Ruyu extended the invitation herself.
If anyone else had been invited by this stunning Female Master Teacher, they would probably have been overwhelmed with joy.
But Xiao Yang shook his head, acting as if he had no interest in women.
"Miss Yan, I already have a fiancée, and you're unmarried. Even if our private visits were entirely innocent, rumors would still spread. So it's best not to."
What if I wanted those rumors to spread?
Yan Ruyu nearly said it aloud, but in the end she held her tongue. She gave him a reproachful look, then mounted the White Deer and left.
"Fairy Yan, I'll see you off!"
Xiao Ziwen hurried after her.
With the guest of honor gone, the Lanting Poetry Gathering naturally came to an end. The other scholars and young talents left one after another.
Xiao Yang also prepared to return to the prince's residence.
"Ninth Young Master, would you do me the honor of traveling with me?"
Suddenly, the portly Ma Wencai hurried over, grinning from ear to ear and speaking with utmost deference.
"All right."
Xiao Yang nodded, not putting on any airs as a young master.
After all, when he'd been writing earlier, Ma Wencai had been the only one among all those present to come over and pour him wine.
That alone made Ma Wencai worth befriending.
"Young Master, please board the carriage!"
Ma Wencai led Xiao Yang into a luxurious carriage. It was laid with fine carpets from the Western Regions and adorned with all kinds of gemstones.
Four fine, tall horses pulled the carriage. In the army, only someone of at least Centurion rank was qualified to ride such horses.
The Ma Family of Cangzhou certainly lived up to its reputation!
The carriage alone was probably worth more than ten thousand taels of silver!
Xiao Yang even felt a little envious.
Though he was a young master of the prince's household, his monthly allowance was only five hundred taels of silver.
The other young masters weren't short of money because their maternal families supported them and had deep pockets.
But Xiao Yang had once been a nobody in the prince's household. Fortunately, he only had one maid, Huangli, to support, along with Guard Zhao Changkong. Otherwise, he might not have been able to make ends meet.
Even the betrothal gifts for Ning Hongye meant having to hit up several of his older brothers for money!
"Rumble!"
The carriage headed toward the prince's residence.
"Young Master..."
Ma Wencai opened his mouth, then hesitated, looking as if he had something to say.
"Brother Ma, I'm a straightforward man. There's no need to hold back. Just say what's on your mind," Xiao Yang said.
"Thump!"
Ma Wencai suddenly dropped to one knee and said solemnly, "If you'll have me, Young Master, I'm willing to serve you as my lord and do your bidding!"
Seeing this, Xiao Yang was taken aback.
He didn't think he had any kingly aura that could make a junior pledge loyalty just by puffing out his chest.
Besides, all he'd done was write a few poems at the Poetry Gathering.
Poetry was a minor pursuit. It couldn't help Ma Wencai make a name for himself or bring him any benefits.
"What do you hope to gain by pledging yourself to me?"
Xiao Yang's gaze was keen.
Ma Wencai didn't dare conceal the truth. "I'll tell you honestly, Young Master. It may sound ridiculous, but although I'm the son of Cangzhou's richest man, I have far too many brothers—dozens of them!"
"I'm not the eldest legitimate son, so my family doesn't value me. I tried to curry favor with the Second Prince before, but he treated me coldly, and I could only play the fool!"
He gave a self-deprecating smile as he spoke.
Xiao Yang recalled how, at the Poetry Gathering earlier, Ma Wencai had deliberately been the first to compose a poem, drawing laughter from the whole crowd.
"But even though I'm lowborn and unimportant, I refuse to sink into mediocrity. I want to choose a wise lord and serve him! Your Highness, would you take me in as your unworthy junior?"
Still kneeling on one knee, Ma Wencai looked up at Xiao Yang and waited for his reply.
"Brother Ma, you're wrong!"
Xiao Yang shook his head.
At this, Ma Wencai's heart sank, and his face filled with bitterness.
Just as I thought...
Even Ninth Young Master looks down on me, the son of a merchant?
Unexpectedly, Xiao Yang continued, "You say you're lowborn and unimportant, and that you're unworthy. I won't let you belittle yourself like that!"
"So what if you're a merchant? Great merchants travel the four seas, and their trade reaches the five nobles. Great"
"Xia has prospered as it has today, with every household enjoying a good life. The soldiers guard the borders, but don't merchants deserve credit, too?"
Hearing this, Ma Wencai's whole body trembled. He was so moved that tears welled in his eyes.
In all his years, this was the first time he'd ever heard anyone say such things.
He couldn't believe that the noble Young Master not only didn't look down on him but praised him so highly!
"Brother Ma, since fate brought us together today, I'll give you a poem. Let's encourage each other with it," Xiao Yang said.
"What poem?"
Ma Wencai's face was full of anticipation.
Xiao Yang took a deep breath and recited a famous poem from his previous life.
"Don't worry that the road ahead holds no kindred spirits,"
"Who in the world won't know your name!!!"
Before you continue