Willing to Be a Foolish Ruler

Seeing the venomous sneer in Ruan Tianjing's eyes.

Mo Chen scoffed inwardly.

No wonder the first stage of the Martial Suppression Academy's martial exam tests a warrior's character and temperament.

In this world where martial strength reigns supreme, plenty of people really do have rotten dispositions.

Some people possessed nothing but talent, yet bullied the weak and contributed nothing to society!

No longer bothering with that idiot Ruan Tianjing.

Mo Chen grinned as he took a scroll from the attendant's hands.

With a flick of his wrist, he unfurled it!

"Miss Yunxi, please take a look!"

The scroll cascaded down through the air like a waterfall.

Then, everyone's attention was drawn to it. Those standing nearby leaned closer, and someone loudly read the poem aloud.

"Clouds think of her garments, flowers think of her face, The spring breeze brushes the railing, thick with dewy splendor. Were she not seen atop Jade Mountain, She would be met beneath the moon at Jasper Terrace."

Yunxi froze, her expression instantly slipping out of control as her beautiful eyes widened. "This poem..."

"Wow!!!"

The Drunken Moon Tower erupted once more, stunned into uproar.

Among the people from the various factions present were quite a few who loved poetry and literature.

The moment they read it, they were utterly astounded!

"'Clouds think of her garments, flowers think of her face'... This poem is too beautiful!"

"I have a feeling this poem will become famous throughout Great Mystic!"

"Famous throughout Great Mystic?! No way, it's that incredible?"

"Of course! You don't understand poetry. Once this poem comes out, Yunxi will surely become hugely famous! By the time the martial exam ends, her name will likely have spread across all of Great Mystic along with this poem!"

"Gasp—this poem is really that terrifying?"

Yunxi had already been shaken by the poem's artistic beauty.

Now, hearing everyone's exclamations and praise, her eyes immediately reddened, and her delicate body trembled lightly with emotion.

Women of the pleasure houses valued fame above all else!

Especially the courtesans, who were even more obsessed with it.

She had spent a full thirteen years in the Drunken Moon Tower to earn her reputation as the foremost of the Four Great Courtesans.

But across Great Mystic's thirty-six prefectures, her fame was still far from enough.

Yet tonight's poem could very well make her name known throughout all thirty-six prefectures of Great Mystic.

By then, whenever someone recited, "Clouds think of her garments, flowers think of her face," they would think of Yunxi.

At that thought,

Yunxi stepped forward excitedly and carefully accepted the scroll from Mo Chen's hand. Her nose stung, and tears rolled down her cheeks.

"This humble one thanks you for your gift, Young Master! This gift is far too precious..."

Originally, she had merely been ordered to organize this banquet.

Her only purpose had been to complete the task assigned by her employer, Qin Shiyue.

But now, her heart was filled completely with surprise and gratitude. She no longer had the slightest thought of merely going through the motions with Mo Chen. Instead, she became deeply respectful and immensely thankful toward him.

What Mo Chen had given her was far more than a poem—it was a tremendous stroke of fortune!

With this poem spreading, Yunxi's name would surely leave the Prefectural City and travel throughout Great Mystic!

"I'm glad Miss Yunxi likes it."

Mo Chen stood with his hands behind his back, chest raised and head held high, a faint smile at the corner of his lips, looking rather impressive.

It was only a poem. He had memorized plenty more in his head.

Only by giving them away could those poems realize their greatest value.

"Young Master Mo, please take the seat of honor. This humble one will dance for you, then invite you upstairs to the third floor for a private conversation."

Yunxi bit her lip as she spoke in a soft, coquettish voice.

Her limpid eyes clung to Mo Chen as if they might draw out threads of silk.

This time, nearly every man looked at Mo Chen with envy, jealousy, and resentment.

"The third floor! The third floor!"

"Miss Yunxi's private chamber—the place to savor her beauty."

"They say Miss Yunxi is still a virgin. Could she be taking a client for the first time tonight?"

"What a sin! Why wasn't I the one who wrote that poem?!"

Amid the wails of misery.

The instruments began to play.

To the tinkling notes of the zither, Yunxi slowly took the stage. Her beautiful eyes gazed tenderly at Mo Chen as she shyly began to dance.

Her pink skirt swayed, petals whirled around her.

Mist rose, giving the scene an ethereal air.

Once the six maids joined her, every guest in the Drunken Moon Tower had their souls stolen away by the enchanting dance, beautiful as an immortal realm.

"So beautiful!"

Situ Xin stared at Yunxi, fluttering like a butterfly, with utter infatuation.

Hu Shiqi smacked his lips. "She's pretty, sure, but her butt's too small. Not good for having babies!"

"What the hell do you know!"

Situ Xin rolled his eyes at Hu Shiqi in disdain. "You crude brute, what do you know about women? Have you ever even tasted a woman?"

Hu Shiqi laughed. "Heh, even if I haven't tasted a woman, I know Yunxi is a woman you'll never get."

Situ Xin's face darkened like charcoal, and he was left speechless.

Nearby, Ruan Tianjing had long since clenched his teeth in fury. The way he looked at Mo Chen was as though he wanted to kill him.

Ever since Mo Chen had arrived, he had been completely ignored!

As a heaven-blessed prodigy, this was something he absolutely could not tolerate.

"Mo Chen? Fine, fine, very fine! Ever since I embarked upon the martial path, no one has ever dared treat me as a stepping stone!"

Ruan Tianjing rose in anger, flicked his sleeve, and left.

He possessed heaven-grade martial bones. The day of the martial exam would be the day he washed away today's humiliation.

When the dance ended.

The entire hall erupted in cheers and thunderous applause.

"Young Master Mo, did you enjoy this humble one's dance?"

Yunxi asked with shy timidity, smiling sweetly.

Mo Chen smiled and applauded, praising her again and again. "Not bad, not bad. Miss Yunxi truly is a peerless beauty, like an exiled immortal descended to the mortal world."

He finally understood why ancient emperors had been foolish and immoral.

With a beauty and a dance like this, if he were an emperor, he too would be willing to become a foolish ruler.

Of course, Mo Chen would never say such outrageously treasonous words in public.

It was enough to think them quietly to himself.

Yunxi smiled at his words and gave a charming curtsy. "Please come upstairs with me, Young Master. Yunxi will personally pour you wine to thank you."

"Good!" Mo Chen laughed readily, rose, and followed Yunxi upstairs.

Behind them.

The guests of the Drunken Moon Tower sighed and groaned endlessly, their complaints filling the air.

Then, even more people became dissatisfied with Mo Chen.

"Poetry is merely a trivial path. This Mo Chen is truly hopeless!"

"Exactly! Great Mystic was founded on martial strength, and the people of all thirty-six prefectures take pride in martial training. A lowly servant like Mo Chen has no talent for martial arts, yet he goes and indulges in such crooked ways!"

"Hmph! Someone like him ought to be driven out of the Prefectural City. With that poem of his, who knows how many young martial artists will be led astray by this unhealthy influence!"

Sour remarks came from the mouths of young masters from many factions. Even they themselves failed to notice the envy and jealousy in their own eyes.

These people disparaged Mo Chen's poetry as much as they could.

Yet in their hearts, every one of them wanted to claim it for themselves. They wished they could replace Mo Chen, make a splash at the Drunken Moon Tower, and win a beauty's smile.

Unfortunately, how could such a good thing exist in this world?

Thus, the crowd was driven mad with jealousy. Seeing Mo Chen follow Yunxi upstairs and Ruan Tianjing leave in anger.

They rose one after another, cursing under their breaths and leaving with cold, furious sneers.

"Mo Chen? Hmph, he's just a lowly servant!"

"Let's see how long you can keep showing off when the martial exam comes!"

Some of the talented disciples who had been invited also gritted their teeth and clenched their fists in secret.

"Fine, fine! A whole group of disciples, and we actually became foils for Mo Chen alone!"

"If that's how it is, then during the martial exam, we'll crush you under our feet!"