Mung Bean Cake

"Please welcome Miss Pan'er!"

As soon as Guan Yaoyuan finished speaking, a woman dressed in a pink skirt and red attire walked out. Many men on the scene held their breath, while many women revealed looks of envy.

Fang Yun had originally held high hopes as he went to look, involuntarily comparing Yang Yuhuan to her, and then, there was no then.

Fang Yun lowered his head to drink tea, thinking that she was an all-right woman. Although she tried her best to conceal it, her air of the demimonde was far too thick, and her act was overdone. As for what she actually looked like, he couldn't be bothered to remember. Even if he remembered, the moment he went home and looked at Yang Yuhuan, he would forget.

Including Guan Yaoyuan, many men were gazing at Pan'er. Only Fang Yun lowered his head to drink tea, then picked up his chopsticks to pluck a piece of mung bean cake, eating it in a leisurely and carefree manner.

Surrounded like the stars flanking the moon, Pan'er wore a smile, lifted her chin, and swept her gaze across the entire venue. Her expression remained uniform throughout, unaffected by anyone—not even that person eating mung bean cake.

Those Academy Students began to offer Pan'er an endless stream of flattery.

He Yutang, who sat beside Fang Yun, asked in a low voice, "What is it? You don't like this sort? What kind of women do you like? Tell me, and I'll definitely help you find one to your satisfaction." When he finished, he revealed a somewhat lecherous smile.

"Can she really earn twenty thousand taels of silver in a month?"

He Yutang enlightened him with a sudden realization, "I don't blame you for doubting it. Judging by her looks alone, she couldn't earn that much money. What she sells isn't beauty, she sells talent. There are rumors that her grandfather was a Hanlin Academician, and moreover she can compose poetry and lyrics, and write essays. Some people even flatter her as a 'female Academy Student', and then she became famous. Other people take it seriously, but we all understand in our hearts that it's just Bright Jade Tower's method of building up a person."

Fang Yun glanced at Pan'er and asked, "Are there some famous Academy Students who were humiliated by her and then widely publicized?"

"That really does happen. She's no woman from a respectable family, playing along with the occasion is enough. Since she can step on other Academy Students to rise to the top, she could use you as a stepping stone. It seems you've seen right through her." He Yutang looked at Fang Yun curiously, thinking that he truly lived up to being a Sage-front Tongsheng. Compared to him, the ages of those cheated people had all been lived in vain.

Fang Yun continued eating his lunch.

Pan'er slowly descended the stairs. The music-entertainers situated on the low stage of the main hall departed, and Bright Jade Tower's serving maids walked ahead of Pan'er, scattering flower petals all the way and leaving a fragrant path of blossoms.

Guan Yaoyuan, the organizer of the lyric gathering, along with several Academy Students, crowded around Pan'er as they walked together to the high platform and stood behind a desk, upon which the Four Treasures of the Study were displayed.

Guan Yaoyuan asked with a smile, "Who will be the first to come up and compose a lyric?"

"I will!" More than a dozen Academy Students stood up, eager to burrow into Pan'er's skirt.

Pan'er immediately covered her mouth with a light chuckle, causing many people to stare with straight eyes.

Guan Yaoyuan said, "Then let Brother Lai Yong, Lai, go first. Back then he was among the top ten Academy Students of Dayuan Prefecture, he has ascended Book Mountain, and he has also given a great deal of support to today's lyric gathering."

The others immediately sat down. It was obvious that Guan Yaoyuan was helping Lai Yong, and to contend any further would be equivalent to giving Guan Yaoyuan no face.

"Thank you everyone for yielding to me." Lai Yong feigned courtesy, walked to the desk to greet Pan'er, and then pondered for a moment before saying, "With the floral queen Pan'er present, I shall choose the Dian Jiangchun lyric tune. Although I cannot personally apply rouge to Pan'er's red lips, I can at least ponder upon it in my heart for a moment."

The crowd laughed heartily. Pan'er's pretty face flushed slightly as she glared at Lai Yong with a look that seemed like a mix of pleasure and vexation, stirring the hearts of many into an itchy frenzy.

Lai Yong raised his brush, deliberating for a long time, and recited while writing: "Spring's passionate heart, / A hidden fragrance deliberately lingers toward dusk. / Jade flesh chilled through, / To the death it adds a pure, delicate emaciation. / Shadows fall across the horizontal pond, / The moon grows pale after people return. / Do you know, milord? / A single branch blossoms first, / And should report to the Eastern Lord."

Once Lai Yong finished writing, the crowd successively shouted praise.

"The use of the word 'lingers' is marvelous; it turns an inanimate object into something living."

"'A single branch blossoms first,' this line is extremely beautiful!"

"Brother Lai Yong has great talent, he will definitely place in the top three!"

Fang Yun nodded. This lyric was truly not bad, and it was extremely likely to reach the level of County-Exceeding. It was simply a pity to use it to please a woman.

Amidst the cheers of the crowd, Lai Yong swaggered down from the low platform and returned to the wine table.

The very first lyric was written so well that it dispelled the thoughts of many who had originally been eager to try, otherwise it would be equivalent to sacrificing oneself to fulfill Lai Yong. For a time, no one went back up.

"Is no one else going to come up with a lyric?" Guan Yaoyuan asked loudly.

No one responded.

The floral queen Pan'er suddenly spoke, "Which one is Fang Double-A? Pan'er dares to boldly request a lyric presented by Fang Double-A, I wonder if Pan'er has this fortune?"

The crowd looked toward Fang Yun all at once, extremely envious of Fang Yun's treatment.

Fang Yun's expression remained as usual.

"Ah, you're the one eating mung bean cake?" Pan'er called out in an extremely naive tone.

Guan Yaoyuan asked curiously, "How so?"

Pan'er looked at Fang Yun with a resentful gaze and said aggrievedly, "Earlier when I came downstairs, everyone was looking at me, yet this Fang Double-A was drinking tea and eating mung bean cake the whole time. It seems this humble concubine's willow-like figure simply fails to catch Fang Double-A's eye."

A small number of people were stirred by Pan'er's provocation and instantly looked at Fang Yun with a hint of hostility, believing that he was intentionally using this method to attract Pan'er.

Guan Yaoyuan laughed loudly and said, "Pan'er, that's where you don't know. Let alone you, even the floral queen of the capital wouldn't be taken to heart by him."

"Really?" Pan'er asked.

"Of course it's true. Fang Double-A's child bride is the renowned Xishi of Jiang Prefecture in Ji County. Even Young Master Liu Zicheng regarded her as a heavenly beauty upon seeing her, only for Fang Yun to mistakenly think he wanted to snatch his child bride, whereupon he invited County Magistrate Cai to force Liu Zicheng to leave. Yet Fang Yun is not to be blamed in the least, for who told Liu Zicheng to speak with such levity. That child bride raised Fang Yun, and Fang Yun feels a deep and heavy affection for her, so he naturally cannot tolerate the slightest disrespect. Fang Yun, your literary fame spreads far across the Ten Kingdoms, why don't you compose this second piece? You can directly claim the crown and embrace Pan'er into your newlywed chamber," Guan Yaoyuan said.

"Hateful!" Pan'er turned away in embarrassment, using her hand to cover her blushing cheek.

The crowd successively jeered, urging Fang Yun to write a lyric.

Fang Yun slowly stood up and said with a smile, "Liu Zicheng brought four household servants to my doorstep, intending to kill me with a Song of Yishui written through War on Paper and snatch my Sister Yuhuan away. Fortunately, Constable Lu and County Magistrate Cai's Lip Spear and Tongue Sword arrived promptly, slaying one of the servants. How is it that in Brother Guan's mouth, Liu Zicheng did nothing wrong, while I, Fang Yun, am in the wrong? Since you're whitewashing Liu Zicheng today, will you go to the capital tomorrow to beat the heavenly drum and lodge an imperial complaint, seeking redress for the deceased servant?"

Inside Bright Moon Tower, a dead silence fell. No one expected Fang Yun to be so direct.

Guan Yaoyuan immediately revealed an aggrieved look and said, "Fang Double-A, you've misunderstood. I truly didn't know the actual situation, I merely spoke from hearsay. I apologize to you; I shouldn't have listened to only one side of the story. But your words cannot be fully trusted either, otherwise I would still be falling for a one-sided account. Today is the Beginning of Summer lyric gathering, we only discuss wind and moon and nothing else. Fang Double-A, please give us some face, considering the dozens of Academy Students here, and write a lyric."

Fang Yun sneered, "Everyone present is no fool, yet you are pitifully foolish. You want to rope others in to isolate me, thinking these Academy Students will be used as writing brushes by you and fall for your trap? In order to deal with me, you and Liu Zicheng can truly be said to have exhausted all your scheming!"

He Yutang, who was by Fang Yun's side, secretly praised him as a true Sage-front Tongsheng. Although acting this way was overly blunt, by preemptively laying the matter out in the open, those who were originally neutral basically wouldn't help Guan Yaoyuan.