Poetry Gathering

Xiao Hanye had grown warm from being pressed against someone and had broken into a slight sweat. His gaze fell on Shen Tingjue's slightly open collar, and he noticed that the bite mark he had left two days ago had already vanished, his skin restored to its original snowy whiteness.

Desire was a shackle.

He had always been restrained and disciplined, rejecting the pleasures of men and women alike. He had never allowed himself even the slightest desire that could place him at another's mercy. He had always scoffed at love and looked down on men and women who indulged in pleasure.

Yet now, he seemed to have become an ordinary mortal too.

Xiao Hanye was distracted for a moment. He thought of many things, yet it seemed he had thought of nothing at all. He could not make sense of the myriad feelings within him, and could only pin the restless Shen Tingjue down amid the bedding, completely enveloping him in his shadow. As if he had found an opportunity for revenge, he left Shen Tingjue unable to breathe, showing no mercy even when he bit him.

When he entered him, Shen Tingjue's mouth was covered. Xiao Hanye kindly reminded him, "Steward Feng is keeping watch outside. If you cry out, you'll wake him."

Shen Tingjue pulled his hand away, his breathing slightly uneven. "Then go chop him on the neck and knock him out. Throw him somewhere far away."

Xiao Hanye: "..."

What a ruthless man.

Xiao Hanye said, "I struck his sleep acupoint when I came in."

So he would not actually be that easily awakened.

Shen Tingjue clung to his shoulders. Even amid the numbness in his waist, he still had the strength to tease, "You planned this all along..."

Xiao Hanye clicked his tongue, turned him over, and amid the tempestuous collisions, laced their fingers together and thoroughly soaked him in his scent.

A faint morning light appeared at the horizon. Xiao Hanye rose to leave, while Shen Tingjue stretched out a hand in his sleep and caught only a corner of his robe.

Xiao Hanye pulled the hem free, replaced it with a piece of warm jade in Shen Tingjue's hand, drew the bed curtains shut, and climbed out through the window. He returned to the East Palace, took a quick bath, changed into a dragon-patterned court robe, and hurried off to morning court.

Once he had left, Wu Dequan immediately summoned the hidden guard down from the roof and asked, "Where did His Highness go in the middle of the night?"

Dark Three rubbed his hands together. "Is that something I can say?"

Wu Dequan looked around, then leaned closer. "Say it quietly. As long as you know and I know, it'll be fine."

Dark Three lowered his voice. "He went to the Chancellor's Residence."

Wu Dequan thought, Just as I expected, then asked, "Why was he there for so long?"

And he had needed to bathe when he returned. That was very suspicious.

Dark Three gave him a look that said everyone knew. "A lone man and another lone man, alone in a room in the dead of night... they couldn't possibly have just chatted under the covers, could they?"

They were all adults. Those who understood, understood.

"..."

Wu Dequan's eyes slowly widened in utter disbelief. After a long while, he shakily pressed a hand to his chest. Dark Three caught him a step too soon, preventing him from toppling headfirst down the stairs.

Spring Garden was Chang'an's largest and most renowned garden. Scholars and literary men all appreciated the elegance of viewing snow. Whenever the first snow fell each year, the Imperial College held a poetry gathering, bringing its students to Spring Garden to brew tea and warm wine, admire the snow, and compose poetry.

The Chancellor worried that Shen Tingjue would be lonely at home, and that he himself had too little time to keep his son company. So he wanted Shen Tingjue to attend the poetry gathering at Spring Garden and make more friends.

The Imperial College was a proper place of learning, so naturally its poetry gathering was proper as well. It would never invite dancing girls or performers to liven things up. The wine had been carefully chosen fruit wine that would not intoxicate, while the tea was specially prepared premium Biluochun. Fruits and pastries were all provided.

The students all wore blue-and-white broad-sleeved robes and scholars' caps, gathered in Qufeng Courtyard around artificial hills and flowing water. The literary scholars were high-spirited and full of enthusiasm, but for those idle young scions with mediocre talent, the event was utterly uninteresting. They were even somewhat nervous, afraid the academic supervisor would ask them to compose poetry on the spot.

What was so good about admiring snow and writing poems? It would be much more enjoyable to visit a pleasure house, with beauties in red sleeves at their side.

Scholars were boring.

Pale light filtered through the hazy snowfall and fell upon the cloud brocade embroidered with golden thread, making Shen Tingjue, this young master from a wealthy family, appear even fairer and more noble.

Everyone's gazes drifted toward him, and half their enthusiasm instantly disappeared. With headaches, they thought, Damn it, why was he here? If some freak gust of wind accidentally blows him unconscious, whose fault will that be?

Xiao Chongrui's head ached whenever he saw Shen Tingjue now, and he wished he could avoid him entirely. After returning from the Chancellor's Residence that day, he had been summoned by his mother consort, who asked whether he had said anything to anger Shen Tingjue. She went on and on, telling him to endure first and not act rashly. Then his imperial father had summoned him to the Imperial Study for another stern lecture. It had left him with nowhere to air his grievances.

That was not even the end of it. The next day, that damned Crown Prince had suddenly blocked his path, accusing him of speaking ill of him. Without the slightest courtesy, he ordered the hidden guards to stuff his mouth full of chili peppers. He was ruthless and merciless, with no regard at all for brotherly affection. His lips were still swollen even now.

Damn it!

Once he became an unrivaled master, invincible beneath heaven, he would definitely stuff two jin of bird's eye chilies into that damned Crown Prince's mouth!

Shen Tingjue spotted Xiao Chongrui's still-red, swollen lips at a glance and raised his brows. "Yo, which woman bit you? Looks like you had quite a spicy time."

Xiao Chongrui's face turned green. He did not want to speak with him, but in public, he had to protect his reputation. "Nonsense. This prince is perfectly virtuous. It was the chili peppers! Chili peppers!"

Shen Tingjue clicked his tongue. "For them to burn you that badly, you must have eaten a lot. What were you thinking?"

Xiao Chongrui fell silent.

Though he dearly wanted to expose the Crown Prince's crimes and let everyone know just how cruelly he treated his own younger brother, speaking ill of the heir apparent behind his back was no minor offense. Weighing the two sides, Xiao Chongrui could only swallow his anger and admit it through gritted teeth.

Wait, how did that damned Crown Prince know he had spoken ill of him?

Could Shen Tingjue have tattled on him?

The more Xiao Chongrui thought about it, the more likely it seemed. He stared wide-eyed at Shen Tingjue, looking aggrieved and resentful, like someone who had been betrayed.

People truly were wicked.

What a waste of that harmless-looking pretty face!

Yesterday, Shen Tingjue had just been granted a proper noble title by his imperial uncle, the Emperor. The title had even been chosen by the Empress Dowager: Marquis of Eternal Joy, signifying her hope that he would remain forever happy and carefree. Now, wherever he went, everyone who saw him had to respectfully call him Young Marquis.

The noble youths around his age were practically green with envy.

They had not even managed to secure the title of heir yet, while he had already become a legitimate marquis. Comparing people truly drove one mad.

Shen Tingjue selected the best spot. The servant he had brought with him was quick and nimble, brewing tea and peeling oranges for him. He also set up a small charcoal stove, laid an iron grate over it, and began grilling sweet potatoes, corn, and slices of meat.

Shen Tingjue rubbed his hands together, already unable to wait to eat.

Director Zhang looked at him.

Academic Supervisor Tao and several lecturers looked at him.

All the students looked at him too.

Shen Tingjue shelled peanuts, completely baffled. "Why are you all looking at me? Never seen grilled meat before?"

Everyone: "..."

When it came to enjoying life, no one did it better than you.