Lin Residence
Jian Qu left through the main gate with a face like thunder, barely able to maintain even basic composure. Ignoring the Lin Residence steward who had come out to see him off, he climbed straight into the ox cart and ordered, "Return."
He sat in silence inside the cart, saying nothing more.
"They had merely declined politely before, but now they were refusing outright. He is only a Provincial Graduate, yet he dared flatly refuse an invitation from the Marquis of Dai. This is simply outrageous!"
The more Jian Qu thought about what had just happened, the angrier he became.
On the road, he spotted Cen Rubai, whose expression was equally unpleasant. Jian Qu had the ox cart stop and invited Cen Rubai aboard. Once he was inside and the cart began moving again, Jian Qu demanded in a low, angry voice, "Did the people you invited also decline politely? What is wrong with these people? Is the Dai Marquis Residence's literary gathering some mountain of blades and sea of fire?"
When they had set out this time, they had already received reports that every last one of those who had previously agreed to come had withdrawn. Let alone twenty attendees at the literary gathering, they might not even be able to scrape together ten. How could Jian Qu possibly accept that?
Cen Rubai said grimly, "I have just received word. The reason they all withdrew is that Prince Qi's Residence spread word that Prince Qi will also be holding a literary gathering, scheduled for the exact same day as ours. Some do not dare offend Prince Qi and intend to attend the gathering at Prince Qi's Residence. Others do not wish to offend either side, so they have simply used illness or urgent business as excuses and