Poetry Gathering

After the people from the three departments left, dusk was already drawing near.

"Banner Officer, Princess Xuan Yi's carriage is waiting for you at the mouth of the alley." White Cat had appeared behind him at some point, and the twilight gilded the man's entire figure with a rim of gold.

Li Chen Zhou straightened his official uniform. The two words "Banner Officer" on his waist token glimmered beneath the setting sun.

Li Chen Zhou stepped out of the Brocade Guard's gates. Qian Shisan wanted to chase after him, but Bookworm, who was reading case files by the entrance, stopped her.

The fingers holding his brush drew a heavy line across a page of the Xi Yuan Lu. When Bookworm looked up, his gaze was hard as iron. "My lord did not say you could leave. You are not going anywhere."

Qian Shisan said disdainfully, "Your lord isn't here. If this girl wants to leave, what can a bookworm like you do to stop me?"

Bookworm set down his hand and continued reading the file in front of him. As he read, he said, "Whatever. If you insist on leaving, I'm afraid the people below will have to pay a visit to Front Gate Street in the south of the city."

Qian Shisan's pupils abruptly shrank. Her fingertips dug deep into her palm, her throat bobbed twice, and in the end, she swallowed the furious curse that had risen to her lips.

Without even lifting his head, Bookworm replied, "Don't worry. Someone has already brought them food, and they were told that you're safe as well. Just stay put."

Only then did Qian Shisan's expression ease. She gave a cold snort, stamped her foot, then found a place to continue staring blankly into space.

Li Chen Zhou, who had left the gates,

walked toward Princess Xuan Yi's carriage. "Greetings, Your Highness."

At the sound of Li Chen Zhou's voice, a dainty and adorable little head poked out from the carriage. She said happily, "Li Chen Zhou, get up here!"

Li Chen Zhou was somewhat stunned by those words. "This..." In broad daylight, sharing a carriage with the princess—somehow, it felt rather improper.

He turned to look at the palace maids, eunuchs, and coachman around him. Every one of them either had their heads lowered or stared straight ahead, as though they had heard nothing at all.

"What are you standing there for? Get up here, hurry."

Urged by Princess Xuan Yi's sweet voice, Li Chen Zhou climbed into the carriage despite himself.

The sandalwood fragrance on Princess Xuan Yi's body assailed Li Chen Zhou's senses. Her noble and lovely appearance today left him momentarily entranced.

"Heh, what is it?" Princess Xuan Yi asked deliberately.

"Oh... it's just that, in broad daylight, if I ride in the same carriage as Your Highness, would it damage your reputation?" Li Chen Zhou asked cautiously.

Seeing Li Chen Zhou putting on such a proper act, Princess Xuan Yi said in a strange, mocking tone, "Oh? Lord Li knows to consider this servant girl's reputation now? Why didn't you think of that when you held me in your arms that night?"

His Adam's apple rolled beneath the high collar of his Flying Fish Uniform, beaded with cold sweat. "I'm just not used to doing this in broad daylight."

Princess Xuan Yi narrowed her eyes. "Lord Li, let me tell you this. Before you saw me, before you held me, I could overlook the matter of you breaking off our engagement. But now you have taken advantage of me."

Princess Xuan Yi pulled out a pair of gilt silver-inlaid cosmetic scissors from somewhere. A cold glint flashed over their blades. "If you refuse to marry me, I will have no face left to linger in this world." Her jade-like finger flicked the scissors lightly. "But before I die, I will make you just like Little Eunuch Cao outside." A flash of cold light passed by, and half a handkerchief embroidered with twin lotus blossoms fluttered gracefully to the ground.

At those words, Li Chen Zhou felt a chill run through his lower body and swallowed.

He noticed that the fingertips hidden in Princess Xuan Yi's sleeve trembled faintly, while the gilt blades reflected the glistening moisture in her eyes—she was not truly trying to hurt him. This was clearly a young girl's stubborn, all-or-nothing gamble.

He hurriedly put on a serious expression. "How could that be? You have always been the only one in my heart."

Only then did happiness and shyness appear on Princess Xuan Yi's face.

"That's more like it. Come sit beside me."

Amid their laughter and conversation, they arrived without realizing it at Nangong Manor, the residence of Great Qian's foremost powerful minister.

The carriage stopped, and Li Chen Zhou was the first to jump down.

He then lifted the carriage curtain, and Princess Xuan Yi stepped out from within.

The steward welcoming guests at the entrance naturally had sharp eyes.

"Princess Xuan Yi has arrived!"

"The Young Duke of Duke Zhen's Estate has arrived!"

Seeing Princess Xuan Yi and Li Chen Zhou emerge from the same carriage, he could not help swallowing.

Upon hearing Nangong Manor's steward announce them, everyone lined up to greet them.

Princess Xuan Yi stepped through Nangong Manor's gates. The guests who had already arrived divided into two rows.

"Greetings, Your Highness the Princess."

"Rise, everyone."

"Thank you, Your Highness."

At this moment, Princess Xuan Yi was like a noble swan, enjoying the treatment of stars surrounding the moon.

Meanwhile, Li Chen Zhou at Princess Xuan Yi's side instantly became the most eye-catching presence.

At this moment, Nangong Yue emerged from the hall and walked up to Princess Xuan Yi.

"Greetings, Your Highness."

"Rise."

"Thank you, Your Highness."

At that moment, Li Chen Zhou watched Nangong Yue's figure merge with the one in his memories.

Born with seductive bones, and enhanced by the cultivation method of Heavenly Desire Palace, every smile, every frown, every gesture, and every movement ensnared the soul.

Li Chen Zhou could not help sighing inwardly: What a calamity of beauty. No wonder she had bewitched the original owner until he was utterly infatuated.

Under Princess Xuan Yi's threatening gaze, Li Chen Zhou did not dare lose himself in thought. He put on an indifferent expression instead.

Princess Xuan Yi's eyes slanted slightly as she glanced at Li Chen Zhou. Mm, she was quite satisfied with his performance.

"Princess, I shall show you to your seat."

Nangong Yue stepped forward, intending to support Princess Xuan Yi to her seat. As she moved, the fragrance from her body rushed straight at Li Chen Zhou's face.

Li Chen Zhou instantly sensed that something was wrong. There was something strange about this fragrance.

The heat that suddenly surged from his dantian actually resembled the signs of the qi deviation he had suffered that day, and his gaze toward Nangong Yue began to turn slightly unfocused.

Li Chen Zhou secretly used the Soul Absorption Art to expel the medicinal force.

He became wary of Nangong Yue and did not dare underestimate her any longer. This Nangong Yue is not simple.

As Princess Xuan Yi took her seat at the place of honor, Li Chen Zhou ignored everyone else and sat in the chief seat.

"Time is up. The poetry gathering officially begins."

All the guests took their seats. Those able to attend Nangong Yue's poetry gathering naturally possessed no lowly status—children of meritorious nobles, offspring of powerful eunuchs and officials, and upright scholars from humble families.

Nangong Yue walked to the center of the hall.

"Thank you all for attending the banquet. This young woman offers her thanks once again." Nangong Yue gave a slight curtsy.

The sight of Nangong Yue bowing directly bewitched the men present until they were dizzy and disoriented.

Li Chen Zhou was the exception, because Princess Xuan Yi was watching him like a hawk.

Nangong Yue moved with lotus steps, her figure like a frail willow in spring, drawing everyone's burning gazes.

With a wave of her delicate hand, the maids filed in like fish, presenting brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones, before setting out a fine zither in the hall.

Nangong Yue lightly plucked the strings. The zither's melody was soft and winding, like a clear mountain spring flowing by. "The bright moon hangs high tonight. For the first topic, everyone may compose poems or lyrics centered on the theme of 'moon.'"

As soon as her words fell, the second son of the Estate of the Might-Shaking General rose and clasped his hands, reciting loudly, "The bright moon hangs high, shining upon the nine provinces; the river of stars glimmers dimly, stirring idle sorrow." Though the verse was neatly structured, it fell into cliché. Everyone applauded politely.

Amid the zither music, everyone began competing to show off their talents.

Princess Xuan Yi took a light sip of fragrant tea and leaned close to whisper in Li Chen Zhou's ear, "Do you have any fine work to offer?"

Li Chen Zhou said, "Duke Zhen's Estate was granted its title through military achievements. I have no interest in dancing with words and playing with ink."

His purpose in coming here was to find traces of The Skinner. He had no interest in this damned poetry gathering.

Li Chen Zhou suddenly noticed someone looking at him. When he turned, he saw Nangong Yue.

Nangong Yue's zither music, combined with the cultivation method of Heavenly Desire Palace, drifted toward Li Chen Zhou. The melody stirred the deepest desires within a man's heart.

With the Soul Absorption Art protecting his body, Li Chen Zhou naturally felt nothing.

At that moment, a shrill voice shattered the calm. "Everyone invited to today's poetry gathering is a talented scholar with genuine ability. How dare some mere brute come here too? Aren't you afraid of becoming a laughingstock?" The speaker was Wu Jie, the second son of the Minister of Personnel. His gaze was sinister, and his words dripped with sour jealousy.