Poetry Gathering

After the men from the three departments left, it was already nearing dusk.

"Banner Officer, Princess Xuan Yi's carriage is waiting for you at the alley entrance." Bai Mao appeared behind him at some point, the twilight gilding the man in gold.

Li Chen Zhou straightened his official robes, the words "Banner Officer" on his waist牌 shimmering in the setting sun.

Li Chen Zhou stepped out of the Brocade Guard's gate. Qian Shisan wanted to chase after him but was stopped by the bookworm reading records at the entrance.

The bookworm heavily underlined a page in Xi Yuan Lu with his pen. When he looked up, his eyes were like iron: "The Captain didn't say you could leave. You can't go anywhere."

Qian Shisan scoffed, "Your Captain isn't here. This young lady wants to leave; a bookworm like you can't stop me."

The bookworm put down his hand and continued reading the records, saying as he read, "Whatever. If you leave, I'm afraid my men will have to make a trip to Qianmen Street in the south of the city."

Qian Shisan's pupils shrank, her fingertips digging deeply into her palm. Her throat bobbed twice, and she finally swallowed the angry curses that had welled up in her throat.

The bookworm responded without even looking up, "Don't worry, someone has already taken food to them and sent them your regards. Just stay put."

Hearing this, Qian Shisan's expression softened. She snorted coldly, stomped her foot, and then found a place to continue spacing out.

Li Chen Zhou, having exited the building, walked towards Princess Xuan Yi's carriage: "Greetings, Your Highness."

Hearing Li Chen Zhou's voice, a delicate and adorable little head poked out of the carriage, happily saying, "Li Chen Zhou, hurry and get in!"

Li Chen Zhou was a little stunned by this. "This..." Sitting in the same carriage as the princess in broad daylight felt a bit inappropriate.

He turned to look at the surrounding palace maids, eunuchs, and coachman. Each of them was either looking down or staring straight ahead, as if they hadn't heard anything.

"What are you waiting for? Hurry up and get in!"

Urged by Princess Xuan Yi's charming voice, Li Chen Zhou bit the bullet and got into the carriage.

The sandalwood scent on Princess Xuan Yi stimulated Li Chen Zhou's brain. Her noble and pretty appearance today made Li Chen Zhou even more entranced.

"Hey, what's wrong?" Princess Xuan Yi asked deliberately.

"Oh... it's like this. Isn't it inappropriate for me to ride with the princess in broad daylight? Wouldn't it damage your reputation?" Li Chen Zhou asked a little cautiously.

Princess Xuan Yi looked at Li Chen Zhou's pretense of seriousness and said in a strange tone, "Oh... Sir Li now knows to think about this lady's reputation? Why didn't you think about it when you were holding me that night?"

His Adam's apple bobbed in the high collar of his Flying Fish Uniform, and fine sweat broke out: "Isn't it just that I'm not used to it during the day?"

Princess Xuan Yi narrowed her eyes: "Sir Li, I'm telling you, before you met me and held me, I wouldn't have cared about your broken engagement. But now that you've taken advantage of me..."

Princess Xuan Yi took out a gilded and silver-inlaid makeup scissors from somewhere. A cold glint flashed across the blade: "If you don't marry me, I'd rather not live in this world." Her jade finger lightly flicked the blade. "But before I die, I'll make you like that little Eunuch Cao outside." A cold light flashed, and a handkerchief embroidered with a pair of lotus flowers fluttered to the ground.

Li Chen Zhou felt a chill down below when he heard this and swallowed his saliva.

He noticed that Princess Xuan Yi's fingertips were trembling slightly in her sleeve, and the gilded scissors reflected the water in her eyes—she didn't really want to hurt anyone; it was clearly the stubbornness of a girl making a desperate gamble.

He quickly said seriously, "How could that be? You're the only one in my heart."

Hearing this, a happy and shy expression appeared on Princess Xuan Yi's face.

"That's more like it. Come over here and sit closer."

Amidst their laughter and conversation, they unknowingly arrived at Duke Zhen's Estate, the residence of the most powerful official in Da Qian.

The carriage stopped, and Li Chen Zhou jumped out first.

Then, he lifted the carriage door curtain, and Princess Xuan Yi stepped out of the carriage.

The steward at the door, who was there to welcome guests, naturally had a keen eye.

"Princess Xuan Yi has arrived!"

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

Seeing that Princess Xuan Yi and Li Chen Zhou had actually ridden in the same carriage, he couldn't help but swallow his saliva.

Hearing the Duke Zhen's Estate's steward's announcement, everyone lined up to welcome them.

Princess Xuan Yi stepped into the gate of Duke Zhen's Estate. The people who had already arrived were divided into two rows.

"Greetings, Your Highness."

"You may all rise."

"Thank you, Your Highness."

At this moment, Princess Xuan Yi was like a noble swan, enjoying the treatment of being the center of attention.

And Li Chen Zhou next to Princess Xuan Yi instantly became the most glaring presence.

At this moment, Nangong Yue walked out of the hall and approached Princess Xuan Yi.

"Greetings, Your Highness."

"You may rise."

"Thank you, Your Highness."

At this moment, Li Chen Zhou looked at Nangong Yue's figure, merging with his memories.

Her natural charm, coupled with the enhancement of the Heavenly Desire Palace's cultivation technique, made every smile and every movement captivating.

Li Chen Zhou couldn't help but sigh inwardly: What a femme fatale. No wonder she had infatuated his predecessor.

Under Princess Xuan Yi's threatening gaze, Li Chen Zhou dared not lose focus, feigning a calm demeanor.

Princess Xuan Yi glanced sideways at Li Chen Zhou, a hint of satisfaction in her eyes. Hmm, his performance is quite satisfactory.

"Princess, allow me to escort you to your seat."

Nangong Yue stepped forward, intending to assist Princess Xuan Yi to her seat, her movements carrying a fragrance that wafted directly towards Li Chen Zhou's face.

Li Chen Zhou instantly sensed something was amiss; there was something strange about this fragrance.

A sudden surge of heat in his dantian felt eerily similar to the signs of his qi deviation from that day, and his gaze towards Nangong Yue began to grow slightly unfocused.

Li Chen Zhou secretly employed his Skill of Absorption, expelling the medicinal effects.

He grew wary of Nangong Yue, no longer daring to be careless. This Nangong Yue is not simple.

As Princess Xuan Yi took her seat at the head of the table, Li Chen Zhou, without regard for others, also took his place in the chief seat.

"The hour has arrived; the poetry gathering officially begins."

All the guests were seated. Nangong Yue's poetry gathering attracted individuals of considerable status and influence – the sons and daughters of meritorious nobles, the offspring of powerful eunuchs, and the promising talents from humble backgrounds.

Nangong Yue walked to the center of the hall.

"Thank you all for attending this banquet; I express my gratitude once again," Nangong Yue said with a slight bow.

Her gesture captivated the men present, leaving them utterly spellbound.

Li Chen Zhou was an exception, as he was being watched closely by Princess Xuan Yi.

Nangong Yue moved with light, graceful steps, her figure resembling a willow swaying in the spring breeze, drawing the gazes of everyone present.

With a wave of her fair hand, maids entered in an orderly fashion, presenting writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones, and setting up a zither in the hall.

Nangong Yue lightly plucked the zither strings, the music flowing gracefully, like a clear spring flowing through the mountains. "Tonight, the bright moon hangs high. For our first theme today, I invite you all to compose poems or lyrics centered around the theme of 'moon'."

As soon as she finished speaking, the second son of the General of Zhenwei's Estate rose, cupped his fist in salute, and recited in a loud voice, "The bright moon hangs high, illuminating the nine provinces; the river of stars faintly shines, stirring idle sorrows." Although the melody was well-structured, it fell into cliché, and the audience applauded politely.

Amidst the zither music, the guests began to compete to show off their talents.

Princess Xuan Yi sipped her fragrant tea and whispered in Li Chen Zhou's ear, "Do you have any good pieces?"

Li Chen Zhou replied, "My Duke Zhen's Estate was ennobled for its military achievements; I have no interest in literary pursuits."

His goal 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. He turned his head and saw it was Nangong Yue.

Nangong Yue's zither music, combined with the Heavenly Desire Palace's techniques, was directed towards Li Chen Zhou, the music stirring the desires deep within men's hearts.

Li Chen Zhou, protected by his Skill of Absorption, naturally felt nothing.

At this moment, a shrill voice broke the silence. "The poetry gathering today has invited only talents with genuine ability. For some people, a mere martial artist dares to come, aren't they afraid of being laughed at?" The speaker was Wu Jie, the second son of the Minister of Personnel. His eyes were gloomy, and his words were filled with jealousy.