She was out of your league!

"Well..."

Jiang Xiaobai froze for a moment, his expression turning awkward.

He had almost forgotten that the previous owner of this body couldn't read a single word!

But after a moment's thought, Jiang Xiaobai still spoke up. "Actually... writing poetry has nothing to do with being literate!"

"Maybe I really do have a gift for it?"

"Heh, you?"

Jiang Jingcheng sneered. "If you can memorize these three poems I gave you, I'll thank heaven and earth!"

At that, Jiang Jingcheng couldn't be bothered to waste any more words on Jiang Xiaobai. He turned to Shen Yun. "Wife, teach him. If he can't learn them, he doesn't get to eat!"

With that, Jiang Jingcheng shot Jiang Xiaobai another furious glare before sweeping out with a flick of his sleeves.

Outside the door, a military officer clad in light armor stood waiting.

When he saw Jiang Jingcheng emerge, he immediately cupped his hands in salute. "Marquis."

"Mm."

Jiang Jingcheng glanced at the officer and lowered his voice. "Is everything arranged?"

"Rest assured, Marquis. Everything is in place."

The officer replied respectfully, "There won't be the slightest mishap at tonight's Poetry Gathering!"

"Remember."

Jiang Jingcheng narrowed his eyes slightly. "This must succeed. Failure is not an option."

"Yes!"

The officer nodded solemnly.

Jiang Jingcheng glanced back at the room, then strode away with the officer.

Inside the room.

Jiang Xiaobai was leaning against the headboard, looking as though he had lost all will to live.

Shen Yun sat beside the bed, holding the sheet of paper and reading it line by line.

"The spring breeze blows as I study away; a few lines of verse on paper I lay. When I pass the exams in some future year, I'll enter the Imperial Court for meat and beer."

After finishing, Shen Yun's face filled with admiration. "What a wonderful poem!"

The corner of Jiang Xiaobai's mouth twitched!

Yeah, what a fucking wonderful poem!!

"Come, Xiaobai. Hurry and read it after me!"

"..."

Jiang Xiaobai fell silent for a moment, then began reciting listlessly, drawing out every word.

Yes, it was like chewing wax!

Forget comparing it with the famous poems from his previous life-even if it were placed alongside the children's poems in an elementary school textbook...

It would probably be blasted into dust in an instant.

Outwardly, however, Jiang Xiaobai looked perfectly obedient, repeating each line after Shen Yun.

Time trickled by, and before even a cup of tea could have been drunk...

Shen Yun set down the paper and suddenly looked at Jiang Xiaobai in surprise. "Son, you've actually... come to your senses today."

"You memorized all three poems so quickly."

At her words, Jiang Xiaobai couldn't help smiling bitterly inwardly.

If he couldn't memorize poetry like this...

Then all those years of schooling in his previous life would have been wasted.

On the surface, however, he nodded with complete seriousness. "It's a matter of life and death. Naturally, I have to take it seriously."

Hearing this, Shen Yun's eyes filled with relief. "Ah, if you'd become sensible sooner, your father wouldn't have gotten so angry."

At that, she seemed to remember something and picked up the paper again.

"Since you've memorized them, let's read them a few more times, so you don't get nervous and forget them later."

Again?

Jiang Xiaobai's expression stiffened slightly at her words.

He hurriedly waved his hands. "Mother, I'm a little tired. I'd like to rest for a while."

"Well..."

Seeing the faint exhaustion on Jiang Xiaobai's face, Shen Yun hesitated before nodding. "All right, then. Get some rest."

"If you need anything, just tell the servants."

Only then did Shen Yun turn and leave the room.

As the door softly closed, the room fell quiet.

Jiang Xiaobai lay on the bed for a while, then slowly sat up.

"Hiss... that father of mine really hits hard."

Jiang Xiaobai rubbed his aching chest and grimaced, then slowly stood.

His body was still somewhat weak, and he staggered as he walked.

Even so, he made his way step by step to the dressing table.

Looking at himself in the bronze mirror, Jiang Xiaobai showed a hint of surprise.

The mirror reflected a young, handsome face.

With fine brows, clear eyes, and well-proportioned features, he looked quite good-looking.

It was just...

Jiang Xiaobai leaned closer to the bronze mirror, then shook his head helplessly.

Too pale, and scrawny to boot. One look and you could tell he was a pretty boy!

Jiang Xiaobai sighed deeply at that, but soon his expression turned thoughtful.

"What exactly is that father I inherited... trying to do?"

"Why is he so determined to make me attend the Poetry Gathering?"

A moment later.

Jiang Xiaobai suddenly jerked his head up. "Wait, could it be..."

Before he even finished speaking...

He sucked in a sharp breath himself.

"Hiss, that really might be it!"

Jiang Xiaobai's expression grew solemn. "If that's really the case, won't our Jiang Family completely offend the Chancellor's Residence?"

The chancellor was the head of all civil officials in the realm.

If they offended him utterly, even if they survived this crisis, the Jiang Family would likely find itself targeted at every turn!

Besides, if they really did this, the Jiang Family wouldn't be saving its own skin-it would be destroying its reputation.

After pondering for a moment, Jiang Xiaobai's expression turned serious.

No. Tonight, I have to act before Father does and turn this whole affair in a different direction!

At dusk, in the inner courtyard of the Jiang Residence.

Several maids bustled around Jiang Xiaobai.

One straightened his collar, another tied up his hair, and yet another lowered her head and carefully fastened his jade belt.

Jiang Xiaobai stood rigid, his expression awkward no matter how one looked at it.

"Young master, please hold still."

A maid spoke softly.

Jiang Xiaobai grew even more embarrassed.

As a man from the modern world, when had he ever experienced anything like this?

Having several young maids surround him and change his clothes.

The feeling... was rather strange.

Still, he had to admit that the bastard who'd owned this body really knew how to enjoy himself.

With people waiting on him like this every day, no wonder he'd grown into such a rotten wastrel.

Just then, the door was pushed open.

In the next instant, a fierce presence came bearing down from the doorway.

Almost simultaneously, the maids in the room trembled and lowered their heads. "Greetings, Marquis!"

The newcomer was none other than Jiang Jingcheng.

Jiang Jingcheng stood in the doorway, sweeping a cold gaze over Jiang Xiaobai.

"Come with me."

Jiang Jingcheng wasted no words. Having spoken, he turned and left.

Seeing this, Jiang Xiaobai naturally followed.

Outside the main gates of the Jiang Residence, a carriage was already waiting, with several armored personal guards standing beside it.

Once the two climbed in, one after the other, the carriage soon set off.

Jiang Jingcheng leaned back with his eyes closed.

Jiang Xiaobai sat opposite him, looking rather restless.

Just as Jiang Xiaobai was debating whether to say something, Jiang Jingcheng suddenly opened his eyes, his gaze sharp.

"Xiaobai, once you get to the Poetry Gathering, pick whoever you damn well like."

Jiang Jingcheng's face was ruthless. "If someone catches your eye, ask her name first. Tell me once you come out."

Jiang Xiaobai's heart gave a sudden jolt at those words.

Just as I thought.

My guess was right on the money.

This father I inherited... really was planning that.

He wasn't sending me into the Poetry Gathering to compete in poetry at all. He was sending me in to pick someone!

Once I chose a woman and came out of the Chancellor's Residence...

Then... the officer he'd brought along would move in and abduct her.

Once the raw rice had been cooked, the matter of marrying into her family would naturally be settled.

The plan could indeed work, but this would be happening at the Chancellor's Residence!

If they really caused something like that here, it would be a slap square across the Chancellor's Residence's face!

The chancellor would probably hold a grudge against our Jiang Family until his dying day.

"Did you fucking understand me or not?"

Seeing Jiang Xiaobai still lost in thought at a time like this, Jiang Jingcheng was so furious he wanted to slap him.

When would this useless son of his finally grow a brain?

"I understand."

Jiang Xiaobai nodded hurriedly.

"Mm!"

Jiang Jingcheng's expression softened slightly, but he soon added, "Also, you can choose anyone you like."

"But there's one person you absolutely cannot choose."

As he spoke, Jiang Jingcheng paused. "Chancellor Li's daughter, Li Zhiwei!"

"She... is completely out of your league!!"