The Chancellor's Residence!

"Li Zhiwei?"

At the sound of that name, Jiang Xiaobai's expression shifted slightly.

Drawing on his memories, he understood why Jiang Jingcheng had said that.

Indeed, Li Zhiwei's name still rang loud throughout Capital City.

The Greatest Talented Lady of the Imperial College, and more importantly, the final disciple of Lin Fengshuo, the venerable scholar Lin Suxu!

Lin Suxu...

The man had once held the position of Grand Tutor. Even though he had now stepped down, his students and former subordinates filled the Imperial Court, and his influence remained second to none.

His father had deliberately singled out Li Zhiwei.

He probably feared more than merely offending the Chancellor's Residence.

He was even more afraid of thoroughly offending the Senior Scholar behind her!

At that thought, Jiang Xiaobai gave a dry laugh and looked at Jiang Jingcheng. "Heh, but what if... she takes a liking to me?"

The moment he said that, Jiang Jingcheng, whose expression was already cold and stern, let out a sneer. "She'd take a liking to you?!"

"..."

The corner of Jiang Xiaobai's mouth twitched.

Then he raised his head, a glint flickering in his eyes, and said with complete seriousness, "I think anything is possible!"

"Hah!"

Jiang Jingcheng sneered. "If you really manage to make Li Zhiwei like you, then... I'll fucking beat you to death!"

Indeed, he and Chancellor Li had never gotten along.

He couldn't stand Chancellor Li, and Chancellor Li couldn't stand him either.

If his son really married into the Chancellor's Residence, wouldn't he find himself a head below the chancellor at every turn?

Besides, their Jiang Family was a military family steeped in martial traditions. And who was Chancellor Li? The very leader of the civil officials!

His Majesty would absolutely never approve a union between the two families!

On top of that, Li Zhiwei was a talented lady. If Jiang Xiaobai really married into the Chancellor's Residence, every martial practitioner under heaven would laugh him to death!

Did he not have his dignity to consider?!

Jiang Xiaobai smiled wryly and said nothing more.

Half an hour later.

As the carriage slowly came to a stop, a respectful voice immediately sounded outside.

"Marquis, we've arrived at the Chancellor's Residence!"

At those words, Jiang Jingcheng slowly opened his eyes and drew a deep breath.

Then he rose first and stepped out of the carriage.

Seeing this, Jiang Xiaobai naturally followed him out.

The moment he alighted.

Jiang Xiaobai saw a magnificent residence standing quietly beneath the night sky.

Stone lions guarded either side of the entrance, with vermilion gates, high walls, and brilliant lights.

Above the gate, the words "Chancellor's Residence" swept across the plaque like soaring dragons and dancing phoenixes, faintly exuding an air of authority.

At the sight before him, ripples stirred in Jiang Xiaobai's heart.

Whether he could break free of this crisis, whether he could at least save his life.

It all depended on tonight!

At that thought, Jiang Xiaobai's expression grew considerably more solemn.

Jiang Jingcheng, however, did not pause at all, striding straight toward the Chancellor's Residence.

The expressions of the two guards at the entrance shifted slightly the instant they saw Jiang Jingcheng.

Clearly.

They naturally recognized the Northern Guardian Marquis.

But recognition was one thing.

This was the Chancellor's Residence.

And everyone attending tonight's Poetry Gathering was a scholar or a refined gentleman.

A marquis from a military family like Jiang Jingcheng, reeking of murderous intent and arriving abruptly with an entourage, hardly looked like someone coming to a banquet.

One of the guards steeled himself and stepped forward, about to raise a hand to stop him.

"Marquis, tonight..."

But before he could finish his sentence.

The personal guards behind Jiang Jingcheng unleashed their killing intent in unison.

"Get lost!"

The cold shout cracked like thunder.

These men were all veterans of countless battles.

Who knew how much blood had stained their hands?

Once they unleashed that aura, it was far beyond what ordinary people could endure.

The two guards at the entrance instantly turned deathly pale.

The one who had spoken even stumbled half a step backward, his throat bobbing, unable to force out a complete sentence.

Standing behind them, Jiang Xiaobai felt his eyelid twitch at the sight.

Good grief.

This father he'd inherited was truly domineering wherever he went.

He had turned a visit to a Poetry Gathering into something that felt like leading troops to raid a house.

But on second thought, he could understand.

After all, time was pressing, and his father probably had no patience to reason things out with anyone.

Soon.

Their party entered the Chancellor's Residence directly.

Only once they were inside did Jiang Jingcheng slow his steps slightly and turn to one of the personal guards behind him.

"Take the heir to the Poetry Gathering. I'll go have a chat with Chancellor Li."

After speaking, Jiang Jingcheng let out a deep sigh. He truly wanted nothing to do with civil officials like this, especially when his conflict with Chancellor Li ran so deep!

"Yes, Marquis!"

The guard immediately cupped his fist in acknowledgment.

Jiang Jingcheng nodded, then turned back to glare at Jiang Xiaobai.

That look seemed to deliver a silent warning.

You'd better behave yourself!

Seeing this, Jiang Xiaobai immediately put on an exceedingly obedient expression and nodded repeatedly.

Only then did Jiang Jingcheng snort coldly, turn, and stride off in another direction.

Watching Jiang Jingcheng's retreating back.

Jiang Xiaobai's gaze flickered slightly.

He had to admit.

This father he'd inherited really did act with the force of thunder and the speed of the wind, utterly decisive in everything he did.

And this time, to save his son.

He had gone so far as to visit Chancellor Li in person.

That counted as... casting his pride aside.

At that thought, Jiang Xiaobai couldn't help feeling somewhat moved.

With a soft sigh, Jiang Xiaobai gathered his thoughts and followed the personal guard in another direction.

The Chancellor's Residence was enormous.

Along the way, pavilions and towers, covered bridges and waterside terraces all exuded an air of refinement.

Compared with the stern, imposing weight of a military household like the Jiang Residence, this place was clearly far more exquisite.

Only after they had walked for quite a while did the surroundings ahead gradually grow livelier.

And just then, a lilting melody from a zither suddenly drifted over on the wind.

Jiang Xiaobai raised his head, a flicker of surprise passing through his eyes.

Ahead lay a garden, lush with flowers and trees, with lanterns hanging high.

Amid the glow of those lights, he could already see dozens of young men and women chatting and laughing.

Some played the zither, while others recited poetry.

Others stood in groups of two or three, quietly discussing something.

It really did look rather like a proper Poetry Gathering.

At the sight, Jiang Xiaobai raised an eyebrow.

They certainly hadn't skimped on the atmosphere.

If he hadn't been carrying a bomb that might explode at any moment, he might actually have been in the mood to appreciate it.

But before the two of them could draw close.

A man dressed like a scholar approached from ahead.

The man wore blue robes and had a fair, clean-cut face, giving him a rather scholarly air.

Yet when his gaze swept over Jiang Xiaobai and the personal guard, his brows visibly furrowed.

His expression grew especially wary upon seeing the sword at the guard's waist.

"Gentlemen."

The scholar cupped his hands, then asked, "Do you have invitations?"

Jiang Xiaobai opened his mouth, just about to say something.

But in the next instant, the guard beside him raised his hand expressionlessly and placed it directly on the sword at his waist.

Shing...

The blade slid half an inch from its sheath.

A glint of its keen edge abruptly burst forth.

That icy chill swept almost against the scholar's face.

"This."

The guard spoke flatly. "Will it do?"

The scholar's previously composed face instantly turned ashen.

Cold sweat even began to bead faintly on his forehead.

He was a man of letters. When had he ever encountered anything like this?

Especially when the man before him was clearly someone who truly dared to draw his sword and kill.

Under such circumstances, how could he dare utter another useless word?

The scholar hurried aside at once, his voice trembling slightly. "Please... please, come in!"

Only then did the guard snort coldly, slide his sword back into its sheath, and lead Jiang Xiaobai farther inside.

Walking beside him, Jiang Xiaobai wore a somewhat peculiar expression.

Sure enough, like father, like soldiers.

From top to bottom, each was more reckless than the last.

But on second thought.

That was only natural.

They had come tonight to snatch someone... no, to choose someone.

Keep a low profile?

That clearly wasn't the Jiang Family's style.

The scholar remained where he stood, watching their retreating backs with a deep frown.

"The Jiang Family?"

The scholar murmured to himself. He had clearly seen the character for Jiang on that sword just now.

At that thought, his gaze returned to Jiang Xiaobai.

"This young man... could he be Jiang Xiaobai, the Profligate Heir of the Northern Guardian Marquis's Estate?"

At that thought, his brows furrowed even more deeply.

What was someone who knew only eating, drinking, and making merry doing at this Poetry Gathering?

Could he possibly... recite a couple of lines of poetry?

What an utter joke!!