Flower-Viewing Poetry Gathering

Bai Mo tucked the letter into her sleeve, her gaze inscrutable.

Perhaps it was Young Master Yunwu's exceptionally striking looks, or perhaps his painfully tragic background, but all those coincidences together always stirred a little extra pity in people.

Now that she intended to seek Shen Qing's hand in marriage, Bai Mo had put aside any other amorous thoughts.

That meant setting boundaries and keeping her distance, so the young master would not misunderstand.

Bai Mo pressed her lips together, revealing no emotion.

"Lichun, go tell the gatekeeper that if a young master comes to return something, she should simply accept it. Have her pass along a message: tell him to consider this a full repayment, and let things end here."

Lichun looked like a gossip-hungry onlooker, eager to ask questions but afraid to ask her young lady. Seeing Xiaohan's smug, all-knowing expression, she readily agreed and pulled Xiaohan outside to get the gossip.

"Oh, what on earth happened in the few days I was back home? This Young Master Yunwu is the one from the brothel, right? He was dressed like a respectable young man that day, so I didn't even recognize him..."

"That's him! The Green Grass Pavilion's top courtesan. Our young lady bought his freedom that day. You have no idea..."

"..."

The two maids were actually speaking very quietly, but Bai Mo's hearing really was... The corners of her mouth twitched as she listened. Now she knew how terrifying gossip could be!!

Shen Qing also received an invitation to Princess Ping'an's flower-viewing poetry gathering.

His invitation was different from the others: embossed in gold, traced in silver, and decorated with mandarin duck and flower appliqués. It was exceptionally luxurious.

In the past, he had attended poetry and flower gatherings like this to make a name for himself, establish a foothold in the Capital, and build connections among the noble families.

But now that he was about to discuss marriage with Bai Mo, he hesitated.

Princess Ping'an had feelings for him; like Sima Zhao's intentions, they could hardly have been more obvious.

"Young master, Princess Ping'an specifically instructed me to tell you that she has prepared a surprise for you at the flower-viewing poetry gathering the day after tomorrow. She hopes you will be sure to attend." Xiaotian saw that his master had not responded for some time and seemed lost in thought.

In the past, Shen Qing had wanted to make use of the power in the princess's hands, so he had never rejected her attempts to win his favor.

So be it. He would go this time and gently turn her down. He could only give up this chess piece.

"I understand. Go and reply to her. I will attend the day after tomorrow."

Shen Qing placed the invitation on the table, his swordlike brows drawn tight. He paid the flower-viewing poetry gathering little mind.

He had been deeply worried these past few days. There was too little time left. Even if Bai Mo passed with flying colors this time, she would at most become a xiucai, and she would have to wait until next year to sit the provincial examination. This marriage would probably be extraordinarily difficult.

If he could not settle his marriage and wed early, his father would sooner or later learn that the poison in his body had been cured. Then his father would once again hold him back for a higher bidder, and might even send him into the palace. Bai Mo would have had difficulty marrying him when he was dying, let alone now that he was healthy...

Shen Qing's heart was filled with bitterness. Everything he had gained since childhood had come through calculation, and every step he had taken had been harder than anyone else's. He had finally met a woman who treated him with wholehearted devotion. This was the best place for him to go, and he had to make a major move on the chessboard.

That piece would be himself, and the spectator had to be his maternal grandmother.

Two days later, Princess Ping'an's residence was bustling with activity. Carriages and horses arrived in an endless stream, and even several princesses had been invited.

The guests at this flower-viewing poetry gathering were all talented young women from noble families and accomplished, unmarried young masters from prestigious households. It was more like a matchmaking event for young men and women.

Perform well and become famous in one stroke, and securing a good marriage would be as easy as lifting a finger.

Many people had come with precisely that thought in mind.

Bai Mo had dressed with particular flair and abandon today. Her moon-white robes gave her an air of otherworldly elegance, yet her bearing was unruly and mischievous. The contradiction made her especially eye-catching.

Bai Yuanshuang looked at her with great disdain. She was a perfectly good woman, yet she had been born so delicate and beautiful, with a face like a man's. She was unfit for any great purpose.

Bai Yuanshuang usually fawned over Princess Ping'an and believed she had some standing with her. She had brought Bai Mo along especially this time, intending to use the princess's hand to get rid of her once and for all. How dare she dream of marrying Young Master Qingya? Then let her try.

"The two young ladies of the Count Who Protects the Nation's residence have arrived."

"Ladies, please follow me."

The gatekeeper accepted their invitations and announced them, and a maid led the two toward the garden.

Inside the princess's residence, the pavilions and towers were lavish and magnificent. They walked along a path paved with blue bricks, treading over a colorful carpet of fallen blossoms. Flowers bloomed like brocade beside the path, and emerald willows stood wreathed in mist. With a gentle breeze blowing and a faint floral fragrance in the air, the scene was as beautiful as a painting.

The melodious sound of strings and woodwinds drifted from between the towers, answering the lilting birdsong among the lush trees and lifting the spirits.

"The princess's residence really is lovely. For scenery like this alone, the trip was worthwhile."

Bai Mo offered her praise without reserve.

The maid guiding them made no attempt to hide the pride in her eyes.

Bai Yuanshuang sniffed and sneered. "Elder sister, you really should come out and see more of the world."

Bai Mo could not be bothered to pay her any attention. Only a slender vine dropped a bead of sap onto her head.

As soon as the two entered the main hall, everyone inside turned to look at Bai Mo. The room fell quiet for a moment, and Princess Ping'an and the other princesses were all taken aback. At first glance, they had thought she was some exceptionally beautiful young master.

The third princess recognized her and paid her little further attention, resuming her conversation with the fourth princess beside her.

"Greetings, Princess Ping'an, Your Third Highness, Your Fourth Highness, and Your Fifth Highness."

Bai Mo bowed along with Bai Yuanshuang.

"Rise. The Bai ladies have arrived. Give them seats."

Princess Ping'an kept sizing Bai Mo up, making no effort to conceal it from the others.

This is the woman who covets Shen Qing? She looks like a pretty boy, and she's an empty-headed fool besides. She's not worth mentioning.

She withdrew her gaze disdainfully, but did not deliberately make things difficult for her.

"I don't recognize you, elder sister. Which family are you from? You're so good-looking! Come sit beside me, elder sister. I've always been fond of beautiful faces. You don't mind, do you? Hee-hee."

(灬º‿º灬)♡

Bai Mo looked over and saw a little girl as delicate as carved jade. She looked no more than thirteen or fourteen, and her eyes were shining as she stared at Bai Mo.

This was the fifth princess, Feng Zijin, the current imperial consort's second daughter. She and the fourth princess, Feng Ran, shared the same parents, and she was greatly favored by the empress.

"Greetings, Your Fifth Highness. I am Bai Mo, the eldest legitimate daughter of the Count Who Protects the Nation's household. You jest, Your Highness." Bai Mo's eyes curved with a smile, making her look even more beautiful.

"Wow, elder sister, if you were a man, I would definitely marry you as my husband. You're just too good-looking!"

The fifth princess immediately sprang up and bounded over to Bai Mo. She took Bai Mo's hand and looked her over from left to right, practically pressing herself against her, leaving Bai Mo unsure whether to laugh or cry.

"Pfft." Several noble young ladies could not help laughing aloud.

"Your Fifth Highness, I'm afraid it's not quite proper to describe a woman as pretty."

"Hahaha, but I don't think Her Fifth Highness is wrong. Eldest Miss Bai really is beautiful enough to feast one's eyes on."

"Hahahaha, quite right, quite right."

The fourth princess's face darkened, and she gave Bai Mo an apologetic look before hurriedly scolding the fifth princess. "Little Five, stop fooling around. Come back and sit down."

The fifth princess knew she had misspoken. She turned and glared at the few who had made the rude remarks, saying with a fierce little pout, "Who says a woman can't be born pretty? Long ago, there was Prince Lanfeng, the god of war. She was extremely beautiful and accomplished in both civil and martial arts. She wore a ghost mask into battle and never suffered defeat. Her name has been passed down through the ages. Who would dare laugh at her?"

Everyone looked at one another. Not daring to contradict the princess, they could only fall silent.

Bai Mo squeezed the fifth princess's hand to show that she did not mind.

The fifth princess brightened again and pulled Bai Mo to sit beside her.

"Sister Bai, we get along so well. Sit with me."