The wind over the Qinhuai River was biting cold, stinging the face with a sharp, fragmented pain.
The perimeter of the Jade Pavilion of Spring had been tightly cordoned off by iron-clad soldiers from the capital garrison; not even a fly could slip through. The painted pleasure boats that usually paraded ostentatiously along the river had all been driven downstream tonight, leaving only this towering building, adorned with octagonal palace lanterns, standing solitary by the water.
Xu Qinghuan stepped down from the carriage, supported by Li Sheng's hand.
Her neck felt incredibly heavy.
For tonight's outfit, she had specifically dug out that set of pure gold jewelry inlaid with rubies from the storehouse. Nine golden hairpins tugged at her scalp, causing a dull ache. The bright red peony dress woven with gold threads on her body was embroidered with a full twenty layers of silk thread; with every step, it felt as if two heavy weights were hanging from her waist.
Tacky.
Too tacky.
And that was exactly the effect she wanted.
At the entrance, there was no cliché drama of snobbish gatekeepers looking down on people.
The steward of the Xie family, dressed in a respectable blue silk gown, saw Xu Qinghuan's carriage—which looked as if it was desperate to be plastered with gold leaves—and showed not a hint of disdain on his face. He simply bowed respectfully and stepped aside to lead the way.
This was what a noble family was like.
When they looked down on you, they never showed it on their faces. They only used those impeccable rules of etiquette to isolate you from their world.
Xu Qinghuan lifted the hem of her skirt and stepped over the threshold.
The underfloor heating in the grand hall was burning brightly, and a wave of warmth wrapped in a faint scent of ambergris rushed toward her face.
It was very quiet inside.
There was no clamor of clinking glasses, only the rustling of fabric and the occasional crisp sound of jade pendants striking against each other.
The seating arrangement was highly meticulous.
Following the nine-rank system's layout, the elevated platform right in the center was the core of power.
The Second Prince sat at the head seat on the left, toying with a jade cup in his hand, wearing that careless smile unique to the royal family. Opposite him were the heads of the noble families, such as Xie An and Wang Ruhai.
Further down were the officials of Jiangning City, followed by the talented scholars from the major academies.
And right in the center of the elevated platform, sitting like the moon surrounded by stars, was a young nobleman.
In his early twenties, dressed in a moon-white brocade robe, his hair was tied up simply with a wooden hairpin. He was exceptionally handsome, his features exuding a scholarly air, yet he was not pedantic like those sour scholars. His sitting posture was casual, yet it commanded such respect that people dared not look directly at him.
Xu Qinghuan took an extra glance.
Before she could think deeply about it, someone nearby couldn't help but whisper to their neighbor, "Whose family is that young master from? How come I've never seen him before? To think he could sit in that position!"
The neighbor lowered his voice, "I heard he's from the capital, surnamed Xu. I'm not sure about the specifics, but look at Master Xie's attitude towards him—he definitely has a formidable background."
Xu?
Xu Qinghuan ran through the genealogy of the Great Qian Dynasty's powerful elites in her mind.
Oh? Interesting.
The steward led her further inside.
Passing through the midst of those scholars dressed in plain robes and wide belts who prided themselves on their elegance, her bright red and heavy gold outfit made her look like a moving target. The gazes cast her way were complex: some held amazement, some disdain, but most were filled with the mockery of watching a monkey show.
Her seat was at the very end of the elevated platform.
Right next to her was an old acquaintance, Zhao Tai.
Zhao Tai was dressed very plainly today in a bamboo-green gown, holding a folding fan in his hand, chatting and laughing merrily with the person next to him. When he turned his head and saw the blinding golden glare of Xu Qinghuan's outfit, the flesh on his face twitched.
He did not speak.
He merely reached out silently, pinched the brocade cushion under him, and shifted half a foot away.
Then, he made a great show of patting away imaginary dust from his sleeves.
Xu Qinghuan pretended not to see anything.
She plopped down into her seat, her heavy skirt spreading out and directly pressing down on half of Zhao Tai's robe corner.
Zhao Tai's eyes widened, and just as he was about to flare up, a commotion came from above.
The crisp sound of a jade chime echoed throughout the grand hall.
The previously whispering crowd instantly fell silent. Everyone sat up straight and looked toward the main seat.
Xie An was wearing a purple everyday robe bearing the first-rank crane rank badge. Although he was over sixty, sitting there, he looked like a mountain. He didn't need to speak; the oppressive aura of having held a high position for years was enough to freeze the air in the hall.
"Today is the Little New Year. I have borrowed this precious venue of the Jade Pavilion of Spring to invite everyone for a gathering."
Xie An's voice was not loud, but it was deep and powerful.
"His Majesty has shown grace and intends to add a 'Vast Learning and Grand Rhetoric' subject in the imperial examination next spring, to select talents capable of governing the world for the court. Today's Splendid Banquet can be considered a preliminary run. We shall not consider official ranks, but only discuss poetry and essays. Whoever writes the best essay shall claim the top prize of the Great Qian literary world."
As soon as he finished speaking, the eyes of the scholars below turned green with envy and greed.
The Vast Learning and Grand Rhetoric subject. That was a shortcut to reach the sky in a single bound without having to go through layers of imperial examinations. This was no flower viewing and drinking party; this was dividing the spoils, and the fattest piece of meat at that.
Xu Qinghuan rolled her eyes inwardly. It sounded nice, not considering official ranks. The people filling this room were seated according to strict hierarchies; how could they even talk about fairness?
After Xie An finished speaking, he turned sideways to look at the woman sitting beside him.
Xie Yunwan.
She was still dressed in a green gown today, wearing no makeup, holding a cup of clear tea in her hand. In this dazzling and extravagant den of indulgence, she was like a snow lotus blooming on a cliff, so aloof and noble that no one dared approach her.
She was one of the judges for tonight.
Xie Yunwan put down her teacup, her gaze sweeping lightly over the audience. When her line of sight passed the direction of the Yuelu Academy, it paused slightly, and she nodded to a young man in a blue gown sitting in the front seat.
The young man felt extremely flattered and hurriedly cupped his hands in return.
But when Xie Yunwan's gaze swept over Xu Qinghuan, it was like sweeping over thin air; it didn't even pause for half a second. Complete ignorance. This kind of disregard was more hurtful than being cursed at to your face, because it meant that in the other party's eyes, you were absolutely nothing.
Xu Qinghuan yawned out of boredom and reached out to grab a handful of melon seeds from the table.
"Since it is a literary gathering, there must be rules."
Xie Yunwan spoke, her voice clear and cold.
"The first event is the opening writing ceremony. Let the theme be the word 'Spring', and everyone is to write a preface. The time limit is one incense stick."
The maids, who had been prepared well in advance, filed out, spreading rice paper on everyone's desk and grinding the Hui ink.
The young man in the blue gown who had received Xie Yunwan's nod was the first to stand up. He was the chief disciple of the Yuelu Academy, named Dai Wenbo, and was quite famous in the Jiangnan literary circles.
Dai Wenbo walked to the center of the hall, cupped his hands to the surroundings, his face full of confidence.
He picked up his brush, dipped it fully in thick ink, pondered for a moment, and then began to write freely and boldly on the paper.
"Spring is the vital energy of heaven and earth. All things begin with it, and all living beings are born from it..."
He wrote hundreds of words eloquently and continuously in one breath.
After finishing, Dai Wenbo set down his brush and stood proudly.
A servant boy nearby immediately read the essay aloud. The rhetoric was gorgeous, the antithesis neat; it was indeed a standard parallel prose meant for examinations.
"Excellent!"
Zhao Tai was the first to take the lead in clapping and cheering.
"Brother Dai has great talent! This line, 'The warm sun awakens the hibernating creatures, and all things embrace spring,' is simply a stroke of genius!"
"Worthy of being the chief of Yuelu. With this essay out, I think there is no need for anyone else to write."
The surrounding scions of noble families echoed in succession, their flattery rising and falling. It was as if this essay, which could only be considered adequate, was already an unprecedented and unrepeatable masterpiece to be handed down through the ages.
Xie Yunwan also nodded slightly and commented, "The conception is upright, and the writing is seasoned. It can be ranked in the first grade."
Dai Wenbo's face was flushed with a radiant glow, and he sat back in his seat triumphantly.
"Who else?"
Xie Yunwan's gaze swept across the room once more, finally landing meaningfully on the last seat of the high platform.
"Since County Princess Xu is also here, and has offered a hundred thousand taels of silver as a prize, I wonder what brilliant insights the County Princess has regarding the theme of 'Spring'?"
As soon as these words were spoken, the entire venue fell instantly silent.
Everyone looked at Xu Qinghuan. Their gazes were like looking at a plain dirt hen that had sneaked into a flock of peacocks, waiting for her to make a fool of herself.
Zhao Tai even covered his mouth to snicker, his shoulders shaking up and down.
Write a preface?
Asking the daughter of a merchant who ran a brothel to write a preface? Wasn't this like forcing a brute to do fine embroidery?
Xu Qinghuan was still holding a melon seed in her hand.
She looked at Xie Yunwan's condescending face, and then at the surrounding people who were waiting to watch a joke.
"System," Xu Qinghuan called out in her mind.
"Here."
"Find me a preface about spring. I want the kind that will slap their faces so hard they swell up, preferably the kind that will make them kneel down and call me their master."
"Searching..."
The system panel popped up.
Ranked at the very top were a few striking words: Preface to the Banquet in the Peach and Plum Garden on a Spring Night. Author: Li Bai.
Xu Qinghuan was overjoyed. With the great Li Bai taking action, wouldn't these mortals be completely crushed?
However, in the next second, her eyes fell on the exchange price.
Thirty thousand taels.
Xu Qinghuan's hand trembled, and the melon seed in her hand almost fell to the ground.
"Thirty thousand taels?! Are you robbing people or slaughtering pigs? It's only about a hundred words in total, so it's several hundred taels per word?"
The system answered emotionlessly: "Rarity dictates value. The authentic artistic conception of Li Taibai, the cross-dimensional transportation fee, and the fee for the overwhelming dimensional strike effect it will have on this literary circle are all included. We offer fair prices to all."
Xu Qinghuan felt her heart bleeding. Thirty thousand taels! How many hotpot meals and how many designer bags was that!
"County Princess Xu?"
Seeing that Xu Qinghuan had not reacted for a long time, the corners of Xie Yunwan's mouth curled into a mocking smile.
"If you cannot compose anything, there is no need to force yourself. After all, everyone has their own specialties. As long as the County Princess leaves those hundred thousand taels of silver behind, it can be considered that you have participated in today's Splendid Banquet."
A roar of laughter erupted from below.
"Exactly, County Princess Xu, stop holding out. You should just go back and count your money."
"The affairs of the literary world were never something you could meddle in anyway."
Zhao Tai laughed the loudest. "Xu Qinghuan, if you beg me, this young master might be able to ghostwrite a limerick for you, hahahaha!"
Xu Qinghuan took a deep breath.
If the money was gone, she could earn it back. But if she swallowed this insult, she would be disgusted to death by these people tonight.
"Exchange."
She gritted her teeth and said in her mind.
"Ding! Deducted thirty thousand taels of silver from the host. Delivery successful."
Xu Qinghuan threw the melon seed shell in her hand into the plate, dusted off the crumbs on her hands, and slowly stood up.
As she stood, the golden step-shake hairpins all over her head swayed wildly, looking incredibly tacky.
"A preface?"
Xu Qinghuan walked to the edge of the high platform, looking down at the scholars below from a commanding height, her eyes carrying three parts carelessness and seven parts heartache over her money.
"I didn't want to write anything originally. After all, I am someone reeking of money, and I was afraid the things I write would pollute the ears of you refined gentlemen."
She paused, her gaze sweeping past Xie Yunwan, finally landing on Xie An.
"But since Eldest Miss Xie has called me out by name, then I will just casually recite a few lines. I didn't bring paper and pen, so I won't write it down. You all can just make do and listen."
Zhao Tai scoffed. "Casually recite a few lines? You think too highly of yourself."
Xu Qinghuan ignored him.
She raised her head and looked at the pitch-black night sky outside the hall. The exchanged text surfaced in her mind, every single word seemingly cast in gold.
"The universe is the inn of all things; time is the passing guest of a hundred generations."
The first line was spoken.
The hall, which had still been filled with whispers, suddenly fell quiet.
The hand Xie An used to hold his wine cup suddenly stopped in mid-air. The liquid swayed slightly in the cup, reflecting his suddenly contracted pupils.
Xu Qinghuan's voice was not loud, lacking that dramatic reciting tone, and even carrying a bit of laziness.
"And this floating life is like a dream; how often can one find joy? The ancients took candles to roam at night, and for good reason."
As soon as this sentence came out, the cold sneer on Xie Yunwan's face froze. The hand she used to hold her teacup trembled slightly, and the tea lid bumped against the rim of the cup, letting out a crisp clink.
In this dead silent hall, this crisp sound seemed exceptionally piercing.
"Moreover, the warm spring beckons me with its misty scenery, and the great earth provides me with magnificent views."
As Xu Qinghuan recited, her heart bled. This single sentence cost several thousand taels!
"We gather in the fragrant garden of peach blossoms, to share the joyful affairs of natural kinship. My many younger brothers are all as brilliant as Xie Huilian; while I, in my singing, am alone ashamed before Duke Kangle."
"Our quiet appreciation is not yet over, and our lofty talk turns pure. We spread the jade feast to sit among the flowers, and pass the winged goblets to get drunk beneath the moon."
When the last line was finished.
The entire Yulouchun Hall.
No one spoke. No one moved. Even the sound of breathing could no longer be heard.
Dai Wenbo, who had just worn a smug look on his face, was now deathly pale. The brush in his hand dropped onto the table with a clatter, and he remained completely oblivious even as ink splashed all over him.
The several hundred-word parallel prose he had written was far too feeble in front of this short preface of merely a hundred words.
What was vision?
What was artistic conception?
The universe is the inn of all things, and time is the passing guest of a hundred generations.
How could such a magnificent, world-swallowing breadth of mind, such a broad-mindedness that saw through life and death, possibly be written by the daughter of a merchant?
After Xu Qinghuan finished reciting, she felt the heartache slightly ease. Seeing the dumbfounded looks on these people's faces, these thirty thousand taels spent... seemed to be somewhat worth it?
She turned around and looked at the completely stunned Xie Yunwan.
"Eldest Miss Xie, can these casually recited lines still be pleasing to the ear?"
Xie Yunwan looked at her, her lips moving, but she couldn't utter a single syllable.
On the high platform.
Xie An, who had not spoken the entire time, slowly set down the wine cup in his hand. He looked at the woman dressed in tacky red clothes, his eyes complex to the extreme.
"If she doesn't compose poetry, then so be it."
Xie An slowly spoke, his voice somewhat hoarse.
"But once she composes, it is a masterpiece for the ages."
