Chapter 21

Seeing Wu Jingshan leave, the atmosphere on the scene instantly became awkward. The calligraphy gathering had not even begun, and the highest-ranking official, the Minister of Rites, had already left. The scene was almost frozen, and it seemed pointless to continue.

Censor-in-Chief Su Qingkun followed Wu Jingshan's footsteps. Today, Wu Jingshan was invited by him. He originally wanted to use this calligraphy gathering to flatter Wu Jingshan and let him show off in front of the literati. However, Hu Xiaotian's sudden appearance made Wu Jingshan lose face, and even his own old face was slapped. Although Su Qingkun hated Hu Xiaotian to the core, he silently weighed his own position. He could not afford to offend the Minister of Revenue, Hu Buwei. Before leaving, Su Qingkun glared at Xu Zhengying with venom, clearly transferring all his resentment to him.

Xu Zhengying was extremely frustrated. What did it have to do with him? He didn't even scold them. Seeing Wu Jingshan and Su Qingkun leave one after another, Xu Zhengying realized that he had now made two enemies in the court. All this was due to Hu Xiaotian. Thinking of this, he looked at Hu Xiaotian.

He saw that Hu Xiaotian was chatting enthusiastically with Huo Xiaoru, completely ignoring everyone else.

Huo Xiaoru clearly had a good impression of Hu Xiaotian and was often amused by his jokes, laughing out loud.

All the literati and scholars became mere accompaniments. With Hu Xiaotian's disruption, no one knew how to proceed. People came over to chat with Xu Zhengying, after all, his position was still there, and he was now the highest-ranking official. Xu Zhengying cursed inwardly, thinking, "You remember me now? When that old dog Wu Jingshan was here, did you ever treat me with such courtesy?"

Actually, this was not surprising. People are realistic. Wu Jingshan was the Minister of Rites, and his rank was higher. When the two of them were together, Wu Jingshan was the red flower, and Xu Zhengying could only be the green leaf. However, things in this world often change. Just like Hu Xiaotian, no one had noticed him before, thinking he was just a weed, not even a green leaf. But if a weed grows tall enough, it can overshadow the main plant. Hu Xiaotian's performance was the best proof.

At this moment, Qiu Zhitang came to seek Xu Zhengying's opinion. Xu Zhengying did not want to stay long either. With Wu Jingshan and Su Qingkun gone, if he stayed to continue the calligraphy gathering, others would think he was deliberately opposing Wu Jingshan, which would only deepen the grudge. Although Xu Zhengying had won with Hu Xiaotian's help, he did not want to push things too far. Everything should be done in moderation, and knowing when to stop was a way to leave room for oneself. Xu Zhengying pretended to ponder for a moment and said, "I also have some matters to attend to. Nephew, I think it's getting late, we should leave!"

Hu Xiaotian was chatting happily with Huo Xiaoru when Xu Zhengying came to interrupt. Hu Xiaotian was very dissatisfied. This old light bulb really had no sense. Didn't he see that the young master was trying to flirt? He didn't even look at Xu Zhengying, just waved his hand and said, "You go first, I'll chat with Miss Huo for a while."

Xu Zhengying's face turned red when he was embarrassed in front of everyone. He had already spoken, and he couldn't stay with a thick face. Hu Xiaotian was brought by him, and he should have sent him back, but Hu Xiaotian was clearly very interested in the famous performer Huo Xiaoru. His butt seemed glued to the chair, and he wouldn't leave for a while.

Xu Zhengying could only nod and say, "Alright, I'll go first!"

Xu Zhengying walked down from the Yan Shui Pavilion, intending to leave his carriage and horses behind. Although he had not known Hu Xiaotian for long, he had already seen that Hu Xiaotian was extremely good at causing trouble. To be on the safe side, it was better to leave the carriage and horses for him. However, just as he left the Yan Shui Pavilion, he saw the Hu family servant Liang Dazhuang grinning and coming over, "Lord Xu, where is the young master?"

Xu Zhengying saw that Liang Dazhuang was followed by five other servants. These people had actually been there all along, waiting downstairs. Seeing that the Hu family had sent people, Xu Zhengying felt relieved and pointed upstairs, "He's chatting with a friend, he might take a while to come down."

Liang Dazhuang said, "Oh," feeling a bit puzzled. Why did Lord Xu leave the young master alone and go first? This lord was not very reliable. He had promised to take care of the young master, but now he left alone? Chatting with a friend? When had the young master ever had friends? He had never heard of it.

Xu Zhengying said, "I have some matters to attend to and need to return to the mansion. You all wait for him here."

Liang Dazhuang nodded.

Once Xu Zhengying left, the literati and scholars had no reason to stay and left immediately.

Huo Xiaoru said to Hu Xiaotian, "Mr. Hu, the calligraphy gathering is over, let's go!"

Hu Xiaotian said, "Calligraphy gathering? Ha, we didn't even see a brush, how can it be called a calligraphy gathering? Why don't we meet separately next time, exchange calligraphy, and discuss literature and life experiences?"

Huo Xiaoru smiled gently, "Thank you for your praise, Mr. Hu. I admire your talent very much." Although she wore a veil, her bright eyes and subtle glances made Hu Xiaotian's heart flutter.

Seeing Huo Xiaoru about to leave, Hu Xiaotian politely held her chair. Huo Xiaoru stood up, feeling that this young man was truly unique. He was different from anyone she had met before, though she couldn't pinpoint exactly how. He seemed to have a lot of special qualities. On the surface, he was carefree, but he was not an idle rich kid.

Hu Xiaotian accompanied Huo Xiaoru, and the little maid held the fox dog. The three of them walked down from the Yan Shui Pavilion. Huo Xiaoru never took off her veil, and although Hu Xiaotian was very curious about her face, he never had the chance. The more mysterious something is, the more it arouses desire. Hu Xiaotian found that this intellectual beauty really knew how to showcase her charm.

Outside the Yan Shui Pavilion, Huo Xiaoru stopped, turned her delicate body, and looked at the three characters on the plaque, seemingly reluctant to leave. She said softly, "I just thought of a couplet for the lower line."

Hu Xiaotian stood next to Huo Xiaoru, feeling refreshed with her by his side. The light breeze carried her faint fragrance to his nose, making him feel extremely comfortable. He smiled, "I'm all ears!"

Huo Xiaoru said, "When children are good, people who do no evil become Buddhas!" Her couplet was clever and seemed to contain a hidden lesson. Hu Xiaotian was taken aback. "When people do no evil, they become Buddhas?" Could Huo Xiaoru already know his identity and his misdeeds, and was she giving him a lesson to be good? Hu Xiaotian clapped his hands in admiration, "Brilliant, brilliant! Miss Huo is truly the most talented woman in Dakan."

Huo Xiaoru laughed, "The most talented woman in Dakan? I don't dare to accept that. I've only read a few books and can come up with a few couplets. I'm just showing off in front of Mr. Hu, which is quite embarrassing."

Hu Xiaotian said, "Modest, modest, Miss Huo is too modest. But modesty can make one fat. If Miss Huo becomes fat because of modesty, won't she have to lose weight later?"

Huo Xiaoru laughed so hard that her body shook, and even with the veil, her charming posture still captivated Hu Xiaotian. Hu Xiaotian said, "I suddenly thought of another couplet." In front of a beauty, he was quick-witted and full of ideas, showing his talent at the right moment.

Huo Xiaoru's enchanting eyes blinked, "I'm all ears!"

Hu Xiaotian looked at Huo Xiaoru and said, "When a girl is wonderful, she will follow her husband in everything!"

Huo Xiaoru couldn't miss the hidden meaning in his words. Her face turned red, though she found Hu Xiaotian's couplet provocative, she had to admit that he was truly talented. She praised softly, "Mr. Hu is highly talented! I can't match you!"

At this moment, Liang Dazhuang saw Hu Xiaotian and grinned, about to call out, "Young..." but was stopped by Hu Xiaotian's murderous gaze. He forced the word "master" back into his throat and spread his arms to block the other servants behind him. He wasn't stupid and understood that the young master was flirting. If he interrupted now, he would surely get a beating.

While Hu Xiaotian and Huo Xiaoru were standing outside the Yan Shui Pavilion, competing in wit and admiring each other, several passing literati stopped to listen, admiring the cleverness of their couplets. Some praised, while others were not convinced.

The two sons of the Grand Historian Qiu Qingshan, Qiu Zhigao and Qiu Zhitang, were at the door seeing off guests. They had organized this calligraphy gathering, and they had high hopes for it. They had invited many important figures from the literary world in the capital, but it ended in this awkward situation, all because of Hu Xiaotian. Although they knew Hu Xiaotian was brought by Xu Zhengying, they did not know his identity. Seeing Hu Xiaotian and Huo Xiaoru still chatting outside the Yan Shui Pavilion, the two brothers felt extremely resentful. If it weren't for this guy overshadowing the main event, the calligraphy gathering wouldn't have ended in such an awkward way.

Qiu Zhitang coldly snorted, "What talent? Just mutual flattery. I have a couplet too!" His words drew everyone's attention.

Qiu Zhitang cleared his throat and loudly said, "When a woman supports, she becomes a prostitute, in the sea of love, without heart, the sky is blue!" Applause followed, but as people applauded, their eyes all turned to Huo Xiaoru. Although she was known as a talented woman, in their eyes, she was a famous performer. Qiu Zhitang's couplet was clearly a hidden attack, mocking her low status and implying that women in her profession have no feelings. Although Qiu Zhitang's couplet was harsh and cruel, it was undeniably clever and had a great impact.

Hu Xiaotian listened and cursed the guy's meanness in his heart. "Huo Xiaoru didn't do anything to you, why are you using a couplet to insult her? Damn, are you jealous because she's chatting with me?"