Chapter 9

In the midst of cherry blossoms dancing in the wind, Misaki opened the old diary and read the words of promise written there.

Holding the brush, he paused, completing the calligraphy in one breath. The elegant瘦金体 (slender gold script) formed a famous poem, "Xiao Zhong Shan." Emperor Zhezong smiled slightly, leaning over to blow on the ink that had yet to dry. To be precise, this "Xiao Zhong Shan" was prepared for Li Shishi. The courtesan competition was approaching, and with this poem, Shishi was sure to win again. Emperor Zhezong was very confident in his poetic skills.

"Yang Jian, you have no plans for tomorrow, right? Arrange it so that I can visit the De Yue Lou tonight!" Zhezong walked to the left side of the desk with his hands behind his back, where a painting by Yan Liben, "The Emperor's Procession," hung.

Yang Jian glanced at the "Xiao Zhong Shan" and bowed, smiling. "Your Majesty, your talent is remarkable. With this poem, Shishi will surely win the competition!"

"Hehe, you are indeed clever!" Zhezong raised his hand to adjust his sleeves, still smiling, but his brows were tightly furrowed, as if troubled by something.

Yang Jian was adept at reading people's minds. If not for this skill, he would not have risen from a garden manager to a chief eunuch. He had a good idea why the emperor was troubled, so he approached and whispered, "Your Majesty, I have a residence outside the palace, by the river. Perhaps we could bring Miss Shishi there..."

Before Yang Jian could finish, Zhezong turned around with a blank expression. "Yang Jian, when did it become your place to make decisions for me? Remember, the idea of bringing Shishi into the palace or elsewhere is not to be considered again!"

"Your Majesty, please forgive me, I am at fault!"

Zhezong's anger made Yang Jian quickly lower his head. He was truly afraid of the emperor, as everything he had was due to the emperor's favor. Without the emperor, he would be nothing.

Yang Jian's forehead was drenched in cold sweat, and he only breathed a sigh of relief when Zhezong left the study. Why was the emperor so angry? What was he afraid of?

Sometimes Yang Jian thought Zhezong was too concerned with appearances. Refusing to bring Shishi into the palace was probably because he feared gossip. Not only with Shishi, but even with Zhao Yougong, Zhezong's actions seemed indecisive. Since he had already exiled Prince Chu Zhao Si, why leave Zhao Yougong behind? The issue was not whether Zhao Yougong would pose a threat, but as an emperor, one must be decisive. Leaving a potential threat was foolish. Unfortunately, Zhezong cared too much about what others thought, allowing Zhao Yougong to live. Fortunately, Zhao Yougong was a useless playboy, otherwise it would have been a disaster.

The phrase "wanting to stand on a pedestal" aptly described Zhezong.

In the back hall of the Chu王府 (Prince Chu's residence), the sisters Mochun and Muxue huddled on the bed, their white, tender feet exposed, with pink, smooth nails. They were dressed in intimate clothing, and the large overcoat had fallen to the floor. Zhao Yougong panted heavily at the edge of the bed, having seen many women over the years, but enjoying a pair of twin sisters was a first, especially such beautiful ones.

Actually, from the moment they left the palace, Mochun knew their fate. Facing Zhao Yougong's lecherous gaze, she clutched the soft blanket, her face flushed. "Prince, this is our first time. Please be gentle!"

The sisters looked shy, but their shyness only made them more alluring. Zhao Yougong, trembling, climbed onto the bed, his hand slowly touching the beauty's face. "Ha... Ha... Beauty, don't worry, I will be gentle!"

Her cheeks rosy, her skin like silk, he climbed onto the beauty's body, his hands on her slender waist. In the flickering candlelight, the room soon filled with soft moans...

The night was as dark as ink, but it could not match the bitterness in her heart. Yingsu stood by the window, her face filled with loneliness, hearing the breathy moans that made her blush. Why? Why had the smart and sensible young prince turned into this?

She remembered over a decade ago, when the four-year-old prince was clever and endearing, calling her "Sister Su." But after the old master's death, he changed, becoming moody and dissolute. Sometimes Yingsu felt that the Chu王府 was cursed, otherwise why would the prince die young, and his only heir turn out like this?

Spring filled the garden, the old wept, and the new rejoiced!

By the Bian River, a woman named Cui Niannü stood by a small window, holding a fan and looking at the scenery outside. No one knew who invented the folding fan, or when it became a favorite of scholars and literati. Today, even women enjoyed these wooden folding fans. The spring breeze blew, and the willows by the river swayed gently.

Cui Niannü, chin in hand, seemed lost in thought. She smiled, pouted, and frowned. Cui Niannü was always like this, never hiding her feelings. Her cheeks were fair, her eyes like stars, and her gaze as clear as spring water.

"Miss Cui, have you heard?" Xiao Tan, holding a tray of pastries, had a slightly immature face with a look of disdain.

Cui Niannü smiled, reaching out to take a pastry, nibbling on it, and pouting. "These aren't from Zhou's. Don't buy from other places next time, they're too sweet!"

"Oh, Miss Cui, are you even listening to me?" Xiao Tan thought Cui Niannü would ask about the matter, but she only talked about the pastries.

Cui Niannü glanced at Xiao Tan, smiling. "Go on, you're already trying to show off. I don't need to urge you!"

"Miss Cui, you're so boring!" Xiao Tan giggled, placing the tray on a small table and leaning in mysteriously. "Miss Cui, you don't know, but yesterday the emperor sent a pair of sisters to the young prince. Who knew the young prince would... would..." Xiao Tan blushed, finding it hard to say.

"What? Did the young prince take the sisters immediately?"

Cui Niannü smiled at Xiao Tan, who nodded. Cui Niannü felt a sense of calculation. For women given by the emperor, no matter how much one wanted them, certain rules must be followed.

Whether high officials or imperial relatives, women given by the emperor must be treated with respect for a month before anything else. This was a sign of respect for the emperor. The fact that the young prince climbed into the women's beds that night was both foolish and lustful.

Many would mock Zhao Yougong, but Cui Niannü had a different feeling. She thought the young prince was overacting. Anyone with a bit of sense would know to give the emperor some face, but the young prince seemed to forget this. However, no one cared, and everyone was focused on mocking Zhao Yougong.

"Miss Cui, don't you think the young prince is too despicable? Everyone in the capital knows about this!" Xiao Tan giggled, and Cui Niannü seemed to be influenced by her, opening her fan and gently fanning herself.

Zhao Yougong was despicable and foolish, but if not for this, the emperor might not have let him live until now!

For some reason, Cui Niannü felt a sudden urge to truly understand this young prince.

The Yuhua Pavilion, located on Huixiang Street on the east bank of the Bian River, was one of the high-end private venues in the capital. The visitors to the Yuhua Pavilion were mostly idle nobles and high officials' descendants. Every month, these young nobles would gather here to chat about gossip.

Today was another gathering day, but it was different from usual because the Yuhua Pavilion had invited three rare guests, the three famous scholars from Jiangnan.

The three scholars, Hou Yuxin, Bai Hanrui, and Fang Tengmou, were all talented, excelling in poetry, calligraphy, painting, and music. Among them, Fang Tengmou stood out the most. In the third year of Zhenghe, Fang Tengmou was appointed as a scholar in the Hanlin Academy with the top rank. Last year, he was promoted to a sixth-rank lecturer, a promising future. In the Song Dynasty, a sixth-rank lecturer in the Hanlin Academy was not to be underestimated. It was said that once one entered the Hanlin Academy, one could step into the doors of the prime minister's residence, highlighting the importance of the Hanlin Academy for one's career. Notable figures like Su Shi, Ouyang Xiu, Wang Anshi, and Sima Guang all came from the Hanlin Academy.

During the Song Dynasty, the literary atmosphere was thriving. Due to Emperor Taizu Zhao Kuangyin's influence, a policy of civil officials managing military affairs was implemented, leading to a widespread emphasis on literature over military. By the time of Emperor Huizong, this ideology had reached an extreme. Emperor Huizong himself was a lover of poetry, calligraphy, painting, and music, and had a poor opinion of military men. Eunuchs controlled military affairs, a situation even more severe than in the Ming Dynasty.

For various reasons, Fang Tengmou had become a representative of the young people in Jiangnan. He sipped his wine, looking proud.

"In a few days, the courtesan competition will begin. I wonder if Brother Wan has prepared any great works?"

Wan Jie was Fang Tengmou's given name. Hearing Hou Yuxin's words, Fang Tengmou chuckled. "What if I have? Isn't the winner still going to be Shishi?"

Fang Tengmou's face showed indifference, but his tone revealed a hint of dissatisfaction. The courtesan competition was not just a contest of singing and dancing but also a showcase of talent. Unfortunately, since the emperor's involvement, the competition had become a stage for Li Shishi alone.

Many people smiled helplessly, understanding Fang Tengmou's frustration, but who dared to disagree? The conversations in the pavilion continued, but no one knew that these words had already reached someone's ears!