Chapter 0218: Xie Chengze Shudders and Exclaims “Are You Crazy?”

Zhu Xiaobiao immediately showed an expression of speechless exasperation.

“Who are you trying to fool?” He rolled his eyes, “I’m not stupid!”

“Alright, alright, I’ll stop teasing you.” Ouyang Jiu put his arm around Zhu Xiaobiao’s shoulder, gently pushing him toward the poetry board as he joked, “See any poems you like? Decided who you want to meet later? I wonder who would take a fancy to your poem. Ah, if they knew about all the beautiful concubines in your household, I wonder if they’d still be willing to marry Young Lord Zhu~”

“Hah! I’m definitely going to meet His Highness!” Zhu Xiaobiao said triumphantly, “His Highness and I are definitely kindred spirits! Only our handwriting is the ugliest – he’ll definitely be able to pick out my poem from among hundreds!”

Ouyang Jiu immediately burst into uncontrollable laughter.

Young Lord Zhu was truly naive!

Hadn’t he noticed how Jing Ze had specifically instructed Bian Yangchun when he came to collect the poems? And how Shen Yuan had also given Bian Yangchun special instructions?

That poem was destined never to reach the female guests’ side, and his Highness was destined not to choose him either~

……

Before the meeting session, the male guests would select their favorite poems written by women, which essentially meant choosing which woman they wanted to meet. Before poems number twelve and thirteen, which had won top honors, stood many distinguished gentlemen – both scholars drawn by the poetry and young noblemen from the capital.

For these young masters, they were most familiar with Sheng Yiren and Cheng Wuxue’s handwriting. Although the final outcome was usually just sitting together for tea and conversation, they still went through the motions.

The young masters began competing for priority meeting rights. When the scholars saw this, they wanted to compete as well, but were warned by scholars who had attended previous banquets that unless they wanted trouble, they’d better not compete with them.

How could scholars from humble backgrounds possibly qualify to meet the Esteemed Daughters of the capital? Unless their talent was exceptional enough to earn these young masters’ appreciation, and they were willing to bring them along, might they have the honor of seeing their true faces.

Class barriers would not be easily broken.

How would “resources” from the upper class ever be distributed downward?

Zhu Xiaobiao had no intention of getting to know any Esteemed Daughters. He diligently searched the poetry board for Xie Chengze’s poem, but after looking for a long time, couldn’t find it.

He scratched his head and asked Ouyang Jiu beside him, “Did I miss it because I was looking too fast? Why can’t I see His Highness’s poem? Help me look for it!”

Ouyang Jiu was folding peach blossoms and responded with an “Oh,” “Lord Shen already took the poem away long ago.”

Zhu Xiaobiao: ???

After a moment to process this, Zhu Xiaobiao angrily punched the air and said indignantly, “Damn it! I really misjudged him!”

He had thought Lord Shen was quite proper! Never expected he would pull strings too!

“Hmph, he wants to meet with His Highness, but His Highness might not choose his poem!” Zhu Xiaobiao sneered darkly, “Not to mention how my ugly handwriting stands out exceptionally on the poetry board, Jing Ze’s poems are also widely popular and catch people’s attention at first glance. Compared to those poems Brother Bian recited earlier, none were particularly distinctive. If Lord Shen’s poem was among them, His Highness definitely wouldn’t be able to guess which one he wrote!”

Ouyang Jiu nodded in agreement, “That’s right.”

However, you said if Lord Shen’s poem was among them – the unfortunate thing is, Lord Shen’s poem wasn’t among them at all.

This was indeed the truth.

After the male guests had selected the top-ranked poem, these works were sent to the female guests’ side. Meanwhile, the maid who had been instructed discreetly passed the poem written by Shen Yuan to Xie Chengze.

Xie Chengze unfolded it and immediately jolted as if struck by lightning.

Poem Number Twenty-Three:

“Guan-guan go the ospreys, on the islet in the river. The fair maiden in peach robes—this humble one longs for you.

Here long, there short, the water plants; left and right, they trail. The clever and witty gentleman—awake, asleep, I seek him.

Seeking but unable to get, his snow-white jade tempts me. Long thoughts, oh, long thoughts, toss and turn, unable to sleep.

Here long, there short, the water plants; left and right, I gather them. The handsome gentleman like a jade tree—I wish to be imprisoned by him.

Here long, there short, the water plants; left and right, I pluck them. The handsome gentleman like a jade tree—I wish to be whipped by him.”

Xie Chengze: “What nonsense!”

Blushing to the tips of his ears, he swiftly crumpled the paper into a wrinkled ball, afraid that others might see it. He stuffed it into a hidden pocket in his sleeve, cleared his throat lightly, and then began to imitate the Esteemed Daughters in selecting the poem that caught his eye.

A few poems advocating for women’s aspirations gained widespread popularity, with Jing Ze’s piece being particularly well-received. Xie Chengze searched around but couldn’t find any poem with particularly poor handwriting. He couldn’t help but think to himself that Zhu Xiaobiao might not have participated in this poetry challenge.

He must be too shy, embarrassed to have his poem read aloud in front of the young ladies~

Understandable~

After all, not everyone has thick skin like him~

“Yiren, which one caught your eye?” Xie Chengze asked after looking around, turning to Sheng Yiren who had been following him closely.

“Uh, Poem Number Three,” Sheng Yiren, who hadn’t actually looked at any, randomly picked a number. “What about you?”

“Then I’ll pick Number Three too,” Xie Chengze said, putting on a faux innocent act. “Sister Yiren surely won’t mind if we meet together, right?”

Sheng Yiren: ?

Sheng Yiren’s face showed an indescribable expression, reminiscent of the “subway grandpa looking at his phone” meme from Xie Chengze’s time.

Cheng Wuxue, who had followed them over, looked at Xie Chengze, then at Sheng Yiren, and imitated the manner: “Sister Yiren, you surely won’t mind including me too, right?”

Sheng Yiren: ??

What are you joining in for!

“Whatever,” Sheng Yiren said. Usually, the Esteemed Daughters would select poems based on familiar young masters’ handwriting, and she was no exception. However, this time she had blurted out a random number without thinking, so she decided to go with it—it wasn’t like she would lose anything.

Xie Chengze specifically glanced at Poem Number Three. The literary quality was average, but it did praise women’s aspirations. Meeting wouldn’t hurt—it would be more interesting to chat with someone who shared similar views.

Seeing that Sheng Yiren and the others had chosen Poem Number Three, the other Esteemed Daughters were somewhat puzzled. After all, there were many poems superior to Number Three. Why had this particular piece caught the eye of Jingcheng’s top talented lady? Even the learned and ambitious “Miss Shen” had chosen this person.

However, no matter how curious they were, none came forward to compete for the meeting opportunity. Challenging these three in literary skills was clearly not a wise choice.

While waiting for the results, Sheng Yiren told Xie Chengze and Cheng Wuxue about what she had encountered in the temple’s side chamber.

“Wuxue, you’ve always been interested in investigating cases. Did you notice anything unusual?” Sheng Yiren asked Cheng Wuxue.

Cheng Wuxue slightly furrowed his brow, pondering before speaking: “There’s clearly something wrong. Based on your description, they were all impoverished people. Yet the side chambers at Hanshan Temple, during busy times, are typically reserved only for esteemed patrons who regularly make offerings.”

They shouldn’t have been there.

As for the “selling goods” they mentioned, it seemed even more suspicious. “Being so sneaky, they’re likely trading illegal items. But they don’t seem like people who would have access to contraband.”

“You mean someone is using impoverished women to conduct illegal activities?!” Sheng Yiren’s beautiful eyes widened slightly before she furrowed her brows deeply. “How despicable!”

“Has there been any shady merchandise circulating in the capital recently?” Cheng Wuxue tapped lightly on the table. “I don’t think I’ve heard anything about it.”

“I haven’t heard anything either.” Sheng Yiren frowned. Being most familiar with recent commercial transactions, she would have definitely received word if any contraband had appeared.

Xie Chengze stroked his chin.

Illegal items… could it be…