Thank you very much for the kind intentions of you two elder brothers.

"The west wind blows old the Dongting waves, overnight the Goddess of Xiang turns white-headed. Drunk, I know not if the sky is in the water, a full boat of clear dreams presses against the Milky Way..."

With one smooth and uninterrupted stroke, Li Yuanjing had finished writing this poem on the Xuan paper using his wild and unrestrained Slender Gold calligraphy.

Immediately following.

He directly added his signature, Li Yuanjing, along with today's date, and a brief summary chronicling the events of the evening.

Yet, Li Yuanjing could calmly write whatever he wished.

Beside him.

Whether it was Long Ciyou, Zixin, or Qiqi, all of them were left completely dumbfounded.

As members of the most elite circle of imperial scions in the Great Qian Dynasty, leaving aside Zixin and Qiqi, how could even Long Ciyou fail to understand...

This poem by Li Yuanjing was simply earth-shattering.

Once spread abroad, it would undoubtedly become yet another legendary masterpiece!

Long Ciyou even felt the urge to crack open Li Yuanjing's skull to see how his brain was actually wired.

Why.

Why was it that everyone was human, yet you could write divine poetry of this caliber, while someone like him couldn't even memorize it...

"Zixin, this, this, this, this..."

At this moment.

Qiqi finally reacted, but her pretty face was filled with incredulous disbelief. She desperately wanted to say something, but at that instant, she was utterly overwhelmed by Li Yuanjing's poem and could find no words at all...

Zixin had also finally recovered somewhat, but she could not help drawing a sharp breath of cold air, looking at Li Yuanjing with eyes full of shock and complex emotions.

She had originally thought.

Li Yuanjing's previous masterpieces passed down through the ages were merely the result of good luck, a sudden burst of inspiration, or sheer coincidence.

However...

Seeing Li Yuanjing in person this time.

Especially seeing how Li Yuanjing had faced the immense pressure exerted by Long Ciyou and yet still produced a poem so perfect and flawless...

Especially the final couplet, "Drunk, I know not if the sky is in the water, a full boat of clear dreams presses against the Milky Way," made Zixin feel as though her very soul was trembling, pierced right at the deepest part of her heart...

"Mister Li possesses supreme talent, this humble maiden is deeply in awe..."

After a short while.

Zixin finally regained her full composure, hurriedly taking several steps toward Li Yuanjing and bowing deeply until her hands nearly touched the floor.

Then, she said with utmost respect:

"With your supreme talent, Mister Li, besides being in awe, this humble maiden is momentarily at a loss for words and can find no other phrasing to describe it. However, this humble maiden still has a bold request..."

"Mister Li, might you be willing to bestow this poem upon this humble maiden? As long as Mister Li nods, this humble maiden is willing to offer ten thousand taels of gold!"

"Hey."

"Mister Li, don't be unappreciative."

"The price Zixin is offering you is by no means low. Don't you dare use your talent to act wild and bully Zixin! This young lady will certainly not stand for it!"

However, just as Zixin finished speaking, Qiqi placed her hands on her hips, her lovely eyes narrowing fiercely as she glared straight at Li Yuanjing and rebuked him.

Seeing that the sycophantic Long Ciyou was also starting to react and about to speak, Li Yuanjing hurriedly cupped his hands and preempted him:

"Lady Zixin, you are far too polite. That you could deign to appreciate this poem is this humble scholar's greatest honor! How could I possibly dare to accept your gold? If you like it, simply take it!"

As he spoke.

Li Yuanjing had already bowed deeply once more.

"Hmph."

"At least you know what's proper."

Seeing that she could obtain Li Yuanjing's poem without spending a single coin, Qiqi instantly resumed her smiling expression, speaking proudly with her hands on her hips.

Zixin was clearly not as lacking in decorum as Qiqi, and she hurriedly returned the bow, saying:

"Mister Li, this... this humble maiden truly..."

She clearly wanted to express her gratitude to Li Yuanjing, but for a moment, she had no idea how to phrase it.

Long Ciyou finally seized the opportunity at this moment and hurriedly offered an ingratiating smile:

"Zixin, since it is a token of Mister Li's sincerity, you should just accept it. After all, with me here, could I possibly let Mister Li be treated unfairly?"

Realizing that his goal had been achieved, Li Yuanjing naturally had no intention of lingering in the fray, and he also quickly cupped his hands:

"Lady Zixin, this humble scholar also believes that the Young Master will not treat me unfairly."

"Haha."

"Zixin, did you hear that? Mister Li himself has spoken, so just accept it."

Hearing Li Yuanjing's words, Long Ciyou was overjoyed, feeling that his face glowed with prestige. He cast a grateful glance at Li Yuanjing and hastened to curry favor with Zixin once more.

Only then did Zixin cease her hesitation. She hurriedly put away Li Yuanjing's authentic calligraphy, and bowing deeply to him once again, she said:

"Mister Li possesses boundless talent. When the day comes for Mister Li to travel to the capital for the imperial examinations, this humble maiden will surely cheer you on!"

Although Zixin's words were somewhat subtle, Li Yuanjing could naturally sense that this was already the utmost limit of what she could offer.

He hurriedly bowed deeply in return and said:

"Many thanks, Lady Zixin!"

...

With the fate of Li Yuanjing's authentic piece settled, this evening banquet had likewise reached its conclusion.

Li Yuanjing naturally had no desire to stay here any longer, so he took his leave of Long Ciyou.

Being in high spirits, and particularly wishing to display his demeanor as a refined scholar before Zixin, Long Ciyou laughed heartily and said:

"Mister Li has truly opened my eyes wide today. I shall escort Mister Li out myself."

With these words, he personally led Li Yuanjing toward the exit.

Since Long Ciyou wished to put on airs at this point, Li Yuanjing certainly did not stop him, and instead bowed slightly as he followed behind him.

...

Meanwhile.

Outside the Fengming Residence.

Inside a carriage with an oversized compartment that clearly overstepped the bounds of propriety.

Zhao Bingchun and the Benevolent Benefactor Xue sat facing each other.

Each of them was attended by two pretty maids.

Yet, compared to the Benevolent Benefactor Xue, who sat on pins and needles and was visibly worried about the situation inside, Zhao Bingchun was exceptionally relaxed.

He leisurely enjoyed the pastries fed to him by one of the pretty little maids while freely measuring the waist curves of the other little maid with his large hand.

The Benevolent Benefactor Xue glanced at the sky outside; it was nearly time for the gathering to end, and unable to bear it any longer, he blurted out:

"Excellency, how, how can you remain so calm? That little brat surnamed Li is not someone easy to deal with. In case something goes awry, all our efforts of this past period might go down the drain."

"Go down the drain?"

"How could that be?" Zhao Bingchun let out a scoff of cold laughter:

"Old Xue, you may not know that young master's temperament, but don't you know mine? Rest assured. This time, even if that little brat Li Yuanjing doesn't die, he will at least be stripped of a layer of skin!"

"Hehe!"

"He dares to plot against me, and dares to play the tough guy with me. Does he truly think he has three heads and six arms, and that there is nothing I can do to him?!"

Seeing Zhao Bingchun speak with such casual indifference, the Benevolent Benefactor Xue felt slightly more at ease in his heart. However, just as he was about to say something, a sudden clamor arose outside the entrance of the Fengming Residence.

This caused him to snap alert instantly, and he cried out:

"They're coming out!"

"Hm?"

Zhao Bingchun was also startled into alertness, and the two of them hurriedly yanked open the carriage curtains to look toward the entrance.

Yet.

The very next instant.

The two of them froze in place as if struck by lightning.

Following that.

They stood as if petrified, utterly unable to move, their jaws dropping so low they nearly hit the floor.

They saw—

Right there at the entrance of the Fengming Residence.

Long Ciyou was affectionately holding Li Yuanjing's hand, continuously flattering and thanking him for gracing the evening with his presence. Before parting, he did not forget to hand Li Yuanjing a two-thousand-tael appearance fee.

As Li Yuanjing was seen onto the carriage and the carriage began to roll away, Long Ciyou smiled with utter satisfaction as he turned back inside the Fengming Residence.

Over here.

Li Yuanjing naturally spotted Zhao Bingchun and the Benevolent Benefactor Xue, who had foolishly stuck their heads all the way out of the window. With a smile, he signaled the driver to pull his carriage right alongside theirs, parallel to them.

He smiled, cupped his hands toward Zhao Bingchun and the Benevolent Benefactor Xue, and said:

"Thank you both senior brothers for your kind intentions. Look, this is the silver the Young Master rewarded me with. The hour is getting late, so this younger brother will no longer keep company with you two senior brothers. Farewell."

"I..."

"Thud!"

Seeing Li Yuanjing's carriage quickly depart, Zhao Bingchun finally snapped out of his daze.

He clearly wanted to say something, but not a single word would come out. His head listed to the side, and he slammed heavily against the carriage window, fainting dead away on the spot.

The Benevolent Benefactor Xue fared slightly better than Zhao Bingchun, but for a moment his breathing was also rapid and heavy, his hands clutching desperately at his chest as though he were having a heart attack, entirely powerless to do anything.