113: Chapter 113, that poem by the small pond, was it written for Tang Xiaowu?

"Well... that..."

Chen Shanzhi instantly became incoherent; he felt like his heart was about to jump out of his throat.

It's over, it's over! Why did my stupid hand have to be so impulsive!

Even with those courtesans in the Yihong Pavilion, I've never been this direct!

This is Murong Zhaoling! Someone who would draw her blade and hack a person over a single disagreement!

I actually dared to grope her in broad daylight?

I'm afraid this hand won't last until the New Year!

Murong Zhaoling's delicate body trembled slightly, and a captivating flush instantly swept across her face, even staining her snow-white neck with a layer of pink.

As if struck by electricity, she flusteredly pulled her hand back from Chen Shanzhi's palm and hid it behind her back.

*Cough...*

Murong Zhaoling gave a light cough, her eyes shifting away as she said unnaturally, "Brother Chen... as long as you don't mind."

After speaking, both of them, like children who had done something wrong, stepped back in unison and sat back down on the stone stools.

Inside the stone pavilion, there was only the rustling sound of the breeze blowing through the bamboo leaves.

For a moment, neither of them knew what to say, and the atmosphere fell into an eerie silence.

Chen Shanzhi sat there and rubbed his nose.

At this moment, his sharp intuition finally detected that something was off!

Very off!

Murong Zhaoling's attitude toward him was simply too strange!

His behavior just now, for any unmarried young lady...

Would definitely be considered an extremely egregious act of frivolity.

Any other woman would have slapped him long ago or drawn a sword against him.

Yet Murong Zhaoling not only didn't draw her blade to hack him...

She didn't shout at him, and didn't even say a single harsh word!

Instead... she even blushed?

Chen Shanzhi quietly raised his head, looking across the stone table to observe Murong Zhaoling sitting opposite him.

He saw her eyes lowered, and those slender jade hands that made countless playboys in the capital tremble with fear were now appearing extremely restless.

At times they toyed aimlessly with the zither strings, at times they were folded on the stone table, and at times they rested awkwardly on her emerald green skirt.

This appearance was just like a young girl experiencing her first awakening of love, being extremely shy in front of her sweetheart!

This... this style is definitely wrong, right?

Chen Shanzhi screamed inwardly.

Combined with the fact that Murong Zhaoling had clearly dressed up meticulously today.

She had even changed into a soft, beautiful long dress that she usually never wore.

An extremely ridiculous thought, one that even Chen Shanzhi himself dared not believe...

Irrepressibly surged into his mind.

Could it be that Murong Zhaoling... has fallen in love with me at first sight?

*Hiss!*

Chen Shanzhi shook his head violently, quickly killing off this absurd idea in his heart.

Are you kidding me!

According to the game's setting, Murong Zhaoling is a bona fide martial fanatic, an extremely proud Valkyrie!

How could she fall at first sight for me, the capital's famous 'Number One Useless Playboy'?

This is even more ridiculous than a sow climbing a tree!

There must be some secret hidden here that I don't know yet!

However, while the reason was unknown, at least one thing could be confirmed.

That is, this tigress currently has absolutely no hostility toward him, and even has a faint hint of goodwill.

Thinking of this, Chen Shanzhi's tense nerves relaxed slightly.

He decided to take the initiative and break this suffocating silence.

Chen Shanzhi gave a light cough, a self-deprecating smile appearing at the corner of his mouth:

"I presume Miss Murong, after investigating my 'glorious deeds'...

Must wish she could hang me up and give me a harsh lesson, just like she did to Murong Yun last night?"

Murong Zhaoling was stunned upon hearing this, then immediately shook her head, explaining somewhat urgently:

"How could that be!"

"Although... I did indeed hear many... not-so-good rumors about Brother Chen."

"However, after having someone carefully sort through them, I found that the vast majority of these so-called negative reports..."

"Are merely accusing Brother Chen of being idle, frequenting brothels, and neglecting proper duties."

Murong Zhaoling looked directly at Chen Shanzhi, her gaze clear and sincere:

"Although Brother Chen has been dubbed the 'Number One Playboy of the Capital', in all the rumors..."

"Brother Chen has never committed any evil acts like bullying men and women or showing disregard for human life!"

"Compared to those true playboys in the capital who are sanctimonious on the surface but commit all sorts of evils in the shadows..."

"Brother Chen is countless times more upright and clean!"

"In Zhaoling's view, this is nothing more than because Brother Chen is the sole heir of the Marquis of Zhenguo."

"Everyone's expectations and requirements for you are too high, and once you don't meet their expectations..."

"They began to spread false rumors and maliciously slander you."

Listening to Murong Zhaoling's long speech.

Chen Shanzhi was directly stunned.

He blinked his eyes, muttering to himself.

That kid from his previous life was indeed kept in check by an aunt who was extremely protective but also extremely strict.

So at most, he would go to the Yihong Pavilion to throw some money around; he truly didn't dare to do any bullying.

The only time he stepped out of line...

Was when he was bewitched by Jiang Yingrao and, in a moment of madness, kidnapped Tang Xiaowu in a room.

As luck would have it, at that critical juncture, I transmigrated over and resolved that mess very efficiently.

So, from a certain objective perspective...

What Murong Zhaoling said actually made a lot of sense!

His predecessor was indeed much better than those rotten-to-the-core playboys.

Only...

These extremely biased words, which even carried a clear tone of 'whitewashing'...

Coming from the mouth of Murong Zhaoling, who always hated evil, felt awkward no matter how he heard it!

Especially considering last night, when Murong Yun was beaten until he had black eyes just because his cultivation was a bit slow.

Chen Shanzhi's expression couldn't help but become extremely strange.

If that kid Murong Yun heard his eldest sister's extremely double-standard evaluation of him right now...

He would definitely think the sun had risen from the west.

He would even suspect if his eldest sister had been possessed by someone!

Seeing Chen Shanzhi's extremely strange expression.

Murong Zhaoling suddenly felt a bit anxious, fearing that Chen Shanzhi would misunderstand that she was being perfunctory.

"Every word Zhaoling says is from the heart, with absolutely no falsehood!"

Seemingly realizing that her emotions were a bit too agitated.

Murong Zhaoling took a slight breath and quickly added an explanation:

"Furthermore, Brother Chen, at this year's academy opening Martial Arts Demonstration..."

"You have already stunningly revealed your true martial talent!"

"You not only surged onto the immortal stele's hidden dragon ranking in one go, but even directly fought your way into the academy's wind and cloud ranking!"

Murong Zhaoling looked at Chen Shanzhi, her beautiful eyes flashing with an undisguised light of admiration:

"In Zhaoling's view, Brother Chen may have indeed neglected the martial path before."

"However, a prodigal son who returns is worth more than gold; with Brother Chen's talent, it's not too late at all!"

"Moreover, Brother Chen is not only gifted in the martial path."

"Previously in the academy's poetry class, Brother Chen's extremely exquisite explanation of that poem 'little pond'..."

"And that line 'Articles are naturally formed, captured by a skillful hand by chance', has made the entire capital's literary circle feel ashamed!"

Speaking to this point.

On Murong Zhaoling's fair and pretty face, a captivating blush irrepressibly rose once again.

She lowered her head slightly, her voice softening significantly:

"So, in Zhaoling's eyes, Brother Chen is actually... an extremely rare person who is accomplished in both the literary and martial arts."

*Hiss—*

After hearing these words, Chen Shanzhi took an exaggeratedly long breath in his heart.

To be praised face-to-face like this by a stunning beauty, and one who was the habitually haughty Murong Zhaoling at that...

Chen Shanzhi felt as if all thirty-six thousand pores in his body had opened up; his whole being felt a bit lightheaded with joy.

So in other people's eyes, I'm already this impressive?

"It's just..."

Just as Chen Shanzhi was thoroughly enjoying this feeling of being praised, Murong Zhaoling's voice suddenly became a bit hesitant.

"Just what? Miss Murong, feel free to speak your mind; just say it directly.", Chen Shanzhi said with a broad wave of his hand, acting very magnanimous.

Murong Zhaoling hesitated for a moment, then raised her head, her beautiful eyes staring sharply at Chen Shanzhi:

"It's just that, in the past two days, an extremely secretive rumor has suddenly arisen in the streets."

"The rumor says... that the poem 'little pond' which caused such a stir was actually not written by some anonymous person at all."

"Its true author is actually you, Brother Chen!"

Murong Zhaoling said each word deliberately:

"The rumor also says that the poem was written by Brother Chen at Yiyuan Garden..."

"To win the favor of Tang Xiaowu, one of the four great talented women of the academy; it was written specifically for her!"

"Brother Chen, is this rumor... true?"

At this, Murong Zhaoling's eyes narrowed slightly.

In that originally soft gaze, an extremely dangerous scrutiny instantly flashed.

"Ah?"

Chen Shanzhi was truly stunned this time.

His brow instantly furrowed into a deep frown.

What's going on?

Back at Yiyuan Garden, I was extremely cautious and used the pseudonym 'Chen San'!

How did these street rumors directly dig up my real name?

Moreover, the living people present at the time, besides myself and Tang Xiaowu, were only Madam Li and the servants she brought!

Madam Li had already been killed on the spot by Minister Li because of that previous matter.

And the servants Madam Li brought, in order to block the news...

Had also long since been cruelly silenced by the Li family!

Logically speaking, it's impossible for a third person to know about this!

Why is everyone in the streets now whispering that I wrote 'little pond'?

This is extremely illogical!

Seeing Chen Shanzhi's extremely authentic expression, which even carried a hint of shock and bewilderment...

Murong Zhaoling's long-tense nerves finally relaxed.

She quietly breathed a sigh of relief in her heart.

Looking at his reaction, it seemed that the rumor was indeed false.

Then Murong Zhaoling's face suddenly became serious:

"Since that poem was not written by Brother Chen."

"Then Brother Chen, this matter is likely somewhat suspicious!"

Murong Zhaoling said in a heavy voice:

"According to the intelligence sent back by my subordinates."

"This wave of street rumors appeared extremely suddenly, and the speed of dissemination was extremely fast."

"It doesn't seem like ordinary gossip; it's very detailed and specific."

"It's as if there is someone behind it, organized and premeditated, pushing it forward!"