218: Have you had enough of Chapter 218?

"A Poetry Gathering?" The First Prince frowned slightly.

"Yes, I heard the scale is small. They only invited some talented scholars from the capital who are usually close acquaintances, as well as a few students from the Imperial Academy who excel in poetry."

The aide said this while pulling a gold-stamped red invitation out of his sleeve, presenting it with both hands:

"Your Highness, your subordinate has already acquired an invitation through a channel in advance. What do you think? Should we go?"

The First Prince took the invitation and weighed it in his hand.

On the gold-stamped cover, there was a faint lingering scent of ink.

The First Prince narrowed his eyes, holding the invitation between two fingers and gently shaking it.

"Go, we must go."

He sneered, "Once the Emperor's imperial decree was issued, everyone in the capital has been watching me and the Prime Ministers Mansion."

"If I remain indifferent toward this future primary consort, it will only arouse the old fox's suspicion."

"It would be better to take this opportunity to get a close look at Ouyang Wanqing."

The aide nodded repeatedly, "Your Highness is wise. If we can probe the Prime Ministers Mansion's attitude toward Your Highness at this Poetry Gathering, our next moves will be much easier to make."

"And..." The First Prince stood up from his chair, walked to the window, and looked at the dark clouds on the horizon, a smug smile curling at the corner of his mouth:

"Isn't Ouyang Wanqing aloof and fond of poetry and songs?"

"Back in the day, I also spent a few days reading the sages' books."

Hearing this, the aide's expression immediately became subtle. 'Your Highness, is that really reading a few days of books?'

'You were just slacking off; if we're talking about poetry, you probably wouldn't even compare to the students in the C-class of the Imperial Academy.'

However, as a competent subordinate, such harsh truths certainly could not be spoken aloud.

The aide quickly bowed and said, "Your Highness's literary talent is naturally excellent. However, to ensure nothing goes wrong, shouldn't we make some preparations?"

The First Prince turned his head and gave the aide an approving look, "That is my intention as well."

"Go, pass the order down. Tell those retainers kept in the mansion not to sleep tonight."

"No matter what method they use, before dawn, they must churn out a few masterpieces for me with superior Concept and astonishing literary grace!"

The First Prince clenched his fists, his eyes flashing with ambition, "Tomorrow, I will attend the gathering in plain clothes."

"When those scholars have exhausted their wits, I will compose a shocking masterpiece on the spot."

"By then, won't Ouyang Wanqing have to look at me with new eyes?"

"As long as I can strike up a conversation with her in the guise of a scholar, why would I worry about not getting useful information out of her mouth?"

"Your Highness's plan is brilliant!" The aide quickly flattered him, "This way, you can both probe for the truth and capture the beauty's heart. It's simply killing two birds with one stone!"

The First Prince laughed with satisfaction. He gripped the red invitation tightly in his hand, as if he could already see the scene at tomorrow's Poetry Gathering where his poem would shock everyone and Ouyang Wanqing would look at him with adoration.

"Since the Emperor has bestowed the marriage, it is unavoidable. However, this may seem like a desperate situation, but if I can capture Ouyang Wanqing's heart..."

"...and make her my own, then every move of the Prime Ministers Mansion will be under my control. Isn't this also an opportunity?"

The First Prince snorted coldly, a flash of murderous intent passing through his eyes.

At the First Princes Residence, the night was already deep. Yet, in the mansion's study, the lights remained unextinguished throughout the night.

Several unfortunate retainers were pulling out their hair while frantically writing poems on paper to be used tomorrow.

...

The next day, the capital in the early morning was shrouded in a thin morning mist.

After finishing his breakfast at the Marquis Mansion, Chen Shanzhi picked his teeth and sauntered out of the gate.

Today, the Prime Ministers Mansion was holding a Poetry Gathering. As the heir to the Marquis of Zhenguo, it was naturally inappropriate for him to go with great fanfare in the Zhenguo Marquis Mansion's carriage.

After all, the two families had been at odds in the imperial court for so many years. If he were to swagger and park the Marquis Mansion's carriage right at the entrance of the Prime Ministers Mansion, it would likely cause a lot of unnecessary trouble.

Therefore, Chen Shanzhi had to proceed on foot.

Just after passing two street corners and turning into a relatively quiet bluestone alley, the sound of crisp hoofbeats came from behind him.

An elegant carriage drove slowly toward him. The body was crafted from excellent agarwood, without any superfluous decorations, save for a small silver bell hanging from the corner of the carriage.

The carriage then stopped precisely a few steps in front of Chen Shanzhi.

Chen Shanzhi stopped, crossed his arms over his chest, and raised an eyebrow.

The carriage curtain stirred slightly, and a pale hand, skin whiter than snow, gently pushed aside the moon-white curtain, revealing half of an exquisitely picturesque face.

Ouyang Wanqing's clear, bright eyes shifted slightly, landing on Chen Shanzhi. Her red lips parted lightly, and her voice was cold and calm: "Get in."

Looking at that hand pushing aside the curtain, and then at that cold, reserved face, Chen Shanzhi was stunned on the spot.

This scene was exactly the same as the one in the illusion world.

In that dream-like illusion world, it was also such a morning filled with thick fog.

She had also pushed aside the carriage curtain in this manner, with a touch of coquettishness and helplessness, calling out "Get in" to him as he bought snacks on the street.

For a moment, Chen Shanzhi couldn't distinguish reality from fantasy, his mind slightly dazed.

"Chen Shanzhi, what are you looking at? Hurry up and get in, or someone will see us in a moment."

Seeing him standing there in a daze, Ouyang Wanqing frowned slightly and urged him softly.

Yet, a very faint blush had quietly emerged beside her jade-like cheeks.

Chen Shanzhi came back to his senses and chuckled dumbly.

With a light tap of his toes, his entire body, like a wisp of light smoke, slipped smoothly into the carriage.

While the carriage looked plain on the outside, it was a different world on the inside.

The floor was covered with a thick Western Region wool rug, making no sound when stepped upon.

In the center of the carriage was a small purple sandalwood table, upon which sat an exquisite small red clay stove, warming clear tea.

At this moment, Ouyang Wanqing was lazily leaning against the soft couch on the inner side of the carriage.

She was wearing a simple and elegant water-blue wide-sleeved long dress today, with exquisite white magnolia flowers embroidered on the collar and cuffs.

Her hair, originally like a waterfall, was loosely gathered at the back of her head with just a white jade hairpin, with a few strands of stray hair hanging by her ears, adding a touch of charm and laziness rarely seen on normal days.

Because she was leaning on the soft couch, her slender and graceful figure was fully revealed.

Especially that slender waist, not a handful wide, traced a breathtaking curve wrapped in the water-blue long dress.

She was holding a slightly yellowed poetry anthology, her legs slightly together, with one exquisite small foot wearing a white silk sock vaguely visible beneath the hem of her skirt.

Hearing the movement of Chen Shanzhi entering the carriage, she lifted her eyes, which were like autumn waters, and swept a calm glance at him.

"Have you seen enough?"

Her voice was cold, yet it faintly carried a tremor she herself had not noticed.

Chen Shanzhi did not, as usual, go up to tease her with glib words.

He just looked at the woman in front of him quietly.

The memories of decades of mutual support in the illusion world came rushing in at this instant.