247: Chapter 247 Clash of Two Women

"Su Jianqing?"

Ouyang Wanqing's hair-combing motion paused abruptly, her autumn-water-like eyes narrowing slightly as a flicker of strangeness flashed through them.

Why would this Palace Master of the Four Seas Academy, who usually kept to herself, suddenly pay a personal visit at this time?

"She is here for Chen San."

Almost instantly, Ouyang Wanqing's sharp and exquisite mind had guessed the cause and effect with near-perfect accuracy.

This morning, at the Prime Ministers Mansion Poetry Gathering, Chen Shanzhi had worn a white jade mask as his Incarnation, Chen San.

That "ode to the wild goose" was written with words that wept blood; not only did it achieve resonance with her Literary Qi, but it also triggered an unprecedented golden Literary Qi.

Golden Literary Qi—that was a supreme anomaly capable of startling the top experts of the entire Great Jiang Dynasty.

After all, the entire Great Jiang Dynasty had never seen golden Literary Qi before!

Su Jianqing coming here today was undoubtedly to inquire about news of Chen San.

And...

A cold yet playful smirk suddenly curled at the corners of Ouyang Wanqing's mouth.

She recalled a few days ago, during a literature class at the Four Seas Academy.

Su Jianqing had personally performed a Literary Qi resonance with that poem, "little pond".

At that time, all the students present had seen that the poem contained blue Literary Qi.

Yet, Ouyang Wanqing, who also entered the Dao through literature and possessed a deep, calculating mind, had felt something was wrong from the start.

After achieving Literary Qi resonance with this "ode to the wild goose", she finally saw through the trickery.

With a Concept like that of "little pond", how could it possibly only have mere blue Literary Qi?

"It must be that Su Jianqing used her heaven-defying cultivation to forcefully suppress that dazzling golden radiance. She made everyone think it was just a blue Literary Qi resonance."

As for why Su Jianqing would do such a thing?

Ouyang Wanqing sneered inwardly.

She intentionally concealed it, nothing more than wanting to secretly claim Chen San for herself without anyone knowing.

After all, what Martial Artist who entered the Dao through literature wouldn't want to exclusively possess someone capable of writing works that produce golden Literary Qi?

Now, at the Prime Ministers Mansion Poetry Gathering, Chen San had appeared again, not only triggering golden Literary Qi that could not be concealed, but also achieving resonance with her, Ouyang Wanqing.

That old fox, Su Jianqing, how could she sit still?

"We are both thousand-year-old foxes, what kind of ghost story are you trying to play here?"

Ouyang Wanqing snorted coldly and threw the wooden comb onto the table.

She stood up, adjusted her long dress one last time, and pulled the collar up slightly to cover the hickey on her neck.

Then, she took a deep breath to calm her mood.

When she pushed open the door again, that look of laziness and allure vanished in an instant.

Replacing it was an appropriate, gentle warmth, and the respectful smile one typically wears when seeing an elder.

...

The Prime Ministers Mansion Meeting Hall.

Su Jianqing sat quietly in the guest seat, holding a teacup with elegant posture.

Today, she was dressed in a simple, elegant light cyan Four Seas Academy Confucian robe.

Although the fabric was somewhat plain, it could not hide her voluptuous and upright mature figure.

The somewhat loose Confucian robe was tightly cinched at the waist by a jade belt, perfectly outlining that breathtaking curve.

Her dark hair was casually pinned up with a sandalwood hairpin, and a few strands of hair hung lazily by her ears.

Those eyes, soft as water, carried an intellectual and gentle beauty.

It must be said, there are benefits to Cultivate.

Even though Su Jianqing was over forty, time seemed to treat her with exceptional favor.

Not a single trace could be found on her face, leaving only that noble temperament, as intellectual and gentle as an orchid in a deep valley.

"Student Wanqing greets the Palace Master. I did not know the Palace Master was visiting personally, and I failed to welcome you from afar; I hope the Palace Master will forgive my offense."

Ouyang Wanqing stepped gracefully into the hall and bowed deeply, her voice sweet and respectful.

"Wanqing, it has been a few days; you have become even more radiant at the mansion."

Su Jianqing smiled slightly, her eyes, soft as water, sweeping gently over Ouyang Wanqing.

As a Martial Artist ranked eleventh on the Heavenly Rankings, her Divine Sense was incredibly sharp.

Almost in an instant, Su Jianqing realized.

Today, the fluctuations of True Qi within Ouyang Wanqing had actually reached the Xuanguan Peak.

And judging by the situation, it had already been refined several times.

As expected, she had achieved Literary Qi resonance with that work of golden Literary Qi.

However, when Su Jianqing looked at Ouyang Wanqing, she noticed that between those brows and eyes, which were originally like a budding flower, there was inexplicably an added touch of mature charm unique to a married woman.

She was slightly stunned.

This did not seem like the state a woman who had not yet been married should have, right?

Su Jianqing's beautiful eyes flickered, a faint trace of doubt crossing her mind, but her face remained wearing an inscrutable, gentle smile.

She gently extended her jade hand, pulled Ouyang Wanqing to sit beside her, and patted her hand with some indulgence:

"I was just passing by the Prime Ministers Mansion today and remembered that you had only recently woken from a coma, so I stopped by to see you. Is your body feeling better?"

"I am honored by the Palace Master's concern; Wanqing is fine."

The two began to chat idly.

For a time, the hall was filled with the fragrance of tea, and the atmosphere seemed very harmonious.

After sipping the tea a few times, Su Jianqing gently set down her teacup, her beautiful eyes seemingly landing casually on Ouyang Wanqing's face as she spoke gently:

"This morning, at the Four Seas Academy, I sensed a massive amount of Literary Qi soaring into the sky from the direction of the Prime Ministers Mansion, even faintly shimmering with gold. I heard... that a masked, arrogant scholar who called himself Chen San wrote an "ode to the wild goose"?"

"The Palace Master truly has extraordinary Divine Ability."

Ouyang Wanqing smiled slightly, revealing just the right amount of admiration:

"It is true, but that Chen San acts in a bizarre manner. After writing the poem and taking the prize, he ignored my invitation and left with a flick of his sleeves. I suppose he is just an eccentric person who relies on his talent to be arrogant."

"Oh? He left?"

Su Jianqing tapped her jade-white fingers lightly on the tea table; her voice remained gentle, but it carried a barely perceptible inquiry:

"Such a great talent capable of triggering golden Literary Qi—if he is just a wanderer in the Jianghu, it would be a waste of talent. The Four Seas Academy has always cherished talent; if we could recruit him and have me personally instruct him, it would be a blessing for both his martial and literary paths."

Speaking of this, Su Jianqing leaned forward slightly, her beautiful eyes staring fixedly at Ouyang Wanqing:

"Wanqing, I heard that today at the Poetry Gathering, that Chen San's poem... seemed to achieve a rare Literary Qi resonance with you? Do you know his background, or... where he is now?"

Literary Qi resonance is the ultimate manifestation of the merging of Divine Sense and a meeting of minds.

Su Jianqing's question, seemingly concerned, was actually an attempt to force Ouyang Wanqing to reveal clues.

"The Palace Master is joking."

Ouyang Wanqing did not change her expression, sighed softly, her tone full of helplessness:

"That Chen San resonating with me was just because I happened to have some insights into the scenery of the wild goose hill; it cannot be taken seriously. I am but a woman, and with my grand wedding to the First Prince approaching, I naturally know the boundaries between men and women. How could I have private dealings with a man of unknown origin?"

She brought up her marriage contract with the First Prince, directly blocking Su Jianqing's path to continue questioning.