Chapter 8

What should I do! What should I do! If I am arranged to marry, I will be doomed!

Ah?

Yin Yaoyu, the top scholar, made his name resound throughout the capital. Upon hearing this news, Li Shimin, who was enjoying the singing and dancing at the time, was slightly taken aback. From the mouths of the palace maids and eunuchs, he could always hear different versions of this experience.

The Empress originally smiled with composure, but upon seeing the two poems, her smile immediately faded. She silently gazed at the scroll of poetry in her hands, completely disregarding the princess's poem. The Empress continuously savored the poem of the top scholar, and the astonishment reflected in her eyes was a genuine appreciation.

Is there any need to ask? This is already a certainty! The winner will definitely be our little princess

After a pause, he continued: "Winning my Princess Chang Le is not an easy task, my little one. Tell me, who do you think will win?"

The topic is not difficult to discuss, yet it is not so easy to articulate the charm of the willow. Moreover, with the addition of the word "painting" before the willow, one must be cautious, as it is easy to fall into the realm of the mundane.

Until the queen instructed Mo Chou to present Zhi's poem to everyone, and then shook her head, seemingly a bit melancholic as she walked slowly. After she left with the pale-faced Princess Chang Le and Lord Yin, they hurriedly scrambled to grab the pages of the poem to examine them closely

The one who designates the talent is Your Majesty yourself, and it is Your Majesty who possesses the keen insight; what merit or capability do I have!

The brilliance of talent fades into a new history, lamenting that a lifetime has been spent in foolishness

Pouting her lips, she couldn't help but whistle in her heart. Seeing such a beautiful woman writing with a pen, the scene was nothing short of "beauty," nearly causing her to drool.

The fragrance of books intoxicates to a third degree, while the shadows of ink condense into a segment of sorrow

She cast a faint glance at her, and a cold voice escaped from her lips, the icy temperature sufficient to make a person tremble all over.

Hurry and tell me! How did you, Minister Yin, achieve victory!

Little Leaf, accompany me to select a gift for the princess

After a pause, she continued: "As for the time," glancing at the sun's shadow which was gradually fading in the west, she smiled and said: "If by the time night falls, I still cannot compose a poem, then I shall consider it a loss."

Little Yezi is still young and cannot withstand such a blow; he immediately started to sniffle and was about to cry. Upon seeing his demeanor, Zhi suddenly became aware.

Ah?

As the days of interaction lengthen, the peculiar thoughts and amusing anecdotes of the newly crowned top scholar are sufficient to fill an entire volume of legendary tales

Li Mu, who was left completely stiff, took a long time to react.

At this point, Li Shimin smiled, pausing momentarily

Hehe, the current situation is becoming increasingly interesting. This little top scholar dares to compete in literary skills with my princess. I am quite curious to see how it will ultimately turn out

Is Wan Sui inquiring about the matter of the top scholar Yin?

Suddenly realizing that this action easily drew the attention of the crowd, the laughter quickly subsided, yet the laughter did not speak and tapped Dugu Ji's head to express helplessness

However, no one is paying attention to her now; everyone is engrossed in the beautiful verses depicted by Chang Le, with only a little maid casting her a glance.

Let them be punished to entertain me properly!

I wonder what their reaction would be if they knew that the one who won a thousand taels of silver was His Majesty

With a sniffle, the young leaf's innocent face showed a hint of satisfaction. Although the habits of the master he followed were somewhat difficult to accept, he was kind-hearted and considerate towards his servants, better than all the masters he had served in the palace

The day after, the court was abuzz with a matter of great significance: the newly appointed top scholar, Lord Yin, had triumphed over the poetically renowned young princess, Chang Le. All the palace maids and eunuchs lost their fortunes in the process

What are you buying him for? I want to win and punish these little eunuchs, and you actually!

His thoughts raced, and he couldn't help but recall the story he had heard from the eunuch since childhood; it was truly extraordinary

Just as Zhi Zhi stared wide-eyed in disbelief with her mouth agape, six more characters appeared on the paper in front of Princess Changle: "I pity the fragrance of willow ink in the wind..."

Xiao Yezi did not pursue the matter further, nor did she have the time to do so. Huo Ran crumpled the drawing she was working on into a ball, stood up, and only Zhi's gaze was bright and shimmering with an undeniable brilliance

Upon seeing the expression on His Majesty's face, Dugu immediately changed the subject, nodding eagerly while stroking his bald chin, deliberately looking on with a discerning gaze

However, the young girl is exceptionally talented, and regardless of whether it is a blessing or a curse, what is meant to come will still come

The moment she thought of Li Mu's exquisite appearance, an eerie flush unexpectedly appeared on the pale face of the young girl, who began to laugh nervously without stopping

Speaking in a serious manner, only nodding slightly, with an extremely earnest expression, caused the young eunuch's face to suddenly turn bright red, and three dark lines appeared on his forehead without him realizing it

At that time, you did not know that someone, being rather impatient, could not help but shout loudly, "No way! I have bet all my possessions on the little princess winning! What should I do now!"

Sir, are you amusing yourself at the expense of a servant? A servant, a servant, how can he still be considered a man

The girl's gaze fell upon the delicate willows, her brows slightly furrowed, biting her lip as she watched the slender branches brush against the water, seemingly lost in thought

Little Leaf, you are being too verbose. Boys who are this verbose can be quite annoying!

There is nothing entertaining about something without suspense! Her Majesty the Queen has announced that the winner this time is the newly crowned top scholar, Yin Yaoyu. Your Majesty, you cannot imagine how exaggerated their rebuttals were at the beginning!

With a faint smile, following his movements, the stunning woman no longer offered excessive courtesy, but simply smiled gently

The young eunuch did not understand why this usually easygoing newly appointed top scholar suddenly had such an expression, but instinctively said nothing, only bowing his head and saying, "I understand, your servant knows!"

Only Zhi smiled淡然, her delicate face feigning a strong expression that suddenly pained the heart. Upon seeing her expression, a gripping sensation suddenly spread from the depths of the heart to the bones.

Speaking of the time when Lord Yin competed in poetry with Princess Changle, his seven-character regulated verse outshone the princess, who had never been defeated. Since then, who does not know that the newly appointed top scholar is indeed exceptionally talented

What? Does His Majesty intend to grant a marriage?

Ah, you are being unreasonable, I am not ready yet

The weather is exceptionally good! My mood is also bright and sunny

Gritting his teeth, the young eunuch seemed to have made a tremendous decision. He took out a small money pouch wrapped in red cloth from his bosom and with a "bang" slammed it down onto the small patch of empty ground measuring a few feet on each side.

I do not dare, I will attend to it immediately

As he spoke, the delicate-looking eunuch, Xiao Yezi, reached out his hand to retrieve the small pouch of coins he had just placed on the ground. However, he was intercepted by Zhi, who swiftly dashed over and swatted his hand away.

Only then did Li Mu's handsome face reveal an unnatural expression. Turning his head, he said coldly: "If you can earn the Empress Dowager's favor, then you will be safe"

A lingering aftertaste in the heart, the smile of Empress Changsun is frozen on her handsome face, causing a tremor within. What a splendid "like clouds grinding ink, lightly dipping the brush," so ethereal and transcendent.

Your Majesty, do you mean ... ...

If you lose, you lose; what more excuses are there to find

However, I believe that since Lord Yin was able to achieve the highest honor, he must be no ordinary character. He is a talent personally appointed by our esteemed Emperor! As for this, I cannot say for certain!

Adults have a truly unique way of persuading others

With a sudden inspiration, she had an idea and smiled gently: "Then, let the princess and the top scholar compose a poem on the theme of painting willows. It shall be a seven-character quatrain, without restrictions on rhyme."

As soon as Empress Changsun's inscription was revealed, all the young maidens' gazes converged on Princess Changle, with only Mo Chou casting a slightly worried glance at Zhi.

The little eunuch smiled triumphantly, as if he were the one who had emerged victorious, a proud expression adorning his delicate face

Upon seeing his expression, the young eunuch understood that his story had made an impact, and only then did he slowly and softly finish recounting the outcome

Little Leaf, not bad at all. By associating with me, your future is undoubtedly bright!

The elegant writing of Yi Runhua is exquisite, and my heart lingers, wishing to add a touch of wonder to the verses

Indeed, he and she are not related in any way, so why should he share the burden of this treason with her? He has already helped her enough; from Fengyang to the capital, there has not been a single matter that did not rely on his assistance.

The crime of deceiving the sovereign is a capital offense! Why should I assist you?

The scene at that time was particularly vivid as the young eunuch Bao'er recounted it. Although he could not repeat it verbatim, he remembered that seven-character regulated verse. However, what is currently widely circulated in the imperial city is nothing other than that same seven-character regulated verse—"Self-Mockery"

As soon as Li Shimin arrived, the first to notice him was a young palace maid who was immediately startled, her whole body trembling. She opened her mouth to announce, "The Emperor has arrived," but was stopped by the personal eunuch beside the Emperor, Dugu Ji.

When two sheets of white paper simultaneously present the title of the poem to the queen

The palace maids cheered loudly as the little princess once again triumphed over the newly appointed top scholar. Amidst the rising and falling praises, only Changsun Empress did not hear Zhi's voice.

This reminder must still be given, otherwise he would not know whether his master truly considers this significant matter seriously. The little princess has a proud and willful temperament; if she were to be offended, it could lead to unfortunate consequences

Tsk tsk, look at that posture while holding the pen, how formal it is

Indeed, the situation has not developed to that extent

This point is indisputable, but just one sentence from Zhi immediately brought him crashing down from heaven to hell

Stealing a glance at the expression of Emperor Taizong, Dugong could tell that His Majesty's interest was quite high. If he were to take issue with their gambling, he would have already shown a displeased face. However, the Emperor still took great interest in secretly observing them, indicating that he was indeed quite pleased

A few young maidservants cast sympathetic glances at Zhi Zhi. To them, it seemed that the moment Zhi Zhi uttered the words "I am willing to compose poetry with the princess," it was tantamount to conceding defeat

Tsk tsk tsk, look at that official uniform being worn by "him", it is truly so wrinkled that it is frustrating. He really does not know whether to admire "his" exceptional ability to transform things, or to continue advising his family to quickly change into a new outfit

His expression suddenly amused Li Shimin, who looked at him with a smile and nodded slightly: "Yes, the Empress does enjoy renovations; this is indeed her style. And then, what happened next?"

She gripped the expressionless man in front of her tightly, shaking him vigorously. She couldn't help but want to pinch his face, yet she feared being swatted away by his hand. The young girl had witnessed his ruthlessness when he killed, and it was no joke.

The moment I think of this, I feel a shiver run through me, and I can't help but see the figure of Li Mu before my eyes. If that ice-faced fellow were here, she wouldn't be drooling over Princess Chang Le like this.

As soon as the words were spoken, Xiaoyezi's face fell.

I have already informed you that if your identity is exposed, there will be no room for any redemption

As a servant, one must naturally take care of everything for the master; as for what the master decides, one can only offer advice.

Xiao Yezi also could not clearly explain the master's expression, but one thing is certain: Zhi now definitely has a problem. However, he would not be foolish enough to say it out loud. After tossing the document to her like a hot potato, he hurriedly retreated far away.

Staring at him foolishly, she momentarily could not comprehend the meaning of his words

Before he could finish speaking, Li Shimin interrupted him with a laugh and a scold: "Alright, alright, quickly get to the point for me!"

This seemingly unremarkable young man, she thought, was only exceptional in his chess skills, yet even in reciting poetry, he displayed such brilliance

Who wouldn't envy Xiao Yezi for having a good master, hoping to rise to prominence in the future? However, after just three days at the top scholar's residence, Xiao Yezi began to sense that things were not as perfect as imagined

After a moment of surprise, Dugu turned his eyes and immediately responded with indignation. Pouting, he pointed with his slender fingers at the crowd gathered and began to shout.

It is likely that any scholar with a slight understanding of literature would indeed feel a sense of resonance upon encountering this poem

On the open ground, many pieces of silver had already accumulated. The young eunuch, appearing youthful and innocent, was clearly new to this position, and it was uncertain how long it had taken to gather just a few taels of silver.

The kind-hearted palace maid reminded this

The top scholar is indeed a man, and his intellect should not be inferior to that of a young girl. To purchase the title of top scholar, it costs six taels of silver

To be honest, it is truly difficult to ascertain who the Emperor wishes to win. Let us support the candidate Yin, for Princess Changle is the Emperor's most favored daughter. Selling the princess would lead to victory, and Lord Yin has also been personally appointed by the Emperor, which suggests a favorable impression of him.

The tranquil peach blossom garden, where the shadows of flowers fall in abundance

On the snow-white plain paper, each character is elegantly and neatly written, reading as follows:

Oh my, Xiaoyezi, when you cry, you will surely look ugly, absolutely dreadful! Even the big yellow dog next to the yard will laugh at you

By that time, the sky had darkened, and the princess's poetry, with its remarkable elegance, received waves of applause from the crowd. However, this time, the queen seemed to be introducing a new twist; unlike in the past, she would not determine the winner based on the quantity of poems or the quality of the poems.

Although it is said that she composes poetry in her chamber, the princess's verses surpass those of everyone else. Who can rival Princess Chang Le! There are still a few who look at "her" with disdain, as if to say that the top scholar chosen by His Majesty has some issues with his intellect.

But isn't it just a hypothesis now? The Emperor does not yet know that I am not a man, so there is still a chance for things to change, isn't there

As she ground the ink and spread the paper, Changle wrote on the rice paper without a second thought.

Upon hearing these words, not only did Princess Chang Le freeze, but all the eunuchs and palace maids were equally stunned. Such a thing had never happened before

Do not make a fuss, it will disturb the Emperor's mood

The queen need not be overly courteous

Li Shimin had read that poem in seven-character regulated verse. Initially, he thought that those who spread rumors had exaggerated the matter, questioning where such exaggeration could come from. However, the seven-character regulated verse was deeply engraved in his heart and could not be deemed false.

Your Majesty, the servant has purchased Lord Yin.

His sudden outburst drew the attention of everyone, who looked at him with expressions of disbelief.

Looking directly at Li Mu's ice-cold face, one possesses an absolute immunity to any beauty.

The first thing the palace maids and eunuchs saw was the poem of Princess Chang Le, which was characterized by its magnificent style and elegant diction. Upon seeing this poem, everyone felt a sense of relief.

Li Mu, with an indifferent expression, took a gentle sip of the light tea in his hand, showing no signs of being affected in the slightest. However, the disparity in their reactions was quite pronounced. On this side, only Zhi was so anxious that she was on the verge of tears

Sir, you are wearing official robes; one must bathe and burn incense when donning such attire, otherwise it is a great disrespect to the court! Such an act could lead to execution! You are well-read and should understand this better than a servant!

However, at present, the palace maids and eunuchs are all placing bets, comparing poetry and literature, with no time to attend to the arrival of the Emperor. Upon seeing this, Li Shimin couldn't help but shake his head, sighing that this newly appointed top scholar truly possesses the ability to win people over

Well? No one has ever paid attention to the lives or deaths of these little eunuchs; after all, the adults still care about him

Li Mu set down the tea cup in his hand with an air of indifference, his gaze revealing no signs of turmoil, as if the charge of deceiving the emperor was merely a trivial matter to him. What he cared about was only whether helping her would bring him any tangible benefits.

When it comes to poetry, although the Little Princess of Chang Le is indeed unmatched by many, the top scholar Yin is the one you personally appointed! Your Majesty's discerning eye is extraordinary, and my admiration for you is as boundless as the flowing river, endlessly continuous, just like ... ...

The figure in the red robe moved further away, and for a moment, Xiaoyezi was bewildered; this newly appointed top scholar was not as simple as he appeared on the surface

Lost in her thoughts, she momentarily forgot that she was competing in poetry with the princess. As she saw that Chang Le had already completed half of a poem, Mo Chou's heart began to race with anxiety.

Unaware that the man she was holding had become stiff, she let him go while laughing and jumping, and then quickly ran far away.

Without waiting for him to speak, Empress Changsun smiled lightly and simply articulated the purpose of his visit. After all, no one could forget that decisive seven-character regulated verse from the competition in the Imperial Garden.

The prowess of the top scholar Yin Yaoyu is no longer in doubt. Although he is merely a seventeen-year-old youth, he is already capable of composing such mature and lamenting poetry, which is truly remarkable

Empress Changsun spoke calmly, her beautiful phoenix eyes glancing lightly. Suddenly, she noticed a charming young girl dressed in a green jacket by the flowing wine outside the garden, spreading out a sheet of rice paper. Beside her, three or four girls in plain clothes were helping her grind some ink, waiting for her to begin writing.

Indeed, how could she not have thought of that

When Li Shimin arrived at the Imperial Garden, only Zhi insisted on comparing poems with Princess Chang Le, having already composed dozens of them

It is better to have the smoke of pine and the purity of a clean studio

However, three individuals won the bet; aside from the two palace maids and the young eunuch who made a fortune, the third mysterious person earned one thousand taels of silver and vanished without a trace

Oh my, has she been pretending to be a boy for so long that it has affected her mental state a bit

Without rebuttal and without agreement, Empress Changsun, though smiling, clearly did not believe the words she spoke. Even if one were to write hastily now, it would hardly be possible to complete it before the shadows fully merged into a curtain of darkness

Li Shimin, completely captivated by the splendid story, momentarily failed to notice his own breach of decorum. Suddenly, he rose and hurriedly walked down a few steps, urging with an anxious tone.

In this case, isn't it only one person selling the top scholar? It seems that our family also finds the top scholar's literary talent quite impressive

If the adults do not attend, it is inevitable that they will think it is a deliberate slight against her, and the hostility this provokes is sufficient to cast a shadow over her future. However, Zhi seemed to be completely unaware of this aspect, smiling as if it were all very light and carefree.

Who will win?

Here, only the joyous betting of the crowd remains, along with their cheers of encouragement

To accompany the sovereign is akin to accompanying a tiger; he must carefully ponder what the Emperor is truly thinking. A misjudgment could provoke the Emperor's wrath. Therefore, for the time being, Duguji does not dare to make any rash conclusions.

Listening to the young eunuch's vivid recounting, he felt a tinge of jealousy for not being present at that moment, having to rely on others' retellings. After all, it lacked a bit of the atmosphere of the scene.

Stroking his flowing long beard, Li Shimin nodded, as if deep in thought.

With tears of frustration and no way to express them, the young eunuch was in a state of panic, breaking out in a cold sweat. He had worked so hard to save up six taels of silver, only to have it all go to waste like this.

Gritting her teeth, the young girl secretly clenched her fists

Princess Chang Le has never suffered a defeat! Does the newly appointed top scholar, Lord Wen, know this? Three years ago, he was indeed defeated by our princess!

There are others who echo this sentiment, indeed! How could anyone possibly be more formidable than the princess!

Another immediately said, it must have been a mistake!

Although he did not show any signs on the surface, he was truly overjoyed inside. This top scholar really brought him honor! However, Long Wei is still Long Wei; he cannot easily reveal any flaws.

This seven-character regulated verse, not to mention the liveliness and precision of the neck and jaw couplets, particularly the line "The heart lingers, wishing to add wonders to the verses," vividly expresses the poet's obsession and helplessness in composing poetry. It is no wonder that the queen, a lover of poetry and literature, felt so deeply moved after reading this poem.

At present, she truly has no reason to make him bear such a horrifying crime on her behalf. She opened her eyes wide with all her might, determined not to let any tears fall.

Walking quietly without disturbing the forest breeze or startling the flying birds, the middle-aged man with a handsome and resolute face wore a hint of indulgent smile. He gently removed a few pink peach petals from the shoulders of the woman who was immersed in the fragrance of books, his fingers brushing through the scattered black hair behind her, his smile tender.

Regardless of the circumstances, Master Yin is indeed a rare talent, and the Empress once stated that whoever could subdue Chang Le would be invited to become the imperial son-in-law. In this light...

Who says there are no poems? I, a humble minister, have already composed a quatrain

No need!

I am sorry, I should not always rely on you. I will find a way on my own, thank you

Upon raising my head, I found the Emperor's gaze, which seemed to be both smiling and not, fixed intently upon me, causing me to break out in a cold sweat

Centered around the two individuals, there were indeed three layers of people inside and three layers outside, creating a lively scene. The palace maids and eunuchs all widened their eyes and perked up their ears, fearing they might miss a single detail.

The flow of time drifts away with the water, leaving behind the past to be buried by the departing wind

Without delay, Dugu hurriedly took small, quick steps towards the area surrounded by a crowd. After purchasing a bet worth twenty taels of silver, he rushed back.

Once the purchase is made, let us see whether our princess is more formidable or if the top scholar is more impressive

Scholar Yin, the sun has now set in the west. If there are no more poems or writings, this round will be deemed a victory for Princess Chang Le

However, he knew that she meant no harm. Shaking his head vigorously to dispel the helpless smile, Xiao Yezi handed over a folded note

Who did you buy to win

After a moment of hesitation, he stole a glance at the emperor.

Dugu and Xia hurriedly knelt down on the ground, repeatedly bowing their heads.

Hello, what is your name again

You two write a poem simultaneously to summarize the feelings of the long journey of poetry; whoever writes better will be deemed the winner

With a grimace, Xiaoye made a beheading gesture, truly feeling a bit like crying without tears

Unable to discern one's own weight, yet he dares to compete

Clearly just a little maid, she is already of the lowest status, yet even this lowly maid looks at her with disdain, leaving Zhi in tears without any tears to shed

Considering that I am at least a top scholar, even the maidservants can disdain her, which has made her quite depressed. Just as they were conversing, the Princess of Chang Le concluded with a single word: "Yi".

The queen indeed has a keen eye; the talents she recommends are truly exceptional

The emerald jade forms a thousand trees of illusion, the gentle breeze ripples the azure steps. I cherish the fragrance of willow ink carried by the wind, yet nothing compares to the pine smoke that purifies the quiet study. Not only is the poetic charm profound, but the final touch is particularly outstanding, vividly depicting the elegance of the willow. A fine poem!

Well, that should be an expression of excitement

Her slender frame stood upright, with a determined gaze and tightly pressed thin lips, which subtly revealed an aura of a resolute spirit that could endure all hardships.

Satisfied, she lay on the grass, holding a brush in her hand, continuously drawing on a sheet of pure white paper. She did not feel that there was anything wrong with her posture; she was merely exhausting the little servants who followed her.

Without mentioning anything else, "he" is once again lying carelessly on the dirty grass today, dressed in ceremonial robes. The smell of grass is overwhelming, and just the scent alone is unbearable. One cannot help but wonder how this top scholar has the audacity to actually lie down.

After a long while, her gaze suddenly shifted, looking at her personal eunuch, Dugu Ji, beside her, and an involuntary bright smile appeared at the corners of her lips

However, Xiao Yezi did not dare to speak the following words. Although Lord Yin was indeed a bit eccentric, he was nonetheless the top scholar selected by the Emperor, someone not to be trifled with by a mere little eunuch

However, the top scholar started by losing three consecutive games, and then often fell short; it seems that Princess Chang Le is comparatively more formidable.

Little Ji, do you think I should punish them, or what should I do?

In this regard, Zhi's mood is exceptionally good, as she finally has someone willing to bet on her victory, and the amount is significantly higher than the first person she forced to place a bet on her, which is six taels of silver

Upon hearing this news, Zhi Zhi couldn't help but jump up, staring at Li Mu with a face full of disbelief, her round eyes wide open. Is this for real? A marriage proposal!

Indeed, Your Majesty should properly punish these forgetful young men! They actually participated in gambling within the palace, despite your explicit and solemn prohibition on this matter.

Whether viewed horizontally or vertically, Her Highness the Princess is indeed quite remarkable, Your Majesty, how could you ask such a question!

Dipping her brush in the clear ink, she cast a proud glance at Zhi. Finally, the fourth line was completed with a beautiful stroke amidst the astonished exclamations of the crowd

With animated expressions and gestures, the young eunuch momentarily failed to notice that his exuberant movements were quite unbecoming, especially in the presence of the Emperor, as such behavior was deemed disrespectful

With a smile, there was not a trace of self-satisfaction on her delicate and beautiful face, as if she were speaking of something trivial, displaying an unperturbed demeanor in the face of both praise and blame, truly embodying a sense of lightness and tranquility.

She looked up, her gaze wandering aimlessly, still in a state of confusion.

Ah, do not cry, please do not cry!

Long live, calm your anger! Long live, calm your anger! This servant will go and change to buy the princess right away!

Upon hearing these words, Zhi's eyes lit up. She grabbed his hand without a moment's thought, momentarily oblivious to the issue of propriety between men and women, her mind solely focused on how to escape the peril.

The shadows on the ground have become indistinguishable; in reality, all one needs to do is utter a single word of surrender, and no one will say another word. After all, losing to Princess Chang Le is indeed considered quite a normal occurrence

Surprised, she couldn't help but glance at Zhi twice.

Jade blossoms transform into a thousand trees of illusion, as the clear breeze ripples across the azure steps

Your Majesty, you are unaware! The scene back then was so magnificent. There were so many people in the palace, yet they were all supporting Princess Chang Le, while the poetry of the top scholar was hardly regarded.

However, the final outcome was not like this. Could there have been some twists and turns in between?" Li Shimin looked at him in confusion, his face full of perplexity

but received his bewildered gaze

At this point, his expression had become quite unpleasant. Those with a little understanding of facial expressions would know that the dragon's countenance was already filled with anger

Lazily lying down, only Zhi bit the penholder and stopped moving, comfortably squinting her eyes, feeling the warmth of the sunbath, not at all sensing where it was wrong to lie like this.

The young eunuch could be seen lightly raising his eyebrows in imitation of Empress Changsun, while murmuring to himself

The little palace maid was so frightened that she trembled, standing by with her hands hanging down, not daring to make a sound, her heart pounding in her chest

"Your Excellency, I am called Little Leaf."

Upon recalling what the young eunuch had recounted to him, Li Shimin could not help but sigh. Gently lifting the long tresses of Empress Changsun that lay scattered on the ground, he smiled with tender affection

Yin Zhuangyuan, hurry up! The princess is almost done writing!

Why is his luck so terrible? Xiaoyezi doesn't have time to link arms with Zhi, and he only has this little bit of money. He is so anxious that he is about to cry.

Not far away, voices resembling conversations like this occasionally drift over

The words of the young eunuch Dugu Ji are entirely a reflection of the thoughts of His Majesty, demonstrating a remarkable ability to adapt his speech to the audience, whether speaking to people or to ghosts.

The small imperial garden suddenly erupted like a boiling pot, filled with a cacophony of voices, incredulous that the victor was actually the newly crowned top scholar.

However, in the evening, there were not many palace maids and eunuchs in the Imperial Garden. After a few were dismissed by the Empress, only Mo Chou and two pretty young maidservants remained

The young eunuch named Xiaoyezi was in a state of panic. "Oh no, oh no, I made a mistake! Is it still possible to withdraw and buy Princess Changle now?"

Some of the palace maids and eunuchs were skilled in literary pursuits. Upon receiving the poetry paper, they initially expressed disbelief, then were taken aback, followed by a look of shock on their faces, with countless expressions changing incessantly, and finally, they were left speechless, their faces turning ashen.

One said, did the queen see it wrong? How could our princess possibly lose?

Startled for a moment, the woman turned her head, paused briefly, and then rose to her feet. She set down the scroll she had been holding tightly, and was about to bow gracefully, but was stopped by the resolute man who caught her with a firm hand.

Upon hearing this answer, Li Shimin's smile froze on his face, and even his originally gentle voice suddenly became extremely sharp, exuding an unintentional air of authority

Little Ji Zi, do you truly not know or are you pretending not to know! Do you need me to remind you

She shouted, hurriedly waving her hands, feeling flustered and confused, and for a moment did not even notice when she had changed her self-reference from "this minister" to "I"

The poetry of Chang Le is steady and composed, yet the poetry of the top scholar Yin is infused with a vibrant spirit throughout. If it had been expressed just a little earlier, Chang Le would undoubtedly have lost.

A seemingly astute and delicate palace maid beside him tugged at his sleeve, softly reminding him, "Xiao Yezi, are you out of your mind? Who doesn't know that the little princess possesses unparalleled literary talent!"

The girl's eyes suddenly brightened, and she couldn't help but call out in excitement. She embraced the man in front of her and gave him a firm kiss on the cheek.

With a cold snort, Li Shimin ceased to respond, merely casting a glance at the crowd that was half-smiling, half-mocking. He let out a cold huff, waved his sleeve, and departed, with Dugu hurriedly following behind.

It seems that Lord Yin, whom I was observing in the imperial study, is not as amusing as he appears; how is it that once he leaves my imperial study, he is capable of accomplishing anything

Upon hearing his words, Li Shimin was momentarily taken aback, and then he burst into hearty laughter.

Fifty to one on buying the princess, how about it, let's buy a column! I suggest buying the princess, the profits are higher!

Not by quantity or quality, but by what shall we assess victory and defeat

However, the literary talent of the top scholar has left everyone in awe

Remember, you owe this king a life

Sir, in three days it will be the sixteenth birthday of Princess Chang Le. Have you prepared a gift for the young princess

Yin Zhizhi, I will help you evade all dangers, but you are destined to be my wife in this life. No one can kiss him forcefully and then act as if nothing has happened.

As he finished speaking, he burst into hearty laughter, his cheerful laughter echoing in the garden where the peach blossoms fell for a long time. A marriage proposal? If only Zhi knew, she might not be able to laugh like the Emperor and Empress did.

With a playful smile, she hooked her arm around the little leaf's shoulder, presenting a look of camaraderie. Naturally, she pulled the little eunuch, who had just taken the chips and had not yet had the chance to exchange them, to a distance away.

Seeing him return, Li Shimin raised his eyebrows and smiled

As she savored this poem, Empress Zhangsun could not help but smile gently, admiring her daughter, Princess Changle.

It is now the season of warm spring and blooming flowers

A sudden intense flutter surged from the depths of his heart, and his face instantly flushed bright red. Uncontrollably, he gently brushed his fingers over the cheek that she had kissed, a faint smile appearing at the corners of his lips

Upon seeing the document in her hand, Zhi immediately ceased the action of biting the pen and drawing. Suddenly, her eyes widened in shock as if she had seen a ghost, staring intently at the object in Xiao Yezi's hand. After a moment of astonishment, a rather mysterious smile unexpectedly appeared on her face.

Yes, yes, yes. A great future can lead him to ruin his entire fortune

What is the current odds ratio

Suddenly returning from her imagination, Huo Ran looked over and was taken aback; it nearly drove her to despair. In the blink of an eye, Chang Le had already completed more than half of the poem.

"Scholar, it is better to give up; you cannot compare to the little princess."

Hearing them all praise Chang Le, Zhi leaned over, but since she was not very tall, she jumped and jumped to peek over, creating a very comical appearance. Her round eyes darted around, filled with curiosity to the point of near madness

Everyone is curious about the identity of the mysteriously disappeared individual, and why, after earning so much silver from the crowd, they did not come to claim it

Do you have a way to help me

What else can you do? Go place a bet for me!

This expression, unlike her usual dazed appearance, unexpectedly emanates a subtle talent and determination. What, after all, is the source of this faint determination?

That little maid actually only used three copper coins to buy her victory, truly lacking in discernment! Just thinking about this made Zhi feel quite pleased.

Gambling was generally not permitted in the palace; however, when the mood was high, the palace maids and eunuchs would still gather in small groups to form larger circles, placing bets and challenging one another.

Lord Yin, you must go, for it is well known to all that the little princess has challenged you. After losing, the princess will surely feel uncomfortable; if you do not attend, will it not be a clear slap in her face

Although the princess did not say anything at that time, he was not a fool; it was quite clear to see the princess's unwillingness to concede at that moment

Since the queen also favors him, then let the marriage to the top scholar Yin be granted in three days

The young maidservants, having long served beside Empress Changsun, naturally possess some knowledge of poetry and literature. Occasionally, they can compose a few good lines when inspired by poetic sentiment, but upon reading Chang Le's poetry, they genuinely express their admiration.

You are the second person to win this book, demonstrating great insight

Since the day he won a small sum of gambling money in the palace, the Empress has awarded him and the palace maid, Yun Yun, to the top scholar. Who does not know that the top scholar possesses exceptional literary talent and quick wit

He watched her warily, fearing that she might come up with some mischievous idea to get him into trouble again

The elegant shape of her lips bore a slight curve, so subtle that it was almost imperceptible. A hint of a smile finally appeared in the originally cold eyes of the young prince Li Mu. It turned out she was not as foolish as he had thought.

Upon seeing the drooping silk threads playing with the green mist, I express my thoughts and intentions on the blue paper. With the clouds grinding the ink and the light brush dipping in, the painting resembles the east wind gently caressing the sleeping willows

Li Shimin casually broke off a branch and lightly tapped it on his head

You are truly very clever! How did I not think of this idea!

Li Shimin raised his eyebrows sharply, looking at him with a smile that was not quite a smile.

Changle is already sixteen years old, and it is indeed time to select a husband, entirely at your discretion, Your Majesty!

Unfortunately, it has been proven that only Zhi's luck is rather poor; as soon as she finished speaking, the sunlight had completely blurred into the night.

Li Shimin, hidden behind the tree, could see this scene clearly and couldn't help but find it amusing