Chen Wenzong stood by the desk, cradling the Xuan paper as he silently recited lines of poetry about autumn, serene as jade.
For some reason, a sense of regret and melancholy welled up within him.
What he regretted was that, apart from the line "Withered vines, old trees, crows at dusk," all the other lines of poetry were incomplete. While each line was exquisite on its own, they still lacked a complete artistic conception and couldn’t be considered complete works.
Just as Chen Wenzong was about to put down the Xuan paper, he picked it up again... It was precisely these incomplete lines that made him itch with an uncontrollable curiosity.
He examined the calligraphy of the poems—graceful and elegant; certainly not written by the Princely Heir.
Chen Wenzong recalled when the maid had pulled back the curtain before; it was Princess Bai Li who was writing. Could it be her work? If he saw Princess Bai Li again, he would definitely ask what the completed versions of these poems were like.
This legitimate eldest son of Luocheng Chen Mansion was so captivated by the poetry that he completely forgot that his brother, Chen Ji, was also at the gathering.
"Brother, what’s wrong? Why are you standing there motionlessly?" Chen Wenxiao asked.
"Uh? I was looking at poetry," Chen Wenzong replied, snapping back to reality.
At that moment, Lin Chaojing also stood up and strolled over, curious about what Chen Wenzong was holding. "Is it the poetry written by that Princely Heir? Back at Donglin Academy, I had advised him not to fool around, but he just wouldn’t listen..."
As Lin Chaojing was speaking, he caught sight of the nine lines of poetry in Chen Wenzong’s hands and paused, stunned.
More and more people gathered around the desk. The three pages of Xuan paper belonging to Princess Bai Li soon circulated among different hands.
Two maids came forward, laughing, "Sirs, our miss has arrived!"
But then Liu Xingshou emerged slowly from the wooden staircase, appearing to be around eighteen or nineteen, not particularly striking in beauty compared to the meticulously dressed women of Hongyi Lane, somewhat plain in comparison.
Yet there was something lively and endearing in her gaze.
As Liu Su reached the top of the staircase, she saw that all the scholars were gathered around one desk, not sparing her a glance.
The maid was about to call out again when Liu Su, with a smile, subtly intervened. She tiptoed closer, her smile brimming with intrigue, and asked one scholar, "What are you looking at?"
It wasn’t until a waft of fragrance hit him that the scholar reacted, "Ah, we are looking at poetry."
Curiously, Liu Su peered at the Xuan paper. "Oh, which gentleman wrote these?"
"The Princely Heir of Prince Jing Mansion, but he has already left."
"Gone?" Liu Su went to the window, leaning on the sill to look down from the embroidery building, and saw the Princely Heir and his group jesting and frolicking as they walked out.
The scene below was far more interesting than the one above.
Liu Su chuckled, "They seem to be having such a lively time. I kind of wish we could keep them here for a drink, or even join them."
The maid hesitated momentarily, "My lady, what should we do? Should I ask them to come back?"
Liu Su smiled, "No need. It’s more fun to watch interesting people from afar; getting too close might spoil the fun. Let’s go deal with those boring men."
"Shall I find others to fill those three vacant seats?"
"Sure, taking money from anyone is the same."
...
...
Having left the embroidery building, the Princely Heir, though upset, strutted like a general who had just won a victory.
At the entrance, someone saw him and curiously asked, "Didn’t the Princely Heir enter the embroidery building? How come he’s out so quickly?"
"I can’t write poetry, so I left!"
"Did you see Liu Xingshou?"
"Didn’t see her, and I’m glad I didn’t spend any silver, or it would have been a big loss!"
At that moment, along Baiyi Lane, every house hanged lanterns of various attractive designs, shaped like koi fish or buildings, intricately delightful.
The street was bustling with erudite scholars.
The Princely Heir and his group walked boisterously down the narrow path, quite out of place.
As they moved further from the embroidery building, the Princely Heir quietly asked Bai Li, "I didn’t do anything wrong today, did I?"
Bai Li laughed, "Not at all, you did just as I would have—decisive and upfront."
"Hehe," the Princely Heir preened, pulling at his clothes, "They disdain us, and we disdain them! Since we can’t outdo them in poetry, then we won’t compete anymore!"
Bai Li’s eyes curved into smiles. "Exactly, what’s the point of comparing."
Liu Quxing added, "Did you see how Lin Chaojing was showing off just now? Like a peacock spreading its feathers."
She Dengke grumbled, "You’ve barely learned any of your master’s medical skills, yet you’ve thoroughly picked up his talent for mocking others..."
The group burst into laughter, dispelling the earlier unpleasantness.
At that moment, Liang Gou’er asked, "Princely Heir, where are we going now? To the Hongyi Lane Gold Workshop or somewhere else?"
The Princely Heir waved his hand, "Let’s not go to Hongyi Lane just yet. The little monk should have finished his recitation by now. After we pick him up, we’ll all go to the Gold Workshop together! How could we leave him out of such a joyful occasion? Even if we have to carry him, we’re missing a monk!"
Chen Ji, "... then after we return to the Prince Mansion, can you just leave me in the Medical Hall and forget about me? I don’t want to go drinking."
"No way!"
"Let’s go, back to the Prince Mansion to pick up the little monk, not one less!"
"Pick up the little monk!"
Chen Ji watched helplessly as the group, arm in arm and laughing, planned to spend over two hours walking back to the Prince Mansion to pick up the little monk, then another couple of hours back to East Market...
It’s as if everyone, during their youth, could afford to be recklessly extravagant and waste time. As long as you stood gracefully in your youth, once asleep, the world would forgive you.