“Qian Hua, here are all the poetry drafts that you found acceptable.”
Behind the gauze canopy, Wang Lingniang stood beside Su Qianhua, spreading several sheets of poetry one by one on the small table.
She glanced at Su Qianhua, who remained calm and silent, seemingly unaffected by everything that had just happened outside, hesitated for a moment, and then advised gently:
“Qian Hua, if you ask me… in terms of quality, Lin Yutang—Lin Gongzi’s poem ‘Listening to Miss Su Play the Qin at Jingfang Pavilion’ is the unquestionable first place.”
“Mm, what you say is true, Lingniang.” Su Qianhua parted her lips and spoke softly. Her voice was ethereal and pleasant, yet it held a subtle, heart-stirring allure.
“It’s just… Lingniang, I’m sure you have something more to say, don’t you?” She tilted her head, her breathtaking violet eyes quietly gazing at Wang Lingniang.
“Ah… about that,” Wang Lingniang looked at the stunning beauty before her, her cheeks turning slightly warm, a bit too embarrassed to speak plainly, so she hinted instead:
“The reason our Jingfang Pavilion has thrived for so many years is inseparably tied to Lord Gu’s new estate policy. Otherwise, even with your status back then, you wouldn’t have been able to enter.”
“I understand.” Su Qianhua nodded slightly.
“I think Young Master Gu’s poem is actually quite good too. Though a little coarse, it truly pours out his heartfelt feelings—he’s written all his admiration for you in it. Besides…”
Wang Lingniang watched Su Qianhua for a while, and only after confirming that her expression had not changed did she continue, “You also heard the Empress Dowager’s imperial decree just now. Setting aside what the decree might imply, let’s just talk about its contents…”
“I understand, Lingniang. Allow me a moment to think.” Su Qianhua interrupted Wang Lingniang’s endless chatter, placing the poetry drafts of Gu Wangchen and Lin Yutang before her, lowering her eyes in contemplation.
For her now, both Gu Wangchen and Lin Yutang were on her list of candidates.
She originally favored Lin Yutang; he had neither power nor background, making him less risky to control.
Though compared to Gu Wangchen, using him to achieve her goal would take longer, she still had plenty of time.
After all, she’d already waited two years—what’s another year or half?
But just as Wang Lingniang said, that imperial decree from the Empress Dowager was something she couldn’t ignore.
Previously, with Gu Wangchen’s status, his chance of entering the palace was no higher than Lin Yutang’s—until the decree arrived.
And she’d heard it clearly just now—the Empress Dowager would summon him to the palace tomorrow at the hour of You to inquire about his injury in person.
Wasn’t this a heaven-sent opportunity?
If she switched her target to him, perhaps her plan could be achieved as soon as tomorrow.
Not to mention, during that moment they’d locked eyes, a surge of primal impulse had roiled within her.
She truly wanted to know what that was.
With that thought, Su Qianhua’s beautiful eyes sharpened, and her heart settled on a decision.
She reached out with slender fingers, picked up Gu Wangchen’s poetry draft, and said, “Lingniang, what you said makes sense. Young Master Gu’s ‘To the Beautiful Lady Su Qianhua’ may use simple words, but what’s inside…”
Her gaze swept over the last line of the poem, and when she saw, “Why not join me in the bridal chamber,” her cheeks beneath the veil unconsciously flushed with a faint haze.
She bit her lip subconsciously and said softly, “Mm, le—let’s go with Young Master Gu.”
“Eh! Qian Hua, you truly have a keen eye! I also think Young Master Gu’s poem carries the deepest genuine feeling!”
Seeing Su Qianhua make the “right” choice, Wang Lingniang immediately broke into a bright smile, then asked, “Then I’ll go and announce it?”
“Alright.”
“Yutang, stop drinking. They’re about to announce who the winner is.” Fu Jialiang walked to Lin Yutang’s side, snatched the wine cup from his hand, and urged, “If you get drunk, how will you speak to Miss Su later?”
Hearing this, Lin Yutang, who was about to grab the cup back, instantly sobered up. He lowered his hand, fell silent for a moment, and then replied, “Right, it’s not over yet—the final result is still unknown!”
After speaking, he stood up, squeezed through the crowd, and glanced from afar at Gu Wangchen, who was being surrounded like the moon among stars. Clenching his fists, he moved to the spot closest to the high platform.
He wanted to witness the victor of tonight’s poetry contest with his own eyes.
Not only for Miss Su’s favor, but also for his own pride.
He wanted to know whether his decade of hard study and his scholarly talent surpassed that of Gu Wangchen’s innate power and privilege.
He wanted to know, in Sheng’an City, what truly mattered—real talent and learning, or family status!
With this in mind, he straightened his back and fixed his gaze on Wang Lingniang as she stepped out from behind the gauze canopy, holding his breath for a moment.
“Alright, talented ladies and gentlemen, after Qian Hua’s final evaluation, she has chosen the poem she most admires.”
Wang Lingniang walked to the center of the high platform, her gaze sweeping over the crowd below, finally landing on Gu Wangchen—who appeared utterly unconcerned, boasting with his companions—and said with a smile:
“I must say, all of your poems were outstanding. Qian Hua even asked me if she could avoid choosing, because she truly couldn’t decide…”
“But, there must always be a result~” Wang Lingniang withdrew her gaze, saw that everyone’s attention was back on her, and gave the final winner:
“So, with much pain at having to choose, Qian Hua has finally selected the poem that most moved her heart.”
With that, she raised the poetry draft in her hand, picked up the sound-amplifying device, and announced loudly:
“It is this ‘To the Beautiful Lady Su Qianhua’ composed by Gu Wangchen, Young Master Gu!”
Boom—!!!
The moment the words fell, applause thundered below, resounding through the hall.
“Of course, it’s not that the other gentlemen’s poems weren’t excellent, it’s just—”
But the crowd below was already uninterested in Wang Lingniang’s follow-up, surging around Gu Wangchen to offer their congratulations, people crowding and jostling so much that even Yang Ruilin at his side was squeezed aside.
“Hey, you guys only think to cozy up to Brother Wangchen now—where were you before?” Yang Ruilin straightened his clothes and grumbled.
Seeing that no one cared, he didn’t mind, pulling out his betting slip from his sleeve and quickly running off to claim his prize.
“No, no… how could this be!”
Hearing Wang Lingniang finally announce “To the Beautiful Lady Su Qianhua,” Lin Yutang’s knees buckled. If not for the plump scholar Fu Jialiang supporting him in time, he would have collapsed to the floor.
Why… could it be that in this vast Sheng’an City, his scholarship and talent truly went unnoticed?
Could it be that in this vast Sheng’an City, it was all just gilded on the outside, rotten within?!
Could it be that in this vast Sheng’an City, it really, really was just…
Lin Yutang’s ears buzzed, everything before his eyes seemed to drift away, his heart pounded furiously, his throat dry, even his internal organs felt as if they were ruptured.
The lights on the roof were blinding, forcing him to raise his hand to shield his eyes by instinct.
In the last moment before his eyes closed, he saw that tall figure in the center, standing with the light behind him, his face obscured.
Gu Wangchen…
Before his consciousness faded, only those three words remained.
“Yutang? Yutang?”
Feeling Lin Yutang go limp in his arms, Fu Jialiang’s heart skipped a beat. He reached under Lin Yutang’s nose for a moment, and only after confirming he had merely fainted did he breathe a sigh of relief.
“Ah, Yutang, why… why go to such lengths?”
With that, he glanced at the crowd in the center of the hall, then, not hesitating further, left Jingfang Pavilion with Lin Yutang on his back.
Gu Wangchen spread his arms, pressing down to signal everyone to quiet down.
With his gesture, the once noisy hall instantly fell silent.
He rose and stepped onto the high platform, standing beside Wang Lingniang, and smiled at the crowd below: “I have received all your congratulations. Though I am unworthy, I was fortunate enough to win Miss Su’s favor.”
He nodded to Wang Lingniang, then announced: “Tonight, in Jingfang Pavilion, everyone’s expenses are on me, Gu Wangchen!”
“Let’s not leave until we’re drunk!”