Chapter 621: The Thirteenth Prince Chen Mu, Pressured by Nobles

On the Sifang stage, the courtesan queen ascended once more, her graceful figure swaying, enchanting and alluring.

Amidst brilliant lanterns and candlelight, her features glowed even more radiant, as if alive with vibrant charm.

The atmosphere gradually reached its peak; the people lining the riverbanks cheered, their voices shaking the heavens.

Yet no one had anticipated—

At the gathering of beauties, three poems emerged out of nowhere.

Xie Guan of the Thatched Hall Poetry Society, famed for his poetic talent, stole the spotlight from countless courtesans.

The nobles present all inquired: who was this Xie Guan?

Zhang Yuanlai gazed at the Xie Guan before him, expression calm, merely lowering his head to drink, as if utterly unconcerned.

As Yu Ke's cup emptied, Zhou Yuner promptly refilled it.

Zhang Yuanlai sighed softly and said, "I thought I'd have to wait until I reached Longxi Province to hear of Master Guan's name."

"Yet at this farewell gathering of beauties, Master Guan has already stirred the capital of Bianjing."

Feng Yaya stood quietly beside him, gently linking arms with Zhang Yuanlai.

She had once heard Zhang Yuanlai praise Xie Guan, thinking his words exaggerated; now, seeing it with her own eyes, she realized he had underestimated this young master.

Only three poems had rewritten the courtesans' rankings, leaving all in awe.

Li Xiangjun's eyes held a touch more respect as she murmured, "After today, Master Guan will surely become a guest of honor to many courtesans."

Yu Ke heard this and felt a quiet sense of helplessness.

He hadn't managed to become a "literary plagiarist" in the Divine Xiao Sect, yet here, in this simulated world, he had "revealed his divine brilliance" before all.

He Xiao's expression was complex.

Jia Yu and the other two, recalling their earlier sharp, biting mockery, felt involuntary flushes of shame rise on their cheeks, lips parting as if to speak.

Just then!

A deep, resonant voice suddenly rang out, shattering the silence of the banquet.

"Where is Xie Guan!"

Feng Yaya and the others turned to look; four figures were approaching slowly along the path between tables.

Leading them was a young man dressed in robes with dark gold trim along the sleeves and a luxurious fur cloak draped over his shoulders.

Tall and slender, he wore a Liuli -tipped phoenix crown, a white hairband fluttering in the breeze, his face exquisite, yet his eyes held a haughty glint.

Beside him walked a young girl in a red palace gown, sweet and charming, one hand holding a full bowl of sunflower seeds, the other slowly peeling them.

The voice had come from a burly man behind the young man, holding a sword.

"Where is Xie Guan!"

"My lord wishes to see him."

The giant's voice boomed like a bell, drawing glances from all around.

A man walking beside them held a golden-furred lynx, his face pale and handsome, yet with a sickly pallor and a soft, feminine glint in his peach-blossom eyes.

He was the Thirteenth Prince, Chen Yong, who had entered the gathering with Zhang Yunzhi and Li Shuwan.

Li Xiangjun's gaze sharpened; she recognized the identities of the man and woman.

The man was the Thirteenth Prince of the Great Qi, Chen Mu, twin brother to the Prince of Yan, known in Bianjing as "Prince Mu."

The woman was Yuan Yue, from the Yuan family—one of the Nine Great Clans—and the third daughter of the Yuan's main branch.

The birth mother of the Prince of Yan, the Imperial Consort in the inner palace, was also from the Yuan family.

The Empress, as head of the inner palace, held the highest status and governed all palace affairs.

The Imperial Consort ranked just below the Empress, followed by the Imperial Concubines.

Li Xiangjun explained these titles and backgrounds to Xie Guan.

Feng Yaya whispered a warning: "Master Guan, these people are of high status—and they've come with ill intent. Especially Prince Mu; his reputation in Bianjing is already infamous."

"With the Prince of Yan and the Yuan family backing him, he bullies men and women alike, acts without restraint, and no one dares oppose him. Years ago, he drove several top courtesans of Yuehua Pavilion to suicide—even the Dalisi intervened, yet nothing came of it."

Yu Ke listened, then nodded slowly.

Chen Yong, cradling the lynx, stepped forward with a smile: "Life is full of unexpected meetings—isn't this Master Guan before me?"

Upon hearing this, the Thirteenth Prince Chen Mu turned his gaze toward a young boy at the table, his brow furrowing slightly, a dark glint flashing in his eyes.

The palace-gowned woman lifted her eyes, popped a sunflower seed into her mouth, and carefully placed the shells into a scented pouch.

She glanced once at Xie Guan and then ignored him entirely.

Chen Mu and his party approached.

Li Xiangjun and Feng Yaya bowed deeply: "Your Highnesses, Prince Mu and Prince Yong."

Yu Ke stood to the side, expression calm. He knew Xie Guan's memories well and showed no sign of panic, following the others in their bows.

But Chen Mu ignored Li Xiangjun and the others entirely, walking straight to Yu Ke.

"Xie Guan, you ruined my plans. How do you intend to make this right?"

Yu Ke frowned slightly, searching Xie Guan's memories—but found no trace of any prior encounter with this Thirteenth Prince.

Chen Mu spoke coldly: "The poem you wrote today caused Lady Gongsun to abandon the three she had prepared for the poetry contest, spoiling my mood."

"Tell me—how will you settle this?"

Li Xiangjun's expression changed slightly.

The rules of the Gathering of Beauties had always been based on poetic merit—who ever said the poems prepared in advance must be first? She felt resentment but dared not speak.

Lady Gongsun was backed by the Sixth Prince, the Prince of Yan; Chen Mu was his twin brother. What could a courtesan like her do?

Zhang Yuan stood nearby, a flicker of anger in his eyes.

Xie Guan's poem had added brilliance to Lady Gongsun's reputation; yet to this Prince Mu, it was merely "spoiling the mood."

Turning black into white!

The golden "lion cat" in Chen Yong's arms lazily yawned; he stroked its soft fur, smiling faintly, his tone laced with mockery:

"Thirteenth brother, your words are unjust."

"Master Guan and Xie Yu are half-brothers. Why must you be so aggressive?"

Chen Mu snorted coldly, his eyes filled with disdain:

"What status does Xie Guan have to be mentioned alongside Brother Yu?"

Xie Yu was the youngest son of Lady Yuan, deeply favored by Grandmother Xie.

Chen Mu's mother was also from the Yuan family.

The Thirteenth Prince Chen Mu's gaze pierced Xie Guan directly, his voice carrying unyielding authority:

"Xie Guan, write a poem today that pleases me, and this matter ends. Otherwise—"

"You will not leave this Gathering of Beauties today."

The moment he finished speaking—

The sword-bearing giant behind Chen Mu stepped forward, his aura erupting like a mountain crushing down on Xie Guan.

The giant was massive, his brow radiating lethal intent; though his sword remained sheathed, a faint metallic hum already vibrated in the air.

Fortunately—

His intent was merely to intimidate, not to harm.

Yu Ke sensed subtly: this man possessed strength of the upper three realms of martial cultivation.

Li Xiangjun now understood why Chen Mu and his party had come.

Behind this Thirteenth Prince stood another courtesan—one who had forced Xie Guan to compose poetry for her.

Zhou Yuner's brows had already furrowed; this was too much.

(End of Chapter)