[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-simulated-to-reality-i-once-looked-down-upon-ten":3,"chapter-simulated-to-reality-i-once-looked-down-upon-ten-simulated-to-reality-i-once-looked-down-upon-ten-chapter-624":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Simulated to Reality: I Once Looked Down Upon Ten Thousand Ages?",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2347639,4587,"Chapter 624: Stealing Poetry: The Former Dynasty","simulated-to-reality-i-once-looked-down-upon-ten-chapter-624",624,"\u003Cp>“Second brother, could you please let this painting go to your younger brother?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Second Prince Chen Feng recognized this voice all too well, his expression growing colder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man speaking was handsome and imposing, his eyes gleaming like the stars of the Northern Dipper—truly a peerless man of the world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His features were rugged, and with every glance, he radiated the oppressive weight of towering mountains.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those present—Li Xiangjun, Feng Yaya, Jia Yu, and others—quickly bowed and said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Highness, Prince Yan!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Yong also smiled and greeted: “Greetings, Second Brother, Sixth Brother.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Xiao and the others dared not be careless; this was their first time seeing the Sixth Prince, Chen Ting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Sixth Prince, said to embody the “Legacy of Prince Yan.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Princess Linxi’s face darkened; she firmly supported her full-blooded elder brother, Chen Feng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the Crown Prince’s seat vacant, the Second Prince and the Sixth Prince, Prince Yan, were the two most formidable contenders.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Prince Yan had deep roots in the military.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Second Prince Chen Feng’s power lay within the Six Ministries of the court.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both had grown their wings; now they waited only for the final victor to emerge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Court officials were placing bets, while others watched silently, awaiting change, waiting for the truth to surface.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Thirteenth Prince, Chen Mu, was Prince Yan’s trusted confidant—and his own blood brother.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing his Sixth Brother arrive, his face lit up with joy:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sixth Brother, you’ve come at the perfect moment—take a look at this painting. Is four hundred taels worth it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is laughable! A nobody’s random scribble—how could it possibly be worth four million taels?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After speaking, Chen Mu turned to Xie Guan with a string of cold sneers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You, a lowborn outcast, an obscure nobody—how dare you boast and sell this for four million taels?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I even suspect these poems were not written by you, but stolen from someone else!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This accusation struck at the heart!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If such words came from a prince’s mouth—with Prince Yan present—tomorrow, rumors about Xie Guan would flood the capital.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Guan, already unknown, had produced poems so astonishing they had already pierced the hearts of the Nine Great Clans present.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, they had found their “perfect excuse”—they would all accuse him of plagiarism, pouring oil on the fire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if Xie Guan did not suffer utter ruin, he would still be deeply affected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sons of the Nine Great Clans were experts at this!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Yuanlai’s face flushed with fury, his fists clenched inside his sleeves—how could the quality of a painting be tied to one’s birth!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unable to find any flaw in the painting, Chen Mu subtly mocked Xie Guan’s humble origins.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among the common people of the Great Qi, folk rhymes said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Dragons beget dragons, phoenixes beget phoenixes; mice are born to dig holes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A tiger father has no dog son.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These sayings, though crude, mocked the tangled power of the Nine Great Clans of the Great Qi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Birth had become the standard for measuring everything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet, princes and generals are not born of blood alone!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Yuanlai felt helpless and guilty—he was merely a Licentiate; how could he dare oppose a prince?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Chen Mu’s words fell silent:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Yun’s eyes blazed with rage: “Chen Mu, how dare you speak such nonsense?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The poems of Lord Guan are his own work.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Mu looked around at the crowd and smiled faintly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But who can prove it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His voice was quiet, yet clear to all nearby.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jia Yu and the other two, having arrived with the Second and Prince Yan, had already stood silently to the side, not daring to breathe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under Chen Mu’s gaze, everyone else lowered their heads in silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xiangjun sensed the unusual tension.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two princes were locked in silent combat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Yuanlai turned to look behind him at “Xie Guan”—the boy’s eyes were lowered, his expression calm and composed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Over the years, the injustices the boy had suffered in the Xie household had clearly made him accustomed to them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Yuanlai recalled that all this had come from his own doing—if he hadn’t invited Xie Guan, none of this would have happened. His heart grew heavy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He tried several times to speak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feng Yaya understood his thoughts; she gripped his sleeve tightly, shaking her head with pleading eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This whirlpool of Bianjing’s elite was no place for people like them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The wind stirred by the shoes of these great men could crush them to dust, leaving no trace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Yuanlai could only sigh silently—he could not abandon Feng Yaya.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Mu’s eyes gleamed with triumph as he stepped beside Prince Yan, Chen Ting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Second Prince Chen Feng, having heard Chen Ting’s words, suddenly smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Feng suddenly smiled, “Since.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Ting’s gaze shifted between Chen Mu and Xie Guan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A personal eunuch stepped forward and respectfully handed the Sixth Prince a slip of paper.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Ting unfolded it, studied it, then tucked it back into his sleeve, glancing again at Xie Guan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He smiled broadly: “Since Thirteenth Brother says Xie Guan’s painting is unsuitable—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll return it to Second Brother. I won’t steal it from you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Three words!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two rounds of polite refusal!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two most famous princes of Bianjing had seemingly agreed: Xie Guan had no talent, and was not worth four million taels.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Second Prince Chen Feng listened, his expression thoughtful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The red-robed old eunuch who had trailed him stepped forward and whispered a few words into his ear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Feng finally nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I, Su Yun, never agreed to give it to you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Yun roared: “Lord Guan’s painting—I bought it!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Ting merely shook his head slightly, utterly unconcerned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though Su Yun was the heir of the Su family, grandson of Minister Su, neither dared offend him lightly—yet their words deliberately sidestepped Su Yun entirely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if Su Yun were willing to spend a fortune to buy the painting, it could not change the fact the two princes had already decided.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Guan was not worth it—and might even be suspected of plagiarism.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Mu sneered, turning to the boy by the table: “Xie Guan, what do you have to say?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Can you prove you didn’t steal these poems?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All eyes turned to Xie Guan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Guan said nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Yun stepped forward, shielding Xie Guan: “Chen Mu, whether Lord Guan stole poems is none of your damn business!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Stop meddling where you’re not wanted!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Mu smiled: “I can’t control it—but justice resides in men’s hearts.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He scanned the crowd; no one dared meet his gaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Yong watched silently, studying the two “Imperial Brothers” and Xie Guan’s painting, weighing his options—then remained silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xiangjun sighed inwardly: though Su Yun came from the illustrious Su family, before these two princes who had fought their way through court politics for years, he still seemed too young.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had already been led astray by their words—and didn’t even realize it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Today, Xie Guan had three poems that could have made Bianjing tremble—but now, this storm would surely bring even more rumors tomorrow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Yong smiled: “Lord Guan, this painting is indeed exquisite—but four million taels is no small sum.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lord Su spent a fortune on hairpins at the Qunfang Banquet today—surely he can’t afford this now…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Yun fell silent; all his silver had gone to buying hairpins today.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He simply could not produce four million taels.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I, Su Yun, tomorrow—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A soft, clear voice rang out:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If the gentleman means it, I shall buy it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Mu froze, startled—who dared risk offending two princes to buy Xie Guan’s poems?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Ting narrowed his eyes and slowly turned around.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A woman in white robes walked forward, graceful and slender, her face veiled by a thin white gauze, revealing only a pair of eyes as clear as autumn water.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though her full form was not revealed, she gave the impression of a celestial fairy descending to earth, as if she did not belong to this mortal world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Yuanlai and the others could not help but turn their gazes toward the woman.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her aura was simply too extraordinary; merely standing there, she became an undeniable scene, causing all to hold their breath in awe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was exquisitely beautiful, yet inspired no impure thoughts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She may be admired from afar, but never defiled!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xiangjun and Feng Yaya exchanged glances; in Xixiang Pavilion, such a woman existed only once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The foremost courtesan of Qiyi Spring Quarter: Su Shishi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Immortal Su!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The woman whose name echoed throughout the Jingshi Dao: “Long, arched brows like distant mountains, slender waist swaying like willow branches. One smile topples a city, a second topples a nation.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The people of Bianjing all called her “Immortal,” saying she seemed to have stepped from a painted scroll, ethereal and otherworldly, not of this mortal realm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those in the hall who recognized Su Shishi gasped aloud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Shishi had long ceased appearing publicly in Xixiang Pavilion; this Grand Banquet of Beauties was her grand finale.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Second Prince, upon seeing her, beamed with delight and hurriedly said, “Shishi, how did you come here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Su Shishi paid him no heed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xiangjun and the others were astonished: this Immortal Su had not bowed to either prince.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And yet she openly walked past the two princes toward Xie Guan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Feng’s eyes darkened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Shishi stepped to the table, carefully studying the painting of the Kunpeng on the paper, a flicker of surprise in her beautiful eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This painting… truly extraordinary!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She lifted her gaze to Xie Guan. “Sir, your three poems just now were all superb. I wish to request one of them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Would four million taels of silver be enough for one painting and one poem?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Ke observed the woman quietly, a peculiar feeling stirring within him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He felt Su Shishi’s aura differed from those of the Kunxu Realm, evoking the same sensation he had once felt when he met Lu Yu in his past life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This feeling made him glance at Su Shishi a few more times.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Ke came to his senses. “Of course not a problem.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Yun’s face lit up. He turned to Chen Mu and said, “Immortal Su has true discernment—unlike someone else, blind as a bat.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Shishi smiled, like the first rays of a clearing moon or spring ice melting into water. “Then thank you, sir.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Mu’s gaze turned icy, ready to speak—when Prince Yan, Chen Ting, shook his head slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Ting knew this woman’s identity was extraordinary: she was a former princess of the fallen dynasty, and even Su Xiang had personally received her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>During the palace coup in Sui, the current Sui Emperor killed his own brother and seized the throne.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the Sui Emperor purged the imperial harem, he never imagined a baby girl had been secretly swapped in her place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sorcerers of Mount Zhongnan divined that this princess carried a fraction of Sui’s national fortune, and the Sui court had pursued her relentlessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for why she ended up in Xixiang Pavilion, it was because she refused to become the current Qi Empress.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Xiang hid her in the glittering, song-filled brothels—no one would ever suspect a lost princess of the former dynasty was disguised as a courtesan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1887,"2026-06-21T01:33:03.787Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","749647db2a44250206554b81ef7938dbbe74cbbb1325a9d2d65ef17bf92c2085","simulated-to-reality-i-once-looked-down-upon-ten-chapter-625","simulated-to-reality-i-once-looked-down-upon-ten-chapter-623",728,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fsimulated-to-reality-i-once-looked-down-upon-ten-cover.jpg"]