Chapter 625: The Three Masters of the Academy, Yu Meiren!

This Su Shishi harbors a secret.

Added to this was a verified secret: a fengshui master and seer, upon seeing Su Shishi, uttered a prophecy.

"This woman's destiny is noble, like a phoenix upon a phoenix tree; she shall bear a dragon's heir."

She can bear a dragon son!

Her husband must be a man fit to be emperor.

Moreover, Su Xiang favored her, took her as his adopted daughter, and granted her the surname Su.

Thus, in the West Wing Pavilion, Su Shishi held an exalted status, and no one dared to speak against her.

Those she associated with were all extraordinary figures: high officials of the court, martial heroes of the Jianghu, renowned scholars of the realm—all among them.

Su Shishi frequently spent generously to aid others, earning great renown in the Jianghu.

Yu Ke gazed at the woman before him, the foremost courtesan of Qiyi Spring Pavilion—could she be the "noble patron" repeatedly hinted at in those several choices?

How strange!

Aside from a beautiful maid trailing behind Su Yayaya, no one else guarded Su Shishi's person.

Yu Ke asked softly: "May I ask, Immortal Su, what poem will you compose?"

Upon hearing this, Su Shishi furrowed her brows slightly; unlike the other courtesans at the Gathering of Beauties, even if she placed among the top ten, she could not escape bondage nor gain the status of a proper wife.

How could the court and people of Da Qi allow a former princess of a rival dynasty to roam free?

Su Shishi had no intention of joining this gathering, but Su Xiang promised her that if she ranked among the top three of the Gathering of Beauties, he would grant her freedom to walk the streets of Bianjing—far more liberty than confined within the West Wing Pavilion.

That was why she came to the Gathering of Beauties!

Su Shishi heard Gong Sun Niang's opening verse: "Who among the vulgar understands me? Heroes at their end must endure torment."

Truly magnificent!

The next two poems stirred in Su Shishi a desire to befriend their author.

Though she reigned supreme in the West Wing Pavilion, she was like a golden oriole in a cage—a mere ornamental vase upon a high platform.

Su Shishi knew well that cultivating broad connections was her path to freedom.

Such an obscure talent could not be ignored.

Who could have foreseen that this youth's future would be vast?

She arrived early and witnessed the Second Prince and Prince Yan deliberately snubbing Xie Guan, seeking to humiliate him.

Were these two princes fools?

Xie Guan, the illegitimate son of the Xie family, was extraordinarily talented; for either of them, securing him would be a powerful ally.

Yet!

Both feigned disinterest—there must be hidden reasons.

Su Shishi silently pondered: aiding Xie Guan now would be like delivering charcoal in snow—far more valuable than adding flowers to brocade.

But the key question was: was Xie Guan worth such a gesture?

Fortunately!

She had learned the truth from Yaoxian Pavilion—Su Xiang had originally intended to invite Xie Guan to compose a poem.

Once this news spread, Xie Guan's name would resound throughout tomorrow's Bianjing.

But!

Before Su Xiang's verbal order could be delivered, secret letters arrived at Yaoxian Pavilion from Shen Yin and Tu Mo Si.

The letters claimed Xie Guan had close ties with the Three Truths Sect of Da Sui, even consorting with the Three Truths Celestial Master, suspecting him of treason.

Thus, Su Xiang rescinded his order.

He prepared to dispatch agents from Tu Mo Si and Shen Yin to arrest Xie Guan.

This explained why the two princes had hurriedly left Yaoxian Pavilion to search for Xie Guan, and now rushed to distance themselves from him—fearing association!

Fortunately!

Su Shishi had deep ties with one of the Academy's masters, who warned her in advance.

The agents of Shen Yin and Tu Mo Si sent to arrest Xie Guan were halted on the fourth floor of Yaoxian Pavilion by the Third Master.

With the Third Master vouching for Xie Guan's innocence,

Su Xiang abandoned the matter.

Prince Chen Feng and Prince Chen Ting would learn of this soon enough.

That was why Su Shishi now stepped forward to purchase Xie Guan's poem and painting for four million taels.

Merely from the rumor that Xie Guan had close ties with the Three Truths Sect's Celestial Master, Su Shishi had already decided to aid him.

As a former princess of Da Sui, she knew well the status of the Three Truths Sect.

The sect's mountain gate stood three inches higher than the imperial palace of Da Sui.

Su Shishi came back to herself, thought briefly, then softly spoke: "Young Master Guan, have you heard of a ci-pai from Da Sui?"

"It is called 'Yu Meiren.'"

"I shall not hide from you, Shishi is originally from Da Sui, merely stranded in Bianjing—my heart cannot help but yearn for home."

At these words, all present were stunned.

No one had expected this Immortal Su to be from Da Sui; not a whisper had leaked before.

Yu Ke briefly recalled Xie Guan's memories—he knew a little of the ci-pai "Yu Meiren."

"Yu Meiren" was a famous ci-pai, originating from Tang Dynasty court music, commonly used to express sorrow, melancholy, and nostalgia.

In Da Qi, though somewhat obscure, it still had celebrated works passed down.

Zhang Yuanlai and others were also familiar with this ci-pai, knowing its structure: two stanzas, fifty-six characters total, each stanza four lines, with rhyme scheme of two Ze rhymes and two Ping rhymes.

At this moment!

A personal eunuch hurried to Prince Chen Ting's side and respectfully handed him a note.

Chen Ting unfolded the paper, his eyes instantly sharpening.

At the same time, Prince Chen Feng also received the message, a flicker of surprise crossing his gaze.

The Third Master was defending Xie Guan?

This Xie Guan was truly extraordinary—not only linked to the Three Truths Sect, but now also tied to the Academy.

Yu Ke paused briefly, then picked up his brush, dipped it in ink, and slowly wrote:

"When will the spring flowers and autumn moon end? How many past events remain?"

"Last night, again, the east wind blew through my small tower; under the bright moon, my homeland is too painful to recall."

His brushstrokes were strong, vigorous, and effortlessly fluid.

Jia Yu and others drew near to observe, murmuring the lines softly.

Even the first stanza overflowed with sorrow, deeply moving.

Zhang Yuanlai was utterly immersed: spring flowers and autumn moons, once beautiful scenes, now brought only unbearable pain—when would it end?

Su Shishi stepped closer, saw the line "under the bright moon, my homeland is too painful to recall," and her heart trembled violently!

Though Da Sui had not yet fallen, as a former princess, the pain of her nation's ruin remained etched in her heart, never fading.

This scene, this emotion—perfectly matched.

Yu Ke continued to write:

"The carved railings and jade steps should still stand, but the rosy faces have changed."

"Ask me how much sorrow I hold? It flows like a river of spring water eastward."

As he finished the final character, his brush gently settled.

Prince Chen Feng and Prince Chen Ting also stepped forward to view it, their expressions differing.

Chen Ting had grown up in the military; though raised in imperial etiquette and tutored by the former Crown Prince's Senior Tutor, he had little interest in poetry and literature.

He preferred the clashing of swords and spears, autumn musters on the battlefield.

In contrast!

Prince Chen Feng was deeply moved by this ci.

From the restrained, plain description in "last night, again, the east wind blew through my small tower," to the extreme exaggeration of "a river of spring water eastward," the interplay of restraint and release created a seamless, natural realm.

An infinite sense of desolation permeated it.

Clearly, this person possessed extraordinary mastery in poetry; the two stanzas were perfectly balanced, their imagery and emotion flowing naturally.

Most importantly!

This ci perfectly mirrored Su Shishi's current inner state.

Chen Feng turned to look—this woman, like a fairy, had tears slipping from her beautiful eyes, stirring deep pity.

Yu Ke raised his eyes and could not help but sigh.

A beauty truly was a beauty—even in tears, she was like pear blossoms drenched in rain, more heartbreakingly lovely.

Su Yun, upon arriving, did not notice Su Shishi, but stared at the poem.

"This is truly superb—tonight's ci will surely endure through the ages."

"Fortunate! Fortunate!"

Zhang Yuanlai and the others were not surprised; after all, Xie Guan had just produced several outstanding poems moments ago.

Su Shishi collected herself, carefully took the paper from the table.

"Young Master Guan, four million taels for this poem is far too low!"

(End of Chapter)