Chapter 399

One who can climb to the absolute peak and glance at all mountains as small? With such lofty ambition, this child certainly won't be a mediocre bunch!

Hall of Nurturing Spirit

The voice from behind the bead curtain was slightly teasing.

Feilian, dressed in black robes and seated in a wheelchair, gave a slight nod: "The husband Princess Taiping chose for herself certainly won't be mediocre; I just happened to gather the news, and it's said this person is an outstanding talent among the younger generation disciples of the Tianyuan Sect!"

From behind the bead curtain came a light laugh: "Your cultivation isn't bad?"

Feilian said: "Not bad!"

…

Purple Phoenix Palace

Tree shadows swayed.

Xu Lulu sat beneath the Spirit Jade Mulberry Tree, extending her right hand, white as lamb-fat jade, holding a sheet of paper, she softly chanted: "You do not see the bright mirror in the high hall lamenting white hair, morning like black silk, evening turning to snow……Since ancient times, sages and worthies have all been lonely; only those who drink leave their names behind……"

Inside the neighboring pavilion, palace lamps had been lit at some unknown time, and a weathered voice asked: "Was it he who wrote it?"

A hint of appreciation appeared on Xu Lulu's face as she lightly laughed: "Yes! Four poems, each a masterpiece, not the slightest bit weaker than those that have been passed down for a thousand years; those who love poetry outside are likely to go mad!"

"……Morning like black silk, evening turning to snow……" the weathered voice sighed, "Indeed not bad, go on!"

Xu Lulu performed a respectful bow: "Yes!"

…

The city was now in an uproar.

Yet the famed "Poetry Sage" himself was teasing a stray pug dog.

This dog, of unknown origin, wore a mangy coat, hideously ugly, originally fierce, but in his hands it became extraordinarily docile.

He wasn't interested in this dog, but suddenly recalled "Dogdan" and "Xiaohei"; when he left the mountains, he had not only taught Dogdan the way of cultivation, he hadn't neglected Xiaohei either, and he wondered how those two were faring in their training.

Thinking of this, he scratched the dog's leg, and the pug, legs in the air, shot out a jet of water.

"Er……"

The scene that greeted Ji Yaoyue and her siblings, Jiang Xiaoyu, Sun Qianqian, and the others who had rushed over in haste was exactly this.

Was the legendary "Poetry Sage" watching the little dog urinate?

Heng Xian had long sensed their presence, smiled, rose, and said: "Gentlemen, what brings you here?"

"We……" Jiang Xiaoyu sized up Heng Xian from head to toe; this was her second time seeing him, and she now noticed an indescribable nonchalance and handsomeness about him, was about to exchange pleasantries when she suddenly saw that mangy dog walking upright, head high and strides wide, like a noble lord strolling about.

"Er……"

Sun Qianqian couldn't help but ask: "How did you manage that? Why does it obey you?"

Heng Xian pointed to his chest: "Sincerity! If you treat it with sincerity, it will naturally listen to you attentively, just as if you treat a woman with sincerity, she will naturally not blame you for visiting a brothel!"

Jiang Xiaoyu glanced at Ji Yaoyue and said: "You even guessed why we came here?"

Heng Xian, hands behind his back, said: "I saw a hint of anger on Yaoyue's face!"

"You still know?"

Ji Yaoyue indeed wore a face full of anger, strode over, her pendants clinking, her princess attire especially bright, she seized Heng Xian's hand and stepped aside: "You, you……"

Heng Xian sighed, looked up at the sky: "I don't know how you found out, but I only want to tell you that without you, I am terribly lonely, I have nowhere to go, only wandering about.

Entering the Pavilion of Intoxicated Heart was truly an unintentional mistake; I thought it was a restaurant, and the moment I stepped inside, I was still thinking of you!"

The anger on Ji Yaoyue's face vanished instantly, leaving only guilt and helplessness; she gripped his hand and pressed it to her smooth cheek: "Mother Empress has commanded me, I must obey, I have no time to keep you company, sorry!"

Heng Xian shook his head: "It's fine; with just those words from you, I'd accept even waiting ten thousand years!"

Having said that, he silently thought to himself, "How cheesy."

Ji Yaoyue, however, was greatly moved; her eyes reddened and tears streamed down.

Heng Xian stared, stunned—was someone who cried so easily really a high-level cultivator of the Golden Core? He quickly reached out one hand to restrain her slender waist while wiping her tears with the other.

Sun Qianqian and the others opposite turned their heads away in embarrassment.

After a while, Ji Yaoyue calmed down, stepped back, and said with a cheerful smile: "Master Poetry Sage, the granddaughter of the Chancellor of the State Altar Academy, Jiang Xiaoyu, the senior disciple of the head of the Five Classics Institute, Sun Qianqian, and my younger brother, Prince Wu Ji Yaofan, have come to seek an audience with you!"

"Poetry Sage?" Heng Xian looked dazed.

Mulan laughed: "Mo Xianglian went to Huating Lake, shone brilliantly, and transmitted your four poems; the entire capital is likely about to boil over!"

"Heng Xian of Donglan, the title of Poetry Sage is surely yours to keep!"

Heng Xian pondered a moment, then understood roughly what had happened, and unconsciously rubbed his nose: "Actually, those four poems were copied from someone else; I don't have that much talent!"

"Don't give me that!" Jiang Xiaoyu said: "Clearly you have talent enough to fill eight dou and learning that fills five carts, yet you pretend to be an ordinary person—it's truly speechless!"

Ji Yaofan also stepped forward, performed a solemn bow with deep respect, and said earnestly: "Brother-in-law! I thank you on behalf of the hundred thousand soldiers! Without your righteous and beautiful poetry, I, Ji Yaofan, and the hundred thousand soldiers would be left with only an eternal regret! I have nothing to repay you with—thank you!"

His expression was serious and steadfast, moving to behold.

Since they've already called him brother-in-law, Heng Xian couldn't well object, and besides, he hadn't written those poems, so he could only silently murmur in his heart: "Li Bai, Du Fu, grandpas, sorry, I'm really helpless!"

Afterwards, they all sat together chatting about poetry; mainly Jiang Xiaoyu and the others asked enthusiastically, while Heng Xian gave bored replies.

Even when answering offhand, each sentence carried a "profound meaning" they could not grasp, and only then did they realize that Heng Xian's way of thinking was quite different from theirs!

Indeed, he is a great talent!

Only when the night grew deep and quiet did they finally leave.

Ji Yaoyue also left at the same time, for the Hall of Virtuous Celebration had issued a dead order that the princess must return.

Heng Xian could only see them off.

On the way, riding in a sedan together with Ji Yaoyue, she leaned against his shoulder and whispered softly: "If you miss me, after the Heavenly Empress's birthday, we shall marry and become Dao companions—what do you say?"

Heng Xian looked at her; regardless of status, appearance, position, or talent, she was flawless, and suddenly a sense of unreality welled up in his heart as he nodded: "Of course I have no objection!"

"I have no objection either!" Ji Yaoyue laughed lightly.

Heng Xian said solemnly: "I absolutely have no objection!"

"I have even less objection!"

I still haven't met!

I still have no opinion!

……

He saw Ji Yaoyue off and returned.

Near the Taiping Princess Manor, there were already quite a few people, sneaking glances.

Exactly! In the middle of the night, there were actually people sneaking a look inside.

Heng Xian patted an old man in the corner and asked, "Who are you looking at?"

The old man jumped, glanced at him, and patted his chest, saying, "Of course I'm looking at Lord Shī Shèng! My master gave a death order to definitely deliver the invitation inside. Just now the carriages of the Taiping Princess and a few others left; who knows, Lord Shī Shèng might also come out. If I could personally deliver it to his hand, that would be perfect!"

"Why?" Heng Xian asked, "Why do you want to see him?"

"Because he's Lord Shī Shèng!" the old man said matter-of-factly.

Heng Xian asked, "Is Lord Shī Shèng very remarkable?"

"Of course!" the old man laughed, "The Wenqu Star has descended to the mortal world; it's said that he will ascend in broad daylight soon!"

Heng Xian lost interest, turned around, and went back to the courtyard.

Watching him swagger in, with no one stopping him, the old man couldn't help but ask the guard, "Who is he, and why isn't he being stopped?"

The guard chuckled, "He is Lord Shī Shèng—how could we stop him?"

"Huh?" the old man's mindset was a bit shattered; what's going on?

Nothing more was said that night!

Early the next morning, the entire capital erupted!

Besides, everywhere people were singing the four poems of Lord Shī Shèng,

The Taiping Princess ordered the Drunken Heart Pavilion torn apart, slashed Mo Xianglian's face, and exiled her to the Ten Thousand Li Borderlands, also causing a great uproar!

In short, it all had to do with the Taiping Princess Manor!

Various dignitaries, royals and nobles, and high officials and nobles who came to visit the Taiping Princess Manor filled the courtyard.

Heng Xian felt embarrassed, so he simply shut the gates of the East Manor to avoid seeing guests!

Until the afternoon, a eunuch suddenly issued an edict: "Summon Heng Xian for an audience in the imperial palace!"

(End of chapter)