Chapter 165: Ji Wen Yu

Those grand ambitions, those brilliant essays bearing his name were not written by him at all—he was nothing but a thief, a thief who plagiarized others' work.

The person who truly wrote those things probably couldn't even get through the gates of Jiangyuan Pavilion today.

If he had only stolen, Chi Nan Yi wouldn't have bothered with him, but in her past life, he was one of the murderers responsible for the original host's death.

Among the Crown Prince's brain trust, only Ji Wen Yu lacked genuine talent yet was deeply trusted by Mo Junheng; one important reason was that he was cunning and treacherous, which aligned perfectly with the Crown Prince's own nature. After the original host accidentally discovered what was going on between him and Lu Qing, Ji Wen Yu racked his brains trying to get rid of her, so he began openly and covertly bringing up the original host's background before the Crown Prince.

"The daughter of a mere peasant farmer—how could she be worthy of serving His Highness the Crown Prince?"

"It would damage His Highness's dignity and standing."

Remarks of this kind gradually took root in Mo Junheng's heart. Moreover, the guard sent to the original host's room, though brought in by Ru Xin, carried on his person the scent of nardostachys. Nardostachys fragrance was precious—how could a mere guard afford it? And among everyone the original host knew, the only person who used nardostachys fragrance was Ji Wen Yu.

Therefore, the original host's death involved not only Meng Qinghe's scheming but also Ji Wen Yu pushing things along behind the scenes.

In the previous life, Ji Wen Yu won the Crown Prince's favor through this poetry gathering. In this life, Chi Nan Yi would not stop this from happening—not only that, she would make Mo Junheng believe he had gained a formidable strategist, and have him lavish praise on Ji Wen Yu.

Then, she would make public the matter between Ji Wen Yu and Lu Qing. For the sake of face alone, the Crown Prince could not possibly spare his life.

Didn't Ji Wen Yu love climbing to the pinnacle of power?

She would let him experience for himself the agony of falling from a great height.

To gain something and then lose it was a hundred times, a thousand times more painful than never having had it at all.

Chi Nan Yi looked toward the entrance and saw a man dressed in plain cloth clothes constantly peering inside.

Just then, Ji Wen Yu walked out with somewhat flustered steps.

"Lu Qing, what are you doing here?"

Lu Qing smiled and said, "A few days ago you said you wanted to show my writings to someone you know—might I ask if there's been any result?"

"Brother Lu, how could it be so quick? You should know that those important people are all very busy—when would they have time specifically to read your writings?"

"But…"

"Don't worry. Since they've accepted your writings, they will certainly read them. If you can earn someone's appreciation, won't you be free of worry from now on? I still have some matters to attend to here—you should head back first!"

"Wen Yu, I hear there's a poetry gathering here today. Can I join in?"

Hearing him ask this, Ji Wen Yu's heart couldn't help but sink.

How could that be allowed?

If he let him inside, how was he himself supposed to stun the entire gathering later?

That person had said that whoever stood out today might become a member of His Highness the Crown Prince's brain trust. No matter what, he could not let Lu Qing ruin his own future.

"Lu Qing, I'm not trying to criticize you, but look at what you're wearing. The people who can enter here are all wealthy or noble—if you offend someone, what then? Even your future would be at risk!"

Lu Qing still wanted to say something, but Ji Wen Yu blocked him at every turn.

In any case, no matter what, Ji Wen Yu absolutely could not let him inside!

Seeing the man at the entrance leave, Chi Nan Yi whispered a few words into Ji Bai's ear, and Ji Bai quickly departed.

Besides Chi Nan Yi, there was one other person in the room.

That was Yun Tian, who served at Mo Junyan's side.

In fact, Jiangyuan Pavilion was a shop under Mo Junyan's name.

Precisely because of this, the moment Chi Nan Yi arrived at Jiangyuan Pavilion today, she was invited up to the fourth floor.

And the person seated in the other occupied room on the fourth floor was none other than the Crown Prince, Mo Junheng.

Yun Tian smiled and said, "Miss Chi, would you like something to drink?"

"No need."

Yun Tian had not had many opportunities to interact with Chi Nan Yi. Apart from a few brief encounters in Changxi Town, all he knew was that in the Prince's heart, Miss Chi carried extraordinary weight.

By now, the poetry gathering on the first floor had already begun. The so-called gathering was nothing more than a group of literati and scholars matching couplets, citing classical allusions, and competing to see who had the greater literary talent.

Among these people, the most outstanding was naturally Ji Wen Yu.

After all, he had come fully prepared.

After competing with the various literati, Ji Wen Yu's talent was naturally acknowledged by everyone—including Mo Junheng in the private room on the fourth floor.

He waved his hand, and Gao Feng understood his meaning.

Before long, Ji Wen Yu was led by Gao Feng to outside the private room on the fourth floor.

"Remember what you should and shouldn't say. If you offend His Highness the Crown Prince, even ten heads wouldn't be enough to chop off. Understand?"

"Yes, this lowly one understands."

Ji Wen Yu gently pushed open the door and walked in.

He thought he had embarked on a path to the utmost heights of wealth and glory, little knowing that Chi Nan Yi had long since laid trap after trap along this very path, guaranteeing he would go in but never come back.

Meng Qinghe, who had originally wanted to win over Ji Wen Yu, searched all around Jiangyuan Pavilion for a long time but could not find any trace of him.

Jiang Wanyue noticed her distraction and couldn't help asking, "What are you looking at, sister?"

"Nothing."

Seeing that she didn't want to say more, Jiang Wanyue gave a faint smile. "From just now, I've noticed your gaze falling on Young Master Ji from time to time. Has your heart been stirred, sister? I suppose it's only natural—a man as brilliantly talented as Young Master Ji is indeed rare."

"Does sister know Young Master Ji?"

"I wouldn't call it acquaintance, but I've heard others mention him." She sighed softly and said, "You know my merchant background, sister. Right now my family is selecting a suitable husband for me, and a matchmaker happened to mention Young Master Ji."

Hearing this, Meng Qinghe couldn't help but see the light.

No wonder she had invited her to Jiangyuan Pavilion today—it was actually to size up a man for herself. But if she truly could end up with Ji Wen Yu, it would bring her a hundred benefits and not a single harm.

In the previous life, after the Crown Prince ascended the throne, Jiang Wanyue was taken into the palace as a consort. Whether she had any intention of competing for favor or not, her merchant birth determined that the highest position she could reach was that of an ordinary consort.

But her looks were outstanding, making her a rival as far as she was concerned. If she could settle her marriage matters ahead of time, wouldn't that mean one less enemy when she herself entered the palace?

Chi Nan Yi had barely stepped out of Jiangyuan Pavilion when she noticed two somewhat familiar figures right ahead of her.

Those two were none other than Meng Qinghe and Jiang Wanyue.

Just then, a chorus of gasps erupted behind her. Immediately after, a heavy fragrance of cosmetics wafted to her nose, so overpowering it made her frown, and a pink figure came crashing toward Chi Nan Yi.

Sensing the movement behind her, Chi Nan Yi dodged, and the woman crashed straight into Jiang Wanyue and Meng Qinghe.

"Ouch! Ouch!"

For a moment, the entrance of Jiang Yuan Pavilion became a scene of chaos.

Jiang Wanyue and Meng Qinghe were knocked to the ground, their palms slightly scraped.

Seeing this, the maidservants hurriedly helped the two of them up.

"Are you blind? How are you walking?" a Jiang family maidservant said angrily. "If you've injured our young miss, can you even bear the responsibility?"