Qin Chang Ge smiled and tapped the table, saying, “Cherry red waters and jade green—lighting lamps and singing in the night. I’ve long heard of Prince Zhao’s elegance, but didn’t expect he’d reached the realm of immortals—dining on wind and drinking dew, treading on air and controlling emptiness. Impressive, most impressive.”

To play an arrogant scholar, one had to act the part convincingly, otherwise how could she attract Xiao Chen’s attention? Qin Chang Ge actually felt quite wronged—this wasn’t her style at all! Her style was scheming against people in the shadows…

Since her rebirth, she had practiced martial arts every night without fail. The techniques she remembered were the world’s finest skills, so now her hearing and sight were much sharper than ordinary people’s. She had long ago detected someone approaching, quietly listening to the mother and son’s banter from a slightly elevated spot outside the courtyard.

That person’s breathing was unstable, light and shallow, clearly indicating chronic illness—who else could it be but Xiao Chen?

Another soft laugh came, like summer evening breeze, soothing and comfortable. The air immediately rippled with infinite floral fragrance, pure and elegant, mellow and intoxicating.

The voice carried laughter, “An eminent person graces us with his presence, bringing brilliance to this humble dwelling. Upon returning to the manor today, Chen heard the marvelous tale of ‘rabbit-spying’ and was so delighted that I eagerly sought instruction, not realizing I’d become an unwelcome guest, disturbing your father and son’s dining pleasure. My deepest apologies.”

Qin Chang Ge jerked her chin at her son. Xiao Baozi pouted and ran to open the door. As the door opened, vast moonlight poured in uninvited, gleaming like satin, spreading a uniform silver-white carpet across the floor of the hall. Yet it couldn’t compare to the person sitting casually on the bluestone in the distance under the moon—his radiance crystal clear, pure and elegant like a banished immortal. Fragmented moonlight reflected on his sky-blue robes, creating an otherworldly charm and magnificence rarely seen among mortals. His features were bright and clean, his gaze clear, also like the bright moon.

Hearing the door open, he turned his head slightly, a smile beautiful to perfection, pure to the extreme, yet producing infinite attractive allure. However, that noble elegance made one feel that any private thoughts would be blasphemous.

Qin Chang Ge had already risen with a smile to greet him, giving a shallow bow in the moonlight. “Your Highness’s fine bearing makes Shen’s abandoning home and bringing his child on this thousand-li journey worthwhile.”

“I dare not accept such praise. To gain your favor is this prince’s good fortune.” Xiao Chen smiled. “Disturbing your meal was my fault—Zuixin Pavilion has prepared modest dishes and clear wine, sweeping clean the seats in anticipation. Would you both honor me by moving there?”

Xiao Baozi understood only half, vaguely knowing someone was inviting him to eat, and moreover treating him respectfully as a person of importance, repeatedly saying “you both.” Immediately dragon-heart greatly pleased, he wanted to immediately agree, but having just been dealt with by his evil mother, he didn’t dare be presumptuous. So he kept rubbing Qin Chang Ge’s sleeve, kept pushing her—push, push, push…

Qin Chang Ge smiled and bent down, leaning to her son’s ear and gently saying, “If you keep rubbing, if you keep pushing—I’ll leave you alone to enjoy the food in the room.”

Instantly withdrawing his hands, Xiao Baozi pitifully went back to gnawing his fingers, venting all his resentment on his own fingernails. I’ll gnaw, gnaw, gnaw… His already tattered fingernails were gnawed into lace edges under his enormous hatred.

Qin Chang Ge pulled his hand away, patted his head with false sympathy to comfort him, then raised her head to smile at Xiao Chen. “An invitation from Your Highness cannot be declined. To have Your Highness personally invite us is also our father and son’s good fortune. Thank you very much.”

Xiao Chen smiled warmly. “Please.”

Zuixin Pavilion must be the most scenic spot in Prince Zhao’s Manor, overlooking a pool of green water, facing towers on all sides. The long corridor connecting to the pavilion was hung with purple-tasseled palace lanterns, looking from afar like a string of agate and jade beads flying from heaven. Both sides of the corridor were lined with potted chrysanthemums in only two colors—white sandalwood-heart wood fragrance and pale green spring water blue waves—both very rare varieties. It was remarkable that the manor had so many. In the night, they were all uniform powder-white and moist green, indescribably pure and beautiful.

One side of the corridor was open, so walking brought fierce wind sounds with slight chill, but Zuixin Pavilion was surrounded on all four sides with brocade curtains of the famously precious “Snow Shadow Gauze” from within the country—light, soft and transparent, yet extremely effective at gathering warmth and blocking wind. The gauze was finely woven with maple leaf patterns, gorgeous and bright, quite fitting for the season. A pretty young maid in her prime years smiled sweetly as she came out to greet them, lifting the gauze curtains for her master. Inside the pavilion was a table of wine and food, their aroma immediately steaming over forcefully.

The four corners of the pavilion had lamps—blue and white porcelain with colored glazes, fitted with smoke-conducting tubes so not a wisp of smoke remained. Golden-filigree silver incense balls hung from all four walls, spreading faint fragrance.

One person was in the pavilion, tall and straight in bearing, standing with hands behind his back looking at the lake scenery ahead. Hearing voices, he turned around and smiled. “Your Highness, Brother Shen.”

It was Wen Zhengting.

Qin Chang Ge inwardly cried alarm, but saw Xiao Baozi cheer and climb onto a brocade stool. Without waiting for invitation, he immediately grabbed chopsticks and began devouring food, his fair little face completely buried in a plate. Only his head with its pretty hair ribbons could be seen bobbing up and down. Qin Chang Ge frowned at him, still considering whether to give him remedial lessons on etiquette and upbringing, when Xiao Baozi had already preemptively waved his chopsticks, saying, “Pretend I’m not here… pretend I’m not here…”

Qin Chang Ge could only apologize to the two men. “I’ve failed to properly educate my child. Please forgive me.”

With a gentle laugh, Xiao Chen said, “Your son is innocent and frank, lively and delightful. What’s laughable about that? Such natural charm truly brings joy to see.”

Wen Zhengting also said, “Your son’s marvelous pairing today—I witnessed it myself. How can you speak of failure in education?”

His gaze fixed tightly on Qin Chang Ge, bright as morning stars.

Qin Chang Ge didn’t avoid it, turning her head to meet his gaze directly, smiling. “What is your surname, sir? Why do you look at me like this?”

“I dare not presume. My humble surname is Wen,” Wen Zhengting stared at her without blinking. “It’s just that I believe Brother Shen should recognize me.”

“Oh?” Qin Chang Ge raised an eyebrow and smiled. “I’m ashamed…” She smiled toward Xiao Chen. “Living in remote Huainan, I’m ignorant of many contemporary luminaries. Brother Wen must certainly be a renowned literary scholar of exceptional talent. My disrespect is truly embarrassing.”

Xiao Chen smiled slightly. “Indeed, Master Wen’s reputation for talent is known throughout the realm and beyond. His literary brilliance is universally acknowledged. To have Master Wen humble himself in friendship is also this prince’s good fortune.”

Qin Chang Ge was satisfied inwardly. After several years, Xiao Chen was still this ice-snow intelligent.

But that pedantic scholar completely ignored her evasion, still staring at her tightly. “That’s not what I meant. What I feel is…” He suddenly smiled and poured himself a cup of wine to drink.

Qin Chang Ge’s gaze swept around the pavilion, pausing slightly at a certain spot before immediately turning away. She glanced at Wen Zhengting and smiled. “Tonight has fine wind and bright moon, most suitable for drinking. When dawn drums sound, we might as well get drunk together. Now with good wine before us and beautiful scenery in sight, to waste this wonderful time on exchanges would truly fail Your Highness’s kind intentions.”

Wen Zhengting’s eyes brightened, laughing loudly. “Yes, I’m being too rigid, needlessly disappointing Your Highness. Let me drink a cup in apology first.”

The three then sat down to drink. Wen Zhengting never again mentioned the earlier topic, only discussing local customs, literature, human nature, and birds and flowers. He was a learned talent with broad knowledge and high insight. Though somewhat pedantic and stubborn, it wasn’t excessive. At the table they saw him discoursing eloquently with flying spirits, while Xiao Chen, always reserved and steady, concealing his brilliance, only smiled faintly or personally poured wine for the two, occasionally inserting a sentence or two that hit the key point. His remarks were exquisite, inspiring Wen Zhengting to talk even more enthusiastically in another round of eloquence. The whole table saw him pointing at rivers and mountains, maneuvering with great skill, while Qin Chang Ge was too lazy to speak, only smiling and listening. As for Xiao Baozi—when others dropped marvelous phrases like rain, his chopsticks moved like rain; when others’ sleeves seemed ready to fly, his food-grabbing flew like the wind. In short, he was also very busy.

When the wine reached its peak, the mad scholar’s topics began shifting from domestic to foreign, traveling across seas and directly addressing various nations. “Eastern Yan recently shows signs of gradual recovery in national power. It’s said this is all due to their National Advisor’s achievement. They say this person gained fame in youth with stunning talent and brilliant beauty, but I wonder what kind of bearing he truly has.”

He continued, “I hear Eastern Yan’s National Advisor is extremely mysterious, rarely appearing in public, and has no wives or concubines around him—speaking of this, it’s somewhat similar to what those scholars were saying today. Within Eastern Yan, there are also rumors that this person has preferences for male companionship.”

Qin Chang Ge smiled. “Oh?”

Wen Zhengting frowned and shook his head, his face full of disgust. “I don’t know if the rumors are true or false. I’ve always greatly admired this National Advisor. I once had the chance to see his ‘Discourse on the Nation’—truly a work of absolute brilliance and subtlety that only one of great wisdom could create. For Eastern Yan’s female ruler to gain his assistance—I don’t know how many lifetimes of good fortune she accumulated. But if this matter is true, it truly diminishes him greatly and makes him contemptible.”

Qin Chang Ge smiled gently. “This is merely private human relationships, having nothing to do with moral character. Brother Wen is too harsh.”

Wen Zhengting vigorously shook his head—no, no—and began a lengthy discourse criticizing male companionship. Qin Chang Ge disliked debate, only half-listening. She sat across from Xiao Chen, and inadvertently glancing over, saw Xiao Chen lowering his head slightly while pouring wine, his expression peaceful, his wrist steady, yet somehow seeming slightly lost in thought. The wine was about to overflow but he didn’t move the wine pot away.

A maid who had been attending at his side stepped forward and smiled. “Your Highness, this pot is nearly empty. Allow this servant to replace it with a new one.” Without leaving a trace, she gently took the wine pot. At that moment the wine had just filled the cup completely—one more drop would have spilled over.

Xiao Chen smiled peacefully. “Good.” He slowly raised his eyes to look over. Qin Chang Ge had already lowered her head to drink.

That maid turned to change the wine, her figure graceful. When Xiao Chen wasn’t paying attention, Qin Chang Ge carefully looked at her. She was a refined and beautiful woman with exceptional appearance. More remarkably, she had heroic spirit between her brows, measured behavior and elegant temperament—truly not like a servant.

Thinking of her quick wit and seamless discretion just now, suspicion grew.

Observing carefully, she always stayed by Xiao Chen’s side, while all the surrounding maids acted according to her signals. Understanding dawned, but she didn’t expose it.

By now the night was deepening. Xiao Baozi, having eaten and drunk his fill, had long ago collapsed in his chair snoring loudly. Xiao Chen also showed signs of fatigue, lowering his head to cough lightly. Qin Chang Ge smiled. “Today’s feast was truly enjoyable—but it’s really late now, and Your Highness has many affairs. You should rest early.”

Wen Zhengting glanced at her, looked at the sky, and immediately agreed. Xiao Chen sat without moving, only smiling. “Very well. The future is long, there will be plenty of time for enjoyment. Yunhua, escort the two gentlemen for me.”

The woman who had poured wine earlier bowed and acknowledged. Qin Chang Ge made modest thanks, bid farewell to Xiao Chen, and that woman called Yunhua personally carried a palace lantern to lead the way ahead. She was tall and slender, yet her steps were light, walking with ethereal grace as if on clouds. Wen Zhengting hadn’t paid attention before, but seeing this he couldn’t help reciting: “Leisurely riding the nine-heaven wind, lingering as the moon reaches its glory.”

The woman turned back with a gentle smile. “A long whistle like phoenix song, unmatched under the sun. This humble servant’s willow-like beauty dares not accept your mistaken praise, sir.”

This response first praised Wen Zhengting’s bearing and reputation, then modestly declined regarding herself. Her words were elegant—not something an ordinary person could manage. Wen Zhengting’s eyes brightened greatly as he praised: “I never expected that lamp-carrying servant maids in Prince Zhao’s Manor would have such talent!”

A servant maid? You’ve misjudged, Qin Chang Ge thought lazily as she dragged her son along, firmly insisting he walk himself to digest his belly full of exotic delicacies.