Chapter 300 - 217: The Good Show Begins
Chapter 300: Chapter 217: The Good Show Begins
Seeing Fang Sifeng’s defeat, the others from the academy said no more.
Mr. Yue Ming and Mr. Zhuo Ying also breathed a sigh of relief. They nodded at Yang Ye, then called someone over to ask if anyone had completed their poems.
Liu Hong watched the scene with a smile, as if his earlier mention of Chen Yi’s name had been nothing more than a casual remark.
Yang Ye leaned back in his chair, looking perfectly composed. As his gaze swept over Liu Hong’s face, a flicker of suspicion inexplicably crossed his mind.
’Why would this old fox have his sights set on Chen Yi?’
...
The hour grew late.
In the night sky, a full moon bathed in silver light outshone the twinkling stars.
Within the two great courtyards of Guiyun Academy, the poetry gathering was in full swing.
In one courtyard, filled with gifted scholars and beautiful ladies, bursts of laughter would occasionally erupt, interspersed with exclamations of "A fine poem!" and the like.
Most likely, someone had presented a poem, drawing cheers from the onlookers.
In the other courtyard, Shen Huatang, Xiaodie, Wang Lixing, and the others were just as boisterous.
Theirs, however, was a boisterousness born of feasting and drinking.
Xiaodie, however, wasn’t enjoying her food. She kept getting up to peer toward the other courtyard, her pretty face filled with anticipation.
Noticing her expression, Shen Huatang circulated her True Essence to listen in on the surroundings while murmuring in a low voice,
"Don’t bother looking. Too many scholars showed up today; this won’t be over any time soon."
"Even if the Second Young Master-in-law does compose a poem, he’ll save it for the end. Just relax, have something to eat, and wait."
Xiaodie blushed. "Sister Huatang, I... I’m just worried the Young Master-in-law will be struck by a fit of poetic genius and put everyone else to shame."
"Isn’t that a good thing? Besting the entire field would prove the Second Young Master-in-law’s literary talents are extraordinary."
After speaking, Shen Huatang secretly pursed her lips. ’It’s not all good, though,’ she thought.
’At least, not for the Eldest Miss.’
"It is good, but I’m afraid they’ll get angry from the humiliation and bully the Young Master-in-law."
"How could they? With Mr. Yue Ming and all those officials from the Government Office watching, who would dare to start anything here?"
"They would..."
Xiaodie still remembered the scholars who had denounced Chen Yi, both to his face and behind his back, during Li Huai’gu’s wedding.
"They were so aggressive, baring their fangs and brandishing their claws. It was terrifying to watch. Even just scaring the Young Master-in-law counts as bullying."
Shen Huatang was speechless.
She really couldn’t figure out what was going on in the little maid’s head.
Just then, a voice called out, "Ah, so this is where you are."
Xiaodie froze for a moment, then looked up in delight. "Young Master-in-law, what are you doing here?"
The newcomer was none other than Chen Yi.
He had left the courtyard of the poetry gathering fifteen minutes ago. After wandering about and searching, he still hadn’t found Pei Guanli.
He’d guessed that Tiger Girl had gotten bored and run off to the courtyard where the guards and servants were gathered.
But even after arriving and scanning the area, Chen Yi still couldn’t see any sign of Pei Guanli, and he couldn’t help but frown.
Xiaodie didn’t notice his strange mood. She sidled up to him, her face alight with excitement.
"Young Master-in-law, have you already finished your poem?"
Chen Yi snapped out of his thoughts. His gaze swept over the small group as he shook his head, his expression normal. "I just stepped out for a bit. I haven’t started writing yet."
Xiaodie wasn’t disappointed. "The Young Master-in-law is a great poet and a fine calligrapher. As long as you put your mind to it, it’ll be no problem at all."
Chen Yi chuckled, flicking her lightly on the forehead. "I have all these great talents, do I? How come I’m the last to know?"
"But it’s true..."
Off to the side, Shen Huatang and Wang Lixing watched the master and servant banter, neither of them noticing anything amiss.
Shen Huatang merely took advantage of a lull in the conversation to ask about Xiao Wan’er’s situation.
Chen Yi replied with a smile, "Big Sister has people looking after her over there. She seems to be doing alright."
"But I’ve been out for some time now. I should be getting back."
Even though Xiaodie wanted to talk with him longer, she could only say hesitantly, "Take care, Young Master-in-law."
Chen Yi nodded to the group, told them to enjoy the food and drink, and then turned to walk toward the other courtyard.
The two courtyards were a moderate distance apart. The path between them led through a brightly lit corridor and around a rockery to a small, stone-paved trail.
The path was flanked by lush flowers and plants, and he could faintly hear the whispers of a few couples meeting secretly in the shadows.
Chen Yi walked on without disturbing their rendezvous, his mind preoccupied with Pei Guanli’s whereabouts as he headed back toward the poetry gathering.
’That girl may be a tiger, but she knows her limits.’
’Especially when she’s with me. If something came up, Pei Guanli would have told me. She wouldn’t just vanish without a word.’
At this thought, Chen Yi’s eyes turned cold.
’Did something happen?’
’Who could it be?’
’Pei Guanli is from the Mountain Race and Granny Shan’s granddaughter. It’s unlikely that people from the Government Office or the Noble Families would bother her, let alone attack her.’
’That much was clear from the Xiao Family’s reaction—or lack thereof—when they learned Tiger Girl had used poison to take down a whole group of guards.’
’Excluding the Noble Families and the Government Office, that only left one other group.’
’Jianghu People.’
’Or, to be more specific—the Evil Demonic Dao!’
’The Five Poison Sect!’
Chen Yi’s heart sank.
He’d once heard Liu Lang speak of the grudge between the Five Poison Sect and the Mountain Race; to call it a blood feud would be no exaggeration.
With the Five Poison Sect now in Shu State, he had already been planning to send word to the Mountain Race.
He’d simply been too busy dealing with Liu Wen and Xiao Dongchen these past few days to get around to it.
As for why the Five Poison Sect was here, Chen Yi had a guess.
They could only have been brought by Liu Zhaoxue.
’If so, perhaps they’re acting on a whim?’
As these thoughts raced through his mind, Chen Yi’s expression turned grim, and he quickened his pace toward the courtyard of the poetry gathering.
As he walked, he checked for the tools he carried on his person.
’The Five-section Spear is here. Qingfeng Drunk and Immortal Drunk, too. What else do I have that can defend against the poisons of the Five Poison Sect?’
Just as Chen Yi was about to pass through a mahogany corridor and enter the courtyard where the poetry gathering was being held, he abruptly stopped in his tracks.