Song Xingzhi lived during the reign of Emperor Huizong

Chapter 38

"I'm sorry, I can't help you." Su Chen steeled herself and turned away, wondering what would become of the child.

Just as I closed my eyes, a short "wah" sound came again, the sound of hands colliding forcefully with flesh through clothing, mixed with a suppressed groan that was abruptly stopped, which was truly heartbreaking.

I see, corporal punishment is always a timeless method of discipline... I've learned something new...

In just a short while, everything calmed down. There was rustling and tidying of clothes in the room, and the conversation was fading away. When I opened my eyes again, I saw Banxia half-squatting down, combing Cui Yantian's hair again.

"Huh, when did she arrive?" Su Chen wondered as Cui Shiran pulled him away, only to hear Cui Yantian's barely audible words at the end:

"If you knew you'd still come to me now and want me to talk to you, why did you leave me frozen like that in the first place?"

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The day was quite chaotic. The conversation in the hall eventually turned to talented and virtuous women from Suzhou and Hangzhou. Someone mentioned Liu Yiyu from the east of the city, while someone else brought up Zhang Xiaolan, who lived in Xiliu Lane. One person would mention one thing, and another would mention another. Several of the people involved kept their heads down and remained silent, only showing blushes on their faces.

But to everyone's surprise, it turned out that everyone unanimously said it was He Suchen.

Then, a few women said that the scenery in the garden was very beautiful today, and since so many people had gathered here, why don't you talented women write a poem or compose lyrics?

Su Chen had heard from more than one person that the previous owner of her body was a talented woman. It was said that both He Su Chen and He Su Shi could recite poems and texts at the age of three.

But I'm not one of them!

Putting aside whether the ancient poems I know are appropriate for the occasion or even applicable, just looking at the poems I remember and have memorized, there are very few from after the Song Dynasty, and some of them are incredibly classic. Am I really going to use them in a way that amazes others and spreads around, only to be found out by Emperor Huizong and dragged out?!

However, things never went as she had planned. At gatherings, it was almost a mandatory custom for the young ladies or scholars present to compose poems and compose verses, which everyone would then praise and comment on. She had no right to object or refuse, and besides, she had no reason to refuse. (Any woman with a modicum of education would want to showcase her talent at a gathering, let others know of her abilities, and raise her social standing. This was also a good way to announce to her relatives and friends that she was of marriageable age and that she was very talented, so they could talk to those who knew her and help her marry into a good family. Even if one's family was very wealthy, talent and reputation still needed others to speak of them to spread the word.)

Just as he was terrified and broke out in a cold sweat, the girls around him were either bowing their heads and reciting silently, or quietly counting the number of words, or even ordering a maid to grind ink—it turned out to be a guy who wrote fast poems, and he had already come up with a plan!

Her palms were sweating, her heart was pounding, and her legs felt weak below the knees—symptoms she used to experience when she was about to hand in an exam and there were still N questions left to answer, and she was so scared that she couldn't move.

I tried hard to calm down, and my mind raced to recall any poems that were related to the party.

If I become the Green Emperor in the future, I will make the peach blossoms bloom together.

Nonsense! This is a poem about chrysanthemums, it's not even autumn yet! Besides, if you were to cite Huang Chao's rebellious poems, would you be beheaded?!

As the evening rain falls gently on the river and sky, does it wash away the autumn chill?

Damn it! Emperor Huizong of Song would have to know Liu Yong's famous lines! Even if he did use them, it wouldn't fit the context, and besides, this is a gathering! A joyous gathering, why bring up that eternally melancholic stuff?!

What a waste of such a beautiful day and lovely scenery! Whose courtyard enjoys such delightful pleasures?

You idiot! Are you out of your mind?!

Seeing that three-quarters of the timekeeping incense stick had already burned away, He Sucheng was still at a loss.

Are we going to lose face? If we can't say something this time, or if we can't intimidate the others, the He family will lose all face.

The legendary daughter of He Ziyuan couldn't even compose poetry—one can already imagine the tone of others' discussions about this.

At the most dangerous moment, Banxia entered and politely bowed, instantly drawing everyone's attention. Mother Cui asked with concern, "Is the little boy alright? Is he still causing trouble?"

Banxia replied immediately: "The young master has persuaded the second young master and understands a bit about things. However, the second young master wants Miss He to come over. He said that the letter from the young master of the He family was from the school and that the young master has left it in the study. He wants Miss He to come over quickly. The messenger is in a hurry, so it must be something urgent."

Su Chen was both surprised and delighted. He was surprised that his older brother had rushed to the Cui residence with a letter. What had happened? And why was he sending it to him alone?

The good news is that they escaped a disaster and finally didn't have to write poems or lyrics. They saved face, saved face for the He family, and the people present didn't have to awkwardly make excuses for not being able to write anything later.

Everyone was delighted. We must reward the servant who delivered the message handsomely later!

Su Chen followed Banxia into the study. This was her second time entering Cui Shiran's study, and the room was still sparsely furnished, with not a single bookshelf. Banxia led her to the desk, poured tea, and excused herself.

Su Chen moved the teacup aside, picked up the small, earth-yellow envelope on the table, and opened it without really knowing what to do.

The letter was very simple, with no salutation, no signature, and no date; just four random grass blades lined up in a row.

Be wise and know your place.

Su Chen grabbed the cover back and looked at it carefully. The envelope was clean; there wasn't a trace of ink, let alone any handwriting.

The handwriting is not He Sushi's.

On the table lay a copy of "Tang Dynasty Tales," a book he hadn't finished reading on his last visit, which he'd been too embarrassed to borrow. Su Chen flipped through it and, sure enough, the bookmark he'd left inside was still there. Beside it was a small dish of pastries, all exquisitely crafted and beautifully presented, looking almost too lovely to eat.

Considering what Banxia just said, the answer is obvious.

Cui Shiran said that He Sushi had sent a letter, asking He Suchen to come over quickly, but he didn't say that the letter was for He Suchen.

Cui Shiran placed the letter in the study. If it were truly urgent, it would have been delivered to the hall for immediate opening and reading; why bother with such a futile and time-consuming task of sending someone on the way?

The messenger was in a great hurry—if it were truly urgent, he would have gone to find Tang's mother immediately, so there would have been no chance for Cui Shiran and He Sucheng!

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Thank you for your comments, Miyu and Xiaoyu123! I love commenting, especially constructive criticism! Thank you so much!

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Also: As Lord Shangjiawei mentioned, the Tianyi Pavilion in Chapter 8 was built during the Ming Dynasty. The Tianyi Pavilion in this story was built by Emperor Huizong of Song, who traveled through time, for purposes other than storing books. This place will be useful later. However, Lord Shangjiawei, you are very meticulous in your reading, and your knowledge of history is amazing... I'm in awe!

Chapter Sixty, Jewelry

The promoter function is now open! What are you waiting for? Join now! My mood is predictably getting anxious.

Actually, it's not that I don't know my situation, nor that I don't know what I should do or learn to adapt to the environment.

But she's lazy.