Сун Синчжи жил во времена правления императора Хуэйцзуна

Глава 23

"Yes." Tian Yong withdrew.

Tian Shuang helped Xi Ri remove her makeup and attend to her while she washed and dressed. The two of them laughed again as they talked about what had happened that day. Tian Shuang asked, "This time, Prince Ming will surely not suspect Miss, will he?"

Xi Ri sighed slightly and said, "That's not necessarily true. I always feel that Ming Lu is a very cunning person. He seems to still suspect me of something. Even if he doesn't suspect that I am Tian Xi Ri, he will suspect my identity. He is not as easy to deal with as that simple-minded young master Long in Suzhou." Thinking of Long Ming, she suddenly smiled, but then stopped smiling and said, "Tonight, do you know what excuse Ming Lu used to come in and visit you?"

Tian Shuang shook her head. "You all made a racket outside the wall, and Prince Ming immediately said he was going to catch the flower thief and left. I didn't have the courage to go out and see anyone because of my disguise, so I hurried back to the house to wait."

Xi Ri nodded and said, "Today's plan is brilliant, but it's not enough to make Ming Lu risk his life to break off the engagement. It seems we need a stronger stimulus."

"Does Miss have a plan in mind?"

"Not yet, the wedding is just around the corner, and I'm really getting anxious. If he finds out my true identity one day, sigh..." Just thinking about it gives her a headache.

“Miss, don’t worry. Prince Ming must have a weakness. As long as you are patient, you will find it,” Tian Shuang advised.

I can only sigh again. There's nothing else we can do. Some things can't be rushed. Breaking off an engagement is a big deal. Minglu wouldn't risk his life unless there were special reasons.

However, with the wedding next month, time is really too tight. If only she had a year, she would have plenty of time to deal with Minglu.

After a restless night, at noon the next day, Xi Ri arrived at Shi Xiang Lou again.

Last night, I arranged to meet Nalan and the others at Shixianglou. Arriving at Shixianglou again, I couldn't help but feel a little guilty about my rudeness to Xiaoxiangmei yesterday. Yesterday, I was afraid that Xiaoxiangmei would find out my identity, and I was also afraid that Xiaoxiangmei was testing me, which is why I treated her that way and said those harsh words, but in fact, I had no ill intentions.

Upon entering Shixianglou today, the waiter greeted him with unusual indifference, likely because he had offended the staff yesterday with his rude remarks to Xiaoxiangmei. However, Xiri didn't mind. Nalan arrived on time, accompanied by Fu Jin. Xi'en, however, was busy with military affairs and did not come.

Yesterday's scene must have left an indelible mark on everyone's hearts. Coupled with the stimulation of Li Yu and Tian Xiri looking exactly alike, Fu Jin talked about yesterday's events with great relish as soon as they met today. He would sometimes laugh and exaggeratedly imitate calling out "my Lulu," which sent chills down people's spines. At other times, he would sigh and say that Minglu was so lucky, but it was obvious that he was gloating.

Minglu has not appeared today, and Nalan guesses that something must have delayed him.

Fortunately, he didn't show up, otherwise, seeing Fu Jin like this, he would definitely have given him a freezing, sour look.

Xi Ri said, "A woman like that would tarnish Prince Ming's reputation. If Prince Ming doesn't want to marry her, why not just break off the marriage altogether?"

Nalan sighed and said, "This marriage was personally arranged by His Majesty. How can it be broken off so easily?"

Fu Jin also said, "Brother Yu, you don't know, Minglu's marriage is arranged by the Emperor. Unless one of them dies, there is no possibility of canceling the marriage."

Unless one of them dies? These words sent Xi Ri's spirits plummeting. How could she not know that the Emperor's decree of marriage was absolute and unchangeable? Now, her desperate efforts might be futile, only placing her in an even more awkward and irreversible situation. But there was no turning back. Since she had decided to fight, she had to give it her all. Otherwise, if she were to willingly submit to such manipulation, she would spend the rest of her life in regret.

"When will Prince Ming get married?" Xi Ri asked knowingly.

Nalan replied, "The sixteenth of next month."

"So hastily? Since Prince Ming dislikes this marriage but can't cancel it or back out, it would be better to find a way to postpone it. Perhaps things will take a turn for the better and there's still a feasible solution," Xi Ri said.

Fu Jin chimed in, "Hey? That's a good idea. We can't break off the engagement, but we can at least postpone it. Tian Xiri is too terrifying. How can Ming Lu possibly stand it if he marries her? Hehe, my Lu Lu."

Nalan calmly replied, "You can postpone it for a while, but you can't postpone it forever. It's all the same whether it comes sooner or later. You and I might be betrothed by the Emperor anyway."

These words struck a chord with Xi Ri and Fu Jin, and the atmosphere became somewhat somber.

Nalan laughed and said, "Don't mention these things. She's just a woman. What can she do? Once she's married, she's Minglu's woman. Minglu can discipline her however he wants. Brother Yu, you don't need to worry too much. The autumn examinations are coming soon. I heard that many candidates have come from the capital and are gathered at Cuifeng Tower. Why don't we go and join in the fun?"

Fu Jin laughed and said, "Hey, I've heard that Qin Zibao, the adopted son of the Grand Eunuch Qin Xi, is also quite talented. I'm quite curious about what kind of person this eunuch's son is."

Nalan tapped Fu Jin on the head with his fan. Fu Jin was two years younger than Nalan and always seemed frivolous and childish. Nalan laughed and said, "You speak without restraint. If we ever meet you, you'd better observe some etiquette and not be too reckless."

Fu Jin disagreed.

Minglu had not yet arrived, so the group did not wait any longer. They instructed the waiter at Shixianglou to tell Minglu to go to Cuifenglou to find them.

The group left the Ten Fragrances Pavilion and swaggered through the streets. For some reason, they didn't do anything special, and even Fu Jin walked in a seemingly proper manner, but Xi Ri still exuded a flamboyant aura. People on the street would subconsciously make way for them, and women on the street would often steal glances at them. Occasionally, their eyes would meet Xi Ri's, and they would immediately look away shyly. Some people whispered and gossiped among themselves, occasionally stealing glances at them. Xi Ri was secretly curious, so she whispered to Nalan, "Why is that?"

Nalan laughed and said, "Brother Yu, you don't know, do you? In the capital, we are known as the Four Young Masters of the Capital. Who doesn't know us?! Now that you, Brother Yu, have joined us, we've become the Fifth Young Master of the Capital. Everyone is curious about you and guessing about your background. If possible, some people will definitely come to your house to ask for your hand in marriage."

A marriage proposal? ...He chuckled dryly. "I come from a humble background, how dare I be called a young master of the capital alongside you elder brothers?"

"Hey, Yu-di, you absolutely mustn't let anyone know this. With your handsome looks, you're sure to have so many suitors that they'll break down your door, haha," Fu Jin laughed from the side.

Although Nalan smiled, he also nodded and said, "Brother Yu, you should still be careful. These people know that you are with us. If you are from an official family, they will be more wary of you. But if they know that you are just from a merchant family, they will inevitably try to flatter you, which will cause a lot of trouble."

Having promised before, it was best to mention her identity as little as possible. So she deliberately changed the subject, saying, "I wonder what happened to Prince Ming today?"

Fu Jin chuckled softly, "Hey, Minglu got completely drunk last night, I'm afraid his mother is keeping him from going out again."

Minglu's mother? Xi Ri secretly took notice of her.

Nalan whispered from the side, "Fu Jin, don't talk nonsense." Fu Jin didn't take it seriously, but didn't say anything more. Xi Ri didn't want to ask too many questions, so he just smiled and let it go.

During the conversation, we arrived at Cuifeng Tower.

With one month to go before the autumn imperial examinations, many candidates have arrived in the capital to prepare for the exams and to network. Cuifeng Tower has been a gathering place for these candidates for many years, and it is also a place where they secretly compete before the exams.

It's said that although the candidates are all scholars, the ways they compete are quite diverse. Poetry, calligraphy, painting, music, chess, martial arts, military strategy, and even swordsmanship are all put to the test. Originally a civil service examination for scholars, in recent years the emperor has valued those skilled in both literature and martial arts, and often sends spies to conduct undercover investigations in the countryside before the autumn examinations. Therefore, both literary and martial skills are now openly displayed by the candidates. Those who are lucky enough to fail the autumn examinations may still have the opportunity to be recruited by the emperor to serve in the court.

Therefore, Cuifeng Tower would be bustling for quite some time before each autumn imperial examination. Although Xiri knew the general outline, he wasn't very clear about the details, because one couldn't even enter Cuifeng Tower without being a candidate for the examination. Today, if he hadn't been with Nalan and Fu Jin, two famous young masters from official families in the capital, Xiri wouldn't have been able to step inside without a candidate's pass.

Cuifeng Tower has become another examination hall.

Nalan roughly said, "The competition at Cuifeng Tower also has rules. In the early stages of the autumn examination, the last person left on the stage before 5 PM each day is the winner of that day. The winners are accumulated each day, and at the end of the month, all the winners compete against each other. The final winner receives a prize of one hundred taels of silver."

Xi Ri became more and more curious as she listened. These people who came to take the exam must be well-known young talents from all over the country. It would be a privilege to meet them.

The waiters at Cuifenglou recognized Nalan and his companions. Upon seeing them, they immediately greeted them with smiles and let them in without checking their identification badges. Xi Ri also benefited from this.

As soon as they entered, they heard a man in the center of the hall shout, "Fellow scholars, is there anyone else who dares to come up and compete with me?"

When he looked up, he saw a man standing on the central platform, looking around at the candidates upstairs and downstairs. He challenged them several times, but no one went up to compete with him. He had a rather arrogant attitude.