“Literary gathering?”
Xia Chen had just gotten off work, finishing his first day with the Lantern Bearers!
He was stopped at the intersection of Zhengde Street.
Zi Yue, the beautiful and enchanting woman in front of Xia Chen, who would later become renowned, asked with some confusion.
“Yes, Consort, my Princess and you have been betrothed for a long time, but have never met. Three days from now, my Princess is hosting a literary gathering. It would be a good opportunity for the Princess and the Consort to meet and deepen your relationship!”
Zi Yue alighted from her carriage and, without any reservations, directly entered Xia Chen’s carriage.
Upon entering, she looked up and carefully scrutinized Xia Chen's appearance, finding that he was indeed exceptionally handsome, unmatched in the world, and incomparable to anyone in the capital.
Zi Yue immediately recalled what her young lady had said earlier, “Let them go serve him first.” Her cheeks suddenly flushed with shyness.
Xia Chen was a bit confused; he had gotten into the carriage himself, so why was she blushing? He was truly innocent and hadn't laid a hand on her!
This future hidden prime minister was still a bit too uncomposed, still just a young girl.
Thinking this, Xia Chen decided to tease her.
“Deepen our relationship? What, your Princess misses me?”
Xia Chen played with a jade pendant in his hand, raising an eyebrow with interest as he asked.
“The Consort jests. My Princess merely wishes to meet and understand each other, lest after marriage, you are unfamiliar with each other’s backgrounds, which could affect your marital relationship.”
“Oh, so it’s not the Princess who misses me, then it must be you who misses me!”
Xia Chen’s retort instantly made Zi Yue’s face flush from her cheeks to her ears, feeling a heat spread through her body.
“Consort, please don’t jest!”
Zi Yue pursed her lips. She didn't know why, but as soon as she entered this carriage, she felt her thoughts completely muddled, unable to maintain her composure.
“I saw you voluntarily enter my carriage, and I thought you wanted to test the waters for your Princess in advance. You are Yao Guang’s personal maid, and you will also be a concubine maid in the future.
As far as I know, when the imperial family marries off a daughter, they first send a maid to test if the Consort is capable in that regard. Could it be that this test subject will be you in the future?”
Xia Chen spoke flippantly, while Zi Yue, sitting opposite him, had a face so flushed it could bleed.
Xia Chen looked at Zi Yue’s bashful appearance and found it quite amusing. He thought of her future self, so composed that the entire court would not dare to speak loudly in her presence, possessing unmatched Aura. Yet now, she was so flustered by him that she couldn't speak. This contrast was too interesting.
“Please be more serious, Consort. The reason I entered your carriage is because there are many people on the street. Although I am a woman, I am the Princess’s maid, and thus also the Consort’s maid, so there is no need to be too reserved. As for who will test if the Consort is capable, that will be decided by the Princess!”
Zi Yue composed herself, raised her slightly red face, and answered earnestly.
At this moment, she sat opposite Xia Chen, smiling, having regained her calm and composure, her demeanor more refined than even the most esteemed young ladies of the capital.
“I came today to invite the Consort to attend the literary gathering!”
The blush slowly receded from Zi Yue’s delicate face, and she steered the conversation back on track.
“A literary gathering is for scholars. Wouldn’t a crude martial man like me just be a laughingstock there?
If your Princess truly wants to see me, find a secluded place, or come directly to the Princess Manor. We can close the doors and have a good discussion. Why go to a literary gathering with so many outsiders?”
Xia Chen smiled as he looked at Zi Yue.
“Who in the capital doesn’t know that the Consort has been personally praised by His Majesty, who said he possesses extraordinary talent, no less than Chief Minister Lin? If he were to pursue a scholar’s path, he would surely become a prime minister in the future!”
Xia Chen raised an eyebrow upon hearing this. He had learned of this matter this morning and guessed that the Lantern Bearers must have been acting on Emperor Wen’s orders to promote it.
Emperor Wen wanted to push him forward. The greater Xia Chen's fame, the wider his astonishing theories about the relationship between ruler and subject, father and son, would spread.
“Although the Consort is now extremely famous, many scholars in the capital are very unconvinced by him, and some even threaten to beat him up. The Princess is doing this for the Consort’s good. Since the Consort can debate eloquently among the Lantern Bearers, I believe he can also dominate the literary gathering!”
Zi Yue handed a delicate invitation to Xia Chen, then bowed gracefully, smiled at him, and exited the carriage.
Xia Qian and Xia Xiao climbed in, Xia Qian with a mischievous grin.
“They aren’t even married yet, and the Princess is already so impatient to send someone to contact you, Young Master. Could it be she’s eager to get married?”
“This Princess is not as simple as you think. She didn’t come early or late, but precisely at this time to find me. I’m afraid she sees my current status.
People, indeed, must first improve themselves, only then will others value them.
Otherwise, even when you’re angry, others will just find you cute.”
Xia Chen lifted a corner of the curtain, watching Zi Yue’s carriage slowly disappear from his sight.
“No matter how unique Princess Yao Guang is, she is ultimately just a daughter. Her marriage to the Young Master is a decree from His Majesty, and it will not change no matter what. They will be married in two or three years at the latest!”
Xia Qian smiled dismissively. Although the Princess held a noble status, she was ultimately just a princess.
Xia Chen shook his head, not elaborating further. In the capital now, who would have thought that the seemingly inconspicuous Princess Yao Guang, compared to the Crown Prince and Third Prince, would ultimately triumph? After years of dormancy, she would transform into a dragon in one leap, shocking the entire world that night!
It was precisely because Xia Chen knew the formidable nature of Princess Yao Guang that he did not become complacent.
Her initiative contacting him was definitely not because of him, but only because he now controlled the Eagle Eye Division. An intelligence System is crucial for any organization; whoever controls it can take the initiative.
...
Upon returning to the Zhendong Marquis Manor, Xia Chen still did not go back to his own courtyard first. Instead, he went to Xia Qian’s residence.
Xia Chen recounted in detail everything that had happened at the Lantern Bearers that day to Xia Qian.
“You handled the intensity very well. You showed your authority, yet there was softness within the firmness, which didn’t provoke everyone’s resentment. You’ve thoroughly established your footing. Now that the three main hall masters have agreed to rotate, you can use this opportunity to completely control these three halls. What do you plan to do with the other two halls?”
Xia Qian pondered for a moment, then looked up and asked Xia Chen.
“Li Yue and Chen Song are respectively the Crown Prince’s and Third Prince’s people. We can ascertain this, and His Majesty surely knows it too.
His Majesty transferred me to the Eagle Eye Division, likely to have me prune the Crown Prince’s and Third Prince’s deep-seated influence within the Lantern Bearers. These two hall masters’ disobedience just gives me an opportunity.
As a newcomer, I still need to promote some of my own people. One person out, one person in. Let’s start with these two halls. The Lantern Bearers need a good cleansing!”
Xia Chen’s words were incredibly calm, yet they conveyed a chilling sense of coldness!
Truth be told, he preferred action over words. If it could be solved with fists, talking was too exhausting!
...