In the city, Gu Fei hurried through the streets. After instructing Da Ya to buy a few sets of clothes, he rushed straight home.
Meanwhile, the pavilion corridor by the lakeside in Qingfeng Garden was already in complete chaos. Over seventy or eighty people were crammed together shoulder to shoulder, practically bursting the place at the seams.
Xu Hui and Song Yan stood in the center, glaring at each other like two fighting roosters, the air thick with tension.
“When Master Gu arrives, he’ll definitely say my poem is better than yours!” Xu Hui challenged.
Song Yan sneered coldly, “That pathetic excuse of a poem? You’re just using this as an excuse to seduce Master Gu!”
Xu Hui didn’t back down, “Hmph, stop dreaming. Why would Master Gu be interested in someone like you?”
Song Yan proudly pushed out her chest and countered, “Because I’m prettier than you! Maybe when Master Gu sees me, he’ll fall for me. Then I’ll become the magistrate’s wife.”
She remembered how Gu Fei would always sneak glances at her chest, and felt secretly proud. A big chest and a beautiful face—those were her assets.
“Xu Hui, how about we make a bet? Whoever loses today has to jump off that little bridge up ahead!”
Xu Hui rolled her eyes and turned away in disdain. “Fine, let’s bet. Who’s afraid? But I’m adding a condition—no one’s allowed to save you unless it’s Master Gu himself. Otherwise, if you drown, it’s your own fault.”
“If you want to die that badly, I’ll grant your wish. Deal!” Song Yan said with complete indifference.
After all, she had spent nearly a month refining this poem. She refused to believe she could lose to someone like Xu Hui.
But Xu Hui wasn’t any less confident. Her poem had been reviewed and refined by Lin Wenjun, a renowned scholar of Shangyuan County’s literary circle.
Both women had their own calculations, knowing today was their only chance to meet Gu Fei in person and prove who was the better poetess.
Around them stood dozens of young men and women, already split into two camps, each supporting one side. The atmosphere was becoming increasingly tense, with neither side able to back down.
If it weren’t for their fear of breaking Gu Fei’s laws, they would’ve already started fighting.
…
Gu Fei’s courtyard.
The carriage smoothly entered the large courtyard.
Gu Fei jumped off first.
Da Ya and Er Ya quickly came over to help the Empress Xiao Lingshuang out of the carriage.
The moment she stepped out, Xiao Lingshuang was left stunned by what she saw.
The hard grey ground beneath her feet was perfectly smooth, with no sign of damp soil or cracks. Even the palace’s finest tiles couldn’t compare in neatness and polish. What kind of construction was this? The design and materials surpassed her understanding.
The courtyard had pavilions, corridors, even a small pond, with every part reflecting ingenious craftsmanship. Neatly trimmed green bamboo swayed in the breeze, lush plants and blooming flowers were placed at just the right spots. The whole courtyard exuded a refined atmosphere, yet it still felt peaceful and warm.
Then, she saw Gu Fei’s extravagant five-story house. It towered into the sky with a majestic presence. Every window was inlaid with colored glass—a luxury rarely seen even in palaces—and it was used here on a grand scale.
White walls, red tiles, clean lines, and a structure that radiated an indescribable sense of modernity. This building completely shattered her understanding of architecture. Aside from the front door, she couldn’t see a single wooden beam.
“Master Gu, this is your home?”
Gu Fei nodded proudly, “Indeed. What do you think… looks good, right?”
“Looks good!” Xiao Lingshuang forced the words through gritted teeth.
The fury in her heart was like a raging storm. This damned fake magistrate—how much silver had he embezzled to build such an outrageously grand and beautiful house? One day, she would have him torn limb from limb.
“What are you spacing out for? Hurry and go change your clothes.” Gu Fei’s eyes shamelessly roamed over her curvy figure, swallowing countless mouthfuls of imaginary drool.
Seeing him leer, Xiao Lingshuang immediately snorted coldly, “What are you staring at with those dog eyes? Be careful or I’ll really dig them out!”
Gu Fei watched as she ran off with Da Ya and Er Ya, then chuckled, “Women look good so we men can enjoy the view. Otherwise, what’s the point of being that pretty? Besides, I saved you—what’s wrong with a couple of glances?”
“Think of it as paying a little interest.”
Xiao Lingshuang halted and shouted, “You… you… repaying kindness with lechery, shameless pervert!”
Gu Fei watched her flee and laughed loudly in the courtyard. “This girl is hilarious. If I could trick her into becoming my maid, that’d be great.”
At that moment, Gu Fei’s heart skipped a beat. He’d actually developed an interest in the Empress… not that he was thinking of marriage—no way. He was only twenty and still had plenty of playing around left to do.
He could pick any two out of the ten most beautiful women in Shangyuan County if he wanted.
The moment Xiao Lingshuang stepped into the house, she almost turned around again. The floors inside were made of sleek, radiant porcelain tiles, fitted together with no gaps. They gleamed with brilliant color. The walls were white, and the lighting was so bright she’d never seen anything like it before.
The windows were transparent. The white walls and lighting made the whole room feel open and airy. It was her first time realizing how bright a room could be.
Da Ya and Er Ya brought her to their room, which was naturally complete with a vanity and a mirror made of mercury.
But when Xiao Lingshuang saw Er Ya lift a square glass mirror, she was stunned once more.
In her heart, she cried out, “What kind of magical mirror is this? So clear… so real! I can even see the fine fuzz on my face!”
Er Ya saw the Empress dazed by the mirror and gently reminded her, “Sister, please change your clothes. Our Master is still waiting for us!”
Watching the quiet, serious woman before them, Er Ya thought, This sister is beautiful, but she really doesn’t like to smile.
Both Da Ya and Er Ya could feel she had an unapproachable aura, making her hard to get close to.
After about the time it takes for one incense stick to burn, Xiao Lingshuang walked out in her new clothes.
She wore a simple yet exquisite dress made from soft silk that shimmered with a pearly sheen. With every graceful step, the fabric flowed like water.
Around her waist was a ribbon edged with green jade, perfectly accentuating her slim figure.
She looked like a completely different person now, and Gu Fei found it hard to take his eyes off her.
Being stared at so blatantly made Xiao Lingshuang extremely uncomfortable. It was as if her clothes were see-through. In the past, anyone who dared stare at her like this would’ve had their eyes gouged out.
After being shocked by Gu Fei’s home, she now had one major goal—she wanted to see what the streets of Shangyuan County looked like. If a fake magistrate’s house was this luxurious, surely the streets must be a broken mess—collapsed walls, ruins everywhere, beggars in rags on every corner.
“Let’s go… Didn’t you say you’d take me to see the poetry duel?”