Chapter 109: Hello Chang’an
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**Chapter 109: He Came for Her**
This news spread even faster and wider than the earlier intentional whispers by Chang Suining .
Not only was it quick, but it was also highly targeted; soon it accurately reached the ears of numerous officials, Scholars, and scholars.
Discussions buzzed with astonishment and disbelief, and for a time, many hesitated to accept its authenticity.
It should be noted that the guests at the apprenticeship banquet included not only Head Master Qiao and Minister Yao but also the Minister Wei, along with the reclusive General Cui—each of whom was someone that ordinary officials rarely had the chance to approach.
For ordinary officials, this was extraordinary, but for those common Scholars who had yet to enter officialdom, this was an opportunity they wouldn’t dare to dream of.
Even aside from the fanciful notion of networking, simply attending to witness such an occasion would be worthwhile!
And it was the Dragon Boat Festival, celebrated under the pretense of gathering friends through poetry—a most elegant affair!
In no time, many people hurried to attend.
“Look, so many people are heading to Dengtai Tower!”
“It seems to be true…”
In a nearby teahouse, on the second floor overlooking the street, four or five young men sat, but none had the inclination to drink tea; all their attention was focused on the figures of scholars making their way to Dengtai Tower.
“This apprenticeship banquet has truly turned into a poetry gathering…” One person, unable to contain his excitement, suggested, “Brother Song, why don’t we go take a look?”
“Exactly, Brother Song, don’t you have an invitation from Lady Chang? If you bring it along, you’ll surely be warmly received, and we can share in the glory through you!”
“I didn’t accept the invitation sent by her servants,” Song Xian frowned. “Asking for friendship through literature and using poetry as an invitation… she’s merely an ordinary girl with no status among scholars; the only noteworthy thing about her is that she has fought a few battles—what gives her the confidence to make such bold claims?”
“Brother Song, why get hung up on that? Though this is Lady Chang’s apprenticeship banquet, the attendees aren’t coming for her; ultimately, they are gathering for poetry.”
“Exactly! Such lively poetry gatherings have been rare in recent years—what a shame it would be to miss out!”
“Brother Song…”
Song Xian coldly interrupted them, “If you want to go, go ahead. I absolutely won’t be attending.”
“Brother Song—”
Others attempted to persuade him, but their classmates silenced them with a glance.
“Since Brother Song doesn’t wish to join in the festivities, we’ll go take a look. If Lady Chang truly acts inappropriately, we can report back to you!”
Song Xian raised an eyebrow. “What does it matter to me whether she misbehaves or not!”
Who cares about her affairs?
“Right, right, I misspoke. Well then… Brother Song, just wait a moment? We’ll be back soon!”
Saying this, several of them exchanged glances and quickly bowed to Song Xian before hurrying downstairs.
In the blink of an eye, he was left alone. Song Xian’s expression darkened as he recalled the girl at the Imperial Academy, speaking so brazenly before him. Though she didn’t show overt arrogance, it was evident in her every word and deed—
Inviting friendship through literature, using poetry as an invitation… did she truly deserve such words?
Yet, undeniably, there were so many rushing toward her.
But ultimately, who was genuinely coming for her?
She was merely taking advantage of the fact that figures like Head Head Master Qiao were willing to indulge her, shamelessly using their names to satisfy her vanity.
No matter how much she dressed it up, she was just a spoiled, self-righteous girl seeking attention!
Watching the flow of people streaming intermittently toward Dengtai Tower, Song Xian sneered, “What a complete mess.”
But regardless of his views on the matter, the lively atmosphere at Dengtai Tower was evident, and this buzz continued to spread through the words of the crowd.
To prepare for the upcoming imperial examination in spring, some scholars from distant regions would arrive early—often a year or even more in advance—to ensure they could familiarize themselves with the city.
Considering the high costs of accommodation, after arriving in the capital, they often chose to rent a courtyard together, allowing them to share expenses and keep each other company.
In the Waiting for Virtue Pavilion within the city, a few scholars resided.
They had also heard of the events at Dengtai Tower.
“Tan Xianbei, aren’t you going to Dengtai Tower?”
The young man lying on the bamboo mat and fanning himself glanced at the scorching sun outside, furrowing his brow, “It’s too hot… I really don’t want to go out.”
If someone had told him how hot the summer days in the capital would be, he would never have rushed over this early in spring!
“There’s not only wine at Dengtai Tower, but also ice drinks and ice basins!”
Upon hearing this, the man named Tan's face lit up: “Ice basins?”
Ice was quite expensive, and people like him, who had spent years in bitter study, had already drained their family’s resources—where would they typically splurge on such things?
In fact, his most common way of keeping cool during summer was to quietly reminisce about the days he spent studying at home, as the word "cold" was a comforting thought.
“There are plenty of ice basins at Dengtai Tower, let’s go!”
The man named Tan hastily got up from his bed—he simply had to go!
Who could resist the temptation of free ice basins on a scorching Dragon Boat Festival?
“Do they really not charge any money?” he asked while tying his clothes.
“What money!” His friend shook his head and laughed, “But you must compose a poem!”
Tan replied, “That’s worth it!”
On the way, he asked his friend, “How many days does an apprenticeship banquet typically last in the capital?”
“An apprenticeship banquet lasts only one day!”
The man’s face showed a look of regret.
How could such a good thing only last a single day?
If a poem could get him an ice basin, he could write one every day until autumn!
“But it looks like it’s already past noon… what if we arrive and the banquet has already ended?”
“Tan Xianbei, you don’t know—I've inquired thoroughly. The lady hosting the apprenticeship has said she will hold two banquets, going on until the evening!”
With this, the man felt reassured and picked up his pace: “Then we need to hurry…”
There must be quite a few like him, who preferred ice basins over poetry gatherings. If they arrived late, they might not secure a good spot near the ice basins!
…
The Grand Tutor Zhu, who had been the Minister of Rites for quite some time, finally had a rare day off and came to the Imperial Academy in the afternoon to fish with Head Head Master Qiao.
Qiao Yubai, who had been forced to stay home and recuperate due to an injury, found the day dull and was especially welcoming when someone finally arrived, greeting the Grand Tutor with respect and asking a servant to brew tea.
Grand Tutor Zhu nodded and sat down in the hall, asking, “Where’s your father?”
Qiao Yubai was taken aback—wasn't it already buzzing outside about the banquet? How could the Grand Tutor not have heard?
He proceeded to explain about the apprenticeship banquet being held at Dengtai Tower today.
“An apprenticeship banquet?” Grand Tutor Zhu raised his white brows, the image of the girl by the river flashing through his mind, and after a moment of realization, he became displeased. “If he’s hosting a banquet, how come he didn’t let me know?”
He claimed to be a confidant, yet he wasn’t informed about the apprenticeship or the banquet—did he think of him merely as a fishing companion?
“Impossible,” Qiao Yubai responded, confused. “I distinctly remember my father sending an invitation to your residence.”
The Grand Tutor's servant quietly interjected, “My lord, it seems there was one.”
Grand Tutor Zhu frowned. “Then why didn’t you bring it to me?”
The servant looked wronged. “It was your prior instruction to return all gifts, and any invitations were not to be acknowledged, lest they trouble you further…”
The Grand Tutor had never really wanted to take on the position of Minister of Rites, and he was especially impatient with those who tried to win his favor, his temperament growing more irritable due to the heavy workload. This was why, despite having heard the buzz outside about the apprenticeship banquet, they had not dared to bother the Grand Tutor with their chatter before.
Grand Tutor Zhu hesitated, “…it depends on who sent the invitation.”
The old servant could only respond with a helpless “yes.”
Grand Tutor Zhu furrowed his brow and glanced outside. “It’s already past noon; shouldn’t the guests be returning by now?”
Qiao Yubai smiled and said, “Just now, the servant came back and said they will hold another banquet this evening, likely not returning until late at night.”
“Two banquets in a row?” Grand Tutor Zhu thought this was absurd, “What a feat; has he never received a student before—”
He paused, recalling that it was indeed Qiao Yan’s first time accepting a student, so he was in a different league. Moreover, all of his own students were princes and princesses, the best among them being both a prince and a princess—
What had once been a teasing remark about that student now made Grand Tutor Zhu feel a tinge of sadness.
Having served him for many years, the old servant noticed his lord's mood and sighed inwardly.
Seeing Qiao Yan taking in students, it reminded him of his own students.
Noticing Grand Tutor Zhu's silence, Qiao Yubai seized the opportunity: “If you’re not in a hurry to leave, why don’t I accompany you for a game of chess?”
Playing chess was secondary; he mainly wanted someone to help alleviate his boredom.
“No need,” Grand Tutor Zhu stood up and grunted, “I want to see what’s so special about a simple apprenticeship banquet that warrants two gatherings, especially one where he takes in his own daughter as a student…”
With that, he took his leave with the old servant.
Qiao Yubai could only bow and say, “Please walk slowly, Grand Tutor.”
“My lord, perhaps I could accompany you for a game of chess?” the servant suggested.
Qiao Yubai glanced at him, sighed, and ultimately refrained from saying anything hurtful.
The servant silently lowered his head.
“Yubai, Yubai!”
At that moment, a sweaty youth came running over.
“Qianshan?” Qiao Yubai looked at his approaching friend with delight.
The youth was somewhat out of breath: “I came specifically to find you!”
Qiao Yubai felt a warm sensation in his heart.
There were still people who cared about him.
“Today’s banquet hosted by Lady Chang is truly spectacular… I heard that many scholars have gathered, and there are probably more than a hundred people at the banquet right now!” the youth said, “It’s really turning into a beautiful and elegant affair!”
Qiao Yubai nodded with a smile: “I’ve heard about it too; please sit and tell me more.”
“No time to sit…” The youth hurriedly waved his hand, “I just came to tell you that I have to go too. Fu Xiong and the others are waiting for me!”
“?” Qiao Yubai’s smile froze.
“I’ll tell you all about it when I return!”
The youth came and went like the wind.
Sitting back in his chair, Qiao Yubai, with medicine still applied to his head, quietly reflected.
Indeed, the excitement was for others.
He had always been easygoing and indifferent, rarely getting angry with anyone, but at this moment, he felt a delayed resentment towards Chang Miao.
How he wished he could curse…!
…
In stark contrast to the cold and desolate atmosphere surrounding the resentful Qiao Yubai, Dengtai Tower was a scene of bustling festivity.
Fine wines and exquisite drinks flowed, music resounded, scholars in long gowns chatted, and beautiful verses were exchanged. As the setting sun cast its golden rays through the evening breeze, it seemed to transform the place into a fairyland.
Cui Lang watched the scene and couldn't help but exclaim, "This is truly a place brimming with literary atmosphere... Just sitting here, I feel like I've soaked in quite a bit of it myself."
Hu Yi nodded in agreement. "If a mouse were to pass by here today and then return to its nest, it might even become a scholar!"
"If it were to be reincarnated into a human in the next life, who knows, the next top scholar who passes the imperial examination might just be that mouse," Cui Lang said, glancing in the direction of Wei Shuyi.
Unbeknownst to Wei Shuyi, he had become the comparison for the reincarnated mouse. At this moment, he was sitting cross-legged, observing the activities in the tower.
A group of Scholars was engaged in a drinking game, tossing out verses, which were diligently recorded by the attendants.
"Li Bai could compose a hundred poems after drinking a jug of wine…" Wei Shuyi smiled and said, "Although not everyone can be Li Taibai, and not everyone can create a hundred poems after one jug of wine, with so many Scholars here, if everyone contributes just one poem, we’d still have over a hundred."
"A single poem counts as poetry, ten can become a beautiful tale, and a hundred…" As he spoke, his gaze shifted to the young woman in green beside Qiao Yan, and he said softly, "A hundred would be a grand affair."
A grand affair?
Chang Ji was momentarily taken aback and instinctively asked, "Does this mean that after this, Lady Chang will gain a great reputation?"
Wei Shuyi shook his head gently. "Not quite yet."
At least for now, the fame that would spread was not hers but that of the apprenticeship banquet, or rather, the fine works that would emerge from it, rather than her own.
The spotlight of the banquet overshadowed her.
Wei Shuyi continued, "Just like today, everyone has come for the banquet, and more so for the people at the banquet, but none have truly come for her."
The young woman in green sensed his gaze and turned to look at him.
Behind her was a wide-open window, through which the blazing glow of the setting sun poured in.
Wei Shuyi raised his wine cup toward Chang Suining with a smile and said, "But I came here for her."
With that, he was about to drink.
The clamor continued, and the twilight had not yet completely enveloped the surroundings. The bright lanterns lit up one by one, illuminating the area as if it were daytime, adding a touch of the glamorous ambiance unique to the capital’s night.
The entire capital gradually lit up, and without a curfew, the night was particularly lively, with Dengtai Tower undoubtedly being the most eye-catching place in the city tonight.
By now, everyone was aware of the grand spectacle taking place at Dengtai Tower.
The news was spreading through various official residences.
“What were you just saying?”
In the residence of Marquis Ying, Ming Jin frowned and reprimanded several female servants speaking in the corridor.
It had been two months since the incident at Dayun Temple, and his injuries were finally healed, but he was still under house arrest, able to move only a little around the estate.
“Replying to the Young Master, we were just saying that someone in the city is holding an apprenticeship banquet…” one of the female servants answered timidly.
Ming Jin, impatient, kicked at the servant: “Dare you hide and dodge? I distinctly heard that wench Chang Suining’s name just now!”
The servant stumbled back a few steps from the kick, hurriedly kneeling down, “Yes… it is indeed Lady Chang who is hosting the apprenticeship banquet!”
“She’s taking an apprentice?” Ming Jin sneered. “What kind of master could she possibly take?”
Under his probing, the servant had no choice but to divulge everything she had heard.
The more Ming Jin listened, the darker his expression became.
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