Nan Qianyue looked over, noticed Mo Hua's handwriting, and asked, "Sister, were you just frightened by Prince Anzheng?"

Nan Kezhi was startled; this was not something you should say. "Big sister, it's alright."

"Write it again. I'll have someone bring another sheet of paper."

"No!" Nan Kezhi pulled her back. "No need, elder sister. Let it be. Anyway, what I wrote isn't worth reading."

As soon as she finished speaking, a servant from the Xu family came over to collect the poem, which Nan Kezhi handed directly to them.

Nanqianyue held her younger sister's hand and smiled, "I can see that you are talented, there's no need to be modest."

Nan Kezhi lowered her head and bit her lip, "Thank you for your trust, elder sister."

Looking at the two loving women across from him, Nan Yichu felt a sense of abandonment.

He came here to see his older sister make a fool of herself, but now he's the one who's the joke.

In terms of martial arts, I can't beat them.

In terms of writing, it can't compare.

Nan Yichu: "..."

The poem written by Nanqianyue was passed to him again. He lowered his eyes, frowned, and carefully read it. Just then, a dark shadow loomed over him.

He looked up and was so startled he almost fell off his stool. He quickly stood up and bowed to the person who had come, "Greetings...Greetings, Prince Anzheng. May I ask what brings you here—"

He stopped midway through his sentence because Prince Anzheng picked up the papers on the table and left, not wanting to pay any attention to him.

Nan Yichu: "..."

Qin Yi folded the three pieces of paper and then tucked them into his shirt.

He turned and gave Nan Qianyue a deep look before leaving.

This time, he personally kept her notes, so that someone from Nanjing shouldn't even think about stealing them.

"Qianqian." Xie Yanzhou walked over and blocked Nan Qianyue's view as she saw Qin Yi off.

Nanqianyue smiled and asked, "Why did you come here?"

Xie Yanzhou gave a thumbs-up using the gesture that Nanqianyue had taught him, "Your poems are really good. I've never seen you recite them to me before."

"Hmph, what's there to be proud of?" Song Suihuan retorted sarcastically, then led the group of noble ladies toward the lake.

Since the poetry contest was held by the lake, it was essentially a social game for young people.

Nan Qianyue and Xie Yanzhou glanced at Song Suihuan simultaneously, but neither of them paid any attention to her.

"Qianqian, do you want to participate in the poetry competition?" Xie Yanzhou asked.

Nanqianyue was naturally not interested. Seeing that a few talented men and women were not going to the lakeside but were walking out of the garden, she said, "I don't want to play. I'll go back first."

Today's objective has been achieved.

Xie Yanzhou was overjoyed. "I'm not interested either. I'll take you back to your residence."

After saying that, he looked at Nan Kezhi and said, "Miss Nan, why don't you play with Young Master Nan a little longer?"

Nan Kezhi swallowed back the words she was about to say, and nodded slightly, "...Okay."

Nanqianyue then remembered that she had a younger brother. She looked up at him and smiled, "Good little brother, play a little longer."

Nan Yichu looked like she'd just eaten shit, and awkwardly turned her face away.

After Xie Yanzhou and Nan Qianyue left the garden, the Second Prince walked towards Nan Yichu with a gentle smile, "Young Master Nan."

"Second, Second Prince!" Nan Yichu quickly bowed.

The second prince helped him up, his eyes glancing intentionally or unintentionally in the direction Nan Qianyue had left. He asked casually, "Your eldest sister seems to be quite familiar with Xie Shisun?"

Nan Yichu frowned. Why was the Second Prince concerned about his eldest sister? He remembered that the Second Prince was in the Silver-class private room at the Starry Sky Auction House that day.

"Your Highness, I am not entirely sure about this."

Just as the Second Prince opened his mouth to ask another question, Nan Kezhi walked over and gave a graceful bow, saying, "Greetings, Second Prince."

The Second Prince smiled and said, "Miss Nan, you may dispense with the formalities."

Nan Kezhi stood up and looked at Nan Yichu, saying softly, "Brother, didn't Father say you should go back to study earlier? I'm a little tired, so I'll go back with you."

After saying that, she nodded to the Second Prince again, "Your Highness, my younger brother and I will take our leave now."

Nan Yichu wasn't entirely without guile; he followed his sister's lead and bowed to the Second Prince in farewell.

Inside the carriage, Nan Yichu asked, "Sister, why were you in such a hurry to take me away just now?"

Nan Kezhi composed herself and looked at her younger brother seriously. "The Second Prince is close to the Eldest Princess. The Eldest Princess's birth mother is the current Empress, and the Empress's younger brother is Grand Commandant Song. You should know that Grand Commandant Song and Father are political enemies."

Nan Yichu frowned in confusion, "But isn't the Second Prince's birth mother Consort Xian? Consort Xian's father is Marquis Xie, and he and Young Master Xie are cousins. Seeing that his cousin and eldest sister are getting close, it doesn't seem like there's anything wrong with asking me, does it?"

Nan Kezhi asked with a smile, "Then why did my younger brother say he didn't know just now?"

Nan Yichu scratched the back of his head. "I really don't know. What I said before about her being entangled with another man was just said in anger. I saw it clearly that day. It was Young Master Xie who provoked my elder sister first."

Nan Kezhi was relieved that her younger brother hadn't been talking nonsense outside. She said seriously, "Brother, have you forgotten that at the poetry gathering, the daughter of Grand Commandant Song repeatedly targeted my elder sister? Actually, I suspect that her targeting of my elder sister is related to the Princess, but these are not things we should investigate."

"We can't help our eldest sister, so let's not cause her any trouble. We can discuss her affairs at home. If outsiders ask, we must not say anything irresponsible, lest we cause trouble for our eldest sister. If it gets serious, Father will also be implicated."

Nan Yichu suddenly realized, "I understand now, thank goodness I didn't say anything wrong."

Inside a private room at Lanyue Tower.

Xie Yanzhou ordered a table full of fine wine and dishes.

"Are you sure we can finish all this?" Nan Qianyue felt it was a bit wasteful.

Xie Yanzhou poured her a glass of light rice wine and then poured himself a glass of strong liquor. "Isn't this because I was considering Miss He's picky eating habits? Don't worry, Miss He, I'll have someone pack up any leftovers and take them home."

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