Chapter 2 Literary Master "The Imperial Power Has Fallen, What Do You Want to Do?"

Min Shian responded in the same whisper and chuckled, "Guess?"

She didn't want to deceive her friend, nor did she want to tell the truth, so she left this ambiguous statement and left.

Song Tinglan looked at Min Shian's back, then thought about her brother, and suddenly felt that the two were a perfect match. She immediately decided to help her friend win her brother.

Others only think that Min Shian is a fool princess, but Song Tinglan knows that her literary talent is by no means inferior to her, the most talented woman in Dajin.

As for the reason why she hid her abilities, Song Tinglan could roughly guess it.

Min Shian, who was sitting in the sedan chair, was distressed. Although she was good at killing people and plotting, she had no idea how to attract men.

So much so that when she thought about it carefully now, she regretted what she had just said. She felt that it was too straightforward, especially since Song Sheng was a self-disciplined and polite person. She wondered how he felt about it.

The plan collapsed at the beginning before it was completed, and Min Shian felt like crying but had no tears.

After one stick of incense.

Min Shian regrouped, her bright face was resolute, her fox eyes were full of determination. No matter what, she was determined to gain some real power from Song Sheng.

Then let’s start learning about love between men and women.

Tianxian Tower——

The largest restaurant in Shangjing City, backed by the Song family, has great privacy and good security. Except for the bustling lobby, you can hear a pin drop anywhere else, and no sound can be heard from or into the private rooms.

Not only dignitaries like to come here, but also those literati and poets who like to show off their elegance gather here. There are countless people who come here hoping to make friends with nobles and climb up the social ladder.

After changing his clothes, Min Shian cleared his throat, made sure his voice achieved the effect he wanted, and strode into the Tianxian Building.

She practiced some martial arts, and because she was very cautious, she never brought any maids or guards with her when she went out, so she developed many skills.

"Sir, would you like to sit in the lobby or in a private room?" A servant came up to Min Shi'an warmly and asked with a smile when he saw him.

"Prepare a private room. I also want to order some storybooks."

Listening to his own soft and graceful voice, Min Shian felt a little uncomfortable, so he quickened his speaking speed and continued: "Listen to the book about the love entanglement between men and women."

"Alright, sir, please come this way."

The first thing that catches the eye in the private room is the wall full of calligraphy and painting scrolls, most of which are landscapes, interspersed with some flowing cursive script.

Wine and tea sets were placed at both ends of the table, while the middle was filled with delicacies. The bronze incense burner in the corner of the private room was emitting a strong agarwood scent and the air was filled with smoke.

Further back is a screen painted with a picture of hundreds of birds, which separates the resting area from the outside.

Min Shian sat on the couch and began to eat calmly. After a while, the white porcelain bell hanging above the door of the private room rang.

She skillfully pressed the bulge on the corner of the table, and immediately, the servant brought three storytellers and a guard into the private room.

The servant smiled as usual, "Sir, if you have any needs, just ring the white bell. There will be someone waiting outside the private room."

The storyteller stood by the wall opposite Min Shian, while the guards stood at the door, staring at the three of them closely.

"This first book is called 'The Romantic Gentleman and the Beautiful Lady'. Speaking of which..."

"So the beauty began to fall in love with the young man..."

"The beautiful lady and the young man have overcome all difficulties and finally become a couple."

Min Shian listened with great interest and for a moment forgot the original purpose of his coming here. He spent a fortune to order a storybook for the whole night.

Just as she was returning home with panda eyes to catch up on some sleep, an urgent summons came from the palace, ordering Min Shian to enter the palace immediately.

She hurriedly changed her clothes and rushed to the Queen's Palace.

"Shi'an, after the marriage, all the families are watching your marriage. Although I won't force you, I am in a high position and many things are beyond my control. If you really want Song Yanxuan, I will try to talk to the Song family."

"Now that the imperial power is weakening, you represent not only the Xie family but also Princess Dajin. If you marry into the Song family, I don't need to explain what it means."

Min Shi'an's face darkened. The power was already in the hands of the Song family. If they married the princess, the Jin family would be completely surnamed Song.

Without waiting for Min Shi'an to reply, Empress Xie continued, "Shi'an, as a daughter of an aristocratic family, I don't care much about these things, but the Song and Xie families have always had friction. If you marry Song Yanxuan, he may not treat you well."

"Mother, I understand that this time... someone has come to discuss marriage with you?"

Min Shian's mind flashed through the names of young men of marriageable age from various families, including Song Sheng, Xiao Er, Xie Si, Jiang Wu and Jiang Ba.

It’s most likely Xie Si.

"Yes, my father sent a message saying that he intends to strengthen the relationship between you and Xie Si. What do you think?"

Min Shi'an felt a headache. Why did she insist on getting married?

She shook her head, repeated her previous words, and said sincerely, "I hope your Majesty will thank my father-in-law for his kindness on my behalf, but I only have my heart set on Song Yanxuan."

The right to...

Empress Xie waved her hands, almost choking on her breath: "You are so stubborn!"

Min Shian quickly poured her more tea and said, "Mother, I will take care of the Song family's business myself. Please help me politely decline the rest."

She understood that Queen Xie alone could not hold out for long. Her mother loved her, so she naturally could not act willfully and had to consider her mother.

She couldn't end up marrying just anyone; that wasn't what she wanted.

Min Shi'an rushed to the Song Mansion and went straight to Song Tinglan's Qingheju. He took her arm and acted coquettishly.

"Tinglan, good Tinglan, do me a favor."

Song Tinglan smiled faintly, pinched Min Shian's face, and said lovingly: "Good Shian, if you look like this, I will go through mountains of swords and seas of fire for you."

"I heard that Master Zhang is interested in taking on another student. I wrote an essay a few days ago. Could you, Tinglan, please give it to Master Zhang for review?"

Taifu Zhang, the Taifu of three generations, is a master of literature. All the literati in the world are eager to get a word or two of advice from him. So far, he has only accepted the Song brothers and sisters.

However, the two of them had already achieved academic success, and the Taifu, who was nearly 70 years old and had nothing to do, was inspired to educate more people, so he spread the news that he wanted to accept more disciples.

Song Tinglan was a little surprised. She took the article but didn't open it. She asked softly, "But is there something you can't avoid recently? Why did you want to become my disciple?"

As everyone knows, Tutor Zhang is extremely strict with his students, and even the powerful Song Sheng has to endure a period of closed-door study.

Song Sheng was busy with government affairs after all, so Tutor Zhang detained him for a while and then allowed him to attend classes once every three days. However, Song Tinglan was kept for more than a year.

"As expected, Tinglan is the only one who understands my heart best. I've run into some trouble and want to hide with the Grand Tutor. I wonder if the Grand Tutor would be impressed by my humble work."

Song Tinglan glanced at her and jokingly said, "It's ok if others don't know you, but how could I not know? Don't underestimate yourself."

She placed the cocoon paper into the wooden box and said, "I will visit the teacher tomorrow. You just wait for good news."

Then she suddenly thought of something else, paused, looked at Min Shian and asked, "Your writing is brilliant, and you will definitely be appreciated by the teacher, but you and my brother..."

Min Shian blinked, pretending not to understand, and said innocently, "How are I and Song Pushe?"

Song Tinglan blushed and ignored him. She carefully put the wooden box away and ordered him to leave.

"It's not up to me to decide. Your Highness and my brother will do as they please. I'm tired too. Your Highness, please come back later."

Min Shian smiled and took out a white jade hairpin and waved it in front of Song Tinglan, sighing, "Since you have called me Your Majesty, I must express my gratitude."

"It's made of top-grade cold jade, a tribute from the Western Regions. I think it suits you perfectly, so I asked my mother for it a few days ago and gave it to you."

Song Tinglan's face was filled with smile again. She looked at the hairpin again and again, and finally put it on her hair. She still said to the man, "It's getting late. Go back and rest quickly."

Only then did Min Shian return home with peace of mind.

The next day at 3:30 PM.

Tutor Zhang finally decided to accept the third princess Min Shian as his disciple, which caused an uproar.

The prominent families attach great importance to etiquette, and apart from sending gifts, they did not say much.

Min Shian's image as an unlearned and arrogant princess was deeply rooted in people's hearts, causing extreme dissatisfaction among students all over the world for a time, and there was a hint of an uncontrollable trend.

After obtaining Min Shi'an's consent, Taifu Zhang made the original manuscript of "Ode to Flowing Water" public. The writing was fluent and the choice of words and sentences was profound, which barely silenced the gossips.

However, some people still suspect that someone else wrote it for them, and even threatened to crush Min Si'an at the Wenqing talks in March.

The Wenqing Talks were hosted by the Song and Jiang families, inviting people of ambition from all over the world to come and exchange ideas with each other. They were held in the middle of the dog days of summer every year. Naturally, other aristocratic families would participate in such banquets.

There are not many opportunities to stand out in front of noble people.

Xianyang Hall.

"Why didn't you discuss this with Mother? This is like standing at the center of public opinion. Shi An, Mother has already..."

Min Shian's ears were filled with Queen Xie's words of disappointment, but she did not feel distressed at all. Instead, she felt a sense of relaxation as if it were an ordinary mother and daughter chatting.

Song Tinglan, the jewel in the Song family's crown, could not even decide her own marriage, but Empress Xie loved her very much.

In any case, her marriage dilemma was now solved.

After all, who would dare to snatch someone from Master Zhang?

Min Shi'an lowered his eyes and waited quietly for Empress Xie to finish speaking. Then he looked into her eyes and said solemnly, "Mother, I have grown up. In the future, I will be the one who protects you from the wind and rain. I never want to spend the rest of my life in a muddle."

Empress Xie was stunned for a while, then she sighed deeply, rubbed Min Shian's head, and said softly, "But mother only wishes you peace and happiness in life."

The mother and daughter were silent for a while, and finally Empress Xie compromised: "Well, just do whatever you want, and your mother will always be your support."

"Later, I will send some rare copies to your residence. This is your first meeting with Master Zhang, so don't neglect it."

"Thank you, mother. I will take my leave."

In addition to those sent by the Queen, Min Shian also took out some of his most valuable treasures, and selected some precious items from the gifts, which filled up more than three boxes.

She quickly wrote a letter to the Song Mansion, asking whether such behavior would be considered extravagant by the Grand Tutor and thus displeased.

Song Tinglan replied that when she and her brother entered the school, there was a bigger scene. The tutor only picked out a few rare books and calligraphy and paintings, and returned the rest. He did not show any contempt, but was very happy about the rare books.

Along with the letter came a box of calligraphy and paintings.

Tomorrow is the day she will officially become his disciple. Tutor Zhang has even specially prepared a banquet for her. Min Shi'an did not dare to slack off at all. She reviewed the "On Poetry" written by Tutor Zhang in his early years before going to bed.

The next day.

Min Shian was on high alert and ordered someone to deliver the things to the Taifu Mansion first. The banquet would start in two hours, and she was going to go and pay her respects to Taifu Zhang first to perform the ceremony of becoming his disciple.

She wore a dark blue gauze cross-collared short jacket and a light blue silk skirt with magnolia flower patterns on the cuffs. A green jade hairpin was pinned on her snake bun, which made her look elegant and dignified.

Her naturally beautiful face was lightly made up, with a flower ornament on her forehead and fox eyes painted with light blue powder. At first glance, she looked like a fairy in a painting come to life.

She sat in the sedan chair, and kept speculating in her mind what questions the tutor would ask her later. After thinking about it, she realized that it was all related to poetry and songs.

However, what she didn't expect was that the tutor praised her very kindly without asking any questions. He smiled at her and performed the apprenticeship ceremony, then gave her several authentic works as a gift.

It was completely different from the solemn atmosphere she had imagined.

Suddenly, Zhang Taifu changed the subject, his voice old but full of energy: "I am old, and my thoughts have changed, so I will let you, Senior Brother, test you."

Senior brother?

When she reacted, Song Sheng was already standing in front of him, showing his usual kind smile, and said in a gentle voice: "Your Highness, the imperial power has fallen, what do you want to do?"