Chapter 35 Want to taste the whip?

Meng Anxian quickly noticed the boys' gazes, but assumed they were all looking at her. She blushed shyly, took out a fan to half-cover her face, and acted like a proper young lady, dignified and shy.

Meng Yanzhi, following Meng Anxian's example, covered her face and looked around to see if Zhang Xuanyun had followed.

Not far away, a group of young men were composing poems together. Soon, Meng Yanzhi spotted Zhang Xuanyun among them.

She didn't rush over, but instead quietly observed the situation. She found that the young noblemen treated Zhang Xuanyun with some respect because of the Crown Prince, except for Xu Shize!

Xu Shize kept talking back to Zhang Xuanyun, not only making sarcastic remarks, but also having Xu Yunrou by his side.

The young men present were all from prestigious families. Even if they were usually eccentric, they would not bring their eccentricities to such a formal occasion.

On the surface, no one said anything, but the look in their eyes as they looked at Xu Shize revealed their disgust and contempt, and some even silently distanced themselves from him.

In fact, Meng Yanzhi had known for a long time that Xu Shize was a good-for-nothing who was all bark and no bite. He had no real skills and was just an imposter. The reason he was able to rise to prominence in his previous life was because of the Meng family and his own hard work. He relied entirely on opportunism and trickery, and was truly unworthy of his position.

Zhang Xuanyun wrote a poem, which was praised by everyone, but Xu Shize shook his head and said in disdain: "It's so vulgar, really too vulgar. I heard that Mr. Zhang came from the countryside, but I never thought that his poem would also have such a rural flavor. It's simply laughable."

"Mr. Zhang is exceptionally talented, so how can he be described as having a rustic flavor?"

"Since Young Master Xu is so arrogant, why don't you do it?"

Young Marquis Gu Hanyue couldn't stand it any longer and spoke up for justice.

He was a notorious troublemaker in the capital. In his previous life, he had always disliked Xu Shize's mercenary and studious nature, and it was the same in this life. The two of them were like enemies from a past life, and they couldn't stand each other whenever they met.

Xu Shize is now just a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations), no match for Gu Hanyue, so he can only grit his teeth and write poetry.

The commotion quickly attracted a lot of attention. Meng Yanzhi slowly got up and moved closer to the commotion. Taking advantage of the chaos, she walked to Zhang Xuanyun's side and smiled at him, saying, "Greetings, sir."

"The young lady is here too?" Zhang Xuanyun's eyes lit up when he saw Meng Yanzhi's outfit: "The young lady looks especially beautiful today!"

When Xu Shize saw Meng Yanzhi, he was stunned for a moment, and then said disdainfully, "Women are beautiful for their virtues, but Miss is so concerned about appearances. It's putting the cart before the horse."

Meng Yanzhi originally didn't intend to pay any attention to Xu Shize, but after hearing these words, she simply smiled coldly: "Snake-like words, they come from the mouth. Clever words like a reed, shameless indeed."

Upon hearing this, the entire room fell silent. Xu Shize's face flushed red as he glared at Meng Yanzhi through gritted teeth.

"How dare you! What nonsense are you spouting!"

"Hahaha!"

Gu Hanyue was clearly enjoying the spectacle and clapped her hands.

"Good, good, well said, truly well said! Miss Meng is indeed a woman of exceptional literary talent!"

As soon as Gu Hanyue shouted, everyone turned to look in their direction.

Meng Yanzhi blushed with embarrassment, then looked at Zhang Xuanyun expectantly: "Sir, did I recite it correctly?"

“Yes, not only did he memorize it word for word, but he also used it very appropriately,” Zhang Xuanyun said truthfully.

These words were tantamount to slapping Xu Shize hard across the face!

Now, Xu Shize could no longer save face and gritted his teeth as he looked at Meng Yanzhi.

"Miss Meng, this is a place where men gather to compose poetry, yet you shamelessly join in. Is this your upbringing?"

"You're already so restless while still unmarried; I wonder which young man will suffer the consequences of marrying you in the future!"

As soon as Xu Shize opened his mouth, he started blaming Meng Yanzhi.

In her previous life, Meng Yanzhi would have been filled with shame and indignation, but now, she only found it utterly ridiculous.

She raised an eyebrow, looked at Xu Shize, and whispered, "Young Master Xu, you should watch your words. Today is a polo match hosted by the Imperial Concubine, where men and women are not separated. Besides, aren't there plenty of young ladies and gentlemen here? We are clearly making friends through literature, which is an elegant affair. How did it become shamelessness in your mouth? Do you dislike me, Meng Yanzhi, or you dislike the Imperial Concubine and all these noble ladies?"

As she spoke, Meng Yanzhi lowered her head further and further, and her voice grew softer and softer.

"It is a small matter for Young Master Xu to insult me, but the reputations of these ladies are precious. I urge Young Master Xu to have some self-respect!"

Originally, everyone was just watching the show, but now that these words have been spoken, the nature of the matter has changed.

"What nonsense are you talking about? That's not what I meant. You're utterly incompetent and immoral for spreading rumors like this!" Xu Shize shouted again.

This angered the other young ladies around him, and before they could even speak, a long whip lashed across Xu Shize's face.

Shut up!

A clear, sharp voice rang out, followed by a woman in red riding attire walking over. She looked coldly at Xu Shize, who was rolling on the ground, and gave a disdainful snort.

"Did Miss Meng sleep with your wife or dig up your ancestral grave? Why are you treating her like this!"

"Judging by your weasel-faced appearance, you must be no good. Bah! Shameless wretch! So many noble ladies in the capital are called shameless in your mouth?"

The woman strode forward and kicked Xu Shize hard!

"The eldest daughter of the Meng family spoke out for justice, and you called her talentless and immoral. Well, what do you say now that I'm stepping on your head?"

The girl snorted coldly, and swung the whip in her hand again, which fell in mid-air with a sharp sound that exploded in Xu Shize's ears.

"Zhao Bailu, you're supposed to be a young girl, how could you say something like that?"

Gu Hanyue looked at Zhao Bailu in disbelief, her expression revealing a complex mix of emotions.

Zhao Bailu sneered: "What, you also want to taste the whip?"

"There's no need for that." Although Gu Hanyue was a playboy, she knew when to stop and quietly took a step back, afraid of getting herself implicated.

Xu Shize was about to retaliate, but after hearing the name Zhao Bailu, he immediately lost his temper.

"I was blind and didn't see Miss Zhao. Please, Miss, have mercy on me!"

Xu Shize quickly begged for mercy, afraid that if he was even a little too slow, another lash would come down.

Is she Zhao Bailu?

Zhao Bailu, the mischievous and unruly daughter of a great general, is the only daughter of a powerful woman in the capital.