They say it takes a hundred days to recover from a broken bone or tendon.
However, this basic medical knowledge clearly does not apply to Ning Hongchen.
The next morning, when Mu Zian came out of Zhao Yun's room, he saw Ning Hongchen and Liu Rushi sitting in the courtyard drinking tea.
The weather was fine and sunny, and a beautiful woman was by my side.
The painting of ladies from Jiangnan seemed to have come to life at this moment.
It's hard to imagine that the two women were at odds last night, but this morning they were able to sit together peacefully and drink tea.
This kind of situation is often more worrying.
Mu Zian wanted to slip away quietly, but he was called back by the two women before he could take two steps.
In front of the stone table in the courtyard, Liu Rushi poured tea and massaged Mu Zi'an's shoulders, displaying the demeanor of a virtuous wife and loving mother.
Ning Hongchen, sitting opposite Mu Zian, used his long, slender legs to tease Mu Zian's legs repeatedly.
Combined with her already alluring face, she truly stirred a burning desire within one's heart.
Jia Xu, who was passing by, smiled knowingly upon seeing this, but offered a word of advice, reminding Mu Zi'an to take care of his health.
Then he led Zhao Yun straight to the experimental field where sweet potatoes were planted.
As the saying goes, it is hardest to bear the kindness of a beautiful woman, and my friend was right.
Around midday, Xiao Xiuning sent someone to deliver a set of wide-sleeved scholar's robes to Mu Zian.
It must be said that the royal craftsmanship is truly exceptional.
If Mu Zian, dressed in a python robe, was arrogant and domineering, then after changing into a scholar's robe, he exuded a scholarly air in his every move.
The two women were momentarily stunned.
Ning Hongchen's eyes sparkled, and she put her slender fingers to her lips, praising him generously.
"If I didn't know your martial arts skills, I would probably only think you were a handsome scholar who couldn't even kill a chicken."
"Young master, you smell so good."
As they spoke, Ning Hongchen almost pressed herself against Mu Zian's chest.
However, Liu Rushi grabbed her hand.
"Tonight's poetry gathering on the painted boat will be attended by all the top students of Dali. As the saying goes, scholars are jealous of each other, so the competition on the painted boat tonight will be fierce."
"It is said that Pei Shaoji, the third young master of the Pei family, will also participate. He can recognize a thousand characters at the age of three, recite ancient poems at the age of five, and is well-versed in the Four Books and Five Classics at the age of seven. He is known as the number one child prodigy in the Great Li Dynasty."
"It is widely rumored that the Great Li has eight out of ten talents, making him a top contender for the top spot in this imperial examination."
"Moreover, it is said that the Pei family intends to match him with Princess Ninth."
While tidying Mu Zian's clothes, Liu Rushi told Mu Zian about the information she had gathered.
"The Pei family will likely use this opportunity to further enhance Pei Shaoji's reputation at this poetry gathering on the painted boat."
Mu Zian nodded in agreement as he listened to Liu Rushi's words.
She truly deserves the title of the most talented woman of the late Ming Dynasty; her analytical methods and understanding are far ahead of the competition.
"Why don't you join me for the poetry gathering tonight?"
Mu Zian suddenly spoke up.
Liu Rushi paused in her work, adjusting her clothes, and a blush rose on her cheeks.
As a talented woman, she naturally longed for poetry gatherings, but due to the taboo against men and women, she couldn't bring it up.
Now that Mu Zian had seen through her thoughts at a glance, Liu Rushi was extremely excited.
"How could I dare disobey the young master's order?"
Seeing this, Ning Hongchen immediately expressed his dissatisfaction.
"I want to go too!"
Mu Zian asked speechlessly.
"You, an assassin, can even compose poetry?"
Ning Hongchen, upon hearing this, adopted a look of utter disbelief.
"He was proficient in composing poems, playing the zither, playing chess, calligraphy, and painting."
"Besides, since you want to discover underprivileged students at the poetry gathering, wouldn't you get bogged down in trivial matters if you go there in a big way? And the number of followers would greatly affect your judgment."
"In my opinion, it would be better to disguise ourselves as ordinary students and infiltrate them to observe them up close. Only in this way can we know the true state of these students and distinguish their character."
For a moment, Mu Zian couldn't find any fault with it.
As the sun set, a carriage from the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion headed straight for a pleasure boat on the riverbank in the capital.
Ning Hongchen's makeup skills were superb; with just a few strokes, Mu Zian's appearance underwent a dramatic transformation.
Under the cover of night, no one would notice unless they looked closely that the slightly sinister-looking man in front of them was actually the Duke of Zhenguo of the current dynasty.
As evening fell, the setting sun painted the river surface red.
The entire capital city seemed to be immersed in a warm red ocean.
In this era of extreme lack of entertainment, brothels are definitely a topic that everyone can't avoid.
The term "painted boat" generally refers to beautifully decorated pleasure boats.
In the capital city, those who could afford to ride in a pleasure boat were either rich or noble.
Princess Jiu's poetry gathering on the painted boats today involved booking nine of the largest and most luxurious painted boats in the entire capital.
The painted boats are connected by bridges, resembling a palace on the water.
People were bustling about on both sides of the riverbank, and countless brothels had already lit up their lights.
Each poetry gathering was not only a carnival for scholars, but also a great opportunity for ordinary people to make money.
Tonight's poetry gathering on the painted boat has brought together all the best courtesans in the capital, a dazzling display of beauty that will leave you breathless.
Although the terms "prostitute" and "prostitute" are often used interchangeably, they differ significantly in origin, social status, and services.
In modern times, prostitutes are equivalent to female celebrities in later generations. It is common knowledge that they are sought after by high-ranking officials and nobles who often spend lavishly on them.
Each of them was proficient in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. In an era when the literacy rate of the general population was less than one percent, their value was evident.
The art of poetry is also one of the important criteria for selecting officials in Dali today.
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