Ye Tian had seen many beautiful women, including many stunning beauties. Just consider Gu Ni Chang's breathtaking beauty and Huan Qing Sha's adorable charm from the Ruthless Sect. They were both refreshing sights. In his previous life, their figures and looks would have been enough to outshine all others.
Ye Tian had never seen a woman like Liu Rushi before. Or rather, such a woman was rare in the world; just looking at her was like being intimately gazing upon the very words "allure" and "delight." She was too beautiful, and too captivating.
Her alluring waist was adorned with silver ornaments that rustled softly, like the gentle whisper of a breeze. Combined with the half-exposed waist, she was incredibly seductive.
"Scholar, you composed a couplet for me, 'The lamp shines deep in the village, the temple bell rings,' a clever response from this young lady. It is undeniably perfect, but after much thought, I have yet to find a way to repay you. I have only learned a sword dance since childhood, and in the fourteen years I have lived in this building, I have never performed it. Would the scholar be so kind as to grant me a performance?" Her voice was as sweet as rice grains, captivating all who heard it. She lowered her head slightly as she spoke, revealing a charming and endearing personality.
Ye Tian took a sip of light wine with the dendrobium and said with a smile, "Then I'm in for a treat."
Since Liu Rushi could command such respect from even the madam, she must be exceptionally talented in both music and dance, and unparalleled in both musical skills and appearance. The brothels weren't just filled with women who only sold their bodies; each generation's top courtesan was divided into two types.
One type is known for their talent, the other for their beauty.
Those who possess both talent and beauty are treasures even within the Jiaofangsi (a government-run entertainment institution), attracting countless people who are satisfied simply by admiring them from afar.
Liu Rushi's beauty is enough to prove that her appearance can be described as absolutely stunning. It's just unknown how much talent she possessed.
"I've made a fool of myself." Liu Ru took the lower sleeve sword from the weapon, and the ornate silver ornaments at her waist clattered together, making a rustling sound.
Ye Tian sat cross-legged in front of the sandalwood table, with a few square meters of space between him and the sandalwood table in front of Liu Rushi.
Her bare, smooth feet touched the ground, a red rope tightly binding a silver bell around her ankle. With a sudden thrust of her hidden sword, she moved with the agility of a rabbit!
When Liu Rushi wielded her sword, she moved like a dragon in flight, her swordplay stirring all directions. Her movements were as swift as thunder and as calm as still waters on the sea.
Fierce!
Ordinary people would never be able to see the mystery here.
Ye Tian could discern a fierce and perilous danger within the graceful sword dance.
Because he was also a swordsman!
He is a swordsman who is extremely well hidden...
...
In the main hall of the Jiaofangsi (Imperial Music Bureau), the high-ranking Confucian scholars from the academy were now gathered together, gossiping with beaming smiles.
"Liu Rushi is known as the most alluring beauty in the Jiaofangsi. Perhaps Fellow Daoist Ye already considers a single night of passion worth a thousand pieces of gold."
Kong Chan coughed twice and said, "How could that be? Although Fellow Daoist Ye is a Daoist, he has a literary mind. I believe that the beautiful women and fine wine of the Jiaofangsi will surely enable him to write an unparalleled poem."
The Confucian scholars of the academy might not be interested in other things. But the words "peerless poetry" were more captivating than beautiful women and powerful kingdoms.
Kong finished speaking.
Chen Zhang's eyes lit up, and so did Chen Dexing's.
"Fellow Daoist Ye was someone I recruited into the academy. If his poems were recorded in the Poetry Stele Forest, my name, Chen Zhang, would certainly be noted in detail at the end."
"Old fool, don't talk nonsense! Bringing Fellow Daoist Ye into the academy was clearly done by me, Chen Dexing. If anyone should be listed, it should be my name."
"You two old scoundrels! I, Kong Chan, am the Dean of the Hanlin Academy. What names are written on the poetry stele forest is entirely up to me. What does it have to do with you?"
The two most respected academicians of the Hanlin Academy were on the verge of a heated argument with the academy's dean, Kong Chan. Their words were already scathing, their expressions sharp and their eyes blazing with anger. Just as they were about to come to blows, someone weakly interjected:
"What if Fellow Daoist Ye doesn't write it?"
Suddenly, the noise stopped. Kong Chan, who had been furious, calmed down and said in a composed manner, "Impossible. Fellow Daoist Ye is definitely not that kind of person."
Chen Zhang also vehemently denied it, saying, "I know Fellow Daoist Ye very well. He is such a noble person that if he had inspiration, he would surely pick up his pen and write a poem."
That being said...
Chen Zhang added, "However, I'm afraid that the worldly women in the brothel are ignorant and might easily interfere with Fellow Daoist Ye's writing. I'd better write a letter first and have the madam deliver it to him as soon as possible."
"Bullshit! You old scoundrel, if anyone should be delivering a message, it should be me writing it." Chen Dexing, with the righteous spirit of Confucianism, tore the paper that Chen Zhang was about to use on the table into pieces.
Chen Zhang was furious and about to argue with him when Kong Chan said leisurely, "You don't need to argue. I am the dean of the academy. Since you want to write a letter to Fellow Daoist Ye, it is naturally my turn to pick up the pen."
"When did the academy start to have such a logic?" Chen Zhang and Chen Dexing said in unison.
Kong Chan's expression softened slightly, and he said with a gentle smile, "It seems I need to explain the rules of the academy to you."
Since it's an academy, the rule naturally goes to whoever has the strongest fist. Anyone who dares to break this rule will be severely punished.
Chen Zhang glared and clenched his fists, gritting his teeth as he said, "You old scoundrel! You've gone too far! You've gone too far!"
Seeing the academician's excitement, Kong Chan didn't want to press him further. With a touch of guilt for the loser, he comforted him, saying, "Since Fellow Daoist Ye is staying in the bookstore, he will have another chance sooner or later. When Fellow Daoist Ye composes his poem next time, it will naturally be your turn to compete with Chen Dexing."
Kong Chan's words skillfully shifted the focus of the conflict. Chen Zhang, who had originally been directing his criticism at Chen Dexing, snorted and said, "How can this old scoundrel compare to me? He'll definitely have to write my name, Chen Zhang, in the annotations for the next poem!"
This chapter is not finished, please click the next page to continue reading!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
