After watching wave after wave of scholars run past him, Jing Zhe finally got his chance.
A somewhat overweight scholar was seen running with the main group for an unknown amount of time. When he reached Jing Zhe's side, he was panting heavily and stopped.
Jing Zhe stepped forward and asked, "May I ask, brother, what are you all running to do?"
The fat scholar took a breath, glanced up at Jing Zhe, and was genuinely surprised when he saw Jing Zhe and Pei Yunxi's appearances.
He was about to begin when Jing Zhe fired off three consecutive shots.
"A native of Jingzhou."
"Just arrived in Jiangling."
"I know nothing."
"..."
Based on Jing Zhe's previous experience, whenever he stopped someone to ask them something, they would definitely question his identity and ask if he was from out of town, so it was better for him to say it himself first.
Sure enough, after he introduced himself, the man began to speak. It turned out that a few miles away, there was a Peach Blossom Mountain, and on the mountain stood a temple called Peach Blossom Temple.
It was March, and the climate in Jiangling was much hotter than in other northern cities, so the peach blossoms on Peach Blossom Mountain were in full bloom. These days, Peach Blossom Temple was holding a Peach Blossom Festival.
It's called the Peach Blossom Festival, but it's really just a poetry gathering about peach blossoms.
Hearing this, Jing Zhe became interested.
Since arriving in Anguo, he has participated in many poetry gatherings, but this is the first time he has encountered a peach blossom poetry gathering.
The fat scholar felt smug seeing Jing Zhe's eyes light up.
"The Peach Blossom Festival has actually been running for two days, and today is the third day. But the number of scholars attending the festival in the first two days was far less than today!"
"Oh? Why?"
Jing Zhe asked, offering his support.
"Because the number one scholar and number one woman of Jiangling—or rather, the number one scholar and number one woman of Anguo—will be attending the Peach Blossom Festival today, which is why scholars from all over the city are flocking to the festival to catch a glimpse of their beauty!"
"Is it the young master Feng and young lady Lin that everyone was talking about just now?"
"Exactly!"
The fat scholar nodded slightly, his face full of smugness.
Jing Zhe nodded and raised his objection: "Let's put aside the fact that Miss Lin is known as the number one talented woman in Anguo, but I heard that the title of the number one talented man in Anguo belongs to Jing Zhe from Jingzhou. How come there is another young master Feng here?"
Jing Zhe had never been to Jiangling and didn't know the specific situation there. It was understandable that news didn't circulate between Jinxi and Ruzhou because of the presence of the Prince of Jin and the Prince of Yu, but was it the same in Jiangling? Why hadn't his title as the number one talent in Anguo been spread over?
"Pooh!"
Upon hearing this, the fat scholar spat and said disdainfully, "Don't underestimate Jingzhou just because it's the capital. When it comes to poetry, it's far inferior to Jiangling! As the young master said, that Jing Zhe is from Jingzhou. At most, he's just a talented scholar from Jingzhou. If he wants to be called the number one talented scholar in Anguo, he should at least be the number one talented scholar in Jiangling, just like Young Master Feng!"
During the brief pause in their conversation, many scholars had already passed by them, and the plump scholar had taken the time to rest while talking to Jing Zhe.
"If you have some free time, young master, you can also go to Peach Blossom Temple to participate in the Peach Blossom Festival and listen to Young Master Feng compose a poem. You will then know just how talented the Jiangling scholar is! By the way, it is rare to have Young Master Feng and Miss Lin present at the same poetry gathering. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!"
After the fat scholar finished speaking, he followed the other scholars and ran ahead.
"..."
Jing Zhe originally didn't want to go, but after being provoked by the fat scholar, he became interested.
"Fourth Sister, shall we go take a look too?"
Pei Yunxi shook her head and said, "I'm not going."
Then he added, "If Zhe'er wants to go, then go by yourself!"
Upon hearing that Pei Yunxi was not going, even if Jing Zhe wanted to go, it was impossible for him to abandon Pei Yunxi as soon as he entered Jiangling City.
He even thought Pei Yunxi was deliberately testing him, so he smiled and waved his hand, saying, "If Fourth Sister isn't going, then I certainly won't go either! I'll take Fourth Sister to find a restaurant to settle down first!"
To everyone's surprise, Pei Yunxi shook her head repeatedly.
No, you have to go!
Why?
Jing Zhe was curious.
"Because... Zhe'er loves poetry so much, and it just so happens to be the Peach Blossom Festival, wouldn't it be a pity not to go?"
Jing Zhe smiled and said, "The Peach Blossom Festival is nice, but it's not as important as Fourth Sister. I'd better accompany Fourth Sister to settle in first!"
"Really, you don't need to!"
Pei Yunxi refused again: "Besides, we're in Jiangling, why would we need to stay at an inn?"
"Where will you stay?"
"Of course, I'm going to find Third Sister and stay at Qingyun Sect."
"..."
Jing Zhe thought about it and it seemed to make sense.
If he had come with the newspaper staff, he would naturally have looked for an inn to stay in. But since he came with Pei Yunxi, it was like visiting relatives. It wouldn't make sense if he didn't go to see his third sister, Qingqiu.
“In that case, I definitely can’t go to the Peach Blossom Festival, otherwise my third sister will blame me.”
"no!"
This time, Pei Yunxi waved her hand decisively: "You can't go to Qingyun Sect!"
"..."
Seeing the questioning look in Jing Zhe's eyes, Pei Yunxi quickly changed her mind and said, "It's not that we can go now! I need to go see Third Sister alone first and tell her about our... relationship. Then you can go!"
"..."
Looking at Pei Yunxi's slightly flushed cheeks, Jing Zhe roughly understood what she meant.
Back in Jinxi, Qingqiu, who had already become Jing Zhe's woman, had tried to persuade Pei Yunxi, but Pei Yunxi refused. Now, seeing Qingqiu again, Pei Yunxi, who was already Jing Zhe's woman, felt somewhat embarrassed.
Therefore, Pei Yunxi wanted to talk to Qingqiu alone first. Without Jing Zhe present, Pei Yunxi felt more at ease, after all, they were both women and sisters.
Jing Zhe understood and nodded: "Alright, then Fourth Sister, go find Third Sister first! I'll go to Fashan Temple and then go to Qingyun Sect to meet up with Third Sister and Fourth Sister at noon!"
Pei Yunxi breathed a sigh of relief when Jing Zhe agreed.
"That's more like it! Didn't you hear what that person just said? The people of Jiangling don't recognize your status as the number one talent in Anguo. I was so angry for you! You should go and see them, and it would be best if you could write a poem to show them what you're made of!"
"..."
Jing Zhe neither commented nor denied it, and then left first. Watching his retreating figure, Pei Yunxi breathed a sigh of relief, her eyes full of cunning.
If I'm with him, should I tell him or not?
Not saying anything is definitely not an option, but saying something is not an option either—none of my second and fifth sisters mentioned me before, and my sixth sister is even closer to that girl. She knew he was coming to Jiangling, but she didn't say anything either.
Then why should I say it?
Now that he's gone to see her himself, even if that girl recognizes him, she can't blame me, right?
Pei Yunxi thought to herself with delight, then got into the carriage and headed towards Qingyun Sect.
————
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