Xiao Yunshuo chuckled inwardly, fearing that the intoxicating substance was not actually the contents of the cup.
She was already in a bad mood tonight, especially after witnessing the intimate interactions between the imperial heirs.
What bothered her even more was that her "talent" had already been elevated to the highest rank before she even arrived in Fengjing.
The girl who could write such amazing and brilliant poems was a complete stranger to him, yet he personally stepped in to promote her and make her famous.
Behind this lies nothing more than the phrase "praise to death."
Xiao Yunshuo knew perfectly well that his poetic talent was far inferior to that of his opponent.
If she were acting on her conscience, she would have tried every means to salvage the situation, but at this moment... a deep sense of powerlessness gripped her.
She has arrived in Fengjing as promised, becoming a pawn on the chessboard, yet she doesn't even know what she has gained in return.
Father... has he achieved his wish?
Looking at the distraught scholar before him, Xiao Yunshuo felt a ripple in his heart, but it had nothing to do with love.
Her gaze shifted slightly, and her voice, though extremely low, reached Yan Zhibai's ears with crystal clarity:
“Mr. Yan, if you truly wish to fulfill your father’s last wish and live out your life’s dream, staying in Fengjing may be your only hope in this life.”
Yan Zhibai was struck as if by an invisible thunderbolt, his whole body instantly stiffening.
He looked up at Xiao Yunshuo, his pupils suddenly contracted, and his lips parted slightly.
He seemed to want to say something, but his throat felt as if it were being choked by an invisible hand, and he could only utter short, silent breaths.
His eyes were filled with disbelief and astonishment, as well as a hint of embarrassment at having his secret exposed.
"Your Highness, I..."
However, Xiao Yunshuo did not wait for his response.
She gave a slight curtsy, her demeanor still elegant, and without hesitation turned around and walked into the brightly lit courtyard.
The early autumn night breeze stirred her simple cloak, outlining her thin and slightly lonely figure.
As if bearing an untold burden, it gradually blends into the depths of that courtyard where light and shadow intertwine.
Yan Zhibai stood there, stunned.
Above his head, a dazzling galaxy poured down, its diamond-like light scattering across the night sky and illuminating his bewildered face.
A flushed blush crept up his ears and cheeks, standing out starkly in the cool starlight.
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