Hearing Xiao Che's childish "Help me 'cut' him," Lin Wanwan was both annoyed and amused.
She rolled her eyes at him, then pulled the still-holding emperor away from the horse market.
With a carriage for transportation, their journey finally returned to normal.
Although he still couldn't find a "palace" that would satisfy Xiao Che that night, at least sleeping in his own carriage with its thick brocade quilt was much more reassuring than sleeping on a wooden bed in an inn that had been slept on by countless others.
As the carriage traveled south, the scenery along the way gradually changed from the majestic grandeur of the north to the delicate beauty of the south.
The withered trees have been replaced by lush bamboo groves, and the dry, cold air has become moist and warm. Along the roadside, crisscrossing rivers and exquisite stone bridges begin to appear, and houses with white walls and black tiles are scattered among the green hills and clear waters, like a slowly unfolding ink painting.
Seeing the scenery so different from that of the capital, Xiao Che's mood visibly improved.
He was no longer the fastidious emperor, his face contorted with resentment from the inn's torment, but had reverted to the "Lord Xiao," brimming with curiosity about the world outside the palace. He would often lift the carriage curtain, gazing with interest at the small bridges and flowing water outside, his eyes sparkling with wonder.
Seeing his expression, Lin Wanwan felt much more at ease.
Although the trip started off a bit chaotic, seeing him so relaxed and at ease made it all worthwhile.
Several days later, the carriage finally arrived at their first destination—Suzhou, a city known as "paradise on earth".
Upon entering Suzhou, the charm of this Jiangnan water town immediately comes to mind.
The city is crisscrossed by waterways, with every household living by the water. Black-awning boats glide leisurely on the blue waves, and the soft Wu dialect boat songs, accompanied by the sounds of silk and bamboo instruments on both banks, make people feel relaxed and happy.
Xiao Che was completely captivated by the magnificent yet elegant scene before him.
“Wanwan, this place…is even more beautiful than in the paintings,” he exclaimed sincerely.
Having learned a painful lesson from the previous inn in the outskirts of Beijing, this time, Lin Wanwan took Xiao Che directly to the largest and most luxurious inn in the city – “Wanghulou”.
Wanghu Tower, as its name suggests, is built by the lake, with carved beams and painted rafters, exuding extreme luxury.
The two of them ordered the most luxurious "lake view room," and by opening the window, they could take in the entire scenic view of Suzhou's lakes and mountains.
The room was furnished with rosewood furniture, covered with Suzhou embroidery quilts, and even the tea set was made of fine celadon.
This time, our Emperor was finally satisfied.
He toured his new palace, a satisfied expression on his face saying, "That's more like it."
After settling in, the two had some exquisite Suzhou cuisine in their room and were about to rest when they heard a commotion coming from the lobby downstairs.
"Have you heard? Tonight's 'Jiangnan Literary Gathering' on Golden Wind Lake has been personally hosted by 'Jade-Faced Gentleman' Gao Chang Gong!"
"Really? He's the number one scholar in Suzhou! It's said that even a high-ranking official in the capital praised his poem 'Looking at the Lake in Spring'!"
"That's not all! Tonight's literary competition will not only give the winner a personal critique from Young Master Gao, but also the favor of his father, who is none other than Lord Gao, the Salt Commissioner of Suzhou!"
"Let's go! Hurry up and check! If we're too late, we might not even be able to get on a pleasure boat!"
A group of scholars dressed in Confucian robes walked past downstairs in high spirits.
"Jiangnan Literary Gathering?" Upon hearing these four words, Xiao Che's ears perked up instantly.
He was a man of both literary and martial talents, proficient in poetry, prose, and calligraphy. In the palace, besides Lin Wanwan, only a few old scholars could discuss poetry and play chess with him, which made him feel extremely stifled.
Now, upon suddenly hearing about this grand gathering of literary figures, his long-dormant desire to be the best in literature instantly became itchy to put his skills to use.
Lin Wanwan looked at his eyes, which lit up instantly, and she immediately understood what he was thinking.
She asked with a smile, "Your Majesty... oh no, Lord Xiao, are you tempted?"
"Ahem!" Xiao Che cleared his throat, trying his best to maintain his "calm and wealthy businessman" persona, and said with feigned modesty, "It is only right for us scholars to go and observe such a literary event."
Lin Wanwan couldn't help but chuckle at his "saying one thing but doing another" attitude.
From her bundle, she took out two sets of scholar's robes that she had prepared beforehand, befitting the status of a "wealthy merchant." The robes were made of the finest silk, with elegant tailoring, neither overly ostentatious nor lacking in understated wealth.
The two changed into scholar's robes; Xiao Che wore a carefree headscarf, while Lin Wanwan styled her hair in a simple bun, adorned with a white jade hairpin. After their makeover, they looked like a wealthy merchant couple from a family with a long tradition of scholarship, traveling and studying together, which suited them well with the many literati and scholars in the city.
The two went downstairs hand in hand and headed to Golden Wind Lake.
At this moment, night was just beginning to fall and the streetlights were just coming on.
On Jinfeng Lake, a huge, brightly lit pleasure boat was already moored. The boat had three decks, with carved beams and painted rafters, and the sounds of string and wind instruments filled the air. From a distance, it looked like a jade palace floating on the water.
Hundreds of scholars had already gathered by the lake, eagerly waiting to board the boat.
Xiao Che and Lin Wanwan easily obtained two boarding passes thanks to their "money power" and successfully squeezed onto the pleasure boat.
Upon boarding the ship, the rich atmosphere of literati culture immediately enveloped us.
On the boat, groups of talented men were everywhere, some gazing into the distance from the railing, some drinking by the window, and some discussing poetry aloud, creating a lively and extraordinary atmosphere.
In the main hall at the very center of the pleasure boat, the crowd was even larger.
A group of elegantly dressed young talents were seen surrounding a white-clad youth sitting in the main seat, like stars surrounding the moon.
The young man, around twenty years old, was indeed handsome, with a face like jade and eyes like bright stars. He held a white jade folding fan in his hand, which he gently swayed, exuding a dashing and debonair air. Presumably, this was the "Jade-Faced Gentleman" Gao Chang Gong that everyone had been discussing earlier.
At this moment, he was smiling as he commented on the poem that a talented man beside him had just recited. Although his words were gentle, they carried a subtle air of condescension.
As Xiao Che watched this scene, a slightly amused smile involuntarily crept onto his lips.
His humble, unassuming nature is locked in a fierce battle with his burning desire to be the best writer in the world.
He pulled Lin Wanwan to a relatively quiet corner to sit down, intending to observe the situation first.
However, in this circle of Jiangnan scholars full of familiar faces, these two unfamiliar "outsiders" quickly attracted the attention of others.
Just as Young Master Gao finished commenting on a poem and everyone was cheering, a pedantic scholar who looked somewhat weasel-faced and sat at the next table suddenly stood up unsteadily.
He glanced at Xiao Che and Lin Wanwan from head to toe, noticing their extraordinary attire and distinguished demeanor from that of ordinary businessmen, and a hint of jealousy and contempt flashed in his eyes.
Then, he deliberately raised his voice and, in a sarcastic tone, said loudly in Xiao Che's direction:
"Oh my, this literary gathering tonight is truly unprecedented! Even random cats and dogs from who-knows-where have managed to sneak onto the boat."
As soon as these words were spoken, the surroundings fell silent instantly, and everyone's eyes turned to Xiao Che and Lin Wanwan.
The pedantic scholar, seeing that he had successfully attracted everyone's attention, became even more smug. Holding his wine cup, he walked directly to Xiao Che and, in a scrutinizing and somewhat challenging tone, asked:
"You two look unfamiliar; you must not be from Jiangnan, right? May I ask if you are also here to attend this literary gathering?"
Before Xiao Che could speak, Lin Wanwan was about to step forward and use money to resolve this unnecessary trouble.
Xiao Che raised his hand and gently pressed it down on her.
He slowly stood up, his face calm and expressionless. He looked at the scholar who was acting like a clown and nodded indifferently.
The scholar's mockery deepened upon hearing his admission. He deliberately raised his voice so everyone on the boat could hear:
"Oh? Since you're here to attend the poetry gathering, I wonder... do you have an invitation written in your own hand by Young Master Gao?"
Upon hearing this, a murmur of suppressed laughter immediately arose from the surrounding crowd.
Everyone knows that although the "Jiangnan Literary Gathering" is said to invite talented people from all over the country, those who actually receive a personal invitation from Young Master Gao are all prominent literary figures in the Jiangnan region. People like them, who get on the ship based on their family background or wealth, can participate, but they are ultimately inferior.
This scholar was clearly trying to embarrass them in front of everyone!
Lin Wanwan's brows furrowed slightly.
However, Xiao Che, at the center of the storm, remained calm and composed. His expression remained unchanged, as if he hadn't heard the mocking laughter around him at all.
Lin Wanwan looked at his calm profile, but her heart stirred.
Because she could clearly see that above her seemingly nonchalant husband's head, a domineering emoji was slowly, very slowly, rising up—
It was a majestic, miniature emperor, seated on his dragon throne, waving his hand and issuing an unquestionable command to those outside the palace, accompanied by a line of text brimming with murderous intent—
[Close the door and unleash the dogs.gif]!
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