Proud Feather

Chapter 143 Alias
A literary gathering is underway in the guild hall next to the Golden Water Pool.

Yang Yu sat in the pavilion outside, staring blankly, unable to understand how she had gotten herself on another dangerous path.

Chu Xiaojiu was probably right; he was ultimately unwilling to accept it.

To be honest, he didn't want to get involved in royal affairs, especially since his father had almost made it clear that this matter concerned the succession to the throne. For the sake of the Ningguo Duke's mansion's peace and prosperity, it was best to stay out of it.

But thinking about that case that was resolved so haphazardly, a slight sense of unease rose in my heart.

Young Master Yang was no fool. When the decree to close the case came down, he guessed that the princess and the emperor probably had a conflict. Based on the evidence he had come across, he was certain that the real culprit who killed the crown prince was definitely not those few officials. How could the princess not know that?

It was simply suppressed.

Rationally, Yang Yu told himself that pretending nothing had happened was the wise choice. But deep down, he couldn't help feeling frustrated and resentful.

Because he was involved, he saw how the princess worked hard to find clues, how the people behind the scenes plotted, and how insignificant people like Zhu Fan were murdered.

Funds for river repairs were embezzled in large sums, with no regard for the people's livelihood. Officials were dealt with arbitrarily, regardless of whether they were truly guilty. Human lives, whether as noble as a prince or as lowly as a courtesan, were merely pawns in their game.

Yang Yu is not an angry person, but if possible, he still hopes that the sky is bright and the water is clear.

Forget it, since we're already here, let's help one more time! It's just finding someone, right? It's not like we're helping the princess rebel, how could it possibly implicate the Duke of Ningguo's mansion?
Thinking this, Yang Yu waved her fan even faster.

"Brother Yang, are you hot?" Chu Xiaojiu, who was next to him, asked with a puzzled look, as he wrapped his fur coat tighter around himself.

Yang Yu was taken aback, only then realizing it was chilly. December weather is no joke.

He stopped fanning himself, acting as if nothing was wrong: "There are a few lines of poetry I just can't seem to revise, and when I'm upset, I inevitably get hot."

"Oh." Chu Xiaojiu pulled the fan away. "If you want, I'll fan you!"

"Hey!" Yang Yu quickly stopped him, "I've figured it out!"

Chu Xiaojiu chuckled, "As expected, I'm your lucky star. You figured it out as soon as I mentioned it."

"Yes, yes, yes." Yang Yu was too lazy to take him seriously. He asked his page to bring paper and pen, copied down the seven-character poem he had thought of, and handed it over.

Now we just wait for the results.

Chu Xiaojiu watched the painted boats come and go, and murmured, "We've attended so many literary gatherings, but we still haven't seen the owner of that painted boat? Could it be that he's not coming for the New Year?"

Yang Yu also felt that this method was like finding a needle in a haystack, but he couldn't think of a better way. Anyway, he was idle, so he might as well treat it as an opportunity to exchange knowledge!

After sitting idly for a while, a pageboy hurried out of the guild hall and called out, "Which one of you is Yang Zhuozhi, the talented scholar? Your poem came in second place. Please come inside for a while!"

This was naturally Yang Yu's alias. Chu Xiaojiu chuckled and said, "Brother Yang is indeed very talented. He always ranks highly and never misses a chance."

Yang Yu naturally didn't care about second place. He also didn't bother going to the guild hall; he hadn't come for the literary gathering in the first place. Since the owner of the pleasure boat hadn't shown up, he might as well leave!
So he got up, put his hands in his sleeves, and prepared to end his day's activities and go home to relax.

Before they even left the pavilion, someone rushed over and called out, "Talented Scholar Yang, is that Talented Scholar Yang? Please wait!"

Yang Yu looked over in confusion: "You are..."

This man was in his thirties, dressed in a scholar's robe, and had a refined and cultured demeanor.

He bowed and said, "My surname is Wu, and I am the one hosting today's literary gathering." "Oh," Yang Yu replied politely, "So you are Mr. Wu. My friend and I were passing by when we heard about this literary gathering, and we were inspired to write a poem and send it over. Please forgive us if it has caused any disturbance."

Mr. Wu quickly replied, "What are you saying, Mr. Yang? It is my honor that a talented person like you would participate."

Yang Yu nodded perfunctorily and then tried to leave.

Mr. Wu quickly said, "Young Master Yang, you must have attended quite a few literary gatherings recently, right? I heard earlier that a talented young man came recently and stood out in the literary gatherings, but then disappeared without a trace afterward, and I have never been able to meet him."

Yang Yu did not deny it. This was bait that he and Chu Xiaojiu had laid out. By participating in the literary gathering under an alias, they could build up their reputation and perhaps attract the mysterious owner of the pleasure boat.

Mr. Wu continued, "To be honest, I know a distinguished person who greatly admires talent. I wonder if you, Mr. Yang, would do me the honor of accompanying me to pay him a visit?"

Noble man!

Yang Yu remained calm and said, "What important person? I am not good at socializing and I am afraid of offending you."

Mr. Wu replied with a smile, "With such great talent as Yang, he will surely be taking the imperial examination next year, right? If you can make connections with influential people before then and spread your name, it will be of great benefit in the future."

No scholar who aspired to take the imperial examinations could refuse this proposal.

Yang Yu quickly agreed: "If Mr. Wu says so, then I will accept without hesitation."

Mr. Wu smiled with satisfaction: "Thank you for gracing us with your presence, Mr. Yang. Please, both of you."

Yang Yu thanked him and followed him to the other end of the garden, exchanging a glance with Chu Xiaojiu.

The two followed Mr. Wu to the back garden, where several people were already waiting.

Yang Yu glanced quickly and thankfully there were no acquaintances inside.

Mr. Wu led them through the courtyard, and suddenly the view opened up to a shimmering pier.

A pleasure boat was moored beside the dock!
Yang Yu turned her head and saw that Chu Xiaojiu's eyes were full of surprise.

The literary gathering, the distinguished guests, the pleasure boat! They've found them!
-
In a garden on the outskirts of Beijing, Master Lingxu, who had come for a follow-up appointment, snorted coldly and vented his anger on his junior brother: "You really found me a good job! Treating your eyes is one thing, but all sorts of random people come to me for detoxification. Not only that, the antidote has to be administered over a period of time, only for a month? What the hell!"

Xiao Yu explained in a humble voice, "Senior brother, it's not that we're asking you to only treat it for one month, it's that they have a medicine that only treats it for one month. We don't understand pharmacology, so naturally we have to ask you what the secret is."

"What's the mystery?" Master Lingxu didn't care at all. "Isn't it just a slow-acting poison to control assassins? This kind of thing has been used in every dynasty."

Hearing his casual tone, Xiao Yu stopped smiling: "Senior brother, have you met me?"

“Master saw it when he was young,” Master Lingxu said disdainfully. “It was common in previous dynasties, but the Great Ancestor was a benevolent and righteous emperor, so naturally he didn’t need it. It seems that the younger generation has forgotten the ancestral teachings and has started using these shady things again.”

Xiao Yu remained silent. Indeed. How could they be considered a righteous army if they used such shady methods?
"Never mind, I'll go take a look first." Although Master Lingxu seemed reluctant, he acted decisively and immediately went into the house to check on the poisoned person.

However, before Xiao Yu could finish his tea, Master Lingxu had already come out.

"Damn it, this poison looks so similar to the one you were given?!"

(End of this chapter)