I just wrote a love poem, how did that make me so powerful?

Xiao Mingyuan then raised his head, revealing a look of sudden realization. The smile on his chubby face was just the right amount, but it looked rather irritating.

"Oh, it's Young Master Chen! My apologies, my eyesight isn't good tonight, I didn't see you clearly."

He turned to the side, stepping aside to reveal Xu Qing behind him.

Xu Qing also clasped his hands in greeting: "Greetings, Young Master Chen."

Chen Shijin's anger vanished as if he had punched a cotton ball...

One of them pretended to be blind, and the other bowed, completely ignoring his comment.

He wanted to get angry, but getting angry in front of Gu Zhiyi's maid and the madam would make him seem petty.

Just as he was stuck on the steps, neither going up nor down, a soft voice came from behind the bamboo curtain on the second floor: "Young Master Chen."

The voice was soft and soothing, like a bowl of cool tea under the shade of bamboo on a summer afternoon, making people feel comfortable just listening to it.

Chen Shijin raised his head.

A figure stood vaguely behind the bamboo curtain, its features obscured, but its silhouette was reflected on the curtain by the lantern light, appearing graceful and elegant.

"Young Master Chen, are you waiting for me here to see me?" Gu Zhiyi's voice came from behind the curtain, unhurried.

Chen Shijin immediately straightened his back, and his voice regained its usual refined tone: "Indeed. Miss Zhiyi, my name is Chen Shijin, my father..."

"I know about Young Master Chen's family background," Gu Zhiyi interrupted him, her voice still gentle, yet it made it impossible for him to continue. "Young Master Chen wishes to see Zhiyi, but do you have anything worthwhile to offer?"

Chen Shijin was taken aback: "What is it?"

Gu Zhiyi spoke through the curtain with a faint smile in her voice: "If Young Master Chen can write poems of the same quality as those three poems from Zhuangyuanlou, I will gladly welcome you."

Chen Shijin's face turned red instantly.

He opened his mouth, then closed it again, then opened it again, but couldn't utter a single word.

Of course he couldn't write it.

The entire Hengyang County couldn't write it.

After being bullied at Zhuangyuanlou, I'll still be bullied at Chunhongyuan!

"If you can't write it..." Gu Zhiyi's voice was gentle, but it contained a hint of sarcasm.

"Young Master Chen forced his way in. Although Zhiyi is a courtesan, she has some reputation. If word gets out that Young Master Chen has tarnished the image of a scholar for a mere courtesan, it will likely be detrimental to his future prospects in the imperial examinations."

Chen Shijin stood there, his face turning from red to white, then from white to green, and finally almost black...

His hand gripped the folding fan tightly, making a creaking sound, and his chest heaved several times.

In the end, he said nothing.

Scholars value their reputation most. If they are known for their jealousy and rivalry over the most beautiful courtesan, they will be at a disadvantage when it comes to the imperial examinations in the capital.

His family spent a fortune to pave the way for him; he can't afford to crash here.

Chen Shijin took a deep breath, flicked his sleeves, turned around, and said in an icy voice, "Go."

He left with two attendants. His figure disappeared outside the moon gate without him even turning his head.

Xiao Mingyuan watched his figure disappear into the night, breathed a silent sigh of relief, and turned to give Xu Qing a thumbs up.

Xu Qing smiled and stepped onto the stairs.

Xiao Mingyuan muttered under his breath, "What do you think she wants from us?"

Xu Qing thought for a moment and replied, "Firstly, because someone cheated at the gambling den and they need to give us an explanation; secondly, I suspect they need something from you, such as writing realistic lyrics. And that's more important."

Xiao Mingyuan nodded: "You know what, it's actually quite possible."

The bamboo curtain was lifted from both sides, and the light poured out.

Gu Zhiyi stood next to the tea table.

She wore a light blue inner robe, as if the sky had just turned blue after the rain, with a thin layer of gauze over it.

Her hair was loosely tied into a bun, adorned with a plain silver hairpin with a pearl dangling from the tip, gleaming warmly under the lamplight.

Her facial features are soft, with gentle smiles in her eyes and brows, like a girl next door.

Yet her figure clearly resembled that of a mature woman, with a slender waist, long legs, and high, firm breasts.

She was clearly a top courtesan, but she had the face of a childhood sweetheart.

And this face is ridiculously beautiful.

Xiao Mingyuan swallowed hard and whispered something to Xu Qing.

"This is the first time I've seen her this close up... she's really captivating."

Xu Qing did not answer.

He calmly sat down in the guest seat, his gaze sweeping over Gu Zhiyi's face before naturally looking away.

Gu Zhiyi was observing him.

She had seen countless men look at her...

Greedy, obsessed, and feigning composure.

But the young man in front of her, dressed in coarse cloth, looked at her once and then looked away. His expression was indifferent, neither deliberately avoiding her nor pretending to be aloof.

This made Gu Zhiyi glance at him a few more times. But she didn't say anything, she just reached out and picked up the teapot, pouring a cup of tea for each of them.

Gu Zhiyi waited until the two had finished half a cup of tea before putting down the teapot and straightening her expression:

"Young Master Xiao, I have invited you two here today because I have a request."

Xiao Mingyuan put down his teacup: "Please speak, Miss Zhiyi."

"There will be a beauty pageant in the prefectural city at the end of the year, and Zhiyi will represent Hengyang County to attend. The competition will be based on talent, including folk arts, singing, and dancing, but there's one crucial element... lyrics and music. If Young Master Xiao could write a song and lyrics for Zhiyi to use in the competition..."

She paused for a moment, then said, "Regardless of victory or defeat, I will be very grateful for your kindness."

After she finished speaking, her gaze lingered on Xiao Mingyuan's face for a moment, then she glanced at Xu Qing without making a sound.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Mingyuan glanced at Xu Qing and blinked.

That look clearly said: You were right.

Before Xiao Mingyuan could speak, Xu Qing spoke first:

"Miss Zhiyi, Young Master Xiao's family is extremely wealthy in Hengyang. Silver is probably not a significant reward for him. What else do you think could possibly move him?"

Gu Zhiyi's lips curled up slightly, as if she had expected it.

She pulled a piece of paper from her sleeve and gently pushed it towards her:

"If Young Master Xiao agrees, from this day forward, all the silk garments in Chunhong Courtyard will be made from materials from the Xiao family's silk shop."

Xiao Mingyuan almost dropped the teacup in his hand.

He immediately sat up straight, his eyes wide: "Really?"

"It's written in black and white." Gu Zhiyi pushed the paper forward another half inch.

"The message has been written. As long as Young Master Xiao agrees, we don't need to wait for the competition results; we'll have Mama Qian place the order at the Xiao family's silk shop."

Xiao Mingyuan's breathing became noticeably heavier.

Xu Qing didn't know the significance of Chunhong Courtyard to the Xiao family, but he knew it himself...

The amount of silk consumed by Chunhong Courtyard each year is more than the combined consumption of ten wealthy households in Hengyang County.

More importantly, brothels were trendsetting places; whatever materials they used, people would immediately follow suit.

Furthermore, Hengyang County is a crucial waterway hub, and if Chunhong Courtyard uses Xiao family silk, the leading effect will be self-evident.

The Xiao family's silk business in Hengyang has always been good, but the Chunhong Courtyard has always been a formidable obstacle, controlled by silk merchants from the prefectural city, and it is impossible to pry it open.

Now this iron plate is cracking on its own...

Xiao Mingyuan was so excited that he almost rushed over to grab Gu Zhiyi's hand, but he held back and turned to look at Xu Qing, seeking confirmation through his eyes.