The invitation card, red with a bright yellow cord tying it, had gold foil auspicious cloud patterns inside, adding a touch of heroism but lacking some of the literati’s refined air.

This Prince of the world is truly fond of inviting guests and friends. Yesterday he held a literary gathering, and today he’s holding another.

Chen Ji returned to the medical hall holding the invitation card. Liu Qu Xing came over and said, “What a beautiful invitation card… but the invitation card from Chun Hua, it’s probably best not to go.”

As he spoke, he subconsciously glanced at She Deng Ke and muttered in a low voice, “I don’t mean anything else, I’m just reminding Chen Ji there might be danger.”

She Deng Ke lowered his head and didn’t speak.

Just then, Liang Gou Er also came over, and as he approached, a strong smell of alcohol filled the air. “It’s the literary gathering this afternoon… why did they only send you the invitation card this morning?”

She Deng Ke asked in a muffled voice, “What’s the problem?”

Liang Gou Er explained proudly, “Of course there’s a problem. When holding a banquet, ‘three invitations’ are emphasized. The first invitation should be sent three days before the banquet; the second invitation should be sent on the morning of the banquet; and the third invitation should be sent one shichen before the banquet starts. Sending the invitation three days in advance is called ‘inviting guests’, sending it on the day is called ‘grabbing guests’, indicating you’re just accompanying this literary gathering!”

“Oh,” Chen Ji nodded, but didn’t seem to care.

Liang Gou Er immediately added, “At this kind of temporary ‘grabbing guest’ banquet, if you go, people will look down on you. It’s better if I go in your place!”

Chen Ji said, “…Your abacus beads are hitting my face.”

He looked at Liu Qu Xing and She Deng Ke. “As Senior Brother Liu said, I offended Quiet Consort when I diagnosed her earlier at Late Star Garden. This time, I’m going to resolve the misunderstanding with her. You all just don’t go, it’s fine if I go alone.”

The backyard fell silent. Liu Qu Xing had a change of heart, but She Deng Ke took a step forward. “I’ll go with you. If something happens, I can at least help a little.”

As he spoke, She Deng Ke turned his head and looked at Liu Qu Xing. “Are you going or not?”

Liu Qu Xing’s eyes darted around. “Why are you looking at me like that… I’m definitely going, don’t make it sound like only you are righteous. It’s just that we don’t have suitable clothes for attending a banquet. Everyone there will be literati, scholars, high officials, and nobles. How shabby would we look going like this… I’m not making excuses, I’m saying we should go buy a set of clothes first in the morning so we can go properly and presentably.”

She Deng Ke said sullenly, “I don’t have money.”

Liu Qu Xing gritted his teeth. “I’ll lend it to you first, you can pay me back next month!”

Liang Gou Er tsk-tsked from the side, expressing wonder. “Three brothers advancing and retreating together, I actually see a spirit of the Jianghu in you all, it’s rare, rare.”

Liang Mao Er, whose only fear was Chen Ji being unwilling to learn the knife, hurriedly added, “Practice the knife well with my brother, and maybe there will be legends about you all in the Jianghu later.”

However, Liang Gou Er laughed and tore it down. “Mao Er, your words might not be auspicious. Where are there living legends in the Jianghu? Only the dead can become legends. Young men, the chivalrous spirit of the Jianghu has already been broken. You shouldn’t listen to my brother’s nonsense.”

Liang Mao Er shoved Liang Gou Er into the room. “Brother, quickly say a couple less sentences!”

…

…

In the afternoon, during the Shen time, Liu Qu Xing was wearing a well-fitting green robe. His hair was tied up with a net towel so that no strands were messy, he wore a cherry tile hat on his head, and Chen Bridge shoes on his feet.

Chen Ji sized up the person opposite him. This outfit actually made the thieving-browed, rat-eyed Liu Qu Xing look like an official, especially the black gauze on his head, it matched perfectly.

She Deng Ke wore something simpler, the same as Chen Ji. He only had a hairpin in his hair, and his clothes were just newly bought cloth clothes.

The three arrived at the side door of the Prince Manor and handed over the invitation. When the strong servant saw the card, he immediately led the way very respectfully towards the Flying White Pool in the back garden.

Along the way, the strong servant cautioned, “We hope guests only move about in the back garden and do not arbitrarily enter the female quarters.”

Liu Qu Xing quickly replied, “Mammy, rest assured, we won’t.”

Walking further into the garden, the three could hear literati and guests loudly discussing amidst the sounds of string and wind instruments from afar.

One person said loudly, “In my opinion, the Jing Dynasty cavalry is not to be feared. It’s already autumn now, and they have dragged on until now without breaking through Chong Li Pass. Their men and horses are already exhausted, and they will retreat soon. If they truly want to force their way through, our Great Ning’s cannons and firearms will definitely make them unable to eat or leave.”

“That’s right, the biggest harm to the country and society is not the Jing Dynasty, but the eunuch party! If I pass the imperial examination this time, I must explain to His Majesty at the court the ills of the eunuch party interfering in politics!”

“With Brother Lin’s great talent, you will definitely pass the provincial exam this time as a provincial graduate, and then pass the palace exam as the top scholar!”

The earlier voice quickly said humbly, “This year’s provincial graduate will be none other than Chen Wen Zong. These three years at East Forest Academy, he has been the teachers’ treasure.”

Liu Qu Xing muttered in a low voice, “They can really boast, damn it. One after another is either a provincial graduate or a top scholar. Is there enough for you all to divide?”

They saw dozens of tables already set up beside the Flying White Pool, with bamboo mats spread on the ground. Literati and scholars were all sitting on the ground.

Not far away, six small wooden pavilions were also set up. Curtains hung in the pavilions to separate them from the gaze of the crowd, presumably for female relatives to sit in.

Liu Qu Xing asked the strong servant who was leading the way in a low voice, “May I ask, Mammy, are there any young ladies from other families present today?”

The strong servant replied, “To let sir know, there are seven or eight noble ladies here.”

Liu Qu Xing was called ‘sir’ and immediately straightened his back and chest, then tidied up his clothes before sitting down at an empty table.

He said in a low voice, “My mother told me that generally when this kind of literary gathering is held, the elders of each family will bring their wives and suitable-aged daughters to observe through the curtains to see if there is anyone they favor. If they are truly chosen, it saves them ten years of detours.”

Chen Ji sighed. “Senior Brother Liu, you really don’t want to take any detours.”

The tables were arranged in three rows, seemingly according to status, deciding who sat in the middle and who sat at the back.

The three sat side by side at the very back. She Deng Ke looked around, searching for Chun Hua’s figure, while Liu Qu Xing quietly poked Chen Ji with his finger. “Look at the first row opposite, your two direct elder brothers.”

Chen Ji looked over and suddenly saw Chen Wen Zong sitting upright, discussing his views with the crowd, hoping the court would widely open up speech roads and revitalize official administration.

The person opposite him sat in the middle of the crowd, and even with all the literati and talents around, he stood out like a bright pearl at a glance.

Looking towards the pavilions, it seemed several girls were looking at Chen Wen Zong through the curtains.

Looking at his other direct brother, Chen Wen Xiao was sitting slanted, his gaze drifting somewhere unknown. He hadn’t felt anything when the other person was riding a horse earlier, but this time he was overshadowed by Chen Wen Zong.

Just as he was sizing them up, Chen Wen Zong and Chen Ji’s gazes met. The other person smiled and nodded, treating him simply as an ordinary guest who had come to attend the literary gathering, and didn’t pay him any more attention.