So what if I have a few billion concubines while I'm cultivating immortality?

The maids paused in their tracks.

Qin Xiao also stopped walking.

But he didn't turn around; he simply stood there quietly with his hands behind his back.

His back was exceptionally upright and calm, as if the raging anger behind him had nothing to do with him.

Qin Yuan's face was ashen, his chest heaving violently. Under the astonished gazes of the crowd, he strode down the stairs.

Seeing this, the attendants quickly followed behind.

As Mu Ziyan's trusted head maid, Zhishu had seen her share of storms.

Although I felt a chill in my heart at that moment.

But she still maintained a polite smile.

She turned around, walked from the front of the line to the back, and gave a graceful bow to Qin Yuan, who had just come down the stairs. Her tone was neither humble nor arrogant: "Greetings, Prince Jin. May I ask what brings you here that you have called us to your presence?"

"What are your orders?"

Qin Yuan snorted coldly, his former gentle and refined "wise prince" mask vanishing without a trace. "Don't give me that! What's wrong with my poem? You must give me an explanation today!"

As he spoke, his gaze turned fierce as he stared at Qin Xiao's motionless back.

Zhi Shu sighed inwardly, but remained composed on the surface: "Your Highness, the appreciation of poetry and prose is a matter of personal taste, and there is no fixed conclusion."

As she spoke, she turned to look at Qin Xiao and said, "My lady thinks that this young master's poem is more in line with the mood of the poem. This is my lady's personal judgment, and I am just following orders. I hope Your Highness will calm down and not let this cause any trouble."

"Personal judgment? What a fine personal judgment!"

Qin Yuan sneered repeatedly in anger, "Even so, what about the rules of your Ziyan Pavilion? Isn't it clearly stipulated that after matching the poems, one must win a martial arts competition in the 'Martial Arts Arena' in the backyard before one can enjoy tea with Miss Ziyan? How come in his case, the martial arts competition is skipped and he goes straight to the meeting? Does your Ziyan Pavilion's rule involve treating people differently based on their status?!"

Upon hearing this, Zhi Shu's expression stiffened slightly, and he inwardly groaned.

The rules for this civil and military competition were set up so as not to directly offend Qin Yuan.

Who would have thought that a mysterious figure capable of matching the poem would appear today?

Even more unexpectedly, the Prince of Jin would so shamelessly launch an attack in public.

Right now, I can't just tell the truth...

Soon, Zhishu composed herself and forced a smile, saying, "Your Highness, please calm down. This servant will go and consult with Miss immediately, and will certainly give Your Highness a clear explanation."

"Requesting instructions? You..."

Qin Yuan wanted to continue his attack, but suddenly he heard the murmurs in the hall behind him.

In an instant, the effects of the alcohol wore off, and I regained some clarity of mind.

He cleared his throat, then changed the subject: "Very well! I'll wait right here. I'd better give you a satisfactory answer!"

Zhi Shu breathed a sigh of relief and quickly turned to the composed Qin Xiao, apologetically saying, "Young master, I'm so sorry, please wait here for a moment, I'll be right back."

Qin Xiao turned his head slightly.

No one could see his expression through the mask.

He simply hummed in response.

He then walked to the nearest rosewood chair and sat down calmly.

They even had the leisure to examine the jade ornaments on the antique shelf next to them.

The current turmoil seems to have nothing to do with him.

This extraordinary composure, in stark contrast to Qin Yuan's exasperation, earned the admiration of many present.

They were also more curious about Qin Xiao's background.

Zhi Shu dared not delay, and hurriedly turned around and rushed to the embroidered tower in the backyard.

As soon as he left, the murmurs grew louder:

"Hiss, why is His Highness Prince Jin so angry today?"

"Yes, isn't it said that Prince Jin is gentle and refined, a wise and virtuous ruler? This..."

"Hey, you just don't understand. When it comes to Miss Mu, which man can maintain his composure? It's understandable, it's understandable!"

"That's true, but this public reprimand is so different from his usual image. Could it be that he was just faking it all along?"

"Watch your words! Watch your words! How dare you criticize a prince?"

These discussions were quiet.

But it didn't escape Qin Yuan's ears.

His face flushed red and then turned pale as he realized the seriousness of his earlier loss of composure.

It is feared that the "wise king" image he has carefully cultivated over the years will be greatly diminished!

The attendants behind him exchanged glances, each seeing helplessness in the other's eyes.

They were well aware of their prince's obsession with Mu Ziyan.

More precisely, it was an ambition for the Mu family's immense wealth.

Just when success seemed imminent, a mysterious person intervened and thwarted it.

It's understandable that the prince, having had a few drinks, lost control of his emotions and revealed his true nature...

However, the consequences might be troublesome.

When we get back, we'll still have to trouble Mr. Zhao and his advisors to come up with a solution.

……

In the embroidered pavilion in the backyard, inside Mu Ziyan's boudoir.

Zhi Shu rushed in and told him what had happened in the front yard.

Qin Yuan's intense reaction was reported to Mu Ziyan in its entirety.

Upon hearing this, Mu Ziyan frowned slightly and said with annoyance, "How could this Prince Jin be so rude?"

After a moment's thought, he made a decision and instructed Zhishu, "Go back and tell Prince Jin that I was so overjoyed by the beautiful lines that I forgot myself and neglected the rules of the martial arts competition. I hope Your Highness will forgive me and not take offense."

She paused, then continued, "Since Your Highness has brought it up, the martial arts competition will proceed as planned!"

Upon hearing this, Zhi Shu became somewhat worried: "Miss, the martial arts competition is still on? But I saw that masked young man; although he was tall and upright, he didn't seem to have any martial arts skills. If a fight breaks out, what if he gets hurt..."

Mu Ziyan smiled slightly and waved her hand gently: "What's so difficult about that? Go find Instructor Wang and have him arrange for any agile and tactful servant to go on stage. Tell him to just pretend, and find an opportunity to accidentally lose to that young master. That way, you'll follow the rules without embarrassing him!"

Zhi Shu's eyes lit up.

Instructor Wang is the head instructor of the Ziyan Pavilion guards and is extremely loyal to the Mu family.

This is a small matter, of course I can handle it properly!

In this way, they could shut the King of Jin up.

This also saved face for that mysterious genius.

This meeting was successfully arranged!

"You're brilliant, Miss! I'll take care of it right away!"

Zhi Shu bowed respectfully, then quickly turned around and hurried back to the front yard.

As she walked along the road, she couldn't help but ponder it again.

It seems that the young lady values ​​this masked gentleman who can recite poems.

That makes sense; the young lady's aloof nature is all for show.

The young lady is already eighteen years old.

What woman at this age doesn't feel the stirrings of spring?

Don't you want a lover?

As a woman of similar age, she naturally understood these thoughts!

Thinking of this, Zhishu's eyes crinkled into a smile, and she let out a delicate laugh.

It seems like today might just lead to a beautiful marriage!

I just hope that there aren't any scars beneath that young master's mask.

Otherwise, it wouldn't be as beautiful...