Transforming into a stunningly beautiful fox spirit, leaving a scar on the heart of a prodigy.

The city gate towers of the capital city are indeed tall, so tall that they make your neck ache.

Upon entering the city, the hustle and bustle hit you like a heat wave.

Zhuque Avenue was ridiculously wide, lined with shops on both sides, where the sounds of hawking, horses' hooves, and haggling blended together into a boiling pot of porridge.

Gu Xiang carried his book box, his eyes darting around as if he couldn't take it all in, his mouth always half-open, looking just like a country bumpkin who had just arrived in the city.

"Brother Li, the floor tiles in this capital city... are actually paved with bluestone slabs?" Gu Xiang stamped his foot, looking disappointed. "The books say that the capital city is covered with gold, but it seems that's just talk."

Li Yu shook his tattered fan and said with a wry smile, "Brother Gu, that's just a description of the boundless business opportunities in the capital, not that it's actually covered in gold."

If it were truly paved with gold, this road would have been riddled with potholes long ago.

The three of them strolled slowly along the banks of the Luo River.

The river was clear, with painted boats cruising along and willows swaying on the banks. It was a bit quieter than the noisy streets.

Along the way, Gu Xiang and Li Yu found themselves getting along better and better.

Although Li Yu was a prince, he had read many classic texts in order to travel incognito and was full of ideals for governing the country and bringing peace to the world; although Gu Xiang was a poor scholar, his stubbornness was exactly what Li Yu wanted to achieve by "getting to the root of the matter".

The two chatted about everything from the Book of Rites to the Spring and Autumn Annals, from the well-field system to tax reform, their words flying everywhere, as if they had known each other for a long time.

Su Qing walked beside her, holding a skewer of candied hawthorns she had just bought, chewing them with gusto, completely an outsider.

"Brother Su, what do you think?"

Li Yu suddenly stopped and turned to Su Qing, his face earnestly seeking advice. "Brother Gu just said that governing the world should be based on 'preserving heavenly principles and eliminating human desires.' But I believe that human desires are the foundation of life, and forcibly eliminating them would be contrary to human nature. I wonder what insightful opinion Brother Su has?"

Gu Xiang stared at him with wide eyes: "Yes, Brother Su, the sage said to restrain oneself and return to propriety. If everyone indulges in desires, wouldn't the world be in chaos?"

Su Qing swallowed the hawthorn in her mouth, her eyes squinting from the sourness.

These two guys, one wants to be a saint, the other wants to be a wise ruler, they're having a pretty high-level conversation, but unfortunately they're both just daydreaming.

"I said..." Su Qing tossed the bamboo skewers aside, accurately sticking them into the roadside trash can, "Aren't you two tired?"

The two were taken aback.

Su Qing clapped her hands and said casually, "What's with all this talk about natural law and human desires? It's all so mystical. The truth of this world can be summed up in just four words—go with the flow."

"Let nature take its course?" Gu Xiang frowned. "Isn't that a Taoist concept?"

"Who cares whose it is?" Su Qing stretched, her red dress fluttering in the wind, exuding a languid charm. "Eat when you're hungry, sleep when you're tired, pursue whoever you like, and beat up whoever you hate. That's the way of the world."

Li Yu pondered, "Is this... a bit too casual?"

"Reckless?" Su Qing scoffed, pointing at the ducks in the river. "Look at those ducks. They go into the water whenever they want, and come ashore whenever they want. They haven't read any Confucian classics, and they haven't muddied the river. On the contrary, you humans, you clearly want to eat meat, but you insist on saying it's for sacrifice; you clearly want to rob money, but you insist on saying it's for righteousness. You complicate simple things; that's what you call 'human desire.'"

Su Qing leaned closer to the two of them, lowered her voice, and said with a hint of mockery, "Admitting that you're just an ordinary person who wants to eat well, drink well, and have fun is the greatest 'upholding of heavenly principles.' To suppress yourself and become a fake saint is to go against the way of heaven."

boom!

It was as if a thunderbolt had exploded in Li Yu's mind.

Admitting that you are just an ordinary person?

As a prince, he was taught from a young age to be restrained, dignified, and to have the world in his heart. No one ever told him that wanting to eat well, drink well, and have fun was also a natural right.

Gu Xiang's mouth dropped open, his worldview once again shaken.

"Brother Su, you mean..." Gu Xiang stammered, "to act according to one's nature, that is the Way?"

"More or less." Su Qing waved her hand and continued walking forward. "Don't be too tense, or you'll break. The most important thing in life is to be happy."

Looking at Su Qing's dashing figure, Li Yu's admiration deepened.

The greatest truths are the simplest!

This Brother Su is indeed a reclusive master!

A few words pierced through his dilemma and went straight to his heart!

"Brother Su, your insights are profound! I have learned a great deal!" Li Yu quickly caught up and bowed deeply.

Gu Xiang scratched his head, feeling something was off, yet also realizing it made perfect sense, and quickly followed, "Brother Su, wait for me! I want to be happy too! I want candied hawthorns!"

As the three were walking, they suddenly heard the sound of string and wind instruments coming from ahead.

On a wide, open grassy area by the Luo River, a group of well-dressed men and women were gathered.

A high platform was erected in the middle, and colorful lanterns and ribbons were hung all around, making it look very lively.

"That is..." Li Yu squinted and his expression immediately turned strange.

"What? Is that a brothel selecting its top courtesan?" Su Qing became interested and stood on tiptoe to look inside.

"Ahem, no, that's not it." Li Yu coughed awkwardly twice. "That's... my younger sister."

"My sister?" Su Qing raised an eyebrow. "Your sister's got some nerve, making such a big fuss."

Li Yu sighed and rubbed his forehead in exasperation.

That was Princess Zhou of the Great Zhou Dynasty, Li Qingge.

This girl usually loves writing and painting, and often holds various poetry gatherings and flower shows, inviting many talented people from the capital.

To put it nicely, it's about promoting literary style; to put it bluntly... it's just an opportunity to see handsome men.

"Let's take a detour." Not wanting to reveal her identity, Li Yu pulled Gu Xiang and tried to slip into a nearby alley.

"Hey? Isn't that Third Brother?!"

A clear, crisp voice pierced through the crowd, precisely targeting Li Yu.

On the high platform, a young girl dressed in a pale yellow palace dress was waving excitedly.

She was beautiful with bright eyes and white teeth, and quite charming, but her eyes revealed a kind of excited, mischievous energy.

Li Yu froze, feeling like he wanted to die.

The talented men and beautiful women around them all turned their heads, their gazes shooting towards them.

"Third Brother! Why are you running?" Li Qingge lifted her skirt and ran down from the high platform without any royal demeanor, rushing to the three of them in a few steps.

She first looked at Li Yu's disheveled scholar attire with suspicion, then her gaze shifted to Su Qing beside him.

Upon seeing this, Li Qingge's eyes widened instantly.

Although Su Qing was dressed in a blue men's robe and without makeup, her innate, otherworldly charm was undeniable.

Especially since she had just eaten a candied hawthorn and some sugar residue had gotten on her lips, she subconsciously stuck out the tip of her tongue and licked it.

That lick was incredibly alluring.

Li Qingge felt as if her heart had been struck hard, and two red clouds instantly rose to her cheeks.

"And this young master is..." Li Qingge asked shyly, her voice trembling.

Li Yu rolled his eyes; he knew this would happen.

"This is Young Master Su Qing, and this is Young Master Gu Xiang," Li Yu introduced them, forcing a smile. "They are both good friends I met on the road, and they are all on their way to the capital for the imperial examinations."

"Taking the imperial examination is great! It shows talent!" Li Qingge's eyes sparkled as she completely ignored Gu Xiang beside her, staring intently at Su Qing. "Young Master Su is handsome... cough, Young Master Su is very dignified, he must be very learned. Today I happen to be holding a 'Floating Wine Cup Poetry Gathering' here, I wonder if Young Master Su would be willing to grace us with his presence?"

Su Qing initially wanted to refuse, as this poetry gathering sounded incredibly boring.

[Ding! Side quest triggered: First Fame in the Capital.]

[Mission Description: Amaze everyone at the Fifth Princess's poetry gathering and show these bumpkins what true talent is.]

[Reward: Charm +5, one random elixir.]

Su Qing's lips twitched.

Charm value?

Adding any more would be fatal.

However, that pill can be eaten as a snack.

"Since the princess has invited me, I shall gladly accept." Su Qing smiled slightly and gently waved her folding fan.

Li Qingge almost fainted on the spot from that laugh, and several noble ladies around her with weak willpower also gasped softly.

The three of them were escorted up to the high platform.

The rules of this poetry gathering are simple: each person must compose a poem on the theme of "Where the Heart Leads".

Whoever writes well will be rewarded by the Fifth Princess with a top-quality Duan inkstone and a hundred taels of gold.

One hundred taels of gold!

Gu Xiang's eyes instantly turned green.

He was worried about not having any pickled vegetables to go with his whole box of steamed buns!

"I'll go first!"

A young man in fine clothes stepped forward first, swaying his head as he recited a poem, roughly meaning that he wanted to become a great general and protect his country.

The language is ornate, but it's empty and meaningless; it's just a doggerel.

The crowd applauded politely.

Then a few more people came forward, mostly spouting clichés and empty rhetoric, which made Su Qing yawn repeatedly.

Finally, it was Li Yu's turn.

Li Yu glanced at the people below the stage and the distant palace, and a surge of pride welled up in his heart.

He picked up his brush and wrote a poem.

"Gazing at the distant tower, I lean alone against the railing; the wind and rain of the land chill my clothes."

The poem begins with a sense of desolation, and the once lively scene suddenly becomes cold.

"Who says the great building will eventually collapse? I will save it with my own life!"

The final stroke was so powerful it seemed to penetrate the paper, causing the desk to tremble.

Li Yu threw his pen to the ground, his chest heaving violently.

During his incognito travels, he witnessed the hardships of the people and heard about corrupt officials. All the resentment that had been building up in his heart was contained in these twenty-eight characters.

"good!"

An elderly scholar with white hair and beard exclaimed in admiration, "This poem has a grand scope and boundless imagery, possessing the ambition to encompass the universe! A true genius!"

Li Yu humbly bowed and withdrew, but he was still a little smug inside.

Gu Xiang was even more excited, clenching his fist: "Brother Su! Brother Li's poem is excellent! Although it lacks ornate language, that sense of responsibility is simply... simply a role model for us all!"

Su Qing handed him the remaining bamboo skewers: "Alright, role model, wipe your mouth, you're drooling."

Next up is Gu Xiang.

The fool took a deep breath and walked to the table as if he were going to blow up a bunker.

His grip on the pen was extremely heavy, and his writing flowed like dragons and snakes, so powerful that it seemed to penetrate the paper.

"The righteous spirit of heaven and earth prevails, we ask not of ghosts or gods, but of the common people. With a heart full of passion, we repay our friends, daring to change the world!"

The audience was silent.

This poem doesn't describe flowers, birds, insects, or fish, nor does it touch upon matters of love and romance. Yet, the righteous spirit that permeates the lines inspires longing and admiration.

Although the verses are straightforward, even a bit rough, when combined with the newly awakened noble spirit in Gu Xiang, they evoke a sense of tragic grandeur reminiscent of war.

The old scholar stroked his beard and nodded repeatedly: "Although his literary talent is slightly inferior, this spirit and energy are truly rare! Truly rare!"

Finally, everyone's attention turned to Su Qing.

What kind of poems can this handsome "Young Master Su" write?

Li Qingge cupped her hands around her heart, her face full of anticipation.

Su Qing slowly walked to the desk, picked up the brush, and dipped it in ink.

What should I write about?

In this context, writing about patriotism and the people's plight is too tiring, while writing about fighting and killing is too unpleasant.

Since the topic is "Where the Heart Leads," let's write down some of our innermost thoughts.

She thought of her original, lazy fox, who spent all day lying in its den sunbathing, waiting for delicious food to be delivered to its door.

So Su Qing picked up her pen and wrote two lines in a flowing, natural style:

"A single encounter in the golden autumn breeze and jade dew surpasses countless meetings in the mortal world."

After finishing writing, I threw down the pen and called it a day.

The entire room fell silent.

A gust of wind blew by, swirling up a few fallen leaves.

Everyone looked at each other.

What... what is this?

Isn't this just about those trivial things between men and women?

Although the words are beautiful, the idea is just too... too cliché.

The two writers just now, one wrote about family, country, and the world, and the other wrote about righteousness. But when it came to you, it turned into dating?

The young man in brocade couldn't help but sneer, "Young Master Su, this poem is beautiful, but its scope... isn't it a bit too petty? Today is a poetry gathering to discuss philosophy and express aspirations; your lewd and vulgar words are probably out of place."

Li Qingge was also a little disappointed. Although the poem was very romantic, she was, after all, a princess and hoped to see something with more depth.

Su Qing looked indifferent and was about to retort.

"Superficial! Utterly superficial!"

A furious shout suddenly rang out.

Everyone was startled and turned to look. They saw Gu Xiang, her face flushed, trembling with excitement, pointing at the young man in brocade robes and cursing him.

"What do you know! This is not some lewd song! This is clearly the supreme Dao!"

Gu Xiang rushed to the table, pointed at the two lines of poetry, and looked as fanatical as a believer.

"The golden wind, representing autumn, signifies severity and the majesty of Heaven; the jade dew, representing sweet dew, signifies nourishment and the benevolence of Earth!"

Gu Xiang's voice grew louder and louder, making everyone's eardrums buzz.

"When the golden wind and jade dew meet, it is the convergence of Yin and Yang, the moment when Heaven and Earth are established! It is the instant when the Great Dao collides with one's true nature!"

He abruptly turned to look at Su Qing, his eyes filled with admiration: "Brother Su, are you saying that whether it's cultivation or governing a country, pursuing it for thousands of years is not as good as that one moment of enlightenment! That one moment of enlightenment surpasses countless worldly splendors and countless mundane years!"

"This isn't about love! It's about the unwavering dedication of a seeker of truth! It's about the state of oneness with nature!"

After Gu Xiang finished shouting, the entire audience fell silent.

Everyone stared wide-eyed at the two lines of poetry, their minds racing.

It seems... to make some sense?

Li Yu was also stunned. He had originally thought that Su Qing had just written it casually, but after hearing Gu Xiang's interpretation, he suddenly felt that the two lines of poetry were profound and unfathomable.

"Golden wind and jade dew... the convergence of yin and yang..." Li Yu murmured to himself, "So that's how it is! Brother Su is admonishing me that the harmonious relationship between ruler and minister is like golden wind and jade dew; once they meet, they can create a prosperous era, surpassing countless mediocre rulers in the world! This is the way of the emperor!"

The old scholar was so excited that his beard trembled: "Wonderful! Wonderful! I've studied all my life and never understood the true meaning of this! It seems to be about emotions, but it actually expresses the essence of things! The greatest form is formless, the greatest sound is silent! This young master has reached a state of perfection!"

In an instant, exclamations of praise and surprise rose and fell. Those who had previously thought Su Qing was vulgar now felt that they were the truly vulgar ones, having failed to grasp such a profound meaning.

Li Qingge's gaze towards Su Qing had changed from infatuation to admiration, even carrying a hint of awe.

So, are all good-looking and talented people this accomplished?

Su Qing, at the center of the storm, had a slight twitch at the corner of her mouth.

She looked at Gu Xiang, who was so excited she was about to cry, and then at Li Yu, who looked like she had suddenly realized something.

No... I just think dating is better than working, do you guys have to be so serious?

Is this the legendary perfect score in reading comprehension?

"Young Master Su!" Li Qingge blushed and stepped forward, personally presenting the Duan inkstone to Su Qing. "This poem deserves to be the best! Qingge has learned a great deal today."

Su Qing took the Duan inkstone and casually weighed it in her hand. Hmm, quite heavy, it could fetch a good price.

"You flatter me." Su Qingqian chuckled twice. "Actually, I was just writing casually."

"Brother Su, you are too modest!" Gu Xiang said with a serious expression. "The greatest truths are the simplest. Brother Su, you can write down profound words with just a few strokes of your pen. This is true simplicity!"

Su Qing gave up trying to explain. Fine, whatever makes you happy.

Just then, a commotion suddenly broke out on the outskirts of the crowd.

Several men dressed in flying fish robes and carrying embroidered spring knives at their waists rudely pushed through the crowd and strode in. The leader had a sinister face and sharp eyes like a hawk, scanning the entire scene.

The lively atmosphere instantly froze.

"Your Highness, Third Prince and Fifth Princess, we hope you will not blame us for handling this case," a constable from the Six Doors said respectfully.

After Li Yu and the other person nodded slightly in agreement.

The man spoke again coldly, his voice like two pieces of metal rubbing together, "Who is Gu Xiang?"

Gu Xiang paused for a moment, then subconsciously took a step forward: "I am..."

Before he could finish speaking, the man waved his hand.

"take away."

With a whoosh, several constables surrounded them instantly, the chains rattling loudly.

Li Yu's expression changed drastically. Just as he was about to step forward and reveal his identity, Su Qing grabbed him.

Su Qing narrowed her eyes, looking at the head constable, a playful smile curving her lips.

This capital city is indeed more interesting than I imagined. Trouble has already struck as soon as I entered the city.

Moreover, why does this constable have such an unpleasant, foxy smell about him?

That's... the taste of our kind.