My family has been wielding knives for generations, but now it's my turn to wield a pen!

Inside the west wing courtyard, flowers and trees flourish, and birdsong fills the air.

A winding bluestone path leads through the area, and several long tables are set up under the eaves. On the tables are ancient scrolls or writing brushes and inkstones, and the air seems to be filled with a faint fragrance of ink.

A considerable number of people had already gathered in the courtyard.

There were pageboys attending to him, as well as young scholars dressed in Confucian robes with different temperaments.

In addition, three elderly people sat on one side, their conversation exuding an air of authority that suggested they were no ordinary people.

As Gu Zhiyan led Jiang Xiaobai and his group into the courtyard.

The people who were originally talking in different places couldn't help but turn their gazes over.

"Old Gu is here!"

"This student greets Professor Gu!"

"Mr. Gu!"

In an instant, many people stood up and stepped forward to greet him, their expressions quite respectful.

When the three old men saw Gu Zhiyan, they couldn't help but smile and stand up, greeting him in his direction.

Jiang Xiaobai saw the whole scene and a strange look flashed in his eyes.

He had only assumed that this old man, Gu, must be of high status, but he never expected that he would be so respected here.

Thinking of this, he couldn't help but quietly turn his head to look at Zhang Xinnian beside him, and lower his voice to ask, "Just who is this Old Master Gu?"

"..."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Xinnian's eyes widened in surprise.

Good guy!

He had just watched Jiang Xiaobai chat and laugh with the other party all the way, saying that he had long heard of his great name and that he had always talked about his demeanor and character.

He thought that his young master really knew this person, or at least had heard of him.

After all that fuss...

The Crown Prince doesn't recognize him at all?

For a moment, the expression on Zhang Xinnian's face became quite interesting.

Unfortunately, he was, after all, a military man, and his understanding of these literary elders and renowned scholars was limited.

So when Jiang Xiaobai asked him this, he could only cough awkwardly and reply in a low voice, "This subordinate... isn't quite sure either."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Xiaobai's lips twitched slightly.

have to.

Asking is pointless.

So he didn't say anything more, but just looked up and continued to observe the people in the courtyard.

Judging from the conversations of the people around him, he quickly realized something.

The real master, Mr. Lin, did not seem to have arrived yet.

Otherwise, given the other party's status, the atmosphere in this courtyard would never be so relaxed.

Thinking of this, Jiang Xiaobai was not in a hurry. He simply stood aside with Zhang Xinnian and waited quietly.

He came here for only one purpose.

That's right, it's about becoming an apprentice!

This is also a preparation for the future.

Jiang Xiaobai knew very well that a marriage alliance with the Prime Minister's family was not enough.

If he truly wants to claim the title of top scholar in the future, without a mentor to follow, in the eyes of many, he will still be seen as a spoiled brat who emerged halfway through his career.

Even if one has a reputation, it is ultimately meaningless; the court does not believe it, and neither do the people of the world.

But if you become an apprentice, things will be different.

especially……

If he could become a disciple of Master Lin, that would be even more remarkable!

Who was Mr. Lin?

He was once the Grand Tutor, a renowned scholar of his time, with a great reputation and students and old friends all over the court.

If he could become an apprentice, the significance would be entirely different.

At that time, who would dare to easily use phrases like "a playboy buying an official position" to trample on him at will?

Thinking of this, a glint of light flashed in Jiang Xiaobai's eyes.

anyway.

Today, he has to find a way to forcefully pry open this closed door.

Just as he was pondering this, one of the three elders spoke up: "Elder Gu, the person behind you... could he be your newly accepted student?"

"How come I've never seen this before?"

That's right, all three of them brought students with them this time, just to appreciate the masterpieces!

Therefore, it is reasonable for Professor Gu to bring his students here.

As soon as the old man finished speaking, many students turned to look at Jiang Xiaobai.

Before Gu Zhiyan could speak, a slightly shrill voice rang out first: "Hmph, I've seen him before!"

Everyone looked in the direction of the voice and saw that the speaker was a young scholar around twenty years old, with a fair complexion, wearing a blue scholar's robe, and with a fairly decent appearance.

But a hint of undisguised contempt lingered in his eyes: "He's the young master of the Zhenbei Marquis's mansion, and also the most notorious playboy in our capital!"

As soon as these words were spoken, a low murmur arose from the surroundings.

"Huh? He's Jiang Xiaobai?"

"It was him?"

"No wonder he looked so familiar..."

"But how did he get here?"

"Exactly, is the western wing of Elder Lin's residence a place where just anyone can enter?"

Although the sounds were not loud, Jiang Xiaobai heard them clearly, but his expression did not change at all.

He merely glanced at the student who had spoken.

This person looked very unfamiliar, obviously... the other person had seen him before, but he had not seen the other person before.

Thinking of this, Jiang Xiaobai suddenly smiled: "Oh? This gentleman has seen me before?"

"Who in the capital doesn't know someone like the Crown Prince?" The scholar sneered upon hearing this.

"Too."

Jiang Xiaobai nodded, his expression still calm, and then slowly said, "This young master usually spends his days either in gambling dens or listening to music in brothels."

"Hehe, I just wonder, where did you see me?"

This statement came out.

The student's expression froze instantly.

Everyone around was stunned for a moment.

No one expected that Jiang Xiaobai would actually follow the other person's words and make up a story about himself.

But ironically, this seemingly casual remark left the student speechless.

Because this question is simply unanswerable.

Where did you say you met?

To say it was on the street would seem too unrealistic.

But if it's in a gambling den, brothel, or similar place...

Wouldn't that be tantamount to publicly admitting that you also frequent those kinds of places?

For a moment, the student's face turned bright red, and although his lips moved, he couldn't utter a single complete sentence.

Jiang Xiaobai, however, seemed to suddenly remember something, and showed a look of realization.

"Ah, I remember now."

"Spring Moon Pavilion!"

"I think I've seen you at Chun Yue Lou before. You were sitting quite close to the front, and you were really focused on the girl!"

"you……"

Upon hearing this, the student was filled with shame and anger, almost jumping up on the spot: "You scoundrel! How could I... how could I possibly go to such a filthy place!"

"Disgusting?"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Xiaobai raised an eyebrow and said, "In Chunyue Tower, there is music, wine, and meat."

After saying this, Jiang Xiaobai's lips curled up, and he said softly, "Red lanterns illuminate the night's guests, and music fills the high towers. If one's heart were cleansed, where would there be no romance?"

What you consider filthy, I might see as a wonderful place on earth!

As Jiang Xiaobai finished speaking, the previously noisy West Wing courtyard instantly fell silent.

The expressions of everyone around changed slightly at that moment.

Gu Zhiyan, in particular, suddenly brightened up again.

What a beautiful poem!

Although this poem is not a particularly important work.

Yet, he writes with a free and natural style, carrying a bold and unrestrained wit.

The first two lines describe the scenery, but the last two lines take a sudden turn, focusing directly on the human heart.

The line "If you cleanse your heart, where is not a place of romance?" is a direct rebuttal to the other party's insult about a filthy place.

Whether a place is dirty or not is not determined by the place itself.

It resides in people's hearts!

If one's heart is upright, even in a secluded place like Chunyue Tower, one can still enjoy music and wine.

If one's heart is corrupt, even standing in this west wing courtyard, one might not be much more virtuous than others!

For a moment, not only Gu Zhiyan, but also the three old men who had been sitting upright to the side were full of surprise.

The student who had been so disdainful just moments before was now frozen in place, his face turning pale and then red, as if he had been slapped hard in public.

Just then.

Suddenly, a voice filled with obvious admiration came from behind: "Wonderful! This poem is excellent..."