Poet Immortal, Poet Sage, Duke of the State!

The tenth year of Jingping, the second day of the Lunar New Year.

This morning, Chen Chang'an completely opened up the other half of the Lung Meridian of Hand-Taiyin, allowing his internal energy to flow freely between his two arms.

His progress in martial arts made him even happier than when he was granted a noble title on the first day of the Lunar New Year.

According to Qing Shuang, if he had practiced the Cloud-Soaring Step instead of the Rock-Splitting Palm from the Breaking Army Technique first, and opened up the meridians in his legs, he would already be able to perform basic wall-climbing maneuvers.

Chen Chang'an had no regrets about this.

Different choices lead to different results.

If he had learned the Cloud Steps first, he might have been able to escape faster, but he still wouldn't have been as fast as that Yan assassin.

It was precisely because he first learned the Rock-Splitting Palm technique, which enhances attack power, that he was able to buy himself a little time until his bodyguards arrived. Otherwise, he might not have made it through the New Year.

Today is the second day of the Lunar New Year, and neither Qing Shuang nor Zhao Yue are here.

According to the tradition of Daning, on the second day of the Lunar New Year, people will begin to visit relatives and friends to exchange New Year greetings.

Chen Chang'an has no important relatives in this world. His mother was the only daughter in her family. Not long after she passed away, his parents also died of grief, leaving Chen Chang'an with no relatives on his mother's side.

Chen Wenyuan was also a single son in his family line. His parents had passed away early, leaving only some distant relatives. Naturally, Chen Chang'an had no say in the matter.

If we're talking about anyone who has any connection to him, it's probably the Zhao family.

Although Zhao was only his stepmother, according to the filial piety of Da Ning, a stepmother is also a mother. It was perfectly reasonable for Chen Chang'an to visit Zhao's family to wish her a Happy New Year. After careful consideration, Chen Chang'an decided against it...

He went back to his room, took a shower, and changed into clean casual clothes. Just as he finished getting ready, there was a knock on the door.

Chen Chang'an walked to the door, opened the gate, and saw Gu Qingcheng and Caiwei standing at the door, each carrying an exquisitely packaged brocade box.

Gu Qingcheng handed the gift box to Chen Chang'an and said with a smile, "Happy New Year, Young Master Chen."

Caiwei also handed over the New Year's gift in her hand, and said with a smile, "Young Master Chen, Happy New Year."

Chen Chang'an was slightly taken aback, then reached out to accept the New Year's gifts from the two women, stepped aside to make room, and said with a smile, "Ladies, please come in and sit down..."

He never expected that they would choose to wish him a Happy New Year on the second day of the Lunar New Year.

On the second day of the Lunar New Year, people typically visit their most important relatives and friends.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Caiwei said at the opportune moment, "Young Master Chen must have other important matters to attend to, so I won't disturb you any longer. I'll take my leave now..."

Chen Chang'an shook his head and said, "There's no reason for guests to leave hungry. I have nothing to do, so why don't you two ladies stay and have a meal together..."

Caiwei was stunned for a moment, then felt flattered and surprised, but also a little flustered.

Young Master Chen's status is no longer what it used to be; he is now a top scholar in the imperial examination, a Hanlin scholar, and a powerful figure in the court. She had mustered up all her courage to come to the top scholar's residence to offer New Year's greetings today...

Unexpectedly, Young Master Chen was still as approachable as ever.

Her face flushed, and she quickly nodded, saying, "Thank you very much, young master."

Chen Chang'an originally planned to have a simple lunch, but with guests arriving, he certainly couldn't just make do.

Fortunately, the family had already stocked up on plenty of food for the Lunar New Year, including meat, vegetables, rice, and noodles. So even if ten or eight more came, it would be more than enough, let alone just the two of them.

Just as Chen Chang'an had this thought, there was another knock on the door.

He walked to the door, opened it, and was greeted by a fragrant breeze.

As if they had planned it together, apart from Gu Qingcheng and Caiwei, all the other ten most beautiful courtesans in the capital stood outside the door.

Peony, warm jade, shimmering, tiny…

They were all dressed up in their finest attire, each with their own unique style. Some carried gifts, while others held them in their hands. The doorway was packed with beautiful women, creating a truly stunning scene.

Passersby on the street, as well as the gatekeepers of nearby wealthy families, were all stunned.

The ten most beautiful courtesans in the capital, whom even the wealthiest men would spend a fortune to catch a glimpse of, have come as a group to the Zhuangyuan Mansion to pay their respects to Chen Chang'an for the New Year...

This is so enviable...

Seeing the familiar scene, Chen Chang'an paused for a moment before immediately inviting the women in.

In an instant, the scholar's mansion was filled with beautiful women, their laughter and chatter echoing over the courtyard wall, making the neighboring men's hearts itch with anticipation...

In the kitchen, Chen Chang'an's cleaver left afterimages as he swung it.

He had just invited Gu Qingcheng and Caiwei to stay for dinner, so he couldn't let the other girls leave.

The top ten courtesans would need to prepare more than a dozen dishes to satisfy them.

Chen Chang'an had sent all the maids in the mansion back to reunite with their families, and they wouldn't be back until the fifth day of the new year. Fortunately, the meridians in both of his arms had been opened up, otherwise he would have been exhausted just from stir-frying and tossing the wok today...

Inside the courtyard, Nuanyu glanced at Chen Chang'an, who was busy in the kitchen, and asked curiously, "Can the top scholar cook?"

The women all looked bewildered, but Gu Qingcheng smiled slightly and said, "You all underestimate Young Master Chen. Not only is his talent unparalleled, but his culinary skills are also superb, comparable to the head chef of Zuixianlou..."

Upon hearing this, all the women turned their gazes toward her.

Caiwei glanced back at the kitchen, then at Gu Qingcheng, and asked tentatively, "Sister Qingcheng, have you perhaps tasted the dishes prepared by Young Master Chen himself...?"

Gu Qingcheng nodded and said naturally, "On New Year's Eve, I stayed up with Young Master Chen. He cooked several dishes, each one of which was delicious and beautifully presented..."

"What?!"

"You'll be staying up all night with Young Master Chen on New Year's Eve!"

"you……"

……

Upon hearing this, the women all showed expressions of shock, followed by intense envy and jealousy.

Who is Young Master Chen? He is the greatest scholar in history, known as the "Poet Immortal" and "Literary Sage," a hero of the Great Ning Dynasty, the youngest and most powerful figure in the capital, and a powerful figure of his generation...

Countless women in the capital regarded him as their dream lover and wanted to marry him and become his woman; they were no exception...

To everyone's surprise, Gu Qingcheng had already gotten there first, and on such an important day as New Year's Eve, she was able to spend the New Year with Young Master Chen...

Who knows what they did after they stayed up all night to welcome the New Year...

In an instant, the women had already imagined a series of exhilarating scenes...

Gu Qingcheng smiled slightly, her vanity greatly satisfied. They were all among the top ten courtesans in the capital, and Young Master Chen had written poems for all of them...

But I am still different from them.

At least on New Year's Eve, Young Master Chen spent it with her; even Miss Qing Shuang and Miss Gong Yue didn't receive this honor...

Amidst the envious and jealous gazes of the other women, she slowly stood up, smiled, and said, "You all chat first, I'll go help Young Master Chen in the kitchen..."

The courtesans exchanged glances, and although they didn't speak, they unknowingly reached a consensus on a certain matter.

They all headed towards the kitchen without prior arrangement.

"Young Master Chen, let me help you!"

"Young Master Chen, I'll join you too!"

"Let me chop the vegetables, I'm really good with a knife!"

"Young master, please rest. Let me massage your shoulders..."

……

Gu Qingcheng had just entered the kitchen and hadn't even gotten close to Chen Chang'an when she was squeezed out of the kitchen by a group of beautiful women behind her.

Standing at the kitchen doorway, watching the women inside showering Chen Chang'an with attention, she gritted her teeth in anger, thinking to herself, "A bunch of little sluts!"