Poet Immortal, Poet Sage, Duke of the State!

Chen Mansion, side hall.

Although there were only three people at the table—Chen Wenyuan, Zhao Shi, and Chen Changxuan—the dishes were very plentiful, consisting of eight dishes and a soup.

Chen Wenyuan sat in the main seat without touching his chopsticks, looking preoccupied.

In recent days, he felt that His Majesty's gaze towards him was not quite right.

During the morning court session, he looked up several times and found His Majesty staring at him with a frown.

Unfortunately, apart from giving him an odd look, His Majesty did nothing else, which made him feel uneasy and uncertain, fearing that he had somehow angered His Majesty.

Is it because His Majesty is still angry because Changxuan embarrassed himself in public in the Golden Hall last time?

Thinking of this, he glared at Chen Changxuan again, his face showing displeasure.

Chen Changxuan sat opposite Chen Wenyuan with his head down, eating his meal in silence.

Ever since he lost face in the imperial palace, his father has scolded him every time he sees him and forbids him from going out to play with his friends. He's practically going crazy from being cooped up at home...

Sensing the strained atmosphere between father and son, Zhao picked up a piece of fish and placed it in Chen Wenyuan's bowl, smiling as she tried to smooth things over: "Master, try this braised fish. The new cook in the kitchen is quite skilled."

Chen Wenyuan picked up a piece of fish and looked at Chen Changxuan with dissatisfaction.

Seeing that the atmosphere between the father and son had not eased, Zhao changed the subject, saying, "By the way, sir, have you heard that there is a competition at Wangyue Tower today?"

Chen Wenyuan put the fish in his mouth, shook his head, and casually asked, "What kind of competition?"

Zhao explained, "The daughter of General Zhenyuan and the granddaughter of the Minister of Rites have arranged to compete in poetry at Wangyue Tower. This matter has been the talk of the entire capital these past few days. My lord has been busy with official duties and may not have noticed it."

"Who and who?"

Chen Wenyuan was taken aback when he heard this, thinking he had misheard.

Xiao Qingshuang, the daughter of General Zhenyuan, is nicknamed "Little Witch". From childhood to adulthood, she has stirred up a lot of trouble in the powerful circles of the capital. Even Chen Wenyuan has heard of her.

As for Lin Wenjing, the granddaughter of the Minister of Rites, Chen Wenyuan was no stranger to her.

She was a famous talented woman in the capital since childhood. Chen Wenyuan had read several of her poems and greatly appreciated her graceful style.

How did these two people, one a scholar and the other a warrior, one a noblewoman of a civil official and the other a brilliant general, come together to compete in poetry?

Zhao poured herself a bowl of soup and said with some surprise, "I originally thought that a woman from a military family would at most know some martial arts, but I didn't expect her to be so talented in literature. I heard that she wrote two poems on the spot, which impressed three literary masters. Now people call her the number one talented woman in Da Ning."

She paused, then added, "It's said that one of the poems is particularly well-written, something like... 'Don't laugh at me, drunk and lying on the battlefield; how many have returned from ancient battles...'"

After hearing this, Chen Wenyuan put down his chopsticks, his expression turning even more unpleasant.

He was a legitimate Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations). Although his current official position is largely due to his good father-in-law, he himself is also extremely talented.

"Don't laugh at me, drunk and lying on the battlefield; how many have returned from ancient battles?" With bold and unrestrained words, the poem expresses the border guards' open-minded attitude towards the impermanence of life and death. The verses seem lighthearted, yet they contain a profound sense of tragic heroism.

In just two short sentences, Chen Wenyuan could feel the overflowing literary talent.

He turned to look at Chen Changxuan, who was eating with his head down, and said coldly, "Did you hear that? A woman from a military family is more accomplished than you. I hired famous teachers to educate you from a young age, spending tens of thousands of taels of silver. You studied for more than ten years, and in the end, you're not even as good as a girl who knows how to wield a sword?"

Chen Changxuan paused for a moment, not expecting this to be related to him. He didn't know whether to swallow or spit out the food in his mouth.

He muttered under his breath, "Father, Lin Wenjing was also taught by a famous teacher, yet she's still not as good as him. Besides, that day in the Golden Palace, the couplet that all the court officials couldn't come up with was also answered by him..."

As Chen Changxuan was speaking, he suddenly shut his mouth.

He realized that if he reminded his father of that embarrassing incident, he would get another scolding.

"How dare you bring that up?"

Sure enough, it would have been better if he hadn't mentioned what happened in the Golden Hall that day. Thinking of that humiliating incident, Chen Wenyuan's anger surged again. He slammed his chopsticks on the table and roared, "You unfilial son! If you hadn't made a fool of yourself in front of the entire court in the Golden Hall, embarrassing His Majesty, His Majesty wouldn't be so dissatisfied with me!"

After being scolded by his father again, Chen Changxuan lowered his head and silently put down his chopsticks.

Seeing this, Madam Zhao quickly advised, "Master, that's enough, that's enough. Xuan'er is still young. He can study more in the future. Don't get upset and harm your health..."

"Is he still young?"

Chen Wenyuan glared at Chen Changxuan and said angrily, "That Xiao family girl is a year younger than him! Sigh, I, Chen Wenyuan, was once a third-place scholar in the imperial examinations, how come I can't even have an angry son!"

Zhao opened her mouth, as if she wanted to say something, when suddenly a series of hurried footsteps came from outside the door.

"Master, master!"

The steward, Chen Fu, rushed in, panting, and said in a flustered voice, "Master, someone from the palace has arrived! The eunuch who is delivering the imperial decree has reached the front hall. Please come out to receive the decree!"

Chen Wenyuan suddenly stood up, his expression changing: "Announce the imperial edict? What imperial edict?"

Without thinking twice, he quickly straightened his clothes and strode towards the front hall.

Zhao and Chen Changxuan followed closely behind. Upon seeing the eunuch who delivered the imperial edict, the family of three knelt in a row in the front hall. Chen Wenyuan kowtowed and said, "Your subject, Chen Wenyuan, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, respectfully welcomes the imperial edict!"

A eunuch stood in the center of the hall, reading expressionlessly: "By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Chen Wenyuan, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, behaved improperly and inappropriately at yesterday's court assembly. He is hereby fined one month's salary as punishment. This is the imperial decree!"

After the eunuch finished reading, he closed the imperial edict and handed it to Chen Wenyuan: "Lord Chen, please accept the edict."

Chen Wenyuan knelt on the ground, stunned, and even forgot to accept the imperial edict.

Inappropriate behavior?

When did he behave inappropriately?

This unexpected imperial edict caught him somewhat off guard.

After regaining his senses, Chen Wenyuan trembled as he accepted the imperial edict, his mind blank.

He looked up, as if to ask something, but the eunuch had already turned and walked out.

Madam Zhao stood up and asked in a low voice, "Master... what happened?"

Chen Wenyuan knelt on the ground, staring blankly at the imperial edict in his hand.

He was trying desperately to remember.

What exactly did he do at the morning court session yesterday?

No!

Yesterday, he stood properly in the civil servants' line as usual, without saying a word from beginning to end. He didn't even dare to fart, which he had been holding back for a long time. How could he have behaved improperly?

He was filled with both shock and fear.

For him, a month's salary was a small matter.

But he needed to know why His Majesty had punished him.

Your Majesty has always been benevolent, and even if court officials behave improperly, Your Majesty will not make a big deal out of it.

This was clearly a warning from His Majesty.

But why did His Majesty reprimand him?

Seeing that his expression was off, Zhao pressed him for an answer: "Master, what...what exactly did you do in court yesterday?"

Chen Wenyuan said impatiently, "You're asking me? Who am I supposed to ask?!"

He stood up, clutching the imperial edict, his face ashen, his mind replaying the memories.

He was certain he hadn't made any mistakes; the only possibility was...

He turned around, his gaze falling on Chen Changxuan, and said sternly, "It's all your fault! If you hadn't disgraced the Chen family in the Imperial Palace, why would His Majesty dislike me?"

Chen Changxuan was stunned for a moment, then slowly lowered his head, tears welling up in his eyes.

What did he do to deserve this?

It wasn't his own idea to participate in the couplet competition that time; his father forced him to go, and now he's blaming him!

Madam Zhao shielded her son, a surge of anger rising within her. She questioned, "Master, how can you blame Xuan'er for this? His Majesty punished you. Instead of reflecting on your own mistakes, you're blaming Xuan'er?"

Chen Wenyuan felt even more embarrassed after being retorted by her. He flicked his sleeve, turned around, went back to his study, and slammed the door shut.

In the side hall, Zhao stood there, watching Chen Wenyuan's departing figure, then looked at her son who was silently wiping away tears, feeling extremely agitated.

It was supposed to be a good thing, so how did it turn out like this?