The Guangping Prince’s Residence had always refrained from participating in court affairs. Young Prince Yin Wenping had no hobbies other than indulging in literature, making friends, and cultivating his skills. Surprisingly, he had achieved some recognition. All the literary and scholarly figures in the Capital were honored to receive an invitation to the Banquet of Talent.
Of course, Xie Jingyuan was an exception. Being a military general, he had no interest in such literary activities. When he saw a group of pretentious scholars engaged in lofty discussions, he could not help but want to draw his sword and run them all through.
On the other hand, Chu Xinian was quite interested, but unfortunately, he did not receive an invitation. After the Crown Prince left, he followed Xie Jingyuan back to the room and said, “General, you usually keep a low profile, but now might be a good time to go out and get some fresh air. Besides, at the Talent Banquet, there will be a mix of people. Who knows, we might get some information.”
Xie Jingyuan grimaced, “I’ve already said I’m not going.”
No matter what Chu Xinian said, Xie Jingyuan would not listen.
Chu Xinian nodded in response, not giving it any more thought, “Alright then, I’ll go with the Crown Prince.”
Xie Jingyuan remained silent. He could not understand why Chu Xinian insisted on going. After all, he didn’t seem like the type who enjoyed joining in the fun. If even someone like the Crown Prince was invited, what kind of prestigious event could it be?
But Xie Jingyuan hadn’t realized one thing, Chu Xinian loved to get involved in such gatherings. He would dare to explore the Yama Palace just to gather material for his writings and satisfy his thirst for knowledge, let alone the mere Guangping Prince’s Residence.
As the night grew darker, the prison was plunged into silence.
Qin Shuang lay on a pile of grass, staring at the oppressive black walls above, resembling a living corpse. A day had passed and he still had not uttered a single word.
The guard brought him a crude meal, throwing a steamed bun through the gap in the bars, considering his duty done. Then he sat down against the bars, untied the gourd from his waist, and took a long drink of wine.
“Damn, this is no place for a person. Even good wine loses three-quarters of its flavor.”
The guard shook his head, complaining about the dank darkness of the prison. He finished the wine gourd quickly, tilted his head to one side, and fell asleep, snoring loudly. A bunch of keys hung from his waist, and one of them could open the cell door.
Qin Shuang gritted his teeth and struggled to move his body. Then he slammed hard against the wall, and there was a crunching sound as he repositioned his dislocated shoulder. He endured the pain and deftly readjusted the other side. Finally, he stood up.
Reaching between the bars, Qin Shuang mercilessly knocked out the drunken guard. He then grabbed the keys from his waist, unlocked the cell door, and grabbed the guard’s weapon before staggering away.
“Qin Shuang escaped?” Xie Jingyuan listened to Jiu Yong’s report, raised an eyebrow, and waved his hand, signaling him to leave. He did not seem surprised by the news.
Chu Xinian, lying on his bed reading, raised his eyes at the mention and smiled inexplicably, “General, you let him go?”
Xie Jingyuan sensed that Chu Xinian was asking a meaningless question, he lazily lifted his eyelids, “It wasn’t me who let him go. Are you suggesting that he escaped on his own?”
If Xie Jingyuan hadn’t deliberately orchestrated it, it would have been almost impossible for a half-dead person to escape from the heavily guarded prison.
Chu Xinian turned a page in his book and leaned back on the bed before nonchalantly asking, “General, by following my advice so easily, don’t you fear that I might be a spy sent by Prince Jin?”
“Prince Jin?” Xie Jingyuan sneered disdainfully, curving his lips, “I’m not even afraid of a dying man, why would I be afraid of a spy sent by him?”
Yesterday, Prince Jin led his troops to the northern border. Several forces were eager for action, and naturally, the Crown Prince was involved. Chu Xinian wondered if the advice he had given Xie Jingyuan had been heeded.
Of course, if they were determined to kill Prince Jin, it would probably be rather difficult to achieve success.
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
Chu Xinian slowly turned to another page, “General, do you want to glorify him or assassinate him?”
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Chu Xinian paused, thinking that Xie Jingyuan had something to say, “Hmm?”
Xie Jingyuan, with an expression hidden behind a curtain, leaned in and said, “Come here.”
Chu Xinian slightly curved his lips and closed the lampshade, “Do you need anything, General?”
“…” Xie Jingyuan was silent for a moment and then said, “Come here. I’m cold.”
Chu Xinian could not see Xie Jingyuan’s expression through the curtain, but his voice sounded firm. He used a thin stick to pick up the candle wick, and in that moment of flickering light, two warm flames appeared in his pale-colored pupils.
“…Okay.”
Chu Xinian didn’t know what Xie Jingyuan’s expression was when he said those words, but he responded with a heartbeat of delay. He blew out the candle and walked into the inner room in the dim light. He slowly took off his white clothes.
The clothes fell silently to the floor.
Chu Xinian climbed into bed, slipped under the sheets, and realized that Xie Jingyuan was still fully dressed. He raised an eyebrow but said nothing, ” Let’s sleep.”
Xie Jingyuan was not as firm as he looked, as if he was holding on to something. He let out a slow breath when he saw Chu Xinian approaching. He felt the warmth beside him, pondered for a moment, and then quickly took off his clothes, throwing them on the ground.
In the darkness, it was unclear who was hugging whom, but there were two bodies pressed together. One cold, the other warm: such a contradiction, but such harmony.
Xie Jingyuan closed his eyes and sighed inwardly. He thought that the living also have their advantages. If he had killed Chu Xinian then, they wouldn’t have the lively scene they had today.
He asked Chu Xinian, “Do you want to go to the Banquet of Talent…?”
Chu Xinian gently closed his eyes and squeezed Xie Jingyuan in his embrace, “It’s good to go take a look.”
Xie Jingyuan choked momentarily, his Adam’s apple rolling before forcing out an unpleasant sentence, “You’re not allowed to go with the Crown Prince.”
Chu Xinian thought this statement was unreasonable. He seemed to smile, but in the darkness, it was not visible, “Then who should I go with?”
Xie Jingyuan hesitated for a moment and then said, “…. Naturally, you should go with this General.”
Chu Xinian made a meaningful sound. He sat up and touched Xie Jingyuan’s right cheek with his warm fingertips. His voice was soft as he said, “Then I thank the General in advance.”
Xie Jingyuan remained silent. Because he had repeatedly made exceptions for Chu Xinian, he felt a subtle and barely perceptible uneasiness. After all, uncontrollable things always make people extremely cautious.
“Sleep” Xie Jingyuan ordered, “Don’t talk anymore.”
Chu Xiniann obeyed and closed his eyes to rest.
…
The Banquet of Talent was held at the Golden Scale Pavilion in Prince Guangping’s Residence. Guests came and went, some of high status and power, others connoisseurs and scholars. The Capital was full of talented individuals, and even the servants serving tea and water recited some randomly composed nonsense poetry.
If you, dressed in white, feel desolate,
Why should you pity yourself?
With one step, step on the golden scales,
with half a step, leap into the dragon’s pavilion.
Ten years of bitter cold behind the study windows,
a mind full of vast knowledge and experience.
Once the scholars recognize your talent,
your name will be known throughout the world.
The Banquet of Talent had been held at the Golden Scale Pavilion for years, intended to represent “A golden scale is not a mere fish in a pond; when it meets the wind and clouds, it transforms into a dragon.” This event provided an opportunity for impoverished scholars with unfulfilled ambitions to seek advancement, while influential figures and nobles sought hidden talents. This small Golden Scale Pavilion contained most of the Capital’s talents, making it undeniably lively.
However, Xie Jingyuan still found these gatherings boring. He leaned lazily against the carriage, lifting his eyelids to look at the extraordinary figure in white seated in front of him, “Do you know how to compose poetry?”
Chu Xinian faintly shook his head, “No.”
Xie Jingyuan asked, “Are you skilled in calligraphy and painting?”
Chu Xinian continued to deny, “No.”
Xie Jingyuan leaned his head back, and his fingertips slowly rubbed the cold mask on his right side. After pondering for a while, he came to a somewhat absurd conclusion, “Are you going to watch the show?”
He guessed correctly.
Chu Xinian nodded, silently acknowledging it.
Xie Jingyuan scoffed, “What show is there to see?”
Chu Xinian thought that even if there were no shows to see, it would be good to broaden his horizons. The Banquet of Talent was akin to a large talent recruitment market in later generations. The Crown Prince lacked talented subordinates and advisors, so it was not a bad idea to dig up some extraordinary talents.
In the original plot, when Prince Jin went to Shuofang to suppress the rebellion, Chu Jiaoping gathered many talented individuals for him at the Banquet of Talent, laying a solid foundation for his future ascension to the throne.
Yin Wenping, Prince Guangping, was exceptionally respectful of virtuous and talented individuals. He would personally stand at the door to welcome guests, and his refined appearance made a favorable impression. Whether they were unknown young scholars or renowned scholars, they were treated equally. When he saw the carriages of the General Mansion in the distance, he was momentarily dumbfounded before quickly descending the steps. He wondered why General Xie, who had been pretending to be sick for a long time, had unexpectedly come today.
The first to step down from the carriage was Chu Xinian. He wore a white robe with a fan folded at his waist and had clear, refined features, exuding an otherworldly elegance that attracted many glances.
Yin Wenping mistook him for Chu Jiaoping and was about to blurt out a “Brother Jiaoping” before realizing it was the carriage of the General’s Mansion. He hastily swallowed his saliva.
“Is it… the Second Young Master of Marquis Quyang?” The Prince of Guangping spoke timidly, suspecting that he had the wrong person.
Chu Xinian smiled faintly and nodded his head in greeting, “Greetings, Your Highness.”
Meanwhile, Xie Jingyuan also got off the carriage. He was still wearing his cloak and even when he was not sick, he maintained an appearance of illness. He coughed twice, covering his pale lips with a handkerchief. His gaze was dark and gloomy, and anyone caught under his eyes would involuntarily feel a chill even on a day of scorching sunshine.
Unconsciously, Chu Xinian held out his hand and helped him, “Be careful, General.”
Xie Jingyuan looked at him, “I’m all right.”
To the onlookers, it seemed as if they were in perfect harmony.
Prince Guangping finally regained his senses and graciously welcomed them inside, “I heard that the General has been ill for quite some time. I am truly honored that you can come and attend today’s banquet. Many talented people from the Capital have gathered here today, and I have reserved a privileged place for the General to view a peerless painting together with everyone.”
Xie Jingyuan had no personal relationship with Prince Guangping, so he responded indifferently. On the other hand, Chu Xinian seemed naturally adept at socializing and engaged in lively conversation, drawing frequent glances from onlookers.
Today’s Talent Banquet was impressive. Not only were literary masters like Yan Qinghe present, but also the talented painter Liu Rumo, Prince Chang, Prince Ping, and the prestigious Military Marquis, Xie Jingyuan, who rarely left his residence….
Oh, and the current Crown Prince.
Just as Chu Xinian and Xie Jingyuan entered through the main gate, they heard from afar a high-pitched eunuch greeting, “His Royal Highness, the Crown Prince has arrived…”
Everyone turned their heads and watched as a bright yellow palanquin slowly approached and stopped before Prince Guangping. Eunuchs cleared the way, palace maidens held fans and the scene was grandiose, but gave people the feeling of being overbearing, like a crab brandishing its pincers.
As the curtain was lifted, Crown Prince Yin Chenghao came out from inside. Prince Guangping hurried to pay his respects, forcing a smile, “So it is His Royal Highness, the Crown Prince. I apologize for not receiving you properly. Please forgive me.”
The Crown Prince patted his shoulder, “We are brothers, why be so formal? By the way, how is the singing girl’s appearance today? If she is not beautiful, it might ruin the reputation of your Banquet of Talent.”
He had managed to turn the big talent recruitment market into a brothel meeting.
The author has something to say:
The Crown Prince: #Lowering the standards of the Banquet of Talent by my own efforts#
Crown Prince defo is my fav chara in this arc 😂 and i forgot, is chu xinian the shou or xie jingyuan??
I think Xie Jingyuan, but they give me major switch vibes!
Every arc has a gong protagonist. So we’ll have Xie Jingyuan as our power bottom in this case🤭
……. 😑😑🙄🥱🤦♀️🤦♀️