Volume One, Chapter 16: Nanyang and Lin Fengxuan Lose Their Composure

As Princess Changyang’s personal maid, Qiuxiang immediately sensed something was amiss in the room. Especially from the princess’s eyes—brimming with tears and a silent, unbearable mixture of grievance and humiliation. How could she not understand what was happening?

Princess Nanyang was bullying her princess again, and this time with the backing of her powerful husband!

Qiuxiang felt her nose sting and tears well up. Why, just because they were both heirs, was the gap between them so vast? Why was her princess treated so unfairly? She was so kind, so diligent.

“Qiuxiang! Are you looking for death?” Princess Nanyang snapped angrily. “I told you to speak, are you deaf?”

Lin Fengxuan’s lips curled into a smirk as he stared at the disheveled and trembling Changyang with great satisfaction. Yes, just like this. Today, I will plant an indelible shadow in your heart! I will make you fear, dread, and feel shame! Then I will slowly tear down your inner defenses until you become my golden cage plaything!

Ha! I, the noble heir, wield immeasurable power. The era when royal decrees were absolute has passed! Princess Changyang, you will never escape my grasp!

As for Nanyang? Hmph. She’s nothing but a spoiled, willful, self-righteous vase with a pretty face. Watch as I turn the tides at will and toy with you two sisters as I please.

Lin Fengxuan’s gaze was arrogant and indifferent. “Princess Changyang, why try to cover up the truth? This matter will be clear once we inquire outside! Fate is such that since you married Shen Yi, you must bear his disgrace. Meanwhile, Nanyang, having married me, shares my glory. You cannot escape it, so you might as well accept it calmly. Perhaps one day, when you look pitiful and fallen, Nanyang and I might offer you some protection. Isn’t that right, my lady?”

Princess Nanyang was very pleased, nodding repeatedly. My husband truly speaks my heart! That title of ‘my lady’ is temporarily granted.

Changyang fought back tears, despairingly rising to leave. “Qiuxiang, don’t make it difficult. Speak.”

The two immediately exchanged satisfied glances, ready to mock mercilessly.

Qiuxiang’s tears suddenly streamed down. “Princess, rumors outside say that last night, Consort Shen wrote a poem at Qingliu Pavilion that took first place, overwhelmingly defeating scholar Lu Yu. He also spent half the night with the courtesan Qin Qianyue…”

Huh?

Nanyang’s smile froze.

Lin Fengxuan’s eyes widened in shock.

Changyang’s footsteps halted.

With tear-streaked eyes, she turned back, stunned. “Spent half the night with Qin Qianyue? He? How dare he…”

Suddenly, Changyang grasped the crucial point, her eyes stunned.

“Qiuxiang! How dare you deceive me!” Nanyang suddenly erupted in anger. “And he defeated scholar Lu Yu? His dog-poems are nothing! What right does he have? Confess immediately!”

Lin Fengxuan was not shocked by the defeat of scholar Lu Yu but that Shen Yi had actually gained the recognition of the breathtaking beauty Qin Qianyue. And spent half the night with her? Impossible!

I have written many poems myself; none ever made the rankings at the four famous pavilions of the capital. Among all the courtesans, Qin Qianyue was my favorite—the one I most wished to cherish and protect! How could she share the night with such a licentious woman like ‘One Battle Against Ten’ alone with a man? This is an insult to my goddess!

Lin Fengxuan’s face darkened with anger. “Qiuxiang, don’t lie to save face! Shen Yi is a complete loser. What right has he to be mentioned alongside Lu Yu? Defeated him? That’s sheer idiocy!”

Qiuxiang was dumbfounded, muttering, “I’m not lying. That’s what everyone is saying outside.”

She knew nothing of poetry or Qin Qianyue’s significance—only that Consort Shen had been out carousing again and that it was the talk of the town. Wasn’t this humiliating for the princess?

“Nonsense!” Nanyang snapped. Not hearing what she wanted, but instead stiff mockery.

Lin Fengxuan, however, remained calm, standing with hands behind his back, sneering disdainfully, “Then recite the poem that this useless Shen Yi wrote, and let me judge for myself how extraordinary it is.”

He deliberately stressed the last words, fixing Changyang with a mocking gaze.

Changyang’s face was filled with grief and anger, worried that Shen Yi might be exploited by others again, turning his laughable poetry into a city-wide joke. Enough. Why deceive myself?

Closing her eyes, she suddenly relented. Whether good or bad, what did it matter to her now?

“Qiuxiang! Speak!” she said coldly, numb and expressionless.

Qiuxiang wiped her tears and began to recite the poem circulating outside.

Nanyang and Lin Fengxuan exchanged smiles, ready to mock.

But when the first line, “Clouds long for garments, flowers long for beauty; spring breeze brushes the railing, dew glistening richly,” was spoken, both their smiles froze.

Their pupils dilated in shock.

Their faces were stunned!

Not one, two, three, four, or five?

Even Changyang stared open-mouthed, utterly amazed by the following lines:

“If not meeting atop Mount Qunyu, we would meet beneath the moon at Yao Terrace.”

The whole poem was dazzling—wild, unrestrained, and breathtaking! A timeless masterpiece!

Compared to Lin Fengxuan’s poetry about beauties, his was nothing but cloying drivel, unbearable to swallow.

This... was Shen Yi’s work?

Her face turned pale with horror. Could it be he not only concealed his martial skills but also a hidden talent?

“Impossible!” Lin Fengxuan was shocked and pale. “This absolutely cannot be Shen Yi’s! Qiuxiang, you wretched maid! You—”

Yet he could not name the true author of this timeless poem.

Even the cultured Nanyang felt the beauty of the opening line and wanted to be the poem’s heroine. But alas, it was dedicated to a courtesan! Such a waste of a masterpiece!

Wait—this was written by Shen Yi! How could I be fond of it?

Qiuxiang was stunned; she only thought the poem was catchy. Was it really so remarkable?

Her sorrow turned to joy—so Shen Yi was about to prove these people wrong?

“Right! I know now!” Lin Fengxuan suddenly laughed scornfully. “Princess Changyang, I never expected you to spend a fortune commissioning poetry. And even more, that you would let that worthless Shen Yi flaunt this poem at a brothel! What a disgrace to literature! A scandal for poets!”

Changyang was stunned, denying, “I did not!”

“You didn’t?” Lin Fengxuan raged. The goddess he adored was defiled by a filthy debauchee! “This is clearly the work of a learned scholar, and you let Shen Yi desecrate it! Princess Changyang, you deserve all the contempt and humiliation!”

Changyang, already surprised, flushed with anger at the slander. She had never thought Lin Fengxuan would be so arrogant and self-righteous—worse than the true scoundrel Shen Yi.

Qiuxiang hurried to explain, “It’s absolutely true! And the poem has a latter half that everyone is talking about. Once heard, it proves beyond doubt that Consort Shen wrote it!”

“Ridiculous!” Lin Fengxuan refused to believe such a famous poem had a second part or that it could be attributed to Shen Yi. He himself could not achieve such a feat.

Yet, when Qiuxiang quickly recited the second half, Lin Fengxuan’s composure shattered; he trembled in shock. Such talent! Could such brilliance exist in this world?

Princess Nanyang’s eyes widened, stunned into silence.

Meanwhile, Changyang muttered with eyes shining:

“May I ask who in the imperial palace can compare? Pitying Feiyan leaning on her bridal adornments. A famed beauty and a favored one delight each other; even the emperor smiles upon them.”

Was this not describing her sorrowful new marriage in the grand imperial palace, bearing her bridal dowry? Saying she was a peerless beauty, the emperor himself smiling fondly?

Changyang’s heart felt as if struck at its core.

Could it be that he had always loved her? That after being rejected, he sought solace in the brothel and was framed? That he had hidden his true self, fearing she would become a laughingstock, but did not reveal it?

Was that it? Why not tell her plainly?

Tears filled Changyang’s eyes. Though she had endured many slights without crying before, now her defenses melted.

So I misunderstood you, and you silently made a name for yourself, easing my troubles and supporting me?

How could she not know if Shen Yi spent a fortune commissioning the poem?

Nanyang, immersed in the poem’s imagery, felt a strong connection.

No! This poem was written for me! I am the heavenly beauty, the emperor’s favorite princess!

Her eyes reddened with jealousy and rage. Looking at Lin Fengxuan’s own poetry, it was nothing but rubbish!

“I don’t believe it! I don’t believe it!” Lin Fengxuan shouted, losing control.

“Princess! Trouble!” At that moment, Xia Zhu ran in, panic-stricken.

Changyang, oddly relieved, felt less anger toward Shen Yi.

“Madam Wang, along with Captain Yang and the Imperial Guards, has surrounded Consort Shen, demanding he be punished with flogging in the water!”

Hearing this, Changyang panicked, rushing out without hesitation.

Lin Fengxuan suddenly realized, laughing, “Ha! I see now! This poem must have been composed by someone else for Princess Changyang, but Shen Yi stole it and paraded it around! Princess Changyang, what audacity!”

He was both pleased and disappointed, disdainful. Such a peerless beauty harboring a worthless man—how infuriating!

Nanyang, transforming shame into delight, said, “That’s why Madam Wang is so angry she brought people to punish him! Haha! Let’s go watch the spectacle! If they find this lover, Changyang will be doomed!”

“Ha! Coming here today was truly worthwhile!”