Volume 1, Chapter 9: A Bit of a Coincidence

"Scholar Lu possesses boundless talent and a spirit that pierces the clouds! We are in awe!"

"To witness Scholar Lu achieve fame in a single battle today, reviving the brilliance of the 'Poetry Madman' of old—it is truly our honor!"

"It is my honor as well!" Lu Yu’s mouth stretched into a grin, though he maintained a humble facade. "Of course, it would not have been possible without the presence of Prince Consort Shen to grace us. How else could the glory of those days be recreated?"

The crowd looked toward Shen Yi, nodding in deep agreement.

Shen Yi merely smiled, calm and composed.

"Miss Xiaoyu, stop being so stunned. Announce the top ranking! Let us gaze upon Scholar Lu’s masterpiece!"

The crowd grew impatient. Lu Yu offered a faint smile, his gaze as steady as a mountain. In truth, his heart was pounding with restless, overwhelming excitement. He waited only for Xiaoyu’s command, ready to roar his triumph to the heavens.

*Miss Xiaoyu! You certainly know how to play with my emotions. Hmph. Naughty girl!*

Seeing the crowd’s joyous certainty, Xiaoyu felt a pang of bitter distress. Had her mistress not explicitly instructed her to announce the name, she would never have opened her mouth—especially seeing the esteemed Scholar Lu already celebrating in advance.

"The poem at the top of the list is 'Qing Ping Diao'."

Xiaoyu forced the words out. The crowd gasped.

Lu Yu let out a boisterous laugh. "Excellent! I have lived up to everyone's expectations and topped the list! I offer this 'Qing Ping Diao' for your critique! Everyone, enjoy yourselves! The bill is on me! Hahaha!"

Though the crowd had expected it, the confirmation was still electrifying.

"It really is Scholar Lu! It seems the classics are truly being reborn today!"

"Alas, my Fairy Qianyue..."

"It’s so romantic! Is my most admired Scholar Lu finally going to have a happy ending with Fairy Qianyue?"

Some were joyful, some envious, and others consumed by jealousy!

Shen Yi, however, stood frozen for a long moment. *No way, what a coincidence? You wrote 'Qing Ping Diao' too?* He shook his head helplessly: *Qin Qianyue, you are something else. You’re going to reject me even with this?*

Lu Yu was beyond caring about anyone else’s expression. He held his head high, chin tilted toward the crowd. *Who else is there? If not now, when should one be arrogant?* His eyes were fixed solely on the list in Xiaoyu’s hands.

Lu Yu spoke with detached haughtiness, "Miss Xiaoyu, please read my masterpiece aloud!"

Xiaoyu was dazed. She doubted her own eyes. *That’s right. It is 'Qing Ping Diao'. It is exactly the title Scholar Lu mentioned! But... why is the author Shen Yi?*

Xiaoyu opened her mouth, then hesitated, on the verge of tears.

"Look! Miss Xiaoyu is moved to tears!"

"It seems Scholar Lu’s 'Qing Ping Diao' is earth-shattering, so deep and moving!"

"Hurry! Let us read it!"

...

The waves of urging made Xiaoyu want to weep. Seeing Lu Yu’s self-absorbed, high-spirited demeanor, she croaked, her voice cracking, "Qing Ping Diao! Author: Shen Yi! I invite Prince Consort Shen to come upstairs!"

A single cry! The entire hall fell into dead silence.

Xiaoyu covered her face and turned to retreat into the room, leaving the crowd in a state of slack-jawed shock. You could hear a pin drop.

Lu Yu felt as though he had gone deaf. He stared at the empty terrace, dumbfounded. He asked himself: *What did Xiaoyu just say? 'Qing Ping Diao', author who? Shen Yi?! That’s not my name. Who the hell is that? Did you all make a mistake?*

*Whoosh!*

Suddenly, the hall erupted in deafening exclamations.

"What the hell! It’s the Prince Consort? Heavens! Am I hearing things?"

"This... this is world-shaking! Unprecedented!"

"Impossible! Absolutely impossible!"

Lu Yu spun around, his eyes bloodshot as he stared at Shen Yi, his face a mask of disbelief, rage, and roaring frustration.

"It can’t be you! There must be a mistake! It’s impossible!"

Shen Yi, faced with the shock and stagnation of the crowd, was also taken aback. *Quite a coincidence.* He smiled lightly, rose with composure, and bowed to the crowd before turning to the near-hysterical Lu Yu.

"My apologies, everyone. I take the prize."

"Miss Qianyue is mine tonight."

"No! That’s not allowed!" Lu Yu roared, "Shen Yi, it cannot be you! You cannot go up there!"

Shen Yi chuckled, "Why can it not be me?"

"You are the Prince Consort! And you were embroiled in scandal just last night!" Lu Yu raved like a madman, "If you go up, Miss Qianyue’s reputation will be ruined!"

"Shen Yi! I don’t know what methods you used to coerce Qianyue, but if you dare go up, I will impeach you before His Majesty tomorrow!"

Shen Yi’s lips curled into a smile, "Scholar Lu, what are you thinking? I’m just having a meal with Miss Qianyue. Is there a need to be so deranged? She and I are perfectly innocent."

The way he said "innocent" sounded exactly like "the thief protesting his innocence."

Lu Yu’s temper flared. He was about to explode!

"Ah!"

Suddenly, a voice emanated from the room on the terrace, "I invite the Prince Consort to come up and converse! I have prepared wine and food to enjoy with you."

*Crack!*

It was as if a thunderbolt had struck. Lu Yu felt the sky collapsing. He stared at the terrace, his lips trembling, "No!"

Shen Yi smiled faintly and stepped toward the stairs; the two guards beside him cleared the path. Below, the crowd was filled with indignant fury and shouts.

"How can it be this lecher! He spent last night with ten women! How can we let him touch Fairy Qianyue today!"

"Ah! I am enraged to death!"

"Shen Yi is a treacherous villain! He must have coerced Fairy Qianyue! Otherwise, given his reputation, she would never risk her name to let him up!"

"Indeed! And why wasn't his poem announced? It must be rubbish! He just stole the title of Scholar Lu’s masterpiece!"

Hearing this, Lu Yu’s spirits surged! He looked over and realized the man speaking was the same one who had echoed his own thoughts earlier. He stood tall, righteous indignation fueling his voice, "Exactly! Miss Qianyue must be under duress! We cannot let this scoundrel, Shen, succeed!"

"Shen Yi, you thief! Get down here! Release Miss Qianyue! Otherwise, Prince Ruyang will not let you off lightly!"

Only Liu Xiu stood there, foolishly recalling the words: "I have a poem for the ages. Want to buy it for a hundred taels?"

...

The floor below was filled with denunciations. Shen Yi did not care in the slightest. However, hearing the name "Prince Ruyang" made him pause. *Is this Green Willow Pavilion a property of Prince Ruyang, or is Qin Qianyue his mistress?*

He opened the door. Several maids stood guard beside Qin Qianyue, glaring at Shen Yi. The food on the table was still steaming. Shen Yi looked at the calm, smiling Qin Qianyue and gently closed the door.

In that brief moment of closing, Qin Qianyue felt a tightening in her chest—a mix of unease and a refusal to let the moment pass.

She smiled, "I never expected the Prince Consort to possess such talent. You truly have surprised me."

Though Qin Qianyue was indeed beautiful—even more pitiable and delicate than the Princess—Shen Yi sat down with a calm gaze.

"Prince Consort! Don't you dare act rashly. Otherwise, Prince Ruyang won't let you off!" Xiaoyu warned sternly.

Shen Yi laughed, "Don't be nervous. I’m just here to ask a few questions, then I’ll leave."

The women froze. Qin Qianyue’s eyes rippled with astonishment. She had met countless men, and their eyes were usually filled with greed and lust when they saw her. Only this "notorious lecher" before her seemed completely serene. *Could it be that he is so overindulged that he no longer has any desires?*

She exhaled slightly and said, "I wonder what the Prince Consort wishes to ask?"

Shen Yi went straight to the point, "Who in your Green Willow Pavilion poisoned me last night?"

Qin Qianyue’s eyes widened, "Poisoned? Prince Consort, what do you mean by that?"

Seeing the micro-expressions of shock on their faces, Shen Yi continued, "Then let me ask you this: after you saw me last night, who told you to send ten courtesans to my room?"

Silence fell.

Qin Qianyue’s expression shifted, and she retorted with a faint smile, "Prince Consort, are you implying that you were framed last night?"

"Just tell me who," Shen Yi interrupted coldly.

Qin Qianyue’s eyes gleamed with cunning. She suspected that this notorious scion might be hiding more than he showed. She waved the maids away and said with composure, "I can tell you who, but you must teach me the complete melody and lyrics to that poem."

Shen Yi smiled, "Of course, that’s no problem. However, once I write it for you, you have to return the five thousand taels I tipped you."

Qin Qianyue: ???