Chapter Nineteenth: Again Encountering Plagiarism, Following the Emperor on an Outing

  Remember in one second

  Seize Zheng Xiangyao, beheaded, the entire Zheng family was slaughtered. With this, the matter of Qiao Guifei also came to an end. Zhao Ji was born with a romantic nature, and there were more than 3,000 beauties in the harem. Recently, under Yang Jie's leadership, he became infatuated with Wan Kuanyun outside the palace, so the matter of Qiao Guifei had already been thrown out of his mind.

  Zhao Ji was infatuated with flirting, which was no longer a secret in the imperial court. However, as an emperor who valued his dignity, Zhao Ji couldn't reveal his true identity to Wan Kuanyun. Therefore, if he wanted to spend a romantic night with this beauty, he had to rely on his wealth and personal charm.

  Money and wealth were not a problem for Zhao Ji, but his personal charm was another matter. Of course, Zhao Ji was a handsome emperor, but no matter how good-looking he was, it couldn't be denied that he was already an old man. Wan Qiu Yun, on the other hand, was only in her early twenties and was the top courtesan of Tian Xiang Lou. Moreover, her position as the top courtesan wasn't just due to her looks; she was well-versed in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, a fact that wasn't exaggerated. Wan Qiu Yun had once said that anyone who wanted to be her lover must be a refined and cultured young nobleman with a good family background, and the four words "refined and cultured" were what she valued most. If someone wanted to see her, they would first have to write a poem for her to read before anything else could happen.

  That afternoon, it was almost time to go and find flowers and ask willows. Zhao Ji's heart was itching with anxiety as he paced back and forth in the house. Yang Jia brought Liang Xin running to the imperial study, saw Zhao Ji and immediately prepared to pay his respects, while saying: "Your Majesty, Liang Xin has arrived."

  "No need for courtesy, no need for courtesy." Zhao Ji hastily helped up Liang Xin, who was just about to kneel down and pay his respects, and said excitedly: "Liang Xin, my good slave..."

  Li Wei curled up his mouth to show a smile, but in fact, he was thinking "How come 'my good slave' sounds like an insult?"

  However, Liang Xin was also able to adjust his current position and nodded immediately: "Thank you for your praise, Your Majesty. If there's anything you'd like to say, please go ahead."

  "Do you still remember Yan Qiu Ci?" Zhao Ji suddenly asked.

  Liang Xin nodded immediately and said: "I remember what Your Majesty said."

  "I hope you can immediately rewrite a poem that is not inferior to 'Yan Qiu Ci', the meaning of which must be to express longing and affection."

  "Huh? This..." Liang Xin secretly curled her lip in disdain, thinking to herself: "You think writing poetry is like going to the bathroom, even if you don't have the urge, as long as you're not constipated, it'll come out eventually?"

  "What? Won't work?" Zhao Jie looked at Liang Xin with suspicion, a deep disappointment spreading across his face.

  Liang Xian shook his head and said: "It's not that it can't be done, but I have a few words to ask Your Majesty, otherwise I'm afraid the words won't get through."

  "Oh. So that's how it is. Go ahead and ask." Zhao Ji's expression relaxed a bit as he nodded, and Yang Jian, who was standing beside him, also let out a soft sigh of relief.

  Liang Xian coughed and asked: "May I ask Your Majesty if this poem is intended for a lady?"

  "Nonsense, of course it's a woman. Am I supposed to compose a love poem for you?" Zhao Ji replied irritably.

  Liang Xian bowed his hands and hastily paid respects, saying: "Please calm your anger, Your Majesty. I was just trying to ask a little more clearly."

  "Hmm." Zhao Ji nodded slightly and said: "Skip those useless questions and get straight to the point."

  "Yes." Liang Xin asked: "May I ask when did Your Majesty get to know this woman?"

  "On the fifteenth day of the first month, I and Yang Zhen went to attend the lantern festival together. We met her there, and she even exchanged riddles with me about the lanterns. At that time, I had something on my mind and couldn't talk to her much, so we lost contact. It wasn't until recently that Yang Zhen helped me find her again."

  "It's like this." Liang Xin clapped his hands and said: "Good, the slave has a good phrase, please Your Majesty to appreciate it."

  Liáng xīn walked up to the desk in the imperial study, Yáng jiǎng hurriedly went forward to grind ink for Liáng xīn.

  Liang Xin glanced at Yang Jian and smiled, Yang Jian immediately returned Liang Xin a appreciative gaze, then his eyes were full of complacency.

  The east wind blows at night, releasing a thousand trees of flowers, and the stars fall like rain. The precious horse and carved carriage are filled with fragrance on the road. The phoenix flute sounds, the jade pot shines, and the fish and dragon dance for one night. The moth-like snow and willow, the golden thread, the laughter and whispers, the hidden fragrance goes away. Searching for him in the crowd for a thousand times. Suddenly turning back, that person is there, at the place where the lamp light is dim...

  "Good!" Zhao Ji read out loud, suddenly shouting, he excitedly pointed at the words on the desk: "It's this one, it's this one. It really fits the scene and is to my liking, it's this one, it's this one..."

  Zhao Ji carefully blew dry the ink marks on the rice paper, then held this "Qing Yu An. Yuan Xi" and repeatedly recited it. After reciting several times, Zhao Ji stared at the rice paper with unblinking eyes and shouted: "Yang Jie, pen and ink are ready."

  "Yes!" Yang Jia hurriedly went up and took out the brush that Zhao Ji liked to use from the pen holder and handed it to Zhao Ji. Zhao Ji dipped the brush in the inkstone a few times, then began to transcribe Liang Xin's poem onto a piece of Xuan paper.

  Li Xinxin secretly scolded in her heart, "I get it, you're using Young Master Ben's poetry to flirt with girls. Don't you know to ask the copyright owner standing right next to you before plagiarizing someone else's work?"

  Liang Xin said to himself in his heart, but he seemed to have forgotten that this poem was also shamelessly plagiarized from the family of Xin Qiji. Of course, Xin Qiji hadn't been born yet at this point.

  Zhao Ji had a good hand for calligraphy, which has been verified and recognized throughout history. After Zhao Ji finished copying "Qing Yu An Yuan Xi", he carefully blew dry the ink marks, then gently rolled up the paper and stood up straight with his chest out, looking like he was going to lead an expedition himself, saying: "Yang Jie, follow me to Tian Xiang Lou, this time I must win over Gui Yun's heart in one move."

  "Yes! Your Majesty, with the help of Liang Xin, this trip will surely be successful." Yang Jia praised Zhao Ji and took the opportunity to mention Liang Xin's contribution.

  Zhao Ji heard and turned his head to glance at Liang Xin, then nodded: "Alright, Liang Xin has rendered meritorious service to me this time. Go find him some decent clothes to wear, and let him follow me."

  "Yes!" Yang Jiaolong responded, then secretly suppressed the joy in his heart and went to find clothes for Liang Xin.

  Liang Xin hastily knelt down and paid his respects, saying: "Thank you for your imperial kindness."

  After dressing up, they left the palace when it was almost dusk. Zhao Jie dressed as a refined and wealthy merchant, Yang Jian looked like a steward of a large household, while Liang Xin wore the brocade robe that Yang Jian had specially chosen for him, which made him look slender and handsome, a perfect beautiful young man.

  。

  After leaving the imperial palace, Yang Jia and Liang Xin accompanied Zhao Ji in a horse-drawn carriage. This was Liang Xin's first time out of the palace since crossing over, so she couldn't help but want to lift up the window and look outside.

  Yang Jian patted Liang Xin's hand, which was about to lift the curtain, and shook his head, saying in a low voice: "The emperor is sitting inside this carriage, so we can't open the curtains. If someone with ulterior motives recognizes the emperor's identity, it would be very bad."

  Liang Xin hastily put down his hand and replied in a low voice, "Oh, I didn't think it through." Although he said so with his mouth, Liang Xin was secretly complaining to himself, did he need to be so careful? After all, it's just an emperor, he has many sons who have died, and there are still many people who can ascend to the throne, who would bother to kill him?

  From the Imperial Palace's Xuan De Gate, turn right onto the main street and then left into Yang Shi Liu Street, before turning left again into Jin Yan Street. The originally quiet road was suddenly filled with lights and bustling with people coming and going.

  Liang Xin, Yang Jian and Zhao Ji got off the carriage, Zhao Ji and Yang Jian were already used to this scene, but Liang Xin was shocked in an instant. Is this the legendary brothel street? The people of Northern Song Dynasty are still so promiscuous.

  Looking down from the street of Jin Yan Street, both sides of the road are all decorated with lanterns and red lanterns. Almost every store has a woman wearing revealing clothes at the door to attract customers, except for the one in the middle, which is the largest in scale and looks the most magnificent, Tian Xiang Lou.

  Zhao Ji eagerly led Yang Jiaolong into the Tianxiang Building, but unlike ordinary people, Zhao Ji didn't enter through the main entrance, instead using a small side door of the Tianxiang Building.

  After entering the Tianxiang Building, there was no wind as Liang Xin had imagined, but a sweet and beautiful little girl led Zhao Ji and his two companions into a small room.

  Zhao Ji and the little girl didn't say anything, he just handed over the rice paper with "Qing Yu An. Yuan Xi" written on it to the little girl. The little girl took it and casually unfolded it to take a look, and as soon as she did, her eyes widened in shock, and her gaze towards Zhao Ji changed from indifference to respect.

  The little girl slightly saluted Zhao Ji and said: "Sir, your great talent can certainly move my young lady's heart. Please wait for a moment, I'll be right back."

  PS: Thanks to Flying Dante, hope to see more book friends collecting this book.