Chapter 9: Poetic Wine Party on Qujiang Pond (3)

  Xiang Xuan silently raised his head towards the sky, with the scorching summer sun hanging high above him. The dazzling sunlight shone down on him, causing him to feel dizzy and disoriented for a moment. However, he was no longer the ignorant and useless young master of the Zhang household, but rather someone with a resolute mind who remained calm in the face of danger. He quickly adjusted his plan and regained his composure.

  Can't bear to part with the child, can't put on a wolf's skin... Might as well be ruthless and do it all at once. A fierce glint flashed in Zhang Xuan's eyes.

  "Zhang Xiang, I still have things to do. You go back to the mansion and tell Old Madam that I'll be right back, I absolutely won't get into any trouble outside. Go." Zhang Xuan waved his hand and said in a low voice.

  Zhang Xiang hesitated and refused to leave, Zhang Xuan scolded him impatiently, "You fool, didn't you hear what I said? Hurry back to the mansion!"

  "Yes, Third Master." Zhang Xiang hesitated for a moment, not daring to say anything more, and then bowed his head in respect before reluctantly leaving.

  Watching Zhang Xiang leave, Zhang Xuan immediately turned back to calm down her slightly disordered emotions, and in an instant, she became calm and composed again.

  All in vain, only to be laughed at by others, what's the point of coming then?

  Smiling, Zhang Xuan prepared to enter the garden. However, turning back and glancing around, he saw a few familiar people not far away.

  One of his former "close friends" - Xu Wenbin, the second son of Xu Ye, a noble of Dali Temple, swaggered over with several young men from Chang'an, chatting and laughing as they walked behind Zhang Huan.

  Xu Wenbin had actually seen Zhang Xuan a long time ago, but he pretended not to have seen him.

  Zhang Huan was involved in a case, and although the Zhang family narrowly escaped disaster this time, they will never recover from it. His father, Xu Xie, repeatedly warned him not to have any further contact with Zhang Xuan. Their relationship had always been superficial, without any genuine affection. When he heard that the Zhang family had fallen on hard times, Xu Wenbin naturally changed his attitude and drew a clear line between himself and Zhang Xuan.

  Of course, Xu Wenbin is not the only one who has such thoughts.

  Xu Wenbin didn't want to bother with Zhang Xuan at first, but as he approached, looking at Zhang Xuan's face which was far more handsome and elegant than his own, he couldn't help feeling a few pangs of jealousy. These pangs of jealousy immediately turned into ridicule and provocation.

  He stopped in his tracks, holding the frame with an air of superiority, staring at Zhang Xuan, and shaking the delicate folding fan in his hand, he said to his servant in a cold tone, "Tell that person in front to get out of the way, I want to enter the garden."

  The several aristocratic sons surrounding Xu Wenbin also pretended to be unaware, looking down on Zhang Xuan with a cold smile.

  Two servants from the Xu family rushed forward and shouted, "Make way, make way! Our young master Xu and the other gentlemen want to enter the garden, don't block their path!"

  Standing behind Zhang Xuan, Zhang Li was somewhat indignant, glaring at the two servants of the Xu family. Just as he was about to say a few words, he saw his own third young master shake his head calmly and quietly step aside.

  Zhang Li couldn't help but glance at Zhang Xuan with a complex gaze, then hung his head in shame and also stepped aside.

  This guy is done for, and has wasted this stinky flesh. Xú Wénbīn walked by with a smug expression from Zhāng Xuān's side, the group burst into laughter.

  Watching a group of young men entering the garden, Zhang Xuan's mood was different, and he didn't get angry, but just sighed.

  Although it is said that the relationship between the aristocracy and the common people is unreliable, when disaster strikes, they scatter like birds and beasts. However, even if they don't interact with each other, it's tolerable. But someone like Xu Wenbin who kicks others when they are down is actually quite rare.

  It's not suitable to socialize with such despicable people now, let's wait until another day...

  Zhang Xuan shook her head slightly, a cold glint flashing in her eyes.

  He was about to enter the garden as well, but felt a glance of contempt cast over from behind.

  He suddenly turned back and found a refined young man with a medium build and a face like jade, holding a book in his hand, walking leisurely. Behind him, two delicate young servants followed.

  Chui Huan. The most outstanding young scholar in Chang'an City, with elegant and unparalleled writing style, the eldest grandson of Boguang County King Chui Xuanwei, from the noble family of Cui, one of the eight great aristocratic families.

  Cui Huan and Zhang Xuan, in today's Chang'an City, are two extreme figures. One is the leader of young talents, and the other is a spoiled rich kid. Cui Huan looks down on Zhang Xuan, which is reasonable.

  If it were someone else's contempt, Zhang Xuan would be completely indifferent and would walk alone with a calm and carefree attitude. Because no one could have imagined that this humble body actually contained a mature soul that could look down on the world - since the young master's "return to virtue" or "rebirth" had already become inevitable, why bother to worry about temporary "gains and losses"?

  The dispute over dignity is too childish and meaningless.

  But facing Cui Huan, he couldn't help but stop and greet him.

  No more, Cui Huan was his "big uncle". When Zhang Jiuling was alive, he had arranged a marriage for his youngest son Zhang Xuan, which was the granddaughter of the Cui family and Cui Huan's younger sister Cui Ying.

  The two families had been on good terms for generations, and it was normal to become in-laws. Although Zhang Jiuling later resigned and died of illness, the Cui family still wanted to maintain this marriage due to their old relationship with Zhang Jiuling. However, after Zhang Huan's reputation as a prodigal son spread, the Cui family had some thoughts of regretting the engagement, but they had not taken action yet.

  Zhang Xuan calmed himself and walked over, bowing deeply as he said in a loud voice, "Long time no see, Bo Wen brother."

  Cui Huan looked down on Zhang Xuan, but he was a cultured gentleman with good manners and elegance. When Zhang Xuan took the initiative to greet him politely, Cui Huan would not be rude.

  "Alright... let's talk again in the garden." Cui Huan returned a courtesy, his expression not particularly cold, but also without any warmth. Then he glanced at Zhang Xuan, nodded and walked away with big strides, chatting and laughing with a scholar who was not far ahead as they entered the garden together.

  "Brother Bo Wen, is your sister really going to marry that useless and uneducated rich kid? What a pity..."

  "The Zhang family is on the verge of disaster, and he still has the nerve to come to this banquet in Qujiang to join in the revelry... Alas, the reputation of the Zhang family, renowned for generations, is being ruined by this dissolute son. It's truly pitiful!"

  "It's the order of our parents, we juniors dare not discuss it rashly. Remember, and don't mention this, but will the Emperor and Noble Consort attend the poetry and wine party hosted by Madame Guo today..."

  Zhang Xuan walked ahead, holding the invitation from the wife of Guo State, and entered the garden. She faintly heard the whispers of Cui Huan and others walking in front of her, and a bitter smile floated to the corner of her mouth.

  He has fallen into a well and people are throwing stones at him, but the scholar doesn't even give it a glance. Neither side is "in tune", and there's a crisis looming above - this is the environment he's in now.

  ……

  ……

  The corridor winds three times, and the winding path leads to a secluded place.

  In front was a huge empty space, near the waterfront. At this time, dozens of tables had been arranged in a certain order, and several dozen tables were surrounded by an arc, with many dignitaries taking their seats under the leadership of the attendants.

  And in the middle was a red carpet, on which was placed a large desk with pens, ink, paper and inkstone.

  Dozens of maids in colorful dresses flitted about like butterflies, carrying all sorts of wine, water, tea, pastries and fruit.

  Zhang Xuan stood in a corner of the outer crowd, not moving forward. He was well aware that he was not qualified to take a seat and return to his seat, and those who could sit there were either high-ranking officials or leaders of the scholarly community.

  ——————————————

  Collecting, recommending and clicking are needed, new book needs care, begging everyone