“Thank you all for attending this poetry debate.”

“For this poetry debate, there are no restrictions on topics. Today, in addition to fine wine, cuisine, and the usual poetry contest, we also have the company of beauties from the Hidden Fragrance Pavilion.”

“Moreover! There is also a special prize!”

“Whoever wins first place will have a chance to spend a passionate night with Miss Luo Ningxin, the top courtesan of the Hidden Fragrance Pavilion!”

“Everyone, please eat, drink, and make merry! Showcase your talents. If the mood for poetry strikes, immediately write it down and post it on the exhibition wall behind me. Miss Luo Ningxin will then judge them!”

As soon as Zhang Chang finished speaking, a slender, beautiful woman slowly emerged from the second floor, flanked by servant girls who set up a guqin on either side.

The woman wore a veil, revealing only a pair of phoenix eyes that glimmered alluringly with a pure aura.

Exclamations immediately rang out from below: “It’s Miss Luo!”

Fang Zheng only glanced at her for a moment before losing interest. No matter what brothel event it was, the star attraction was never easily revealed, always shrouded in teasing ambiguity.

It was like opening a mystery box – what you got was always a huge disappointment.

Moreover, this woman was dressed too conservatively, not much to look at.

After a couple of peeks, Fang Zheng went back to focusing on eating. Zhang Biao had never stopped at all, not even sparing a single glance.

Li Yuanzhao said excitedly, “Old Fang! Old Fang, look! A beauty, and she’s wearing a veil.”

“Eh? I thought you didn’t like women in real life?” Fang Zheng asked curiously.

“Well, with the veil, you can’t see clearly. I’m just curious! Old Fang, aren’t you curious?”

Tsk! Young people were truly naive.

Fang Zheng said disdainfully, “I’m not curious! I know all of Victoria’s secrets. This… is just so-so!”

“Vi… Victoria’s what secrets?”

“I’ll tell you another time! I’m hungry. Let me eat first!”

Luo Ningxin swept her gaze over the floor below, her eyes pausing for a moment on the three figures focused on eating. Then she gently raised her jade-like hand.

A sound like the bubbling of a clear spring flowed out. Initially soft, the music quickly became more intense, like quicksilver pouring onto the ground.

At this moment, all the young masters on the riverboat were listening attentively. The originally noisy crowd became utterly silent, immersed in the enchanting melody of the guqin, savoring it endlessly.

Even Li Yuanzhao couldn’t help raising his head to look upstairs, a captivated expression on his face.

Glancing to the side, he saw the other two still wolfing down food!

Li Yuanzhao felt out of place. He lowered his head and continued eating but still couldn’t resist nudging Fang Zheng. “Old Fang! It sounds so nice. Why aren’t you listening?”

“Huh?”

“The guqin! The guqin!” Li Yuanzhao was speechless. Old Fang hadn’t been listening at all.

Fang Zheng raised his head and wiped his mouth. “What’s the point of this? I listen to ‘Chicken You’re Too Beautiful’!”

When it came to music, Fang Zheng was truly worse than a cow, completely lacking any appreciation. The tunes he heard most in his previous life were the gongs and drums of common folk.

This solo guqin performance felt utterly bland. Moreover, having heard “Chicken You’re Too Beautiful” so much in his past life, he seemed to have developed an immunity to music…

Li Yuanzhao lowered his head in silence… Old Fang was spouting incomprehensible nonsense again…

The piece ended, and the ruckus below resumed.

Some people kept shouting, “Miss Luo, play one more!”

Luo Ningxin’s eyes curved into crescents as she said in a delicate voice, “Thank you all for your praise. The poems on the exhibition wall will be copied and sent upstairs. I will read through each one.”

With that said, she glanced at the trio focused on eating, then turned and returned to her private room, eliciting a chorus of howls from below.

Afterward, the scene downstairs returned to one of toasting and drinking. The servant girls who had been serving food all changed into new outfits, even more daring and revealing, and began mingling among the guests.

If anyone caught their fancy, they would directly give them some silver and pull them into their arms.

In no time, the sounds of flirting and poetry recitation filled the air.

Perhaps due to Zhang Biao still frantically stuffing his face, not a single prostitute approached Fang Zheng’s area, leaving a vacuum around them.

Li Yuanzhao watched as everyone else had a girl in hand while he only had two rough men for awkward company, making him fidget restlessly.

Fang Zheng, having just eaten his fill, picked his teeth and said, “Didn’t you want to compose poetry? I’ll have someone bring brush and ink. Just do it here! When you’re done playing around, let’s hurry back. Forget about that ‘born martial emperor’ line. Think of a new one.”

Li Yuanzhao nodded in embarrassment. Seeing this, Fang Zheng inwardly laughed. Two-horned apes were indeed socially anxious. All blustery in the palace but falling flat in a crowd!

Brush and ink arrived! Li Yuanzhao gripped the brush, his face solemn… but after the time it took to burn one incense stick, all he squeezed out were three characters.

Seeing Fang Zheng’s mocking gaze, he angrily threw down the brush. “Forget it! The poetic inspiration isn’t coming today!”

“Oh~”

“I’m going out for some air!” With that said, Li Yuanzhao quickly walked out of the cabin.

He had just left when Zhang Chang promptly arrived and stood before Fang Zheng, cupping his hands in salute. “This humble one is Zhang Chang, son of the Minister of Revenue. Greetings, Lord Fang!”

Fang Zheng had wanted to call Li Yuanzhao back but was suddenly interrupted by Zhang Chang. He couldn’t help raising his head to size him up.

The person before him had a constantly smiling face, thin lips, and slender brows and eyes. So this was Zhang Chang? He actually seemed quite polite.

“Alright, what does Young Master Zhang wish to say to this official?”

Zhang Chang lifted his head to glance at Zhang Biao, who was focused on eating, a trace of disdain flashing through his eyes. He then said with a smile, “Your presence truly brightens up this boat, Lord Fang. At such a young age, you’re already serving in the Eastern Palace. Scholars across the land envy you. Why don’t you come on stage and say a few words?”

Then, without waiting for Fang Zheng’s reply, Zhang Chang announced loudly, “Everyone! Everyone! I have something to say. Please lend an ear!”

“This is the young Grand Tutor Fang Zheng, from Taoyuan County!”

“It’s our honor that he could attend this poetry debate today. Next, Lord Fang has some words to share with everyone. Please quiet down!”

Hearing this, the crowd instantly fell silent, their gazes immediately focusing on Fang Zheng. Then many began whispering among themselves, their eyes filled with contempt.

“Oh, so that’s Fang Zheng… I heard my father say this person is extremely shameless, and he’s leading the crown prince astray in the palace…”

“Brother Chen, you’ve heard too? This man is a treacherous official… I never thought he’d be in the same room as us. How disgraceful!”

“Heh, this kind of scum probably got his position through flattery and bootlicking. I bet His Majesty was deceived.”

“………….”

The instant it quieted down, Zhang Biao licked his lips, his hands immediately reaching for his waist as he looked at Fang Zheng.

Considering that Li Yuanzhao was still around, Fang Zheng didn’t want to cause trouble.

So he pressed down on Zhang Biao’s hand under the table, shook his head, then said with a smile, “Alright then! Since everyone wants to hear, this official will say a few casual words!”

He then leisurely walked to the very front, facing the crowd’s contemptuous stares.

“This official is also delighted to drink together with you all today. On this occasion, this official also has a prize to offer everyone, just to liven things up.”

“This official can be said to be as close as brothers with the crown prince and knows well how much the prince values poetry.”

“Since today’s champion gets the company of a beauty, why don’t I add something on top of that?”

“Whoever is the champion today – this official will truthfully recommend them to the crown prince. In this way… with a beauty in your arms and a chance to show off your talents before the prince, wouldn’t that be splendid?”

“I’ve said my piece, so enjoy yourselves!”

As soon as he finished speaking, the crowd’s eyes turned eager as they looked at Fang Zheng.

A chance to interact with the crown prince was far rarer than sleeping with a top courtesan!

Now they could sleep with the top courtesan and also have a chance to meet the crown prince. Wasn’t that reaping the rewards in both love and career?

If a buffoon like Fang Zheng could rise up smoothly, why couldn’t they?