Chapter 31: Must I Tell You That I Can Recite Poetry Too?

The young Emperor, Li Qingzhi, gazed at Xie Ning with eyes full of admiration and curiosity. This future brother-in-law of his seemed far more formidable than he had ever imagined.

Li Qingning hurried to Xie Ning’s side, supporting his swaying frame. Her beautiful eyes were filled with worry and heartache. "Are you alright?" She could feel that Xie Ning was incredibly weak at that moment.

"I'm fine, just a bit exhausted. I'll be better after a rest." Xie Ning leaned against her fragrant shoulder, inhaling her delicate scent, and felt his depleted strength beginning to return.

The Empress Dowager watched this scene, her expression shifting constantly, her eyes filled with complex emotions. She could never have imagined that the young man she had always dismissed as a good-for-nothing, unlearned fop who knew only how to spout sweet nothings, possessed such heaven-defying abilities. Even more, she could not have imagined that her daughter, of whom she was so proud, would openly defy her for the sake of this man.

Yet, the facts proved that her daughter’s judgment had been correct. It was she who had been wrong. This realization left her feeling a mixture of shock, anger, and an indescribable sense of defeat. As the Empress Dowager, having held power over the imperial harem for years, she was accustomed to controlling everything. But now, she felt as though events were spiraling completely out of her grasp. Seeing the intimacy between Li Qingning and Xie Ning only made her fury boil over.

Just then, Yuwen Yue, who had been sprawled on the ground, suddenly went wild. He pointed at Xie Ning and roared, "Impossible! This is absolutely impossible! You must have used some kind of sorcery!"

Yuwen Yue could not accept the truth. He could not accept that he had lost to a wastrel like Xie Ning. Xie Ning didn't even bother to look at him, simply closing his eyes to rest while leaning on Li Qingning. He had seen the impotent rage of defeated men too many times to find it anything other than dull.

The Empress Dowager’s gaze, however, turned sharp once more. How could a notorious playboy suddenly possess such god-like abilities? It defied all reason. Clearing her throat, she forced herself to remain calm, regaining her high and mighty posture.

"Xie Ning," she said coldly. "Your methods are indeed eye-opening. However..." She shifted the tone of her voice. "You may have some unorthodox tricks, but to become the son-in-law of the Great Qi, these things are far from enough. A prince consort represents the dignity of the imperial family. What is required is profound scholarship and the wisdom to serve the nation, not these hocus-pocus street performances."

Her words sounded noble and principled, but in reality, she was merely belittling Xie Ning to elevate Yuwen Yue. In her eyes, no matter what dark arts Xie Ning possessed, he remained an unpresentable wastrel compared to true academic talent.

"Therefore..." The Empress Dowager’s gaze landed on Yuwen Yue, filled with encouragement and expectation. "At tomorrow's poetry gathering in the Imperial Garden, I hope the two of you will compete with genuine talent. It will allow Qingning to see clearly who is the true match, and who is merely a clown seeking attention."

Upon hearing this, hope reignited in Yuwen Yue’s eyes. Yes, he couldn't compete with sorcery, but in the realm of literature, where he was most at home, surely he could win? The contest wasn't over yet. He had only lost in the realm of metaphysics, which meant nothing. His true strength lay in poetry and prose—the foundation of a scholar's life. How could a man as unlearned as Xie Ning dare to compete with him in literature? Tomorrow, he would ensure Xie Ning was utterly disgraced and humiliated before all the scholars of the realm.

"Yes, that’s it," he thought.

Yuwen Yue struggled to his feet, straightened his disheveled robes, and bowed deeply to the Empress Dowager. "Your Majesty is right. I shall obey your command." His voice carried the relief of someone who had survived a disaster, and his eyes had regained their firm, arrogant glint. He looked at Xie Ning with a sneer. "Young Master Xie, I await your arrival at the Imperial Garden tomorrow. I hope your wit is half as sharp as your sorcery."

With that, he turned and left the ancestral hall in a clumsy yet decisive manner. He had to prepare. He would use his greatest strengths to return the humiliation he had suffered today a hundredfold, even a thousandfold.

Watching Yuwen Yue’s retreating back, a playful smile curled at the corner of Xie Ning’s mouth. "Very well," he said lazily. His voice was not loud, yet it carried clearly to everyone’s ears. "Remember to prepare plenty of good ink. I’m afraid you won’t have enough tomorrow."

Xie Ning’s words struck like a loud slap across the face of the departing Yuwen Yue. Yuwen Yue stiffened and halted his steps. He turned back abruptly, his eyes bloodshot, glaring at Xie Ning with such intensity that he seemed ready to devour him alive.

"You..." He was trembling with rage, unable to utter a single word. As the son of the Prime Minister and the number one talent in the capital, he had never suffered such humiliation.

"Hmph." With a final snort, he turned and hurried away without looking back. He feared that if he stayed any longer, he would lose control and throw himself at Xie Ning. He would channel all his fury and humiliation into a masterpiece for tomorrow’s poetry gathering. He would make sure Xie Ning was left with nowhere to hide.

Watching Yuwen Yue’s pathetic figure, a flash of satisfaction crossed Li Qingning’s eyes. This man, who had pestered her like a fly for so many years, had finally suffered a great defeat. She turned to look at Xie Ning, who was still leaning against her, a hint of tenderness appearing in her cold, beautiful eyes. This man always brought her unexpected surprises. He was like a riddle, a bottomless treasure trove that made her want to explore and uncover his secrets.

"Are you really going to compete with him in poetry?" Li Qingning asked with some concern. Although Xie Ning’s performance earlier had given her great confidence, Yuwen Yue’s reputation as a poet was too deeply ingrained in the public consciousness. All of Great Qi knew of him, and she feared Xie Ning might be at a disadvantage.

"What? My dear, even you don't believe in me?" Xie Ning opened one eye, looked at her, and chuckled. "Don't worry, I really don't consider someone like Yuwen Yue to be any threat."

His words were incredibly arrogant. If anyone else had heard them, they would likely have laughed out loud. But as Li Qingning looked at his confident expression, her anxiety inexplicably dissipated.

Looking at Li Qingning, Xie Ning laughed to himself, *Should I tell her that I know how to recite poetry?*