Chapter 51 Drinking Games

Inside the Qionglin Garden, everyone was utterly stunned by the two consecutive ace cards played by Gu Fangchen.

The amount of information was simply too massive!

The gazes of the crowd fell upon the two items in his hands: on one side was the Grand Preceptor’s invitation, and on the other was the Grand Preceptor’s divination.

The veteran official who had just been rendered speechless by Gu Fangchen hurried forward, examined the invitation closely, and then wore an expression as difficult as if he had swallowed a live fly, speaking with great effort:

"That is indeed the invitation intended for the Grand Preceptor..."

Although this veteran official was not of the highest rank, his seniority was genuine, and he was a deeply respected luminary in the literary world. Given his experience and discernment, there was zero possibility of him making a mistake.

At this, not only was he the only one suffering as if he had swallowed a fly, but everyone else was equally filled with disbelief and unable to accept the reality.

How could that aloof and noble Grand Preceptor let this profligate wastrel attend the banquet in his stead?!

If it were an ordinary banquet, they could have deceived themselves into thinking that the Grand Preceptor had casually found someone to make an appearance on his behalf.

However, the Qionglin Banquet was no ordinary gathering. Having someone represent oneself at an occasion like this was practically equivalent to declaring that Gu Fangchen’s words and actions today were all authorized by the Grand Preceptor himself!

Li Qingguang was even more astonished. She turned her head to look at Gu Youren and asked:

"Master Gu, what is the meaning of this?"

What else could it mean?

Gu Youren wore a blank expression, her mind completely numb.

Could a situation of this magnitude really still be explained using the conventional weight of worldly power and influence?

Even when her own hand-copied scriptures had been destroyed—and in such a disrespectful manner—Her Master had not gotten angry at all. Instead, she had actually allowed Gu Fangchen to attend the Qionglin Banquet in her place.

She could not help but wonder just how much her Master favored Gu Fangchen to break her principles for him repeatedly, time and time again.

Immediately afterward, however, Gu Youren’s gaze fell upon the scroll in Gu Fangchen’s other hand, and her temples throbbed violently.

That was indeed the scroll her Master customarily used.

Although it was not of the highest grade—merely the kind used to divine the fortunes of the nation—it was still not something given away casually.

With her Master personally stepping in, the result inside this scroll was guaranteed to be infallible.

The moment it was opened, the truth would naturally come to light, and there would be no need to wait for the arrival of Master Juehui.

However...

Gu Youren met Gu Fangchen’s ambiguous, half-smiling gaze, pressed her lips together, and felt even her previously resolute convictions begin to waver.

Others might not know, but they were well aware.

Gu Fangchen had been summoned into the palace by the Emperor Yong'an last night and had also entered the Grand Preceptor's Estate; he must have obtained this result long ago.

Yet today, he dared to directly and publicly disclose this outcome before everyone present.

Therefore, there was only one possible answer contained within that scroll...

Gu Fangchen smiled amiably as he handed the scroll forward.

Aside from him, no one knew that the scroll actually contained only five characters whose significance would seem entirely baffling to anyone else: "Is ripping it up fun?"

Gu Fangchen muttered inwardly to himself.

Ultimately, the Grand Preceptor must have been angry after all; otherwise, following Emperor Yong'an’s intent, the scroll should have explicitly and clearly stated that "Gu Fangchen is the bloodline of the Prince of Northern Suppression."

That way, Gu Fangchen would not have had to go through the trouble of using the invitation to seize the initiative and draw everyone's attention to himself first.

He first had to make Gu Yuandao understand that he and the Grand Preceptor were truly on the same side.

Only then, by producing this scroll, would its deterrent power be truly formidable.

Gu Yuandao naturally knew in his heart that Gu Fangchen could absolute not be Gu Yuye's son, but he did not dare to gamble.

As long as the Grand Preceptor endorsed Gu Fangchen, he would become whatever she said he was.

Under the watchful eyes of the multitude, all of Gu Yuandao’s prior plans had fallen through; Gu Yuandao would never dare to take such a risk.

If he accepted it, there was a ninety-nine percent chance it was a dead end.

If he refused it, he could at least buy time. Once the questioning of the heart succeeded, the situation could naturally be reversed.

Thus, Gu Yuandao could only choose silence.

The moment Gu Yuandao fell silent, those officials who had previously considered the matter a settled deal and were preparing to mock Gu Fangchen for courting his own destruction suddenly widened their eyes in shock.

Had this whole business about Gu Fangchen being a fake heir not already been firmly established long ago?

Since Gu Yuandao had recognized Gu Yuanye as his father, and the Princess Consort had only given birth to one child back then, it naturally followed that Gu Yuandao was the genuine article and Gu Fangchen was the fake.

Now that the Grand Preceptor had also provided the verdict, wasn't this a magnificent outcome...

Why on earth did Gu Yuandao not dare to read it?

Zhao Wenyuan popped up from behind, looking bewildered as he asked:

"Top Scholar Gu, why aren't you reading it?"

"Over the past couple of days, the Prince's Estate has been in total uproar precisely over this very result. With the Grand Preceptor stepping in, there is zero chance the calculation could be wrong."

He was genuinely puzzled. Clearly, taking a single glance would end the standoff—why didn't Gu Yuandao dare to look?

Moreover, why was Gu Fangchen so confident that the other party wouldn't dare...

Could it be that Gu Fangchen really was Gu Yuanye's son?

If so, things were about to get terribly interesting.

Not only Zhao Wenyuan, but everyone present—either shrewd veterans of the officialdom or pen-wielding literati—possessed imaginations more powerful than the last.

They collectively drew in cold breaths, quickly leaping to the conclusion that Gu Fangchen... was probably the illegitimate son of Gu Yuanye!

That legendary Sage of Military Strategy had likely capsaked in a gutter and been thoroughly scammed by someone.

A trap of his own digging had ended up burying himself... How was this mess supposed to end?

Gu Yuandao cast a cold glance at Zhao Wenyuan, cupped his hands toward the direction of the Purple Ultimate Hall, and said in a deep voice:

"This matter is a private affair, yet this banquet is no private gathering. His Majesty established this feast to honor all the newly minted Imperial Scholars of the Hanlin Academy, not for my personal business alone."

"How could this student turn the Qionglin Banquet—intended to honor the scholars of the realm—into a venue for resolving private grievances?"

"Would that not be the height of selfishness?"

Though far-fetched, this excuse carried a logical rationale.

Several scholars on good terms with Gu Yuandao immediately shouted their support:

"Indeed! Since it is a private matter, it naturally ought to be resolved in private."

"Failing to distinguish between public and private affairs is the very beginning of chaos!"

Hearing this, Gu Fangchen raised an eyebrow and glanced sideways, instantly feeling an urge to give the speaker a thumbs-up.

These students of Yaoshan Academy... were actually rather adorable.

In their eyes lingered a kind of innocent beauty entirely unpolluted by society.

Gu Yuandao's facial muscles twitched, finding it rather difficult to maintain his composure.

As everyone knew, the very moment Gu Yuandao recognized Gu Yuanye as his father had taken place right in the imperial court—a textbook example of turning a private affair into public business.

These words felt almost like a pointed jab at Gu Yuanye himself.

In the end, it was Gu Youren who stepped forward, speaking in a deep tone:

"Yuandao is right. Since everyone has arrived, let us begin the banquet first and not delay the auspicious hour."

And then... another problem arose.

The seating arrangement at the Qionglin Banquet was strictly ordered according to status and rank.

At this very moment, the person with the highest status throughout the entire Qionglin Garden was none other than Gu Fangchen, who held the Grand Preceptor's invitation.

Gu Fangchen put away the invitation and the scroll, twirled his fan, and swaggered forward. Striding past Gu Youren, he dropped heavily into the second-highest seat at the head of the banquet.

——The first seat was reserved for Emperor Yong'an.

Gu Youren: "..."

She turned her head away, took several deep breaths, and managed to calm her churning emotions.

Down below, the crowd murmured in whispers, the atmosphere somewhat awkward compared to before.

Taking a deep breath, as an academy instructor, she presented the first congratulatory gift from the academy to the Top Scholar.

The cold, ethereal woman in white robes pointed a finger, and a scroll instantly unfurled in mid-air.

Inscribed upon it were four characters: "Literature to Convey the Dao."

Gu Youren stood up, looked toward Gu Yuandao, and softened her tone slightly as she said:

"This was penned by the Master himself, meant to encourage scholars to always ensure their words carry substance rather than engaging in empty rhetoric."

"He has already read the essay you submitted during the palace examination, and thus selected these four characters as a congratulatory gift."

Deeply moved, Gu Yuandao spoke with solemn sincerity:

"This disciple will certainly not fail these high expectations!"

Sounds of flattery erupted all around, as if the earlier lively atmosphere had returned once more.

Determined to help Gu Yuandao save face, Gu Youren’s thoughts flashed like lightning as she added:

"An opportunity like today is rare indeed, with young talents and literary luminaries gathered together. Why don't we play a drinking game to liven the mood? Taking the lotus flower as our theme, let everyone compose a poem."

A wave of cheers immediately broke out from the crowd.

Li Qingguang’s eyes lit up. Wasn't this the perfect chance for their "poetry lineage" to shine?

Surely her Senior Brother would be able to crush all the competition!

Just as she turned her head, however, she caught sight of Liu Xuan staring blankly. He was looking at Gu Youren with an inexpressible, stop-and-go expression, then glancing at the box in his own hands, and finally looking back at Gu Fangchen, his facial muscles twitching uncontrollably.

Does this His Royal Highness the Heir...

Even know what a poem is?

————

[Author's Note]: Thanks to FoolArcana for becoming the Alliance Leader! My physical condition has improved a lot today, so I should be able to start releasing bonus chapters (clenching fists).