In the afternoon, Shen Jing didn't wait for Ye Xian, but instead, the Xiao Ba Po, Ye Li, arrived first.
Accompanying Ye Li were the four guards Emperor Zhou had assigned to Shen Jing.
As soon as Ye Li sat down, she smiled and asked Shen Jing, "Did you forget something?"
"What is it?"
Shen Jing looked at Ye Li, puzzled.
"I knew you wouldn't take Father Emperor's instructions to heart!"
Ye Li glared at Shen Jing, her eyes wide. "Father Emperor told me to bring back the missing part of your masterpiece from the night before!"
Holy crap!
Shen Jing's eyelids twitched violently.
Damn it, if this Xiao Ba Po hadn't mentioned it, he really would have forgotten!
"Masterpiece, what masterpiece?"
Su Yourong asked curiously.
Upon hearing this, Ye Li looked at Shen Jing in surprise. "You didn't tell You Rong about your lyric writing?"
Shen Jing chuckled, "Copying lyrics isn't something glorious, why would I tell her?"
"I'd be crazy to believe you!"
Ye Li clearly didn't believe Shen Jing's lyrics were copied. She then told Su Yourong about Shen Jing's lyric writing and even recited the content.
After listening to Ye Li, Su Yourong wasn't surprised.
Shen Jing only writing half of a poem or lyric was something she was already used to.
However, 'Do not idle away, let youth turn grey, only to regret...' This doesn't sound like something Shen Jing would write!
Didn't he constantly clamor about wanting to lie flat and slack off?
While Su Yourong was deep in thought, Ye Li leaned forward slightly, staring at Shen Jing. "I bet you completely forgot about this, didn't you?"
"No, I didn't! How could I forget something the Emperor instructed?"
Shen Jing chuckled. "I'll write it for the Princess right now!"
"That's more like it!"
Ye Li smiled in satisfaction. "You'd best start writing from the beginning!"
"Mm-hmm."
Shen Jing nodded, secretly grumbling in his heart.
Your dad really has too much free time!
Soon, the servants of Su Manor prepared writing brushes, ink, paper, and an inkstone for Shen Jing.
During this time, Shen Jing quickly brainstormed.
What was that mountain on Oirat's side called?
Right, right, Ba Na Mountain!
It's said that beyond Ba Na Mountain lies the heartland of the Oirat people!
Once the writing tools were ready, Shen Jing silently muttered, "Sorry, Great General Yue Fei," and began to write furiously.
"man jiang hong..."
Shen Jing wrote a line, and Ye Li followed, reciting it.
"The shame of Jin Province, yet to be avenged."
"The hatred of a subject, when will it be extinguished!"
"Drive long chariots, break through the passes of Ba Na Mountain."
"With grand ambition, feast on the flesh of the barbarians; in joyful conversation, drink the blood of Oirat."
"Wait till we start anew, reclaim our old mountains and rivers, and face the Heavenly Court..."
When Shen Jing finished writing, Ye Li also finished reciting.
Suddenly, silence fell over the surroundings.
Ye Li and Su Yourong's lips moved slightly, as if still savoring the words.
The four guards sent by Emperor Zhou were stirred, their gazes fixed on Shen Jing.
Shen Jing looked up at them, secretly wondering... Their gazes, they seemed... a little worshipful?
No way?
Could it be that with just one lyric, he had become an idol to these four people?
Just as Shen Jing was lost in thought, Ye Li suddenly lifted her head, her bright eyes staring intently at Shen Jing.
For a moment, Shen Jing even suspected that this Xiao Ba Po was going to offer herself to him.
Just as the atmosphere in the room turned strange, a doorman led someone in.
Ye Xian!
Shen Jing was surprised.
This guy actually came!
Could today be the day Brother Ye takes him flying?
"Oh? Qinghe is here too?"
Ye Xian spotted Ye Li from afar and immediately quickened his pace as he walked in.
"Greetings, Young Master."
Su Yourong awoke from her daze and bowed to Ye Xian with Shen Jing.
"No need for formalities!"
Ye Xian waved his hand dismissively, his gaze falling on Ye Li. "Qinghe, what are you doing? You didn't respond when I called? Are you too pleasantly surprised to see me?"
"What are you thinking!"
Ye Li snapped out of it, pulling her gaze away from Shen Jing. "Why are you free to come over?"
Ye Xian chuckled, "Shen Jing helped me earn so much silver, of course I came to thank him!"
Ye Li rolled her eyes at him, teasing, "For a thank you, I don't see you bringing any gifts?"
She and Ye Xian were very familiar, often bickering and teasing each other.
Ye Xian smiled casually, "A thank-you gift? Isn't that simple? I'll just take him to... Huh, what is this?"
As he spoke, Ye Xian noticed the lyrics Shen Jing had just written and immediately leaned closer to examine them.
After a moment, Ye Xian looked at Shen Jing in surprise. "Did you write these lyrics?"
"Copied!"
Shen Jing answered very firmly.
No matter who asked, it was copied!
"Nonsense!"
Ye Xian didn't believe him either, and directly picked up the paper with the lyrics. "I'll take these lyrics back and give them to my father! When he sees them, he'll be so full of passion, his back probably won't ache, his legs won't hurt..."
"You wish!"
Ye Li quickly stopped Ye Xian. "These are for Father Emperor!"
"I say, why are you so stingy?"
Ye Xian pushed Ye Li's hand away, grinning. "He's still here, isn't he? Just have him write it again!"
Looking at Ye Xian, who was acting like a bandit, Ye Li was speechless.
However, she was long accustomed to Ye Xian's nature.
This young master even dared to take things from Father Emperor's sleeping chambers, so intercepting a lyric was nothing?
"Forget it, I'm too lazy to argue with you!"
Ye Li said, then looked at Shen Jing again. "Please write it once more!"
Shen Jing, helpless, could only pick up the brush and write again.
Once Shen Jing finished writing, Ye Xian asked Ye Li, "Do you have any other business with Shen Jing? If not, I'll take him with me."
"Where are you taking him?"
Ye Li looked at Ye Xian warily. "I'm telling you, if you dare to lead him astray, Father Emperor won't let you off!"
"Qinghe, you shouldn't burn your bridges like this!"
Ye Xian was displeased. "What do you mean 'lead him astray'? I am full of integrity, with clean hands, three—"
"Alright, alright!"
Ye Li quickly stopped Ye Xian. "What nonsense are you spouting! What does this have to do with clean hands?"
With that, Ye Li instructed the guards she had brought. "You follow Marquis Shen. If the Young Master takes Marquis Shen to any improper places, you bring Shen Jing back to me!"
"Yes!"
The guards acknowledged the order.
"I've never seen anyone burn their bridges like you!"
Ye Xian again glared at Ye Li in dissatisfaction, rolled up the earlier calligraphy, and quickly made off with Shen Jing.
Looking at Ye Xian's retreating figure, Ye Li couldn't help but smile helplessly.
Once the two had left, Ye Li finally spoke to Su Yourong. "Yesterday, I heard the Young Master say that you placed a heavy bet at Hengyun Gambling House, but the people from Hengyun Gambling House ran off. Do you want me to..."
"Thank you for your kindness, Princess."
Su Yourong smiled, pursing her lips. "Yesterday evening, the people from Hengyun Gambling House already delivered the silver to us."
"Ah?"
Ye Li was surprised. "Really? This is hundreds of thousands of silver taels. Don't say that just because you're afraid to trouble me."
"Really!"
Su Yourong smiled. "I estimate that the manager of Hengyun Gambling House also knew there was no escape, so he obediently delivered the silver."
Su Yourong did not tell Ye Li the full truth.
Ye Xian hadn't told Ye Li, so naturally, she didn't need to either.
Some things were better left unsaid, understood implicitly.
Even if the matter were to be revealed, it shouldn't come from their mouths...
