Chapter 94: Sis, Look at This Kid
Liu Shixu had won, and as the champion at that. He calmly accepted the White Jade Lantern from an official from the Ministry of Rites.
His expression showed neither joy nor sorrow, unfazed by either honor or disgrace.
He slowly departed under the astonished gazes of the crowd.
However, no one knew that just after he left the public’s sight, Xiao Lan intercepted him with a group of men. "Criminal Liu Shixu! You were sentenced to exile and hard labor, yet you fled your punishment and showed contempt for imperial authority. By official order, I am to arrest you. Take him to the Heavenly Prison at once!"
Liu Shixu’s expression was cold and proud. "The Liu Family... is innocent."
Xiao Lan scoffed. "The Liu Family is innocent? Did all that Official Silver grow legs and burrow into your family’s walls on its own?"
Did he think acting all high and mighty meant he was truly untainted and above worldly affairs?
’What a joke.’
Sure, this Young Master Liu was exceptionally talented, his skills without equal, but those skills were only half natural talent. The other half was built on a mountain of money.
Even his so-called aloofness, his disdain for money as if it were dirt, was only possible because the Liu Family had embezzled so much. They had enough gold to brick their walls and pave their floors, and that’s what gave him the capital to act so high and mighty.
The Liu Family stole what they were supposed to guard, embezzling half the National Treasury. How did he have the gall to claim they were innocent?
"Arrest him!"
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Liu Shixu had taken first place. Second place went to Ye Shao, the grandson of Duke Liang. This was the same Ye Shao who had defended Song Qingyi earlier. Xie Liuzheng had called him Song Qingyi’s "sycophantic second male lead."
Leaving aside the fact that he was from the Duke Liang Mansion, his status as the "sycophantic second male lead" alone was enough for Xiao Yang to completely abandon any thought of recruiting him.
She recalled their brief previous encounter, when Xie Liuzheng had accidentally bumped into Song Qingyi. The way he had mindlessly jumped to her defense... ’There’s no way someone like that could ever be one of my officials.’
The person who truly caught Xiao Yang’s interest was the third-place winner—Gu Sheng.
He hadn’t declared allegiance to any great house, stating only that he was a common scholar. His robes were simple cloth, and they were even washed to the point of fading. He certainly didn’t look like the son of a nobleman.
What’s more, not only was he a skilled writer, but he also knew martial arts.
A scholar from a poor family, skilled in both literary and martial arts—he was a true gem.
"I want a full report on his background within three days."
Xiao Lv replied, "As you command."
Now that the competition she’d most wanted to see was over, Xiao Yang prepared to head downstairs for a brief stroll before returning.
"Your Majesty."
The moment she reached the bottom of the stairs, she ran right into Song Qingyi, who was about to enter. Song Qingyi’s eyes lit up the instant she saw Xiao Yang, and she hurried over.
"You’re here for the lantern festival too, Your Majesty?"
She was carrying a lantern made of gold and jade—as expected, it was the one Ye Shao had won—and Ye Shao himself trailed behind her.
Song Qingyi walked up to Xiao Yang, at once shy and bold. "Your Majesty... may I invite you to enjoy the lantern festival with me?"
Ye Shao’s gaze fell on Xiao Yang. While it wasn’t a murderous glare, it was still filled with hostility and wariness.
"Your Majesty."
Ye Shao stepped forward and bowed before gently tugging on Song Qingyi’s sleeve. "Qingyi, I’ve already reserved a spot for us. Let’s not disturb His Majesty."
Xiao Yang wanted to plead with her. ’Girl, come on! Look at this poor guy!’
’Falling for the wrong person is one thing, but you’ve got the gender wrong, too!’
Song Qingyi shoved the lantern into Ye Shao’s hands. "Mr. Ye, I won’t be going up with you."
Her gaze remained shamelessly fixed on Xiao Yang. "Your Majesty, I made a lantern today, too. I want to give it to you."
Her handmaiden immediately presented an exquisitely embroidered lantern, adorned with tassels of pearl and gemstone. It was stunning.
Song Qingyi took the lantern and offered it to Xiao Yang, her eyes full of hopeful expectation.
A headache forming, Xiao Yang quickly raised a hand to stop her. "Miss Song, please don’t. I have no need for this."
Seeing that Song Qingyi was about to press further, Rong Yin, who had been standing silently to the side, suddenly stepped forward. He took hold of Xiao Yang’s awkwardly hovering hand, his voice cool and imperious. "Miss Song, please show some decorum. His Majesty has a prior engagement."
With that, he strode away, pulling Xiao Yang along by the hand and leaving Song Qingyi frozen in place as if she’d been turned to stone.