Is she guessing my identity?

Jiang Chen felt Yang Muxi's probing gaze and made this guess in his heart, but his face remained calm.

"Sect Leader Yang, don't misunderstand. I'm just speaking fairly."

"Yes is yes, no is no. Even if the tyrant is wrong, we shouldn't falsely accuse him and take the rumors in the market as true!"

"Without really understanding the tyrant's character, some crimes should not be attributed to him yet."

Yang Muxi was not convinced by this statement and said coldly: "Then I'll wait until I kill him!"

"In any case, it is true that the tyrant caused slaughter, and it is also true that he allowed treacherous officials to control the government... Based on these two points alone, he deserves to die!"

A trace of helplessness flashed in Jiang Chen's eyes.

After these few encounters, he had already felt that Yang Muxi was different from those gentle and docile young ladies.

This is an extraordinary woman with superb skills, and she will not be easily shaken once she identifies something.

Even assassinating the emperor, such a rebellious act, she would do it without hesitation, and no one could stop her.

Not wanting to spoil the atmosphere, Jiang Chen set aside this controversial topic and instead said, "Let's not talk about these unpleasant things."

"The boat is about to dock, shall we go down and take a look?"

As he spoke, he made an inviting gesture towards Yang Muxi.

Ahead was a ferry built of bluestone and ebony, and beyond that was a long street decorated with colorful silk, and groups of scholars.

Faintly, the clear sound of a guqin could be heard.

This kind of prosperous and elegant scene made everyone present feel expectant.

Even Yang Muxi, who was as cold as ice, showed a bit of curiosity after seeing the novelties sold along the street.

In the end, she was just a young girl who had just grown up.

Jiang Chen sighed in his heart, and at the same time regretted not bringing Consort Shu and Liu Huiyin out.

"Candied hawthorns, three coins each! Young master, would you like to buy one for the girl next to you to try?" The vendor had an enthusiastic smile on his face as he approached, carrying a straw frame.

Jiang Chen looked at his worn sleeves and did not refuse: "Give us one each!"

As he spoke, he took out a piece of silver: "Keep the change."

The vendor immediately showed a happy smile and thanked him repeatedly.

He specially selected the best-looking candied hawthorns, handed them to Feng Jin, the steward in official uniform, and then left happily.

Yang Muxi watched this scene, a little dazed, and a strange feeling surged in her heart again.

She didn't even bother to take the candied hawthorn that Jiang Chen handed over.

"Wake up, come back to your senses!"

The teasing voice made Yang Muxi's pretty face flush with embarrassment, but fortunately, it was covered by a hat, so no one could see it.

"Jiang Yan, aren't you going to attend the poetry gathering? Let's go quickly, or we won't get a good spot if we're late!" Yang Muxi casually found a topic, wanting to cover up her silly behavior just now.

Jiang Chen didn't expose her and looked at Feng Jin beside him: "Where are the people from the Four Great Academies?"

"Young master, the Four Great Academies have jointly booked a garden, right on the Huai River. If you want to go, I'll prepare a carriage."

Jiang Chen nodded: "Well, then go and do it first. Tonight, I want to see what kind of stuff the talents of the Four Great Academies are made of!"

"Especially that Zhang Zifang. Everyone I've met along the way is extremely admiring of him. He must be a rare talent in the world."

"Yes, I'll go and do it!" Feng Jin smiled and disappeared into the crowd.

A hint of surprise flashed in Yang Muxi's beautiful eyes, and she asked joyfully: "Jiang Yan, do you also admire Zhang Zifang?"

"'Talent as high as eight dous,' who in the entire Great Wei doesn't know that name?" Jiang Chen raised his eyebrows.

When Yang Muxi mentioned this person, her tone immediately became warm.

That kind of change was like a fan girl meeting a fellow fan, and her attitude instantly became warm.

"Have you read his poem? Or do you prefer his essays?" Yang Muxi asked, her watery eyes shining like stars.

The extremely contrasting attitude made Jiang Chen narrow his eyes.

He was very unhappy!

Heh, she shouts and kills and treats me, the emperor, coldly, but she is particularly attentive to Zhang Zifang, a pedantic scholar who only talks!

No wonder men of letters have been ungrateful since ancient times.

With such a group of high-ranking and powerful women supporting them, I'm afraid people will become arrogant!

Jiang Chen sneered in his heart, but did not show it on his face.

As a dignified emperor, if he gets angry over such a small matter, wouldn't he be increasing Zhang Zifang's value?

"Zhang Zifang? I haven't read this person's poems or essays, and I don't need to."

"What you said is too arbitrary!" Yang Muxi frowned.

Jiang Chen's face became a little colder: "Aren't my poems as good as his?"

Yang Muxi couldn't say anything.

Although she admired Zhang Zifang very much, she had to admit that the poem that Jiang Yan wrote while boating was a masterpiece, incomparable to ordinary people.

After a few moments of silence, she seriously retorted: "Although you are also very talented and can write world-famous poems, in my opinion, Zhang Zifang's talent is no less than yours."

"Moreover, Zhang Zifang has many poems, but you only have this one. If you really compete, you may not be his opponent!"

"One poem?" The smile on Jiang Chen's face completely disappeared.

Yang Muxi is the woman he likes, but now she is praising another man in every possible way. How could Jiang Chen endure this?

He stared at Yang Muxi, and a sneer appeared on the corner of his mouth: "Originally, I didn't intend to interfere in the poetry gathering."

"But since you said so, I have to meet that Zhang Zifang and compete with him by writing hundreds of poems after drinking!"

Yang Muxi frowned even tighter, wanting to persuade Jiang Chen to give up this idea.

There are many great Confucians sitting in town at tonight's poetry gathering. If Jiang Chen loses too badly, he will lose a lot of face!

Jiang Chen could see what she was thinking, and felt even more frustrated.

But he had nowhere to vent his anger, after all, Yang Muxi's starting point was good and could not be considered wrong.

"Jing Yue, send someone to Cui!"

"I want to participate in the poetry gathering immediately and see Zhang Zifang. Tell Feng Jin to arrange it quickly!" Jiang Chen ordered coldly, while swearing in his heart.

In a while, he must rub Zhang Zifang's spirit in front of everyone!

Jing Yue could feel his urgency, and immediately cupped his hands and ordered the hidden guards beside him to speed up the process.

Soon, Feng Jin appeared with a spacious carriage, the interior was luxurious and could accommodate dozens of people.

The disguised hidden guards escorted Jiang Chen forward, and drove steadily through dozens of official roads paved with blue bricks, to a garden along the Huai River.

This garden was built in the previous dynasty, with a long history and elegant scenery.

Now it has been bought by a wealthy businessman and used to make friends with powerful and Confucian scholars.

"Young master, we're here!"

"But we don't have an invitation card, and the gatekeeper is unwilling to let us in. Do you want..." Feng Jin asked tentatively.

Jiang Chen often raised his eyebrows and refused with a righteous expression: "I, young master, am a reasonable person, how can I do such a rude thing?"

"I will now write a poem and you take it to them, and I guarantee they will let us in!"