Volume 1, Chapter 10: Heir Shen, Am I Beautiful?

This is truly the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard! How can someone possibly demand a refund for money they have already given as a gratuity?

Is there truly such a shameless person in this world?

Qin Qianyue was rendered speechless, watching him speak with such grandiloquence, completely devoid of any sense of shame. She found it impossible to believe that this was the heir to the Prince of Zhenmu, a house with such a distinguished lineage.

After a moment of contemplation, she put on a pitiful expression. "Consort Shen, the money given as gratuity is not all in my hands. Most of it was taken by Mother Yuan; I have very little left. Five thousand taels would be the death of me."

Just as Shen Yi was about to speak, Qin Qianyue sighed heavily. "However, if Consort Shen is truly in such dire straits, I could drain my entire estate to scrape it together for you. But, could you grant me one favor in return?"

It must be said that Qin Qianyue’s tenderness and demeanor were like those of a charming fox spirit, enough to evoke pity in any man.

Shen Yi chuckled. "Miss Qianyue, there is no need to play the victim in front of me. I don’t fall for that."

Hearing this, Qin Qianyue composed herself and grew calm. She was capable of discerning whether a man was truly cold and hard-hearted or merely pretending.

"In that case, how about an equal exchange?"

Shen Yi glanced around the room and said casually, "Pray, tell."

Qin Qianyue replied indifferently, "Your 'Qingping Diao' is indeed worthy of the top spot; I shall consider that as payment for this dinner we shared. As for that 'When Will the Moon Be Bright' poem, I will count that as the information you provided me. If you want those five thousand taels back, you must compose another poem that satisfies me! Furthermore, the topic will be chosen by me at random!"

At this, Xiaoyu gasped in shock, "Miss? Did he really write the 'Qingping Diao' as well? And there are other poems?"

Shen Yi stared at her with a profound expression.

Qin Qianyue remained fearless and composed. "What? Is Consort Shen afraid, or is he truly shallow in his learning? If that is the case, if you can introduce me to the talented scholar who wrote this 'Qingping Diao,' I will still give you five thousand taels!"

Note the phrasing: she said "give," not "return."

Qin Qianyue was utterly convinced that this poem could not have been written by Shen Yi, which was why she set such a difficult task to stump him. After all, this rascal had threatened her: if she did not place him at the top of the rankings, he would immediately gift the poems and melodies to Ling Xue. How could she let such a chance for fame slip through her fingers?

That line, "When will the moon be bright? I lift my wine to ask the blue sky. I do not know what year it is in the heavenly palaces tonight," was simply too captivating! The opening alone was enough to make one unable to stop reading. That was why she had taken the risk of bringing him up here.

"Very well!" Shen Yi laughed softly. "I, for one, do not like to rely on a woman's charity. Otherwise, I would truly bankrupt you!"

Qin Qianyue frowned, full of confusion. But the calm confidence Shen Yi displayed next left her stunned.

"Set the topic."

Was he serious? Qin Qianyue was bewildered. Could he have really written it? Or was he just blindly confident, planning to give her some nonsense about catching a tiger? She felt cold inside; if not for wanting to find the true author of that poem, she would have no desire to speak with this man any longer.

"Consort Shen was born into a family of military generals, so I shall set the topic as 'War'..." Qin Qianyue gestured for Xiaoyu to pour wine for Shen Yi. "I will give you only the time it takes for one incense stick to burn. But in return, as long as it is one-tenth as refined as the 'Qingping Diao,' I will acknowledge the value of this poem! How about that?"

Shen Yi stopped Xiaoyu from pouring the wine.

*Are you joking? I am writing poetry; do I need alcohol to find inspiration?*

He chuckled lightly. "No need for an incense stick. I can do it now. However, I am not very good at writing characters. I will recite, and you shall transcribe."

Hearing this, Qin Qianyue looked disappointed. *He wants to write it without even thinking? I even lowered the difficulty of the topic for him! It seems I am not destined to meet this talented scholar after all.*

She sighed, not bothering to take up the brush, ink, paper, or inkstone, and simply looked at him calmly. "I have a good memory. Proceed."

"Don't go back on your word when the time comes!"

Shen Yi said indifferently, "As long as I recite this poem in its entirety, you will have to pay those five thousand taels, whether you like it or not!"

As he spoke, his eyes were calm, yet filled with a domineering aura!

Qin Qianyue’s eyes widened in disbelief! *This is killing intent! His gaze—it is like a thousand charging horses and soldiers, a war god on the battlefield! How can this be? Is he not a spineless coward? How could he possess such presence?*

She was shocked, her mouth opening as if to retract the challenge, when she heard a low, resonant voice:

*"The nation is broken, yet mountains and rivers remain; the city turns to spring, and the grass and trees grow deep."*

The first line! It was earth-shattering!

Qin Qianyue’s pupils dilated; she was stunned to her core! *It is real... he actually wrote it? The miserable scent of defeat is overwhelming! This is a masterpiece! A classic for the ages!*

Qin Qianyue’s entire body trembled with excitement. She hurriedly cried out, "Xiaoyu! Quickly, bring the brush, ink, paper, and inkstone!"

Seeing this, Shen Yi slowed his pace. A moment later, "Master Shen," Qin Qianyue said, her eyes shimmering like ripples on a spring pond, "I am ready!"

Shen Yi took a long breath. Every time he recalled this poem, a stifling emotion welled up in his heart. He was a soldier, a son, and a citizen of his country. Yet, since childhood, he had never seen his father, receiving only anonymous letters from home. It was as if…

*"Moved by the times, flowers shed tears; hating to part, birds startle the heart."*

*"The beacon fires have burned for three months; a letter from home is worth ten thousand taels of gold."*

Shen Yi’s melancholy, low voice seemed to touch upon past memories. *Fortunately, I knew you were always there. But unfortunately, in the end, what I waited for was not your white hair, but those heavy medals resting upon your cold, lifeless body.*

*"I scratch my white hair, thinning so much it can barely hold a hairpin!"*

The poem concluded. Shen Yi’s memories overlapped with those of the young heir. In the end, he had taken up his father’s mantle, served the country, and slain the enemy.

Shen Yi exhaled the past, smiled faintly, and reached out his hand. "The title of this poem is: 'Spring View.' Miss Qianyue, bring the money!"

Qin Qianyue’s hands were shaking violently as she struggled to finish writing. She was trembling with excitement; there could be no mistake! His demeanor, his emotion, his tone—everything was perfectly in sync with the poem!

Shen Yi! The Heir of Shen! He was a peerless poetic genius hiding in plain sight!

"S-Shen Heir!" Qin Qianyue’s face turned crimson, filled with shame and a sense of mortification! She no longer dared to call him "Master Shen." "I truly have eyes but failed to see! Please, do not blame me, Shen Heir! I will go get the silver notes for you right now. Shen Heir, may I claim authorship of this poem?"

Shen Yi said nonchalantly, "Do as you please. Since I've given you the poem, you can claim you wrote it yourself if you wish."

Qin Qianyue sighed inwardly; the Shen Heir was truly too modest! Yet the more he was like this, the more she coveted him! Such a talent—she longed to share a romance with him, a tale of a talented scholar and a beautiful woman that would be passed down through the ages. But the thought that he was a consort dampened her spirits slightly.

Meanwhile, Xiaoyu stood stunned, staring at Shen Yi with glistening eyes, suddenly finding him handsome, dashing, and extraordinarily heroic! *Scholar Lu, your loss is well-deserved!*

*Knock, knock.*

Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. "Miss Qin, Mother Yuan asked me to come and inquire if you are having any trouble? Do you need us to call for the Prince?"

"No! Everything is fine here!" Qin Qianyue, annoyed by the intrusion, said coldly to the maidservant beside her, "All of you, get out!"

"Ah?" Xiaoyu, who had been stealing glances at Shen Yi with a flushed face, was startled, looking a bit disgruntled and lingering with reluctance.

"Mother Yuan said if there is nothing wrong, go out and explain things to Scholar Lu and the others; it is not good for them to keep making such a ruckus."

"I know!" Qin Qianyue replied coldly. She took up the brush and said to Xiaoyu, "Take this 'Qingping Diao' out later and tell Scholar Lu and the others to stop making a scene."

She couldn't let Lu Yu give up hope just yet. After all, she felt she couldn't quite grasp this Shen Yi before her. But today’s deal was worth far more than the price!

Thinking of this, her eyes suddenly lit up. "Shen Heir, if you have any other famous works, I am willing to pay to buy them!"

Shen Yi shook his head. "Earning money from you feels like living off a woman. Besides, these five thousand taels are enough for me; otherwise, I really could bankrupt you."

Qin Qianyue suddenly realized. *So that is what the Shen Heir meant earlier!* But it also confirmed that he truly had more!

Although Qin Qianyue was excited and eager, she did not force him. It was enough to know that if she couldn't buy them, no one else could either! Moreover, she already had three poems; that was more than enough. This year’s Lantern Festival, the top spot on the Courtesan Rankings would undoubtedly be hers!

"Oh, right," Shen Yi said suddenly. "There are a second and third part to this 'Qingping Diao.' I probably won't write this poem again in the future. Since it's already been written, don't let it go to waste."

After he spoke, Qin Qianyue’s eyes were filled with excitement and starlight. Even more so, after reading all the verses, the way she looked at Shen Yi was filled with deep, lingering affection.

*Confirmed! I fear only he could compose such complete verses!*

But she couldn't help but sigh, revealing a trace of sorrow. "So, Consort Shen did not write these for me; you were using me as a substitute for the Princess..."

Shen Yi paused slightly and shook his head. "You are overthinking it. I have no such intention; I have absolutely no feelings for the Princess."

"Is that so?" Qin Qianyue’s eyes glimmered with gold. "Then, Shen Heir, am I beautiful?"