Zhao Douan followed Zhuer and left, heading towards the inner quarters.
Only after he had walked away, did the frozen air within the room begin to circulate again.
"Swoosh—" The remaining guests rose to their feet, the sound of cups and dishes clashing, utterly surprised.
"It's unbelievable..."
"Hiss... What kind of poem did Mr. Zhao write that he actually defeated Li the Genius..."
"Hiding his light under a bushel, could it be that he was drinking modestly earlier, not showing off his talent because he couldn't be bothered to compete with us, and then he made a decisive strike at the last moment?"
The regular patrons added to their own conjecture, searching for a justification for Little Ya's choice.
A newcomer voiced his irritation:
"There must be foul play, I never imagined the host would judge by appearances!"
Hearing this, the regular patrons around him quickly changed targets, defending Little Ya, with most opinions being:
Miss Little Ya is by no means superficial; surely Mr. Zhao possesses great talent and so on.
At this point, the advantages of a well-managed reputation became evident, as Little Ya had already established a reputation for "valuing talent above all else".
So, when these kinds of incidents occasionally arose, there would always be fans to back her up.
"My brother, you were closer to him, come and tell us, what was the remarkable poem?" The confronted newcomer angrily approached Scholar Dong to inquire.
For a moment, all eyes turned towards him.
Including Mr. Li, whose face was hard to read, who still forced himself to maintain composure and came up to ask politely:
"Could you enlighten us, brother, so that I may understand why I lost?"
Scholar Dong remained silent for a bit, then slowly stood up, dusting off his robe. He surveyed the crowd and said:
"Mr. Zhao's poem was thought-provoking; you do not need to ask for details, I am far from his equal!"
With that, he turned his head and walked away, not looking back.
Leaving behind a group of guests looking at each other in dismay.
At this moment, Scholar Dong had an epiphany, and his infatuation with Little Ya disappeared like smoke.
All this so-called valuation of talent was merely a facade, Scholar Dong thought with a self-deprecating smile.
Indeed, if she truly possessed remarkable talents and was exceptional, why would she lower her dignity and actively cater to these "patrons"?
"Brother Zhao, your words have awakened someone from their dreams; truly, you are my teacher."
Walking into the night, Scholar Dong realized that the truths he had studied for many years paled in comparison to the insight of that single sentence from Zhao Douan.
He left the alley and walked down two streets, only to see a luxurious carriage parked there, with two able-bodied house servants bowing their heads:
"Eldest Young Master!"
Scholar Dong uttered a "hm", his usual reserved demeanor replaced by the air of nobility that came with being the son of a high-ranking family.
He entered the carriage, changing back into a finely-made robe, adorned with a jade pendant that was worth a fortune, and said:
One of the trusted house servants, sensing his mood was off, hesitated to say:
"Young Master, for just a 'talented lady', if you desire, you can simply command someone to summon her, she would not dare to refuse. Why go through all this…"
Scholar Dong waved his hand and suddenly said:
"Do you know of any prominent families with the Zhao surname in the Capital..."
Halfway through, he closed his mouth and, shaking his head with a laugh, said:
"Never mind, it's nothing now."
Gentleman's friendships are light, like water; why must we insist on recognition upon meeting?
Now that he knew Brother Zhao was also one of the Capital's elite, they would surely have the chance to meet again.
The two house servants exchanged glances, feeling that their young master, whom the old master scolded daily for "studying to the point of silliness", seemed somehow different.
In the inner quarters.
As soon as Zhao Douan stepped in, he saw Little Ya waiting under the porch.
Seeing him approach, she quickly bowed in respect:
"I was unaware of Lord Zhao's distinguished visit, my apologies for the oversight. Please forgive my rudeness."
Clearly, she knew of Zhao Douan's infamous reputation in the Capital.
As for the possibility of an impostor, Little Ya had no such suspicion. Firstly, she believed nobody would have the audacity to impersonate Zhao Douan.
Secondly, the man before her matched the rumours in appearance, which would have been difficult to fake.
At this moment, her bow was especially exaggerated, and no one knew when the gauzy veil over her breasts had been removed, leaving her skin white and glaring.
Zhao Douan remained calm and unbothered, proceeding straight into the room.
A warm fragrance filled the air, a silk carpet spread on the floor, and the room's decor was tastefully elegant, with a screen dividing the bedchamber from the small hall.
"Would you like to change your shoes?" she asked, out of habit from a previous life.
"Ah? No, of course not," Little Ya was startled at first but quickly replied.
She then shooed away the maids and personally brought tea and water.
Zhao Douan pleasantly took a seat beside a low table in the hall, watching Little Ya, who had just put on an act with a haughty air, bustling about. He couldn't help but smile and ask,
"There's no need to be so nervous. Is my reputation truly that frightening?"
What do you think... Little Ya criticized inwardly but dared not show it on her face. She took a seat across from him as told, with a look of mock resentment,
"Lord, please don't scare me."
"Ha ha," Zhao Douan, adept at playing along, easily slipped into the role of the villain,
"I've long heard that the Qinglian Small House boasts a beauty beyond compare, and today I see it is indeed true."
"Lord, you jest. I'm hardly that renowned."
The two exchanged pleasantries and shared a laugh, easing the atmosphere.
Seeing that the man before her showed no anger, Little Ya's anxious heart settled.
Admiring him closely, she thought it no wonder the Empress favored him; he was indeed handsome.
The thought of being the "sister" to the Empress even excited her.
Noticing Little Ya's relaxed demeanor, Zhao Douan slowly broached the main topic,
"I appear here today, and you seem not surprised?"
The surprise here didn't pertain to his arrival but to the fact that he, a man favored by the Empress, would appear in a private club.
With her enchanting eyes, Little Ya moistened her lips with a smile and playfully responded,
"I've entertained many guests, and those with a fierce mother-in-law often particularly enjoy seeking pleasure outside."
Having said that, she cast a knowing look.
Goodness... You've figured it all out... Men who are henpecked by their wives and resent it at home thus seek out other women to assert their dominance, huh... Zhao Douan secretly critiqued in his thoughts.
Little Ya had made the Qinglian Small House famous on her own merits.
"Heh, such slander against the Empress could cost you your head if word got out," Zhao Douan said with a laugh.
Pretending to be terrified, Little Ya pleaded sweetly, her act of vulnerability perfectly tuned to seem like playful banter.
Zhao Douan, unaffected, simply smiled and let it pass.
After accepting her service and eating a piece of fruit, he changed the subject,
"Speaking of which, my abrupt visit here must have upset that Li the Genius from the Imperial College. Aren't you afraid of him? I've heard he associates with the likes of Zhang Changshuo, Han Congee, and others…"
Little Ya's survival instincts were strong:
"What about Li the Genius? How could he compare to your honor, Lord?"
She paused, then added with a feigned sense of grievance,
"And if he holds a grudge against me because of this, wouldn't that mean he is dissatisfied with you, my Lord? I imagine he wouldn't dare."
You're quite something... Flattering men like that, you've got them eating out of your hand... Zhao Douan internally applauded and was about to steer the conversation toward the Zhang brothers.
But then Little Ya continued,
"Moreover, I do not entertain him. I also know the likes of Zhang Changshuo, Lord Zhang, whom he follows."
Two question marks floated above Zhao Douan's head as he sensed a lead and casually asked,
"How did you come to know Zhang Changshuo?"
The reports had only mentioned Zhang Changji as a frequent visitor here.
Little Ya replied, "Just like you, my Lord, Lord Zhang often visits me for company. In fact, it was Captain Zhang, his brother, who introduced him."
Zhao Douan felt a bit befuddled.
So, Zhang Changji, the soldier, visited Qinglian Small House first, and then, as an "old member," he recommended his older brother, making him a "new member."
Are the customs of Great Yu so extravagant?
It struck me... Zhang Changshuo, the hypocrite who hadn't remarried for two years and aimed to please the Empress by shunning pleasure districts, even proper gatherings—he wouldn't even stay overnight...
Someone so outwardly chaste does not reflect his true scheming nature...
Now it makes sense. Although Zhang Changshuo publicly avoided the company of women, he had been quite busy behind the scenes.
"Eh, you don't mean my arrival was recommended by Lord Zhang, do you?" Little Ya, with delayed realization, inquired curiously.