"Master, is this dangerous?" Yu Ye asked, full of worry.
Chen Nan replied, "No harm will come. The original owner of this body is new to our world and no one knows him. Hmm... however, this fellow is too handsome, so I should keep a low profile. After all, that Martial King devours both men and women!"
As he spoke, he used his disguise art, making himself appear a few years older.
After all, the profession of a strategist is more respected with age.
Being too young would simply not command enough respect!
At this moment, Chen Nan looked to be in his early thirties, with sharp eyebrows and intelligent eyes, exuding an air of hidden depth.
The next day!
Chen Nan arrived at the Crown Prince's mansion!
As the most favored son of the Martial King, Shen Lang had an independent royal mansion at such a young age.
This was a privilege that no other crown prince enjoyed!
Not only that, but the Martial King had also arranged many experts for Shen Lang!
Even the guards at the entrance were at the early stage of Golden Core realm!
A large crowd had already gathered at the entrance of the Crown Prince's mansion, lined up with expectant expressions. Everyone wanted to become a strategist for the Crown Prince's mansion!
If they could achieve this, their future would undoubtedly be boundless!
"I heard they are recruiting two strategists this time, and the Crown Prince himself will set the questions!"
"The competitive pressure is too great!"
"Indeed, they are only recruiting two strategists, yet over a hundred people wish to become one for the Crown Prince's mansion!"
"I heard this competition is divided into three rounds. The first round tests appearance. Only those with handsome features can proceed to the next round. Look, that ugly fellow with the full beard is coming out dejectedly!"
Listening to the chatter of the crowd, Chen Nan knew that no matter where one was, it was an era that valued looks.
Good-looking people not only had the advantage of reproduction!
They could also find jobs much more easily during interviews!
Time passed.
Eventually, Chen Nan entered the Crown Prince's mansion and stood before the examiner.
To his surprise, the examiners were two young women dressed in long dresses, with beautiful faces and graceful postures!
One wore a pink dress, and the other a blue one.
Standing together, they created a strong visual impact!
Most importantly, the two were identical twin sisters!
When Chen Nan appeared!
The twin sisters were immediately mesmerized!
His tall and straight physique, his distinct features, coupled with those melancholic eyes...
He was truly a stunning beauty of the era!
Shen Mei blushed, her heart pounding like a startled deer, "May I know your name, sir?"
"Chen Nan!"
Chen Nan did not appear as nervous as others, nor did he fawn excessively.
His tone was indifferent, and he kept one hand behind his back, gazing at the sky at a forty-five-degree angle, completely disregarding the twin sisters.
He projected an aloof aura!
The surrounding onlookers scorned him!
Some servants of the mansion even shouted, "Who do you think you are, to not even look at the two elder sisters?"
"Exactly! The two elder sisters are favored individuals close to the Crown Prince, representing him! Your arrogance clearly shows you don't respect the Crown Prince!"
At these words, Shen Mei was furious, "Is this your place to speak? Slap yourself!"
The servants of the mansion shivered, never expecting to anger this young lady!
Without further thought, they raised their palms and slapped their own faces...
Shen Mei said expressionlessly, "The Crown Prince is recruiting strategists, not servants!"
"There is a difference between the two!"
"A strategist with peerless wisdom would be respected even by the Crown Prince himself, why should he bother with us maids?"
Saying this, Shen Mei picked up a jade token and handed it to Chen Nan, a captivating smile on her face, "Young Master Chen may proceed to the inner court. I hope we can work together in the future!"
Witnessing this scene, countless people lamented the injustice!
After all, dozens of people had already reached this stage!
While some had passed the first round!
No one had received the same treatment from Shen Mei!
In essence, they were not as handsome as Chen Nan!
Nor were they as skilled at acting cool!
"Thank you!" Chen Nan said faintly, taking the jade token and entering the inner court!
Every movement he made exuded an aura of aloofness and mystery!
Making many people sigh in inadequacy!
After all, to become a true strategist, one must first possess an air of mystique!
Upon entering the inner court!
In the backyard, six desks were arranged, adorned with the four treasures of study and fine Xuan paper!
Someone was already there, diligently writing!
Looking towards the front, Chen Nan's eyes widened in surprise!
He had initially thought the twin sisters from outside were responsible for the second round of assessment!
But these two wore different attire from the twin sisters outside!
One wore a cyan dress, and the other a pale yellow one!
Furthermore, their chests bore different patterns!
They were plum blossom, orchid, bamboo, and chrysanthemum!
"Could this be a rare set of quadruplets?" Chen Nan's heart was unsettled. Twins were rare enough, let alone quadruplets...
And these quadruplets were all as beautiful as celestial beings!
"Young Master Chen, the second round of assessment is very simple!" Shen Zhu said with a captivating smile, "To become a strategist for the Crown Prince's mansion, one must not only possess excellent appearance but also exquisite calligraphy!"
"You may write in whatever script you are skilled at!"
Shen Ju added with a smile, "Do you require my assistance with grinding ink?"
???
???
The other three who were diligently writing all raised their heads in unison!
Their eyes filled with envy and jealousy!
Just because he was handsome, they would help him grind ink?
Was this too much favoritism?
Chen Nan nodded slightly, "I will trouble you, Miss Shen!"
The other three were dumbfounded!
Damn it!
You actually dare to have the Crown Prince's personal maids grind ink for you?
Aren't you too arrogant?
However, Shen Ju did not feel this way, but rather found Chen Nan very approachable!
Chen Nan walked to the desk, picked up a brush, dipped it in ink, and began to write.
He had two years of calligraphy training in his past life, and his mastery of calligraphy was no less than that of any master calligrapher. His strong and vigorous regular script gave Shen Ju a feeling of astonishment!
"Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful!"
Shen Zhu also walked forward and, upon seeing Chen Nan's calligraphy, her eyes were filled with pleasant surprise, "I never imagined Young Master Chen's mastery of calligraphy would be so profound, he is truly Yan Zhenqing reborn!"
"No, no, no, Young Master Chen's mastery of calligraphy has already surpassed Yan Zhenqing himself!"
"Although Yan Zhenqing's strokes were strong and powerful, Young Master Chen's writing possesses a sense of decisiveness and boldness!"
Although they lived in a small world, they were aware of famous calligraphers in the mortal realm!
Moreover, the cultural inheritance in the small world was not significantly different from that of the mortal realm!
They all revered Confucianism, Mohism, Taoism, and Legalism!
Therefore, Chen Nan writing in regular script did not surprise them!
Especially the verses he wrote!
It was the poem "Gan Yu" by the famous Tang Dynasty poet Zhang Jiuling!
This was a poem expressing unfulfilled aspirations!
'The recluse returns and sleeps alone, his lingering worries washed away by solitude. With this, I bid farewell to the soaring birds, and thus convey my distant feelings. At dusk, my heart is filled with emptiness, who can appreciate such profound sincerity? My rise and fall are inherently separated, what can comfort my true heart.'
The content of this poem instantly touched the hearts of the sisters Shen Zhu and Shen Ju!
He must have experienced many hardships to express his inner emotions through this poem!
I really want to hug him...