"Alright, don't worry. With Fourth Uncle and Cousin here, who would dare touch me? If things get really bad, won't Second Brother be here too? With him around, who would dare mess with the Feng family, right?"
Hearing this, Yun Xu's small face relaxed. Their second young master was truly a scoundrel; anyone who dared provoke him was either not yet born or had already reincarnated.
Only then did she let Feng Jin Yao see her off with peace of mind.
Upon entering the carriage, only Fourth Uncle Bai and Bai Si Ruo were inside.
Fourth Uncle Bai looked helpless, while Bai Si Ruo was full of excitement, pulling Feng Jin Yao and chattering non-stop.
"Alas, I've been tricked by this girl. She insisted on joining the fun."
Fourth Uncle Bai regretted it now, but it was too late. Looking at the two exquisitely carved young page boys in front of him, he truly feared others might suspect him of having peculiar tastes, and he felt miserable.
Bai Si Ruo, however, was bold. "Father, don't worry. We promise to only watch and not speak, and we definitely won't let anyone discover our identities."
"You still remember that? Then don't forget. Not a moment's carelessness is allowed, understand?"
"Don't worry, don't worry, absolutely not."
The carriage headed towards Chang Chun Tower and stopped in front of it after the time it took to brew two cups of tea.
The innkeeper, upon seeing the "Bai" character on the carriage, immediately recognized it as Fourth Master Bai's carriage and rushed forward with a beaming smile.
"Esteemed scholar, you've arrived early. The other academicians haven't arrived yet, but everything in Deng Yun Pavilion is ready. Would you like to go directly to see it, or would you prefer to rest in a private room for a moment?"
"Let's go to Deng Yun Pavilion."
As a junior, it was only proper for him to wait for the other three academicians.
"Yes."
The innkeeper respectfully gestured for them to enter Deng Yun Pavilion.
Deng Yun Pavilion, as its name suggested, had a cloud-patterned staircase leading directly upwards from the entrance. It was made of Huang Li wood, exuding a sense of substance and heritage, and carved with the motif of carp leaping over the dragon gate, a very auspicious symbol.
There were a total of thirty-six steps, like a path to the heavens, with plain curtains hanging around, giving it an ethereal and transcendent feel.
Upon reaching the upper floor, one could see renowned masterpieces at a glance. Even Bai Chao He, who came from a noble family and had seen many famous and rare works at Yun Qi Academy, was slightly taken aback.
It was evident that Deng Yun Pavilion's lavish construction was primarily for acquiring these rare and exquisite artworks.
With furnishings every three steps and treasures every five steps, it truly showed Bai Si Ruo and Feng Jin Yao what literati and scholars favored.
Ink from Huizhou, paper from Yuzhou, brushes from Xuanzhou, stands from Wanzhou – all were the finest of the fine.
Bai Chao He looked at the elegantly dressed innkeeper and realized that this place was clearly not decorated by a commoner like himself. He asked curiously, "Is the innkeeper the only one in charge of Chang Chun Tower?"
"You flatter me, esteemed scholar. I am merely a manager. This Deng Yun Pavilion was personally arranged by my master."
This made sense. Businesses in the Eastern Capital were naturally intertwined with the powerful and influential. It was just that ordinary people didn't bring it up, so no one knew who was behind it.
Bai Chao He was not one to pry endlessly. He simply remarked, "Your master has excellent taste," and said no more.
The innkeeper, being a shrewd individual, served them good tea and then excused himself, leaving the three of them to admire the surroundings.
Bai Si Ruo had never been particularly interested in calligraphy and painting, but Feng Jin Yao's eyes lit up when she saw a painting titled "Old Farmer Resting Under a Slope."
In her previous life, she had seen this painting in Wen Meng Sheng's study. He had told her it was created by the wise monk Ming Zhi from the previous dynasty.
This great monk was a renowned itinerant monk. Although he had taken Buddhist vows, he did not confine himself to monasteries, diligently observing Buddhist teachings. Instead, he traveled extensively across the land and enjoyed farming, leaving behind many fine works.
Unfortunately, the emperor of the previous dynasty, misled by others, insisted on capturing and killing this great monk, and his countless paintings were burned. Today, fewer than ten authentic works remain.
The fact that Deng Yun Pavilion possessed such an authentic piece indicated that the person behind it was truly formidable.
Feng Jin Yao gazed at the painting, lost in thought. After a moment, Bai Si Ruo tugged at her sleeve, signaling with her eyes that more people were arriving.
The two of them quickly stood obediently behind Fourth Uncle Bai, lowering their heads and feigning a demure appearance.
Many people arrived, and the academicians from other academies were all present. After some pleasantries, they took their seats.
The leader and the oldest among them was Academician Lu from Shan Lu Academy, over seventy years old and possessing an immortal aura. To his left sat Academician Xing from Han Hai Academy, in his early fifties and slightly plump. To his right was Academician Wang from Wen Jin Academy, a female scholar whose cool demeanor was unforgettable.
Bai Si Ruo looked at her back and seemed to see her close friend Xu Ming Yue, letting out a soft chuckle.
Feng Jin Yao frowned and tugged at her sleeve. Bai Si Ruo quickly lowered her head again, not wanting to be noticed.
As for Bai Chao He, although not an academician, his background and his status as a princess's husband, coupled with his renowned scholarship, placed him beside the Academician of Han Hai Academy.
"Academician Lu, may we invite the students in?"
The innkeeper, seeing the four seated, cautiously asked for instructions.
Academician Lu was the chief academician of Shan Lu Academy, with the longest tenure and the greatest age. Inviting him today was an immense honor for Deng Yun Pavilion, and thus, he had to be treated with utmost respect.
Academician Lu was not a pedantic person, nor did he possess the affectation of many scholars. He looked at the innkeeper with a benevolent expression and said, "There is no need for such formality, innkeeper. Today's protagonists are them, so we should naturally invite them in."
"Yes. As the esteemed scholar says."
With these words, the waiting scholars, guided by the waiters, entered Deng Yun Pavilion.
Thousands of people gathered, creating a grand scene. Many scholars wore moon-white long robes and cloud-blue silk shirts, signifying their noble character.
Feng Jin Lin's attire today was similar to others, except that his moon-white long robe was embroidered with auspicious cloud patterns in silver thread, making him appear even more distinguished.
Feng Jin Yao immediately spotted her second brother, looking spirited and engaged in lively conversation.
The person standing beside him was dressed simply, appearing slightly slender compared to her second brother. He wore an ordinary long robe, which, though somewhat old-fashioned, was very clean and tidy, exuding a faint scholarly aura.
His demeanor was naturally dignified, showing no sign of embarrassment. Feng Jin Yao thought to herself that this must be Yin Can Wen, the friend her second brother had mentioned last time.
He was indeed extraordinary, the renowned top scholar of the previous life.
Feng Jin Lin had known that Fourth Uncle would be one of the judges for today's competition. He smiled and looked over, but his smile froze when he saw the two behind him. The astonishment in his eyes quickly vanished.
Those two audacious girls, they really dared to come anywhere.
It must have been the Bai family's cousin's bad idea. Otherwise, given Ah Yao's personality, how could she possibly have come to join the fun.