Chapter 39: A Life Devoted to Hatred

As soon as the servant spoke, everyone was stunned.

Xiao Lengyu frowned and looked toward Xiao Yihuan and Xiao Fengze. “Did you also invite Prince Yu and Prince Xuan?”

Xiao Yihuan looked at Xiao Fengze, who quickly shook his head. But something crossed his mind, and he glanced sourly at Tang Mi.
Those two likely came because of Miss Tang.

Tang Mi’s brows were tightly knit. She hadn’t expected Ye Junyu to come. If she’d known he would, she wouldn’t have attended the poetry gathering.

Xiao Yihuan was puzzled. He hadn’t sent invitations to either of them, so why did they both show up?
Still, since they were already here, it wouldn’t do to turn them away at the door.
He personally went out to receive them.

Outside, Ye Junyu looked at Ye Chenxuan with displeasure.
“No one from the Marquis Yong’an’s residence sent you an invitation, did they? What are you doing here?”

Ye Chenxuan raised his eyebrows coolly. “Oh? And someone sent one to you, royal brother?”

Ye Junyu was momentarily speechless, his face dark as coal.
That damn Seventh Prince must also be here for Tang Mi.
No, what he really wants is the throne!

“Greetings, Your Highnesses,” Xiao Yihuan came out and bowed, first glancing at Ye Chenxuan before greeting them both.

Seeing Xiao Yihuan arrive, Ye Junyu quickly hid his displeasure.
“We heard you were hosting a poetry gathering, and as Prince Yu and the Seventh Prince happened to be passing by, we thought we’d drop in for some fun.”

Ye Chenxuan was amazed by Ye Junyu’s shamelessness but didn’t expose him.

Xiao Yihuan paused, then quickly smiled. “Perfect timing, we haven’t started yet. Please, come inside.”

Xiao Yihuan led the way.

As soon as the two princes entered the garden, everyone stood to pay their respects.
“Greetings to Prince Yu and Prince Xuan.”

Ye Junyu’s eyes scanned the elegant ladies in the garden, finally settling on Tang Mi and he was immediately dazzled.
Although it wasn’t the first time he had seen her, she seemed more breathtaking each time.

Ye Chenxuan also spotted Tang Mi right away, but unlike Ye Junyu, he didn’t gawk. He gave her a glance and quickly looked away.
Noticing Ye Junyu still staring, he cleared his throat with obvious displeasure.

Ye Junyu snapped out of it and quickly spoke, “You may all rise.”

“Thank you, Your Highness,” everyone responded and returned to their seats.

“Princess Lengyu, I hope we’re not intruding,” Ye Junyu said politely, nodding toward Xiao Lengyu.

“You’re too kind, Your Highness. We haven’t begun yet, please join us,” Xiao Lengyu said, gesturing toward the vacant seats across from her.

Ye Junyu didn’t hesitate and took the head seat with a flourish.
Ye Chenxuan didn’t care about seat arrangements and simply sat next to Ye Junyu.

Once the two were seated, Xiao Yihuan and the others followed, and Xiao Lengyu led the women to sit.

After taking their seats, many of the young ladies started sneaking glances at Ye Junyu and Ye Chenxuan.
Even those who hadn’t shown much interest earlier were now visibly excited.

After all, the two princes held far more prestigious positions than any marquis or heir. If one of them took notice, a girl could become a princess consort or even a royal concubine or empress.
Not to mention, both princes were extremely handsome, especially Prince Xuan, whose beauty was so striking it made one afraid to look directly at him.

Meanwhile, Xiao Lengyu stole a glance at Jun Qianche across from her. Her cheeks blushed again before she lowered her head, looking disheartened.

Xiao Yihuan noticed her odd behavior and also glanced at Jun Qianche, his gaze deepening before he spoke.
“Now that everyone is here, let’s begin the poetry gathering.”

Xiao Lengyu snapped out of her thoughts and smiled.
“Since the flowers in the garden are blooming beautifully today, why don’t we use flowers as the theme? Everyone can compose freely.”

“Flowers it is,” said Ye Junyu as he glanced at the stunning Tang Mi. He was the first to speak:
“Then allow Prince Yu to begin.”

“Please, Your Highness,” Xiao Lengyu encouraged politely.

Ye Junyu’s eyes burned into Tang Mi as he immediately recited:

“Before the hall, the peony flaunts a wild charm,
On the pond, the lotus lacks deep feeling.
Only the tree peony holds true royal grace,
When it blooms, it stirs all the capital.”

If anyone had been unsure about Ye Junyu’s purpose in coming, this poem made it clear, he came for Tang Mi.
He was clearly comparing her to the tree peony queen of flowers, the most beautiful of them all.
And indeed, the metaphor was fitting. Tang Mi was worthy of the title.

Tang Ying bit her lip, her jealousy flaring uncontrollably.

Tang Mi, however, kept her gaze lowered as if she hadn’t even heard Ye Junyu’s poem.

Seeing her remain unresponsive, Ye Junyu felt a wave of disappointment.

Sensing the shift in his mood, Xiao Lengyu quickly stepped in.
“His Highness is truly talented, such a powerful start! It will be hard for the rest of us to follow.”

Ye Junyu relaxed slightly and smiled. “Prince Yu is just here for the fun. The main event is still you all.”

Then he looked at Tang Mi.
“I’ve heard Miss Tang is highly accomplished in poetry. Why not give us one of your own?”

Everyone immediately turned to look at Tang Mi.

Being called upon, Tang Mi finally raised her eyes. Her gaze pierced through time hollow and intense directed straight at Ye Junyu:

“Between flower and leaf, no bond remains.
One river of forgetfulness, its waves run faint.
Between the shores lies a chasm divine.
The path is lit, but travelers are slow.
Past and present, karma undone.
Let the heart break, the soul break, love break too.
Flowers and leaves fall, never to meet again.”

For a moment, everyone was immersed in her poem. Even after she finished, her voice lingered in their minds.
So resolute, like she had poured all her life’s strength into hatred.

Ye Junyu, the target of her gaze, felt like his heart was gripped tight unable to breathe, suffocating to the point of self-destruction.

Ye Chenxuan frowned, looking at Tang Mi’s unyielding expression.
She… hated Ye Junyu?

But why? They shouldn’t have any prior connection. What could have made her hate him so?

“Clap clap clap!” Xiao Yihuan, clearly shaken by her poem, was the first to break the silence with enthusiastic applause.
As a lover of poetry himself, this was undoubtedly the finest verse he had ever heard.
Her emotion was overwhelming, so strong that it could engulf the entire world in its intensity.

Truly, she was the most talented young lady he had ever seen.

His claps jolted everyone else from their daze, and soon the garden was filled with thunderous applause.

A few young ladies even had tears in their eyes, her poem had moved them deeply.

Xiao Lengyu glanced at her younger brother. Seeing how captivated he was by Tang Mi, she grew worried.
Was he falling for her?
But with those two “gods” sitting across the way… she feared it would never work out.