Yan Jinxin borrowed Zhaodi’s study to write a reply to Lord Chu. He picked up the pen several times, but his writing was intermittent and he always felt it was not good.

　　”Why not just say it directly and say that you and I have an appointment to drink and write poetry that day.” Gu Zhao said.

　　Yan Jinxin shook his head, “No, I was invited, so I don’t want to involve you.”

　　Lord Chu’s reputation is spread by word of mouth. Neither Yan Jinxin nor Gu Zhao have ever met him for his specific details, so they don’t know whether he is a good person or a treacherous one. Even if Gu Zhao has memories of his previous life, he cannot conclude that Lord Chu is definitely a bad person. What if he is a victim framed in a power struggle?

　　All this has nothing to do with them, small officials. They are of low rank and have little influence. If they can’t help, they will only die.

　　Yan Jinxin frowned and continued to write. He wrote a few words and wrote for half an hour. Later, after he finished drafting and checked it for errors, he found a piece of paper to copy it again. After the ink dried, he put it in the envelope.

　　Second brother didn’t avoid him. Gu Zhao could see clearly that Second brother was very humble in the content of the letter. He first thanked Lord Chu for inviting him. He was very touched when he received the letter. But he was very sorry. He had already arranged an appointment. What if there was a time conflict…

　　In order to express his apology and regret, Yan Jinxin finished writing the reply and did not stay long at the Li family. He went back directly to arrange for the coachman to deliver the letter to the Chu residence immediately, doing his best to show the attitude of “I really want to go but I’m really sorry”.

　　The second day.

　　Li Zhouzhou knew that his husband was going to attend the banquet, so he specially braised a pot of duck and cut a piece of his own jelly. He put the food in two wooden boxes for his husband to take with him the next day.

　　Early in the morning on the fifteenth, Gu Zhao changed into the new robe that Zhou Zhou had made for him this year, carried two boxes of braised duck, got on the car early, and went to Yan’s house to meet up with his second brother Yan, and the two of them went together.

　　The Sun Mansion was very remote and it took more than two hours to get there.

　　This place is far away from the center of imperial power and there are few residents. Gu Zhao opened the curtains and looked outside. It was a bleak winter scene with snow. From a distance, it looked like there was a house in the wilderness, which gave the feeling of the residence of a hermit.

　　When they arrived at the gate, the car stopped. Gu Zhao and Yan Jinxin got out of the car and straightened their robes. Yan Jinxin said, “This place is not far from the Imperial College.”

　　So that’s it.

　　Gu Zhao nodded.

　　As the two were talking, the door creaked open and inside came an old man with grey hair, clear eyes, a straight back and a strong appearance. He bowed and asked who they were.

　　Gu Zhao and Yan Jinxin submitted the invitation immediately.

　　”Master Gu and Master Yan? Please come in.” The old man looked at the post and found the surnames matched. He opened the door and invited the two in, saying, “The master is in peach garden. Please come this way.”

　　Sun Bo led the way.

　　The houses and courtyards here are different from the neat and symmetrical courtyards in Beijing. They have a bit of the flavor of southern gardens and are more ornamental. There are rows of bamboo forests and cobblestone paths. Even when it is snowing, they are not cleared and make a crackling sound when you step on them.

　　After the bamboo forest, the courtyard suddenly opened up to a peach forest. Unfortunately, the peach trees were bare, but the snow on the branches was a different scene. Gu Zhao’s layout showed that the owner had put a lot of thought into the peach garden, but there was a large bare area next to the peach forest, with only white snow. According to today’s aesthetics, this area should not be left blank, but should be piled with rockery or dug into a lake.

　　Gu Zhao found it a little strange, but he didn’t ask any questions and just walked into the house.

　　The room was very warm with the brazier lit.

　　The two entered the house and sat down. The host had not yet arrived, so the old man served hot tea and went downstairs with the food box that Gu Zhao had brought. Gu Zhao and Yan Jinxin were sitting in the living room drinking tea. Before they had taken a few sips, they heard a noise at the door and saw that it was someone they knew.

　　Liang Ze, or Liang Zizhi is here.

　　The two stood up, and the three of them bowed to each other and exchanged pleasantries. Gu Zhao discovered that Lord Liang was in a different state in the Sun Mansion than in the Hanlin Academy. He was much more relaxed at this time.

　　”You’re welcome, I wrote the visiting card for you,” Liang Zizhi said, pouring hot tea from the teapot. “I received a New Year gift from Mr. Gu a few days ago. I was very surprised when I tasted it. I immediately took the food box to master. Master has been giving lectures outside for many years and now staying in Beijing. As an apprentice, I have to serve master the delicious food as soon as possible.”

　　”May I ask if Mr. Sun is the Crane Immortal?” Yan Jinxin asked.

　　Liang Zizhi took a sip of tea, nodded and said, “This is a collection of poems written by the teacher in the early days.”

　　At that time, the teacher was full of pride and talent. Some people criticized him, saying that his poems were too arrogant and presumptuous. But when he was asked to write a poem, he hesitated and couldn’t write a single word.

　　What a ridiculous and mean behavior.

　　The three of them chatted for about half a cup of tea when they heard a noise at the door. The three of them stood up. This time, two people came in. One of them was a stranger to both Gu Zhao and Yan Jinxin. He should be about the same age as Lord Shi. Although his hair was tied up, it looked very lazy. He had a beard and a kind face with a smile.

　　This should be Liang Zizhi’s teacher, Sun Mu, also known as Crane Immortal.

　　The three people next to him were all known. They were the head of the Hanlin Academy, Shi Mingwen. Shi Mingwen still had a solemn face and was very serious. Gu Zhao and Yan Jinxin bowed first and called him Shi Mingwen.

　　Liang Zizhi was a little slower. He said hello to Lord Shi only after they had finished talking.

　　Shi Mingwen looked down on Liang Zizhi, mainly because he was disappointed in him. He would lecture him every time they met, so in the Hanlin Academy, Liang Zizhi would avoid him whenever possible and would never appear in the eyes of Lord Shi.

　　”Today I am the one who made the invitation and I am the one who prepared the banquet. You youngsters can relax and enjoy yourself.” Sun Mu smiled and looked at the two people opposite him. Without waiting for anyone to introduce them, he said with a smile: “Are you Gu Zhao? Are you Yan Jinxin?”

　　Although it was a question, the tone was very affirmative.

　　The two of them replied that it was correct and Mr. Sun’s guess was correct.

　　”Zizhi said that if we compare him to the old man, Xiao Gu’s appearance is better than his, and Yan Jinxin’s knowledge is better than his.” Sun Mu smiled and glanced at the two people opposite him, “I don’t know how knowledgeable Yan Jinxin is yet, but Xiao Gu’s appearance is indeed better than his back then.”

　　Liang Zizhi: …

　　Gu Zhao: …

　　He smiled modestly and said, “Mr. Sun, since you have praised me, my appearance is suitable for the third place winner.”

　　Shi Mingwen, who was standing next to him, thought that Gu Zhao still had some self-awareness.

　　Shi Mingwen was a serious person who admired people with real knowledge. When he was marking the first result of the palace examination last year, he was very impressed after reading Yan Jinxin’s essay and felt that this boy must be among the top three.

　　This is still a modest and conservative statement. In Shi Mingwen’s opinion, this paper is the best in his mind.

　　Later, the emperor decided that Yan Jinxin really won the first place. Shi Mingwen stroked his beard and nodded with great satisfaction, but of course he still looked serious.

　　He had three guesses, and guessed two correctly, Yan Jinxin and Du Ruoqi, but missed the third one, which was Gu Zhao. Shi Mingwen later read Gu Zhao’s paper again. The questions were written in detail, but it lacked some of the elegance of the article, lacked some style, especially the words –

　　Shi Mingwen naturally looked down on him. He thought that Gu Zhao, who ranked second, was certainly worthy of being a match, but third in the first class was not good enough. But the decision was made by the emperor, and the people in the court in Beijing had been saying that this year’s third place winner was really handsome and worthy of being a match for him.

　　Nonsense.

　　Scholars pride themselves on their talent and learning, how can they talk about face? From then on, Shi Mingwen looked down on Gu Zhao, especially the story of the third place winner marrying into the family that was widely circulated among the people in Beijing.

　　In Shi Mingwen’s opinion, it was simply a loss of face for scholars. It was not that Shi Mingwen looked down on marrying into a wife’s family, but just like judging the third place by appearance instead of judging the results by writing, Shi Mingwen felt that scholars should spread their reputations, not trivial matters in the harem, but should spread their reputations through writings and poems.

　　Now hearing Gu Zhao’s humble words, he knew that he understood it very well, and his serious expression eased a little. His gaze fell on Yan Jinxin, and not to mention his expression eased, there was even a little more appreciation for talent in his eyes.

　　”Lord Sun, this is the Yan Jinxin I was talking about.” Shi Mingwen made a special introduction and today he would definitely help Yan Jinxin become his old friend’s apprentice.

　　”I saw it.” Sun Mu smiled, “It’s getting late, let’s go to the viewing garden and talk while drinking.”

　　The viewing garden is actually connected to this house. Walking from the corridor outside to the side room, there is a large arched window. Sitting not far away inside, you can see the view of the peach blossom forest outside through the window. In the past, the cushioned low table was placed facing the round window, and you could see the peach forest and the sparkling lake. Now it has moved a little to the side, facing the view of the peach forest.