I dress up as a poor noblewoman, and I bring my whole family home with my literary talent.

Chapter 42: Rest Day 4: Disaster at Hesi Tower
Song Lingyi was silent

I didn't expect that a stranger is more reliable than my own sister.
"Thanks"

Lu Jing said "hmm" without raising his head, his tone casual.
The misunderstanding was resolved and the atmosphere suddenly became awkward
Song Lingyi was about to say something when she heard the sound of a huge object collapsing in the distance. "What's that noise?"

Lu Jing was about to make a move when his hand paused.

Almost at the same time, there was an urgent knock on the door of Qiwu Pavilion: "Master, something bad has happened! Something has happened in Hesi Tower!!"

Lu Jing's eyes narrowed, and he stood up to open the door.

Azhao outside the door looked anxious. After glancing at Song Lingyi, he deliberately lowered his voice.

Song Lingyi frowned slightly. Why were the master and servant so wary of her? What shameful things were they discussing?
Lu Jing left in a hurry and didn't even have time to say hello to Song Lingyi.

"What does this mean?" Song Lingyi asked in confusion, as she hadn't been asked to go back yet.

Fortunately, A Zhao was still there. He bowed and said respectfully, "Miss Song, it is already early morning. The master has ordered that you can choose to stay overnight or leave through the back door tonight."

"Of course, if you choose to leave tonight, Suochunlou is very busy and may not be able to see you off."

"You're welcome. I'll leave now." Song Lingyi made a straightforward choice.

If she didn't come back all night, the Song family would find out and torture her again.

"In that case, Miss Song, please follow me."

A Zhao led the way for her and deliberately chose a relatively deserted route so that she didn't meet many people along the way.

When going down the stairs, Song Lingyi's sight accidentally passed through the window. After seeing the scene outside the window clearly, she was horrified, "There's a fire!"

Ah Zhao, who was walking in front, did not show any surprise, but said calmly, "Miss Song, don't panic. This fire can't be caused."

Outside the back door is a dark alley, and I can only vaguely see the road ahead by the moonlight.

Ah Zhao pointed out a way for her, "Miss Song, go out from here and keep going left. Remember to go around the east side of Nanhe Bridge."

Even though Song Lingyi was not familiar with the topography of Chang'an, she knew that she should go to the east side of the Nanhe Bridge to return to the Song residence. If she went to the west side, she would have to go around two streets. It was not safe for a girl to walk outside in the middle of the night.

"Don't be afraid, young lady. This is for you." Ah Zhao took out a dagger and handed it to her. "There is no one near the South River tonight. Young lady, just stay close to the South River and you won't be in danger."

Song Lingyi took the dagger in a daze, said thank you and left.

Near the South River? Isn't that where the fire started?

The situation seemed dangerous, so she had to be more careful when she returned.

…………

an hour ago
While Song Lingyi was still in a coma, Hesi Tower was already in danger.
It was originally just an ordinary day. Literary men and poets gathered together and made poems and couplets under the gimmick of the Ghost Festival. They were having a great time.

Until a group of people dressed in Royal Guards uniforms appeared on the streets of Nanhe, causing the crowd to riot, and the people on the entire street were separated at both ends of the street.

"What's happening here?"

"Who knows? Maybe they're trying to catch a wanted criminal."

……

Accompanied by the sound of people's endless discussions, nine tall horses came galloping and stopped outside the Hesi Tower.

The leader was Yu Youzhi! Yu Youzhi sat upright on the horse, his back straight and his expression calm.

There was a lot of commotion outside Hesi Building
The scholars were still leisurely drinking tea and writing poetry when a man rushed in from the main gate with panicked steps, shouting, "Oh no! Yu Shaoqing and his men have surrounded Hesi Tower!"

These talented scholars privately looked down on Yu Youzhi for using his beauty to please others and his arrogance and domineering behavior, but they were also afraid of his power.

It might not be a good thing that Yu Youzhi came here so late at night.

People in the building are panicking
"Everyone, please be patient!" Yun Ji stood at the corner of the second floor stairs, looking relaxed, "I will go out and ask what happened."

Yun Ji walked out of the door, and just as she reached the gate, she met the eyes of Yu Shaoqing who was sitting on a tall horse. He was followed by eight guards, and it was obvious at a glance that he was not a good person.

Yun Ji stood at the door, clasped her hands in front of her stomach, and laughed loudly, "Yu Shaoqing, what a rare guest."

"Madam Yunji," Yu Youzhi said with a faint smile, "I have heard that Hesi Tower is a gathering place for scholars and elegant guests in Chang'an. Madam Yunji, a woman, can run such a large teahouse. She is quite capable."

"You are joking, Mr. Yu," Yun Ji said with a dark look in her eyes, "In terms of ability, how can I compare to you?"

Yu Youzhi raised his eyebrows, and a flash of paranoia and madness flashed across his eyes, "Madam Yunji, would you like to invite me in and have a seat?"

Yun Ji clenched her white hands under her sleeves, weighed the pros and cons, and said with a smile: "How dare Yun Ji neglect the visit of Yu Shaoqing?"

With a neigh from the red horse, Yu Youzhi swiftly dismounted, followed closely by eight guards.

After entering Hesi Tower, two guards guarded the gate.

Seeing their aggressive approach, the literati felt somewhat frightened.

Yun Ji led the people to the Cuiyu Pavilion and poured tea for them.
"I wonder what brings Yu Shaoqing to Hesi Tower?"

Yu Youzhi's eyes turned cold instantly, and his tone was grim: "Today, some poems satirizing the customs of Chang'an were circulated in Chang'an City, which made His Majesty very angry. As a gathering place for scholars and elegant guests in Chang'an, Hesi Tower naturally could not escape investigation."

Yun Ji's brows were solemn. "Really? Yu Shaoqing, you must investigate this thoroughly and don't wrongly accuse anyone."

Yu Youzhi pulled the corner of his lip, and said with a half-smile: "The Hesi Tower has been surrounded by people, and the right and wrong are only in my mind."

After pretending for so long, he finally stopped pretending
Yun Ji was plotting in her mind, and she didn't show any panic on her face. She said, "Yu Shaoqing is in a high position now. If you want to cause trouble for Hesi Tower, you can. But Yu Shaoqing must understand that West City Nanhe is not a suburb. The people living downstairs are all scholars from the Liang Dynasty. If you move Hesi Tower today, aren't you afraid that people will gossip about you and you will be accused of bullying others with your power and harming the virtuous with jealousy?"

Yun Ji showed no fear on her face
"Madam Yun Ji, don't worry. The fact that I can sit down and discuss with you is also giving Hesilou a chance to get out of this mess unscathed." Yu Youzhi picked up the teacup and took a sip slowly.

"Oh?"

"Why don't you tell us about it, Mr. Yu?" Yun Ji said.

"Hesi Tower is well-known in Chang'an. It would be a pity if it ended up in a miserable state because of a few poems." Yu Youzhi tilted his head and narrowed his eyes. "Why not let it belong to me? With this official's mediation, His Majesty will definitely not vent his anger on Hesi Tower."

Yun Ji frowned and sneered
This means that she is betraying His Royal Highness.

A mere male favorite who is not presentable wants to override the majesty of the royal family just because he has gained some power! ?
She said coldly: "There is no such possibility!"

The atmosphere in Cuiyu Pavilion suddenly turned cold.

The rosewood railing on the left overlooks the entire lobby. The anxious scholars and elegant guests are either whispering to each other or gazing at the Cuiyu Pavilion on the second floor.

A strong sense of uneasiness loomed over their hearts.
Given Yu Youzhi's reputation in Chang'an, it is uncertain whether he can leave Hesi Tower safely tonight.

(End of this chapter)