On the seventh day of the seventh lunar month, it was the annual Qixi Festival.
All the lovers in Qinzhou City would choose this day to pour out their hearts to each other.
On this day, a poetry competition would also be held in Qinzhou City.
It was said that if one gave the prize of the poetry competition to their sweetheart, they would receive the blessing of the Saintess and live together in love and harmony until the end of their lives.
This year's poetry competition was hosted by Su Wan.
"Why are you so concerned about Xie Qinghuan's affairs all of a sudden?" Xie Jingchu crossed his arms and looked at Ruan Jiu with a puzzled expression.
"Yeah, Ruan Ruan, just wait for Xie Qinghuan to marry the员外. Why do you bother with this?" Su Wan echoed.
Ruan Jiu forced a smile awkwardly. She couldn't very well tell them that Xie Qinghuan had drugged her in order not to marry the员外 and tried to send her to Xie Yanchuan's bed.
If Xie Jingchu found out about this, Xie Qinghuan would probably be in big trouble.
"Just consider it doing a good deed for the day."
Just then, Jiang Jibai walked over.
"Miss Su, everything for the poetry competition has been arranged properly. Young Master Xu has also arrived. We can start now."
Su Wan tidied up her hairpin and said in a soft voice, "Thank you, Young Master Jiang."
Her charming voice made Ruan Jiu shiver all over.
Was this still the Su Wan she knew?
The poetry competition began.
Su Wan stepped forward gracefully and bowed to the crowd.
Then she said, "Today is the annual Qixi Festival. Thanks to everyone's support, I'm hosting this year's poetry competition. So, I've prepared a special prize for this competition."
After saying that, a maid on the side brought up a box.
Inside was a golden love lock.
It looked extremely valuable at first glance.
"This is today's prize, the love lock, which symbolizes eternal love."
As soon as Su Wan finished speaking, there was a flurry of discussion among the crowd.
"Miss Su is really generous."
"I heard that her father is now a sixth - rank military official in the Ministry of War."
"Miss Su is not only beautiful but also from a prominent family. If one can win her heart, their future will be boundless."
"In my opinion, Miss Su is hosting this poetry competition to find a good husband for herself."
After that, many people began to get eager to try.
Everyone wanted to come out on top and win Su Wan's heart.
Then, Su Wan introduced the requirements of this poetry competition to the crowd.
The theme was "love", and the contestants were required to compose a poem.
The first to speak was Ma Junliang, a friend of Xie Yanchuan.
Seeing him take the stage, Ruan Jiu sneered.
This man was illiterate, yet he dared to participate in the poetry competition. He must have set his sights on Su Wan's beauty.
"We support each other in hardship, and our love is as heavy as a mountain." Ma Junliang proudly raised his head and spoke confidently.
Sure enough, Ma Junliang lived up to expectations and composed a doggerel.
It was quite an effort for him to use an idiom.
Hearing the crowd burst into laughter, Ma Junliang's face instantly turned red, and all the confidence on his face disappeared.
He silently retreated to the outside of the crowd.
Next, several other young masters took the stage one after another to compose poems.
However, Xu Henian remained silent for a long time.
Su Wan whispered to Ruan Jiu, "What should we do now?"
Ruan Jiu gave Jiang Jibai a look.
Jiang Jibai nodded upon receiving the signal.
Then he immediately stepped onto the stage and said, "How deep is the boundless love? Like the evening glow in the deep mountains and the continuous autumn rain."
As soon as this poem came out, everyone present clapped and cheered.
Su Wan's eyes were full of affection, and her look towards Jiang Jibai was filled with more admiration.
She didn't expect that Jiang Jibai was not only good - looking but also so talented.
Seeing Su Wan looking like a love - struck girl, Ruan Jiu coughed lightly.
Su Wan immediately came to her senses and said, "This poem is excellent! Is there anyone who can compose a better poem than this young master? If not, today's prize will go to this young master."
"Wait!"
Everyone looked in the direction of the voice.
They saw Xu Henian in plain clothes, with a delicate face, eagerly speaking.
He had promised Xie Qinghuan that he must win the prize of the poetry competition for her today.
He would never let anyone else take it away!
"I'm lucky to have seen your peach - blossom - like face. Since then, every path has been filled with warm springs. Unwittingly, I've fallen into the mortal world's dream, disturbing the world for a year."
Ruan Jiu squinted her eyes slightly. This Xu Henian was indeed very talented.
Nowhere in the poem did it mention love, yet every line was about love.
Instantly, there was a thunderous applause from the audience.
He deserved this prize.
Xu Henian stood on the stage, tremblingly took the prize, and thanked Su Wan repeatedly.
His eyes sparkled with excitement.
He was going to give this love lock to Qinghuan and hoped that the Saintess would bless them to live together in love and harmony for a lifetime.
Just as Xu Henian was about to leave, Su Wan called him to stop.
"Sir, would you be so kind as to join me for a cup of tea at Mingxiang Pavilion?"
Xu Henian stopped in his tracks and was about to decline.
But then he thought that since he had received such a precious gift from Su Wan, it would seem impolite to refuse.
So he had no choice but to nod in agreement.
In Mingxiang Pavilion, Su Wan and Xu Henian sat facing each other.
Su Wan was sipping tea leisurely, while Xu Henian was so nervous that he didn't know where to put his hands and feet.
He buried his head low and didn't dare to look at Su Wan.
He hoped that time would pass quickly.
"How should I address you, sir?" Su Wan asked.
"Xu... Xu Henian..."
"I wonder if you're married yet, Young Master Xu?"
What did Miss Su mean by this?
Xu Henian was puzzled, but he still answered honestly, "Not yet."
Su Wan nodded and said with a smile, "Then what do you think of me, Young Master Xu?"
Xu Henian caught his breath. He raised his head and saw Su Wan staring straight at him, smiling like a blooming peach blossom.
He was so scared that he quickly buried his head again.
He nervously grabbed the teacup to hide his nervousness.
He stammered, "Miss Su... is very talented... Naturally, you're extremely good..."
Hearing this, Su Wan couldn't help laughing, "Very talented? Isn't this a phrase used to describe men?"
"I said the wrong thing. Please don't blame me, Miss Su." Xu Henian nervously swallowed his saliva.
His face flushed all the way to his ears.
Su Wan leaned forward, tilted her head, and hooked Xu Henian's chin with her slender finger.
"Why don't you dare to look at me? Am I that scary?"
Su Wan's voice was charming and sounded soft and ticklish.
Coupled with her alluring eyes, how many men could resist?
Meeting Su Wan's eyes, Xu Henian was startled at first, then quickly shifted his gaze.
He leaned back so suddenly that he almost fell to the ground with the stool.
Seeing this, Su Wan covered her mouth and snickered.
Was he really that ticklish?
"Young Master Xu, you're not married, and neither am I. I think we're quite suitable. What do you think?"
Xu Henian frowned tightly, "Wh... What?"
His eyes were full of confusion.
Did Miss Su have a crush on him?
Su Wan continued, "Although I'm not extremely beautiful, I'm still quite presentable and a good match for you.
I know you've been studying hard for years in the hope of becoming a top - ranked scholar one day.
Now my father holds a sixth - rank official position in the capital. If you marry me, my father will surely help you in your official career in the future, allowing you to save many years of hard work.
So, there's only benefit and no harm in marrying me.
What's your opinion?"