The prince is very cruel

Guan Ning laughed and said, "Aren't you afraid of Zhao Qing's revenge?"

"What are you afraid of? Although I'm not as good as him, he doesn't dare to kill me!" Chen Tu said.

"Forget it, Brother Chen, I appreciate your kindness, but there's no need to do it if it causes you trouble." Guan Ning said sincerely.

"No, Brother Guan!"

"It's okay. My eldest sister is a concubine in the palace. That son of a bitch Zhao Qing would at most just steal a few things from me, and he wouldn't dare to go too far."

"You dealt with Zhao Qing twice. You are my idol. I saw you beat Zhao Qing last time. I envy you so much for your skills."

"Brother Guan, please give me some face and come on!"

Chen Tu's enthusiasm was like a tsunami in the sea, which made Guan Ning unable to refuse. He was at a loss whether to laugh or cry. Thinking that he was bored alone, he nodded and agreed, and did not go to Quetai.

Anyway, that stage is a place of fame and fortune, so it’s better not to go.

As soon as he sat down, the enthusiastic and even simple-minded Chen Tu immediately poured the wine.

Wow!

"Come, Brother Guan, have a drink of this fifteen-year-old daughter's red wine. I brought it in specially!"

"My sister sent a message in the palace, asking me to make more reliable friends, so I brought this wine with me. I thought that if I saw any talented scholars later, I would pull them over and treat them to a drink."

"It will be easier to recruit people if you are happy after drinking this wine!" he said with a smile.

Guan Ning was suddenly at a loss whether to laugh or cry. The first time they met, this guy was so proactive in revealing himself, not even afraid that he would hurt him.

But this shows that Chen Tu can be handed in.

"Then I'm really taking advantage of Brother Chen. This fifteen-year-old daughter's red wine is a rare commodity."

"After the poetry reading is over, I'll give you some of the Guan family's homemade wine."

Chen Tu's eyes lit up: "Really?"

The Guan family's wine is well-known far and wide. After all, it is a distilled wine that Guan Ning has integrated with later technology. It is very strong. Although it is sold cheaply, it is in short supply in the capital!

This is also the capital that enables Guan Ning to recruit subordinates everywhere and develop secretly.

"Of course." Guan Ning nodded.

"Hehe, then I won't be polite either. Come, Brother Guan, I'll toast you a glass!" Chen Tu didn't care about the eyes around him at all, especially those of Zhao Qing's minions.

His eldest sister is a concubine, so there is really no need to be too afraid.

"Okay, let's drink it." Guan Ning took a big gulp.

After putting down the cup, he couldn't help but look towards Quetai and asked curiously, "By the way, Brother Chen, why hasn't the poetry gathering started yet? I think almost everyone has arrived, it's packed."

"Brother Guan, you probably don't know this. It's still a while. The poetry gatherings at Shangyin Pavilion are usually divided into three stages. The first is adjournment, which is what we are doing now, where we discuss and exchange literature."

"The second is Qushui Liushang, which is also a serious poetry gathering."

"See that little pool? Soon, wine glasses will be flowing along the water. Whoever picks up the wine and drinks it will immediately compose a poem. There's no limit to the subject matter. This is the most elegant thing that scholars have ever done. It's called Qushui Liushang (Shang Flowing Cup). That's when everyone will become famous. Competition will be fierce, and a hundred schools of thought will contend."

"This third stage is even more difficult! Someone will give you a topic and a poem on a specific theme. It has to be something truly earth-shattering. If you succeed and win first place, you'll receive a reward!"

"What reward?" Guan Ning was curious.

"I heard it seems to be the Four Treasures of the Study left by the Sage of Literature, but that's not important. The most important thing is that if I win, I will become famous and be able to directly enter the official career and be noticed by His Majesty."

"This is the most important thing. Even if you are not very good at it, you will be recruited by the big family and become their retainer and staff!" Chen Tu said seriously.

Guan Ning nodded. This was indeed a fatal attraction for most people.

But he wasn't interested. He came here with only one goal: "By the way, Brother Chen, do you know where He Zhijie is?"

"He Zhijie?"

"That weird old man who has great literary talent but refuses to serve the emperor?" Chen Tu opened his eyes wide.

"Yes, it's him!"

Chen Tu frowned: "I haven't seen this, but he must be there."

"I heard that this old man is from the lineage of the Sage of Literature. He came here this time for the Four Treasures of the Study left by the Sage of Literature. I guess he will show up when the third stage comes."