Empress, please have some self-respect. I am not your husband.

Faced with his young mistress's question, the steward of the Qin family shook his head awkwardly.

Qin Xinyi frowned: "Why wasn't it delivered? Lu Feng isn't home today?"

The person in charge was unsure how to respond.

Qin Xinyi's words attracted a lot of attention.

They were all talented men who had been invited, and one of them couldn't help but say, "Brother Lu isn't coming? How can that be?"

"Yes, Brother Xu, didn't you say before that Brother Lu would definitely be there today?"

"Why aren't you coming again? I didn't even go to the lecture given by Master Qi of the Hanlin Academy; I came here specifically for this."

"That's right!"

Listening to everyone's chatter, Qin Xinyi frowned slightly and asked again, "What exactly happened? Did you see Lu Feng?"

She was very unhappy because she had been scolded by Chu Hongyan a while ago because of the matter at the Prince Ye's Mansion.

I was just thinking of taking this opportunity to make Lu Feng suffer a little loss, so that Chu Hongyan would understand that there are many people in the world more talented than Lu Feng, and that she shouldn't get too caught up in Lu Feng.

However, the person in charge said that the post had not been delivered.

If even the main actors don't show up, what's the point of using this stage?

The steward sighed and said helplessly, "Miss, I saw Lord Lu, but... but he said..."

"What did he say?" Chu Hongyan glanced at Qin Xinyi subconsciously, as if she had foreseen something.

The steward said helplessly, "Lord Lu said he's not familiar with Miss, so he won't be coming."

Qin Xinyi froze, the steward's words echoing in her mind, reminding her of that night in front of the Prince Ye's mansion.

I immediately felt a tightness in my chest, as if something was pressing down on my heart.

Chu Hongyan sighed, "Xinyi, Xinyi, isn't this a case of reaping what you sowed?"

She felt a little reluctant, because as her best friend, she knew how infatuated Qin Xinyi was with that so-called Crimson Flame War God.

But now, the Crimson Flame War God has come to her side, and because of the kindness he showed her years ago, he treats Qin Xinyi with great favor.

However, Qin Xinyi had many misunderstandings about Lu Feng.

If Qin Xinyi were to discover Lu Feng's true identity one day, she couldn't even imagine how much regret and pain Qin Xinyi would feel.

As her best friend, she didn't want Qin Xinyi to end up like that.

But I don't know what to do.

Should we tell them Lu Feng's true identity?

Given Qin Xinyi's current situation, she would absolutely not believe it.

Unless Lu Feng is willing to prove it.

As soon as the steward finished speaking, the entire Wenxuan Hall fell silent for a moment, and then a huge uproar ensued.

One of Qin Xinyi's sycophants couldn't help but say, "What does Lu Feng mean by this! Even if he's not familiar with Miss Xinyi, she's already sent out an invitation, so he should come out of courtesy and reason!"

"Exactly! Not to mention that so many of us are looking forward to his arrival, Miss Xinyi is a female general personally appointed by His Majesty. He actually didn't even give her that much face. It's simply too much!"

"Too deceiving!"

Xu Zilong suddenly spoke up, sighing, "Perhaps Lu Feng is too talented, and therefore disdains to discuss and exchange ideas with people like us? After all, even the number one talent in the world was defeated by Lu Feng."

The people he had arranged immediately chimed in: "Yes, that's Lu Feng, it's normal that he doesn't think much of us."

"Alas, it's a pity I was originally thinking of asking Lu Feng for advice on poetry and prose."

In just a few words, a few people ruined Lu Feng's image in the minds of the scholars.

They were all scholars, and even more so, young scholars with renowned reputations in the capital. Who among them wasn't proud and arrogant?

With this kind of guidance, some people couldn't help but speak up immediately.

"What's wrong with Lu Feng! He only won against Song Qingyu by luck, how can he be so arrogant!"

"Exactly! We've been waiting for him for ages, but he won't even show his face. What an arrogant attitude!"

"He doesn't take us seriously at all. This Lu Feng is too arrogant!"

Seeing everyone's reactions, Xu Zilong lowered his head and smiled sinisterly. The situation was much better than he had expected.

He originally planned to gather a few people to have a good fight with Lu Feng and salvage his image in the goddess's eyes, but who would have thought that Lu Feng wouldn't come.

This is wonderful! Xu Zilong glanced at Qin Xinyi, who seemed to be in a daze, and saw the anger gradually gathering between her brows. He was even happier.

Now that you've offended so many young scholars, it won't be long before your reputation for arrogance spreads, not to mention that Xin Yi is angry.

Lu Feng, oh Lu Feng, I really have to thank you!

Lu Feng was naturally unaware of what had happened at Wenxuan Pavilion, as he was currently leading Yu Ningyan and Xiao Miao to Hanshan Temple.

The three of them were now crammed into the rented carriage.

The carriage stopped when the driver announced that they had arrived.

Lu Feng and his two companions stepped out of the carriage one after another. Looking at the pilgrims coming and going in front of them, Lu Feng was not very interested.

Yu Ningyan, however, seemed quite interested, while Xiao Miao was more curious.

"Let's go, let's have a good look around today."

Yu Ningyan greeted him, and Lu Feng yawned, telling Xiao Miao not to get lost before following after her.

As a sacred temple that Yu Ningyan had heard of, Hanshan Temple was frequented by many pilgrims, and upon entering, one was immediately enveloped by the aroma of incense.

Yu Ningyan looked at Lu Feng: "Let's go, let's buy some incense first, then go to the main hall to pray."

Seeing her excited expression, Lu Feng couldn't bear to refuse and nodded to follow.

I paid for a few sticks of incense.

Watching Yu Ningyan teach Xiao Miao to burn incense and pray to the gods with great seriousness, Lu Feng couldn't help but ask, somewhat amused and exasperated, "You believe in Buddhism?"

Yu Ningyan said sincerely, "That's right. My mother said that as long as we are sincere, the Bodhisattva and Buddha will bless us. Why haven't you offered incense yet?"

Lu Feng shrugged and handed over the not-so-cheap incense sticks: "I don't need them. If you like, burn a few more for these Buddhas and Bodhisattvas."

Yu Ningyan frowned and said patiently, "If you bought it yourself, then you have to burn it yourself for it to be effective."

Lu Feng scoffed: "I only believe in myself. Gods and Buddhas are just empty words, nothing more than the fantasies of the weak. Only relying on yourself is real."

Yu Ningyan was stunned for a moment before silently accepting the incense sticks that Lu Feng handed over.

Lu Feng then noticed that Yu Ningyan, who had been in high spirits, seemed to have lost her mood and appeared listless and absent-minded.

Looking at Yu Ningyan, who was gazing into the distance in a daze in the pavilion, Lu Feng raised an eyebrow: "What's wrong with you? You asked us to come, so why are you unhappy now that we're here?"

Yu Ningyan snapped out of her daze and shook her head: "It's nothing, I was just thinking about what you just said."

Lu Feng touched his nose and said casually, "I was just saying that, you don't need to take it to heart."

Yu Ningyan chuckled, but her laughter was filled with bitterness: "How could I not care? After all, I am the weakling you described as incapable of fantasy."