Now I really have to marry the princess.

"Sister, what's wrong with you?"

Li Lizhi turned around and found Princess Yuzhang, Li Li'an, standing next to her, covering her mouth and chuckling at her, her eyes full of teasing.

Li Lizhi's face turned even redder.

Princess Yuzhang's birth mother died early, and she was the same age as Li Lizhi. She was raised by Empress Zhangsun along with Li Lizhi from a young age.

Therefore, the two had a very close relationship, and Li Lizhi's little secrets were naturally known to Li Li'an as well.

Li Lian leaned closer with a grin and whispered, "Sister, are you thinking about the person you've set your heart on?"

"Ah An, don't talk nonsense." Li Lizhi was embarrassed and annoyed, so she reached out and pinched Li Lian'an's small waist.

"Oh dear, sister, please forgive me, please forgive me!" Li Lian hurriedly begged for mercy.

At this moment, Empress Zhangsun glanced in their direction, and the two immediately sat up straight, resuming their obedient demeanor.

Li Lian couldn't resist her curiosity any longer. She stole a glance at Empress Zhangsun, then, without looking away, lightly nudged Li Lizhi with her elbow.

"Good sister, tell me quickly, did Brother Qingque go to look for Yang Zhengdao?"

Li Lizhi hesitated for a moment, then softly hummed in agreement.

"Then Brother Qingque will surely bring back a masterpiece when he returns." Li Lian immediately smiled, her eyes full of anticipation.

She then thought of her marriage, as her mother intended to betroth her to Tang Shanshi, the fifth son of Minister Tang.

Because Tang Shangshu made great contributions during his mission to the Turks.

Tang Shanshi was a bit dull, but he was quite handsome.

Thinking of this, Li Lian couldn't help but glance outside the pavilion again.

Seeing Li Lian looking around shyly, Li Lizhi seized the opportunity to tease, "So, Tang Wulang, do you fancy him?"

"Oh dear, sister!" Li Lian's cheeks flushed instantly, and she covered her face with her sleeve.

Just then, a commotion arose from the literary gathering outside the pavilion.

Inside the pavilion, the princesses exchanged glances. Seeing that Empress Zhangsun did not stop them, they all gathered by the window, leaning against the railing to listen and look around.

Empress Zhangsun was naturally curious as well, and she glanced at the eunuch standing to the side.

The eunuch immediately understood, bowed, and quickly left the pavilion.

At this moment, during the literary gathering, Du He arrogantly unfolded a piece of rattan paper, on which was a quatrain.

The east wind breaks the ice, and the willow buds sprout anew; the warm sun melts the frost, and the grass turns a uniform color.

Strolling leisurely along the fragrant path, I listen to the swallows' chirping; a stream of misty rain dampens the light dust.

"Tang Shanshi, do you admit defeat?"

When Tang Shanshi saw the poem, he realized it was indeed a masterpiece. Just as he was about to concede defeat, someone tugged at his sleeve.

It turned out to be Wang Jingzhi, the second son of Wang Shizhong.

Wang Jingzhi cupped his hands in greeting and said with a smile, "Young Master Du, it's not fair to use Scholar Liu's masterpiece as a contest."

Tang Shanshi looked surprised. He hadn't expected Du He to cheat like this, so he smiled awkwardly and sat back down.

Du He, exposed in public, was furious and narrowed her eyes: "Wang Erlang, mind your own business!"

At this moment, Fang Yi'ai, who was standing next to Du He, stood up and smiled nonchalantly at Tang Shanshi and Wang Jingzhi:

"So what if it is? If you can produce a poem that surpasses this one, we will concede defeat."

"You..." Tang Shanshi was so angry upon hearing this that he was speechless for a moment.

Clearly, he did not inherit his father Tang Jian's eloquence.

Li Lian, who was inside the pavilion, frowned deeply and was extremely anxious upon seeing this scene.

She shook Li Lizhi's arm and urged, "Sister, what should we do?"

Seeing that her elder brother, the Crown Prince, had given Li Hui a meaningful look, Li Lizhi patted Li Li'an's hand to reassure her.

Li Hui understood, stood up and said with a smile, "Gentlemen, even if someone is hired to do it, it should be done by someone of the same generation to be fair."

Upon hearing this, Fang Yi'ai looked at Li Hui with disdain: "Second Master Li, are you referring to the poem you left your name in Pingkangfang? I heard it was written by Yang Zhengdao..."

He deliberately dragged out the last syllable, then sneered, "I bet it's just a ghostwritten work by a former official of the previous dynasty to promote this remnant of the old regime!"

Fang Yi'ai spoke loudly, and everyone in the attic could hear him clearly.

"Snapped!"

Li Lizhi slammed her small hand heavily on the window railing.

What gives this ignorant and incompetent person the right to spout such nonsense?

Even Fang Pu She wouldn't dare utter the words "remnants of the previous dynasty" in public! He truly has no respect for anyone.

He may be a bit thick-skinned, but he's not someone that a mediocre playboy like Fang Yi'ai can smear.

Li Lizhi was furious and completely ignored the shock and astonishment on the faces of her two elder sisters, Princess Nanping and Princess Suian.

She pouted and returned to her seat, spread out her colored paper, pondered for a moment, and chose what she thought was the worst one.

"The face is gone, I know not where; the peach blossoms still smile in the spring breeze." They did not deserve to see such a poignant lament.

Li Lizhi immediately displayed a graceful and elegant style of calligraphy when she picked up her brush.

The grass is green, the willows are yellow, peach blossoms are scattered, and plum blossoms are fragrant.

The east wind does not blow away sorrow, but spring days only seem to prolong resentment.

Ignoring everyone's surprise, Li Lizhi handed the poem to Li Lian.

"Go, get your Tang Wulang out of this predicament."

Li Lian happily accepted it, but then blushed and asked hesitantly, "Should I go?"

Princess Li Lirong of Sui'an tapped Li Li'an's forehead with her fingertip and teased, "Sister, are you perhaps bewitched?"

Princess Li Liwan of Nanping suppressed a laugh and reminded her, "Silly girl, send your eunuch!"

Li Lian then realized what was happening, blushed, handed the colored paper to the eunuch, and whispered a few more words of advice out of concern.

Empress Zhangsun saw this but did not stop it. After all, she was at ease knowing that her six daughters, whom she had raised, were in love with Tang Wulang.

But when she thought of her legitimate daughter, Azhi, she couldn't help but sigh softly.

The eunuch handed the colored paper to Tang Shanshi without explicitly stating anything.

Tang Shanshi glanced at Linchun Pavilion and blushed.

They were attending the literary gathering today and were unaware that Empress Zhangsun and the princesses were in the pavilion.

However, Tang Shanshi learned from his mother that Empress Zhangsun intended to marry the sixth princess, Princess Yuzhang, to him.

So when he received the colored paper, he understood immediately, feeling as if a piece of candy had melted in his heart, sweet and warm.

When Wang Jingzhi noticed Tang Shanshi's unusual behavior, his gaze fell on the colored paper. He was first startled, then overjoyed.

He recited the quatrain aloud, then looked at Du He, raising an eyebrow: "Second Master Du, how does this compare to Scholar Liu's masterpiece?"

When these two poems are placed side by side, the difference in quality becomes immediately apparent.

One poem merely describes the scenery, while the other expresses emotions through the scenery, conveying feelings through the landscape.

Even if Du He was shameless, he couldn't refute her.

Only Fang Yi'ai still tried to argue his point.

At this moment, Li Hui also saw the poem and chuckled softly.

"I know that Fang Erlang will definitely say that this quatrain was also written by someone else to make the Prince of Sui famous."

"You..." Fang Yi'ai had not expected that this poem was also written by Yang Zhengdao. His face turned ashen, and he choked in front of everyone.

When Li Hui saw Fang Yi'ai get the short end of the stick, he burst into laughter.

Li Chengqian also suppressed a smile and said gently, "This is a literary gathering, there's no need to spoil the atmosphere. Everything said here was just a joke."

At this moment, Yang Zhengdao, who was still in Qingshan Palace in Wugong County, was unaware that he had been resented by Fang Yi'ai and Du He because of his protective little Chang Le.

Although college students are not usually troublemakers, they are not afraid of trouble if they know that their beloved is angry on their behalf.

Unfortunately, the college students didn't get to see that scene.

Hmm! Short in stature, speaks in a cocky manner, but is undeniably cute.