AWB Chapter 561 Xie Jue's Storyline: Falling into His Arms
Chapter 561 Xie Jue's Storyline: Falling into His Arms
Xie Jue chuckled softly, "Really."
Jiang Huaiyu glanced to the side, and someone nearby understood, saying, "Young Master Xie is also here, why don't you compose a poem as well?"
Everyone turned to look at Xie Jue.
Someone whispered during the gathering, "Doesn't Young Master Xie never participate in these kinds of events?"
"He didn't study for an official position; he wasn't even a student of the lowest rank."
"I've heard that Young Master Xie only likes business and finance; almost all the shops in the capital belong to him..."
"So what? People with power, influence, and plenty of money are truly blessed."
Despite this, his voice inevitably carried the arrogance and frivolity of a scion of a prominent family.
Upon seeing this, a young master whose family had dealings with the Prince Jing's mansion stood up to help Xie Jue out of the predicament. Just as he was about to speak, he heard Xie Jue speak.
"Write a poem? Sure."
His voice was not loud, but every word was clear.
The room fell silent for a moment after those words were spoken.
Jiang Huaiyu was surprised that Xie Jue would agree.
But then, with a half-smile, he said, "If Young Master Xie can come up with a fine line, it will be a joyous occasion for today's poetry gathering."
Xie Jue ignored him, and instead lowered his head, dipped his brush in ink, and began to write.
Gao Wanzhi glanced at him quietly, her eyes revealing a hint of curiosity and anticipation.
She had never seen Xie Jue compose a poem.
The surrounding area was silent, and everyone's eyes were on Xie Jue.
He wrote four lines in a flash.
After writing, he handed the paper to a servant standing nearby, who read it aloud.
"Deep in the clouds, I know not where; a horse neighs as it disappears into the pines. A spring flows over the rocks, and people walk through the white mist."
After the reading was finished, a brief silence followed like a tidal wave, and a moment later, the crowd began to murmur amongst themselves.
Jiang Huaiyu's smile froze slightly, and a look of surprise appeared in her eyes.
He thought Xie Jue would embarrass himself in front of everyone, but he didn't expect that he could actually write poetry.
And it's well-written!
Why did he never take the imperial examinations?
On the other side, Gao Wanzhi's mouth was slightly open, her eyes filled with disbelief.
She grew up with Xie Jue and knew he was a good writer, but she had never seen him compose poetry in public.
This poem has a clear and distant artistic conception, without any embellishment, yet it has its own unique style.
The surprise in Gao Wanzhi's eyes slowly faded, followed by an undisguised smile.
During the gathering, everyone chimed in with their own comments, and many began to praise Xie Jue's poetic talent.
Xie Jue looked at their expressions and sneered inwardly.
He did not pursue officialdom because he was unwilling to confine his life to the imperial court.
He preferred doing business and enjoyed the tangible achievements of seeing his banknotes double, his shops open, and his account books bulge daily.
Not entering officialdom does not mean not studying.
How could these people know that his poetry and prose were personally taught by his second brother?
Xie Jing's talent naturally far surpasses theirs.
The surroundings gradually quieted down.
Although their faces remained expressionless, their hearts were already churning with emotion.
Who would have thought that Xie Jue not only came from a prominent family, but also possessed such literary talent?
To be able to write such a poem, one must have hidden their talent for many years, only to have it remain unseen.
The third young master of the Xie family, who seems to have no interest in fame or fortune and only cares about doing business, has now surpassed others even in this aspect!
Those who had been secretly waiting to see him make a fool of himself were suddenly filled with mixed feelings.
Seeing everyone's reaction, Jiang Huaiyu felt annoyed and quickly changed the subject, starting to play some drinking games.
After the poetry gathering, someone suggested going boating on the lake.
The crowd echoed each other's sentiments, with some rushing to choose a pleasure boat early on, while others chatted idly along the shore in small groups.
The pleasure boat was not large, only big enough for two people to sit facing each other.
Xie Jue then rowed the boat with Gao Wanzhi.
The boat slowly glided into the center of the lake, and the surrounding voices gradually faded away, leaving only the sound of water and the occasional bird call.
A gentle breeze carries the faint scent of flowers and the sweet fragrance of perfume from a woman's hair.
Xie Jue sat opposite him, holding an oar in one hand and resting the other on the side of the boat. His clothes were loose and his eyes were half-closed.
Sunlight shone on his profile, making his already handsome face appear even more languid and sharp.
Gao Wanzhi glanced at him a few times without showing any emotion, then quickly looked away.
"If you veer any further to the left, we're going to bump right into those willow branches over there."
Xie Jue sat behind her, watching her busy figure with a leisurely air, a smile involuntarily curving his lips.
Gao Wanzhi didn't turn her head. "Don't speak. You'll disturb my peace of mind."
Xie Jue raised an eyebrow, his tone nonchalant, "Disturbing your mind? It's just rowing a boat, how is that disturbing your mind?"
"If you say another word, I'll throw the oar into the lake and make you swim back by yourself."
"Alright." Xie Jue laughed and leaned forward. "Then I'll do it."
As he spoke, he took the oar from her hand, sat down beside her, and skillfully rowed the boat toward the center of the lake.
"It's not that I can't do it, I just haven't learned it yet," Gao Wanzhi snorted softly, offering a quiet defense.
"Yes, I know." Xie Jue turned his head to look at her, his tone smiling. "With Your Highness's intelligence, is there anything in the world that you can't do?"
"You're just being sarcastic."
"Well, you've been listening to me for over a decade."
The two exchanged a glance and chuckled softly in unison.
The lake was calm, and faint sounds of poetry being read aloud could be heard from the distant shore.
The boat gradually came to a stop beside a waterside pavilion, where the two sat down, surrounded only by the sound of the wind and the ripples of the water.
The small boat was gently swaying as it approached the center of the lake when suddenly there was a soft sound, as if the bottom of the boat had hit some floating log, and it lurched violently.
"Why--!"
Before Gao Wanzhi could react, her body was already uncontrollably thrown forward, falling straight into Xie Jue's arms.
Xie Jue instinctively reached out and caught her, his arm firmly around her waist, looking down at the person in his arms.
His nose almost brushed against her hair, so close that it seemed as if he would touch her with the slightest movement.
Gao Wanzhi froze, her hands braced against his chest, her ears turning red all the way to her neck.
"You...you should let go." Her voice was low, but it carried a hint of panic.
"You pounced on me," Xie Jue replied softly, but her eyes held a smile. "You should be thanking me."
"Thank you? You're kidding me!"
Gao Wanzhi blushed and struggled to get up, but she lost her balance and sank even deeper, almost pressing herself into his arms.
Xie Jue smiled slightly, but did not tease her any further. He simply turned slightly to the side and steadily supported her shoulders to straighten her up.
"Next time you're on a boat, remember not to get distracted, or the water in the lake will be quite cold."
Gao Wanzhi stopped talking and just lowered her head, refusing to look at him.
As the lake widened, the two paddled along the current, unknowingly avoiding the noisy crowds and arriving at a quiet and secluded bay.
Here, weeping willows droop along the bank, vines entwine, creating a tranquil and serene atmosphere. Only the gentle murmur of the wind blowing across the water, mixed with the chirping of birds and insects, evokes a sense of being isolated from the world.
Xie Jue put away the oars, leaned against the side of the boat, looked up at the clear blue sky and sunlight filtering through the leaves, and squinted his eyes.
Gao Wanzhi sat for a while without saying anything more. She casually took off the hair ornament from her hair and lay down on her side.
The boat was small, and the two men were not far apart, yet they remained silent, neither of them breaking the silence.
A gentle lake breeze caressed the strands of hair on her forehead, and Xie Jue heard her sigh softly.