Chapter Forty-Nine: The Azure Cloud Society

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Jiang Han had no idea that the moment he left, Zhou Yun had already arrived and staged a scene for him.

Inside the carriage, Jiang Han and Qin Yunmian sat across a small tea table.

Qin Yunmian sat upright, her face turned slightly as she pondered deeply. She had overheard that poem and naturally understood its meaning.

Perhaps Jiang Han once cared deeply for Gu Xirou, but after she broke off their engagement, causing him immense heartbreak, he had completely given up. This was reflected in the poem’s line: “Affectionate yet troubled by heartlessness.”

Jiang Han was deeply sentimental; Gu Xirou, however, was heartless.

This realization eased Qin Yunmian’s mind. Her worries were unnecessary—there was no need to fear a rekindling of their past feelings.

“Miss Qin, when shall we sign the lease agreement?” Jiang Han broke the silence in the carriage. Though he enjoyed quietly admiring Miss Qin’s beauty, the atmosphere was becoming somewhat heavy.

“Within these couple of days, once the draft is ready, I will come to you,” Qin Yunmian replied, lifting her clear eyes.

Jiang Han nodded with a smile. “Very well. After signing the lease, I will treat you to a meal!”

“Alright,” Qin Yunmian’s eyes gleamed with a hint of joy.

“By the way,” Jiang Han asked, “I only know your surname, Qin. May I know your full name?”

“Didn’t I tell you?” Qin Yunmian’s expression turned slightly confused. Did Jiang Han still not know her name?

“Ah, no. You only told me your surname,” Jiang Han replied, feeling this young lady was a bit absent-minded.

Qin Yunmian said coldly, “My name is Qin Yunmian. Remember it well.”

The name of this young heiress was truly lovely! Jiang Han said, “Alright, I’ve got it, Miss Qin…”

“You can just call me Yunmian.”

“Ah, is that appropriate?” Jiang Han recalled that in ancient times, it was improper to casually use a woman’s given name.

“Not appropriate?” Qin Yunmian asked, puzzled.

“Then I’ll just call you Yunmian from now on,” Jiang Han said.

The carriage moved steadily along as Jiang Han picked topics to chat about, and their relationship gradually grew more harmonious.

After a few exchanges, Jiang Han noticed Qin Yunmian was unfamiliar with many worldly matters. Whenever he mentioned something, she would look blank.

Jiang Han said, “Miss Yunmian, you seem to rarely go out?”

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Qin Yunmian replied, “I usually stay at home reading books; I seldom go outside.”

Jiang Han smiled. “No wonder. There are many fascinating things outside. Miss Yunmian, you should go out and enjoy yourself sometimes. Staying home reading all the time can get dull.”

“What fascinating things are there outside?” Qin Yunmian asked.

Jiang Han recalled his previous experiences and, with his eloquence, spoke captivatingly.

From amusing tales of the city to supernatural legends, and then to poetry and lyrical compositions.

Having traveled extensively in his previous life, his oratory skills were excellent. Handling Qin Yunmian, a young lady, was no challenge.

Qin Yunmian quickly became engrossed in their conversation.

When the carriage stopped, she still looked reluctant to part.

Jiang Han said, “Miss Yunmian, I must take my leave now.”

Qin Yunmian looked at him with clear eyes, opening her mouth as if to say something but hesitated.

Jiang Han asked, “What is it?”

She spoke softly and coldly, “You can drop the ‘Miss’ when addressing me.”

...

In Luoyang city, inside the inner city, stood a residence.

It was not a grand mansion with many courtyards but rather a garden estate.

Behind the gate, a blue stone alley led to the main garden. In the garden’s four directions—east, south, west, and north—were large courtyards, each containing smaller courtyards, both grand and elegant.

At this moment, in the eastern courtyard, three people were seated in a refined pavilion on the second floor: two men and one woman, each with sheets of rice paper laid before them.

“Nonsense. This can’t even be called poetry.”

“How dare they send this poem? If this gets selected for the ‘Great Yu Anthology,’ the reviewers must be blind!”

The three were flipping through poems, cursing harshly, especially the beautiful woman in her mid-twenties.

All three were members of the Qingyun Society and also affiliated with the Hidden Sect.

The Qingyun Society was a literary society similar to the Yunyang Poetry Society but far more famous, partly because the renowned scholar Gu Qingqiu was a member.

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The Hidden Sect was a secretive group living among the populace, with its members adopting alternate identities in the world.

After reviewing for some time, the pile of discarded paper on the floor grew larger.

The young woman was named Yu Qian, a disciple of Gu Qingqiu and one of the elders of the Hidden Sect, with considerable skill in poetry.

Yu Qian sighed, “In three months, the deadline for submissions to the ‘Great Yu Anthology’ will arrive. Yet the poems submitted by Qingyun Society’s members are so dreadful. I think this year, Qingyun Society will barely have more than three poems accepted! Meanwhile, the Ying Society already has five confirmed entries. Qingyun Society will likely fall behind again.”

The topic darkened the three’s expressions.

Across Great Yu, there were many ‘societies’—collectives of literati.

The Qingyun Society had a history of several decades and was quite renowned. The Ying Society, with a century of history, had produced many famous scholars, including a former Minister of Rites.

The two societies were rivals. If Qingyun Society had fewer poems accepted than the Ying Society this year, they would be mocked for a whole year.

The middle-aged man on the left was Yan Dongqing, a serious individual, who said, “Don’t be too disappointed. Perhaps at the Dragon Boat Festival literary gathering, Qingyun Society can produce some good poems.”

“Dragon Boat Festival poems are difficult to write; few get into the ‘Great Yu Anthology,’” Wu Nuo, in his fifties, shook his head. “If the society holds more literary gatherings, maybe some good poems will emerge.”

“When will Yuan Bin return? We should get him to compose some poems,” Yu Qian said, narrowing her charming peach blossom eyes.

Within Qingyun Society, Yuan Bin was considered the most talented and held the reputation of a master of lyrics.

“Yuan Bin went to Yunyang County with the teacher, apparently to attend a literary gathering,” Yan Dongqing replied.

Just as the atmosphere grew heavy, the door was pushed open. Dressed in splendid brocade, Yuan Bin entered.

He lifted his head and noticed the gazes of his three fellow members, smiling, “Senior Brother Yan, Senior Brother Wu, Senior Sister Yu, you’re all here!”

“Yuan Bin, you’ve returned just in time!” Yan Dongqing stepped forward, placing a hand on Yuan Bin’s shoulder. “Hurry up and write some poems. I really don’t want to see the others’ submissions anymore!”

Yuan Bin was taken aback. Seeing the pile of discarded papers, he finally realized, “What’s the matter? Are the poems from others in Qingyun Society that bad?”

“Not just bad, they’re utterly unworthy of being read!” Yan Dongqing shook his head.

Yu Qian squinted and coquettishly said, “You’re the only talented one in Qingyun Society, Yuan Bin. You must write some poems and bring us honor! Don’t let the Ying Society outshine us again.”

She sounded like she was teasing, with a hint of playfulness that gave Yuan Bin goosebumps. “Senior Sister Yu, please behave yourself normally.”