The Female Supporting Character Just Wants to Farm [Transmigration] - Chapter 25

Gao Luoshen couldn’t answer the question. She stuttered for a long time, not a single word coming out. Fortunately, Gao Chun didn’t press the matter and simply agreed to Gao Luoshen’s invitation.

Gao Chun assumed that when Gao Luoshen said they were going to “watch some drama,” she meant they would be going to the Marquis of Mingyuan’s or the Chang family’s estate. She didn’t expect to be led through a maze of alleyways to a place where common scholars often gathered. While high-end establishments like the Fenghuelou and Lantinge were nice for the occasional visit, an average scholar couldn’t afford to spend their nights there.

“What are we doing here?” Gao Chun turned to Gao Luoshen, confused.

So there are things Gao Chun doesn’t know. Gao Luoshen felt a little proud. She pursed her lips and smiled mysteriously. “You’ll see when we get there.”

The “Scholar’s Inn” was a place she had hired people to manage. The ingredients were all from her estate, and the menu featured a few simple but delicious dishes. After some time in business, it had made a name for itself in the alley and become a favorite spot for scholars. After all, the prices were fair, and the name “Scholar’s Inn” made it sound like an intellectual hub. Who wouldn’t want to check it out?

“Did you open this?” Gao Chun saw the proud look on Gao Luoshen’s face and realized what was going on. She glanced at the lanterns hanging from the eaves. “I’ll write an inscription for you sometime.”

“That would be wonderful, Chun’er.” An inscription by the future Empress would be worth a fortune. Who would dare look down on their Scholar’s Inn after that? And the calligraphy itself could be sold for a great deal of money. Gao Luoshen was, of course, delighted. She paused at the entrance for a moment before pulling Gao Chun inside. With its carved redwood doors and columns, the Scholar’s Inn had two floors, with an elevated walkway like a flying rainbow. The first floor was a large hall with dozens of pear-blossom wood tables arranged tastefully, while the second floor had small private rooms with windows overlooking the scenery. Although the Scholar’s Inn wasn’t as extravagant as the Fenghuelou, its clean and elegant style made it the best in this alley, surpassing all the other inns and restaurants.

“What’s that empty octagonal platform in the middle for?” Gao Chun pointed ahead, her voice filled with curiosity. The platform was two steps higher than the floor and looked like a Bagua diagram. On the two small circles of the diagram were lotus-shaped seats, similar to those found in temples. A rack on the right side was filled with Confucian classics, though there were also some strange storybooks mixed in.

Gao Luoshen smiled faintly and explained, “That’s the Scholar’s Stage. A storyteller will be here soon to give a performance.” The waiter was also from her estate and recognized Gao Luoshen. After finishing his current task, he came over with a bow, but Gao Luoshen waved him off, choosing to sit at a table with a good view instead of going up to a private room.

Gao Chun nodded, complimenting her. “What a brilliant idea.” In the capital’s restaurants, it wasn’t uncommon to find performers, acrobats, and even courtesans hired to entertain guests. Storytellers usually appeared in small shops, telling tales of the martial world. But the literati of the capital, who prided themselves on their integrity, looked down on such entertainment.

Gao Luoshen and Gao Chun ordered a few small dishes and listened to the scholars’ conversations. These scholars loved to discuss current events. Most were students on vacation, and many were from out of town, hoping to find a high-ranking official to serve as a secretary and eventually start their own official career. In the novel, the imperial examinations had not yet been established. Talents were mostly recommended by prefectures and counties or inherited positions, and for a time, high officials and prominent families controlled the government. There were frequent scandals, such as “scholars being recommended for their talent even though they were illiterate, and filial sons being chosen even though they lived separately from their parents.”

“I went to visit Assistant Censor Chang a few days ago, and I heard the young lady of the Chang family has a new poem.”

“The young lady of the Chang family? The same one whose ‘Ode to the Capital’ made her famous throughout the city?”

“That’s the one. Miss Chang is a true lady of refinement. I feel ashamed in comparison.”

“What did Miss Chang write?”

“She compared herself to a lotus, a gentleman who rises from the mud unstained. Speaking of which, has anything happened lately?”

“Are you talking about Princess Changle’s residence?”

…

Besides politics, these literati loved to talk about the young ladies of the noble houses. Gao Luoshen listened to their chatter and sneered to herself. They clearly haven’t read enough books, or they would have realized that Chang Yingxue’s famous work was a copy. As for the so-called “lotus gentleman” poem, she was probably trying to prove her innocence after hearing the gossip.

“The rumors about the Princess’s residence are spreading fast,” Gao Chun said, taking a sip of her tea and frowning. She had also heard whispers about how the Gao family’s daughter and Young Master Qi had both “gotten lost” and how the young master from the Marquis of Mingyuan’s family had yelled at the Duke of Dingguo’s daughter. Gao Luoshen’s reputation was already poor, so people were weaving a new story based on old gossip. They said Gao Luoshen had been chasing after Qi Wei, and Xie Yucheng, who had once come to propose to her, had discovered her immoral behavior and had cursed her out. The story ignored the fact that the Chang family’s daughter had also returned in a disheveled and pathetic state. Only a few people would mumble to themselves. It’s a little suspicious that the young master of the Marquis of Mingyuan’s family was seen right after the Chang family’s daughter returned in such a state.

“By trying to prove her innocence at a time like this, Chang Yingxue is just burying money in the ground and putting a sign on it,” Gao Luoshen said.

Gao Chun chuckled. “How could anything that happened at the Princess Changle’s residence be kept from the Prince of Qin? That poem isn’t for other people; it’s for the Prince of Qin. It’s highly likely that some people were behind all of this. Qi Wei was invited by the Prince of Qin, yet he disappeared at a critical moment. That’s very telling.”

Gao Luoshen was shocked. “Is it really that complicated?” Is the capital that terrifying? Maybe I should go back to the estate in a few days.

Gao Chun gave Gao Luoshen a meaningful look and said in a low voice, “The Prince of Qin doesn’t want to marry you, but you are the Duke of Dingguo’s legitimate daughter. It’s very likely you’ll be made his main consort. The only way to stop that from happening is…”

Gao Luoshen understood without another word. The Prince of Qin is truly a scoundrel capable of such dirty tricks! But what about Gao Chun? Didn’t she want her to stay away from the Prince? Pushing this matter forward could prevent her from getting married to him. A hint of confusion appeared in Gao Luoshen’s eyes.

Gao Chun read her mind. She said slowly, “You’re my Second Sister. If I don’t want you to do something, I’ll tell you directly. I won’t use dirty tricks to harm you.”

Gao Luoshen’s face flushed. I was too cynical.

Just as the group was loudly discussing, a young man in a blue robe, accompanied by a servant boy with a cloth bag, walked into the inn. He immediately strode towards the lotus seat on the Scholar’s Stage and gave his servant a look. The boy understood his master’s instructions and quickly began clearing the Confucian books from the nearby shelf. To everyone’s astonishment, he swiftly replaced them with new books.

“Young master…” The waiter from the Scholar’s Inn went to him.

The young man in the blue robe sat cross-legged, a proud look on his face. “I am Du Zimou!”

At the mention of that name, the crowd erupted into an uproar!