By the Qujiang Pool, spring scenery was boundless.
In the Kaiyuan golden age of the Great Tang, the most renowned Qujiang Banquet of Chang'an was held as scheduled. The emperor personally presided; civil and military officials, noble heirs, and Jiangnan talents gathered. Painted boats drifted on the pool; pavilions and towers on the shore were decorated with lanterns and colored banners. Peonies and herbaceous peonies competed in splendor. The air was filled with the intoxicating blend of wine and flower fragrances.
The Yunlan Family party arrived in a magnificent carriage. Xavier Xiao still wore his moon-white robe with the Immortal Jade at his waist, fan waving gently, elegant and unrestrained. Liora had specially changed into a misty-rose gauze skirt embroidered with hidden phoenix patterns. Her complexion was much rosier than upon first arriving in Chang'an, yet still carried a frail delicacy. She shared a carriage with Violet; Sunny and Flora stood guard on either side.
Although Xiao Zhengxuan and Matriarch Yun still held grudges over yesterday's marriage discussion storm, they knew today's Qujiang Poetry Gathering was an important court event and refrained from causing trouble. They only coldly instructed Xavier, "Do not stir up any more absurdity like yesterday's refusal. Do not disgrace our Yunlan Family."
Xavier smiled freely and did not argue, yet his gaze rested tenderly on Liora.
The Qujiang Banquet was already bustling. Emperor Li Longji sat high on the main seat, Consort Yang smiling radiantly beside him. Officials took turns offering poems praising the prosperous age. When it came to the Yunlan Family, Xiao Zhengxuan was about to speak on behalf of his son when Xavier rose and declared with a clear laugh, "At today's grand gathering, Yichen wishes to offer a poem to congratulate Your Majesty."
The emperor nodded slightly, eyes showing interest. "The Xiao family lad has always been romantic. We shall see what new work you have."
Xavier walked slowly to the poolside, closed his fan, and gazed across the spring water and shore peonies. He recited loudly:
"Qujiang waters warm as spring breeze passes; peonies' national beauty intoxicates Chang'an. Immortal jade hums lightly as phoenix shadow arrives; a wisp of mist enters the poetry arena."
As the lines left his lips, the Immortal Jade trembled faintly. A thread of extremely light spiritual qi spread with the poetic intent. Everyone felt the air's spiritual qi ripple slightly, yet none knew the reason.
Liora sat not far away and sensed the familiar resonance. Her heart warmed. She secretly circulated her Phoenix Spirit Root; a tiny thread of crimson-gold spirit flame rose from her fingertip and turned into invisible power, gently supporting Xavier's poetic intent so the poem sounded even more lingering and spiritually vivid.
"Excellent poem!" The emperor clapped in praise. "'Immortal jade hums lightly as phoenix shadow arrives' carries immortal intent. Xiao Yichen, your poem seems to hold deeper meaning."
Xavier bowed. "Your Majesty is perceptive. Yichen recently gained a friend with extraordinary destiny, hence this sentiment."
Before his voice faded, a Jiangnan scholar stood up unconvinced and sneered, "Although Young Master Xiao's poetic talent is fine, it is overly ethereal. Today's Qujiang grand gathering should discuss true scholarship. This humble one wishes to exchange three rounds of poetry with Young Master. What say you?"
This man was a newly appointed Jinshi from Jiangnan, long proud of his poetic skill.
Xavier had not yet replied when Liora coughed lightly and rose. "This humble one, Liora Liu, is willing to take Young Master's place in this exchange."
The entire venue was slightly startled. Everyone knew Liora was the frail miss lodging in the Yunlan Mansion; none expected her to dare appear publicly.
The Jiangnan scholar smiled contemptuously. "A woman dares discuss poetry? Then please instruct me."
Liora remained neither humble nor arrogant. Her voice was soft yet poetic:
"On the Phoenix Terrace, phoenixes once roamed; the phoenix gone, the terrace empty, the river flows on. A wisp of mist and silk scatters with the wind; for whom does the peony's national beauty grieve?"
She recited the first line—the very poem she had gifted Xavier at their first meeting. With the phoenix spirit flame assisting in secret, as the lines left her lips, the Qujiang pool water rippled faintly, as if invisible spiritual qi responded.
The Jiangnan scholar's expression changed slightly, yet he still forced himself to reply.
The two exchanged back and forth. After three rounds, Liora used the lively poetic talent of her Phoenix Spirit Root—each line carrying fire, each line containing feeling—and forced the opponent into silence.
The entire venue erupted in thunderous applause.
The emperor was greatly pleased. "Excellent Liora Liu! A Jiangnan talented lady—your reputation is well-deserved. Attendants, bestow wine!"
After thanking the emperor, Liora's gaze quietly met Xavier's across the crowd. Their hearts connected despite the distance.
Xavier took advantage of the moment when no one was paying attention and quietly approached Liora, whispering with a smile, "Liora, today you secretly assisted me with phoenix spirit flame. Was that thread of spiritual qi… too consuming?"
Liora shook her head, her eyes carrying a shallow smile. "Young Master's poems become law upon completion; Liora merely added slight assistance. On the contrary, Young Master's Immortal Jade… seems to have advanced another step."
As the two whispered privately, the emperor suddenly issued an edict summoning Xavier and Liora to the imperial presence together.
Xavier took Liora's hand (the action hidden within their sleeves) and the two walked side by side to the main seat.
"Your Majesty, this subject and Miss Liu wish to jointly offer a love poem to congratulate the prosperous age." Xavier declared loudly.
The emperor's interest was piqued. "Granted!"
Xavier first recited the upper line:
"Qujiang spring waters reflect the mist; immortal jade first hums as phoenix shadows connect."
Liora continued the lower line, her voice soft and beautiful. Phoenix spirit flame rose quietly, imparting a faint crimson-gold glow to the verses (visible faintly to those with keen eyes):
"A wisp of mist and silk follows you away; I envy not the golden list but envy becoming dual immortals."
When the final line "envy becoming dual immortals" left her lips, the entire venue fell silent for a moment before exploding in cheers.
The emperor laughed heartily. "Wonderful! Truly wonderful! Xiao Yichen, you lad truly live up to your romantic reputation. Liora Liu's talent is unmatched. We grant the two of you to tour Qujiang together today and enjoy the spring scenery to the fullest."
With the imperial decree issued, everyone looked on with envy.
Violet sat to the side, smiling gently yet saying nothing. With her Water Spirit Root's sensitivity, she had already clearly sensed the increasingly strong spiritual qi resonance between the pair and sighed inwardly, yet she was also happy for them.
Xiao Zhengxuan and Matriarch Yun, however, looked somewhat unpleasant—especially the Matriarch, whose cane tapped lightly on the ground, sharp light flashing in her eyes as she pondered unknown thoughts.
By the Qujiang Pool, on a painted boat.
Xavier and Liora stood shoulder to shoulder leaning against the railing. The pool water reflected their figures. In the distance, Flora and Sunny kept watch from a smaller boat.
"Liora, are you tired after offering poetry publicly today?" Xavier held her hand, quietly transmitting Immortal Jade spiritual qi to help stabilize her Phoenix Spirit Root.
Liora shook her head and leaned against his shoulder, speaking softly. "With Young Master here, Liora does not feel tired. Today… Liora finally understands that the Phoenix Spirit Root is not a burden but a heaven-bestowed immortal destiny for us."
She took out a newly written poem slip from her sleeve and handed it to Xavier:
"At the Qujiang poetry gathering spiritual qi appears; phoenix and immortal jade entwine tenderly. I seek not courtly fame and position, only the dual cultivation destiny with you."
Xavier accepted it, eyes full of tenderness, and replied with a poem of his own:
"In the depths of mist the phoenix first hums; Qujiang waters warm as two hearts incline. When the day of heavenly tribulation arrives, we shall walk hand in hand to shatter the void."
The two smiled at each other. Their fingers intertwined secretly within their sleeves. The resonance between the Immortal Jade and Phoenix Spirit Root quietly deepened in the spring light. A faint crimson-gold and pure-white spiritual light flowed indistinctly across the painted boat.
In the distance, in the shadows on the shore, a wisp of hidden demonic qi flashed and vanished.
The prelude to the An-Shi Rebellion had already been quietly planted amid the lively Qujiang Banquet.
And that night, the Yunlan Family's immortal array once again emitted a faint warning hum.
After the Qujiang Banquet dispersed, Xavier and Liora returned to the Yunlan Mansion. The two tacitly headed toward the Phoenix Perch Pavilion, preparing to continue foundational dual cultivation that night.
In the Mist-Phoenix Immortal Garden, flowers bloomed even more vibrantly.
Their immortal destiny, with the first appearance of spiritual qi at the poetry gathering, stepped toward deeper fusion.
(End of Chapter 4)