In the twenty-third year of Emperor Ning's reign, on the third day of the first month.

Jiangnan province.

Guangling City.

……

Chunming, it's a great time for spring outings. The lakeside of Huaping Lake is bustling with people.

There were all handsome young men and beautiful women. The handsome men, mostly scholars, wore fine long gowns, with slicked-back hair and a folding fan in hand. They gathered in groups of three or five, brimming with youthful energy as they nodded and shook their heads, commenting on a recently popular poem or song circulating throughout Guilin City. Their passionate discussions carried an air of grand ambition, as if they were ready to advise the emperor on matters of state.

But their eyes betrayed them.

Their little glances often steal a peek at some pretty girl unintentionally.

Li Chen'an grinned, "Spring has arrived, it's the season when birds are restless again."

He no longer paid attention to those scholars, striding along the Huaping Lake, passing by handsome men and beautiful women, and unconsciously arrived at the eastern bank of Huaping Lake.

People here.

Tranquil.

There is also a pavilion called Yanyu.

No one in the pavilion, just right to rest a while.

Sitting in the Yanyu Pavilion, Li Chenan looked towards Huaping Lake again. Only then did he softly sigh:

"It seems I can't go back!"

"Just this original owner's world……!"

The original owner was also Li Changan, the eldest son of Li Wenhan, the headmaster of Zhuxia Academy in Guangling City.

The Li family in Guangling City wasn't particularly wealthy or noble, but they were a very well-known scholarly family.

Of course, a family steeped in literature and tradition has more rules. For example, the children of such families first pursue scholarship.

But the original owner was surprisingly talentless in this regard.

He was enlightened at the age of three but could not memorize "The Three Character Classic" until he was nine.

After learning martial arts, he followed the Guangling boxing master Zheng Hao for three years but still didn't get to the heart of it!

Words cannot describe how low this already is! This has reached his father's absolute rock bottom!

He bought a shop on Erjing Lane in Guangling City and opened a food stall. After three years, it went bankrupt and he was left with a huge debt!

His father, Li Wenhan, was so angry that his seven orifices were smoking. He used all his savings to pay off his debts, but the concubine kept whispering sweet nothings in his ear. A month ago, she drove the original owner out of the house!

Then a dog thing happened.

A wealthy merchant from Guangling, the Shen family, came to break off their engagement. It was a betrothal arranged in childhood, perhaps the Shen family wagered on Li Chen'an being able to pass the imperial examinations and become a high-ranking scholar—

The Li family of Guangling was renowned in Ningguo for its extraordinary tale of academic brilliance. It wasn't the lineage of Li Wenhan that achieved this feat, but rather the eldest and second sons of the family. Their story involved seven Jinshi (top scholars), three Tanhua (third-place winners in the imperial examinations) within a single family—a truly legendary accomplishment.

Of course, they no longer live in Guangling City, but in the Jade Capital of Kyoto.

In the Shen family's view, even if they had to queue up, this good fortune should have gone to the third branch of the Li family next. However, they never expected that the eldest son of this third branch would be such an incompetent person. It was truly a blind eye, almost costing them dearly.

Now that the Shen family has called off the engagement, the Li family naturally wouldn't agree so easily. Thus, this matter became a huge uproar in Guangling City. News of the Li family having an idiot also spread naturally, and for a time, Li Chenan's originally unknown name became a household one.

Li Wenhan swept the floor, calling the original owner back and scolding him severely.

Ten days ago, the original owner died of grief. Li Chenan came here.

No one knows if the Li Chen'an from before is dead, and of course, no one knows that the Li Chen'an living now is a different person.

Li Chen'an didn't dwell on past grievances because he was ultimately an outsider. The events that had transpired and the people he had encountered held little significance to him.

"Well, although this place is backward, it's more tranquil than my past life."

Well, it's a bit more peaceful now.

Thinking this way, the knot in his heart that had been there for over ten days suddenly loosened. Thus, the young woman before him, Hua Pinghu, seemed to have a few more traces of life in his eyes.

Especially after a painted boat drifted onto Huaping Lake.

He watched with interest the three-story tall houseboat. A tall flagpole stood in front of it, with a bright red flag fluttering on top. The flag bore two large characters in flowing script: Zhongli!

This is a complex surname, and I vaguely recall that this surname held a very high status in Ningguo.

As for the specifics of his approach, the original owner was rather taciturn and introverted, so he didn't have a very deep impression of it.

This is also unrelated to him, even at this time the whole world is unrelated to him.

He felt like a spectator.

For example, now he was looking at the pleasure boat and felt like getting onto it.

The eaves and pavilions are delicately crafted, with intricate carvings and painted details. The overall impression is one of grandeur without being ostentatious.

Unfortunately, all the windows with Xiangan bamboo curtains were closed. If even half of those bamboo curtains were rolled up, and within that half-rolled curtain there was a pretty girl playing the pipa, that would be truly the best sight.

Just as Li Chen'an was thinking this, footsteps came from outside the pavilion.

He turned his head and saw two people walking toward the pavilion.

The man in front was about sixteen or seventeen years old, not very tall, probably around five feet six inches. However, his face was handsome. He wore a white cloud-patterned long shirt, with a wide silk sash embroidered with green auspicious clouds at his waist. His hair was tied up and he wore a small silver crown set with jade.

Behind him was a handsome young boy, carrying a three-tiered food box in his hand.

The master and servant stopped three steps away from the gazebo.

That year, it seemed he hadn't expected anyone to be in this secluded smoke-filled pavilion. He glanced up at Li Chenan, his brow furrowed for a moment before quickly smoothing out again.

The little servant behind him was about to step forward, but he suddenly opened his folding fan with a swish and shook it. He kept the other hand on his back, then strode into the Smoke and Rain Pavilion.

He sat opposite Li Chen'an.

At this moment, Li Chen's gaze shifted to the surface of Huaping Lake. After all, staring at a stranger continuously was impolite, especially since this unfamiliar man was exceptionally handsome.

His teeth were red and white, the redness seeming to peek through the whiteness as if it could be broken by a gentle breath.

Plus those willow-like eyebrows and the watery eyes beneath them, not to mention the faint scent of orchid that tickled his nostrils... he almost thought she was a girl disguised as a boy!

So Li Chen just glanced at him this year, and his second glance fell on his front... hmm, eight hundred li of flat land, he's a man.

He is a very handsome man.

It's a bit feminine.

That handsome man was now looking at Li Chenan.

Besides being rather tall and muscular, Li Chenan's clothes were extremely ordinary, just a plain hemp shirt with two patches.

Besides… that man was looking at Li Chen'an’s profile, hmm, his profile was quite sharp, his nose was very… and those thick eyebrows like swords were rather imposing.

Years of the divine have passed.

The handsome young man lost interest in Li Chen'an and he also looked up at Huaping Lake. The painting boat on the lake surface suddenly changed its course, heading towards the pier on the east side of Huaping.

Thus, Li Chen'an saw two enormous banners hanging down at the bow of the ship.

On the right it says: 'When one's eyes are filled with dust, the world seems narrow.'

The left side is empty.

This should be a pair of couplets, but the upper one seems rather petty, as if venting some dissatisfaction, yet for some reason, the lower one is missing.

Li Chen'an paused for a moment, then recited it with a hint of interest:

"One's heart is as narrow as a speck of dust in one's eyes, while when there is nothing to worry about, one has an entire bed to themselves."

He blurted out these words, which actually reflected his current state of mind. However, they surprised the handsome young man.

"Excuse me, sir..."

The handsome young man spoke at this time. Li Chenan turned his head back and was amazed by that face again. His gaze naturally fell on the man in front of him.

It seemed Li Chen'an had hit the young man's nerve. The handsome youth's face suddenly flushed, and he glared at Li Chen'an. Li Chen'an gave a sheepish smile. "Ah, I apologize. Sir, your handsomeness is rare in the world, I was being too forward."

The handsome young man hadn't expected Li Chen'an to apologize first. His gaze swept across Li Chen'an's face. Li Chen'an had a calm expression between his brows, clear and honest eyes that were very sincere and composed, not showing any trace of deception. Instead, there was a steadiness in him that didn't quite match his age.

He shook the folding fan in his hand to cover up his awkwardness just now, but then curiously asked: "Brother, this lower couplet is excellent. Was it just thought of by you?"

Li Chen'an nodded and smiled, "It's nothing much, just a small matter to make you laugh."

This is not a laughing matter!

This person's off-the-cuff response was absolutely perfect!

If this person were to present this couplet to the people at Zhongli's mansion, he would certainly be victorious in this competition of couplets.

If he could win the top prize in poetry again, he would become a son-in-law of the Zhongli family!

This is something many people dream of!

Especially for those scholars who came to participate in this spring examination.

"Are you also here to take the imperial examinations?"

Li Chen'an shook his head. He had only been in this world for ten days, where could he have the ability to take the imperial examinations?

He never considered taking the civil service exam, because it would be too tiring. He just wanted to earn a little money and live a leisurely life.

After all, I'm just an outsider, so there's no need to get too involved.

Apparently, Li Chen'an's action surprised the handsome young master.

He looked at Li Chen again, pointed to the painting boat, and asked: “Sir, do you know that today Miss Third of Zhongli Mansion is making literary friends on Huating Lake… Saying it's about making literary friends, but in everyone's eyes in Guangling City, I'm afraid it's Zhongli Mansion's matchmaking for their Third Miss.”

This couplet is the first hurdle. If the response is well-paired, you'll be invited onto the pleasure boat… With your previous verse, sir, you're sure to be a guest of honor.

"Miss Zhongli, the third daughter of the Zhongli family, is said to be the most talented woman in Guangling City, and she is also as beautiful as a flower. Look at those talented young men in Guangling City, they all flock to her… Why are you sitting alone here so calmly?"

“Oh,” the handsome young man looked enlightened. “I see. You are a man of great talent, naturally disdainful of associating with others. Seeing that you are only seventeen or eighteen years old… surely you possess volumes of knowledge and wisdom beyond measure!”

"Why wouldn't someone with your talent choose to take the imperial examinations?"

"His Majesty values talent today and is able to be loyal to His Majesty and serve the Great Ning Empire. Isn't this what scholars should strive for?"

Li Chen raised an eyebrow, thinking this handsome young man was thinking too much and talking too much.

He liked tranquility, but more and more people were coming here at this moment, so he decided to leave. He stood up and said something to the handsome young man:

"Young Master, you've made a mistake."

He strode out of the pavilion and said:

Life is like a fleeting cloud,

Joy is scattered, sorrow is scattered.

All are like tiny lotus flowers scattered across the Lianjiang River.

He walked out of the pavilion.

"I am a wild grass, with no intention of competing for spring."

The handsome young man's eyes lit up as he looked at Li Chenan's back, "May I ask your honorable name?"

"Meeting is a matter of chance, why dwell on knowing each other before?" Li Chenan waved his hand while facing away from him, then suddenly remembered the man's demeanor didn't seem that of someone who was down on their luck.

Goodbye!

He walked into the surging crowd.

As if swimming against the current.

He seems lonely and aloof.

The handsome young man stared blankly at the gradually disappearing figure, and suddenly instructed the little servant behind him: "Zhiyan, order Yuheng to follow him!"

"Your Highness... Would you like to look into his background?"

"No need to rush, let Lijingshi investigate later. Remember not to disturb Yuheng!"

“Your servant obeys!”

The paper kite drifted away, and in the misty rain pavilion, the fourth princess of the Ning Dynasty, Ning Chuchu, stood with her hands behind her back facing the painting screen lake.

Her eyes flickered, and a meaningful smile touched her lips.

It's not the talent that Li Changan displayed that astonished me, but...

This person is interesting.

What if he were Lord Zhongli's nephew...wouldn't that be more interesting?

(Editor in charge：novel definition)