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Nangong Shuang's gaze swept around the room, and suddenly her heart tightened—among the guests, she spotted a familiar face. Dressed in a moon-white robe, with an elegant demeanor and striking features, it was none other than the Xiao Family Young Master, Xiao Zhongyan, whom she had encountered in the Guo Residence garden just days prior.
What startled her even more was the jade pendant hanging from Xiao Zhongyan's waist, which glimmered softly in the sunlight. The intricate patterns on it bore a striking resemblance to the pendant worn by the murderer she had seen in her dreams during the Night of Annihilation.
"So it turns out the Xiao Family Young Master is also among us," Lord Guo remarked with a smile. "How have you been lately, Young Master Zhongyan?"
Xiao Zhongyan rose to bow politely, his demeanor composed. "Thank you for your concern, Uncle Guo. I am well. I heard that Cousin Guan Chunyi has recovered from her illness, so I came to offer my congratulations."
"There's no need for such formality; please take a seat," Lord Guo said with a wave of his hand, his admiration for Xiao Zhongyan evident in his eyes.
Nangong Shuang observed quietly; it seemed that the Guo Residence and the Xiao Family shared a close relationship, which explained Xiao Zhongyan's presence here. She maintained a calm expression, but her heart was filled with wariness.
At that moment, Guan Chunyi eagerly suggested, "Since we have so many esteemed guests today and the spring weather is delightful, why don't we play a poetry game?"
"Sounds great!" everyone agreed enthusiastically.
"Let’s go with Guan Chunyi's suggestion," Lord Guo replied cheerfully, turning to the guests. "Who among you would like to start with a prompt?"
A young gentleman stood up and recited aloud: "The spring breeze blows along the roads of Yangzhou; rolling up the pearl curtains is never as good."
After a moment of contemplation, someone quickly responded with the next line: "The jade beauty weeps lonely tears at the railing; a branch of pear blossoms brings spring rain."
As the verses flowed, it was Qian Family Miss's turn. She appeared slightly nervous and stammered out an awkward line of poetry, prompting some young gentlemen to snicker quietly. Miss Qian's face flushed with embarrassment. Seeing this, Nangong Shuang was about to step in to ease the tension when Xiao Zhongyan suddenly spoke up: "Though Miss Qian's poetic talent may seem somewhat inexperienced, it is filled with genuine emotion; why must we be so strict about form?" He smiled gently but inadvertently glanced at Nangong Shuang. "However, I am curious about how Miss Nangong fares in terms of talent."
All eyes turned to Nangong Shuang. Miss Qian quickly interjected, "Nangong Shuang is merely my family's maid; how could she dare to embarrass herself before everyone?"
"What does it matter if she is a maid?" Xiao Zhongyan replied leisurely, his eyes sparkling with curiosity. "Talent does not depend on status but on true insight."
Nangong Shuang understood that Xiao Zhongyan was deliberately testing her. If she declined, it would appear she had something to hide; if she accepted, she risked revealing too much. After a brief moment of contemplation, she decided to accept the challenge—perhaps this would provide an opportunity to uncover more about him.
"Young Master Xiao is too kind; Nangong Shuang would be willing to embarrass herself," she said with a slight smile, her voice clear as a spring.
Xiao Zhongyan's lips curled into a subtle smile as if he had anticipated her agreement. He then presented his prompt: "Halfway up the mountain, remnants of snow reflect the rosy clouds; who returns swiftly on horseback?"
This line seemed ordinary but contained hidden meanings. The imagery of "remnants of snow," "returning," and "swift horse hooves" hinted at something deeper. The guests pondered for a moment and found this prompt difficult to respond to.
Nangong Shuang sneered inwardly; indeed, Xiao Zhongyan was not here with good intentions—he was clearly probing into her identity. The phrase "remnants of snow" alluded to her name "Frost," while "returning" suggested she might be a descendant of Nan Gong returning to the capital. The phrase "swift horse hooves" pointed out her urgency and purpose in returning.
After pondering briefly, she responded confidently: "Under the moonlight, Mei Ying's fragrance remains as before; who will share in recalling those past years?"
This line also carried profound implications—"Mei Ying" hinted at Nangong Family's secret chamber, while "fragrance remains as before" referred to their tradition of incense-making. The final line posed a rhetorical question about the past grievances between the Xiao Family and Nangong Family.
For a moment, everyone was taken aback. A flicker of surprise flashed in Xiao Zhongyan's eyes before being replaced by admiration.
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