Chapter 152: Qingyue Poetry Society (1)

Li Qing’an took many detours before following Mingzhu to Quchi Fang. Named after the Qujiang Pond nearby, this place was picturesque with lush trees. The area was filled with elegant private residences belonging to officials, most of which were small, delicate, and exquisitely designed.
“Mingzhu, where exactly are you taking me?”
Mingzhu didn’t answer. She glanced around and suddenly pointed excitedly at a huge mansion at the corner of the street. “That’s the place.”
Li Qing’an had already noticed the mansion. Amidst the white walls, black tiles, and towering trees, he could faintly see its intricate rooftops and high towers. It seemed to belong to some wealthy family, standing out sharply among the smaller residences around it.
There were nearly a hundred carriages parked in the space in front of the main gate. Many drivers and servants in bright clothes were chatting together, along with several guards in military uniforms. It seemed a grand gathering was underway inside.
“Brother Li, come quickly!”
Mingzhu spurred her horse and rushed toward the mansion’s gate. Li Qing’an couldn’t call her back in time and had no choice but to follow, with his dozen bodyguards surrounding him.
The entrance was bustling. A dozen handsome young men and women seemed to be waiting, whispering to each other. The men were mostly in their early twenties, wearing white brocade robes with embroidered edges, golden sashes around their waists, gauze hats on their heads, and black deer-hide boots. They all had rosy lips and fair skin, looking very elegant.
The women wore long skirts, colorful shoulder decorations, gold hairpins, and red makeup. Holding light silk fans, they glanced around, each one stunningly beautiful.
On either side of the steps stood a dozen tall family members, led by a butler.
“Liuliu!”
Mingzhu called out cheerfully, dismounted, and rushed toward a young girl. The girl was tall and plump, fair and full-bodied. Beneath her curved willow-like eyebrows were long, thin eyes. Hearing her call her Liuliu, Li Qing’an remembered that she was Cui Qiaozhi’s daughter, Cui Liuliu.
Cui Liuliu happily ran down the steps, took Mingzhu’s hand, and complained, “Mingzhu, why did it take you so long? We’ve been waiting for you for ages.”
“I was delayed by something. By the way, what gift did you buy for Sister Qi?”
“I bought her a Bai Ling hairpin. What about you?”
“I bought a set of cosmetics from the Lu family in the Eastern Market. Let me see what your Bai Ling hairpin looks like.”
The two girls rushed to show each other their gifts, forgetting about Li Qing’an. He stepped up the steps and looked at the plaque above the door, which read “Wei Huan’s Mansion.” He suddenly remembered having seen this man earlier—that he was the governor of Yizhou. So this was his home.

A few family members, seeing Li Qingan’s unfamiliar appearance, stepped forward to stop him together, “Sir, please wait!”
Li Qingan pointed to Mingzhu not far away and smiled, “I’m a friend of Du Gu Xiao Niang. Can’t I come in?”
“Sir, today is my daughter’s birthday. An invitation is required to enter.”
At that moment, Mingzhu realized what was happening and hurried over, saying, “Butler Ma, this is my friend. Let him in!”
The butler quickly bowed apologetically, “It’s not that we refuse. The lady has explicitly ordered that no outsiders may enter on her daughter’s birthday without an invitation. Please ask Miss Du Gu to understand!”
Mingzhu felt humiliated and angrily said, “Wei Qi is my good friend. She promised I could bring a male companion. Go ask her yourselves.”
“Miss, the lady has strict orders, and we dare not disobey. Moreover, since the master is here, we certainly can’t just let anyone in.”
No matter what Mingzhu said, the butler refused to let Li Qingan in. Dozens of young men and women around them covered their mouths and whispered with laughter. A man in his twenties glanced at Li Qingan disdainfully and sneered, “Today is a gathering of the Qingyue Poetry Society. What is a mere soldier doing here?”
Everyone burst into laughter and waved their hands, “Shh! Don’t let him hear. If we anger him, he has a sword at his waist.”
Mingzhu’s face turned red. She said to Li Qingan, “Brother Li, wait for me. I’ll go find Wei Qi.”
Just as she was about to enter the mansion, Li Qingan grabbed her hand and said with a smile, “No need!”
Li Qingan bowed slightly and smiled at the butler, “Please convey to your master that Li Qingan, the Censor-in-Chief and Deputy Governor of Beiting, has come to pay a visit.”
The butler was stunned and quickly said, “Lord Li, please wait a moment. I’ll go inform the master right away.”
“Li Qingan!”
The dozen or so young men and women nearby exclaimed in surprise. Li Qingan’s reputation had long spread throughout Chang’an—who didn’t know him? But they never expected it to be this man right before them. The young man who had despised Li Qingan earlier was utterly stunned, unable to speak for a long time.
The gazes of several young women toward him also gradually changed, as if covered by a faint mist. Their initial disdain turned into something more complex. He was so young, his stature so tall and straight, his hands so strong, his gaze so profound. What a heroic man! Returning from the battlefield of life and death, the self-proclaimed refined young men around him suddenly seemed like immature children.

A few women unconsciously compared themselves to Mingzhu. Li Qing’an was brought by her—could it be that she belonged to Li Qing’an…? Impossible. She still seemed like a young girl, and it was said that this youngest military governor of the Tang Dynasty was unmarried. Yet, a subtle hope arose in the hearts of those women.
“Mingzhu, is this the Li Big Brother you mentioned?”
Cui Liuliu stepped forward gracefully, casting a quick glance at Li Qing’an with her long eyes, then said shyly to Mingzhu, “Why didn’t you introduce him to me?”
Mingzhu grew wary. Liuliu never hid her interest in the men she liked. Could she have taken a liking to Li Qing’an too? After all, Li Qing’an was her sister’s future husband—no one was allowed to take him away. She quickly replied, “Li Big Brother isn’t in a good mood. I brought him here to relax. By the way, where’s my sister? Have you seen her?”
“She seems to have arrived early. She’s gathering with a group of poetry friends!”
Mingzhu was stunned. “Isn’t it Sister Qi’s birthday today? Why are they from the Qingyue Poetry Society here too?”
Her heart grew uneasy. Zhao Xuming, the third-place winner from last year, had always been infatuated with her sister. A few months ago, he even joined the poetry society under pretenses to get closer to her. There was also Li Chu, the imperial prince. After that abduction incident, his attitude toward her sister changed drastically—he became overly flattering. If those two were here today, it would be troublesome. What should she do?
At a loss, Cui Liuliu glanced at Li Qing’an again. Coincidentally, Li Qing’an smiled at her and nodded. Cui Liuliu’s face turned red instantly. Panicked, she said, “Liuliu, maybe we should go inside first!”
Just then, hurried footsteps came from the door. Several middle-aged men stepped out. The leader was Wei Huan, the governor of Yizhou whom she had met earlier that day. Behind him were two high-ranking members of the Wei family: Wei Tao, the chief secretary of the Grand Commandery whom Li Qing’an had met in Yangzhou, and Wei Jiansu, the left vice minister of the Ministry of Revenue.
The Wei family had always been a prominent family in Guanlong. After the Wei Jian scandal a few years before the Tianbao era, Wei Jian, the highest-ranking official in the family—the minister of justice—was demoted to the governor of Jinyun, and the entire family was purged. But as a century-old clan with deep roots, they rose again within a couple of years, thanks to figures like Wei Huan, Wei Tao, and Wei Jiansu.
Especially Wei Huan, who had been promoted to governor of Yizhou last year, controlling one of the wealthiest provinces in the Tang Dynasty and holding significant political power there. At just 38, he was a promising rising star in politics and the hope of the Wei family.

But things often take unexpected turns. In recent months, Wei Huan has encountered a fierce rival in the official circles: Cui Yuan, the governor of Yizhou. The Cui and Wei families had long been acquainted, and Cui Yuan had served as the governor of Yizhou for several years. Logically, after the previous governor retired, Cui Yuan should have taken over. Unexpectedly, Wei Huan arrived from elsewhere and seized the governorship, creating a rift between him and Cui Yuan. Yet, due to the long-standing friendship between the two families, they managed to maintain a semblance of harmony on the surface.

However, since Yang Zhao took office as the governor of Jiannan this year, the relationship between Wei Huan and Cui Yuan changed. Yang Zhao clearly favored Cui Yuan, and the two formed a military-political alliance to deal with Wei Huan, intensifying their conflict. Additionally, Yang Zhao was appointed as the military governor of Jiannan, further worrying Wei Huan. Today, he specially invited Wei Tao and Wei Jiansu for his daughter’s birthday to discuss strategies together. Just then, the gatekeeper reported that Li Qingan from the Northern Court had arrived.

Li Qingan was the most prominent newcomer at today’s court meeting. He held significant military and political power in the Northern Court, had Gao Lishi as his backing, and was said to be a key member of the crown prince’s faction—someone who could not be underestimated. The three outstanding members of the Wei family went to the gate to welcome him.

“General Li, to meet you in the morning and see you in the afternoon—seems fate has brought us together!” Wei Huan laughed heartily, stepping forward to shake Li Qingan’s hand warmly, reluctant to let go. When the Wei family’s uncle arrived, the younger members like Mingzhu and Liuli quickly stepped aside, while a dozen young men and women stood nervously nearby, not daring to say a word.

The butler was the most afraid. If Li Qingan said anything like the Wei family was bullying guests, he would have to flee to the manor immediately.

Li Qingan first nodded at Wei Tao and Wei Jiansu, then smiled at Wei Huan, saying, “I was afraid Lord Wei might think I came uninvited, with empty hands, and decide to attack out of frustration. That would be a huge embarrassment for me.”

“Haha! If even such a distinguished guest as General Li can’t be invited, come! Let me introduce you first.”

Just as he was about to introduce the other two Weis to Li Qingan, Wei Tao laughed and said, “Younger brother, we already know General Li. No need for further introductions.”

Wei Huan slapped his forehead and laughed, “How careless of me! Of course you know each other. Alright! General Li, please come inside.”

He then instructed the butler, “Go and invite General Li’s entourage inside. Treat them well in the guest rooms—don’t neglect them.”

The butler quickly agreed and left. Seeing how thoughtful Wei Huan was, Li Qingan felt impressed and smiled slightly, gesturing, “Brother Wei, please go ahead!”

The four of them entered the manor together, chatting and laughing.

Behind him, Mingzhu watched Li Qingan walk away eagerly. She had originally intended to act as a matchmaker, but things suddenly turned into a visit by a high-ranking official, leaving her extremely disappointed. She said listlessly, “Liuli, let’s go inside!”

Li Qingan entered the mansion and took in its surroundings. Right in front of him was a huge white screen, on which the characters “Wei Family” were carved from black jade. In fact, this was not the main residence of the Wei family, which was located in Gaoyang County of Jingzhao. This was merely the largest Wei family residence in Chang’an.

Flowers, plants, and trees were planted on both sides of the screen. It was early spring, and the plants had already taken on a hint of green. Plum trees were covered with tiny white buds, while on the left, large areas of plum blossoms were in full bloom, vibrant and full of life. Amidst this sea of red plums and white plum blossoms, various pavilions and towers were hidden among them.

Seeing the festive atmosphere everywhere, Li Qingan smiled and said, “I heard it’s the young lady’s birthday today. The mansion is really lively!”

“Actually, my daughter’s 17th birthday isn’t anything special. It’s just that my mother is seriously ill. Master Duyun, the abbot of Cien En Temple, suggested using a celebration to counteract her illness, so we organized a birthday party for her. Today is not only my daughter’s birthday, but my son Wei Yingwu has also invited members of their Qingyue Poetry Society for a gathering. My brother has also invited some renowned poets to appreciate the plum blossoms. That’s why the mansion is especially lively.”

Wei Huan shook his head helplessly. In fact, it was all his arrangement—making the celebration bigger would have a better effect in counteracting the illness.

At that moment, Wei Jiansu smiled and said, “General Li, you’re also unlucky. The grand reward in Longyou coincides with a time when the court is most financially strained. If it had been a month later, your reward would have been much larger. I just calculated that next month, taxes collected from various places and brought to the capital will amount to five million guan. What a pity.”

“Minister Wei, that’s not quite right. Soldiers fight to protect their country. Rewards are merely the court’s way of showing gratitude and comfort. Even without them, I don’t think the soldiers would rebel. As for compensation for those who die in battle, I think the court should reconsider and not solely rely on local authorities.”

Wei Jiansu smiled and didn’t argue further. Just then, a maid rushed over in a panic and said to Wei Huan, “Master, your mother’s condition has worsened again. Please go see her right away!”

Wei Huan was shocked and quickly apologized to Li Qingan, saying, “General Li, feel free to stay in my mansion. I need to go check on my mother.”

“Please go ahead, Lord Wei!”

Wei Huan turned and ran toward the inner chambers. Wei Tao and Wei Jiansu exchanged a glance, apologized to Li Qingan, and followed him inside as well.

Li Qing’an immediately felt relieved. He hadn’t wanted to visit any ministers in the first place, and he didn’t even know why he had come to Wei’s residence. Mingzhu had already run away, and the paths within Wei’s house were complex, with alleys and flower gates everywhere, leaving him unsure of where to go. After thinking for a while, he turned and headed back the way he came—he had really liked the plum blossoms earlier.

……

The Qingyue Poetry Society had seen significant growth this year, with many new members joining. There were not only noble ladies who loved poetry but also talented scholars who had succeeded in the imperial examinations, as well as several renowned young poets. The number of members increased from just over twenty to more than a hundred—all young men and women who loved poetry. It had become one of the most influential poetry societies in Chang’an. They would gather regularly to write and recite poems, while also appreciating the latest masterpieces.

Today, they were originally planning to meet at the Qujiang Plum Garden. But one of their new members, Wei Yingwu, a third-rank official in the palace, volunteered that they could meet at his home. He had a ten-acre plum orchard that was in full bloom. Additionally, his uncle had invited several highly renowned poets to his residence, which immediately caught the interest of the Qingyue Poetry Society members, so they changed their plans to meet at Wei’s house instead.

Dugu Mingyue was one of the founders of the Qingyue Poetry Society. The name of the society was derived from her name and that of Pei Qingning, the eldest daughter of the Pei family. She had been deeply committed to the development of the society. The other founder, the crown prince Li Chu, was too busy to attend to the society’s affairs, so Mingyue quietly took on many of the complicated responsibilities.

But since her sister was kidnapped by the Hu people last year, Mingyue suddenly lost interest in the society. She missed two out of three gatherings, and even when she attended, she wasn’t as active as before. Most of the time, she remained silent. Gradually, her role in the society faded, and many new members didn’t even recognize her.

She didn’t want to attend this gathering either, but it happened to be Wei Qi’s seventeenth birthday, her close friend. She received Wei Qi’s invitation. Coincidentally, the society’s New Year’s gathering was also being held at Wei’s house, so she decided to attend.

Just as she was talking with Wei Qi, Wei’s elderly mother fell ill and collapsed, causing chaos in the household. Hearing that her sister was also there, she came out to look for her.

The Wei family’s mansion was vast, with flowers and plants planted everywhere, creating elegant and unique gardens such as the Plum Garden, the Osmanthus Garden, and the Peach and Plum Garden. Mingyue walked onto a covered bridge built right beside a small hill. Below the bridge was a pool of clear water, and the bridge was covered with grapevines. Though they were bare now, in summer they would be lush and green, forming a refreshing sight. At night, the full moon would reflect in the water below the bridge, seemingly within reach. That’s why this place was called “The Covered Bridge Under the Moonlight,” a famous sight in the Wei family’s mansion.

Mingyue was worried about her sister, so she hurried to the covered bridge. Suddenly, she noticed a dozen members of the poetry society standing there, chatting animatedly. Among them was a man in his thirties, tall and thin, wearing a green robe and gauze hat. Mingyue recognized him—he was Gao Shi, a highly renowned poet of the Tang Dynasty. She also loved Gao Shi’s frontier poems. But when she saw Prince Guangping Li Chu among them, she hesitated. She turned to leave, only to be spotted by Li Chu’s sister, Princess Lizhiqi, who waved happily, “Dugu, this way! This way!”

Prince Guangping Li Chu also saw Dugu Mingyue. His eyes sparkled with eagerness as he rushed over, “Mingyue, where have you been? I’ve searched everywhere for you!”

People are strange. Once, when Mingyue was deeply in love with him, he dismissed her as worthless, focusing only on Cui Yiyun. But after the abduction incident, Mingyue began to distance herself from him, and then he realized how beautiful she was, while Cui Yiyun no longer seemed attractive at all. No matter how hard Li Chu tried to win Mingyue’s heart, she would only smile indifferently. The more this happened, the more he valued her and refused to give up. Today’s gathering at the Cui family’s mansion seemed like another chance to him.

After searching for Mingyue for ages without finding her, he happened to meet Gao Shi, who had been invited by Wei Huan’s brother. The two started chatting, attracting a crowd of poetry society members. Seeing Mingyue about to leave, he quickly chased after her, “Mingyue, I need to talk to you.”

Mingyue stopped and asked, “Young prince, what do you need?”

Li Chu scratched his head and smiled, “Why didn’t you attend the previous poetry society gatherings?”

Mingyue replied calmly, “I had family matters, so I couldn’t come.”

“What kind of family matters? I asked your grandfather, and he said you have plenty of free time.”

A hint of disgust flashed in Mingyue’s eyes, but she remained calm and said, “Young prince, my sister has arrived. I need to go see her. If there’s nothing else, I’ll be leaving now.”

“Ah! Mingyue.”

Moonlight stopped in her tracks and asked without looking back, “Young Prince, do you have anything else?”
Li Chu sighed and said, “Moonlight, I want to talk to you.”
“Young Prince, another time! I really have things to do now.”
With that, she walked away without looking back.