Chapter 247 - A Mirror Reflects the Heart
Su Yi descended from the small building, reeking of alcohol, accompanied by a group of young men who could be considered scholars and scholars by the laxest definitions. Although the poetry gathering had officially ended, these young talents of the Ruen Dynasty, seemed far from finished.
They were still making the most of their inebriation, calling out to each other in boisterous discussions, creating a rather chaotic scene.
They were currently gracing an establishment called the Red Sleeve Pavilion. Although it styled itself as a tavern, it was essentially a common pleasure house.
However, the women here were uncommonly beautiful, and there were also a good number of courtesans skilled in the fine arts. As a result, it had gained some renown among the circles of young literati in the capital. Those youths frequently hosted poetry gatherings and literary banquets here.
At this moment, Madam Li, the matron of the Red Sleeve Pavilion, was trailing closely behind Su Yi. She had tried to support him a few times, only to be waved off. Left with no choice, she followed along, and spoke ingratiatingly.
"The girls here adore you, Lord Su. They've long heard that you’re the top scholar in the capital. You simply must visit more often or else they'll nag me to death."
Su Yi, now almost completely drunk, felt his head spinning and didn’t quite catch what Madam Li was saying. He merely nodded absentmindedly in response.
The group of scholars lingered at the entrance of the Red Sleeve Pavilion. Since they were still in high spirits, they were unwilling to call it a night. Upon seeing Su Yi coming down, one of them stepped forward, cupped his hands, and greeted him, "Meeting you today, I now see your brilliant talent that is befitting of the top scholar."
Su Yi forced a smile and politely returned the gesture. Then, another person approached and said, "Your scholarship far surpasses ours, my lord. Some topics on the classics are unclear to me. I fear I may have to trouble you for guidance in the future."
"Of course, of course..." Su Yi turned to another direction and cupped his hands again.
In truth, it wasn’t just Su Yi who saw through the charade—none of the scholars present were fools. Everyone knew this was merely an exercise in flattery. Whether Su Yi possessed real talent or knowledge was completely irrelevant. Even if today’s top-ranking official was a pig, they would still be honored as the focal point of this gathering.