Taming beasts starts with understanding bird language

If Yan Xishan and other members of the Second Prince's party are now tied to the same rope with Gu Chan and are all targets that the Crown Prince wants to eliminate, then Yan Li must be the biggest landmine buried next to them.

Of course, as Yan Xishan’s biological daughter, Yan Li would definitely not harm her biological father.

Therefore, Gu Chan still has to worry about one issue at the moment, that is whether Yan Xishan will turn against her.

Thinking of this, Yuan Jie couldn't help but say, "Master, it seems that it is time to test Yan Xishan's attitude."

"No rush, the poetry reading hasn't started yet! Today is a grand event, he will definitely come, we'll talk about it when we see him then." Gu Chan said calmly.

Yuan Jie calmed down and said no more.

About half an incense stick of time later, the gate of Jiangnan Academy finally opened.

The old academician led more than a dozen academicians in the academy out, saluted and greeted the people waiting outside, and then gave his lengthy opening remarks.

After saying everything that needed to be said, the old academician announced, "Ladies and gentlemen, the Jiangnan Poetry Festival is now officially open. Next, please go to Wanshu Garden to prepare for today's first test."

"Clap clap clap..."

As the old academician finished speaking, warm applause immediately broke out outside the academy.

Then everyone followed the academicians and entered the Jiangnan Academy in an orderly manner and went to the largest garden inside, Wanshu Garden.

This garden is located in the center of Jiangnan Academy. There is a lake in the middle, surrounded by corridors and pavilions. There is also a large poetry stage built on the lake. Every year, poetry meetings are held here, and this poetry stage naturally becomes a stage for literary competitions.

When Gu Chan and the other person followed the crowd to Wanshu Garden, an academician quickly stepped forward and said, "My Lord, please follow me to the main seat and take a seat."

"There's no need to make this special! After all, I'm here to participate in the competition." Gu Chan said indifferently.

"Your Excellency has misunderstood. This is not a special case, but the rule of the poetry gathering. Over the years, all contestants with status and position would be invited to sit in the upper seats in the pavilion. It is not just for you, Your Excellency." The academician explained with a smile.

Gu Chan nodded in relief, and then led Yuan Jie to follow him to the pavilion at the highest position in front of the poetry stage.

When Gu Chan arrived at the pavilion, she found that there were already twenty or thirty people sitting in the pavilion. One of the four seats at the head was empty and prepared for her, and the other three seats were occupied by Yan Xishan, Yan Li and the old academician respectively.

Gu Chan walked forward, sat directly in the first seat, crossed her legs and said nothing.

Yan Xishan tilted his head to look at his beloved daughter sitting on his left, then looked at Gu Chan sitting on his right. His face was extremely stiff and fine beads of cold sweat oozed out of his forehead.

He also found out this morning that Yan Li had run away from home and rushed to Kyoto, where she was favored by the prince and became his concubine.

Look, at this moment he was feeling very uncomfortable.

During this period of time, in order to save the lives of all the members of the Second Prince's party, he was completely tied to Gu Chan, leading everyone to help Gu Chan to oppose the Crown Prince.

But now, his own daughter is actually getting together with the prince. He is extremely conflicted and doesn't know what to do.

The old academician didn't care about the three people. After seeing that everyone was present, he turned his head and looked at Gu Chan and said, "My Lord, everyone is here. I will have someone come up to the stage to announce the competition rules."

"Well! Let's start!" Gu Chan waved her hand and said.

The old academician immediately asked another academician to go on stage to explain the competition system.

Gu Chan sat on the chair and listened carefully. After listening, she realized that this year's Jiangnan Poetry Festival was the same as in previous years. It would be a three-day competition, with two competitions each day and different events in each competition. In other words, there would be a total of six competitions in three days, and the competition would end after the ranking was announced.

"Damn! It's only been three days! I thought it would last at least ten days! This is really troublesome! I originally thought that I could use the poetry reading to delay time and prepare for the military exercises later, but judging from the situation, it seems that I was overthinking!"

After figuring out the details of the poetry competition system, Gu Chan couldn't help but mutter to herself in her heart.

She and Zuo Wangfeng had previously agreed that the two sides would begin military exercises and offensive and defensive battles in the early morning half a month after the poetry reading. According to her idea, the poetry reading would last for ten days, plus half a month, so there would be at least one month to carry out secret deployment and arrangements.

But now the poetry reading only lasts for three days, and the preparation time is greatly reduced. She can't help but be anxious!

Yuan Jie was standing behind her. Seeing that she looked a little strange, she quickly leaned over and put her mouth close to her ear and whispered, "Master, you look a little strange. Are you feeling unwell?"

"It's okay. Don't stay here. Go around and see if Zuo Wangfeng and the other four have come. If they have, keep an eye on them secretly. Report to me at any time if they make any unusual movements." Gu Chan gave the order in a voice that only the two of them could hear.

Yuan Jie nodded in agreement and quietly left.

The academician standing on the poetry platform in front of him finished explaining the rules of the competition and announced the official start of the first competition of the day. Then he reached into his sleeve, took out a scroll and held it high in his hand and said, "Listen carefully, everyone who has registered to participate in the competition. The first competition of this year's poetry competition is very simple. I ask everyone to write a poem based on the painting in my hand. The time limit is one hour. Then the people in the academy will call out the names of the people who have registered. Please go up to the stage to get paper and pen, and then go down to write poems on the spot."

After saying this, the academician called one of his men and asked him to take out the list and call out the names.

As his subordinates called out their names, the contestants standing around went up to the stage one by one to get paper and pens, and then went down to find a place to stay and write poems on the spot.

Those sitting in the high pavilion in front do not need to go down to get paper and pens, as someone will bring them up.

Gu Chan quickly got the paper and pen given by others. Yan Li and the twenty or so rich young men and women who came to participate in the competition who were sitting in the back also got paper and pen.

The old academician looked at Gu Chan and said with an apologetic smile, "My Lord, don't worry. After the roll call is over and everyone has received paper and pen, the academician will open the scroll. Then you can look at the paintings on the scroll and then slowly compose the poem."

"I'm not in a hurry. I'm just here to have fun. I don't expect to get any ranking. The important thing is to participate." Gu Chan said with a smile.

When she was studying in modern times, she could be said to be a poor student. Otherwise, how could she open a pet shop and take care of those pets all day long? Now she has traveled to ancient times, and she is asked to write poems?

Isn’t this pure nonsense?

So at this moment, she actually felt insecure and had no confidence at all.