He Jing talked straight through until noon. Lin Yi and Huang Xining listened intently. Seeing it was getting late, they invited He Jing to stay for lunch, and Gu Fang naturally joined them. During the meal, Lin Yi formally introduced He Jing to Gu Fang, and the atmosphere was harmonious.
After lunch, they lingered in the flower hall, chatting and digesting. Butler A Fu entered quietly and reported respectfully, "Marquis, Madam, everything for the poetry gathering is prepared, and invitations have been sent out according to the list. The date is set for the eighth of next month."
Hearing about the poetry gathering, He Jing's curiosity was piqued. Her eyes lit up as she looked at Lin Yi. "A poetry gathering? What kind?" She caught a teasing glance from Lin Yi and was about to ask more when Gu Fang answered warmly, "It was Lin Yi's idea. She came up with a line of poetry as the prompt. If anyone can match it with a suitable second line, they'll be rewarded with a hundred taels of gold."
"A hundred taels of gold?!" He Jing's eyes sparkled even brighter. "Tell me the line! I love... uh, I love being cultured!" She almost blurted out "I love money" but caught herself.
"Ahem!" Lin Yi quickly coughed to interrupt her eagerness and said sternly, "You and Xining can't participate!"
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