Carefree Young Aristocrat

In the imperial province of Jiangnan, in the city of Guangling, on the third day of the third month in the twenty-third year of the Zhaohua era of the Ning Empire... The setting was bathed in the gentle light of spring, a time when nature itself seemed to celebrate. Along the shores of the Huaping Lake, visitors gathered, a vibrant mix of handsome men and beautiful women. The dashing young men, dressed in finely tailored robes, their hair meticulously groomed, and each clutching an elegant folding fan, formed groups and discussed the recent poetic masterpieces circulating in Guangling City. Their animated discussions were tinged with a hint of ambition, as if they were secretly vying for influence. Yet, their subtle glances betrayed their true intentions. These young men could not help but steal fleeting glances at the charming ladies around them. Li Chen'an smirked and remarked, "Spring has arrived, and it's the season when beasts are restless." He paid no more attention to the literary gentlemen and scholars, instead strolling along the Huaping Lake's edge, weaving through the crowd of handsome men and beautiful women until he found himself on the eastern shore of the lake. Here, the crowd thinned, and tranquility reigned. A pavilion named "Mist and Rain" stood alone, waiting to provide respite. Sitting in the Mist and Rain Pavilion, Li Chen'an looked out at the Huaping Lake once more. At that moment, he let out a soft sigh and whispered, "It seems I truly can't return." "Only this original owner's background..." The original owner was also named Li Chen'an, the eldest son of Li Wenhao, the head of the Bamboo Grove Academy in Guangling City. While the Li family in Guangling City was not excessively wealthy, they enjoyed a reputable status as scholars. Scholarly families, however, came with their own set of rules, primarily emphasizing the pursuit of knowledge by their offspring. Unfortunately, the original Li Chen'an showed no talent in this regard. By the age of nine, he still struggled to memorize even the simplest of texts, such as the Three-Character Classic. He then attempted martial arts but spent three years under the tutelage of Guangling's boxing master Zheng Haoyang without significant progress. Unable to succeed in either field, he tried his hand at commerce, purchasing a*****e in the Erjinggou Alley of Guangling City, opening a restaurant. After three years, the business failed, leaving him deeply in debt. His father, Li Wenhao, had to use his lifetime savings to clear the debts. Unable to bear the criticism of his concubines, he finally expelled the original Li Chen'an from their home half a month ago. What followed was a ludicrous incident. The wealthy merchant family, the Shen family, came to request a dissolution of a childhood marriage agreement. It was a marriage arranged when they were children, and Shen's family was gambling on the chance that Li Chen'an would become the top scholar in the upcoming provincial examination. The Li family had a reputation in Guangling City due to the extraordinary success of seven scholars who had passed the imperial examination, including father and son, which had caused the Li family's status to soar. However, they no longer resided in Guangling City but had moved to the imperial capital, Yujing City. In Shen's family's view, it was their turn to marry into the Li family. However, they had not expected Li Chen'an to be such a disappointment. The news of his incompetence quickly spread, and his name became well-known in Guangling City. Li Wenhao, ashamed of his son's failure, brought Li Chen'an back and scolded him severely. Ten days ago, the original Li Chen'an had died in despondency, and Li Chen'an had taken his place. No one knew that the original Li Chen'an was gone, and no one knew the current Li Chen'an. Li Chen'an, detached from the past, did not harbor any grudges, as he had no real connection to the previous events or the people involved. "Well, this place might be backward, but it's quieter than the world I came from." "Yes, and more peaceful." With these thoughts in mind, Li Chen'an's previously heavy heart lightened, and he decided to leave. He stood up and said to the handsome young man he had met, "You've misjudged me." He walked away from the pavilion, disappearing into the growing crowd. As he moved against the current, he appeared somewhat lonely yet proud. The handsome young man, who had been watching him intently, was taken aback by his unexpected departure. He muttered to himself, "This man is extraordinary." The young man's gaze then fell upon the Huaping Lake, where a boat was approaching. The three-story-high boat had a tall mast at the front, bearing a crimson flag with two characters written in bold strokes: "Zhongli" (**). This was a compound surname, and Zhongli had a prominent status in the Ning Empire. As the boat drew nearer, Li Chen'an noticed two large banners hanging from the bow. The one on the right read, "Eyes hold the dust, the world is narrow," while the one on the left remained blank. Clearly, these were couplets, but the first line seemed to express some discontent, leaving the second line unfulfilled. Li Chen'an couldn't help but recite a fitting second line: "Eyes hold the dust, the world is narrow, In a peaceful heart, troubles feel shallow." This impromptu response earned a surprised look from the handsome young man who had been studying him. The young man raised his folding fan to hide his embarrassment and inquired, "Is this your surname, sir?" Li Chen'an nodded and replied with a smile, "Just a spontaneous response, my apologies if it seemed inappropriate." The young man was intrigued and said, "Your talent is evident, sir. You appear quite young, around seventeen or eighteen. With such abilities, why do you not participate in the imperial examinations? His Majesty values talent, and serving the Ning Empire faithfully should be the pursuit of scholars. Isn't that what scholars should aim for?" Li Chen'an smirked, finding the young man's words excessive. He cherished tranquility, and the growing crowd made him decide to depart. As he stood up, he said, "You've overestimated me, sir." With those words, Li Chen'an walked away from the pavilion and into the bustling crowd. He seemed somewhat solitary, somewhat proud, and decidedly enigmatic. The handsome young man gazed after his retreating figure, feeling intrigued. It wasn't that he was impressed by Li Chen'an's displayed talents, but... This man seemed interesting. If he were to become a member of the Zhongli family... Wouldn't that be even more interesting? This was the Fourth Princess of the Ning Empire, Ning Chuchu, standing there with a faint, meaningful smile on her face. She wasn't captivated by Li Chen'an's displayed talents; instead, she found him... Interesting. If he were to become a member of the Zhongli family, would things not become even more intriguing?