"Honored guests! Esteemed scholars!"
The steward's face glowed as his voice rose above the surrounding din. "Tonight is the night our Drunken Apricot Tower's star courtesan, Miss Ruyan, receives her first lover!"
"Miss Ruyan has made her wishes clear. There will be no starting bid tonight, no contest of gold and silver!"
"Poetry alone will decide the winner!"
"In a moment, we will reveal a theme for everyone to see."
The steward pointed his folding fan toward the raised platform. "Anyone who takes the stage must compose an exceptional poem that captures the theme within five steps!"
"Whoever claims first place and wins Miss Ruyan's favor will become her intimate guest tonight, sharing a pillow with our star courtesan and creating a timeless tale of a gifted scholar and a beautiful woman!"
At those words...
The entire hall erupted!
This was the sort of classic scene that existed only in popular storybooks!
A scholar rose to the challenge and won a woman's heart through poetry!
Writers, poets, and young gentlemen from distinguished families, all of whom fancied themselves charming romantics, rubbed their hands eagerly, their burning gazes fixed on the platform.
"I'll go!"
A clear, ringing shout rang out.
A handsome young scholar in white robes leaped gracefully onto the platform, waving a folding fan.
The fair-faced scholar cupped his hands toward the audience, brimming with confidence.
"Might I ask what tonight's theme is?"
Without wasting words, the steward sharply unfurled a scroll at the center of the platform.
The painting depicted only a cold, solitary moon reflected in a river, with willow branches swaying beside it, suffused with the quiet melancholy of a spring night.
"The theme is: moon over a spring river at night!"
The steward announced loudly, "Young Master, please compose your poem within five steps!"
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