After Niu Tongtian's examination ended, the whole episode finally came to a close, and the Spring Welcome Banquet continued.
Long Jianji remained seated high on the imperial throne, while Xue Zihan stood below the steps alongside Niu Tongtian and Tu Kun. After a song of rejoicing, Gui Lun, the East Sea Chancellor, led the assembly in paying their respects to Heaven and Earth and making offerings to the Spring God. The tables in the hall were cleared away, and long tables shaped like dragons were brought out. All manner of delicious delicacies and century-old vintages piled up on them like flowing water.
Seeing the crowd beginning to stir, Xu Yi planned to slip away.
Countless fervent gazes told him that if he didn't leave soon, he might not be able to get away at all.
Clearly, failing Niu Tongtian's examination just now had done nothing to diminish his reputation.
In this day and age, the art of divination was an obscure field. It was only natural for a poetry prodigy not to be well-versed in it; no one would demand perfection of him.
The shock caused by that inverted poem had only just begun to spread. Xu Yi hurriedly sent a message to Feng Jiu, asking him to cover for him while he made a quick escape from this troublesome place.
Unexpectedly, as soon as he sent the message, Niu Tongtian strode over and clapped him on the shoulder. Turning to Long Jianji, Xue Zihan, and Tu Kun, he said, "From the look of the weather today, Remembering Cliff should be covered in flowers. If we get there around dusk, we ought to see the brilliant rosy clouds brewing among the blossoms—a truly peerless sight. Since the Winter Palace Token is to be included in the painting, that would be