Silence!
The entire crowd was utterly silent, dead silent!
Everyone was lost in the poem, savoring its exquisite lines.
"Wonderful! Just wonderful!"
Suddenly, a talented scholar slapped the table and cried out in admiration.
"She imagined the clouds as her robes and the flowers as her face; like the spring breeze beside the Agarwood Pavilion, she was a dewy peony basking in its gentle warmth."
"If she wasn't a celestial maiden from the Immortal Mountains of Qunyu, then she had to be a goddess one could meet only beneath the moonlight on the Jade Terrace."
"This poem is incredible! In all eight hundred years of Great Xia's history, there has never been such a brilliant verse praising a beauty!"
"With this poem, he'll reign supreme beneath the heavens, and people will sing it for a thousand years!"
"I never imagined that the obscure Ninth Young Master had such poetic talent. You've put us all to shame!"
For a time, the scholars and talented young men present cried out in admiration one after another.
Although Xiao Ziwen had urged them all to make Xiao Yang look bad tonight,
Xiao Yang's poetic talent had completely won them over. They had no choice but to concede!
"Ninth Brother's poetic talent is the finest in the Four Prefectures of the Northern Territory!"
Just then, Yan Ruyu walked over to Xiao Yang and wrapped her jade arms around his, pressing her ample bosom tightly against him.
The seduction in her eyes was practically overflowing, and she had even changed how she addressed him—from "Ninth Young Master" to "Jiu Lang"!
Her soft, fragrant beauty made everyone green with envy.
"Damn it!"
At that moment, Xiao Ziwen's eyes were bloodshot, and his envy made him feel like he was about to explode.
He had never expected that after scheming so carefully to hold the Lanting Poetry Gathering, he would end up letting his Ninth Brother steal the limelight.
In the crowd,
"General, that so-called Female Master Teacher is nothing but a shameless vixen! First she played the flute to entertain him, then she threw herself into his arms. She's obviously trying to seduce Xiao Yang!"
Azure Luan couldn't help scolding her.
Beside her, Ning Hongye remained silent.
Although Ning Hongye came from a family of military nobility, she had read poetry and books from a young age, so she was curious about the Lanting Poetry Gathering and had come with Azure Luan in disguise.
The two of them had taken on the appearance of ordinary, unremarkable middle-aged men, so they wouldn't attract anyone's attention.
But they had never expected to witness Xiao Yang write a poem for Yan Ruyu with their own eyes...
She hadn't realized that her fiancé was such a natural scholar.
But at that moment, an unfamiliar feeling rose in her heart, one she could hardly put into words. It was as though she had tasted a sour plum.
Was... was I jealous?
Just then, Yan Ruyu clung tightly to Xiao Yang, her face flushed like a peach blossom as she smiled softly. "Thank you for writing me a poem, Jiu Lang!"
It wasn't that she lacked composure; she was simply too excited at that moment.
Yan Ruyu's dream was to leave her name in history for all time—to become not only the first female master teacher, but also the first female Saint.
But the road was far too difficult!
For thousands of years, scholars had been as numerous as the stars, yet only a handful had become Saints and had golden statues of themselves enshrined in the Confucian Temple to receive offerings from future generations.
But now, a shortcut lay right before her.
This peerless poem, destined to be passed down through the ages, had been written for her by Xiao Yang. Even a thousand years from now, people would still remember her beauty.
How could she resist the temptation of having her name remembered for all time?
"Miss Yan, you've misunderstood. This poem wasn't written for you!"
Xiao Yang pushed her away and spoke coldly.
"What?!"
Yan Ruyu was astonished and couldn't help asking, "Then who did you write it for?"
"My fiancée, Ning Hongye!"
Xiao Yang's declaration stunned everyone.
The entire crowd erupted.
"What are you talking about?"
"Ning Hongye is a murderous fiend who doesn't think twice about killing! They say she massacred a city and killed her own father, and that she uses her enemies' heads as wine cups. She even eats three children in one sitting!"
"I heard she was disfigured, too—so ugly that she has to wear a mask to hide her face!"
"How could such a vile woman deserve a peerless poem like this? It's an insult to all things scholarly!"
The many scholars and talented young men shouted in dismay, looking as though they were heartbroken.
In the distance,
"General, these people dare to slander you like this! I'll go smash their mouths in!"
Azure Luan was so indignant that she was about to attack.
"No need!"
Ning Hongye stopped her. "There's no point getting angry with a bunch of sour scholars!"
Just then, Yan Ruyu asked again, "Jiu Lang, it seems you really care for your fiancée?"
As soon as she finished speaking, Xiao Ziwen beside her cut in. "Fairy Yan, you don't know the whole story! Not long ago, Ning Hongye injured her left eye, and my Ninth Brother even gave up his Spirit Eye to curry favor with her..."
He thought that if he said this, Yan Ruyu would see Xiao Yang as a lovesick fool and despise him.
But to his surprise, Yan Ruyu gazed at Xiao Yang with tender affection.
"Jiu Lang, I had no idea you were not only so talented, but also so devoted. It's deeply moving! I'll write a book about you and record this story so future generations can admire you!"
Hearing this, Xiao Ziwen couldn't help swearing under his breath.
How was this not going the way he'd expected?
No!
Fairy Yan was so reserved, so pure, like a lofty flower untouched by the world of mortals. There was no way this could be what she really wanted!
His Ninth Brother must have slipped her some kind of bewitching potion!
Today, he would save Fairy Yan no matter what!
"Ninth Brother, you've got some nerve, plagiarizing my poem!!!"
Suddenly, Xiao Ziwen seemed to lose his mind. His eyes bloodshot, he roared furiously.
What was with him?
Why was he shouting so loudly?
Xiao Yang was startled, then retorted, "Second Brother, have you lost your mind? You accuse me of plagiarism with no proof. What evidence do you have?"
"That poem is my work, recorded in the first volume of the Ziwen Poetry Collection. Many of the talented scholars here have seen it. Isn't that right?" Xiao Ziwen suddenly asked.
Intimidated by his status, quite a few people could only nod in agreement.
"Second Brother, you're even more shameless than I thought!"
Xiao Yang shook his head.
"Jiu Lang, I believe you!"
Yan Ruyu tightened her grip on his hand, her eyes shimmering with an indescribable allure.
"Damn it!"
Seeing this, Xiao Ziwen grew even angrier. Gritting his teeth, he said, "Ninth Brother, if you want to prove your innocence, then write another poem on the spot, one no worse than the last!"
He knew how valuable that peerless poem was. An ordinary person could be proud for the rest of their life after writing just one.
Writing a second one in such a short time was harder than reaching the heavens!
"Hmph! Not just one—I could write ten!"
Xiao Yang was utterly confident.
Was he kidding?
He had treasures of culture from his past life in his mind, enough to overwhelm this world's poetry scene by an entire level!
"Wait!"
Xiao Ziwen still didn't think this was foolproof, so he added, "To make sure you don't keep plagiarizing other people's lines, I'll give you the subject. You have to compose it here and now!"
"Fine."
Xiao Yang wasn't afraid in the least.
"The bright moon hangs overhead tonight. Why not make 'the moon' your subject?" Xiao Ziwen said.
The moon?
Hearing this, Xiao Yang frowned.
Xiao Ziwen thought he'd been stumped, unaware that Xiao Yang had too many choices and couldn't decide which poem to use!
"Bring the wine! Prepare the brush and ink!"
Xiao Yang declared proudly, "Tonight, this young master will open your eyes!!!"
Before you continue