Hearing this, no one present moved. They were afraid that getting too close to Xiao Yang would earn them the Second Prince's resentment later.
"Ninth Young Master..."
At that moment, Ma Wencai braved the pressure and trotted over, filling Xiao Yang's cup with fine wine.
"Let me grind the ink!"
Yan Ruyu walked over to an inkstone, extended her jade-like hand, and began grinding the ink.
A masterful brush, a beauty adding fragrance!
Xiao Yang then set brush to paper, and a grand, majestic poem instantly emerged.
"When will the bright moon appear? I raise my cup and ask the blue sky."
"I do not know what year it is tonight in the heavenly palaces."
"..."
"People have sorrow and joy, they meet and part again; the moon waxes and wanes, bright or dim. Such things have never been perfect since ancient times."
"May we all be blessed with longevity, though thousands of miles apart, we still share the beauty of the moon."
Seeing this poem, the many scholars and talents present could not help but marvel, even though they had accepted benefits from the Second Prince.
"Another immortal masterpiece!"
"What a wonderful 'May we all be blessed with longevity, though thousands of miles apart, we still share the beauty of the moon'!"
"Such a poem is enough to spread across the four seas and make its name known throughout the world!"
However, the Second Prince's face twisted viciously as he gnashed his teeth.
"No! This is impossible! Ninth Brother, you're nothing but a crude martial man who has never read the words of the Sages. How could you write such a masterpiece?!"
"Second Brother, you still don't believe me? Then perhaps I should write a few more and ask you to 'offer your guidance'?"
Xiao Yang called it guidance, but his tone was exceptionally confident.
Then he continued gripping the brush, sweeping ink across the paper.
One classic poem after another from his previous life appeared before everyone's eyes.
"Have you not seen the Yellow River's waters descend from Heaven, rushing toward the sea, never to return..."
"The setting sun sinks behind the mountains, the Yellow River flows into the sea. To see a thousand miles farther, climb one more story."
"Fine wine in grapevine cups under the moonlit night, just as I'm about to drink, the pipa urges me to mount my horse. Drunk, I lie upon the battlefield; do not laugh at me. Since ancient times, how many soldiers have ever returned?"
"..."
"..."
"..."
For a moment, the entire hall was stunned.
Everyone held their breath and widened their eyes, staring fixedly at Xiao Yang's poems, afraid they might miss even a single line.
These were all immortal masterpieces, yet now they appeared as common as cabbages.
How could they not be shaken?
"Drunk, I lie upon the battlefield; do not laugh at me. Since ancient times, how many soldiers have ever returned?"
In the distance, Ning Hongye savored these lines, her beautiful eyes flashing with strange brilliance.
"Xiao Yang, just how many abilities are you still hiding?"
Central Province.
An ancient, unadorned temple.
It looked unremarkable, yet it was a sacred land in the hearts of countless scholars—
[Confucian Temple]!
Many portraits of ancient sages hung on the walls, while small bronze statues were enshrined on the tables.
The Four Sages, Ten Philosophers, and Seventy-two Worthies!
At that moment, an old white-haired man was holding an ancient book and turning its pages.
He was the Second Sage, the spiritual leader of scholars throughout the world.
With a single word, he could strengthen the nation's destiny; with a single utterance, he could support the state.
The Confucian Temple's history was longer than that of Great Xia. It had existed for three thousand years, yet only four Saints had ever emerged from it.
"Buzz, buzz, buzz..."
"Buzz, buzz, buzz..."
"Buzz, buzz, buzz..."
Suddenly, the portraits hanging on the walls began moving without any wind.
The small bronze statues enshrined on the altar also trembled violently, emitting deafening roars.
"The Sages sing as one!"
The Second Sage set down the book in his hands. His eyes gleamed sharply as he looked toward the Northern Territory, his gaze seemingly able to cross thousands of mountains and rivers.
"The north... has produced a Sage!"
"Which great scholar established such words that they caused the Sages to sing as one?!"
At the same time, at Orchid Pavilion.
Xiao Yang drank wine while composing poems. After writing countless magnificent pieces, he finally set down his brush.
"Now, who still dares say I plagiarized?"
With a trace of arrogant drunkenness, he faced the condemnations of the masses with raised brows.
The scholars and talents present lowered their heads in shame one after another.
"Second Brother, are you convinced now?!" Xiao Yang asked again.
"I..."
Xiao Ziwen opened his mouth, but suddenly began stammering. He could not utter a single word.
If it had only been one or two poems, they could still have claimed that Xiao Yang had plagiarized them.
But Xiao Yang had now recited dozens of immortal masterpieces in one breath, displaying astonishing talent unparalleled throughout the ages.
Damn it!
Why hadn't this brat said earlier that he could compose poetry?
Was he deliberately waiting to humiliate me severely in front of Fairy Yan?
How sinister!
He managed to show off again!
Xiao Ziwen was so aggrieved that he nearly vomited blood.
At that moment, Yan Ruyu's face was flushed like peach blossoms as she gazed at Xiao Yang with worshipful admiration.
"So Ninth Brother is actually the Wenqu Star descended into the mortal world! If all the world's talent were measured in a single picul, Ninth Brother alone would possess eight dou! After today, Ninth Brother's name will surely shake the poetry circles of Great Xia!"
Xiao Yang shook his head. "Miss Yan, it's not that I'm so impressive. It's simply that they're too useless! 'Your bodies and names shall both perish, while my poems shall flow on like the eternal rivers!'"
You people who mocked me will soon disappear, both body and reputation!
But the poems I have created will flow on like mighty rivers, enduring throughout the ages.
Insulting people without using a single vulgar word!
All those scholars and talents who affected refinement had been included in the insult, as though he were saying that everyone present was trash!
Yet they had no way to refute him.
"Second Brother, since I've fulfilled our agreement, you should give me that copy of Yue Wu's Art of War!" Xiao Yang urged.
"Take it!"
Although Xiao Ziwen was unwilling, he could only hand over the military text.
"If there's nothing else, I'll be leaving!"
Xiao Yang prepared to take his leave.
"Ninth Brother, wait!"
Suddenly, Yan Ruyu stopped him again, her seductive eyes filled with tenderness.
"Ninth Brother, could you give me that poem from earlier, 'The clouds suggest her robes, the flowers suggest her beauty'?"
"Of course. But I won't take it for free!"
"I am a Female Master Teacher of [Jixia Academy]. I can make the decision to open the Scripture Repository and let you borrow any one ancient text you choose!"
As soon as these words were spoken, the entire hall was shocked.
The Scripture Repository of the academy contained works by ancient great scholars and Sages, and they were absolutely never lent out.
It was said that a Confucian scholar had once read one of them, instantly attained Enlightenment, and broken through his realm on the spot.
Xiao Ziwen had previously wanted to pay a visit as well, but she had refused him.
Yet now, she had given this precious opportunity to Xiao Yang...
"Sorry!"
Xiao Yang shook his head, sounding somewhat impatient. "I already told you, that poem was written for my fiancée. Didn't you understand?"
Yan Ruyu had not expected to be rejected. Mist gathered in her peach-blossom eyes.
Her appearance, like a pear blossom drenched in rain, was so pitiful that it could inspire an intense desire to protect her.
"Ninth Brother, don't be so arrogant!"
"Fairy Yan values your poem and appreciates you. That is an immense honor!"
"If you refuse to give him this poem, I'll join forces with everyone present and ban you completely from the literary world! Even if you possess immense talent, you'll have nowhere to display it!"
Xiao Ziwen rebuked him sharply, believing that such behavior would win Yan Ruyu's affection.
Little did he know that Yan Ruyu was cursing him thoroughly in her heart...
Ninth Brother and I are in love and made for each other!
Who are you, you monster, to object?
"Second Brother, you think far too highly of yourself!"
"I, Xiao Yang, don't care a whit about your so-called literary world!"
"Laughing aloud, I walk out the gate—how could people like us be mere weeds in the wild? Hahaha..."
With that, Xiao Yang carried Yue Wu's Art of War and walked out laughing.
"Ninth Brother, wait for me!"
Yan Ruyu chased after him.
"Fairy Yan!"
Seeing this, Xiao Ziwen could not help leading a group of attendants after them.
Soon, everyone arrived at the entrance of Orchid Pavilion.
An astonishing sight appeared before their eyes.
Xiao Yang's Cloud-Treading Black Dragon Colt had somehow escaped from the royal residence's stables.
"Neigh, neigh..."
At that moment, Big Black Horse was spirited and vigorous, wildly butting against the White Deer that Yan Ruyu had brought...
Before you continue