Ever since Zhang Longxiang became famous, many scholars in the Chu Kingdom had begun following news about him.
The Qingming Festival was a major festival for the Human Race. Scholars everywhere contacted their friends in Pearl City, asking them to relay Zhang Longxiang's poems the moment they appeared.
But these people soon received disheartening news: to resist the Deer Gate Marquis's review of his poetry, Zhang Longxiang had actually given up attending the literary assembly.
Before the literary assemblies in various regions even began, discussion of the matter had erupted on the Literary World's Discourse Ranking. Not only did people from other kingdoms mock the Chu Kingdom and the Deer Gate Marquis, but many people from Chu joined in ridiculing the marquis as well.
"When will poetry come? I raise my wine and ask the blue sky. The blue sky replies: the Deer Gate Marquis won't let you write!"
"Northwest I gaze toward Chang'an, alas, countless mountains bar my sight; southeast I gaze toward Pearl City, alas, Deer keeps too tight a rein!"
"Though low in rank, I dared not forget my country's woes; those high in rank forbid me a seat where poetry flows!"
"If a single poem can shake an army's morale, we're better off without that army, and without that country!"
"If they'd simply said that a suspected Rebel Species member couldn't attend a literary assembly, we would have believed them."
Soon, a new article appeared on the Literary World's Literary Ranking. Its title was "There is something I do not understand and would like to ask the Deer Gate Marquis. Who will send letters with me?" Its body contained not a single word.
Some scholars immediately grew excited.
"I'm willing to send a letter with you!"
"Count me in!"
"How could I miss something this entertaining?"