A ci poem

Wang Gang was greatly alarmed by the news. With Gongye Qian's martial prowess, who in Gusu could have injured him?

But there was no use dwelling on that now. He had recommended Gongye Qian to the county commandant, and now that something had happened, he could not simply stand by.

Without time to ask any questions, he hurried away with Wang Zhong. He glanced back at the academy. He had not managed to bid the headmaster farewell before leaving; he would have to return another time to apologize.

At the foot of the mountain, a carriage was already waiting. Seeing his passengers approach, the driver grinned, his wrinkled face blooming like a chrysanthemum. He was the very driver who had brought Wang Gang here.

Wang Gang stopped short and turned to Wang Zhong in startled suspicion.

Thinking he objected to the driver's age, Wang Zhong explained, "Old Li may be getting on in years, but his carriage is fast! Even the young fellows can't keep up!"

Wang Gang thought, As if I didn't know! This old rascal can drift even in a battered carriage!

"Quickly aboard, gentlemen. We're pressed for time." The driver waved his whip, looking positively eager to get moving.

Wang Gang wanted to refuse, but the situation was urgent and there were no other carriages. He could only glare at the driver and warn him to be careful before climbing aboard, cursing inwardly.

Crack!

The two had barely settled into their seats when the whip cracked through the air, followed by a powerful force pressing them back against their seats.

At the academy on the mountaintop.

Liu Mo stared blankly at the poem in his hands, his head buzzing. Indignation filled him. That bastard has shown off again!

"Liu Zi'an, let us appreciate it too!"

Seeing Liu Mo's odd expression, the academy students were surprised that he had offered no mocking remarks. They crowded over, took the paper from his hands, and spread it across the table to examine it together.

"Excellent calligraphy! Rigorous in structure, with its vital flow unbroken!"

"Spring in Qin's Garden? That's a seldom-used ci tune pattern!"

"It must refer to the story of Dou Xian forcibly seizing Princess Qinshui's gardens during Emperor Ming of Han's reign. Later generations composed it in lament."

"This line, 'striking the water in midstream,' must allude to Zu Ti of the Eastern Jin 'striking his oar in midstream'!"

"Look at the composition, everyone. A single 'see' in the first stanza and a single 'just' in the second each command half a stanza! Truly remarkable!"

"Indeed, indeed! Who would have thought Yukun had attained such mastery of poetry!"

Everyone at the academy praised it, sparing no words of admiration.

The more Liu Mo heard, the paler he grew. He felt he had thoroughly lost face today! He secretly cursed Wang Gang's cunning for copying this poem from somewhere else!

Shen Yu, however, laughed at what he heard. How could he not know Wang Gang's level of poetry? It was not that Wang Gang could not write poems, but his verses were forced and contrived, full of artifice and utterly devoid of inspiration. Seeing the academy students heap such praise on him, Shen Yu assumed they were desperately trying to salvage their senior's dignity and could not help chuckling scornfully.

The prefectural school students knew nothing of this. Hearing the endless praise, they gathered around in curiosity, and the academy students made room for them to take a look.

"Brother, what do you think of this poem?" an academy student asked a prefectural school student beside him, his words proud, sharing in the glory.

"Its composition is exceptional, but if you ask me, compared with the breadth of mind and spirit in these lines, the choice and arrangement of words are merely minor arts!"

"Exactly! Look at the spirit in 'counting the ten-thousand-household marquises of those days as dung'! Truly, 'pointing out the rivers and mountains, our impassioned words in full force'!"

"To my mind, it is 'striking the water in midstream' that truly reveals a hero's mettle!"

Their discussion left Shen Yu increasingly bewildered. He could understand the academy students praising Wang Gang, but the prefectural school students had no reason to lick his boots too. He moved closer for a look, and the impassioned words covering the page left him stunned as well.

Wang Gang wrote this? Impossible, absolutely impossible! As if I didn't know what he was capable of!

He turned to see an equally shocked Liu Mo. Their eyes met, and both thought of Lin Zhen at once.

Rallying his spirits, Liu Mo called, "Make way, everyone. Let Brother Danshan have a look. He hasn't written his poem yet, so don't celebrate too soon."

An academy student said disapprovingly, "Even if Lin Danshan writes a better poem, that cannot diminish this fine work by Yukun! Liu Zi'an, what are your intentions in stirring up hostility between the two groups of students?"

"Exactly! We came to make friends through literature in the first place. We ought not be intent on winning."

Their remarks turned Liu Mo's face pale. Feeling that everyone at the academy was targeting him, he could only look toward Lin Zhen, hoping he could produce a masterpiece to strike a blow against Wang Gang.

"Brother Danshan, it's up to you now!"

"Lin Danshan, of everyone here, I fear only you can compose a poem to match this one!"

As Lin Zhen approached, the prefectural school students began clamoring.

Lin Zhen looked at the paper. At first, a reserved smile remained on his face. Then it faded, his expression grew grave, and finally his face filled with admiration.

"I cannot match this poem!" Lin Zhen swept his gaze over the others and sighed, shaking his head. "If we speak only of composition, I might be able to compete to some degree, but its grand scope and vision are far beyond my reach!"

"Lin Danshan is a true gentleman!" Seeing him frankly acknowledge his shortcomings and praise his rival, the academy students could not help feeling respect.

"I am merely speaking the truth!" Lin Zhen glanced back at the poem and smiled. "With this poem before us today, my poetic talent is not at home either! I shall refrain from making a fool of myself!"

"Haha, who would have thought even Lin Danshan would find himself with scenery before his eyes that he cannot put into words!"

Someone who knew him well teased him, and everyone joined in the laughter.

"Oh? What has you all laughing?"

Wen Zheng and the instructor approached, and everyone hurried to pay their respects.

The instructor stepped forward, picked up the poem from the table, and smiled. "You were admiring the scenery and composing poems, so why is there only one?"

"Once this poem appeared, all the rest of us lost our poetic talent!" answered the mischievous prefectural school student.

"Oh! Even Lin Danshan?" At this, the instructor looked toward Lin Zhen. Seeing him shake his head with a rueful smile, he immediately grew interested and unfolded the paper to read it. Only after a long while did he sigh. "Without seeking ornament, it achieves an elegance of its own. It actually has something of Duke Han Zhongxian's style!"

Hearing him compare the poem's author to Han Qi, Wen Zheng could not resist coming over to read it too. After reading the whole piece, he felt his heart surge and blurted out in praise, "Who wrote this? What a grand vista he holds within his breast!"

Someone answered, "Wang Yukun!"

"Oh, Brother Anshi, why not invite this young friend over to meet us?" Hearing that it had not been written by a prefectural school student, the instructor also wished to see what sort of person could compose such poetry.

Wen Zheng scanned the crowd but could not find Wang Gang. He could not help asking, "Where is Yukun?"

The others looked around too. They had been so engrossed in praising the poem that they had not noticed where Wang Gang had gone.

In the end, Shen Yu stepped forward to answer. "An old servant from his household came looking for him earlier. They seemed in a hurry, so I imagine he left on urgent business!"

The Wang and Shen families had been close for years, so naturally he recognized Wang Zhong.

Wen Zheng nodded and smiled. "It seems we won't be meeting him today!"

"No matter. From his writing, we can see the man!" The instructor smiled with easy good humor. "I imagine this young man must have an open, upright heart and hold the whole world in his thoughts!"

Liu Mo's eyes lit up. That clearly isn't true! Wang Gang is narrow-minded and avenges even the smallest slight. He must have copied this poem.

He was just about to speak when a sudden pain shot through his foot. Turning, he saw an academy student glaring at him with unfriendly eyes. He promptly shut his mouth, telling himself, This isn't cowardice! This is what a man of discernment does!

Meanwhile, Wang Gang had arrived at the place where Gongye Qian was recuperating.

As soon as he entered, he discovered that not only were all four retainers present, but Murong Bo had come as well!