The Notorious Airhead Beauty

As soon as Bai Mo finished writing, she casually put down her brush.

Smiling faintly, she picked up the paper and blew on it.

"Finished already?" The third princess looked at Bai Mo with amusement.

"I'm finished."

Bai Mo paid her nasty attitude no mind, feeling thoroughly pleased with herself.

Tang Bohu's poetry was as dashing and unrestrained as the man himself, beyond anyone's equal, every line an immortal masterpiece. Using this poem to clear her name was like being handed a pillow just as she was getting sleepy. Everything was perfect!

Immortal above, this junior has borrowed one of your poems to turn heaven and earth around. Please don't take offense.

Seeing that everyone was nearly finished, Princess Ping'an waved for the maidservants to collect the papers.

Princess Ping'an had put considerable effort into choosing the judges for today's submissions, inviting several great scholars.

She had made a grand affair of it, but what she really wanted was for Shen Qing to take first place and make a great name for himself.

About the time it took to drink a cup of tea later, an elderly scholar strode into the pavilion.

Everyone had been discussing their poems, but when they saw Great Scholar Chen sweep in like a gust of wind, they fell silent, not daring to say more as they exchanged glances.

"Your Highness, where is Bai Mo? Might the young lady of the Bai family who wrote this 'Peach Blossom Immortal' come forward?"

"Great talent, what great talent!"

Great Scholar Chen spoke frankly, his eyes shining with excitement he could not conceal. A smile on her lips, Bai Mo slowly rose and gave a particularly proper scholar's salute.

"Greetings, teacher. I am Bai Mo, but my talent and learning are meager. I hardly deserve such praise. I'm truly embarrassed."

Great Scholar Chen was surprised to see that the woman before him had such a dignified bearing, saluted him, and called herself his student. Why had he never heard of such a talented woman? Why was her face so unfamiliar?

Before Great Scholar Chen could speak, another elderly scholar hurried over. This one was a few years older than Great Scholar Chen, and her scholarly air seemed almost tinged with an immortal aura.

Many people cried out in astonishment. "It's Great Master Xiao."

The Feng Dynasty had two Xiaos: the former grand preceptor Xiao Ming and Xiao He, a leading light of the scholarly world. As the saying went, "Of the countless branches of literature, the Xiao family has mastered them all."

Elder Xiao had retired many years ago and rarely appeared in public.

This Xiao He, known as Great Master Xiao, was the current head academician of Xiaoshan Academy.

Great Master Xiao came straight to the point, having no wish to beat around the bush with the younger generation. "Which young friend wrote 'Peach Blossom Immortal'? Please, come forward."

Great Scholar Chen pointed at Bai Mo.

Bai Mo had no idea who the two old aunties who had arrived were, so she could only bow and say, "Greetings, teachers. I wrote 'Peach Blossom Immortal.' Please offer me your guidance." Princess Ping'an and the third princess both looked at Bai Yuanshuang, utterly bewildered. How could a poem written by this airhead have caught the eye of two great scholars?

Great Master Xiao was delighted and laughed heartily. "Good! A truly talented young woman. Young friend Bai, not only are you overflowing with literary talent, but your mind is also so clear and perceptive. Excellent."

Princess Ping'an asked in great puzzlement, "Great Master Xiao, Great Scholar Chen, what is so ingenious about the poem Eldest Miss Bai wrote?"

Great Master Xiao slapped her forehead.

"Your Highness, please have the flower bed in the middle removed and invite the young masters to enjoy it with us. To have the good fortune to appreciate such a masterpiece for the ages is an immense blessing for you youngsters."

Princess Ping'an visibly froze. The third princess tugged at her sleeve, and she quickly came back to her senses. Waving a hand, she ordered, "Do as Great Master Xiao says."

The maidservants went over to explain the situation to the young masters, drawing cries of surprise from them.

Once the flower bed was moved aside, the young masters slowly approached.

Suddenly, Bai Mo's heart pounded like thunder. The speed of that heartbeat...

She hurriedly looked over.

Shen Qing was at the front. He spotted Bai Mo in the crowd at once, and when their eyes met, they both smiled.

He was here too.

She was here too.

Once the young masters were seated several meters away,

Great Master Xiao took out Bai Mo's poem and said with great pride, "To be fortunate enough to share such a masterpiece with you all today is a blessing earned over three lifetimes. This 'Peach Blossom Immortal' displays breathtaking talent. Allow me to recite it."

In Peach Blossom Hollow stood Peach Blossom Hermitage; in Peach Blossom Hermitage lived the Peach Blossom Immortal.

The Peach Blossom Immortal planted peach trees, then picked their blossoms to buy wine.

Sober, she sat before the flowers; drunk, she came to sleep beneath them.

Half sober, half drunk, day after day; flowers fell and flowers bloomed, year after year.

Though Great Master Xiao was past fifty, her voice was strong and resonant, her pronunciation clear and precise, and very pleasant to hear.

When she finished, silence fell over the gathering.

A moment later, several voices rang out in praise.

"Wonderful! 'Sober, she sat before the flowers; drunk, she came to sleep beneath them.' She seems to be fond of drink, yet she is so carefree and happy."

"'I'd rather grow old and die among flowers and wine than bow before carriages and horses.' Truly wonderful! No wonder Eldest Miss Bai never seeks fame. I never imagined she was so free-spirited."

"The poem is good enough, but every line reeks of a lack of ambition. What's so good about that?"

Bai Yuanshuang muttered.

But the fourth princess beside her cut her off. "Second Miss Bai, I've heard that you, too, possess enough learning to fill five carts. How can you be so shortsighted? No wonder Eldest Miss Bai wrote, 'Others laugh at me for being too mad; I laugh at them for failing to see through it all.'"

Several noble ladies chuckled, and the way they looked at Bai Yuanshuang had changed somewhat...

On the young masters' side, many looked toward Bai Mo. Seeing how beautiful the young lady was, they blushed and began discussing her.

"Which family is that young lady from? I've never heard of her."

"I know her. She's the legitimate eldest daughter of the Earl Protector's household. She's always had a terrible reputation in the Capital, a beauty notorious for being an airhead."

"How could someone who wrote such a masterpiece be an airhead? Rumors really can't be trusted."

"Exactly. Every line of Miss Bai's poem is free and unrestrained. It seems she doesn't seek fame, so no wonder she never explained herself."

"I've never seen her attend a poetry gathering either."

"I wonder if she has taken a husband?"

At that, the young masters all smiled shyly.

Great Master Xiao and Great Scholar Chen argued until their faces were red. Both wanted to take Bai Mo, a promising talent, as a student. With such literary attainments, her future was certain to be boundless.

"Please don't argue yet, elders. Bai Mo is a notorious airhead beauty. I'm afraid she may have prepared this poem beforehand and had someone else write it for her. If that's the case..."

The third princess made it clear in every word that Bai Mo could not be trusted.

Great Master Xiao was somewhat displeased. Though the other party was a princess, her words were indeed improper. Xiao exchanged a glance with Great Scholar Chen.

She beckoned gently to Bai Mo.

"Bai Mo, come forward."

Hearing herself called over, Bai Mo did not hesitate. She stepped forward and saluted again.

"Bai Mo, what inspired you to write this 'Peach Blossom Immortal' today? There are no peach blossoms here."

Oh, now that's a good question!

Bai Mo smiled gently and cupped her hands. "I'm afraid you'll laugh when I tell you. When I entered the pavilion today, Her Fifth Highness shared a pastry with me. It was called peach blossom thousand-layer cake. Her Fifth Highness said a nun made it, and that Her Highness the Princess had specially brought this nun back from a hermitage in Mingzhao Commandery. As I ate the pastry and drank peach blossom wine, inspiration came to me. I'm truly ashamed!"