A Student of the Xiao Lineage, a Personal Disciple
Great Master Xiao nodded inwardly. This young lady was extraordinary.
"Bai Mo, I would like to test you. Are you willing?"
"All right, please do. I'll give it a try."
"Good." Xiao He looked at the scenery around her.
"This time, the subject is not flowers alone, yet it is still flowers. Can you compose another poem?"
Bai Mo pretended to ponder for a moment, then went to the desk.
"Bring me paper." There was not a trace of anxiety on her face.
Everyone looked at Bai Mo, and no one made a sound.
A maid hurriedly laid out the paper, then stood with her head bowed.
A smile touched Bai Mo's lips. She glanced at Shen Qing, her eyes brimming with deep affection that would not fade, and set brush to paper:
I urge you not to cherish robes of golden thread,
I urge you to cherish your youthful days instead.
When flowers bloom and can be plucked, pluck them while you may,
Wait not till flowers are gone, and pluck bare branches in dismay.
Great Master Xiao stood before Bai Mo's desk, reading each line aloud as she wrote it.
When Bai Mo finished, Great Master Xiao snatched up the paper and held it in her hand.
"Wonderful, hahaha! A fine poem! 'When flowers bloom and can be plucked, pluck them while you may; wait not till flowers are gone, and pluck bare branches in dismay.' It truly is a masterpiece for the ages."
Hearing Great Master Xiao's assessment, everyone was filled with admiration and utterly convinced.
After reading Bai Mo's two poems, Great Master Xiao was absolutely certain that the young woman possessed immense talent. She was no fish destined to remain in a pond.
Someone so talented could not possibly be the thief of poetry others claimed she was. No one in the world today was capable of writing such fine works for someone else.
"when flowers bloom and can be plucked, pluck them while you may," Shen Qing murmured. His heart felt full to bursting, and he was deeply moved.
A man in black robes sat at a small table across from Shen Qing. He had the air of a scholar and stood out among the young gentlemen. His features were refined and handsome, and his bearing was especially serene.
"She actually has such talent..."
"Muzhi, you know her?"
The man in black nodded. "A Ce, when I first came to the Capital, I went to Jihe Hall for treatment and had a misunderstanding with a young woman. Another young woman helped me out of it. Do you remember?"
"Of course I remember! Muzhi, do you mean this is the woman who helped you?"
"Mm, it was her. That day, my carriage brushed against the second young lady of the Residence of the Earl Who Protects the State. The eldest young lady was the one who helped me out."
The man Xiao Muzhi had called A Ce wore a look of understanding. He gave him a teasing nudge. "Great Master Xiao seems very pleased with this young lady. If you're interested, Muzhi, why not have Elder Xiao marry you off to her?"
"Hahahaha, A Ce is absolutely right."
"I think this young lady is a good match too. If Muzhi isn't willing, I'd be happy to."
"This eldest young lady Bai is seventeen and still unmarried."
"A Zhou, how are you so well informed? This is the first time I've seen her at a poetry gathering."
The men seated nearby all joined in the teasing.
No one knew what Xiao Muzhi was thinking. A smile on his lips, he said nothing and continued drinking his tea, his gaze drifting to Bai Mo again and again.
Watching Bai Mo's exchange with Great Master Xiao, Great Scholar Chen was itching to act, but she knew she had no chance of winning a contest with Great Master Xiao. If she could take a student of such great talent in her lifetime, it would be a great blessing.
Great Master Xiao wore a proud, self-satisfied expression, looking even happier than if she had composed a great work herself. She gave Great Scholar Chen a profound, inscrutable look, then turned to Bai Mo. "Young friend Bai, which academy are you studying at now?"
"Who is your teacher?"
Bai Mo did not yet understand why Xiao He was asking. A little embarrassed, she said, "I was rather unruly before, so I never entered an academy. I'm currently studying at home on my own. I only took the academy examination two days ago."
"You only just took the academy examination..."
"To have achieved so much through self-study, you must be exceptionally gifted."
Great Master Xiao walked up to Bai Mo and looked steadily at her. "Young friend Bai, would you be willing to become my disciple and study at Xiaoshan Academy? I will teach you personally."
Everyone was astonished to hear that Great Master Xiao wanted to take Bai Mo as her personal disciple.
Bai Yuanshuang was the most shocked of all. She was bitterly envious, and her hands trembled slightly with anger. When she brought Bai Mo to the poetry gathering, she had never imagined that Bai Mo would steal the limelight to such an extent.
She did not believe for a moment that Bai Mo could have written poems so admired by Great Master Xiao and Great Scholar Chen. She knew exactly what Bai Mo was capable of; she must have secretly found some men of letters to write them.
Bai Mo was also greatly surprised. Although she did not know exactly who Great Master Xiao was, both the princess and the commandery princess treated her with the utmost respect. She was certainly no ordinary person.
Bai Mo stole a glance at Shen Qing, looking to him for guidance.
Shen Qing gave a slight nod.
Seeing that Bai Mo had not replied, Great Master Xiao was even more pleased. This young woman was truly composed.
Bai Mo bowed properly in thanks. "I am willing."
"Hahaha, good! From now on, you are a student of my Xiao lineage and my personal disciple. Once the results are posted, report to Xiaoshan Academy."
Great Master Xiao beamed, thoroughly pleased with herself.
He had not wanted to come to a contest among juniors like this. But Princess Ping'an had personally visited the academy to invite him, and he had also wanted to broaden his grandson's and granddaughter's horizons, so he had come to join in the juniors' festivities. He had not expected to find such a promising seedling.
"My disciple, I'll be keeping these two poems of yours. You still need more practice with your handwriting."
Without waiting for a response, Great Master Xiao rolled up the paper and had the old servant beside her take it back.
Everyone watched and exchanged glances.
"As for the results of the youngsters' contest today, Great Scholar Chen, you and the others can announce them. I'm old, so I'll go rest first. I can't stay and watch the juniors' fun any longer."
Seeing that Great Master Xiao was leaving, Princess Ping'an hurried forward to see her off, not daring to show the slightest neglect. Today's events had benefited Bai Mo, and though she felt resentful, there was nothing she could do.
"Take care, Great Master Xiao."
"Farewell, Great Master Xiao."
The noble ladies and young gentlemen all rose respectfully to see her off.
Great Master Xiao waved with a smile, nodded to Bai Mo, and strode away.
Great Scholar Chen adjusted the hem of her robes and walked to the desk in the center. She arranged the other five works and announced the winners.
"As for the champion of today's poetry gathering, Bai Mo takes first place among the women. There should be no objections, I trust? The fourth princess's 'All the Flowers in Bloom' takes second, and the Xiao family's young lady, Xiao Yiliu, takes third with 'Burying Flowers.'"
"Among the young gentlemen's works, there were two poems over which we could not reach an agreement, but we finally settled on Young Master Qingya Shen Qing's 'Lotus Hues' for first place, the Xiao family's young master Xiao Muzhi's 'Ode to the Peony' for second, and the Qi family's young master Qi Mengzhou's 'Graceful Willows' for third."
After Great Scholar Chen finished reading the poems, though they could not compare to Bai Mo's fine works, they all displayed remarkable literary talent.
They too received lavish praise from everyone.
At this, the winners came forward one after another and politely gave their thanks!
Xiao Muzhi glanced at Shen Qing beside him, looking somewhat surprised. He had never expected to come in behind someone else. This young gentleman had kept his abilities well hidden...
"Bring out today's prizes and present them to the young gentlemen and ladies."
From the moment Princess Ping'an saw Shen Qing, her gaze had never left him. She stared at him intently, utterly entranced by his every expression, smile, word, and action.
"Yes." Several maids in fine robes of matching colors walked gracefully toward the ladies and gentlemen who had taken the top places and presented the prizes to them one by one with proper decorum.