Chapter 108: Composing Poetry in Public

After three rounds of wine and five courses of food, the ministers had all drunk quite a bit due to the fine wine of Zhu Gaoxu, and one after another, they were feeling a bit tipsy.

This was even more true at the table where Zhu Gaoxu was seated.

Xu Da and Tang He were naturally people who loved wine, so it went without saying that they had drunk quite a lot.

That Minister Li and Song Lian had also never tasted such fine wine, and they were likewise a bit tipsy.

Just then, a minister at another table suddenly stood up and said, "With such fine wine and delicacies today, and with no unlearned men present, if we could compose some poetry, it would add an even more elegant touch!"

The ministers all applauded and cheered upon hearing this.

Some even cast their gazes toward Song Lian.

Indeed, Song Lian was known as one of the three great masters of poetry and prose in the early Ming, and he had composed many excellent works; if anyone present were to be the best at poetry, it would surely be Song Lian.

Yet, Song Lian clearly did not want to compose poetry at this moment; even though many eyes were on him, he acted as if he did not notice and picked up his wine cup to take a shallow sip.

Seeing this, Zhu Di hurriedly smoothed things over, saying, "Everyone is right. Why don't we take this opportunity to have a competition? Since only Elder Song is qualified to judge among us, how about everyone composes one poem and lets Elder Song score them?"

Upon hearing this, the crowd nodded one after another, feeling that what Zhu Di said was reasonable.

Some military officers who were not skilled in literature immediately punished themselves with three cups of wine to escape the ordeal.

The civil officials, however, all had some literary foundation, and for a time, it was quite lively, with good poems and fine lines emerging frequently.

Just then, one minister was clearly already drunk.

He swayed as he stood up and said toward Zhu Gaoxu's direction, "Today's banquet is primarily to celebrate the Little Prince's promotion. Now that the Little Prince has won such great favor from the Emperor, and as the protagonist of today's banquet and the closed-door disciple of Elder Song Lian, he should compose a poem today to make it a tale for the ages."

Some ministers who were also drunk applauded and cheered.

The ministers who still retained their reason remained silent or pulled at the minister beside them who was acting crazily.

Although they all knew Zhu Gaoxu was far superior to his peers, he was still at most a child of four or five years old.

Now, they were saying Zhu Gaoxu was an imperial grandson favored by the Emperor, and also that he was a disciple of Song Lian.

And now, on such an occasion, his maternal grandfather and his father were both present.

If Zhu Gaoxu couldn't compose anything, wouldn't that offend a whole group of people in one go?

The key was that among the people they might offend, there wasn't a single one they could afford to offend.

But the words were already out, and it was too late to take them back.

Although some ministers thought about trying to salvage the situation, they didn't know what to say.

The originally lively banquet suddenly fell into a low point; the ministers stared at each other, and no one spoke.

The minister who had drunk too much also came to his senses at this moment; he opened his mouth as if to say something, but in the end, he didn't say it.

He stood where he was, feeling somewhat at a loss for what to do.

Seeing the ministers looking at him, Zhu Gaoxu smiled faintly, stood up directly, and said, "Everyone, speaking publicly, we are all officials serving in the same court, and I will need your support in the future."

"Speaking privately, everyone here who has honored me with their presence at this moment is family. I won't say much more; even if I, the Little Prince, compose a doggerel poem, I trust my elders here will not mock me."

With a few words, Zhu Gaoxu completely dispelled the awkwardness among the ministers.

Seeing Zhu Gaoxu provide a way out, the ministers, being shrewd, all said, "Ah, the Little Prince is right. Today you are the protagonist, and the main thing is to have a good time."

"That's right, that's right. The Little Prince has such status at such a young age; who would dare to mock you? I, Old Qian, would be the first to disagree!"

"We are all family; the main thing is to have fun."

"......"

Seeing the banquet return to its lively state after Zhu Gaoxu's few words, Zhu Di could not help but nod; this son of his was indeed cut out for this.

Even Tang He said to Xu Da beside him, "I'm telling you, with a grandson like this, even I envy you."

Xu Da smiled and said nothing, though there was a look of showing off in his expression.

Zhu Gaoxu also took this opportunity to say, "Everyone, to tell you the truth, this fine wine was brewed by me. I will need all my elders to support me in the future. Since we are holding a banquet here, it is only fitting to have fine wine as a companion, so I shall compose a poem with this wine as the theme."

Seeing this, the ministers applauded to show there was no problem.

Some ministers who loved wine even asked immediately, "Little Prince, is that true? If such fine wine is really sold, I will be the first to support you!"

Others nodded as well; after all, this wine was truly delicious, and even with their status, they had never tasted such fine wine.

Seeing this, Zhu Gaoxu just nodded, did not discuss it further, and took a step forward to compose his poem.

"I do not begrudge a thousand gold to buy a precious blade, and I would trade a sable coat for wine, for that is how a hero acts. I cherish the hot blood in my chest, and even if spilled, it can still turn into azure waves."

This poem by Zhu Gaoxu was not a masterpiece for the ages, but the artistic conception was indeed very high.

In it, he even borrowed the allusion of the loyal minister Chang Hong of the Zhou Dynasty, whose blood turned into azure jade.

Even Song Lian's eyes lit up after hearing it; this poem had a spirit of dominance and heroism that pierced the clouds.

Many ministers cheered loudly after hearing it.

Zhu Di, standing to the side, also looked at his son with a face full of surprise.

Just how much stuff has this little brat learned behind his old man's back?