Chapter 38: If you're weak, just practice more! Writing poetry is as easy as having hands!

Of course it's me, your brother!

I didn't expect you, big brother, to be a fellow traveler too!

Li Tan beamed, wrapped his arm around Chen Yan's right shoulder, and winked and made faces.

He wore the expression of someone who had just met a like-minded comrade.

Who the hell says we're like-minded?

Chen Yan's face instantly changed; without hesitation he slapped Li Tan's hand away and said disgustedly, "You don't like men, do you?"

Why are you here?

Not only was Li Tan surprised, Chen Yan was even more surprised.

An old beggar—why would he be in a place like this?

Chunman Lou even offers male courtesan services?!

Slander, blatant slander!

Li Tan froze, then came to, stuck out his neck and shouted, "Who's spreading rumors about me, Li Tan?"

Just as he rolled up his sleeves, ready to argue, he noticed the handsome, extremely familiar-looking man beside Chen Yan and asked doubtfully, "Who are you...?"

Immediately he widened his eyes: "Jin... Jin... Jin...?!" the prince.

Li Tan was shocked beyond words, the last three words stuck in his throat.

In this kind of place, running into Chen Yan is one thing, but I never expected to also see the heir of the Grand Chancellor....

Seeing this, Chen Yan quickly cut off Li Tan's words, pointed to Yuwen Ze, and introduced, "This is my brother, Cao Jin!"

Saying that, he gave Li Tan a look.

Ah right, Brother Jin!

Li Tan understood, quickly changed his tone, and smiled broadly.

He certainly knew what that look from Chen Yan meant....

If we actually shouted out Prince Jin, the three of us would really be screwed.

Coming out to have fun, yet daring to fly our own flag, afraid the Grand Chancellor won't punish us harshly enough, right?

Brother Li, long time no see, hope you've been well!

Yuwen Ze nodded and spoke.

Unlike Chen Yan's original self, who as the legitimate son was deliberately sidelined by his father,

Li Tan, on the other hand, was greatly favored in the Li family and often accompanied his father to banquets.

He was also an old acquaintance of Yuwen Ze, so he could recognize him at a glance.

Hope you've been well, hah....

Li Tan gave a bitter smile, dragged Chen Yan over, and lowered his voice: "You've got too much nerve, bringing the Grand Chancellor's heir to a brothel?"

Aren't you afraid of being flayed?

When the Vermilion Bird Guard openly divided the loot earlier, Li Tan merely thought Chen Yan was bold.

But he never imagined this guy could be so audacious....

That's the Grand Chancellor's only son!

You scared?

Chen Yan gave a contemptuous smile, glanced sideways, and retorted.

How could that be?

Li Tan was held back, puffed out his chest, and gritted his teeth: "I, Li Tan, have lived this long and still don't know how to write the word 'scared'."

He put on a fearless, tough front.

After saying that, he frantically prayed in his heart:

Heavenly Old Man, please don't let this reach the Grand Chancellor's ears!

At Chunman Lou, an ordinary girl can accompany guests as long as she's paid enough.

But courtesans are different; they not only need money, but each has her own rules....

For example, the courtesan Jiang Li of the Luanchao Xiaozhu where Chen Yan and his friends are, loves poetry deeply.

So, to become her guest for a night of spring romance, one also needs outstanding poetic talent.

Tonight the pavilion's assignment is to use flowers to metaphor a person, written for Miss Jiang Li.

"Blushing peach blossoms reflect her rosy cheeks, her shy smile enters the eyes. Where the spring breeze passes, fragrance fills the sleeves, just like a fairy descending from the nine realms."

A young man resembling a scholar stood up, walked seven steps, and loudly recited.

The words fell.

Instantly the hall erupted in applause.

"Graceful iris, long dancing sleeves, like a fairy blooming with strange fragrance. Her graceful figure rises with the wind, her charm endless."

The young man in blue robes at another corner of the pavilion, unwilling to be outdone, closely followed.

Another round of applause.

Zhao Lingyi listened to those vulgar verses, the corner of his mouth involuntarily curling into a sneer; after one person finished, he stood up and glanced disdainfully at the crowd:

"The cold plum stands proudly against the snow on the cliff, like a lofty recluse hidden from the world. Its solitary silhouette preserves a proud bone, not following vulgar customs, holding fast to the heart."

Having finished reciting loudly, he also unfolded his folding fan and gave it a light wave.

As if victory were already in his grasp.

Good poem!

Good poem ah!

Using plum blossoms to metaphor Miss Jiang Li is truly fitting!

When Zhao Lingyi's poem came out, its conception instantly rose, making the previous poems dim and dull, and everyone inside the pavilion buzzed with discussion.

On the upper floor.

Jiang Li, wearing a veil, after tasting it carefully, looked down at Zhao Lingyi, the focus below, and murmured, "This poem is not bad...."

"Although it's somewhat deliberately flattering, it's still a rare gem!"

Immediately, they pointed to the maid beside them.

If nothing unexpected happens, this person will be tonight's guest of honor.

"Big brother, why not change to another courtesan?"

Li Tan glanced at the smug Zhao Lingyi, tugged at Chen Yan's sleeve, and asked, "We're martial artists who wield swords and spears; who would bother with this fussy poetry?"

"This Jiang Li courtesan probably won't get a chance...."

Having said that, they couldn't help but sigh.

Full of regret.

Li Tan still had a good sense of self-awareness.

He's skilled at killing, ransacking, fighting, and handling cases, but this literary business isn't something you can fake just by putting on scholar's robes.

The Jiang Li courtesan probably has no role left; it'd be better to go early to another courtesan's place—maybe you could smash it open with silver....

"Just practice more, you idiot!"

"Just because you can't doesn't mean I can't!"

"Writing poetry just takes having hands!"

Chen Yan smiled faintly, patted Li Tan on the shoulder, and mocked.

"Tch!"

Li Tan pursed his lips, "Big brother, just keep bragging!"

"Writing poetry just takes having hands?"

"If you had some literary talent, the Grand Secretary would assign you to a civil post, not keep you in the all-military Censorate."

"Don't believe me?" Chen Yan raised his eyebrows.

"Don't believe it!"

Li Tan had no hesitation, speaking decisively.

"If I manage to win Jiang Li, you'll pay for our three brothers' night out!" Chen Yan's eyes flashed with a hint of mischief as he spoke teasingly.

"Good."

Li Tan nodded and said in kind, "If you don't succeed, I'll cover your brother's month of pleasure-seeking—how about that?"

"It's a deal!" Chen Yan snapped his fingers.

Yuwen Ze watched the two men setting up the betting pool, didn't try to stop them, and just enjoyed the spectacle, not minding if things got big.

Regardless of who wins or loses, the host is already set.

"Any other young masters have poems?"

The maid Doukou swept her gaze across the hall and asked.

She paused, seeing no response, then continued, "If there isn't, then this young master will be tonight's...."

Saying that, she raised her hand and pointed at the smug Zhao Lingyi.

Clouds think of robes, flowers think of beauty, Chunfeng Fujian Lu Hua Nong.

"If not seen atop the Jade Mountain, one would meet beneath the moon on the Jade Terrace!"

Chen Yan spoke up at the right moment and recited loudly.

The reason he waited until now was that countless predecessors' experiences of manifesting sagacity told Chen Yan:

"Only by seizing the moment can one wield the pen to its utmost!"

"'Clouds think of robes, flowers think of beauty... Clouds think of robes, flowers think of beauty!'"

But the crowd's attention wasn't on Chen Yan's little thoughts; it was all on the poem. The person who first recited it, after repeatedly murmuring it, suddenly burst into loud laughter: "Hahahaha!"

"Once this poem appears, it will surely go down in history!"

A cyan-fir young man from the Imperial Academy widened his eyes and murmured repeatedly, "Clouds think of robes, flowers think of beauty, Chunfeng Fujian Lu Hua Nong!"

"A divine product, a divine product!"

"Our Great Zhou also has a stunningly talented poet!"

"Coming to tonight's Luanchao Xiaozhu wasn't in vain...." The blue-robed man, overjoyed, shouted excitedly to his friends on either side, "To witness the birth of a timeless line with my own eyes is also a fortune!"

The originally settled Luanchao Xiaozhu boiled over again because of Chen Yan's poem.

The crowd whispered to each other, discussing heatedly.

Moreover, many people, after calming their emotions, immediately turned and left, intending to go elsewhere to spread this poem.

The maid Doukou walked up to Chen Yan, performed a leisurely bow, and respectfully asked, "May I know your name, young master?"

"I am Cao Kun, the Cao of Cao Wu, the Kun of sunrise...." Chen Yan smiled faintly, clasped his fists, and spoke loudly.

The name Cao Kun was not casually made up; it was Chen Yan's former name.

"Cao Kun?"

"Never heard of him?"

"When did Chang'an have such a figure?"

The people from the nearest Imperial Academy stared at each other, puzzled.

This is an extremely unfamiliar name, never seen before....

But they were all convinced that after tonight, the name Cao Kun would surely echo throughout Chang'an's literary circles!

A single line 'Clouds think of robes, flowers think of beauty' is enough for this person to leave their name in history.

"Young Master Cao, I don't know what this poem is called?" Doukou asked.

Chen Yan lifted his head, his gaze meeting Jiang Li's as she looked up at the pavilion, and he smiled, saying: "Luanchao Xiaozhu gives to Jiang Li."

"Young Master Cao, my young lady invites you!" Doukou said with a smile at the corner of her mouth, slightly turning her body, and made a gesturing invitation.

The selection of tonight's guests has finally been completely settled.

"I can't write poetry; could it be that I can't even copy it?"... Chen Yan laughed inwardly, teasingly turned his head to look at Li Tan, and said poignantly: "Old Li, remember you have to accept the loss if you lose the bet!"

"How the hell does this even work??"

Li Tan felt like he was about to fall apart.