Chapter 316: Counting down the ten famous poets of ancient times

At the hour of Xu, Hanyuan Hall of Daming Palace, brightly lit, shining like daylight.

The most magnificent hall of the Great Tang welcomed the most special guests.

Li Shimin served Gu Shanhe as a guest of honor, and he himself occupied the main seat.

Ying Zheng sat on Gu Shanhe's left hand, Liu Bang occupied the right, Liu Che was next to Ying Zheng, and Liu Xiu was next to Liu Bang.

All the civil and military officials, civil east and military west, Fang Xuanling, Du Ruhui, Wei Zheng, Zhangsun Wuji, Li Jing, Li Ji, Cheng Yaojin, Yuchi Jingde, Qin Qiong... all the important officials and famous generals who could come were present.

Delicacies were presented like flowing water, and fine wines were poured frequently.

After three rounds of drinking, the atmosphere in the

Li Shimin set down his wine cup, turned his gaze toward Gu Shanhe, and asked:

"Master Gu, regarding the list you mentioned earlier, what kind of list is it? Could you reveal a little?"

Gu Shanhe set down the cup and chopsticks in his hands and took a radiant golden scroll from his sleeve.

The scroll was about a foot long, shining all over, with stars twinkling upon it and light flowing across its surface.

Inside the Hanyuan Hall, everyone's gaze was involuntarily drawn to the scroll.

"This list is named the 【Top Ten Famous Poets in History List】."

Gu Shanhe's voice was clear and bright. "Those who make the list will all receive the reward of Heaven-bestowed longevity."

The five golden characters "Top Ten Poets List" slowly floated up from the scroll, suspended in mid-air, glowing with golden light and illuminating the entire hall.

The officials below the dais were all looking forward to this list.

Cheng Yaojin leaned toward Yuchi Jingde and asked in a low voice, "Poets? Are those the scholars who write sour poems?"

Yuchi Jingde glared at him, signaling him to be quiet.

A brilliant light flared in Li Shimin's eyes.

He was not only an emperor but also fond of poetry and prose, having left behind fine works such as "Imperial Capital Chapter" and "Facing the Court on the New Year," and he felt he was no slouch.

If this list were to rank poets, could he claim a spot?

Fang Xuanling whispered to Du Ruhui beside him, "Xuanling wonders, does His Majesty have a chance to make the list?"

Du Ruhui replied in a low voice, "If His Majesty cannot make the list, then the fairness of this list would be open to question."

Fang Xuanling glanced at him with a half-smile. "Keming (Du Ruhui's courtesy name), your flattery skills are becoming increasingly refined."

Du Ruhui did not change his expression, remaining calm and composed.

Liu Bang leaned toward Ying Zheng and asked in a low voice, "Brother Zheng, can you write poetry?"

Ying Zheng did not even lift his eyelids and replied with one word: "No."

Liu Bang was amused. "I cannot either."

"It seems this list has no connection to us."

Liu Che interjected, "I learned a few poems when I was young."

Liu Bang asked curiously, "Did you make the list?"

Liu Che pondered for a moment. "I should... not have."

Liu Xiu listened to the conversation of the several predecessors and could not help but smile.

He was also not skilled in poetry and was content to be a spectator.

Seeing that the atmosphere had reached its peak, Gu Shanhe said no more and lightly tossed the golden scroll in his hand into the air!

The scroll expanded in the wind, golden light surged, and it instantly unfurled, transforming into a vast golden canopy that covered the entire dome of the Hanyuan Hall!

The brilliant golden light pierced through the palace and shot straight into the nine heavens!

All the common people in Chang'an City could look up at that immense, radiant light screen in the night sky—

Its brilliance and scale far exceeded the previous sky-screen rankings of the Emperors Through the Ages and the military strength of the Three Kingdoms!

【The Top Ten Famous Poets in History List is about to be revealed—】

Gu Shanhe picked up his teacup, took a light sip, and swept his gaze over the faces of the civil and military officials in the hall, which were a mix of anticipation, anxiety, and excitement.

"You might as well guess," he said with a playful smile at the corner of his mouth, "to whom will the top spot fall?"

Inside the hall, the sound of discussion gradually rose, filled with curiosity and anticipation.

Li Shimin picked up his wine cup and drained it in one gulp; although he was smiling, his knuckles gripping the base of the cup were unconsciously exerting a slight force.

What he was looking forward to was not whether he could make the list, but a desire to know—

Throughout history, who was the true leader at the pinnacle of the Dao of poetry!

【The ranking on this list is in no particular order and is arranged randomly. Every poet on the list will receive a Heaven-bestowed exclusive poem.】

Golden light swirled, and the text of the list was about to appear one by one.

The monarchs and officials of the Great Tang, and even the billions of souls in the entire Chang'an City, had their hearts in their throats.

The other time-space planes were also filled with anticipation.

Suddenly, above the nine heavens, the golden light cracked open.

A magnificent golden pillar of light descended from the depths of the firmament, dyeing the entire sky a warm, amber-like gold.

The light was not dazzling, but rather gentle as jade, as if it had a spirit of its own, slowly spreading out.

Finally, it transformed into a giant light screen spanning the horizon.

On the light screen, a landscape painting of the prosperous Tang slowly unfurled—

Distant mountains were like dark eyebrows, and nearby waters held mist.

Lumeng Mountain was layered with verdant peaks, with clouds and mist swirling among them, as if it were a fairyland.

At the foot of the mountain, a clear stream meandered along, the sound of the water murmuring like an ancient zither humming softly for a thousand years.

By the stream, several old plum trees had twisted, gnarled branches; although it was not the flowering season, one could already imagine the magnificent sight of the trees covered in white blossoms during the winter snow.

In the center of the scene, a hermit in white stood with his hands behind his back on a mountain path.

He wore a plain white robe, his sleeves fluttering lightly in the wind, with only a green silk sash tied at his waist, and no other adornments.

His face was thin and refined, his brows clear, and a faint, elusive smile played at the corners of his mouth.

Those eyes, however, were exceptionally bright, as if they could contain all the mist and clouds of Lumeng Mountain.

He looked up slightly, as if gazing at the drifting clouds in the sky, or perhaps listening to the sound of the pines in the mountains.

The wind rose, and his sleeves fluttered.

At that moment, everyone felt that this hermit in white might ride the wind and return to the heavens at any time.

"What a magnificent landscape painting!"

In the Taiji Palace.

Li Shimin set down the teacup in his hand, his gaze fixed on the scene on the sky screen, and he could not help but exclaim in admiration.

At this moment, the Hanyuan Hall of the Taiji Palace was decorated to be both solemn and elegant.

Five main seats were set up in the hall.

Li Shimin sat in the center, to his left was the First Emperor of Qin, Ying Zheng, to his right was the Han Gaozu, Liu Bang, and further to the sides were Emperor Wu of Han, Liu Che, and Emperor Guangwu of Han, Liu Xiu.

Five emperors, five mighty rulers who unified China or founded prosperous eras, were now gathered in one hall to watch the ranking on the sky screen.

This lineup was unprecedented in history.

On both sides of the hall sat the important civil and military officials of the Tang Dynasty—

Fang Xuanling, Du Ruhui, Zhangsun Wuji, Wei Zheng, Li Jing, Qin Qiong... every one of them was a figure who could be ranked in the Lingyan Pavilion.

At this moment, they were also looking up at the sky screen, their expressions varied.

Gu Shanhe sat in the guest seat specially set for him by Li Shimin, holding a teacup in his hand, watching the scene on the sky screen leisurely.

He sighed to himself: This scene was something he wouldn't have dared to dream of in his previous life.

Five great emperors in one hall, just to watch the sky-screen ranking he put on; this lineup was unique.

"Master Gu," Li Shimin turned his head and smiled, "Is the poet being ranked today from our Great Tang?"

Gu Shanhe nodded. "Exactly."

"This Meng Haoran is the founding figure of your Tang Dynasty's landscape and pastoral poetry."

"Tang Dynasty?"

Ying Zheng raised his eyebrows slightly, his gaze sweeping over Gu Shanhe with a hint of scrutiny.

"I remember you said earlier that the poets ranked by the sky screen are the ten most famous poets throughout history."

"Since this Meng Haoran comes from the Tang Dynasty, can his poetry really rank in the top ten?"

These words were spoken neither lightly nor heavily, but the implication of "Does my Great Qin not have any poets who can rank in?" was something everyone present could hear.

Gu Shanhe found it amusing inwardly, but he did not show it on his face, only saying, "Your Majesty the First Emperor, please be patient, and you will know as you watch."

Liu Bang laughed heartily and patted Ying Zheng on the shoulder:

"What is the First Emperor in such a rush for?"

"There are plenty of poets in the world; it's not as if only those from your Great Qin count."

"Hasn't my Great Han yet to have someone appear?"

Ying Zheng swept a blank look at the hand Liu Bang had patted on his shoulder.

Liu Bang sheepishly withdrew it, muttering, "So stingy, what's wrong with a little pat..."

Liu Che and Liu Xiu exchanged a glance, both seeing the helplessness in each other's eyes.

These two ancestors were harder to serve than the other.

Fortunately, the scene on the sky screen attracted everyone's attention in time.