Chapter 497: This Gao Yang is simply terrifyingly strong!

As the red bean appeared in Gao Yang's hand, the gazes of all the civil and military officials focused on him.

A red bean?

Lovesickness?

What connection could there be between the two?

Zhou Laoyezi stared at the red bean with his aged eyes, a faint, disdainful smile curling the corners of his mouth.

He looked arrogant.

Years ago, he had harbored a secret love for a woman for decades.

Over these ten years, he had written countless poems of lovesickness that were never made public. This "composing a poem in seven steps" was, in reality, just him reciting a few of the poems he had composed long ago!

Furthermore, they had a meticulous plan for this trip.

Using lovesickness as the theme to compose a poem in seven steps was a major tactic!

Behind him lay the painstaking efforts of many great poets of the Great Chu!

Zhou Zifu looked at Gao Yang with a hint of pity in his eyes.

Young man, the literary world isn't about fighting and killing; to make it here, you need a background and a foundation!

Cui Xinghe also stared at Gao Yang, full of confusion.

In poetry, the best object to entrust with the expression of lovesickness is the bright moon!

Yet Gao Yang had pulled out a red bean.

Using a red bean to express lovesickness?

For a moment, aside from Wang Zhong and others who knew Gao Yang extremely well, the many gazes within the Jin Luandian were filled with doubt.

Shangguan Wan'er was also stunned; even having weathered many storms, she felt a bit bewildered at this moment.

Gao Yang was holding this red bean to write about lovesickness, but what was the meaning behind him looking at her so inexplicably?

Was this poem written for her?

Shangguan Wan'er's beautiful eyes flickered.

Wu Zhao's phoenix eyes landed on Gao Yang, especially as she watched the red bean in his hand, then she glanced at Shangguan Wan'er beside her, and a sentence suddenly surfaced in her mind.

This scoundrel, he wants to have his cake and eat it too!

But why does his gaze drift toward her from time to time?

Soon, Gao Yang's voice slowly resonated within the great hall.

"Red beans grow in the southern land, how many branches sprout in spring?"

As soon as these two lines were uttered, the officials were all taken aback.

Just from these two lines alone, they dared to conclude that this poem was bound to be extraordinary!

Shangguan Wan'er's expression changed!

Gao Yang paused for a moment, then immediately recited the second half, "I hope you gather many, for this is the most evocative of lovesickness."

Almost the instant Gao Yang's voice fell.

Hum!

Zhou Laoyezi's mind felt as if it had been struck by thunder, leaving his head buzzing.

He looked at Gao Yang in utter disbelief, his cloudy eyes filled with shock.

"This, this poem!"

Zhou Laoyezi clenched his fists, his face changing drastically.

The members of the Great Chu delegation were also unable to believe it.

Gao Feng looked as if he had seen a ghost, his eyes fixed on Gao Yang.

Although Gao Yang had undergone a transformation during this period and dared to take on the challenge, surely having confidence in his heart, Gao Feng still couldn't help but worry.

After all, Gao Yang had a history!

That poem about the "Big Rock" had left him with deep trauma.

Back then, Gao Changwen had even squatted on the ground staring at dog feces in the Duke Prefecture, composing a poem about "Big Dog Feces": "Looking at big dog feces from afar, looking at dog feces up close, the dog feces is indeed big, truly big dog feces!"

That day, Gao Changwen had been smug about it, claiming to be a literary star descended to earth, and immediately after, the two brothers were beaten up by him, and even that dog was stewed.

Overall, Gao Feng was still very panicked.

But with this "Red Bean" poem, Gao Feng was shocked.

Worthy of being his Gao Feng's seed!

Once this poem was out, the entire Jin Luandian was shocked, falling into a profound silence, with the civil and military officials all wearing expressions of horror as they looked at Gao Yang.

The next second.

A sky-shattering clamor suddenly erupted.

"Red beans grow in the southern land, how many branches sprout in spring—this is simply marvelous, too marvelous!"

"I learned to read at three, studied poetry at seven, and have written no fewer than several thousand poems in my life, yet I have never seen such a marvelous poem; this poem is too marvelous!"

"Lord Gao has world-shaking talent!"

"The rumors in Changancheng are misleading; if he can write such a poem, how could he not write 'Clouds reflect her clothes, flowers reflect her face, spring breeze brushes the railing, dew glows thick'? This Zhou Laoyezi might really be slandering him!"

In the seven kingdoms of the world, it is held that "all pursuits are of low rank, only study is high," and the status of scholars has always been transcendent; poetry and songs are highly esteemed, and some great talents don't even need to pay when visiting brothels.

As long as they recite a few lines of poetry, the top courtesans will pull out all the stops to serve them.

Therefore, as soon as Gao Yang's poem was out, many shocked gazes gathered on him.

Wang Zhong, Xu Xuanji, Lu Wen, and others had even more complex expressions.

With this poem, there is no longer any rival in lovesickness!

Cui Xinghe took a deep breath, his foot that had already stepped forward silently retracting.

But it was no big deal; he, Cui Xinghe, had a backbone and had never experienced unrequited love, while Gao Yang liked that Song Qingqing, as all of Changancheng knew; it was normal that he wasn't as good as Gao Yang in terms of lovesickness.

Poetry must also come from the heart!

Gao Yang held the red bean in one hand while looking at Shangguan Wan'er and Wu Zhao.

He feigned a sigh and said, "Since ancient times, red beans have been bright and round, small and hard, resembling the subtlety and delicacy of emotions!"

"Lord Shangguan, I shall gift this red bean to you."

As the words fell.

The officials' mouths twitched.

Chu Ningyu and Zhou Laoyezi widened their eyes.

They were still attacking him, and Gao Yang was already gifting a red bean?

This was somewhat disrespectful to them.

Wu Zhao's face darkened; looking at Gao Yang, who acted as if no one else was there, she had to admit that when it came to thick-skinnedness, the Poisonous Scholar was invincible in the world!

Eunuch Hong, who was beside Wu Zhao, saw this and took the red bean, handing it to Shangguan Wan'er.

Shangguan Wan'er held the tiny red bean, spreading it in her palm; such a small red bean, yet it firmly occupied her gaze.

Gao Yang turned to look at Zhou Laoyezi and the Great Chu delegation, saying loudly: "Zhou Laoyezi, Great Princess, what do you think of my 'Red Bean' poem?"

"Next, it is your turn!"

At this, cold sweat broke out on Zhou Laoyezi's forehead.