Chapter 619: The Grass Hall Poetry Gathering: Though My Belt Grows Looser, I Never Regret!

Yaoxian Tower, second floor.

Su Yun's mood today was inexplicably low; though he had long prepared the hairpin flowers, he still had no satisfactory poem for the opening verse.

He lacked neither wealth nor resources, yet he had no true scholar of the academy worth showcasing.

True Confucian scholars, possessing even a modicum of talent, always held some integrity and refused to bow for five pecks of rice.

His heart was weighed down with countless sorrows, especially by Xie Guan's refusal.

His feelings toward this Young Master Xie were complex.

He admired Xie Guan's talent, yet Xie Guan's demeanor today clearly indicated no desire to grow close to him—or perhaps no wish to be entangled with the Su family.

Even the woman he cherished, Li Shuwan, had acted the same way.

Since childhood, Su Yun had been adored by many, but that admiration stemmed mostly from the Su family's power and influence.

Yet!

Even among the Nine Surnames, there were families that went out of their way to avoid Su Yun.

Su Yun, rare as it was, took a hearty sip of fine wine to ease his inner sorrow and vexation.

Xie Xuan and Chen Jiuyan stood behind Su Yun.

Chen Jiuyan wore a form-fitting black martial outfit, her head adorned with a drooping futou; though a woman, she exuded an air of effortless grace.

"Su Yun, why are you acting so feminine again?"

Upon hearing this, Su Yun could only sigh at the princess; as a child, she had often taken a small axe to chop down trees in her grandfather's courtyard.

No one in the Su mansion dared stop her.

Even her grandfather did nothing.

Back then, wearing a red jacket and carrying broken tree branches, she had dashed past Su Yun like the wind.

Su Yun had been filled with envy, stepping forward to help gather the branches—only to be beaten soundly by her.

Even now, Su Yun still felt a flicker of fear toward this princess when facing Chen Jiuyan's teasing.

"Jiuyan, Jiuyan, you still don't understand me."

Chen Jiuyan drank more freely than Su Yun, "I don't care to understand."

Xie Xuan stood beside them; today, having ascended Yaoxian Tower, his face bore unmistakable delight.

He looked around and saw the legitimate sons and second sons of the Nine Surnames, all elegantly dressed, laughing and chatting.

As a mere illegitimate son, his entry into Yaoxian Tower was rare indeed—entirely thanks to Su Yun's connections.

Xie Xuan felt profound emotion, leaning on the railing, gazing down at the bustling square stage below.

His joy deepened; even favored heirs of the Xie family like Xie Yuan and Xie Qiyue had never been granted entry to Yaoxian Tower.

That he, Xie Xuan, had made it—this alone revealed the difference, the clear hierarchy.

"Young Master Su, don't worry; we've already prepared everything, and several of our poems are truly excellent."

"Today's Grass Hall Poetry Gathering will surely gain fame."

But Su Yun lacked his confidence; he merely shook his head.

His mind still returned to the poem Xie Guan had recited at Hongjing Academy—its bearing still left him awestruck.

At this moment!

Gong Sun Niangzi returned to the stage, preparing to announce today's opening verse.

Su Yun knew this Gong Sun Niangzi's gathering was sponsored by the Second Prince, the Prince of Yan.

Its depth far surpassed that of the Grass Hall Poetry Gathering.

As Gong Sun Niangzi announced that only one poem had been selected today.

Su Yun was startled; such a thing had happened before at the Gathering of Beauties—three poems reduced to one, meaning that single verse was extraordinary.

A wave of disappointment rose in him—why wasn't it composed by someone from the Grass Hall Poetry Gathering?

Chen Jiuyan held the greatest admiration for women like Gong Sun Niangzi; women of this world need not be inferior to men.

Women unwilling to be mere ornaments, if they did not rely on their husband's favor, could become generals, heroes, scholars, or strategists.

Their grace would never fall short of men's.

Just as the Empress Gan Yuan, who once vied for the throne with Lu Chen.

Chen Jiuyan eagerly awaited Gong Sun Niangzi's opening verse.

On the square stage, a banner was raised, and the red cloth covering it was slowly drawn down.

The full poem was revealed.

Chen Jiuyan read it line by line, her eyes suddenly brightening, and she clapped in admiration.

"Who among the vulgar understands me? Heroes at their lowest must endure trials."

She called her maid and threw all three thousand hairpin flowers she had to Gong Sun Niangzi.

Xie Xuan also nodded in approval; this poem was truly exquisite.

He turned to look at the women in Yaoxian Tower—even the Empress and imperial consorts on the fourth floor had ordered their maids to cast hairpin flowers.

Su Yun could not help but sigh: Gong Sun Niangzi had already secured a top-three position in this Gathering of Beauties.

Merely this one poem was enough to overshadow every verse they had prepared today.

Chen Jiuyan, filled with anticipation, wondered: who could have composed such a poem?

She even felt a desire to befriend the author.

Gong Sun Niangzi bowed gracefully, drawing all eyes, and finally revealed the author of the poem.

"This poem was composed by Young Master Xie Guan."

At these words,

Those in the hall had never heard the name Xie Guan; they exchanged glances, eyes filled with confusion.

Chen Jiuyan's lips curled into a faint smile.

Su Yun froze—Xie Guan had written it? Without thinking, he struck the railing, a hollow sense of loss filling his heart.

As he had suspected, Xie Guan truly possessed extraordinary talent.

Yet it was a pity—he had not written it for the Grass Hall Poetry Society.

Inside Yaoxian Tower, people began asking who Xie Guan was.

On the second floor, murmurs of confusion rose.

Lady Yuan, the matriarch of the main Xie household, frowned; she knew full well Xie Guan's identity.

She muttered under her breath, "That troublemaker from the Xie family!"

"Why should a Xie family bastard have the right to attend the Gathering of Beauties?"

Upon hearing this, Lady Zhao's face darkened.

Gong Sun Niangzi smiled sweetly on stage, explaining to the crowd:

"This Young Master Xie Guan is from the Grass Hall Poetry Gathering."

Though none present knew Xie Guan, all had heard of the Grass Hall Poetry Gathering.

"How could the Grass Hall Poetry Gathering produce a talent like this..."

Those familiar with it could not believe it.

On the second floor, Su Yun's face froze; he feared he had misheard, turning to Chen Jiuyan.

"Jiuyan, what did you say... which poetry gathering?"

Chen Jiuyan smiled: "Your Grass Hall Poetry Gathering, Su Yun."

Upon hearing this, Su Yun felt as if he had regained something lost; his face lit up with joy—he never expected Xie Guan would sign it as "Grass Hall Poetry Gathering."

"Young Master Xie, such a great favor—I, Su Yun, do not know how to repay you."

Xie Xuan, hearing Su Yun's words, turned pale.

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"Throughout my life, my heart burns hot for others."

Li Xiangjun softly recited, her eyes gleaming with admiration: "This poem is exquisite—no wonder Gong Sun Niangzi chose only this one; it's likely no other can match it."

Zhang Yunzhi, Xie Qiyue, Xie Yuan, and Xue Hong sat nearby.

Zhang Yunzhi was distracted, her thoughts lingering on Xie Guan's departing back—no friend had accompanied him to the Gathering of Beauties.

Only now, hearing this poem, did she return to the moment.

She sighed: "With this masterpiece, Gong Sun Niangzi will surely rank among the top three in the Gathering of Beauties."

Xie Yuan, however, cared only for Gong Sun Niangzi's sword dance, showing no interest in the poems.

Xue Hong also nodded in agreement: "This poem will surely spread across all thirteen provinces of Da Qi today."

"I wonder who wrote it?"

As Gong Sun Niangzi revealed the answer:

"Grass Hall Poetry Gathering, Xie Guan."

Xie Yuan's eyes shifted from initial shock to a shake of his head, then broke into a palm-clapping laugh: "Young Brother Guan, why the sudden desire for the spotlight today?"

Zhang Yunzhi's beautiful eyes shimmered with light.

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Li Xiangjun drew her gaze back from the stage.

As she had expected, Xie Guan's poem had claimed first place.

Zhang Yuan came to listen, his face lighting up with joy; with the reputation of the Group of Beauties Banquet, Young Master Guan would face far fewer thorns in the Xie Fu.

At this moment!

Yun Wan looked at Xie Guan and said: "I've come specially today with an awkward request."

"I'm bold enough to ask Young Master Guan for a poem to set the tone."

Yu Ke watched the woman wearing white gauze and said nothing.

Zhou Yuner, though close to Yun Wan, did not know how to speak up now.

Feng Yaya and the others knew Xie Guan had just refused Su Yun, Hu Yunniang, and others.

Would he agree now?

Jia Yu's expression was complex as he stared at this junior branch son of the Xie family.

After a moment's thought, Yun Wan said: "If Young Master Guan will lend me a hand, I swear to repay you for life."

"I originally planned to offer ten thousand taels, but I recall Prince Feng requested a painting and offered ten thousand taels—yet Young Master Guan still refused. I fear I'm underestimating you."

"I am but a woman of the brothel. If Young Master Guan asks, I will do whatever lies within my power without hesitation."

He Xiao's face showed envy; such a promise from a flower courtesan would surely make it easy to become a honored guest at Yuehua Xuan henceforth.

He might even become this courtesan's "bed companion."

Yu Ke looked at the woman before him, her figure graceful.

Inside his heart-sea, the great cauldron had already sounded, releasing ten thousand zhang of radiant light.

The characters upon it slowly settled.

1. Agree to Yun Wan's request. (Hint: May benefit the future.)

2. Refuse Yun Wan. (Hint: May affect the future.)

3. Ignore this matter. (Hint: May harm the future.)

4. End direct involvement. (1/3)

Yu Ke stared at the four options above.

Judging only by the hints, helping this Yuehua Xuan courtesan seemed the best choice.

1. Agree to Yun Wan's request. (Hint: May benefit the future.)

Yun Wan's expression grew urgent; time was running short, and further delay might ruin her chance to perform at the Group of Beauties Banquet.

Yu Ke smiled as he looked at her: "Miss Yun, aren't you afraid Young Master Xie's poem will fall far short of the last one?"

"Or what if he makes some embarrassing demand?"

Yun Wan's cheeks flushed red; her slender white-robed form grew even more alluring in the lamplight.

She clenched her teeth, as if wrestling with a choice.

Though Yun Wan was the flower courtesan of the Group of Beauties Banquet, her patron was a woman—and she remained a virgin to this day.

If Young Master Xie's "embarrassing demand" meant something between man and woman, some of Yuehua Xuan's patrons had already proposed it.

But Yun Wan had long made up her mind: her first time would be given only to the one she loved.

Zhou Yuner's expression turned desolate, her heart aching; could it be that Xie Guan preferred women like Yun Jie?

He Xiao, upon hearing this, noticed Yun Wan's willow-thin waist and her lovely, blushing face.

He felt a sudden stir in his belly and had to slightly bend forward.

Yun Wan had just made her decision: this Group of Beauties Banquet was her only chance to leave Yuehua Xuan.

Her choice was clear—from selling all her possessions to buy the flower hairpin.

Yu Ke waved his hand: "Miss Yun, I was only joking."

"Please give me the poetic theme."

Yun Wan raised her eyes and saw the boy walking toward the desk, already grinding ink.

She exhaled softly, thinking: perhaps such a refined young man wouldn't be so hard to accept.

She hurried forward and named the theme set for the performance at the Group of Beauties Banquet—"Butterfly Lovers with Flowers."

Zhang Yuanlei, already intrigued, quickly stepped closer to the desk.

He thought carefully: "Butterfly Lovers with Flowers" was a ci tune name.

"Butterfly Lovers with Flowers" originated as a Tang dynasty folk melody, later adopted as a ci tune;

its original name was "Magpie Treading on Branches," also known as "Golden Thread," "Rolling Pearl Curtain," "Phoenix Perches," and "Transformed Butterfly Lovers with Flowers."

It could celebrate the love between scholar and beauty, or express loyalty to family and country.

Clearly, Yun Wan had put thought into this—such a familiar tune was commonly used by talents at the Group of Beauties Banquet.

Perhaps an unexpected gem would emerge, a fine ci poem.

Its meter required sixty characters in two stanzas, each with four Ze tones.

Ci poems must follow fixed rhyme and tonal patterns—no errors allowed.

He Xiao had once composed a ci using "Butterfly Lovers with Flowers" as a gift to a beloved, so he knew its rhymes well.

Jia Yu had also written several ci poems using "Butterfly Lovers with Flowers," so the theme was not unfamiliar to him.

But!

They never expected this flower courtesan, Yun Wan, would choose such a classic tune as her theme; they silently praised her wisdom.

Yet they also knew such themes were hard to make fresh—so many brilliant predecessors had already written them; surpassing them was nearly impossible.

Feng Yaya and the other three already knew the theme and now watched Xie Guan with eager anticipation.

Zhou Yuner began grinding ink.

Yu Ke fell into quiet thought; a complete ci had already formed in his mind.

He slowly lifted his brush and wrote upon the rice paper.

"Leaning on the high tower, the wind is fine. Gazing far, spring sorrow darkly rises from the horizon."

Ink flowed as he wrote.

"Grass color and misty light in the setting sun. Who understands the silent longing by the railing?"

Li Xiangjun softly recited the first stanza; every word carried a tone of loneliness and parting sorrow.

One could almost see a solitary figure leaning on a high tower's railing, a gentle breeze brushing his face, cool and faint, while endless spring sorrow quietly rose from the boundless horizon.

The green grass and drifting mist wove together in the sunset's glow; who could understand this wordless grief?

And whom did he miss?

Yu Ke's brush did not pause; he continued with the second stanza.

"I meant to drown myself in wild drunkenness. Raising wine, singing aloud—forced joy tastes bitter."

He had intended to indulge fully, drink until drunk, sing loudly—but forced laughter tasted hollow.

Zhang Yuanlei already felt the poem's sorrow even just reading it.

A heavy, stifling emotion seemed impossible to release.

He couldn't help imagining: if he left Yaya behind, left Bianjing alone, returned to Longxi Road, and stood atop a high tower—how great would his sorrow be?

The boy finished the final line.

Yun Wan softly recited: "My belt grows looser, yet I never regret. For you, I waste away, worn thin."

Li Xiangjun froze, then let out a soft sob.

"I grow thinner day by day, yet I feel no regret. For you, I willingly waste away."

If not for love so deep it cannot be contained, how could one lose appetite, abandon wine to quench sorrow?

Jia Yu and the other three trembled, lips quivering, throats dry: "This..."

Another poem destined to spread far and wide had just been written before their eyes.

Only Zhang Yuanlei savored it slowly, chewing over it again: "My belt grows looser, yet I never regret..."

Feng Yaya leaned gently into Zhang Yuanlei's arms; their eyes met, filled with deep appreciation.

Cherish the one before you.

Yun Wan looked up and saw the boy had stopped writing, his expression calm—as if he'd merely scribbled the poem casually—yet his brows lifted slightly.

She was spellbound.

Within his breast lay mountains and valleys; in his gaze flowed rivers and hills.

(End of Chapter)