Chapter 397: Extremely Awesome Genius Heng Xian

Luo Xuan of the State Altar Academy is the best at pretending to be profound!

What a bunch of nonsense, what the heck is this!

On the Imperial Academy side, Ge Shu Daotou and others couldn't help but slander.

But I can't deny that their poem is really good, and their sword dance is fine too!

At that moment, a large group of girls below shouted loudly: "Luo Xuan! Luo Xuan!"

Even Jiang Xiaoyu from the Princess Taiping's chambers ran out, clasping her hands and shouting: "Luo Xuan senior brother, you're the strongest, you're invincible!"

Sun Qianqian and Mulan also had bright eyes, walking out of the room.

Only Ji Yaoyue remained seated, motionless.

Ji Yaofan glanced at her and said: "Older sister, why don't you go take a look? This Luo Xuan is truly not bad, coming from the thousand-year-old Luo clan, his grandfather is Marquis Wuyang, and he's clean-cut and handsome; if you're interested..."

"Shut up!" Ji Yaoyue said expressionlessly: "You're far inferior to your brother-in-law, vulgar!"

Ji Yaofan opened his mouth, angry and resentful: "You're just bewitched, I will never acknowledge him as my brother-in-law!"

"I live my own life, why do you need my acknowledgment?" Ji Yaoyue rolled her eyes.

Ji Yaofan snapped: "If you've got the guts, have him write a poem like this!"

"I won't!" Ji Yaoyue said indifferently.

Luo Xuan, full of pride in mid-air outside, returned to the students of the State Altar Academy.

But just then!

On the lake's center ahead, another Hanlin scholar leapt down from a flower boat, holding up a sheet of Xuan paper and shouting: "Excellent work! Excellent work! Hahaha…"

Looking utterly mad!

The crowd, a sea of black heads, looked over again, and instantly an uproar rose:

Thought this round was over, but someone else jumps in mid-way?

Today's strange!

Shush, listen what that is!

……

That Hanlin scholar rushed into the Princess Chang Gongzhu's chambers, and instantly there was a gasp inside.

Then Wang great master took a deep breath, walked out, held up the Xuan paper, looked around, waited for everyone to quiet down, and said: "This poem is again of the utmost excellence; please, everyone, savor it together!"

He read aloud: "The poem is titled 'Viewing the Peak'; how is Qi Mingfu? The divine Zhou Qing never ends…"

Hearing this, the sea of black heads in the square couldn't help but turn their gaze to the southwest, where Mount Qi Ming stands—the origin of the capital Qi Prefecture of the Great Zhou Dynasty, and also the mother mountain of the Great Zhou!

It turns out the song praises this mountain!

"Plagiarist" Heng Xian never gave it much thought back then; he simply felt the world lacked Mount Tai, so he casually tweaked a few lines—Du Fu wouldn't sue him anyway—and later spreading it would be quite fitting! He never imagined the effect would come so soon!

Creation concentrates the divine beauty; yin and yang divide day and night!

When Wang great master read this line, many nodded repeatedly: "Not bad, this description fits Qi Ming Mountain perfectly!"

Heaving chest gives rise to layered clouds; gazing far, the returning birds enter the pupils.

The artistic conception emerged, making hearts surge; this description is absolutely superb!

I will climb to the supreme peak and behold all mountains small!

After the whole poem was recited, the crowd fell silent again.

I will climb to the supreme peak and behold all mountains small…

Many silently repeated it over and over.

Soon someone exclaimed: "Holy shit! Absolutely amazing!"

Marvelous! Marvelous! Marvelous!

Beyond wonderful!

A stroke of divine inspiration!

The poem's artistic conception was brought to life by the final line, the 'dragon's eye' stroke, instantly vibrant; this grandeur rivals even the earlier 'Bring in the Wine'!

I will climb to the supreme peak and behold all mountains small!

What kind of invincible spirit is this??

It's practically overflowing with flamboyant energy!

The people of the State Altar Academy, who had been secretly pleased, had their expressions freeze.

The students of the Imperial Academy also fell silent.

Crack!

Inside the Crown Prince's chambers, the crystal-clear jade-light wine cup was crushed to pieces.

The Crown Prince's eyes slightly reddened: "Behold all mountains small…"

In the Prince Qin's chambers.

The ever laid-back, seemingly indifferent younger brother of His Majesty, Prince Qin, had sharp eyes, obviously resonating with the poem!

In the Princess Taiping's chambers.

Jiang Xiaoyu cursed: "Damn it! Luo Xuan senior brother's limelight has been snatched away again!"

Sun Qianqian fell silent for a moment, then helplessly said: "This poem's conception is indeed vast and profound; overall, it's an absolute masterpiece, impossible to surpass!"

Ji Yaofan was trembling all over, drinking the small cup of liquor nonstop.

Ji Yaoyue felt pity for her brother, brows slightly furrowed, and scolded: "Stop drinking!"

Ji Yaofan shook his head desperately: "I want to drink! This poem is Fate With Me!"

Who else is the author of this poem??

Yeah! Come out and show yourself!

At this moment, on the square, someone shouted loudly.

Mr. Wang's face was strangely abnormal; he looked toward the lake and shouted, "Miss Mo, please appear again!"

Whoosh—

Countless pairs of eyes looked over; when they saw the flower boat again, everyone became unsettled!

Again, her?

No way?

These two divine poems, were they both made by a single courtesan woman?

This is impossible...

Have they gone mad?

Absolutely not her! A former guest of the Drunken Heart Pavilion, with a solemn expression, said: "I have been a patron of Mo Xianglian; she only writes bland, water-like ladies' lament poems, not even neat, where does she get this aura? I wouldn't believe it even if beaten to death!"

Amidst the sky‑full doubts, Mo Xianglian again trembled as she stepped forward, facing countless gazes, her head swam, her body went limp, and she wanted to burrow back into the flower boat.

Seeing this, everyone in the hall felt great disappointment!

How could such a lowly person produce these two poems?

Wait!

At that moment, inside the Chang Gongzhu's chambers, a group of people escorted out a dignified and beautiful lady—none other than the Chang Gongzhu herself.

Without waiting for everyone to pay respects, she fixed her gaze on the panicked Mo Xianglian and coldly questioned: "Where did you obtain the 'Bring in the Wine' and this 'Viewing Yue' poem?"

Mo Xianglian nearly fainted from fright, quickly knelt and said: "These two poems were not composed by me; I merely feared this occasion and had no chance to reveal the poet's name!"

Exactly!

Now that's right!

The entire venue breathed a sigh of relief.

Chang Gongzhu, looking down from above, questioned again: "Who composed them? Speak the truth!"

Everyone held their breath.

Then Mo Xianglian said: "One of my patrons, a stranger, Heng Xian from East Mist!"

East Mist Heng Xian?

Everyone in the venue immediately exchanged glances, and soon a thought surged in someone's mind!

Isn't this… the prince consort who never married into Princess Taiping's family? I heard he comes from a small town in East Mist, Chu State.

'Heng Xian?' Chang Gongzhu's face froze.

'Heng Xian?'

Prince Qin and the Crown Prince simultaneously grew stern, their brows slightly furrowed.

This person has recently been in the limelight, but only thanks to Princess Taiping's favor; now he actually… can produce such poetry??

His state of mind is so vast?

'Big brother, the aura is boundless, hahaha…'

In a private elegant room, Xu Youzhi, Cao Wei and a group of people suddenly leapt up, sharing in the honor!

Thud!

In Princess Taiping's chambers, the wine jar in Mu Lan's hand suddenly fell to the ground and shattered into pieces.

Ji Yifan jumped up with a 'whoosh', his face utter disbelief: 'Heng, Heng Xian? That good‑for‑nothing fellow?'

Jiang Xiaoyu and Sun Qianqian simultaneously looked at Ji Yaoyue, their faces full of surprise.

Ji Yaoyue was completely stunned; she never imagined that Heng Xian could produce such beautiful poetry!

'No, it couldn't be the same name, could it?' Jiang Xiaoyu stammered.

Sun Qianqian exhaled: 'East Mist Heng Xian! How many East Mist Heng Xians are there?'

'That's right too!' Jiang Xiaoyu asked Ji Yaoyue: 'This, this fellow actually has so much talent—one cannot judge a book by its cover!'

Who would have thought Ji Yaoyue had no mind to pay her any heed, instead she gritted her teeth and said: 'He! Actually! Went! To! The! Brothel!'

……

At this moment, Chang Gongzhu was still staring at Mo Xianglian on the flower boat on the lake, her expression unchanged as she said: 'Oh? Where is he?'

Mo Xianglian kowtowed and said: 'He might still be in my room!'

This bastard!

In Princess Taiping's chambers, Ji Yaoyue made a move to rise.

'Let's talk after the poetry gathering ends!' Jiang Xiaoyu and Sun Qianqian hastily grabbed her.

Outside, Chang Gongzhu chuckled lightly and asked: 'Oh? Was it him who had you pass this along?'

The nobles of the Great Zhou Dynasty stared fixedly at Mo Xianglian, eagerly offering, yet he did not come; although talented, he seemed a bit self‑aggrandizing!

Who would have known Mo Xianglian shook her head like a rattle drum: 'No no no! He never had the intention to join the poetry gathering, nor does he really understand it; I invited him to be my guest advisor, but he showed no interest in me, so I washed his feet, and in exchange I received these few poems!'

'Washing feet in exchange?' Chang Gongzhu exclaimed in surprise.

'Yes!' Mo Xianglian, frightened to tears, said: 'I, a woman utterly ignorant of literature, was invited here but had not composed any poems; I happened to meet Master Heng, asked him for guidance, he was indifferent, saying if I washed his feet he would reward me with a few poems; hearing this, I gladly agreed.'

I'm off!

Invincible!

The hall filled with nobles and officials was an uproar of bewilderment; even the courtesans didn't sleep, washing feet for two timeless supreme poems—what kind of ghostly maneuver is this?

What kind of ghostly mighty person is this Heng Xian??

No! This is worthy of the poem's arrogance and grandeur!

In Princess Taiping's chambers, Ji Yaoyue calmed down a bit.

Chang Gongzhu, however, seized the point at this moment: 'Oh? How many poems? Could he have other verses?'

All the nobles in the hall immediately held their breath.

Just then Mo Xianglian said: "There are still two more! The latter one is one of the themes of this occasion, describing battlefield formations; the last one is what he sent to the young lady!"

One more can be sent……

A black mass of people stared at each other.

Chang Gongzhu's eyes lit up: "Present it!"

(End of chapter)