Chapter 3: Who Else Is There?

"A hazy mist covers the river, a black hole sits upon the well. The yellow dog is white all over, the white dog is swollen all over."

Chen Ruoshi recited it silently several times, a strange look appearing in her eyes.

Chen Ping also looked at Liu Zheng with disbelief.

The entire venue was stunned for a moment.

This poem is marvelous! The entire piece describes snow, yet it does not contain a single "snow" character; however, the various forms of "snow" are vividly portrayed, especially the final word "swollen," which is truly evocative and can be called the finishing touch. It is natural and unadorned, with a unique style. Though it sounds simple, it has reached the realm of returning to simplicity.

Watching the stupefaction of these people, Liu Zheng felt quite smug.

This is the ancestor of doggerel from his past life!

It is the number one doggerel under heaven. Although it is doggerel, its attainment is very deep, not a whit weaker than those poems from just now. However, this world does not have it, so Liu Zheng exercised "borrowing-ism," which was more than enough to fool this crowd.

"Good!"

"A good poem!"

Many people who knew their stuff praised it one after another.

Chen Ping narrowed his eyes slightly: "Is the Liu Township Marquis present?"

Liu Dahao, who had already been startled by his son's sudden display of power, stood up drenched in sweat upon hearing the Prefect call him: "Prefect, this humble one is here!"

Chen Ping chuckled: "Haha, you and I are old friends of many years, why be so formal? Your son has great courage; if I were to drive him away, wouldn't that imply that I, a dignified Prefect, have too small a heart?"

"Continue!"

Liu Dahao cursed inwardly; old friends of many years, yet you swindled me out of a million silver? He naturally dared not say these words out loud.

"What does Ruoshi think?"

Chen Ping looked toward Chen Ruoshi.

Chen Ruoshi shot a knife-like glare at Liu Zheng, gave a slight huff, and sat down, no longer making things difficult. She did not believe this playboy spendthrift could pass the next round!

"Good, one hundred people are enough; next, the second round!"

After Liu Zheng, several more people qualified; the top one hundred were overjoyed, as if their futures were now in sight.

This second round was to be set by Wang Xueshi of the Taishoufu. Wang Xueshi was a white-haired old man who stroked his beard and chuckled: "It is said that water is the bone of wine, and wine is the soul of poetry. Since we are all gathered here today, let us take 'wine' as our theme and each perform as we wish!"

Wine?

Liu Zheng rolled his eyes.

Sure enough, upon hearing the theme of "wine," Chen Ruoshi's sharp, piercing gaze glared at Liu Zheng once more. It seemed that the drunken spectacle from yesterday would be held against him by this woman forever.

This time, it was the Young Prince Xie Kangcheng who stood up first, laughing arrogantly: "Allow me to take the lead this time!"

"The fire is banned in the rain, the empty study is cold; I sit alone listening to the orioles on the river.

Holding wine, I look at the flowers and think of my brothers; in Duling, the cold food festival grass is green and lush."

This Young Prince had great literary talent, but his poems always leaned toward the desolate and cold; it was unknown if he was deliberately trying to please Chen Ruoshi, but he had indeed successfully attracted several gazes from her.

Bai Chufeng also stood up.

"The clear fragrance brushes the dew against the high study; pouring wine is the only way to wash away the traveler's sorrow.

Unlike the spring breeze showing off its red beauty; in the mirror, the jade person's hairpin falls in vain."

The artistic conception of this poem was not common; it was actually quite a bit stronger than the Young Prince's.

The dozens of people who followed were not as brilliant as the first two. Then, everyone looked at Liu Zheng, their gazes speaking for themselves. They all felt that Liu Zheng had just been a blind cat bumping into a dead mouse earlier, or perhaps he had bought the poem with money. Who could believe that a playboy spendthrift would suddenly have such a surge in literary talent?

Wine?

Liu Zheng smiled slightly and stood with his hands behind his back.

Drinking wine and composing poetry, is that all?

He suddenly began to feel grateful to his middle school homeroom teacher... back then, it was he who held the ruler, forcing him to memorize those three hundred Tang poems and five hundred Song lyrics.

Looking at it now, it was all capital!

He picked up a cup of wine, gulped it down, let out a "ha," and recited loudly:

"When will the moon be clear and bright? With a cup of wine in my hand, I ask the blue sky.

I do not know what season it would be in the heavens on this night.

I wish to ride the wind to return there, yet I fear the jade towers and crystal palaces, at such heights, would be too cold to endure.

Rising to dance and play with my clear shadow, how could it compare to the human world?

It turns the vermilion pavilion, lowers the silk-latticed windows, and shines upon the sleepless.

It should have no grudges, so why is it always full when people are apart?"

"..."

The entire venue was silent.

The look in every pair of eyes was indescribable.

This is... a lyric?

*Clack. *

The Chopsticks in Chen Ruoshi's hand could not help but fall to the ground.

"People have sorrows and joys, parting and meeting; the moon has brightness and dimness, waxing and waning. This has been difficult to perfect since ancient times.

May we all be blessed with longevity, though far apart, we are still able to share the beauty of the moon together."

"Good!"

"This..."

"A good lyric!"

This lyric naturally went without saying; the artistic conception was beautiful and flawless.

Everyone listened, completely entranced.

The several thousand people at the scene raised their cups and drank in unison. The atmosphere of the Poetry Gathering was brought to a peak by this "Water Melody" from Liu Zheng. Chen Ping also looked over in shock and suspicion, but he did not forget to raise the cup of wine in his hand.

"I wish to compose one hundred poems, and sleep in a wine shop in Jinling. When the Viscount calls, I refuse to board the boat, claiming myself to be the Wine Immortal!"

Liu Zheng felt he had not yet had his fill, gradually entering a state of perfection.

Suddenly, he felt that everything before his eyes was quite interesting.

Since he had to play, he would play big.

Yesterday he urinated at the Poetry Gathering, today he displays his might at the Poetry Gathering.

In terms of madness, does this not also have the same marvelous effect?

If Li Taibai refused to board the boat when called by the Viscount after drinking, would that not be even more rebellious and even madder than urinating in public?

Suddenly, he began to like the "Liu Zheng" whose body he had usurped. The people of the world do not understand you, but I do!

Another one?

And it is another good poem!

Many people gasped.

The crowd, hearing this, felt their desire for wine surge and began to cheer.

"In Peach Blossom Dock stands Peach Blossom Hermitage, beneath Peach Blossom Hermitage dwells the Peach Blossom Immortal.

The Peach Blossom Immortal plants peach trees, then picks peach blossoms to sell for wine money.

When sober, he sits only before the flowers; when drunk, he sleeps beneath the flowers.

Half-sober, half-drunk, day after day; flowers fall and flowers bloom, year after year!"

Liu Zheng could not stop at all. Although the Turbid Wine in his hand tasted far worse than the white spirits of later generations, he did not care. He thought of his past life as a 996 corporate slave, but that was his life after all... Now, he could never go back; only by getting drunk could he bid farewell to the past and begin his new life.

The others, hearing these poems that sounded like the work of a god, which they had never heard before, naturally would no longer doubt the literary talent of this spendthrift Liu Zheng. They only wondered: could it be that this lad had been hiding his light all along?

But the one even more shocked was actually Chen Ruoshi.

Why was this lecher so talented? Everyone knew that Chen Ruoshi was the number one talented woman of Liangzhou, most obsessed with poetry and songs.

Then why were his performances yesterday while drunk and today after getting heavily drunk so vastly different?

Could it be that he just wanted to take advantage of her?

Thinking of this, she could not help but spit, and a blush flashed across the face that had always maintained a calm expression.

"Good poem!"

"Young Master has great talent!"

"I announce that the third round officially begins!"

The top ten were already without suspense, and Liu Zheng was ranked first with an absolute advantage.

Liu Zheng, however, did not care anymore; he sat there laughing, his expression calm.

At this moment, he seemed to have completely merged with this unfamiliar ancient world before his eyes. He was Liu Zheng, and Liu Zheng was him!

Eyes gathered on Chen Ruoshi, but she looked at Liu Zheng with a complex expression.

This lecher seemed different from the past today, and it just so happened that she had announced the selection of a husband. If she let him win, then wouldn't that be...? Chen Ruoshi, with her mixed feelings, did not notice that her gaze had lingered on Liu Zheng for too long.

This caused Xie Kangcheng and Bai Chufeng to simultaneously begin to view Liu Zheng with hostility. Who could have imagined that such a dark horse would emerge at this year's Poetry Gathering? Originally, wherever the two of them went, they were talented men sought after by all, but now their thunder had been stolen by this spendthrift Liu Zheng!

"Miss Chen, please set the topic!"

Bai Chufeng could not hold back.

Chen Ruoshi pondered for a moment, parted her red lips slightly, and without the slightest affectation said: "Since it concerns the selection of a husband, it cannot escape the word 'love'. Everyone, take 'love' as the topic; the subject matter is not limited, feel free to express yourselves."

Everyone laughed.

As expected of a woman, when it comes to poetry, one can never escape love and romance.

Love poems.

There was probably no one present who did not know how to write them.

Hearing this, Bai Chufeng was overjoyed. Everyone knew he was famous for writing love poems, and upon hearing about the husband selection, he had already prepared a response in his heart.

"In dreams I linger, arriving at the Xie Family, through small corridors winding and curved railings slanted.

Only the spring courtyard moon is affectionate, still shining on the fallen flowers for the departed.

Deeply pitying the wind and moon for being so affectionate, yet when spring arrives, parting sorrow is born.

Leaning against the pillar in thought, feeling doubly melancholy, a spring dream is unclear."

"Good!"

"Fitting for the occasion!"

Using a poem as a letter, writing about meeting a lover in a dream, the reluctance to part, the lingering sorrow—it made people feel as if they were experiencing it themselves, as moving as a song and as sad as a sob.

It seemed that in the final round, everyone was going to bring out their ultimate moves.

Xie Kangcheng gave a cold snort.

"Half a year has passed since you left, letters have ceased, my heart is knotted with a thousand sorrows of parting.

Hard to meet, easy to part, again the jade tower flowers are like snow.

Secretly longing, nowhere to speak, melancholy in the night with the misty moon.

Thinking of this moment, the love is intense, tears stain the red sleeves."

It was actually a lyric! Starting straight to the point, it exhausted the bitterness of longing. Compared to Bai Chufeng's deep-boudoir resentment, this lyric by Xie Kangcheng appeared more grand, containing a hint of national sentiment, which could better display Xie Kangcheng's "Imperial Surname" status. No matter how one looked at it, this one was above Bai Chufeng's.

Someone else stood up.

"Even if tears can dry, there are traces; with so many words, it is hard to send them, and there are no words left. Who would believe that while my body is here, my heart cannot be controlled? I long ask the young lord for a thought!"

This one could also be considered a rare masterpiece.

"Mountain peach blossoms fill the peaks, the Shu River spring water flows, slapping the mountains. Red flowers fade easily like a lover's heart; the flowing water is as endless as my sorrow."

One after another, the quality was extremely high.

And then.

Only Liu Zheng was left.

Liu Zheng scratched his head; why did the atmosphere of the entire venue change whenever it was his turn?

Regarding love...

This was truly too much.

Chen Ruoshi's autumn-water eyes looked at Liu Zheng with a recurring brilliance, a hint of mockery rising at the corners of her mouth.

How could someone who spent his days lingering in pleasure houses understand anything about love?

Liu Zheng suddenly looked at Chen Ruoshi, boldly meeting her gaze.

Love, you say?

In his past life, he did have an ex-girlfriend, but unfortunately, she was just an ex-girlfriend.

Since you swindled me out of a million coins.

I shall use you as material for now.

Liu Zheng smiled slightly, pacing back and forth while reciting softly.

"Thin clouds weave artifice, flying stars convey hate, the silver river stretches far in secret crossing. Once the golden wind and jade dew meet, they surpass countless encounters in the human world."

"Tender feelings like water, the tryst like a dream, how can one bear to look back at the magpie bridge path? If the love between two people lasts, why must they be together morning and night?"

"Ah!"

Chen Ruoshi covered her small mouth, her spirit soaring.

The others were also stunned, then immediately listened, intoxicated.

"Red beans grow in the southern land, how many branches sprout in spring? I wish for you to gather many, this object is the most lovesick."

Bai Chufeng's complexion changed rapidly.

"Entering my gate of lovesickness, knowing my bitterness of lovesickness, long lovesickness means long memories, short lovesickness has no end; if I had known it would bind the heart like this, why not have never met in the beginning?"

Xie Kangcheng wore a look of defeat.

However, with several cups of wine in his belly, Liu Zheng could not stop at all.

He laughed out loud:

"If life could always be like the first meeting, why would the autumn wind grieve the painted fan? It is easy to change the heart of an old friend, yet one says the old friend's heart is easy to change."

"After the words at Lishan ended in the clear night, the rain of tears and the ringing bells brought no regrets. How could one be a heartless brocade-clad youth, forgetting the vows of flying together and joined branches!"

Boom!

The whole venue was as if struck by lightning.

Chen Ruoshi could not help but stand up, looking at the burning expression in Liu Zheng's eyes; she felt as if she were in a dream...

"Thinking of the time, remembering the time, time and spring gather together."

"Raising a cup to toast the east wind, planting a pair of red beans."

"Crows cry outside the willow gate, gradually making people thin."

"Flower shadows darken the window gauze, most fearing the dusk again."

The whole venue was dizzy; some people took out paper and pen at once, recording like madmen.

This person...

Chen Ruoshi felt her heart tremble violently as she listened.

"Rain beats the pear blossoms, the door is closed deep, forgetting youth, wasting youth."

"With whom can I discuss pleasant things? Under the flowers, the soul is lost, under the moon, the soul is lost."

"Sorrow gathers at the brows, knitted all day, a thousand tear stains, ten thousand tear stains."

"Watching the sky at dawn, watching the clouds at dusk, walking I think of you, sitting I think of you."

Thousands of people were numb.

At this moment, looking at Liu Zheng's eyes, it was as if they were looking at a monster.

"In this life, we may not meet again, remotely calculating the next life, who knows the next life? A fleeting, lingering moment of passion."

"What is the use of lingering on that time? Knowing there is drifting, after all, it is drifting, even if it is drifting, I still feel for you!"

The entire venue, those sitting on their knees, rose one after another, shouting and yelling; some even held one of the poems, weeping bitterly with tears streaming down their faces, as if this poem had exhausted half a lifetime of love, and ten years of hard study were all left in the dust...

The Poetry Gathering was in chaos.

A thousand people, a hundred states, raising cups and shouting with joy.

Liu Zheng looked around while reciting poetry, a smile of looking down on the masses at the corners of his mouth.

Who else is there?

Is there anyone else who can fight?

At this, even Chen Ping stared blankly at Liu Zheng.

How was he supposed to handle this?