432: Chapter 432 Public Execution

Seeing that her identity could no longer be hidden, Su Wansha walked generously to the center of the banquet hall and bowed to the three, including Master Li Jingyi.

"Student Su Wansha greets Master Li and Master Xu. I have loved poetry and song since I was young, which is why I begged my teacher to bring me here."

"Because this is merely a personal interest, I did not wish to disturb all you masters. I hope for your forgiveness."

Master Li Jingyi and Master Xu Huaian both stood up and returned the bow.

Even though she was a junior, and even though she explicitly stated this was a personal endeavor, given her connection to the Prince of Zhenbei, no one dared to slight her.

"Boss Su is too polite. It is I who have failed to host you properly. And Brother Zhu, why didn't you say something sooner?" Master Li Jingyi said, feigning a reprimand.

"The child just wanted to come and see the world; there was nothing to talk about."

Zhu Ming smiled leisurely and said: "Wansha, if you find anything amiss, just speak up. Brother Li is an open-minded person and will not take offense."

Su Wansha nodded and looked at Lv Sheng, who was frowning in confusion behind her, saying, "Young Scholar Lv, while this poem is certainly brilliant, its content is not entirely appropriate."

"I hope... Boss Su will enlighten me," Lv Sheng said, remaining polite.

"The poem is excellent, but I believe the last two lines, 'From now on, there are no Western Qiang or Northern Barbarians in the northern frontier; every year, mulberry and hemp fill Wu Mountain,' are inappropriate."

Su Wansha said sternly: "Firstly, the Western Qiang and Northern Barbarians do not cease to exist today; rather, they are governed by the Protectorate established by the Prince."

"If you go to Baishui Prefecture, you can see many Northern Barbarian and Western Qiang merchants trading and communicating with our Central Plains."

"The Prince never intended to erase the culture of these two tribes, but rather to seek harmony while maintaining differences. Therefore, 'no Western Qiang or Northern Barbarians' is inappropriate."

"Secondly, may I ask, Young Master Lv, where is 'Wu Mountain'?"

Lv Sheng replied subconsciously: "On the map, there is a Wushan Commandery in a border region."

"That is incorrect. The Wu Mountain in Wushan Commandery produces coal and is not suitable for growing mulberry and hemp. In fact, there is not much farmland there; it is all workshops belonging to our Northern Trade Alliance."

Lv Sheng's expression was somewhat awkward. "Produces coal? Coal comes from the mountains?"

Su Wansha smiled and said: "If you have the chance, Young Master, you should go and see for yourself. My Prince once said, 'Reading ten thousand books is not as good as traveling ten thousand miles.' If you travel and see more, Young Master Lv will not make such mistakes again."

Lv Sheng looked ashamed but was convinced. He bowed and said: "Thank you for your guidance, Boss Su. It is Lv Sheng who is short-sighted."

Everyone present was filled with emotion. No wonder Zhu Ming took her as his student; this woman is truly remarkable!

And for a concubine by the Prince of Zhenbei's side to have such insight, it just goes to show how unfathomable the Prince of Zhenbei himself must be!

"Good! A fine Su Wansha!"

"It is no wonder this woman can helm the Northern Trade Alliance. She is quick-witted, neither servile nor overbearing. Lin Xiao really knows how to choose people."

In the restaurant next door, Emperor Hong and the others relied on Zheng Yangwei to eavesdrop, and they heard the conversation inside the Qushui Banquet clearly.

"Reading ten thousand books is not as good as traveling ten thousand miles... Whether it is Lv Sheng or his teacher, Meng Sansi, they both lack this kind of insight."

Emperor Hong sighed with emotion: "The words of this lad, Lin Xiao, really do not sound like those of a young man in his twenties."

"Master Li Jingyi must be regretting letting Zhu Ming set the topic for the first piece. 'Zhenbei' is too difficult to write about..."

Prime Minister Yang Gengzhong took a sip of tea, shook his head, and sighed.

At this moment inside the Qushui Banquet, Master Li Jingyi was smiling and discussing with Lv Sheng.

"Since that is the case, Young Master Lv, why don't you revise the last two lines on the spot?"

"This..."

Lv Sheng frowned tightly, unable to think of a particularly good alternative at the moment.

"Brother Li, you are making things difficult for him. Poetry requires emotion to flow naturally. Even if Young Scholar Lv is talented, how can he write something brilliant by changing his poem on the spot?" Master Xu Huaian said, helping him out.

Master Li Jingyi sighed. He knew this, of course, but if Lv Sheng's poem was not good enough, did he really have to step in himself?

That would be too embarrassing, and it had only just begun!

Suddenly, his eyes lit up. He looked at Su Wansha beside him and said: "Boss Su, you are someone close to the Prince; why not compose a poem as well?"

"Ah?"

Su Wansha became nervous. She was never flustered when talking business, but to compose a poem in front of so many literary masters? Her meager talent was hardly worth mentioning.

"Wansha, the Qushui Banquet is meant for making friends through literature. If you don't compose a poem, won't you leave a regret for the future?"

Zhu Ming smiled: "With your teacher here, just go ahead and compose it with confidence."

Su Wansha thought about it and agreed. Other topics might be fine, but the topic of "Zhenbei" could not be taken lightly.

But her own poetry was definitely not presentable, so she had to...

Not long after, bursts of exclamation erupted from inside the Qushui Banquet, as if the pot had exploded!

Outside the Zuihua Pavilion, the crowd was getting impatient.

Hearing such a big commotion inside, they became even more anxious.

"Is a masterpiece out?"

"Hurry up and bring out the first piece!"

"Dilly-dallying. Isn't that Lv Sheng the greatest scholar in the world? Is he capable or not?"

Just as the crowd was urging, the page boy ran quickly to the front of the crowd.

"Everyone, you have waited a long time! The first piece has been confirmed, but because the Great Scholar Li personally wrote it out, it took some time!"

Everyone present was stunned to hear this.

"What? Great Scholar Li wrote it personally?"

"This is the highest level of recognition, equivalent to vouching for this poem. It is absolutely impossible for anyone to interrupt the flow!"

"I want to see what kind of stunning talent..."

As a long scroll was unrolled, a large piece of calligraphy with ink not yet dry was revealed before everyone's eyes.

Just by reading the first line, the commotion at the scene instantly quieted down!

Every pair of eyes revealed shock, excitement, and disbelief...

Everywhere at the scene, there was the sound of people gasping, and many scholars had wet eyes, with lumps in their throats!

"Good... How good!"

"More than just good! Once this poem is out, there will be no more frontier poetry in the world!"

"No wonder Great Scholar Li was so certain. Who could interrupt this flow!? I'll cut my head off!!"

"It makes my blood boil. No, I'm going to sign up at the recruitment office tomorrow!"

"Eh? This poem wasn't written by Lv Sheng? Why is it a woman's name?"

"Su Wansha? That sounds familiar..."

"Idiot! Isn't that Boss Su from the Baiyu Pavilion? The head manager of the Northern Trade Alliance!"

"Oh my, isn't that someone by the Prince's side?"

"No wonder Boss Su could be favored by the Prince. Just this one poem is enough to go down in history!"

The enthusiastic atmosphere outside naturally attracted the people at the Tianxiang Restaurant.

Lin Xiao, Xiao Qingxuan, Xie Juner, and others could directly see the poem across the street.

It was fine until he looked; once he saw it, Lin Xiao's entire expression couldn't help but crack!

A sense of shame at having his act of showing off being "publicly executed" welled up within him...

Beside him, Xiao Qingxuan and Xie Juner had sparkling eyes filled with surprise, looking as if they were watching a good show.

"Husband, isn't this your 'Song of Joining the Army'?" Xiao Qingxuan blinked and said.

"Sister Su did a great job. This poem should be appreciated by everyone in the world," Xie Juner said happily.

Upon hearing this, the women at the scene exclaimed one after another.

"What? This poem was written by the Prince?"

"No wonder... Although Sister Su is a talented woman, this poem really feels like it was written by a man."

"He is truly worthy of being the Prince; with martial arts he can stabilize the world, and with literature he can bring peace to the world..."

All the women showed looks of adoration, completely convinced.

Among the women, Hu Xinyi was considered the most talented. She had assumed that the first piece this time would likely be by Lv Sheng.

But upon seeing this "Song of Joining the Army" by Lin Xiao, she instantly realized that the gap between Lv Sheng and Lin Xiao was probably several times the stature of Zhu Ming.

After reciting it silently several times, Hu Xinyi couldn't help but recite it aloud with teary eyes:

"The bright moon of the campaign shines on the frontier pass, a ten-thousand-mile northern expedition from which no one has returned."

"If only the Flying General of Baicheng were here, he would not let the barbarian horses cross Wu Mountain..."

Hu Xinyi looked at the man who was chatting and laughing with Xiao Qingxuan and Xie Juner, and sighed in her heart.

Why was she born into the Hu family, with its collusion between officials and merchants? If she were only a simple country girl, how wonderful that would be...