435: Chapter 435 The Prince is So Annoying

Inside the Qushui Banquet.

The atmosphere was somewhat awkward.

"I really didn't expect that the one who took the first two rounds would be the Prince of Zhenbei, who didn't even show up."

"Indeed. No wonder the Prince didn't come; if he had, what would be left for the rest of us to play?"

Master Li Jingyi looked at Su Wansha and said, "Boss Su, why don't you set the topic for the third round?"

Su Wansha was stunned for a moment. Just as she was about to decline, citing her lack of experience, she realized the reason.

Master Li Jingyi was worried that if a third topic were set, she or Xie Juner would bring out another poem by Lin Xiao.

If that happened, would there be any point in playing?

Could this banquet even continue?

They might as well rename it the "Prince of Zhenbei Poetry Appreciation Conference"!

Therefore, Su Wansha had to choose a topic that Lin Xiao had not written about.

"Su Wansha, since Master Li is being so polite, you don't need to decline."

Zhu Ming gave her a look, signaling Su Wansha to help out and not let Master Li Jingyi's banquet become too embarrassing.

Su Wansha smiled bitterly and replied, "Yes, teacher."

She thought for a moment. In the past, Lin Xiao mostly wrote poems about frontier military life, filled with iron horses, golden spears, and hot-blooded passion.

Next were the poems he wrote for her and her sisters, filled with affection and romance, enough to make one's bones melt.

Aside from that, there were poems about plum blossoms, orchids, bamboo, and chrysanthemums—pleasing to the eye and transcendent.

Thinking about this, her Prince was truly talented, with a vast range of knowledge; nothing could stump him...

Su Wansha pondered for a while and finally thought of one.

She picked up her brush and wrote one character...

"Sorrow?"

When this character was presented before everyone, they were all somewhat surprised.

Master Li Jingyi and the others felt a sense of emotion. It seemed that the Prince of Zhenbei had an open-minded temperament and outstanding abilities, and he likely didn't know the taste of "sorrow" in his daily life, which was why Su Wansha had chosen this topic.

That was correct. In Su Wansha's view, no matter what dangers or difficulties he encountered, Lin Xiao could resolve them one by one, invincible.

Therefore, Lin Xiao was never depressed or sorrowful, so naturally, he wouldn't write poems about sorrow.

"I'll go first!"

Just as everyone else was still struggling to think, Lv Sheng stood up first this time.

As soon as he saw the character "Sorrow," he immediately felt inspired.

Because the impact of the first two rounds had been too great, he, the "Number One Talent," had been completely crushed by the Prince of Zhenbei, a military general.

His pressure had increased tenfold, and he was filled with sorrow. Could it be that his ten-plus years of hard study really couldn't compare to a military man!?

In that moment, bitterness welled up in his heart, and Lv Sheng composed a poem on the spot:

"Withered flowers fall to the ground, the fragrant dust settles. Leaning idly by the jade window, tears gather on the brocade letter. The sound of a lone wild goose circles in my mind, my original intention dims in the reflection of the cold pond, the water clock ticks, yet my sorrow does not lessen. I ask myself about this floating life, where can I find the shore to return to? The mist-covered mountains and layered peaks blur my vision, the journey is vast and the frosty sky is far..."

The entire room went silent. A few moments later, it erupted into bursts of admiration!

"Good! A fine poem!"

"It speaks of the bitterness of us scholars..."

"Worthy of being the great scholar Lv! I had long heard that Lv Sheng's ci poetry was even more exquisite than his regular poems, and it is indeed true!"

"It seems that the great scholar Lv has been spurred on by the Prince's competitive spirit. This is true talent!"

"Well, I guess we don't have to write anything now!"

Master Li Jingyi and the other two looked at each other, also showing expressions of appreciation.

As expected, although a few stubborn ones wrote decent poems, they ultimately couldn't compare to this one by Lv Sheng.

Su Wansha also thought the poem was good and nodded silently. This Lv Sheng still had some skill; he wasn't just famous for nothing.

The topic for the third round was quickly announced.

This time, everyone inside the Qushui Banquet was filled with anticipation and nervousness, all looking outside.

After waiting for a while, there was no response from Tianxiang Restaurant, so everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

"It seems Princess Ningxiang is not going to interrupt the flow this time."

"Haha, the Prince is a young hero, a prince with a different surname; how much sorrow could he possibly have? Naturally, he wouldn't write poems of this kind."

Master Li Jingyi immediately raised his glass and said, "Everyone, it seems we have had two rounds today. I, this old man, propose a toast..."

Before he could finish, exclamations came from outside.

"Someone is interrupting the flow!"

"It's the Princess Consort! The Princess Consort is also there!?"

Master Li Jingyi's expression froze, and the scene erupted into chaos!

In this place, who else could be called "Princess Consort"!?

"Boss Su, this..."

Master Li Jingyi's expression was somewhat complex.

"Master Li, the sisters in our Prince's manor have an excellent relationship. The Princess Consort might have just happened to be attending a banquet with the Princess."

Su Wansha had to explain awkwardly.

"Oh... I see. Hehe, for the Princess Consort to participate in the Qushui Banquet is naturally our honor."

Master Li Jingyi had no choice but to join everyone else in looking forward to the poem being sent from outside.

Not long after, they heard bursts of exclamations from outside, and even some sounds of crying?

This made everyone incredibly curious and even more eager to know what the work that interrupted the flow was.

Finally, a page boy delivered a piece of paper into Master Li Jingyi's hands.

The three great scholars focused their eyes on it and, once again, were dumbfounded!

"This... is this really written by the Princess Consort of Zhenbei?"

Master Li Jingyi couldn't believe it.

"Judging by the writing style, it is indeed a woman's—delicate, gentle, and heart-touching."

Zhu Ming said, stroking his beard.

Master Xu Huaian sighed in admiration, "I never expected that the Prince of Zhenbei would have such world-shaking literary talent, and even his Princess Consort is so brilliant!"

"With this poem out, I fear there will be no more 'sorrow' left to write in this world."

Master Li Jingyi looked at Lv Sheng, who was turning red with anxiety, and handed the paper over.

Lv Sheng didn't care about his decorum; he snatched it and only read the first line...

He felt as if he had been struck by lightning, his legs went weak, and he actually fell to his knees on the ground!!

"Searching and seeking, cold and desolate, miserable, mournful, and sorrowful..."

These fourteen consecutive repeated characters made Lv Sheng's scalp tingle!

Even if someone took a knife and cut open his brain, he wouldn't have been able to come up with such a writing style!

"In the time of sudden warmth and lingering cold, it is hardest to rest. How can three or two cups of weak wine withstand the fierce wind of the evening?"

Inside Tianxiang Restaurant, Xiao Qingxuan read these lines repeatedly, looking affectionately at the man beside her who was drinking leisurely.

Back then, when Lin Xiao was busy running around, and she was in charge of logistics and managing the epidemic in Cang Province, she would often miss him in the middle of the night, having a few small drinks to relieve the pain of longing.

Lin Xiao's lines seemed to instantly take her back to that time.

It completely dissected her state of mind at that moment.

This man could always inadvertently walk into the depths of her heart... making her unable to extricate herself.

"The wild geese pass, and I am heartbroken, yet they are old acquaintances. Yellow flowers are piled all over the ground. I am haggard and worn; who is left to pick them now? Guarding the window, how can I endure the darkness alone? The parasol tree is accompanied by a fine rain, and at dusk, it drips drop by drop. This situation—how can a single word 'sorrow' sum it up!"

Xie Juner also read it repeatedly, reciting it, and then tears began to fall down her face.

She remembered the days when she was disliked by Lin Xiao, those days when she struggled alone in Yu Prefecture to prove herself.

That feeling of loving but not being able to be together, watching the broken mountains and rivers, and feeling like she would drift away like an autumn leaf, not knowing where she was going... it was too heartbreaking.

"Prince, you are so annoying. This poem has completely laid bare a woman's heart; my makeup is ruined from crying..."

Xie Juner didn't care about being in public; overcome by emotion, she coquettishly slapped Lin Xiao's thigh.

Lin Xiao then realized that many of the young noble ladies present were wiping away tears; they were so moved, and several women were even looking at him with resentment.

Lin Xiao was speechless, thinking to himself that he didn't even know them, so what was the meaning of those looks?

However, what made him feel most uncomfortable was Hu Xinyi.

If before she only occasionally cast resentful glances, now it was truly the look of a "resentful wife."