10: Chapter 10: The Poem Shocks the Princess and the Deputy Chief Steward! (Part 2)

Princess Zhu Yunxi's expression turned slightly sour.

Caiwei's expression was extremely displeased, her chest heaving with anger.

Zhao Zilong's voice continued to drift out from the library.

"A lone moon's shadow gazes at the West Tower; a sorrowful wind brushes the face, leaving only a pitying soul. Looking until my heart breaks, only bitterness remains. A beauty's love in chaotic times has no anchor—bitter, bitter, bitter."

[Note: This was written by the author; please don't flame it. It's just for the plot.]

"What kind of dog-shit poetry is this? Love and romance are one thing, but the key is that it's absolute gibberish."

"Song Qiubai, the number one talented scholar of Daye, is a fraud. He can only fool those ignorant little girls."

"Princess, this Clerk Zhao has gone too far! This is your favorite poem, yet he actually calls it dog-shit. I'm so furious! No, I have to go and have it out with him."

Caiwei huffed in anger and pushed the door open forcefully. Princess Zhu Yunxi also felt uncomfortable after hearing Zhao Zilong's words; when had she ever been an 'ignorant little girl'?

The state of mind depicted in Song Qiubai's poem happened to match her own; it was her favorite piece.

Now that it was being trashed by Zhao Zilong as worthless, she felt quite hurt.

However, she wasn't as enraged as Caiwei, nor did she feel the need to argue.

Seeing Caiwei rush in, she tried to stop her but was already too late. With a slight sigh, she had no choice but to enter the pavilion as well.

Zhao Zilong was still looking through the poetry collection of that 'number one talented scholar of Daye,' getting angrier the more he read. All of this scholar's poems were about romance—either unrequited love or lovers in a chaotic world unable to be together—written in a very mournful style.

But in Zhao Zilong's eyes, it was just a pile of empty, flowery words without a shred of artistic depth.

Though he couldn't write poetry himself, he still possessed some level of appreciation for it.

"If I'd known I'd be organizing such trashy books, I never would have agreed. This is a total eyesore."

"Clerk Zhao, aren't you being a bit too much?"

Caiwei's voice rang out from behind Zhao Zilong, giving him a start.

"Crap, I was so busy venting that I didn't think the Princess and the others would come in. This is trouble."

Zhao Zilong turned around to see Caiwei and the Princess behind her; his head began to ache instantly.

This was the poetry collection the Princess read, and he had just trashed it. Wasn't that just seeking death?

"Miss Caiwei, what do you mean? This humble official doesn't understand."

Zhao Zilong could only play dumb.

"Clerk Zhao, stop playing dumb. The Princess and I heard everything you said. On what grounds do you say Song Qiubai's reputation is unearned? On what grounds do you say Talented Scholar Song's poetry is dog-shit? What right do you have?"

"Furthermore, the Princess loves Talented Scholar Song's poetry the most. Who are you calling ignorant?"

Caiwei unleashed a barrage of accusations, leaving Zhao Zilong feeling extremely awkward.

Moreover, awkwardness was the least of his problems; if he were to be charged with an offense, things would not end well for him.

Looking at Caiwei's stance, he feared that if he didn't provide a reasonable explanation, he would be in for it.

At that moment, Princess Zhu Yunxi spoke up.

"Clerk Zhao, although Talented Scholar Song's poems are all about love, the writing is brilliant and the emotions are sincere. You shouldn't slander them like this. If you do not wish to organize these collections, you may simply tell me; I will not force you."

Zhao Zilong could tell that Princess Zhu Yunxi was also angry, just not as explosively as Caiwei.

"This humble official had no intention of offending the Princess. I beg for your forgiveness."

Zhao Zilong cupped his hands in a respectful salute and quickly apologized.

"No intention of offending? I think you did it on purpose!"

Caiwei huffed coldly.

"Miss Caiwei, I haven't offended you, have I? Why are you targeting me like this?"

Zhao Zilong was also getting a bit annoyed; this little girl was being too much of a bully.

"Clerk Zhao, it's clearly you who were in the wrong first. When did I start targeting you? Not only are you rude and vulgar, but you're also unreasonable! I will definitely lodge a complaint against you with Miss Wenjing and have you stripped of your office!"

Holy crap, she wants to fire me?

Zhao Zilong couldn't tolerate this anymore.

You could say he was wrong, and even if he wasn't, he could admit fault.

But taking away his official position? That was out of the question.

He still wanted to hold the power of the world in his hands and sleep on the laps of beauties. If he lost his office, wouldn't his dreams be shattered?

"Miss Caiwei, you say I'm being unreasonable? Fine, then let us have a proper debate."

"Fine! I'll debate you then!"

Caiwei looked like she wasn't about to back down.

Since Zhao Zilong was the one in the wrong, she wanted to see what he could possibly say for himself.

Princess Zhu Yunxi didn't stop Caiwei; she also wanted to hear how Zhao Zilong would defend himself.

Outside the library, Cai Wenjing had returned. She had just received news that Remnants of the Previous Dynasty had infiltrated Qingyang County to carry out an assassination. Their target was obvious: it had to be Princess Qingyang.

She had come to report this to the Princess and tell her to take precautions.

Unexpectedly, as soon as she reached the door, she heard an argument inside.

Curious, she stayed outside to listen.

"Clerk Zhao, on what grounds do you say Talented Scholar Song's poetry is absolute gibberish?"

Caiwei questioned him with a dark expression.

Whenever the Princess was in a bad mood, she would read Talented Scholar Song's poems to soothe her spirit. They were her spiritual sustenance. Now that Zhao Zilong was slandering them like this, it was equivalent to hurting the Princess. She would never stand for it and would not let Zhao Zilong off easily.

"Since Miss Caiwei wants to know, I'll tell you."

Zhao Zilong spoke slowly: "It's a pile of empty words, flowery but hollow, with no actual depth. Moreover, as the number one talented scholar of Daye, to spend all day writing such poetry is simply bringing disaster to the country and the people."

He even used the phrase 'bringing disaster to the country and the people'?

Both Caiwei and Princess Zhu Yunxi were startled.

Zhao Zilong continued: "Currently, Daye faces internal troubles and external threats. If it were ordinary citizens, it would be one thing; they have no power or influence and can do nothing but live their lives well, which is their way of contributing to the country."

"But as the number one talented scholar of Daye with such high prestige, he shouldn't be writing these pathetic poems all day. Setting aside the lack of literary depth, the emotions they convey are so low and depressing—how much impact does that have on Daye? After reading Song Qiubai's poems, the citizens of Daye might become even more disappointed in the Imperial Court, cursing it as incompetent. Over time, won't popular resentment rise everywhere?"

"Even lovers can't stay together because the Daye Imperial Court is unstable; who will the people blame? They will only blame the Imperial Court and harbor resentment toward it. In my view, this 'number one talented scholar of Daye' might even be a spy sent by an enemy nation to use this method to sow chaos in Daye."

"Clerk Zhao, you are talking absolute nonsense! They are just some poems about love; how could they sow chaos in Daye? Stop your alarmist talk!"

Caiwei was fuming; she wanted nothing more than to slap Zhao Zilong a few times.

Princess Zhu Yunxi remained silent, deep in thought.

At the door, Cai Wenjing showed a look of surprise.

"I didn't expect this Zhao Zilong to see through to the essence of things so directly. Song Qiubai is the number one talented scholar of Daye, with immense prestige and influence. Many people read his poems. Recently, there have indeed been some people in the streets discussing the incompetence of the Daye Imperial Court because of his poetry, developing negative feelings toward the government."

"Could Song Qiubai really be an enemy spy?"

"Even if he isn't, Song Qiubai's poems have indeed had an impact on Daye. It's just that His Majesty encourages open speech and is extremely tolerant of literati like Song Qiubai, so no measures have been taken against him."

"But over time, the influence is indeed negative."

"Let me hear what else this Zhao Zilong has to say."

Cai Wenjing leaned a bit closer to the door, listening even more intently.

"Miss Caiwei, my words are not alarmist talk; it is a very real possibility."

Zhao Zilong said with a solemn face.

It wasn't like he hadn't seen cultural warfare before.

The kind that influences silently is the most terrifying.

Moreover, even if Song Qiubai wasn't a spy, he had to say he was. He had to make Caiwei feel like she was in the wrong; otherwise, if she really reported him, he wouldn't be able to keep his job.

He would never allow his dreams to be shattered.

"Princess, look at him! He's being completely unreasonable!"

Caiwei stomped her foot in frustration.

Princess Zhu Yunxi spoke slowly: "According to Clerk Zhao, Talented Scholar Song might be an enemy spy, but there is ultimately no evidence. However, as you said, his poems do cause an impact and cause the people to harbor resentment toward the Imperial Court. How do you think this should be resolved?"

Princess Zhu Yunxi actually agreed with Zhao Zilong's words to an extent. When she read Song Qiubai's poems, she couldn't help but think that if she had been born into a powerful empire's royal family, would she have been forced into a political marriage with the Northern Barbarians?

Though she didn't harbor resentment, such a state of mind was inevitable.

She was a princess of the royal family and didn't blame them, but what about others?

She hadn't paid attention before, but now that Zhao Zilong pointed it out, she felt somewhat enlightened.

"This humble official's ability is limited, so I don't know how to solve this. However, in my view, Daye should have more people like Marquis Wulie."

"Why is he mentioning my father again?"

Cai Wenjing's brow furrowed slightly, making her even more curious about what Zhao Zilong would say next.