15: The contest between plum blossoms and snow, the poems shocked the audience

Time passed by second by second, and the scent of incense mingled with the scent of plum blossoms, creating a unique aroma.

The plum blossoms in the courtyard swayed with the wind, and accumulated snow slid off them, like a beauty stretching her languid jade-like arms, revealing her rosy charm, captivating and enchanting.

Half an incense stick later.

A gentle breeze blew, carrying the fragrance of plum blossoms, and many people had already finished their poems.

Cao Huaian looked at everyone and softly said, "Everyone, time's up."

Everyone put down their brushes and ink, looking at the poems in front of them with full confidence, as if they were about to outshine everyone else.

Cao Huaian smiled and said, "Who would like to be the first to share their masterpiece?"

"I will!"

A young man holding a folding fan stood up.

To be invited here, he naturally had some talent, and he was considered a scholar.

"Li Gongzi, please."

Cao Huaian nodded to the young man.

Li Gongzi gently waved his folding fan, cleared his throat, and said, "This poem of mine is titled 'Ode to Plum Blossoms': 'The world is covered in white, all things are buried.

Red plum blossoms appear before the courtyard, and a subtle fragrance comes from all directions.'"

Clap! Clap! Clap!

When Li Gongzi finished speaking, everyone immediately applauded.

Cao Huaian smiled and nodded, then said to Mei Sheng, "Mei Sheng, what do you think of Li Gongzi's poem?"

Mei Sheng stood up and softly said, "Setting aside the meter, 'Red plum blossoms appear before the courtyard, and a subtle fragrance comes from all directions' is indeed good."

Upon hearing this, Li Gongzi immediately cupped his hands and said, "Thank you for your critique, Mei Sheng."

In fact, he was a bit displeased, because he felt Mei Sheng's evaluation was too brief.

"I also have a poem, and I hope Mei Sheng will critique it."

Yan Zhixiao, who was beside Gu Mingya, stood up.

He began, "A thousand miles of snowy mountains, ten thousand feet of cold plains, plum blossoms in the garden meet the eye, joyfully embracing the frost alone."

Mei Sheng softly said, "It captures the arrogance of the plum, acceptable!"

Yan Zhixiao paused for a second.

Only acceptable?

Was there no sense of grandeur?

"I also have one..."

After that, people continuously stood up, reciting the poems they had written.

However, Mei Sheng's evaluation, at most, was the two words 'acceptable.'

It was clear that none of the poems presented at that moment greatly impressed her.

"Miss Su, would you mind sharing your masterpiece?"

Cao Huaian looked at Su Muxue.

As the daughter of the Minister of Personnel, Su Muxue was naturally skilled in poetry, prose, song, and dance, and she was also proficient in martial arts, with many admirers in Tianqi City.

Su Muxue stood up and softly said, "I happened to write a poem; please critique it, Mei Sheng.

'The north wind blows, pear blossoms white, moonlight reflects into the tower.

Gazing at the copper mirror while dressing, youth fades as ink plum blossoms bloom.'"

After listening, Mei Sheng nodded gently and said, "A good poem!

Falling snow indeed resembles pear blossoms.

The color of the copper mirror remains unchanged, and the ink plum blossoms, blooming every year, while a woman's face ages with time, is truly Feelings."

Clap! Clap! Clap!

Everyone applauded.

Su Muxue smiled lightly and sat down.

Xie Weilou, on the other hand, chuckled and said, "Mu Xue, at such a young age, you're already lamenting your fading youth.

Why do you sound a bit like a resentful woman in a secluded chamber?

Are you regretting it after breaking off our engagement?

Do you feel your youth has been wasted?

How about we find an opportunity to have an in-depth discussion about the rivalry between plum and snow?"

"You..."

Su Muxue clenched her fists.

Her proud poem and her good mood were ruined by Xie Weilou's single sentence.

"Hmph! Xie Weilou, if you're so capable, why don't you compose one?"

Yan Zhixiao said coldly.

"Exactly!

Since Young Lord Xie has the air of one who can comment on the world, then let him compose one."

The others immediately joined in, eager to see Xie Weilou make a fool of himself.

Xie Weilou smiled indifferently and said, "Writing poetry? How simple!

I've already written one.

Mei Sheng, would you mind reading it for me?"

He handed over the paper.

Mei Sheng stepped forward, took the paper, and glanced at the words on it, thinking, "What ugly handwriting!"

Xie Weilou's handwriting was indeed ridiculously ugly, crooked and abstract, worse than a three-year-old's.

However, she still read out the poem: "Plum blossoms in the courtyard bloom alone, a beauty comes with heavenly fragrance.

Breaking off a branch stirs a rosy smile.

Plum and snow pale in comparison, heaven loses its luster."

"......"

As Mei Sheng finished reading, the entire hall fell silent.

It wasn't awe at how good Xie Weilou's poem was, but rather, did this guy really know how to write poetry?

This was what shocked them.

Isn't this guy a profligate?

He actually knows how to write poetry?

Lin Qinghuang also paused for a second, looking at Xie Weilou with a strange expression.

She knew this guy had some small cleverness, but she hadn't expected him to actually be able to write poetry.

Moreover, the plum and snow he wrote about were merely to set off a beauty's smile, making all things in heaven and earth lose their luster, just as he, Xie Weilou, said, writing poetry is the same as praising a beauty.

Good heavens, she thought he was just spouting nonsense, but it turns out he really could!

"This guy..."

Su Muxue frowned.

In her mind, Xie Weilou was neither talented in literature nor in martial arts.

But now, in terms of literary talent, he seemed to have a little something.

Mei Sheng looked at Xie Weilou, a strange glint in her eyes.

It seems This Young Master is somewhat different from what the rumors say!

"Hehe! He probably prepared it beforehand."

"Prepared beforehand?

Then couldn't he have hired someone?"

"Vulgar poetry, lewd and rotten lines."

Someone whispered in evaluation.

Xie Weilou smiled and said, "This one is indeed a vulgar poem, and it was prepared beforehand, but don't tell me none of you prepared anything beforehand."

"......"

Some people looked awkward.

Before coming here, they had naturally prepared some things.

How easy would it be to compose poetry on the spot?

Yan Zhixiao retorted, "It's just one poem, nothing impressive!"

"What a coincidence!

I prepared more than just one this time."

Xie Weilou said with a playful expression.

Mei Sheng was a little curious and softly said, "What other poems has Young Master prepared?

Would you mind sharing them with everyone?

You can just recite them, and I will write them down for you."

"Good."

Xie Weilou casually picked up a wine cup and drank the fine wine in one gulp.

He looked at the plum blossoms outside the pavilion and began, "Ink plum blossoms bloom before the white jade pavilion, for whom do they blossom, for whom do they wither.

The east wind is as before, people are as old, returning once a year."

"Good poem."

Mei Sheng's eyes lit up, and she quickly wrote it down.

Clearly, this poem was much better than the previous ones.

Those present stared at Xie Weilou.

This guy actually prepared a second poem?

Xie Weilou looked at Yan Zhixiao and said indifferently, "How is this poem of This Young Master's?"

Yan Zhixiao's face was gloomy: "It's just so-so."

"Is that so?

Then I have a few more.

If you all feel you are exceptionally talented, feel free to comment."

Xie Weilou shook his head.

He directly began, "Third poem: Plum and snow contend for spring, unwilling to yield, poets lay down their brushes, struggling to critique.

Plum must concede three parts of whiteness to snow, yet snow loses a section of fragrance to plum."

"Fourth poem: The trees by my family's ink-washing pond, each flower blooms with faint ink marks.

They do not seek praise for their color, only leaving pure fragrance to fill the universe."

"Fifth poem: This body dwells in an icy forest, unlike peaches and plums mixed with fragrant dust.

Suddenly, one night, a clear fragrance emerges, scattering to fill the universe with spring."

One after another.

The scene was silent, and the way everyone looked at Xie Weilou had a hint of unnaturalness.

They were here, so they naturally had some discerning eyes.

Xie Weilou's poems were clearly extraordinary, natural and poetic.

They all said Xie Weilou was a profligate son.

But at this moment, this profligate son was casually reciting many poems, any one of which could crush them.

What else could they say?

Originally, they had planned to watch a good show, but now it seemed they had become the clowns!

Xie Weilou stared at Yan Zhixiao: "You continue to comment."

"I..."

Yan Zhixiao's expression was blank, his face flushed, feeling as if he had been slapped repeatedly.

"He actually..."

Su Muxue covered her mouth, her eyes filled with disbelief.

The profligate son in her heart now seemed to have become a different person.

At this moment, she suddenly felt that Xie Weilou in front of her was somewhat unfamiliar, making her feel as if she didn't know him anymore.

Was this still the profligate son in her eyes?

"......"

Some of the men present also lowered their heads.

What brilliant talent, what extraordinary literary skill—after Xie Weilou's few poems, even if they were dragons, they had to coil.

Mock?

Who would dare to continue mocking?

Then compose a few poems.

Don't even talk about preparing them in advance; even if you go find a master now, they might not be able to compose such climactic verses.

Evaluate?

With their level, how could they evaluate?

"......"

Lin Qinghuang silently watched Xie Weilou.

These few poems could indeed outshine everyone.

As Xie Weilou's poems were recited, everyone else paled in comparison.

She had also composed a poem, but she silently put it away, not wanting to bring it out and make a fool of herself.

Xie Weilou looked at Mei Sheng and smiled indifferently, "Mei Sheng, please evaluate these poems of mine."

Mei Sheng quickly recorded them, and hearing Xie Weilou's words, she smiled bitterly and said, "Young Master is too kind to Mei Sheng.

Mei Sheng's learning is shallow, and she is not qualified to evaluate these poems."

This time, Xie Weilou's poems indeed gave her a huge surprise, especially the later ones, which sounded like masterpieces and were extremely extraordinary.

Upon hearing this, Xie Weilou looked at the rest of the people present: "You are all talented scholars and beautiful women.

How about you evaluate these poems of mine?"

"......"

Everyone averted their gazes.

Evaluate?

Evaluate what nonsense.

These poems today would surely spread.

If they praised them too much now, people would say they were fawning.

If they didn't praise them well, and if these were indeed masterpieces Xie Weilou got from somewhere, it would then slap the evaluators in the face.

Who would dare to evaluate?

They only dared to quietly believe that these poems were not written by Xie Weilou, but if they were to discuss the quality of these poems, there was absolutely no problem.

No one had expected that Xie Weilou would actually bring such masterpieces to this plum blossom viewing gathering.

"Hmph! These poems are definitely not yours."

Gu Mingya snorted coldly.

This sentence expressed the thoughts of everyone else present.

Xie Weilou looked playful: "Since you are so certain, then tell me who wrote them?"

"......"

Gu Mingya's expression froze.

"Although I don't know who wrote these poems, I can confirm they were not written by you!

If you want to refute, you can also compose other poems, setting aside plum blossoms."

Yan Zhixiao said, bracing himself.

Xie Weilou said mockingly, "A wild boar cannot appreciate fine bran!

What I mean is, you are a pig, not qualified to eat fine feed, and naturally not qualified to listen to other poems.

The poems are indeed not mine, but if you cannot find their source, you cannot prove that I copied them!

I only need to make a slight move, and you all don't even have the right to look up!"

What kind of things are you, to be worthy of continuing to appreciate my Chinese masterpieces?

"You..."

Yan Zhixiao's face was extremely grim.

Everyone remained silent, but they were even more convinced that Xie Weilou had copied these poems from somewhere.

Otherwise, why would he not continue to compose poems to refute Yan Zhixiao?

However, they seemed to have overlooked one thing: what right did a mere Yan Zhixiao have to be refuted by Xie Weilou?

Xie Weilou stretched lazily and said, "If you're capable, continue composing poems!

If not, don't waste This Young Master's time.

This Tianya Sword, I want it."

Everyone remained silent.

Xie Weilou looked at Cao Huaian and said, "Young Master Cao, what do you say?"

Cao Huaian pondered for a second, then looked at everyone.

Seeing that no one spoke, he nodded and said, "Young Master's poems have outshone everyone.

This Tianya Sword is now yours."

The guard came forward, holding the sword box.

Xie Weilou casually took the Tianya Sword out of the sword box, glanced at it, and then tossed it to Lin Qinghuang, saying, "Qinghuang, it's for you."

"......"

Qinghuang took the long sword, stunned for a second.

The Tianya Sword had returned to her hands just like that?

Xie Weilou looked at Mei Sheng: "Mei Sheng, I find the rest of this plum blossom viewing gathering rather dull.

I wonder if you have time.

Shall we meet somewhere to discuss the beauty of plum and snow, and talk about jade-like skin and bone?"

"Vulgar, profligate, lustful, shameless!"

Su Muxue gave Xie Weilou four evaluations.

Seeing a woman and wanting to meet her, have you never seen a woman?

She was truly glad that she had broken off this engagement; otherwise, being with such a person, she would surely rather die than live.

Mei Sheng softly said, "Today, being invited by Young Master Cao, Mei Sheng naturally cannot leave early.

I hope Young Master understands."

Cao Huaian also immediately said, "Young Master, today's poetry gathering has not yet ended.

Please forgive us."

"Fine!

It's windy in this pavilion, and I just got out of prison, so my body can't handle it.

Since there's no beauty to warm my hands or feet, I'll just go back to sleep myself."

Xie Weilou yawned and walked out of the pavilion.

Woo~

Just then, a cold wind blew.

Xie Weilou shivered subconsciously, stuffing his hands into his sleeves.

Lin Qinghuang said, "I still have some matters to attend to.

Everyone, please yourselves!"

After speaking, she stood up and left the pavilion.

Cao Huaian said to everyone, "Today's plum blossom viewing gathering is not yet over.

Next, Mei Sheng will play a tune for everyone.

Everyone, please welcome her!"

"Good!"

Everyone applauded with smiles.

Without Xie Weilou, they felt much more at ease.

Otherwise, if that guy really stayed here, they would definitely feel uncomfortable.

A profligate son, who somehow got a few poems from somewhere, suppressing them so they couldn't even lift their heads—this was very annoying.

Did they really think Xie Weilou had poetic talent?

A mere profligate, who only knew how to indulge in pleasure, neither accomplished in literature nor in martial arts, suddenly displaying literary talent that overwhelmed everyone—who would believe he had true ability?