7: Five-year-old poetry! Northern Qi envoys question!

Chapter 7: Five-Year-Old Composes a Poem! Northern Qi Delegation's Doubts!

Just after being challenged by Fan Jian, Li Chang'an had already made up his mind.

Plagiarize poems!

Plagiarizing poems had its advantages.

By leveraging the fact that Tang and Song dynasty poetry didn't exist in this world, he could significantly boost his literary ranking.

If he wanted to increase his influence in the Qing Yu Nian World, plagiarizing poems was a shortcut.

However, plagiarizing poems also had drawbacks.

Firstly, it would be too conspicuous, making Emperor Qing wary of him.

Secondly, Fan Xian was still alive, and he might discover Li Chang'an's Transmigration identity.

Li Chang'an had his own considerations for these two drawbacks.

When he was young, he would plagiarize simple poems.

As he grew older, he would plagiarize poems about romance and nature, not those about war or unfulfilled ambitions.

Poems about romance and nature often revealed the author's Heart-Nature.

For example, by plagiarizing the decadent verses Li Yu wrote before his kingdom fell.

Even if a literary star were Reincarnated, he wouldn't be able to discern any grand ambitions in Li Chang'an.

As for Fan Xian, it was a complete paradox.

If it were an ordinary person's Heart-Nature, they would definitely worry about being discovered as a Transmigrator by Fan Xian, fearing unfavorable consequences.

However, Li Chang'an had lived two lives and possessed a System, so he had already thrown caution to the wind.

Since they were both Transmigrators, why should I be afraid of Fan Xian, and not Fan Xian afraid of me?

Fan Xian's previous life was that of a patient with muscular dystrophy, and he was very cautious when he Transmigrated.

If he learned that there was another Transmigrator in this world, Fan Xian would likely conceal his Transmigrator identity.

A chosen person who undergoes Reincarnation through various heavens isn't afraid of a mere Son of the Plane!

A dignified System-born Transmigrator of the new era's post-2000 generation, how could he fear an old soul Transmigrator from over a decade ago!

This world, after all, belonged to the young!

“Goose, goose, goose.”

Li Chang'an recited each word clearly and distinctly.

Fan Ruoruo's bright, clear eyes were fixed on Li Chang'an without blinking.

Fan Jian's expression was strange, a mix of amusement and exasperation.

“Your Highness, Ruo Ruo called out ‘goose’ twice, and you called it three times?”

“Do you think that's a poem?”

Li Zhi, Prince Jing also said with a smile, “Third Brother, a poem needs at least five characters!”

Liu Shuyan said dismissively, “Chang'an only started school at six, how could he compose a poem now?”

The scholars behind Fan Jian were all suppressing their laughter.

Emperor Qing's Third Brother was indeed a philanderer!

He actually brazenly demanded that Fan Jian leave a one-year-old girl in the capital!

A five-year-old child composing a poem?

What a joke!

Even those of them who had studied poetry for over a decade couldn't come up with a single poem on the spur of the moment.

These ambitious scholars couldn't help but show a hint of disdain.

“Honk!”

Just then, the white goose let out a clear honk!

Li Chang'an continued to recite, “Neck bent, singing to the sky!”

As soon as this line was uttered, Fan Jian's expression immediately became serious.

He glanced at Li Zhi, Prince Jing, whose eyes were also filled with surprise!

Clearly, neither of them had expected Li Chang'an to actually recite a poem.

Li Zhi, Prince Jing whispered to Fan Jian, “A single goose honk, described so elegantly by Third Brother!”

A hint of excitement appeared in Fan Jian's eyes!

If this poem was decent, he would take it directly to tomorrow night's banquet!

The several scholars observing were somewhat shocked!

One of them couldn't help but slap his thigh.

“Elegant! It's so damn elegant!”

“But… it doesn't seem to rhyme…”

Another scholar said, “Fool, try adding two pauses!”

The previous person murmured, “Goose (pause) goose (pause) goose, neck bent, singing to the sky!”

After reciting it, he couldn't help but exclaim in admiration.

“It's truly brilliant! I couldn't write something like that!”

Everyone's exclamations startled the large white goose in the pond, making it swim forward a few inches.

Li Chang'an continued to plagiarize the poem, “White fur floats on green water, red webs paddle clear ripples!”

As soon as this line was uttered, everyone present who understood poetry was stunned!

This poem, composed by a child prodigy in his previous life, was definitely a masterpiece in this era of scarce poetry!

Li Zhi, Prince Jing repeated it several times, then excitedly picked up Li Chang'an.

“Third Brother, you're a True God!”

“The diction of this poem is simple, without any forced or artificial embellishment!”

“But its Concept is lively and agile, simply overflowing with talent!”

Fan Jian jumped up and down excitedly, “This is great!”

“One of the three poems is finally complete!”

The scholars repeatedly recited the poem, and the more they recited, the more astonished they became!

“It sounds simple, yet it vividly depicts the great goose!”

“Your Highness hasn't learned complex diction, yet his poetry can return to its purest form!”

“A child prodigy! This is a child prodigy!”

“If he learns elegant diction in the future, what kind of masterpieces will he be able to compose!”

Everyone was extremely excited, and Fan Ruoruo looked at the people around her curiously.

Although she was still young, her favorable impression of Li Chang'an increased by another twenty points.

Li Chang'an said, “Minister Fan, Ruo Ruo doesn't have to go to Danzhou now, right?”

Fan Jian was in a good mood and immediately referred to himself as brother-in-law.

Li Chang'an held Fan Ruoruo's hand, and he couldn't see anything else.

“Brother-in-law promises you, you don't have to go!”

“Ruo Ruo is still young, and a long journey isn't suitable for her anyway!”

After speaking, Li Zhi, Prince Jing and Fan Jian, along with a few scholars, hurried to the study.

There were still two poems waiting for them to conjure up!

Li Zhi, Prince Jing said with some anticipation, “At the state banquet tomorrow night, Third Brother's poem must be presented!”

“Let that Cui Shen of the Five-character Great Wall take a good look!”

“Isn't he a Disciple of the great Zhuang Mo Han? Let him witness this!”

Fan Jian also said, “Yes! Who says Southern Qing people can't write poetry!”

“A few years ago, a poem from our Southern Qing received a ‘decent’ evaluation from Cui Shen.”

“That scholar who wrote the poem was directly selected into the Ministry of Rites by Minister of Rites Guo Youzhi!”

...Early the next morning.

The Surveillance Bureau's informant from the Fan Family delivered “ode to the goose” to Emperor Qing's desk.

“Hey! Third Brother is quite capable! The Concept is simple, and it's catchy!”

“It's clearly a child's poem, yet it's even better than an adult's!”

“As expected of my brother, extraordinarily gifted!”

“I must assign Third Brother a good teacher so he can further his studies in poetry!”

“Our Great Qing imperial family might even produce a great poet!”

As the sun set, snow began to fall in the capital.

The common people of Great Qing came out to enjoy the snow, experiencing a novelty that only occurred once every decade or so.

Inside the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, the state banquet was in full swing.

Emperor Qing sat at the head, with officials from Southern Qing and Northern Qi seated on either side below him.

Li Zhi, Prince Jing's first two poems were completely defeated by the Northern Qi side.

Cui Shen, the Deputy Envoy of Northern Qi, gave the evaluation: “Overwrought diction, utterly vulgar.”

It wasn't until Li Zhi, Prince Jing presented “ode to the goose” that it immediately caused a stir of exclamations.

Cui Hao was a man of letters, not an official.

His evaluation was also very objective.

“The diction seems simple and casual, but it is very apt.”

“The entire poem is naturally formed, vivid and lively, as if the great goose is right before your eyes!”

“Wonderful! Wonderful! Absolutely wonderful!”

“It can be called a masterpiece!”

‘Masterpiece’ was a much higher evaluation than the previous ‘decent’!

At this moment, the Chief Envoy of the Northern Qi Delegation became displeased.

This Chief Envoy, ennobled as the Marquis of Changning, was named Wei Bi, and he was the younger brother of the Northern Qi Empress.

“For how many years has your country not produced any decent poetry?”

“This poem, I wonder which scholar it comes from?”

“Why not invite him to the Hall so we can also witness him!”

The implication was clear: he didn't believe this poem could have been written by a Southern Qing person.

It was a common occurrence for Southern Qing people to buy poetry from Northern Qi.

Emperor Qing also looked at Li Zhi, Prince Jing, his expression filled with deep doubt.

“Prince Jing!”

“Whose Disciple is this poem by?”