"Hiss—!" A gasp rang out from the surroundings.
"What beautiful handwriting! Putting everything else aside, this handwriting alone surpasses Wang Wenjie's by countless times!"
"Yes! The calligraphy is so powerful and vigorous, it's in no way inferior to the calligraphy master, Mr. Mo. It's truly amazing!"
When Wang Wenjie saw Sheng Wenjin's words, his pupils contracted, and a shadow of gloom flashed in his eyes.
He coughed lightly, and immediately a scholar stood up and mocked, "Ha! Don't forget, this competition is about poetry, not calligraphy. What's the use of good calligraphy? Can you win with poetry?"
As soon as he said this, everyone who had just been amazed by Sheng Wenjin's beautiful handwriting immediately came to their senses.
Yes! Sheng Wenjin's calligraphy is indeed good, but his poetry is another matter.
After all, Wang Wenjie's poetry is so outstanding that it's hard to surpass.
Sheng Wenjin ignored what these people were saying and continued writing furiously. Soon, he put down his pen and returned to his seat to drink tea.
Bai Mo stepped forward and began to recite softly:
"Azure waters encircle green mountains, and a thousand peaks come into view."
Clouds and smoke rise and dance in the wind, flowing like an illusion, yet also like reality.
Nestled amidst verdant bamboo and pine trees, with cascading waterfalls and flowing springs creating a breathtakingly beautiful scene.
In a place of tranquility and peace, one can forget the sorrows of the world.
Gazing at the vast sky, my thoughts drift to the boundless expanse, and my mind wanders freely.
The landscape is like a painting, yet the mundane world cannot be fully captured by brush and ink.
I wish to ride a small boat, drifting on the blue waves, and lie drunk amidst the clouds.
Laughing at the affairs of the world, I live a carefree life through the seasons.
After Bai Mo finished speaking, the entire room fell silent.
People seem to be drawn in by the beautiful scenery in the poem, immersing themselves in the clear waters and green mountains, and feeling the magnificence and tranquility of nature.
The ethereal clouds and mist, the verdant bamboo and pines, and the cascading waterfalls and flowing springs all bring joy and allow one to forget worldly worries.
Sheng Wenjin's poems are not only beautiful in wording and profound in meaning, but also perfectly blend emotion and scenery, showcasing his extraordinary talent.
"Wonderful! This poem is in no way inferior to the poems in the ancient books published by the Hanlin Academy a few days ago!"
"Young Master Sheng is truly talented; the imagery in this poem is absolutely beautiful!"
"Not only is his handwriting beautiful, but his poetry is also outstanding. It's truly admirable!"
"..."
After regaining their senses, the talented men and beautiful women all expressed their admiration.
Even the students from Jiangnan sincerely praised Sheng Wenjin's talent.
Wang Wenjie's face turned very ugly. He originally thought that his poem was good enough to win the competition.
But to his surprise, Sheng Wenjin not only wrote better calligraphy than him, but also wrote such excellent poetry, which completely exceeded his expectations.
He felt a surge of jealousy and anger, but he couldn't express it, so he could only sit there suppressing his rage.
"Excellent poem! Excellent poem!" Xie Qingyuan, the previous top scholar, also stood up and praised:
"I told my friend long ago that if the Second Young Master Sheng had been in my year, the title of top scholar would never have fallen to me!"
Mr. Xie truly admires the talent and learning of the Second Young Master Sheng!
"Hehehe... Thank you for your kind words, sir!"
Sheng Wenjin stood up and cupped his hands in a respectful gesture towards Xie Qingyuan.
At this moment, Master Chen, who had been sitting there mostly silent, also stood up while holding Sheng Wenjin's poems.
"Wen Jin! I always thought you were a man of exceptional talent, but now you're not just exceptionally talented, you're absolutely unparalleled!"
When Master Chen spoke, his eyes were full of admiration as he looked at Sheng Wenjin.
"Master Chen, you flatter me!"
Sheng Wenjin nodded slightly to Master Chen, then turned his gaze to the crowd and slowly began to speak.
"Poetry is the expression of emotions and the embodiment of scenery. My poems are merely what I think, what I see, and what my feelings are; there is nothing special about them. Your praise is undeserved." His words were humble and sincere, which made people admire his talent and character even more.
Master Chen nodded repeatedly, his eyes full of approval.
Such talent, at such a young age, yet so humble and composed—it is truly rare.
"Young Master Sheng, why be so modest? Your poems are not only beautifully written, but also profound in meaning and sincere in emotion. Such talent is truly rare!"
Xie Qingyuan then turned to the crowd and said loudly, "Ladies and gentlemen, it is truly a great fortune for us to hear Sheng Wenjin's excellent work today. His poems not only captivate us with the beauty of nature, but also allow us to feel his love and yearning for life. Such a poet deserves our respect and emulation!"
I think the remaining two rounds are unnecessary. As for today's poetry competition winner...
"Wait! Lord Xie, rules are rules! We agreed on three rounds of competition, how can one round determine the winner? Besides, a single poem doesn't prove anything, does it? After all, the eldest son of the Sheng family became famous with a few plagiarized masterpieces, didn't he?"
At this moment, Wang Wenjie suddenly stood up and spoke.
"What do you mean by this, Young Master Wang? Are you saying that Young Master Sheng's poem might be plagiarized? How could that be? That ancient book has already been compiled into a poetry collection and sold, and this poem isn't in it!"
"Indeed! Young Master Wang, a bet is a bet. With your talent, even if you don't become the top scholar, you'll certainly be second or third. Why lose your composure over a competition!"
"Yes! Young Master Wang, you have always been the pride of our Jiangnan students. Please do not lose the integrity of our Jiangnan students this time."
"..."
For a time, many students from Jiangnan felt that Wang Wenjie had lost and harbored resentment, and was framing Sheng Wenjin.
After all, they had all read the poetry collection, and this particular poem was not in it. Moreover, this round of the competition had a designated topic. How could they possibly know the topic in advance and happen to have a masterpiece that perfectly matched the topic?
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