Chapter 32 The Phoenix Man, Rising to the Top in One Step
Xiao Lingxi led Su Xiaoyu and Zisu quickly toward the waterside pavilion, where they could see a large crowd gathered around it. Several curious young ladies also stood on the outside watching.
In the open space next to the waterside pavilion, there was an area for pitch-pot, where several young men were aiming arrows at the mouth of the pot. Every now and then, cheers could be heard, which contrasted with the recitations coming from the waterside pavilion. Clearly, the areas for literary and martial arts tests were separated.
At this moment, a young gentleman dressed in a brocade robe and wearing a jade crown put down his pen with a sense of pride.
He was Zhou Bowen, one of the famous "talented scholars" in the capital, and the son of the Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices.
This person is known for his talent, but he is somewhat arrogant, which Xiao Lingxi has never liked.
Zhou Bowen, holding a folding fan and shaking his head, said, "Just now I composed this poem, 'Ode to the Begonia,' with the theme of 'Spring Begonia.' If any of you are interested, why not continue the poem, or compose another one on the same theme? If you can't, you'll have to drink three cups of wine as a penalty!"
As he spoke, he handed the completed poem to those around him for a reading, his face full of arrogance.
The young men around gathered to take a look. The words were ornate and full of allusions, making it indeed a fine poem. However, it lacked a bit in terms of artistic conception.
However, due to Zhou Bowen's family background, most people only offered perfunctory praise and no one actually stepped forward to answer the question.
Zhou Bowen looked around and, seeing that no one was coming forward, became even more smug.
Just as he was about to make a joke, he heard a gentle voice coming from behind him.
"Master Zhou's poem 'Ode to the Begonia' is beautifully written, but in terms of its artistic conception, it seems that it could be made a little more lively. I am not very talented, but I would like to offer my humble poem on the theme of 'Spring Begonia' and ask Master Zhou for his guidance."
Upon seeing who it was, Xiao Lingxi's heart skipped a beat!
It's Shen Moyan!
He calmly walked out of the crowd, still wearing that moon-white brocade robe, a stark contrast to Zhou Bowen's flamboyance.
Zhou Bowen saw that he was a stranger and his clothes were not ostentatious, and a hint of contempt flashed in his eyes.
"Oh? Please speak, sir."
Shen Moyan pondered for a moment, his gaze sweeping over the koi swimming in the pond outside the window, and the lively pitch-pot area not far away, before slowly reciting:
"It does not vie for the spring colors that fill the capital, but its own shimmering scales move across the blue lake."
"Do not laugh at those who harbor lofty ambitions in the world; even the unexpected transformations of wind and thunder can astound the common people."
Upon hearing this poem, the entire room fell silent for a moment, followed by several low sighs.
This poem, ostensibly about koi fish, is actually full of hidden meanings in every line.
"Not vying for spring's glory" is a metaphor for the richness and splendor of the peony, conveying a higher and purer sentiment.
The phrase "having its own brilliance" implies that one's talent, though not ostentatious, shines forth naturally.
The phrase "hiding lofty ambitions in the rivers and lakes" not only suits his identity as a student abroad but also highlights his aspirations.
The final line, "Even the unexpected transformations of wind and thunder can astound the world," subtly echoes Zhou Bowen's arrogance. It also subtly suggests: Though I may not flaunt my abilities, given the opportunity, I can certainly make a name for myself!
This poem, in terms of both its theme and its artistic conception, is far superior to Zhou Bowen's previous poem.
The difference in their levels of understanding is immediately apparent!
Zhou Bowen's smug expression froze instantly, his face turning pale and then red.
Xiao Lingxi's eyes lit up as she watched from the side!
Although she doesn't enjoy studying poetry, she can still distinguish between good and bad.
Shen Moyan's poem was like a gentle slap in the face to the arrogant Zhou Bowen. It was just... exactly to her liking!
Xiao Lingxi's goodwill towards her increased even more.
Little did Su Xiaoyu know that when she heard the name 'Shen Moyan', especially the words 'from Jiangnan', her brows furrowed tightly.
Shen Moyan?
According to the original plot, shouldn't he have "coincidentally" met the second young lady after the banquet when she went outside the city to offer incense? How come he appeared here ahead of time?
Alarm bells rang in Su Xiaoyu's mind as the tragic plot of the original book flooded her thoughts.
[It's all over! It's Shen Moyan! The second young lady in the book was completely fooled by his gentle, refined, and learned facade, insisting on marrying him! And what happened? She only discovered after marrying him that his widowed mother was extremely controlling, treating Shen Moyan like a cash cow, his two aunts were cunning and calculating, and the entire extended family of distant relatives depended on him for survival. The entire Shen family was a bottomless pit, outwardly prosperous but inwardly hollowed out! The second young lady's dowry was all used to fill that hole!]
The second young lady suffered endless grievances in her husband's family, tormented by a family of bloodsuckers. Her widowed mother constantly imposed rules, saying she wasn't virtuous enough, and even after giving birth to a daughter, she was still disliked! The second young lady, such a proud person, was eventually worn down and lost all her spirit, struggling to survive in her husband's family, suffering in silence...
Thinking of this, Su Xiaoyu suddenly looked at Xiao Lingxi, only to see her staring intently at Shen Moyan, her eyes sparkling with joy and excitement.
Su Xiaoyu suddenly felt a chill run through her body!
No wonder!
She knew the second young lady's personality well; she usually hated memorizing poems and studying literature, but today she took the initiative to join in the excitement of the poetry competition, and her eyes lit up when Shen Moyan beat Zhou Bowen.
She clearly already has feelings for Shen Moyan!
No! We absolutely cannot let the second young lady repeat the same mistake!
Su Xiaoyu's heart tightened instantly, a hundred times more nervous than when she faced Du Tingting's framing!
Du Tingting's scheme was ultimately just a minor incident, but Shen Moyan is a scumbag who can truly ruin Xiao Lingxi's lifelong happiness!
She had to find a way to remind the second young lady immediately!
But what should we do in front of everyone?
Su Xiaoyu's palms were sweating with anxiety!
On the other side, Zhou Bowen had been humiliated, his face turning red and blue.
In his shame and anger, he could no longer maintain his composure.
Zhou Bowen sneered, looking Shen Moyan up and down in his plain white robe that seemed out of place with his surroundings, his words laced with sarcasm.
“Young Master Shen is indeed very talented, but…” Zhou Bowen said with a contemptuous tone.
"These poems and songs are ultimately just elegant embellishments. We young men from the capital are exposed to practical ways of governing the world from a young age. Young Master Shen has lived in Jiangnan for a long time, so perhaps he has only learned the skill of composing poems and enjoying the moon? Isn't that a bit... too pedantic?"
These words were quite blunt, directly implying that Shen Moyan was all talk and no action, and had no real talent or ability.
Hearing these remarks, Xiao Lingxi wished she could immediately roll up her sleeves and confront Zhou Bowen.
However, Su Xiaoyu stopped her in the end.
"Second Miss, please calm down! This is a battlefield for men. If you step in now, what will people think?"
Upon hearing this, Xiao Lingxi indeed calmed down a bit.
Indeed, what would it look like if an unmarried woman stood up to speak for a strange man at this time?
On the field, Shen Moyan's face was slightly pale, and he clenched his hands in his sleeves, but his back remained straight.
"Young Master Zhou, you are mistaken. Poetry expresses one's aspirations, and literature conveys the Way. No matter where a scholar is, all he seeks is to understand principles and cultivate himself. How can regional differences be used as a standard to judge the level of one's learning?"
"oh?"
Zhou Bowen sneered, his gaze sweeping meaningfully over the elegantly dressed young ladies present. He deliberately raised his voice, his tone full of malice.
"You make it sound so high and mighty! Today's banquet at the Princess's residence is attended by sons of noble families and daughters of prominent clans. Young Master Shen has neither connections nor a distinguished family background. He's just a scholar from Jiangnan. Instead of preparing for the imperial examinations, he's showing off his talents here. Could it be that he's trying to climb the social ladder by attaching himself to some wealthy and noble lady, becoming a 'phoenix man' and rising to the top in one step?"
These words were sharp and venomous, directly belittling Shen Moyan's talent as a "tool for currying favor."
The area around the waterside pavilion fell silent instantly, and even the sound of pitch-pot not far away seemed to fade.
Shen Moyan froze, all color draining from his face!
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