After all, poems can be set to music and sung, and famous courtesans also need a poem that is widely sung to increase their exposure and reputation.
In return, these women would serve you even more attentively, not only refusing payment but also paying you out of their own pockets.
The most famous example is Liu Yong, also known as Liu Sanbian. He was envied by the emperor and could not enter officialdom for the rest of his life. He could only spend his life drinking in brothels and never painted a single penny. On the contrary, he was supported by the women in those brothels.
Liu Yong lived a life of poverty and died in old age without money for a burial. In the end, all the courtesans in the city pooled their money to bury him...
Pshaw, I would never be that miserable.
"Young master is truly talented!" Nan Xun's beautiful eyes sparkled, and her gaze towards him seemed full of affection.
Everyone was envious. Even Bi Ziang, who had been leisurely leaning back in his seat, couldn't help but sit up straight. He was about to say something, but then a thought struck him. He glanced at Yu Nan on the other side and a smile immediately appeared on his face.
With that guy taking the lead, I don't need to play the villain anymore.
As expected, Yu Nan said, "You're saying you wrote this poem? You didn't plagiarize someone else's work and claim it as your own, did you?"
This actually represents the thoughts of everyone present, considering how Zaun's previous image was...
Well, these days, when people hear that he can write poetry, it's like hearing that Li Kui can embroider—they instinctively don't believe it.
Zuan raised an eyebrow. This guy really has a good eye for people!
However, he would certainly not admit it: "If it wasn't me, then you must have done it. If someone else had really written this kind of poem, how could it have been hidden away? It would have spread all over the country by now."
Everyone thought about it and agreed. If someone had such a poem, they would have been famous long ago. They wouldn't be waiting for someone else to plagiarize it.
Yu Nan was also a little uncertain, but he felt a surge of displeasure when he saw the smug look on Zu An's face. He was determined to have Nan Xun today, and anyone who stood in his way would die.
So he said coldly, "That's hard to say. Perhaps some down-on-their-luck scholar was writing something in a dilapidated temple before he died, and you just happened to overhear it and claim it as your own."
Yi Zhibing and others immediately chimed in, each speaking with reason and evidence, which made the others in the room nod in agreement. Such a situation was not impossible.
Zuan didn't argue, but just laughed and said, "I think you're just jealous. Jealousy really can change a person beyond recognition."
Yu Nan's handsome face flushed slightly: "Me, jealous of you? Hmph, since you say this poem is yours, you must know what the second half is, right?"
In this world where literature and art are not flourishing, he thought that these two lines had already exhausted the poet's talent. Even if the original author hadn't thought of much of what to do next, let alone Zu'an, the plagiarist?
Seeing Zuan's strange expression, he smiled slightly: "What, you're not saying you haven't had time to write the last two lines yet, are you?"
In the secret room upstairs, the maid said excitedly, "Miss, I knew it! How could that Zu fellow have such abilities? Young Master Yu must be right."
"You're just after his good looks, aren't you?" The stunning woman rolled her eyes, directly exposing her little scheme. However, her attention also fell on Zu An, curious about his response.
Zu An laughed and said, "Originally, I only thought of two lines on the spot, but after Young Master Yu said that, I just thought of two more lines."
Yu Nan's expression changed slightly. At this moment, Bi Zi'ang said gloatingly, "Oh, tell me about it."
"This life, this night, is fleeting; where will we see the bright moon next year?" Zu'an said, gazing at Nanxun.
Nanxun blushed slightly, wondering if he was lamenting that she might not be able to see him like tonight next year. Oh dear...
The moment these two lines of poetry were recited, the entire room fell silent.
The more experiences one has, the greater the impact of these two lines of poetry.
Even Yu Nan felt a chill run down her spine. She hadn't taken Zu An seriously before, but now she realized he was a formidable opponent.
"This life, this night, is fleeting; where will I see the bright moon next year..." The stunning woman in the secret room upstairs murmured to herself, a sense of being adrift and uncertain arose within her. Where would she be born next year? Would she even be alive to see the moon again...?
She sighed softly, "Ying'er, I miss home."
The maid named Ying'er's eyes reddened: "Miss, I miss home too."
...
At this moment, Miss Nanxun downstairs asked curiously, "Young master, you have truly written a fine poem. With just a few lines, you have captured the joys and sorrows of human life. May I ask what the poem is called?"
Zu An thought to himself, "I'm better at being a good poet. As for my name, who remembers it?"
He was already quite good at remembering the whole poem, and since the college entrance exam didn't test the names of poems back then, he naturally didn't bother to memorize them.
Just as he was about to answer, he met Nanxun's bright eyes, which seemed to be full of some kind of expectation. His heart stirred, and he said with a smile, "This poem is titled 'Mid-Autumn Moon * Presented to Nanxun'."
Nan Xun looked incredulous, then overjoyed: "Thank you so much for your generous gift, young master!"
As a famous courtesan, she naturally knew what a good poem meant. It could not only make her a sensation in the capital's social circles, but her fame would soon spread throughout the world.
More importantly, as long as this poem is still circulated in the world thousands of years later, people will remember her name.
Throughout history, so many heroes and great figures have left their names behind. People like Yu Nan are now all-powerful, but they might not even have their names recorded in history books. As for the affairs of courtesans, they wouldn't even dare to think about them.
As it turns out, Zu'an accomplished this today with just one poem!
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