Jing Zhe had given them a chance, but they didn't take it.
You ignored me back then, but now you can't even reach me. That's the point.
"Shut up!"
While everyone was still arguing their point, Jing Zhe suddenly shouted, immediately stunning them.
"Were you all mute when I asked you earlier? Now that you hear there's money to be had, you're all all excited? If you want money, step forward. I'll send someone to take you to those monks. You can have a good talk with them, and come back to me when you've settled on how much money you should get back!"
"..."
Upon hearing this, everyone immediately fell silent.
Master Kongjing and other monks are currently imprisoned. If they agree, wouldn't they also be imprisoned and asked to negotiate with him?
If it can be negotiated, that would be fine. But if you're locked up in jail, it's not as simple as just negotiating!
The people weren't stupid; although they wanted the money, they wanted their lives even more.
Seeing that everyone was dejected, Jing Zhe sneered repeatedly.
"Alright, let's get back to the main topic. The old monk just said that the poem I wrote was prepared in advance. Do you agree?"
"..."
"Fine, no one answers, that means no one agrees. This old bald monk dares to frame me. When we interrogate him, we'll add another charge against him!"
"..."
"Prefect Xu, send someone to take down the plaque of Peach Blossom Temple. From now on, there will be no more Peach Blossom Temple in Jiangling. After the poetry gathering, I will send someone to deliver the plaque of Peach Blossom Hermitage, so that my poem will be appropriate for the occasion."
"..."
Everyone's eyes have been opened today. They had only ever heard of writing poetry based on scenery, but this was the first time they had ever seen an environment that needed to be paired with poetry.
"What's wrong, Prefect Xu? Do you have a problem with that?"
Seeing that Prefect Xu was in a daze, Jing Zhe said with dissatisfaction.
"No...no objection...Come quick, what are you all standing there for? Didn't you hear what President Jing said? Take the plaque down right now!"
"Yes, Prefect!"
"..."
The constables acted quickly, and the two plaques of Peach Blossom Temple were taken down. When they carried the plaques to Jing Zhe and asked him what to do with them, Jing Zhe kicked them without saying a word. Everyone was stunned: How could a scholar be so violent?
...
Once the matters concerning the "Peach Blossom Hermitage" and the "incense money" were settled, Jing Zhe looked at the still-dazed crowd and said, "Alright, everyone, stop standing there, let's continue our poetry gathering!"
After speaking, he looked at Feng Mubai and said, "Young Master Feng, what do you think of my poem?"
He almost called him "this official" again, but considering that Feng Mubai would think he was abusing his power, he changed his tune:
I've always convinced people with my talent...
Jing Zhe's series of decisive and ruthless actions just now were terrifying, even Feng Mubai felt a little scared.
However, he then realized that his strength was only effective against lawbreakers, and what was there for him, a law-abiding scholar, to fear?
Having figured this out, Feng Mubai straightened his back: "President Jing, literally speaking, your poem... is quite catchy, but in terms of artistic conception, it is still somewhat inferior to mine."
"I know."
Jing Zhe nodded and said earnestly.
"..."
If you already know, why are you asking me?
Feng Mubai thought to himself, "Is he about to admit defeat?"
Although Jing Zhe is somewhat domineering, he wouldn't do anything like calling a deer a horse; if he can't compete, he simply can't compete.
He said again, "Didn't I just say that I could write a whole bunch of poems like that? Writing this one is just practice."
"..."
Feng Mubai twitched his lips but didn't reply.
Jing Zhe then stepped forward again, looking much more serious.
"In the human world, the flowers of March have all faded, but in the mountain temple, the peach blossoms are just beginning to bloom."
I lamented spring's departure, finding it nowhere; little did I know it had turned and entered this place.
Jiangling is located at the southernmost part of Anguo, and its climate is much warmer than other places. Naturally, the peach blossoms bloom much earlier than in other places, so Jing Zhe changed the original poem to suit the occasion.
Upon hearing this poem, Feng Mubai frowned.
The poem was short, but full of charm. Compared to his own poems, Feng Mubai suddenly felt a lot of pressure.
However, this was only the beginning of a nightmare.
After reciting the poem, Jing Zhe did not pause but continued.
"The peach blossoms are ashamed of their heartless death, but are grateful to the east wind."
The delicate red petals are blown away, flying into the quiet window to accompany my sorrow.
Who pities the weary Dongyang, who has grown thin from hardship, also languid in the spring?
"Not as beautiful as the lotus, yet its quiet charm shines through in the cold."
Words, it's just words!
"The jade grass is so green, spring enters the peach blossom mountain."
There are countless peach blossoms on the mountain, and orioles sing among them.
I long to find a path through the flowers, straight into the depths of the white clouds, where my noble spirit will soar like a rainbow. But I fear that deep within the flowers, the red dew will dampen my clothes.
I sit on jade, lean on a jade pillow, and strum the golden zither. Where is the banished immortal? No one keeps me company with my white conch-shell cup. I am a sacred herb, not a beauty with crimson lips and a rosy face; what is the point of my long sigh? I dance drunkenly down the mountain, the bright moon following me home.
Another poem!
Everyone was completely astonished. They had only heard of Jing Zhe's Mid-Autumn Festival poems before, but now Jing Zhe had suddenly written two more. Although they were not as good as the Mid-Autumn Festival poems, they were masterpieces. Not to mention these two poems, it would be difficult for any poem in later generations to catch up with them. This was quite normal.
However, the quality of these two poems is not bad either. Although both poems use peach blossoms as the subject, the first poem focuses on emotion, while the second poem focuses on scenery, each with its own unique charm.
If everyone thought Jing Zhe's previous claim that he could easily write a whole basket of poems was just boasting and bragging, now they were starting to believe him. The most crucial point was that he could recite both poems off the cuff! What kind of poetic talent did he possess?
Although a few people still believe that these must have been poems written by Jing Zhe before he came to Jiangling, and that he was just using them—doesn't this further demonstrate that Jingzhou is full of talented people?
Rather than that, it's better that he himself is talented; at least he's an exception and doesn't represent that all people from Jingzhou are more talented than those from Jiangling.
Including the poem for Fatty Wei, Jing Zhe has already written two poems and two lyrics at this poetry gathering. Everyone thought this was his peak, but little did they know that this was just the beginning!
Next, Jing Zhe's poem brought the poetry gathering to a climax!
"On this day last year, in this very doorway, faces and peach blossoms reflected each other's rosy hue."
The face is gone, I know not where; the peach blossoms still smile in the spring breeze.
The crowd went completely berserk.
If they had indeed previously considered the idea that Jing Zhe had a group of ghostwriters behind him writing poems for him, then seeing how Jing Zhe casually wrote two poems and three lyrics, everyone felt that his calligraphy was definitely untenable.
After all, if there were so many talented people in Jingzhou, why hadn't they heard of them before? At most, they had only heard of Song Jimao.
Therefore, everyone now thinks that Jing Zhe is truly amazing, not just bragging. The way they look at Jing Zhe is now filled with admiration and appreciation. No matter how xenophobic they are, their respect for the strong is still heartfelt.
————
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