Although the river breeze was gentle, it was so cold that it still felt like a knife cutting my face.
Fu Xiaoguan stood alone on the cold river, looking at the full moon reflected in the Qinhuai River. It rose and fell, torn, broken, and then became full again on the river surface wrinkled by the evening breeze.
"What are you looking at?" Dong Shulan asked softly.
"Look at the moon. Isn't the moon in the water more vivid than the one in the sky?"
Su Su pouted, very dissatisfied: "How come you are the same as Master? I said, I'm hungry!"
"Okay, okay, okay!" Fu Xiaoguan had no choice but to surrender, "We'll go up right away."
Under the guidance of Shangguan Miao, the four of them boarded Hongxiuzhao's pleasure boat and went directly to the third floor.
At this moment, the third floor was full except for the one table left. Fu Xiaoguan took a look and understood a little bit. The place was full of young men, and they were the kind who were very elegant and immature.
Xue Feifei was not singing here. The young people were originally whispering, and now everyone's eyes were on Fu Xiaoguan.
As expected, Shangguan Miao spoke up: "The Lanting Poetry Society has reserved the entire venue so that we can discuss poetry with you. Please take a seat!"
A young man in a green silk robe came over. He came in front of Fu Xiaoguan and bowed, "My name is Qin Wenzhe, and I'm honored to meet you, Master Fu."
"Brother Qin, you're too polite... Actually, I'm going to the academy in a few days, so you don't have to be like this."
"We know, but ever since Brother Fu's "Water Melody" was sung in Shangjing during the Mid-Autumn Festival last year, we have admired him greatly and wanted to meet him. Unfortunately, he was still in Linjiang at that time, so we were unable to fulfill our wish. Later, Master Fu's book "A Dream of the Red Chamber" became a hit in Shangjing, and we admired him even more and wanted to meet him. Later, Brother Fu came to Shangjing, but he seemed a little busy. Brother Yan Xiwen told us that he would introduce us to him in a few days... and that introduction has not come until now. If we don't take the initiative now, I'm afraid I don't know when we will be able to meet Brother Fu again."
Qin Wenzhe spoke neither humbly nor arrogantly, and had the same demeanor as Qin Bingzhong. Fu Xiaoguan couldn't help but look at him with a higher regard.
Su Su pouted again, glanced at Fu Xiaoguan, then glared at Qin Wenzhe. She wondered why eating a meal was so difficult. They all acted so hypocritically. Was this what her master meant by "a beast in human form"? Or was it just false affection? Or perhaps a smile hiding a dagger?
I really want to stab them twice!
Fu Xiaoguan bowed to the crowd and said with a smile, "Everyone, I didn't mean it. People say that scholars are aloof, but in fact I am not a scholar. I am just a small landowner with a farmland. So aloofness has nothing to do with me. It's just that I really have too many worldly affairs, so I was delayed in my trip to the academy. Come on, come on, bring some wine! We are all young people of the Yu Dynasty, so let's forget those etiquette and constraints and drink to our heart's content!"
These words immediately won the favor of the group of young people, and there was applause and shouts one after another.
"Bring the wine!"
"Don't go home until you're drunk!"
"Brother Fu is indeed an extraordinary person!"
"This is the style of the young people of the Yu Dynasty!"
“…”
Everyone took their seats. In addition to Dong Shulan and Su Su, there were Shangguan Miao, Qin Wenzhe, and the three young men called by Qin Wenzhe at Fu Xiaoguan's table.
Maids were coming and going, and eight tables were set with food and wine. Susu was not polite. She picked up a piece of squirrel fish with chopsticks and put it into her mouth... It was not as delicious as the one made by Mrs. Dong!
Qin Wenzhe took a few more glances at Su Su, a delicate girl like her, not because of her rudeness, but because Su Su was really too eye-catching.
He turned his gaze away and looked at Fu Xiaoguan, introducing him, "This is Wu Que, the vice president of the Lanting Poetry Society. I admire him immensely. His family is from Nanling County, and they've been farmers for generations. Yet, with his unwavering perseverance, Brother Wu rose from a scholar to a juren, and was even admitted to the Imperial Academy."
Wu Que was very excited. There were so many stories about Fu Xiaoguan in the capital. He was the idol that a passionate young man like him admired. Being able to sit at the same table with Fu Xiaoguan today felt like a dream.
He stood up, walked to Fu Xiaoguan, and filled a glass of wine for him.
"My name is Wu Que, and I offer a toast to Master Fu!"
Fu Xiaoguan said with a smile: "People often say that it is difficult for a noble son to come from a poor family. I don't think so. Brother Wu, you are great. Do it!"
The two of them clinked their glasses and drank it. Wu Que filled Fu Xiaoguan's glass again and walked back to his seat.
This young man named Wu Que was suspicious, and Fu Xiaoguan remembered his name.
Qin Wenzhe then introduced two other young men to Fu Xiaoguan. One was called Shang Liang, the grandson of Shang Yu, the Minister of the Secretariat, and the other was called Gongsun Ke, who was also not from Jinling but from a noble family in Xinzhou.
Fu Xiaoguan remembered their names and couldn't resist their enthusiasm, so... now he could only drink.
Dong Shulan was very worried. This guy couldn't drink much. It looked like he would get drunk again tonight!
After some thought, she realized that getting drunk would be too harmful to her health, so she stood up, bowed to the young men present, and said with a smile, "You are all my seniors or juniors, so I won't be shy. He can only drink a limited amount of alcohol, and he will definitely not be able to handle you all taking turns to drink like this, but he is such a casual and easygoing person, he doesn't know how to refuse. Of course, I'm not refusing on his behalf, but... I'll help him drink the rest of the wine. After all, tomorrow is the Lantern Festival, and he has to go to the Lanting Collection to write poetry. If he gets drunk tonight and doesn't wake up tomorrow, wouldn't that be a good thing? What do you think?"
Of course, these young men all knew Dong Shulan; she was one of the three beauties of Shangjing, and she had indeed studied at the Imperial Academy for a period of time. As for the matter between her and Fu Xiaoguan, it was now clear: Yan Xiwen had withdrawn, and Fu Xiaoguan had won the beauty.
Thinking about what Dong Shulan said again, the Lantern Festival Poetry Festival tomorrow is a big event, and Fu Xiaoguan really can't be drunk. But Dong Shulan is a weak woman...how can she drink this wine?
So someone suggested, "Why don't we have a drinking party and invite Xue Feifei or Liu Yan'er to host it? Whoever loses drinks. Isn't that fair?"
The so-called drinking party is the same as the tea party. It is a form of entertainment for scholars in restaurants or brothels. The host asks questions, which can be couplets or poems. If you can't answer them or answer them poorly, you will be punished by drinking.
Fu Xiaoguan understood the meaning and immediately felt that this method was very good. It was more elegant than drinking games and simpler than flying flowers. He was also confident that he would not drink again.
Qin Wenzhe got up and went to the back room of Hong Xiuzhao. Soon, he invited two women, Xue Feifei and Liu Yaner.
The two women sat in the middle of the field, one holding a drum and the other holding a big red flower.
Xue Feifei looked at Fu Xiaoguan and a smile appeared on her lips. "I just discussed it with Sister Yan'er. We think playing with wine would be unfair. After all, everyone knows that Master Fu is extremely talented. It's not that I look down on you, but I think you are probably no match for him. So, let's change the game to pass the flower, okay?"
The students applauded, thinking that this method was brilliant and at least fair.
"I thought that the person who receives the flower would not only have to drink, but also fulfill one of my wishes. This is a bonus and also a fun thing. Now, Sister Yan'er will beat the drum, and I will decide who will receive the flower."
Liu Yan'er blindfolded Xue Feifei. She sat behind Xue Feifei, looked at Fu Xiaoguan meaningfully, and smiled. Fu Xiaoguan suddenly felt the urge to urinate... It seemed like there was a problem!
However, he didn't have time to think about it. Liu Yan'er started beating the drumstick, and Xue Feifei threw the red flower in her hand.
As the drums sounded, the flower passed through the hands of the students and then to Shang Liang. He quickly handed it to Wu Que. Wu Que was shocked and threw it to Qin Wenzhe. Qin Wenzhe threw it to Shangguan Miao without hesitation. Shangguan Miao was the most agile and he didn't even catch the flower. He just pushed it lightly and it landed in Fu Xiaoguan's hands.
Next to Fu Xiaoguan was Dong Shulan, and next to him was Susu. He had no choice but to throw it out, but at this moment, Xue Feifei shouted, "Stop!"
When the drum stopped beating, Fu Xiaoguan just stood up holding the flower.
Xue Feifei took off the silk scarf covering her eyes and looked at Fu Xiaoguan.
Liu Yan'er immediately covered her mouth and laughed, thinking that she had just bumped Xue Feifei at just the right time.
Fu Xiaoguan was speechless. How could this be such a coincidence?
Xue Feifei spoke: "You have to drink this first glass of wine." As she said that, she walked over, took the wine pot and poured a glass for Fu Xiaoguan personally, but it was taken by Dong Shulan.
"Fei Fei may not know, but I've already told everyone that he...can't drink too much because of the Lantern Festival tomorrow."
Xue Feifei thought about it and nodded, "This is more important. We are still hoping that you can produce better poems at the Lantern Festival tomorrow, and surpass Wen Xingzhou of the Wu Dynasty."
Wen Xingzhou's poem "Qingyu'an" is still listed in the first column of the "A" list of poems and essays written in the Shangyuan period on the Thousand Stele Stone. This is really a shame for the students of Dayu, who have a flourishing literary style. However, after so many years, no one has been able to write a better poem than Wen Xingzhou's.
Therefore, this is also the expectation of many students.
Dong Shulan drank the wine, and Xue Feifei continued, "I just said that the person who receives the flowers must fulfill one of my wishes... My wish is that you write a poem of your choice!"
Everyone was in an uproar and applauded. Fu Xiaoguan touched his nose and thought to himself, it's a good thing that I was asked to write lyrics. If I was asked to sleep with him... would I serve him or not?
"A few days ago, I was unable to sleep due to many trivial matters. I woke up alone at night and saw plum blossoms in full bloom in my courtyard. I happened to write a poem. I will recite it today for you to enjoy."
Liu Yan'er had already taken out the four treasures of the study and placed them on the desk beside her, looking at Fu Xiaoguan expectantly.
In fact, everyone here looked at Fu Xiaoguan, and then there was no sound, and it seemed that even their breathing had stopped.
What kind of poem would he write?
Judging from the meaning of this sentence, the theme should be plum blossoms.
He said he had trouble sleeping and woke up alone at night. I guess it was because of the sword fight with Prince Comet a few days ago.
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