Li Shimin only realized after Li Tai reminded him that there were still many poems he hadn't read.
However, he was confident in Li Tai's talent, believing that no one in the entire Ziyun Tower could surpass Li Tai in poetry.
"Since you put it that way, then I'll wait!"
Li Shimin said he would wait, but who dared to make him wait? After Li Shimin finished speaking, regardless of whether they had written well or not, they all hurriedly handed in their papers.
Li Shimin picked up the topmost piece and saw that it was written by Consort Wei. Although it was full of errors in tone and rhyme, the words were full of praise for Empress Zhangsun, which still made him very satisfied.
"The most virtuous woman in the imperial harem during the three hundred years of the Wei and Jin dynasties."
"She wore court robes to remonstrate with the emperor against his evil ways, and wrote books to compose rules for women."
"The Emperor and Empress have been together for more than a decade, their affection for each other is as long as the sun and moon."
"I am leaving behind matters for my dying wish, and I cannot bear to burden the court."
"Not bad, you have some literary talent!"
Upon hearing this, Consort Wei hurriedly rose from her seat and bowed.
"Your Majesty flatters me. I have made a fool of myself."
"It is only because I have received too many favors from Empress Wende in my early years that I have never been able to repay them. Today, thanks to Your Majesty's great kindness, I would like to take this opportunity to compose a poem for my elder sister, Zhangsun, to express my feelings as her younger sister."
"I am deeply gratified that you have such a heart!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
After Consort Wei withdrew, Li Shimin picked up another document, but frowned in displeasure after just a glance. However, when he saw that it was signed Li Erya, he was relieved.
This girl is treated like a treasure by her father, why didn't he hire a tutor to properly teach her?
"Li Erya, come here and recite your poem!"
Li Erya didn't take it seriously at all, thinking that her poem had been appreciated by His Majesty. She happily came to Li Shimin and picked up her poem to read it aloud.
"Empress Wende is wonderful, Empress Wende is amazing!"
"The children born to Empress Wende are all exceptionally talented!"
As soon as Li Erya got to this part, Li Tai couldn't take it anymore and burst out laughing.
"Li Erya, who are you cursing at!"
"The croaking one is a toad, hahaha!"
Upon hearing this, Li Erya realized she had made a mistake and quickly ordered someone to bring her paper and pen, intending to revise it in front of everyone.
However, her writing skills were really limited, and even after revisions, it still sounded awkward and incoherent.
"Brother Qingque, do you think this will work?"
"Empress Wende is good, Empress Wende is wonderful."
"Empress Wende embroidered frogs, and every single one of them croaked!"
"Empress Wende is good, Empress Wende is wonderful."
"With Empress Wende managing the inner palace, no one dares to cause trouble!"
"puff……"
After Li Erya finished reading her clumsy work, everyone in Ziyun Tower, from Li Shimin to his concubines, burst into laughter.
"Li Erya, you deserve a beating, hahaha!"
"I...I'll assign you a powerful tutor tomorrow to keep a close eye on your studies, hahaha!"
"Little sister Er Ya, if you go out in the future, don't say you're from the Li family of Longxi. Our old Li family can't afford to lose face like that, hahaha!"
Sizi laughed so hard he could barely breathe.
"Er Ya, if you don't know how to do it, then don't do it. Are you trying to make us laugh to death? Hahaha!"
Li Erya blushed instantly when everyone laughed at her like that.
"Did I...do I do that badly?"
"Why are you all laughing at me? Waaaaah..."
When Li Shimin saw that Li Erya was crying, he quickly tried to comfort her.
"Don't cry, I was just joking with you. You did a good job, hahaha!"
"You're still laughing!"
"You're all bullying me, waaaaah!"
Just as Li Erya was about to burst into tears, Li Jue walked in with a frown.
"Don't cry, Aunt Erya! You wrote really well. I'll correct a few words for you if you don't believe me!"
"oh?"
Upon hearing this, Li Erya immediately handed the paper and pen to Li Jue. Without hesitation, Li Jue scribbled something on the paper and then handed it back to Li Erya.
"Aunt Er Ya, read it again, and let's see who dares to laugh at you!"
Having learned from her previous experience, Li Erya silently read it through in her mind until she was certain that it was indeed well-written before confidently speaking.
"Listen up, all of you! This is my poem!"
"Empress Wende is wonderful, Empress Wende is amazing!"
Upon hearing this, Li Tai immediately objected.
"Er Ya, isn't this the same as before?"
Upon hearing this, Li Erya waved her hand impatiently.
"Don't interrupt, things will be different soon!"
"Empress Wende is good, Empress Wende is wonderful."
"Empress Wende assisted the Tang Emperor, and heroes at the end of the Sui Dynasty were proud of her!"
"It is proud but does not vie for spring's favor; it only heralds spring's arrival."
"When the mountain flowers are in full bloom, she smiles among them!"
When Li Erya recited this poem, everyone was inexplicably shocked.
Although the poem was recited by Li Erya, everyone knew that it was merely Li Jue using Li Erya's mouth to read it aloud.
Li Shimin silently recited the poem several times in his heart: "Proudly not vying for spring's favor, she only heralds its arrival; when the mountain flowers are in full bloom, she smiles amidst them..."
The child compared Empress Wende to a plum blossom, which blooms early and fades early, implying that Empress Wende died young.
However, the overall tone is not tragic, and the final line, "She laughs amidst the bushes," further highlights Empress Wende's character.
But what does "when the mountain flowers are in full bloom" mean? Is this grandson mocking me, mocking my harem of three thousand beauties?
Thinking of this, Li Shimin couldn't help but glance at Li Jue, who was squatting at the door, with a gloomy look.
"Li Jue, get back here right now!"
"oh!"
"Explain to me what the meaning of the phrase 'when the mountain flowers are in full bloom' is?"
Upon hearing this, Li Jue looked puzzled.
"It doesn't mean anything, it's just the literal meaning!"
Li Shimin snorted coldly upon hearing this.
"You better not mean anything by this, or you'll see how I deal with you!"
"Since you are so good at writing poetry, I order you to write another one within the time it takes for an incense stick to burn. If it is not good, I will punish you by making you write one hundred large characters!"
"ah?"
Upon hearing this, Li Jue hurriedly grabbed paper and pen and ran to the side to write a poem.
But he doesn't know how to write poetry. The few lines he just added for Li Erya were borrowed from his great-great-grandfather!
Seeing that Li Jue had obediently gone to write a poem, Li Shimin then continued to peruse the poems of others.
Overall, the poems of the others were quite ordinary, with only Wu Zetian and Zhi Nu showing some talent.
However, it was still quite different from Qingque's, and even inferior to the few sentences Li Jue casually made up, so he lost interest in reading it.
Apart from that, Sizi's poem is acceptable. Although it is seriously off-topic, it is still a good poem as a daughter mourning her mother.
Just as Li Shimin was casually flipping through the poem manuscript, his eyes suddenly lit up.
"Having seen the vast ocean, other waters seem insignificant; having beheld the clouds of Wushan, other clouds are not worth seeing."
"I'm too lazy to look back at the flowers, half for cultivating the Tao, half for you."
After reading the poem, Li Shimin was stunned for a long time. The poem was really well written, with not only vivid imagery but also endless artistic conception.
But could such a mature poem really have been written by a young boy?
"Li Xiang, did you write this poem?"
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