Chapter 490 I will not return until Loulan is conquered.
Upon hearing this, Yuwen Ye and Shang Ruyi were both somewhat surprised, especially Shang Ruyi, who stared wide-eyed at her brother: "Brother, what did you do?"
Before Shen Wuzheng could speak, Pei Xingyuan came over with a grin.
He said, “This is what happened. Just a few days ago, the families of Tao He, the Vice Minister of Revenue, and Wei Wenzhuo, the Grand Astrologer, were building houses in the west of the city, right next to each other. Vice Minister Tao’s courtyard wall was to be moved three feet to the west, and Wei’s courtyard wall was to be moved three feet to the east. They bumped into each other, and neither side was willing to give way. It looked like they were about to fight.”
Shang Ruyi hurriedly said, "Then—"
Pei Xingyuan waved his hand and laughed, "Then, your brother arrived."
"..."
"He doesn't know how he ended up there watching the commotion, and he said to the people on both sides—" At this point, he deliberately straightened his back, adopting a leisurely and nonchalant manner, and said, "Taking three feet is profit, sharing three feet is courtesy, and giving up three feet is virtue. Whoever is short takes it, and whoever is not short gives it up."
Shen Wuzheng, standing to the side, frowned and ignored him.
Pei Xingyuan continued, "Look at what he said, who would want to be immoral? Just like that, Vice Minister Tao and Lord Wei stopped arguing. Not only did they stop arguing, they each gave way three feet, creating a six-foot-wide alley outside their courtyard walls. Later, it seems that Lord Wei suggested that the alley be named 'Wuzheng Alley' (Alley of No Contention)."
"..."
"Now he's famous in Daxing City. Everyone knows that the young master of the Shen family has persuaded two ministers in the court at such a young age. Some people even say that if there is any war, just let the young master of the Shen family say a few words and the war will be won."
"..."
By this point, Shen Wuzheng seemed to have given up on something, and just glared at Pei Xingyuan with annoyance.
He was naturally aloof and decisive, holding his own even against Yuwen Ye; however, he was somewhat helpless against someone as enthusiastic and naive as Pei Xingyuan. Shang Ruyi, who was listening nearby, was amazed and said to Shen Wuzheng with a smile, "Brother, you're amazing!"
Shen Wuzheng also gave her a reproachful look: "You!"
Pei Xingyuan laughed again, "From then on, he became a guest of honor among the ministers in the court. Everyone wanted to invite him for drinks and see his demeanor as a scholar. The people in the Imperial Observatory, in particular, became very close to him. Today, when I wanted to see him, I went to the Imperial Observatory."
Upon hearing this, Shang Ruyi's heart stirred slightly.
The Imperial Observer...?
At this moment, Yuwen Ye, who had been listening quietly, seemed to be deep in thought. He looked at Shen Wuzheng and said, "Brother Fuming is a man whose words are worth a thousand pieces of gold."
Shen Wuzheng glanced at him but didn't say anything.
"It's more than just a word worth a thousand pieces of gold,"
Before Shang Ruyi could say anything, Pei Xingyuan chuckled and said, "At this poetry competition in Daxing City, our brother Fuming's words were truly astonishing, and his writing was worth a thousand pieces of gold."
Yuwen Ye and Shang Ruyi exchanged another glance: "A poetry competition?"
Pei Xingyuan said, "Yes, I heard it too. I heard that when the news of your great victory in Fufeng came half a month ago, the people in Daxing City were very excited. Someone even held a poetry competition in Shenjuan Pavilion to praise the achievements of the General of the State in this battle. Tsk tsk, it was a gathering of heroes."
"..."
"Unfortunately, I came back too late and missed it."
Shen Wuzheng glanced at him, seemingly wanting to mock him, saying that even if he came back, he wouldn't be able to write any brilliant poems. But he was a peaceful person after all, and couldn't bring himself to say anything too harsh, so he just shook his head and sighed.
Shang Ruyi immediately laughed and said, "With your poetic talent, you must have won first place."
As soon as he finished speaking, Shen Wuzheng's expression remained indifferent, but his eyes seemed to darken slightly. Shang Ruyi was taken aback, while Pei Xingyuan, standing to the side, shook his head and laughed, "To be honest, Brother Fuming's poem is truly excellent."
"..."
"If it weren't for meeting that Guanghan Guest, I would definitely have won the championship."
"Guest of the Moon Palace?"
Upon hearing the name, both Yuwen Ye and Shang Ruyi showed surprise. Shang Ruyi quickly asked, "Who is that person?"
At this moment, probably not wanting to hear Pei Xingyuan utter any more exaggerated words, Shen Wuzheng finally spoke up, saying quite calmly, "This person has never shown his face, only writing a poem in a private room and then having it circulated. I've read it, and it is indeed far superior to mine. I admit defeat wholeheartedly."
Is that considered?
These two words surprised Shang Ruyi even more.
You see, her brother was more learned than many people from a young age, and after studying under the great Confucian scholar Li Tong, he must have made even greater progress. It would be difficult for ordinary people to beat him. And even if someone could beat him, Shen Wuzheng was not the kind of person with a petty mind. If someone's literary talent was superior to his, he would naturally accept it.
But why did he say that he lost fair and square?
It seems like there's still a hint of dissatisfaction?
Yuwen Ye said, "Brother Fuming's poem—"
Shen Wuzheng glanced at him, but before he could speak, Pei Xingyuan interjected, "I remember, I'll do it!"
After speaking, he straightened his clothes, cleared his throat, and then solemnly recited: "Blood armor clad in scales opens the heavenly gate, layer upon layer of peaks appear in succession, arrows fly towards the gilded clouds, a decisive battle ignites the prairie fire and sinks the nine provinces."
"...!"
Upon hearing the poem, Yuwen Ye's eyes suddenly flashed.
Upon hearing the poem, Shang Ruyi was about to praise it, but before she could speak, she stopped, pondered it carefully twice, and immediately came to her senses, looking at Shen Wuzheng with delight: "Brother!"
This poem describes the scene where she used a scheme to burn Xue Xian's army!
That day and night of battle, which almost exhausted her, still makes her scalp tingle when she thinks about it now. She can hardly believe that she was blessed by God and actually accomplished this. Shen Wuzheng's few lines of poetry vividly depicted the scene of that day, and not only that, but also added a touch of excitement to it!
"The arrow flies towards the gilded cloud, igniting a prairie fire that will plunge the nine provinces into chaos..."
Yuwen Ye repeated those two sentences. He was still unconscious in bed that day. Even though everyone tirelessly recounted the thrilling battle to him afterward, it always felt like there was something between them.
These two lines of poetry instantly conjured up a magnificent battlefield scene in his mind!
"What a beautiful poem!"
He nodded and sighed, then frowned slightly as he looked at Shen Wuzheng and Pei Xingyuan: "This poem, you lost too?"
Pei Xingyuan said, "A close call, a close call."
Shen Wuzheng shook his head with a helpless smile and said, "A loss is a loss. I've never heard of anything like a close call."
Even Shang Ruyi frowned at this, saying, "Just how exquisite is that Guanghan Ke's poem? I want to hear it!"
Without thinking, she joined her brother in their hatred of the enemy.
Pei Xingyuan immediately said, "I also remember that person's poem. Let me recite it!"
After speaking, he cleared his throat and recited in a low voice: "The long clouds over Qinghai darken the snow-capped mountains, the lonely city gazes afar at the Jade Gate Pass. Through a hundred battles in the yellow sands, wearing golden armor, we will not return until Lou Lan is conquered."
"..."
After hearing this, everyone present fell silent.
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