A beautiful woman in plain palace clothes walked slowly in the company of two palace maids. She smiled and looked at Mu Zhuohua, clapping gently, saying, "The hairpin poetry party has not started yet, but I have heard a good show first. I didn't expect that you are so brave despite your young age."
The palace maid said crisply, "Princess Roujia is here, why don't you greet her?"
Everyone suddenly came to their senses, bowed and said in unison, "Greetings, Princess."
"You are all disciples of the emperor, there is no need to be polite." Princess Roujia's voice was gentle but inexplicably had an irresistible power.
This voice warmed people's body and mind. They lowered their hands, raised their heads carefully, and looked at the legendary goddess-like Princess Roujia with their peripheral vision.
Princess Roujia had been keeping her chastity for General Xue Xiaotang for three years, so today she was still wearing a plain white dress, with a layer of light blue gauze on the outside. Her long, smooth black hair hung down behind her, combed into a simple bun, and only held up with a plain silver hairpin. It was this simple and unadorned dress that made people involuntarily respect her and dare not blaspheme.
"Today, this hairpin poetry meeting is held in the Royal Garden. I am not talented, but I have to be the host. I feel ashamed." Princess Roujia looked around and said with a smile.
Everyone hurriedly said, "The princess is both virtuous and virtuous. She is really a role model for women in the world."
Princess Roujia smiled faintly and said in a slightly cold voice, "Are you familiar with me?"
Everyone was surprised. They didn't know what had annoyed Princess Roujia, and suddenly changed their faces.
"You just heard some things about me, and concluded that I am both virtuous and virtuous." Princess Roujia paced back and forth, looking indifferently at the tribute scholars who were still talking and laughing just now, but now sweating profusely, "As for Miss Mu, you just heard that she is a woman and has no background, so you concluded that she is untalented and unvirtuous."
"Princess, please forgive me!" The tribute scholars could have refused to bow, but at this moment, several of them could not resist the majesty of the princess and knelt on the ground.
"How do you compare your knowledge with the examiners?" Princess Roujia ignored them and continued to ask.
"We are not as good as them."
"Since you know you are not as good as them, why do you question the examiners' judgment?"
Princess Roujia walked slowly to the center of the venue and sat down. She left the tribute students alone for a while before saying, "The reason why I can be the organizer of this hairpin poetry meeting is because I have the help of my great-aunt and have become half the owner of this royal garden. In terms of talent, I am not as good as you. In order to avoid being criticized in person or talked about behind my back, I don't have to be the organizer today. You just think that I am here to enjoy the flowers, and please do as you please." As
soon as Princess Roujia said this, everyone broke out in cold sweat.
They never thought that they would anger the noble princess because they despised a woman. This is the most beloved eldest daughter of the current emperor, and the most respected goddess by the people of the world. If today's events were to spread, they would be finished.
The garden, which should have been bright and beautiful in spring, was now dead silent.
In the dead silence, an inappropriate low laugh suddenly came out.
"Princess, calm down." It was Shen Jinghong who spoke. He bowed to Princess Roujia and said, "Today's matter is my fault."
Princess Roujia only glanced at the legendary Shen Jinghong, and then looked away.
"Yes, as the champion, everyone looks up to you. If you are fair and set an example, they will not speak or act inappropriately and slander a girl at will."
Everyone did not expect Shen Jinghong to speak for them. They could not help but feel a little grateful, but also a little afraid. They were afraid that Shen Jinghong would get angry and offend the princess even more.
"The princess taught me that reading thousands of books is not as good as traveling thousands of miles. We only read the books of sages, but we don't understand their meaning. Fortunately, the princess taught me a lesson, which is a wake-up call and a revelation."
Shen Jinghong's voice was clear
and he acted appropriately. Princess Roujia's expression also eased a little. "What Mu Zhuohua said just now is right. You are not only questioning her talent, but also questioning the innocence of the examiner and the fairness of the court. If this matter gets out, will you still have a good career? She reminded you to help you. If you avoid and indulge her, it will harm you."
With Princess Roujia's words, many people lowered their heads even more and said repeatedly, "We are ashamed."
Seeing the depressing atmosphere, Mu Zhuohua was about to speak to help, but heard a burst of hurried footsteps coming, and said loudly, "Imperial sister, this is wrong!"
When they heard this title, everyone's heart trembled - who else can call Princess Roujia sister except the prince?
It was the eldest prince Liu Chen who came out. Liu Chen was traveling incognito today, wearing a lake blue brocade robe, a white jade hair crown, handsome eyebrows and eyes, unable to hide his nobleness, but at this moment his eyebrows were slightly frowned, and there was some dissatisfaction in his tone. He walked quickly to the side of Princess Roujia and said loudly: "The court is not intolerant of doubts, not to mention that Mu Zhuohua's ranking is still under discussion."
Princess Roujia looked at Liu Chen and smiled with a headache: "Since the ranking has been announced, how can it be said to be under discussion?"
Liu Chen glanced at Mu Zhuohua who was lowering his eyebrows and frowned with some disgust: "Her essay questions are too poorly conceived and full of absurdity."
Mu Zhuohua was said so in front of everyone by the eldest prince, one of the examiners, and her future was almost cut in half.
Princess Roujia said: "If that's the case, why give her a high evaluation?"
Liu Chen frowned even more tightly, and hesitantly said: "It's just that several examiners have different opinions..."
Princess Roujia looked behind Liu Chen, stood up and knelt, and smiled: "Hello, uncle."
Everyone then realized that another person had quietly entered the garden.
Liu Yan, dressed in a white robe, came in among the flowers and willows, with a handsome face and a gentle temperament, but the smile on the corner of his lips was quite helpless.
"Greetings, Your Majesty!"
Everyone thought with sweat: Today's hairpin poetry meeting is too lively!
"The king is going out incognito today, so there is no need to be polite." Liu Yan smiled gently, and looked at Liu Chen and said, "Your Highness, today's hairpin poetry meeting is a place for tribute scholars to exchange knowledge. I'm afraid that you and I will disturb their interest if we are here."
Liu Chen said: "If it weren't for the bias of the royal sister, I wouldn't come out."
Today, he and Liu Yan had planned to sit in on the trial, but seeing Princess Roujia favoring Mu Zhuohua and even blaming Shen Jinghong, he couldn't sit still and came out to say a few words.
Now that he was out, he had no intention of going back.
Princess Roujia looked at Liu Chen and smiled, "Who is biased? Some people here have never seen an article, but they judge a person based on his gender and age. Does Your Highness think this is fair?"
Liu Chen has always respected Princess Roujia with awe and seldom talked back to her. What's more, what she said at this time made sense. He could only argue from another angle, "These people are biased, but Shen Jinghong has never made any rash judgments. Why is my sister so harsh on him? Is it just because he will be the top scorer?"
Princess Roujia said as a matter of course, "Since he is at the top of the list, he should be a role model. If he can't be a role model, he doesn't deserve to be the top of the list. Since he is in a high position, I naturally have to demand more from him."
Liu Chen said angrily, "My sister is really making excuses." Liu Chen looked at Liu Yan for help, "Uncle, what do you think?"
Liu Yan laughed and shook his head, "Biased Seeing is human nature, and no one can escape it. It is not easy to look at a person without considering his identity and appearance, as people are biased. "
Liu Chen's eyes lit up and he said with a smile, "What the emperor's uncle said makes sense. In the past, the hairpin poetry meeting was based on flowers, and everyone wrote poems and publicly evaluated them. In this way, some people would curry favor with the powerful and make the judgment unfair. For today's poetry meeting, why not imitate the imperial examination, and write poems anonymously, and one person read the poems and everyone evaluates them? "
Princess Roujia raised her eyebrows and teased, "Who is the host today, you or me?"
Liu Chen bowed and said, "Of course it's my sister."
Princess Roujia flicked her sleeves and pretended to be angry, "Are you here to watch the fun?"
Liu Chen suddenly had an idea, his eyes turned, and he smiled, "Since the emperor's uncle and I are here, why not participate in this poetry meeting as well."
When everyone heard this, their breath was stagnant.
Liu Chen thought this idea was great. He has been said to be both civil and military since he was young, and he also likes poetry, but others always praise his poetry talent, but they don't know a few truths. Today, he can take this opportunity to test his level by writing poetry anonymously. He has always been proud and doesn't think he will lose to others. What's more, as a prince or even a crown prince, poetry
is just a minor thing. If he really loses, he won't take it to heart. The difficult part is the tribute scholars present. They are all uneasy and don't know how to behave this time. If they accidentally beat Liu Chen and Liu Yan, will they be valued or hated?
Liu Chen is just watching the fun and not minding the big things. Liu Yan didn't expect things to develop to this point, and Liu Chen looked so excited that he couldn't dispel his idea at all.
Liu Yan glanced at Mu Zhuohua, who always looked calm and submissive, and didn't show the arrogance of his silver tongue just now. He sneered in his heart and nodded helplessly, "It's up to you."
There were many low tables in the garden, and pens, inkstones, and paper were already prepared on the tables. Everyone sat on the ground and wrote a poem with flowers as the theme within a stick of incense.
Princess Roujia asked the maid to bring a wooden box with many origami in it. Maner walked to each person and asked each person to reach out and touch a piece of origami. When they opened the origami, they found the name of a flower on it, and that person would use that as the theme. Everyone didn't know each other's theme, so they didn't know who would write what poem in a while.
After a while, everyone got their own poem theme. Princess Roujia lit the incense, and everyone started thinking hard.
Liu Chen and Liu Yan sat in the pavilion, and they each got a theme. Liu Chen frowned and thought deeply while pinching his pen. Liu Yan glanced at the theme, and then he leisurely drank tea, his eyes swept over the people who were doing the theme outside the pavilion, as if he had taken another imperial examination.
Liu Yan's eyes fell on Mu Zhuohua, who slightly opened her pink lips, revealing her neat white teeth. She was biting the tip of a pen unconsciously, her brows slightly wrinkled, and she was obviously very distressed. Liu Yan remembered that he had just overheard Mu Zhuohua's heresy from behind, and he couldn't help but smile again, with his lips slightly raised.
Mu Zhuohua was thinking hard, and her eyes inadvertently raised, and they bumped into Liu Yan's smiling eyes. Mu Zhuohua was slightly startled, and then she showed a helpless and aggrieved expression, pitiful, but people couldn't pity her, but instead wanted to tease her.
Liu Yan suppressed his laughter and looked away, put down the teacup, and picked up the pen to write a poem.
Mu Zhuohua secretly curled her lips, complaining that Liu Yan and Liu Chen were bored and had nothing better to do. If they hadn't come to make trouble, Princess Roujia would definitely protect her. Now...
Mu Zhuohua sighed in her heart and barely put together four lines of poetry. Although it wasn't bad, let alone compared with Shen Jinghong, I'm afraid that half of the people in the field couldn't compare.
"Time is up." Princess Roujia said, nodded to the maids, and the maids walked in front of everyone and took away the papers.
The papers were specially shuffled and placed next to Princess Roujia. Princess Roujia took a look at the papers and smiled, "There should be a lot of good works today. Good poems should be read by the right person to read them. Only then can they read the flavor." Princess Roujia looked around and finally said, "Let Mu Zhuohua come."
Mu Zhuohua took the order, walked up to Princess Roujia, picked up a stack of poems, and slowly began to recite.
Although Mu Zhuohua was a woman, her voice was crisp and pleasant, and it was really enjoyable to listen to. After Mu Zhuohua finished reading each poem, someone would comment on it. Because they didn't know which of these papers was written by Liu Chen and Liu Yan, everyone was very careful in their comments. They didn't dare to say anything bad, but only dared to pick out the good points. The atmosphere was extremely peaceful.
After listening for a while, Liu Chen frowned and muttered, "The poem just now was just ordinary, but they praised it so much?"
Liu Yan smiled and glanced at Liu Chen, "Chen'er, you and I really shouldn't have come."
Liu Chen thought for a moment before he understood the connection and couldn't help feeling a little annoyed.
After Mu Zhuohua read more than a dozen poems, she turned to the next page. She cleared her throat, read a sentence, and suddenly paused, looking straight at Liu Yan. Liu Yan was drinking tea, and was shaken by her gaze, and the cup suddenly fell to the ground.
Liu Chen said, "Uncle, your clothes are wet."
Liu Yan smiled and said, "It doesn't matter."
This interruption shifted everyone's attention, and they couldn't help but mutter in their hearts.
After Mu Zhuohua finished reading the poem, the situation on the field suddenly got a little out of control. This is a poem about peonies. Peonies are not only beautiful, but also the most precious flowers in the world. In ancient times, most people who sang about peonies used their richness and beauty as the theme. However, this poem was written about peonies and turned into a frontier poem! The first sentence was still praising the unparalleled beauty of peonies, and the second sentence recalled the battles in the past. This turn was so fast that it almost couldn't stop. Then the third sentence was about the bitter wind and severe snow, and no one was seen for thousands of miles, which made people seem to see the cruelty of war. The fourth sentence returned to the present, the prosperous times were peaceful, and only one person was left to appreciate the flowers...
Everyone recalled what King Ding had just done, and thought that King Ding had fought on the battlefield for many years. This poem was most likely written by King Ding! At that moment, everyone said something, praising this poem to the sky.
"This is definitely the first peony frontier poem in history!"
"It can be said to have created a new genre!"
"Be prepared for danger in times of peace, with lofty ideas, which is admirable!"
"The bitter wind and snow passed through the cold winter, leaving only the peony red, which makes people seem to see the cruelty of war and the sadness of comrades who died in battle."
"Writing about sad feelings with happy scenes makes people feel more heartbroken the more they
think about it." Liu Yan lowered his eyes, his face slightly strange. Liu Chen has always liked frontier poems. If you carefully evaluate this poem, the words are just average. The idea is indeed good, but it doesn't seem to be praised as highly as others. But seeing everyone vying to praise it, he even doubted whether his literary attainments were a little low and he didn't see it as good.
Everyone praised it for a long time before turning the page. Mu Zhuohua read for more than an hour and finally finished reading all the poems. Everyone also anonymously selected the best poem in their minds and wrote it on paper.
The maids collected the votes from everyone again. Two maids, one reading the votes and the other counting, a strange scene appeared.
"Ode to Peony."
"Ode to Peony."
"Ode to Peony."
...
"Ode to Peony is the first place, with 86 votes."
Including Liu Chen and Liu Yan, there were a total of 102 people in the field, and Ode to Peony alone received 86 votes.
Everyone smiled and applauded, and sighed from the bottom of their hearts: "Well-deserved, well-deserved!"
Princess Roujia stood up with a smile, picked up the poem about Peony, looked at it carefully, and looked up at everyone.
"The result has been revealed, so please ask the author of this poem to come out."
Everyone cast their fiery eyes on Liu Yan who was sitting in the pavilion.
Liu Yan still sat upright, with a smile on his lips, but he did not stand up.
A petite figure came out and walked in front of Princess Roujia, her face flushed a little. She raised her hand and spread out her palm, on which there was a small piece of paper, which was the previous test question.
Mu Zhuohua said shyly, "That poem... I wrote it."
All the smiles froze in an instant, and the suspicious eyes moved from Mu Zhuohua to Liu Yan. Liu Yan smiled at Mu Zhuohua. He felt that it was a mistake to forget to bring a fan today, otherwise he could hide the smile on his face at this moment.
Princess Roujia smiled and returned the poem to Mu Zhuohua, saying, "In this case, you will be the first in this year's hairpin poetry meeting. The best peony in this garden will be your prize. Man'er." Princess Roujia turned her head and said to the maid beside her, "You go and transplant that flower into a pot and give it to Miss Mu."
Man'er smiled and agreed.
Liu Chen's face was very ugly. He stared at Mu Zhuohua fiercely and muttered, "How could this poem be the first? Are those people blind or stupid?"
Liu Yan smiled and said, "I'm afraid... they are too smart and have been fooled by their own cleverness."
Liu Chen could never have thought of this result, and he felt a breath of air between his chest and abdomen. Not to mention Liu Chen, everyone else was also very upset. In fact, if we talk about poetry, Shen Jinghong's poem is the undisputed first, but everyone was misled and thought that the poem was written by Liu Yan, and they flattered him, which led to this result. However, compared with those who followed the wrong trend, Shen Jinghong, who lost the first place, was in a very calm state of mind. He congratulated Mu Zhuohua with a smile on his face.
Mu Zhuohua was a little proud, and even taking the heavy flowerpot from Man'er's hand could not suppress her pride. Her little face was flushed by the peony, her eyes were bright, and she said with great inflated eyes: "Brother Shen, am I the first person to beat you in poetry?"
Shen Jinghong: "..."
Shen Jinghong was shocked. How did you get the first place? Don't you have any... idea?
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