"She’s just a peasant girl, without a speck of knowledge about poetry. How could she possibly have written such a poem? Don’t you all think there’s something fishy about this?"
Qi Zonghao’s eyes were grim, wishing he could go up and seal his sister’s mouth shut.
This sister, spoiled by him and their mother, failed to read the room, not noticing that the judges were all wearing displeased expressions. Continuing like this would surely provoke public outrage!
People from Xiliang Country were so ashamed they wanted to bury themselves, having witnessed with their own eyes that Princess Chen wrote the poem on the spot. If she had cheated, wouldn’t everyone have noticed? Princess Qiuxin was simply making trouble without reason!
"Princess Chen, since Princess Qiuxin doesn’t believe you, why don’t you prove it to her?"
As soon as Prince Duan finished speaking, the whole competition ground fell silent, everyone looking at Prince Duan as if he were a fool.
Long Xuanmo and the others cried out in unison with anger: "What do you mean, Prince Duan?"
After a cold glance at Prince Duan, the Emperor said not a word, yet it was enough to make Prince Duan’s face turn pale, his back breaking out in cold sweat, and his heart filled with panic.
Duke of Wuguo bowed his head low, as if in deep meditation, inscrutable. freewёbn૦νeɭ.com
"Since Princess Qiuxin doesn’t believe me, I shall compose a few more poems about summer," said Yang Mengchen with a light smile and a shake of her head to Long Xuanmo and the others. "But I’d rather not write them down this time; I’ll just recite them instead."
"Wait, Princess Chen," Old Hai called out hastily, and then arranged for a few scholars to bring pen and paper to take notes.
"’Summer Day at the Mountain Pavilion’, the green trees’ shade is thick in summer’s long days, pavilions and terraces reflected inverted in the pond; as a light breeze stirs the crystal curtain, a courtyard full of roses fills with fragrance,"
With Yang Mengchen’s voice, the crowd felt as if they were in a garden pavilion, experiencing the breeze on their faces and the scent of flowers, feeling pleasantly comfortable and at ease.
Yang Mengchen recited poem after poem without a shred of shame for being an anachronistic cheat; each and every one was a masterpiece.
After each poem she recited, the crowd cheered loudly, eventually admiring in astonishment: The talent of Princess Chen could no longer be described merely as genius; she was none other than a divine being, for otherwise she wouldn’t have been able to come up with so many perfect lines on the spot.
Long Xuanmo gazed deeply at his beloved wife, his bright eyes brimming with deep affection. Ah Jiu, silent until now, had shocked everyone with her brilliance. It was the fortune of several lifetimes that had allowed him to grow old with Ah Jiu in this life.
A faint trace of sorrow quickly passed through the depths of Meng Jingqi’s eyes, immediately replaced by his usual warm and gentle smile. He felt genuinely proud and elated.
The Emperor and the Dongchu people held their heads high, basking in the envy of foreigners.
Prince Duan and Empress Jing regretted their actions deeply. Had they known of Yang Mengchen’s outstanding literary talent, they would have moved heaven and earth to win her over, and wouldn’t have been left simply envying Prince Chen as they were now.
Su Manru’s face paled slightly. Before the competition, she had looked down on Yang Mengchen’s lack of literary grace, thinking to trample her into the ground. Instead of humiliating herself publicly, Yang Mengchen had amazed everyone, and Su Manru felt like she’d been slapped hard across the face, a pain that kept spreading to her heart. After this event, she believed Prince Chen would love Yang Mengchen even more, and her own chances would vanish. Should she really give up?
Qi Qiuxin was even more panicked than Su Manru. Seeing many people pointing and laughing at her, she wanted to argue, but the warning look from her brother made her obediently shut her mouth, daring not to speak any further.
Qi Zonghao was frustrated with his sister, but seeing how bruised she was by the ordeal, he felt a pang of pity. Most importantly, how would the people of Xiliang soon view their mother and him when word of today’s events got out?
"May I ask Princess Chen, what is the next line of the verse, ’Who doesn’t love the peony flower, claiming the best of the city’s splendor’?" Old Hai asked Yang Mengchen humbly.
He had long harbored a guess that Princess Chen was brimming with talent. As for why she kept it hidden, he neither understood nor asked.
"Perhaps it is the work of a goddess on the Luo River, her myriad graces outshine the morning glow," answered Yang Mengchen after reciting the line. "Now, does Princess Qiuxin and Prince Duan have any further doubts?"
Even someone as foolish as Prince Duan could detect the mockery in Yang Mengchen’s indifferent tone. No matter how much hate and regret he felt inside, on the surface, he still managed to smile and say, "My dear third sister-in-law is overflowing with talent, a fact that brings Rong Youyan honor." Then, he turned to Qi Qiuxin, "Princess Qiuxin, do you now believe that Princess Chen did not cheat?"
Damn Prince Duan for pushing all the blame onto her, thought Qi Qiuxin, seething. Yet confronted with her brother’s furious gaze, she could only say against her will, "Princess Chen’s literary grace is remarkable, and I admire her."
"The pure remain pure, the tainted reveal their own impurity," Yang Mengchen casually glanced at Prince Duan and Qi Qiuxin, her eyes filled with cold mockery and challenge: "If anyone dares to ask this Princess Chen for a poem again, I shall not be lenient."
"Princess Chen is more focused on how to improve the living standards of the people of Dong Chu than on composing poetry," Old Hai added cheerfully.
The crowd sighed with lament and regret upon hearing this. Princess Chen, with such talent, had decided to forsake poetry because of this ordeal. The scholars and literati present couldn’t help but resent Prince Duan and Princess Qiuxin, while they also felt deep admiration and affection for Princess Chen, who indeed had done much good for the nation and its people.
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