"Interesting." Deng Tianyou said.
Poetry appreciation is a regular occurrence, and some people even use old works to try their luck. This method, in which everyone first presents an old work for a competition, and then uses impromptu questions to determine the winner, is more interesting than the simple poetry appreciation in previous years.
"Then let me go first." Deng Tianyou sat up straight and leaned over to look at the notes.
He looked at it carefully for a moment, then nodded with a smile: "Master Yue, it seems that Jiangling Prefecture has produced many talented people this year——"
Deng Tianyou had just said this when his eyes fell on one of the notes and he suddenly paused.
The prefect didn't notice his unusual behavior and echoed, "It's all thanks to the emperor's blessing."
But Deng Tianyou did not respond. He stared at one of the notes, his brows furrowed, and his expression, which had been gentle just now, looked a little solemn.
"Sir?" the prefect noticed the strange atmosphere and asked, "Is there something wrong?"
Deng Tianyou picked up one of the slips of paper and asked coldly, "Who wrote this poem?"
His tone didn't sound admiring. The prefect was shocked. He only heard the attendant holding the tray say, "This... this seems to be written by Qin Zhao."
Deng Tianyou suddenly raised his eyes: "Who?"
"Qin, Qin Zhao, the top scholar, Qin Zhao." The attendant was frightened and stumbled before saying, "He's the one who was absent today due to illness..."
In the morning, Qin Zhao sent his servant to the government office to ask for leave from the prefect. However, the requirement to write a poem was clearly written on the invitation, so when Qin Zhao asked for leave, he also submitted a poem, indicating that he wanted to dedicate it to the governor.
The prefect had read this poem beforehand, and it was quite average compared to Qin Zhao's previous level. He just thought that the other party was sick and in poor condition, and did not think much about it.
But now looking at the governor’s reaction…is this poem really that bad?
Qin Zhao was renowned for his poetry, and while this poem was considered average, that was only in comparison with his past. Compared to other successful candidates, the prefect didn't think he was inferior.
Is it necessary to be so angry?
The prefect was puzzled, but he didn't dare to go closer to take a look. He wanted to hear the governor's comments, but the latter just threw the note back lightly, picked out another one at random, and handed it to the attendant: "This is it."
Then, he sat back in his original position.
Each Hanlin scholar selected his or her favorite verse, and the chosen ones then stood up to compose poems on a fixed topic. Everyone was reciting poems and composing couplets, a scene of peace and harmony. However, the governor seemed a little tired, preoccupied, and his spirits were low.
After the Lu Ming Banquet was over and the prefect had sent his immediate superior away, he remembered to look through the poem Qin Zhao had sent him.
But he searched over and over again and still couldn't find the note with Qin Zhao's poem written on it.
...Where did it go?
The prefect was extremely confused, but he had no choice but to give up.
.
As it got dark, Jing Li moved a small stool and sat by the stove in the back kitchen, fanning the fire intermittently.
Ah Qi pushed the door open and walked in. Jing Li turned around and asked, "Have you finished eating the little fish?"
"Yes, I'm accompanying the master to rest." Ah Qi put the empty dishes on the stove and came to take over Jing Li's shift. "Madam, go eat something too. I'll boil the medicine."
"No, go and rest." Jing Li said, "I'm not hungry."
Ah Qi didn't move, and continued, "You haven't eaten much all day. If your husband knew you were like this, he would be worried."
Jing Li hugged his knees and said awkwardly, "Who wants to worry about him?"
The atmosphere in the kitchen was somewhat tense. Ah Qi stood there for a moment, then abruptly changed the subject: "Master's temperature has dropped, and I see he looks much better. Although he's still sleeping, he should be able to get out of bed tomorrow."
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