Chapter 2: Bringing Father to the Arena

Liu Zheng looked on in amazement

Chen Ruoshi, sitting over there, had a glimmer in her eyes, while Chen Ping frequently nodded and smiled, clearly pleased with both of them

In Liangzhou, where water is scarce, the romantic scenes of flower boats swaying and drifting on the lake, often depicted in later novels, naturally do not exist. However, during the flourishing literary culture of the Longyan Dynasty, numerous scholars and poets emerged from various regions. To accommodate the various gatherings and activities of these literati each year, the Liangzhou government established a poetry society, which essentially functioned as a type of tavern, for in ancient times, without wine, poetry would lose much of its joy.

Liu Zheng could not help but feel ashamed, realizing that he had actually desecrated such a beautiful woman, and deserved to be beaten and punished

At this moment, the Prefect Chen Ping and his entourage arrived late, and everyone stood up with fervent gazes. Among the three advisors from Chen Ping's residence, there was also a woman dressed in an apricot-colored gown.

In previous years, many literary talents and gifted individuals became famous overnight through poetry gatherings, often leading to their direct appointment to official positions, a tale that is not uncommon. Under the Liangzhou system, there are thirty cities with a population of over five million; nearly everyone who can read a few characters has come.

Moreover, Chen Ruoshi herself holds various titles as the most beautiful and talented woman in Liangzhou

Few people present were unfamiliar with Liu Zheng, this prodigal son, and thus they all spoke disrespectfully, shaking their heads in derision. ... Even several elderly scholars from private schools were jumping up and down, cursing Liu Zheng for bringing shame to culture. It seems that yesterday's events have left an indelible impression on these learned individuals

A young scholar in white stood up, exuding grace, and smiled as he asked, "May I inquire, my lord, how will the evaluation be conducted?"

The general stands to the east of the city, the warriors are ready to draw their bows. Flags flutter in the wind, and the cannons roar!

What kind of person his son is, does he not know yet

The crowd was astonished, and applause thundered.

This foremost talent of Liangzhou is indeed extraordinary

Come here, take him down

A person inquired

Oh? Could you read it aloud for us to appreciate

Liu Zheng continued to read

My son wants to give it a try? Please wait a moment while I consult the books. As your father, I know a few old scholars from the private school present here. Let me go over and buy a few poems for you to choose from, take the first hundred, there is still time, there is still time... Liu Dahao saw his son eager to try and thought to himself, what can he do? Just try to minimize the losses, and as he spoke, he was about to get up.

Ah! Master Zhang, I dare not presume. Last night, I stumbled upon a fine verse, as if it were a gift from the heavens. My humble heart is filled with trepidation, and I spent the night savoring it. By the time the poem was completed, it was already dawn. I am truly ashamed...

The entire audience shouted

Governor Chen Ping laughed and said: "There is much snow in Liangzhou, so let us use 'snow' as our theme. Everyone, please begin!"

The first round, begin

As Bai Chufeng unleashed his power, Xie Kangcheng let out a slight hum, his expression one of contemplation, and then he shook his head thoughtfully

In the scene, someone smiled with joy; topics such as wind, flowers, snow, and the moon are as simple for these poetry enthusiasts as learning English is for Han Meimei and Li Lei. Who among us does not cherish a few exquisite works of our own in daily life

When such a master arrives, where do they still have a chance

Especially Chen Ruoshi, who had always been indifferent, was so enraged that she stood up, her delicate fingers pointing angrily at Liu Zheng: "You scoundrel..."

Good

Everyone was taken aback for a moment, and then burst into hearty laughter

I wonder if there is a chance for me, even though I am not from Liangzhou

The eaves drip not, the plum blossoms freeze, a kind of clarity and solitude that is not ordinary

Liu Zheng secretly asked Liu Dahao: "Father, if we win, should we marry her or reclaim the title?"

After all, there are quite a number of people present who are over sixty years old

What a fine poem, what a fine poem!

Do you hear me? Hurry up and leave, don't even think about blending in

The scale of this poetry society is indeed considerable; within the hall, it can accommodate thousands of people. Tables, snacks, and rice wine have long been prepared here. Scholars prefer to sit on the ground, and at this moment, there are already hundreds of talented individuals, each brimming with spirit and confidence. Many appear utterly enchanted, engaging in mutual recitations and singing of poetry. A glance reveals those with exceptional literary talent, those who seek to take advantage of the situation, those who are elegant and refined in their demeanor, as well as those who are unrestrained in their behavior. The atmosphere is quite lively.

Liu Zheng did not expect that such a turn of events would occur. He originally intended to attend the poetry gathering to make a remarkable impression and gain Chen Ping's favor, thereby preserving his father's noble title. However, it now seemed that he had come to disrupt the occasion. He could not help but steal a glance at Chen Ruoshi over there. This woman was indeed extraordinary; in the face of so many fervent gazes, she showed no signs of embarrassment, still smiling charmingly, exuding an air of sophistication.

Is this the talented woman who was touched on the backside by him

Liu Dahao held a pastry in one hand and a naan in the other, enjoying his meal heartily and encouraging others to do the same

In the private academies and the realm of frivolous entertainment, spending money to acquire a few poems for the sake of appearances is acceptable; however, allowing him to participate in such competitions would be akin to a celestial being dreaming.

Liu Dahao looked at his son in astonishment, not paying attention to how he addressed him, and took a deep breath: "Zheng'er, is your brain still not fully recovered?"

Liu Zheng also nodded, acknowledging that it is indeed a good poem

One million taels of silver, worth it

The crowd was momentarily taken aback, then erupted into loud applause. This poem is even better than the previous one; it reflects the patriotic sentiments of the frontier soldiers who often fought against the barbarian tribes in Liangzhou.

Last night, this "Liu Zheng" actually dared to "urinate" in front of so many people? His psychological resilience and audacity are truly remarkable

To marry Chen Ruoshi, does it not mean to ascend to great heights effortlessly

Advisory Path

The entire audience nodded; this is also a possibility

As for whether the top contender would look down on Chen Ruoshi

Liu Zheng found it both amusing and exasperating, and he pulled his cheap old man closer to him

The two quickly agreed and finally managed to blend in

Liu Dahao, in order to fulfill his son's wish, smiled ingratiatingly and said: "My dear brother, why must you be so rigid in your actions? We are merely going in to take a look, rest assured, it is just a trivial matter..."

This gimmick is somewhat exaggerated, yet any talented young man with a bit of self-confidence is so excited that his face has turned as red as a book cover

Could it be the foremost talent of Liangzhou, Bai Chufeng

Wow! Young Master Bai!

Then Bai Chufeng smiled faintly and walked out slowly

The governor has arrived

The yellow dog has white on its body

Value

In times of turmoil, reputation is equivalent to one's future

This is almost not worth considering

Bai Chufeng opened his folding fan, smiling proudly, completely unbothered by the intense gazes: "As the saying goes, a graceful lady is a gentleman's ideal partner. Miss Chen is waiting in her boudoir, so naturally, I have my chance."

They are like street rats; it would be better if Chen Ping did not see them, for if he does, it would only lead to another round of humiliation

A living embodiment of a starving ghost reincarnated, where is the demeanor of a wealthy tycoon

Amidst the joyful laughter of the crowd, they entered hand in hand

The audience was in an uproar

Some have had their wishes fulfilled, while others regret their exclusion

Is this dandy going to compose poetry

The entire venue

Each newspaper proudly displays its own name, fearing that others might not hear it, creating quite a lively atmosphere

Inoue's black abyss

An elderly man with white hair stood up, shaking his head and nodding

In particular, the governor Chen Ping nodded repeatedly, indicating a high regard for this poem

Seeing that group of people still fighting over something, he angrily smashed the wine glass in his hand, displaying the extravagant demeanor of the Liu family's young master. At this moment, everyone turned to look. Some recognized Liu Zheng and immediately wore expressions of anger.

When Chen Ping saw Liu Zheng, he also had a gloomy expression on his face

Moreover, those talented scholars, each one as if invigorated by a shot of adrenaline, clasped their hands and exclaimed in unison: "I, a humble commoner, XXX, have had the honor of meeting the esteemed governor and the governor's precious daughter"

Suddenly, there was silence

As soon as the housekeeper touched it, the silver quickly slipped into his pocket. He cleared his throat and said, "I understand now, Liu Xianghou must be intending to apologize to the governor. This intention is commendable. But remember, do not cause any trouble. Go on in."

A pair of shocked, incredulous gazes silently turned towards Liu Zheng

The literati of this world seek nothing but fame

Your Highness, the Crown Prince

At this moment, a councilor standing beside Chen Ping said: "Gentlemen, today’s poetry gathering is different from those in previous days. As everyone knows, the governor's daughter is in her prime at the age of sixteen, and she has a great fondness for poetry and literature, holding a deep admiration for talented scholars and poets from all over. She hopes to find a suitable match through today’s poetry gathering, so gentlemen, you must put in your best effort!"

Poetry and wine bring joy together, a fortunate event for the world

What if Miss Chen does not find the top name appealing

The sword is far from home in military service, with no family to provide clothing.

This poem has also received considerable acclaim from many. A certain cold and solitary aura comes rushing forth, which even made Chen Ruoshi take a second glance at Xie Kangcheng.

Poetry Gathering to Select a Son-in-Law

What is this?

In the deep of night, one knows the weight of the snow, and at times, the sound of bamboo being snapped is heard

"Villain, do you dare to come again?"

Every year, countless literati flock to the poetry festival

Upon hearing this, the talented scholars present were filled with excitement, eagerly rubbing their fists in anticipation

This person is of considerable significance, being the son of the Prince of Hanzhong, Prince Yong, Xie Kangcheng

Chen Ping chuckled and said, "Everyone need not be formal; since we are in the poetry society, we are all fellow enthusiasts of poetry and literature, so let us enjoy ourselves to the fullest"

The advisor continued, "If the top position is not the young lady's preferred choice, then the governor will grant the top candidate a request that can be fulfilled"

Can Deng Tuzi also compose poetry

Even Liu Zheng, who is accustomed to modern beauties, was momentarily stunned

At this moment, another dashing and elegant young gentleman stood up

Indeed, it is a natural talent, Young Master Qin is exceptionally gifted

This old man must have come to seek a future for himself

The white dog is swollen

At this moment, those talented individuals vied with one another to recite their works, while the three committee members, along with Chen Ping and Chen Ruoshi, each conducted their evaluations.

This almost colloquial verse has caused many to burst into laughter. Can such a light-hearted poem also be considered a work of high art

Upon rising in the morning, I open the door to find the mountains covered in snow, the sky clear and the sunlight cold

Soon, several thousand people arrived one after another

Liu Zheng took a deep breath and began to recite.

Having been astonished by the coldness of the quilt and pillow, I once again see the brightness of the window

This is ... ...

The entire venue was buzzing

The housekeeper glared fiercely at the two individuals

The evaluation consists of three rounds. In the first round, the governor will pose a question, and participants will compose poetry on the spot. The first hundred to finish will be selected. In the second round, Master Wang will pose a question, and the top ten will be chosen. In the third round, Miss Chen will personally pose a question, and the first place will be awarded

However, no one noticed him

Arriving early today, the poetry meeting has not yet begun

Liu Zheng listened in astonishment, somewhat admiring the thick-skinned nature of these individuals. Indeed, in any era, scholars rely on mutual commercial flattery to thrive

This is the daughter of the governor, the talented Chen Ruoshi. At merely sixteen years of age, she has already blossomed into a graceful beauty, strikingly exquisite and possessing an innate air of elegance and lightness. In a place like Liangzhou, she still has skin as smooth as cream, a face like white jade, eyebrows resembling distant mountains, and eyes like autumn waters. Every smile and glance is filled with charm.

The river is generally vague

Everyone responded in unison and took their seats

Three feet of snow scattered, recalling the old mandarin ducks in dreams

He has already attained an official position, yet he still came here

Find a corner and sit down

At this moment, several elegantly dressed young gentlemen arrived together

Zheng'er, didn't we agree to just watch the fun? At the very least, while others are not paying attention, let's fill our stomachs and leave. Your father has not a single coin left in his purse, and before your mother returns, our home will be unable to cook a meal! Do not cause trouble, do not cause trouble!

I have heard that the inn next to the poetry society has long been fully booked, and if one arrives late, one can only stay in the stable

Liu Zheng curled his lips, looking at your meager accomplishments

Qin, the talented scholar, why do you appear so haggard today? It pains me greatly!

As he spoke, he discreetly took out a money pouch and slipped it into the steward's hand

As the one hundred songs were about to be completed, Liu Zheng stood up and coughed loudly

Everyone who saw this child exclaimed in surprise