Chapter 17: Poetry Gathering

Chapter 17: The Poetry Gathering

◎Praying desperately that the wine goblet would not stop before her...◎

Zhou Ling managed a smile. "Thank you, Sister Chun. I appreciate the thought, but there's no need for a gift."

"How can that be? Though you are born of a concubine, you are still my sister, and it's your coming-of-age ceremony. A gift is essential."

Zhou Chun feigned concern for the gift, yet repeatedly emphasized "born of a concubine," as if wishing everyone in Yingtian knew the humble origins of the "talented" Zhou Ling.

She then turned to Li Ci and introduced, "Ah Ci is our cousin. She has been residing at the Earl of Guangcheng's estate for the past two years and will be eligible for marriage next August."

Hearing her name, Li Ci snapped out of her reverie about the lotus pods in the lake and nodded vaguely.

Zhou Chun's words carried a deeper meaning. To reside with a prestigious, well-regarded relative before marriage—her intentions were obvious to all.

Mao Ningqin drew out an "Oh," her disdain growing stronger.

She's merely relying on her alluring looks, dreaming of marrying above her station.

Zhou Chun said nothing more, sharing a knowing smile with Mao Ningqin.

She led the group onto the arched bridge, pointing to the bamboo grove behind the pleasure boat. "There's a winding stream poetry contest at Puyuan today. Would you young ladies care to observe?"

Literary gatherings were in vogue, and the Jingde Marquis Residence had specially invited guests for a poetry contest. If any poems were passed down through generations, it would be a worthy tribute to the lotuses in the lake.

The group soon arrived near a pavilion, where maids holding flower baskets were waiting to present each guest with a lotus upon entering the poetry contest.

The lotuses in the baskets were in full bloom, pink and white, swaying gracefully with a delicate fragrance. Each blossom resembled a jade plate, with a silver ring marked on its stem.

Mao Ningqin naturally took the first pick. She wouldn't settle for an ordinary blossom and instead chose a specially reserved *Jinling Emerald*—matching the color of her dress.

Even in receiving a flower, she had to be unique.

Zhou Chun and Zhou Ying casually selected theirs.

Zhou Ling chose a pink one and whispered to Li Ci, "This is for voting. If you like a poem during the contest, you can cast your lotus. The one with the most lotuses wins."

The maid holding the flower basket smiled. "If you'd like, miss, you can also take a silver ring and pick one yourself. As long as it's marked, it counts."

Li Ci, noticing the small lotus pods emerging from the stamens, grew interested and took only a silver ring.

Not far from the pavilion stood a large rock inscribed with the words "Where the Winding Stream Invites Joy"—the venue for the poetry contest.

The stream curved around the rock, with a young musician burning incense nearby, the sounds of strings and pipes filling the air. A maid led them to seats behind a screen.

Li Ci sat down casually and looked up to find Xie Zheng sitting directly across from her.

She tilted her head and blinked at him secretly.

Xie Zhenchuan glanced lazily in her direction. Backlit, his eyes were dark and profound, his smile faint.

The host struck a pottery drum and announced leisurely, "This round's theme is 'Lotus.' The time limit is one incense stick, and the rhyme is the seventh tone of the lower level."

After a cheerful melody, the wine goblet, filled with liquor, came to a stop.

Li Ci looked over curiously and saw it had stopped before a lavishly dressed man who looked somewhat familiar.

Zhu Xiujin had dressed up for the occasion, looking somewhat presentable, though his sharp, weasel-like features still detracted from his charm.

Though lacking in literary talent, he had prepared thoroughly for the poetry contest, spending heavily to have someone predict the theme and compose a poem, which he memorized in advance. His goal was to make a splash at the contest and gain the favor of the Jingde Marquis Residence.

Just as Zhu Xiujin was about to speak, he spotted Mao Ningqin across from him holding a light yellow lotus. Why was that meddlesome beauty here again?

His mind began to wander, thinking it the perfect opportunity to impress her with his brilliance!

As soon as the monitor lit the incense, Zhu Xiujin cleared his throat and proudly recited the poem he had prepared. A few of his friends in the audience immediately clapped and cheered.

"So noisy," Li Ci covered her ears and whispered to Zhou Ling, "Cousin Ling, is this poem very good?"

Zhou Ling nodded. "The structure is neat and clever, with a serene and clear tone. Though it doesn’t quite fit the theme, composing it within the time limit is quite impressive."

Zhou Chun, having been tipped off earlier, dropped her lotus into the bamboo basket before Zhu Xiujin and asked with a smile, "What do you think, Qin’er?"

Mao Ningqin remained unmoved.

Zhou Chun had previously hinted at Zhu Xiujin’s identity: the son of the Huaian Prefect, a nephew of the Nanjing Garrison Commander Lord Feng, and a provincial scholar with a promising future.

She knew Zhou Chun’s intentions. Her father, now aged and weakened, hoped to use her marriage to pave the way for her brother’s career.

However, Mao Ningqin had long heard of Zhu Xiujin’s reputation and looked down on him. Instead of watching the poet, she fixed her gaze on a tall, upright figure not far away.

Though she had just arrived, her maid had already scouted for her and learned that this young man was exceptionally talented, effortlessly composing brilliant poems, with his basket nearly overflowing with lotuses.

His appearance was also captivating. Though he wore a modest snow-blue robe with gold-threaded vine patterns, he stood like an elegant orchid or jade tree, radiant as frost under moonlight.

She recognized the priceless black-and-gold brocade on his sleeves—even the Jingde Marquis Residence had only seen such fabric in the elderly lady’s quarters.

Mao Ningqin quickly devised a plan, discreetly sending her trusted maid to deliver a message: if he was interested, he should compose a poem for her on the theme of "*Jinling Emerald*."

She lowered her head, pretending nonchalance, but her heart raced as she watched the young man’s reaction.

Soon, she saw her maid speak to him. He glanced in her direction but, without a word, stood up to leave!

Mao Ningqin flushed with humiliation and clenched her teeth in anger.

Zhou Chun, who had been observing her, guessed her intentions.

She quietly slipped behind the screen and advised her sister-in-law earnestly, "I know that Master Xie. He’s a poor relative from Chenliu here to sponge off the Earl of Guangcheng. He’s all show, barely keeping up appearances, but his family is in ruins. How could he compare to Young Master Zhu Xiujin?"

Master Xie’s failure to recognize her worth was one thing, but having her intentions exposed by Zhou Chun made Mao Ningqin pale. She stiffly replied, "I don’t know what you’re talking about. Matters of marriage are for my parents to decide."

Both felt awkward and fell silent.

After the male guests finished their poems, it was the female guests’ turn.

The wine goblet, filled with liquor, drifted downstream toward the women behind the screen.

Unlike Li Ci, who prayed desperately that the goblet wouldn’t stop before her, Zhou Ling was already eager to participate.

Such occasions were her forte. As a child born of a concubine, if she wanted to marry well and not be overshadowed by her elder sister, she had to fight for this reputation of talent.

Seeing Zhou Ling’s expression, Zhou Chun knew this low-born half-sister was about to steal the spotlight again.

Fortunately, she had prepared well for the flower-viewing banquet. With a glance to the monitor, the wine goblet obediently stopped where she wanted.

"Huh?"

Li Ci widened her eyes, staring at the goblet before her, utterly bewildered.

She was just here to join the fun, so how did poetry suddenly come into the picture?

Xie Zhenchuan had originally planned to leave, but when he saw it was Li Ci's turn to compose a poem, he couldn't help but smile and sat back down to watch.

Her reaction made most people suspect her lack of skill. Yet this young woman was exceptionally beautiful—her eyes clearer than flowing water, her jade-like face glowing brighter than lotus blossoms—making it hard for anyone to mock her openly. Some quietly asked, "Whose daughter is she?"

The gathering fell silent. Seeing that one schemer failed to shine while the other was about to embarrass herself, Zhou Chun wore a satisfied expression.

Zhou Ling and Zhou Ying watched anxiously from the side, wishing they could answer on Ah Ci’s behalf.

Mao Ningqin had long resented Li Ci for stealing the spotlight multiple times today with her captivating beauty, and she was even more annoyed that the indifferent Master Xie had taken notice of her. Pretending concern, she said, "Oh dear, is this sister unable to compose a poem?"

Zhou Chun added, just loud enough to be heard, "After all, she's a merchant's daughter. Even though she's lived at the Earl of Guangcheng’s residence for two years, she lacks cultural refinement and can't keep up."

Li Ci bit her lip, her tear-filled eyes shimmering, and finally turned her pleading gaze toward Xie Zhenchuan.

If it were only about her own humiliation, she could endure it—but she didn’t want to tarnish the Earl of Guangcheng’s reputation or bring shame to her two sisters.

Without a word, Xie Zhenchuan understood her thoughts—something like, "Brother Xie Zheng, can you help me?"

Her eyes were sincere and imploring, so reverent they seemed to look up to him as a deity, almost making him feel as if he had descended solely to rescue her.

His mood lightened slightly, and he reluctantly forgave her for ruining his clothes earlier. He moved his lips silently, mercifully mouthing a poem to her.

But Li Ci’s comprehension was truly poor. For a seven-character quatrain, Xie Zhenchuan had to repeat it five times. By the time the incense was nearly burned out, she had only grasped the first two lines.

With little confidence, she recited: "Mountain and water lights blend together in all directions... By the railing, ten miles of lotus fragrance."

As she finished these two lines, the incense was almost gone, and she could only catch fragments of the last two lines Brother Xie Zheng had hinted at.

Xie Zhenchuan rarely felt helpless. He shook his head inwardly—not even a god could save her now.

Just then, Li Ci suddenly had an inspiration and quickly continued: "Honey-fried snow lotus root simmered with lotus seeds, combined as one cool dish on the plate."

Silence fell once more. Xie Zhenchuan was slightly surprised, but soon a smile flickered in his eyes.

"Honey-fried snow lotus root simmered with lotus seeds"—so typical of her.

He casually tossed the lotus flower in his hand into her basket from afar, then stood up and left, his mission complete.

It was as if everyone had just awakened. Li Ci’s flower basket quickly filled with lotus blossoms.

Someone murmured repeatedly: "Mountain and water lights blend together in all directions, by the railing, ten miles of lotus fragrance. Honey-fried snow lotus root simmered with lotus seeds, combined as one cool dish on the plate."

"What a poem—truly remarkable!"

"The word 'cool' in the final line is perfect—subtle yet deeply evocative."

"This woman truly possesses both talent and beauty."

...

Zhou Ling and Zhou Ying were overjoyed, praising repeatedly, "Ah Ci was really on fire today!"

Li Ci immediately blushed. She had borrowed more than half of this poem and felt too embarrassed to take credit.

Just as she was about to speak, she noticed Brother Xie Zheng had already left. She quickly made an excuse to leave early, rushing after him to thank him.

Zhou Ling and Zhou Ying naturally assumed Li Ci didn’t want to compose more poetry and gave some quick advice before letting her go.

"Author's Note"

This poem is adapted from Huang Tingjian's "Notes from the South Tower of Ezhou": "The mountains and waters blend into the light in every direction; leaning on the railing, ten miles of lotus fragrance. The clear breeze and bright moon unattended, together they create a coolness in the south tower."