Chapter 350: Poetry Contest

Chapter 350: Poetry and Verse Competition

This tacit understanding made their interactions more harmonious and congenial.

Thinking of this, Ji Yuntang's mind further confirmed the term "lovable bickering pair."

She still clearly remembered the mutual disdain between Xie Liuzheng and Luo Qingge when they first met at the imperial palace banquet.

When they met again afterward, they were constantly bickering, and although they never came to blows, neither was willing to back down.

Unexpectedly, within just half a year, their relationship had broken the ice and made great strides, and they were getting along more and more naturally.

Therefore, Ji Yuntang was not angered by Luo Qianxue's words, but rather felt that she had actually done something good for once.

That Xie Liuzheng and Luo Qingge's relationship could develop so smoothly was all thanks to Luo Qianxue acting as a catalyst.

By her calculations, Luo Qianxue would be married into the Xue Mansion in less than a month!

She seemed quite satisfied with Xue Cheng, and this time she didn't throw a fit or make a scene over the betrothal.

I just wonder what's going through Concubine Li's mind?

After an hour-long break, the fifth round of poetry competition officially began.

The rules for this round were vastly different from previous ones.

After the proctor read them out, everyone was stunned!

"What? This year's poetry competition requires two people to compose one poem together, and it must be rich in imagery, complement each other, and stay on topic?"

"That's way too hard!"

Some scholars chimed in: "You said it. Composing a poem alone is relatively simpler."

"Two people composing one poem together makes it easy to deviate from the theme, and the parts may not connect well. You have to consider not only your own intent but also the other person's."

"Good thing I was eliminated in the second round. If I had to compose a poem with someone else, I'd be stumped!"

Ji Yuntang and Jiang Yunhang were paired up, and the prompt they got was just one character—"Emptiness."

This theme was extremely broad, with a lot of room for interpretation, and different people would interpret it differently.

Jiang Yunhang asked Ji Yuntang, "Princess Ye, how do you interpret the character 'emptiness'?"

Ji Yuntang smiled slightly. "So-called emptiness is nothing but illusion, and illusion is like fleeting glimpses—all are figments of what the heart longs for."

"What you had and lost—that's emptiness; when you wake up and find that person is gone, that too is emptiness; people and things you can't see or touch are also emptiness."

"In my view, emptiness is the illusory thoughts in one's heart, all born from the state of your mind."

It suddenly dawned on Jiang Yunhang, and he exclaimed in surprise, "I see! Thank you for the guidance, Princess Ye. I really almost went off-topic!"

Jiang Yunhang's understanding of emptiness was the physical form of a particular thing.

Like the sky, or the starry sky.

But after Ji Yuntang's explanation, he realized he had been oversimplifying it!

Jiang Yunhang suggested, "Princess Ye, how about you write the first half, and then I'll think of the second half?"

Ji Yuntang said softly, "The first half is easier, so why don't you take it, Young Master Jiang?"

"However, I do have two lines of poetry in my mind right now. Why don't you take a listen—maybe they'll spark some inspiration."

Jiang Yunhang nodded in agreement. "That works."

Ji Yuntang picked up her writing brush and wrote two lines of verse on the rice paper.

"Coming like a spring dream—how long did it last?"

"Leaving like morning clouds—nowhere to be found."

Jiang Yunhang silently read them over, his eyes lit up, and he gave her a big thumbs up.

He thought for a moment, then picked up his brush and wrote—

"A tree of pear blossoms, a moon over the stream; who does this night belong to?"

After writing, Jiang Yunhang rubbed the tip of his nose, looking a bit sheepish.

"Princess Ye, I think I might have gone off-topic. Maybe you should write the complete poem?"

"I feel that my lines feel more melancholy and sorrowful, which doesn't quite fit the mood you were going for."

He was afraid of bringing down Ji Yuntang's score, and he also felt the four lines sounded a bit clunky, so he suggested Ji Yuntang compose the entire poem.

Afraid Ji Yuntang might overthink it, Jiang Yunhang explained, "Princess, don't feel pressured. I'm voluntarily giving up my chance for you. Even if I don't pass, it's not on you. I just hope this poem can be presented to everyone in the best possible form."

"I'm already happy just to have made it to the fifth round. Nothing else matters."

Ji Yuntang was momentarily taken aback, not expecting Jiang Yunhang to voluntarily bow out and give the opportunity to her.

She asked in confusion, "Don't you want to win the laureate, Young Master Jiang?"

Jiang Yunhang shook his head. "Whether I win the laureate doesn't matter to me."

"Before I came, my grandfather had already said that winning or losing in the Canglang Poetry Talk isn't important; just participating is what matters."

"During this Canglang Poetry Talk, I've seen too many excellent works and essays, and I've learned a lot of knowledge not found in books. I'm already very content!"

"Even if I lose this opportunity, I can still participate in the spring imperial examination next February. That would be the same for me, but it's different for you, Princess!"

"Women are allowed to participate in the Canglang Poetry Talk with open slots, but the imperial court cannot open slots for women to take part in the spring examination and the palace examination. The significance between the two is different—society's prejudice against women is still too great."

"Princess, you are only one step away from the laureate. As long as you can win it, you can change people's prejudice against women's education and thereby influence more people's views."

"That's why I believe this laureate is destined for you, Princess."

Ji Yuntang: "!!!"

After hearing Jiang Yunhang's words, she was utterly astonished.

So Jiang Yunhang had already considered society's prejudice against women long before.

He wanted to use this opportunity to let Ji Yuntang prove to the world that women are no less capable than men, and that educating them is equally important.

To that end, he was willing to give up his score in the fifth round to support Ji Yuntang.

He had a big-picture mindset, and Ji Yuntang deeply admired him.

Ji Yuntang gave him a grateful smile. "Rest assured, Young Master Jiang, this princess will not let you down. I will fulfill your heart's desire."

Jiang Yunhang's wish was also Ji Yuntang's wish.

She kept winning first place round after round, hoping to go to the throne hall to give advice to Emperor Jingyang and, in the process, score a hefty reward.

In past competitions of the Canglang Poetry Talk, several champions had chosen to take up posts in the Six Ministries.

Even so, each of them had received a very generous payout.

Ji Yuntang didn't plan to take a post in the Six Ministries; she believed her reward couldn't possibly be less than theirs.

This was a legitimate chance to milk Emperor Jingyang for all he was worth, and she had no intention of letting it slip away.

With that thought, Ji Yuntang grabbed her brush and wrote—

"Flowers, yet not flowers; mist, yet not mist."

"At midnight, they come; at dawn, they depart."

"They come like a spring dream, how long does it last?"

"They go like morning clouds, nowhere to be found."

—This poem is selected from Bai Juyi's "Flowers, Yet Not Flowers"

After finishing, Ji Yuntang showed it to Jiang Yunhang, who was deeply moved and full of admiration upon reading it.

------------