Chapter 44

Chapter 44: The Rare Melancholy of a Girl

“Let me tell you, at last night’s banquet where the envoys of the two countries exchanged flower orders, not one of our Wu Kingdom’s envoys won. Throughout the feast, the people of Qi were extremely proud, while we from Wu sat in silence with faces as green as grass.”

Mr. Xiao saw the situation was going south and suggested composing poems using their names.

“But who would’ve known? In poetry recitation, not one of our Wu boys could match those from Qi.”

“But just then, Ming, son of the Fifth Lady of Xu Guo Mansion, stood up.

“Having traveled to the ends of the earth, I know the pain of parting all too well. But upon my return, I find the flowers have fallen, so many of them. We look at each other beneath the flowers without a word, as the springtime through the green windows fades with the day.

“When I light the lamp to recount my longing, there is a thread of new joy, but a thousand threads of old resentment. Most fleeting in this world are youth and beauty; they fade like flowers before the mirror.”

“It should be for Qingwan. I heard they entered school together, inseparable, childhood sweethearts, innocent and carefree.”

“I want to grow up quickly! Flowers, please bloom faster!”

“Help me send a visiting card to Xu Mansion, saying that your young friend Ming may meet.”

“Lady.” Maid翠儿 walked in.

In the Imperial Study,

“It can’t be, Brother Ming said he would always love Qingwan.”

The Emperor of Wu looked at the detailed account sent by the Pavilion of Listening Winds about last night’s banquet, including every poem made by everyone. When he saw the last Ci poem, the emperor couldn’t help but lose himself in thought.

“This… Was really written by an eight-year-old?”

“Brother, be careful what you say.” Another person hurriedly advised.

I really want to meet him!

“Cui’er.” The woman put down her book and softly called out to the outside.

Eunuch Wei smiled and nodded: “Your Majesty, last night at the banquet, the literary breeze blew for a full half hour.”

“Whoever it was written for, this Ci poem is truly excellent.”

In the sea of flowers in the valley, an eight-year-old girl sat on a chair, guarding the Blood Rafflesia flower bed, kicking her little feet while reciting the poem that came from her hometown.

But smiling and laughing, the girl’s beautiful eyebrows slightly furrowed, and her small mouth pouted slightly.

Eunuch Wei only smiled with flattery and didn’t say anything.

Reciting it over and over, the peach blossom eyes of the little girl showed a sweet smile, as if she had eaten the sweetest cotton candy in the world, sticky to her heart.

This time, it was finally a breakthrough, and the happiest person was His Majesty.

According to the previous sale of the copyright of “Taoist Friend,” it was adapted within a year. If everything goes smoothly, the comic version should come out within a year, right?

But it’s also possible that they bought it just to fill their library.

The resonance of the Way of Literature doesn’t lie. If it wasn’t composed by Xu Ming but given to him by someone else, the Way of Literature’s fortune wouldn’t even glance at you once.

“This Xiao Mochi…” The Emperor of Wu put down the intelligence report, holding his forehead with great headache, “He really did hit the jackpot. Following his own nature has left Me with a mess!”

“I heard this Ci poem was because Xu Ming has two playmates, one being Xuenuo who went to the Ten Thousand Sword Sect, and the other being Qingwan who went to the Heavenly Profound Gate, written out of longing, just coincidentally using Zhu Cici’s name.”

“Brother Ming, do you no longer like Qingwan?”

“Having traveled to the ends of the earth, I know the pain of parting all too well. But upon my return, I find the flowers have fallen, so many of them. We look at each other beneath the flowers without a word, as the springtime through the green windows fades with the day.”

The lady further heard that although this poem used Zhu Cici’s name, in fact, it was Xu Ming’s longing for his childhood sweetheart far away at the Heavenly Profound Gate.

Emperor Wu: “…”

The Wu men let out a long breath, raised their wine jars, drank heavily, and got completely drunk.

“Why does a poem clearly expressing longing carry another girl’s name…”

So young, yet already showing such mature thoughts and romance.

His Majesty originally supported reform and openly or secretly gave Xiao Mochi quite a bit of help.

Rare melancholy for a girl.

“Yes!” Another person stood up, “In ancient times, when the Great Ancestor founded the country, he didn’t punish anyone for their words. How about this, forbidding illegitimate children and descendants of the three teachings and nine streams from taking the imperial exams was a rule set by the previous emperor. If the government arrests me, aren’t they afraid of breaking the ancestors’ rules?!”

“Let me recount my longing under the lamp, a thread of new joy, but a thousand threads of old resentment. Most fleeting in this world are youth and beauty; they fade like flowers before the mirror.”

As the storyteller finished speaking, the tea drinkers all applauded enthusiastically and began discussing the Ci poem.

Although His Majesty appeared very displeased, actually, Wei Xun knew that His Majesty was feeling pretty good inside.

Qingwan muttered unhappily to herself, lightly tapping the lines of poetry on the paper with her tiny fingers.

The Emperor of Wu raised the corner of his lips. He was waiting for someone to say these words: “Come, write the decree.”

Who is the real born Literary Courage?

Zhu Cici, the born Literary Courage of Qi, owes a poem.

“Feeling relieved!”

“What about illegitimate children? In the first hundred and fifty years of our Wu Kingdom, there was no rule that illegitimate children couldn’t take the imperial exams or become officials!” A burly man slammed the table and stood up.

With a headache already pounding,

The Emperor of Wu could already foresee what would happen next in the Imperial Court.

“How can one still be cautious?” Another person stood up, “All people of Qi can take the imperial exams, yet our Wu Kingdom still restricts based on identity. How can we surpass Qi?! With Xu Ming’s talent unable to participate in the imperial exams, who can?”

“Most fleeting in this world are youth and beauty; they fade like flowers before the mirror.”

Qingwan puffed her cheeks, hands clasped between her legs, blankly staring at the flower bed in front of her.

The Emperor of Wu looked up, incredulously looking at Wei Xun.

“Wei Xun, Xu Ming saved face for our Wu Kingdom and wrote a timeless poem. What do you think?” The Emperor asked Wei Xun.

After finishing the poem, Xu Ming caused the resonance of the Way of Literature, the literary wind blowing freely, flickering the candlelight, how leisurely.

Hearing that the princess wanted to go out, Cui’er looked incredulous for a moment, but quickly reacted and immediately responded: “Yes.”

At Tengyang Prince’s mansion, a young lady held the latest issue of Zhou Book, reading the poems on it again and again, liking them more and more with each read.

How could Wei Xun not know what the Emperor meant? He hurriedly said: “Your Majesty, this should be greatly rewarded.”

“Good!”

And now, the Emperor of Wu didn’t even feel like going to court anymore.

“Pity that he’s an illegitimate child…” Suddenly, one teahouse guest lamented this fact with great regret.

His voice wasn’t loud, but many people heard it, and many also revealed looks of regret and sorrow.

It’s hard to imagine that this poem was written by an eight-year-old child.

“Great Ci Poem!!!”

Zhu Cici, Xu Ming.

[The comic copyright of “I Have a Lot of Revival Coins” has been sold.

Both books I previously wrote have sold their comic copyrights.

If one day the comics come online, I’ll let everyone know. Hopefully, it happens in our lifetime.

But past is past.

Now, well, let’s keep our feet on the ground and write well.]