Heaven is the shore of mortal dust - Chapter 49
"The lights of Qiantang are scattered under the moon."
A beautiful woman is hidden in the lush shade by the lotus pond.
The clamor reached the sea shrouded in red mist.
A single willow tree heralds spring across the lake.
"Excellent! No wonder she's from a famous family!" Su Li exclaimed, looking at the brothel boat hidden deep in the lotus pond, the spring tide surging, and everyone couldn't help but nod in admiration. Although Wei Zijun was slightly dizzy from drinking a few cups, her mind was clear, and she couldn't help but praise him as well.
"Guards, bring out brush, ink, paper, and inkstone. Please have Young Master Jiang write down his poem and name it for posterity," Su Li instructed the official, then began inviting the next young master. "This Young Master Hong is a descendant of Hong Zhigong. The lotus in the Autumn Pond left by Hong Zhigong is widely known: 'When autumn comes, all other lotuses wither, but this one alone blooms red on the water. It takes root where it can, refusing to yield to the wind.' Young Master Hong, please!"
The young master Hong, who had been invited out, was already prepared. He stood up and immediately recited:
Willows line the lake embankment.
The moonlight shrouded the sandy fabric.
The painted boats began to sing and dance.
Its sound is as melodious as a nightingale's song.
"Excellent! Concise and exquisite. Please, Young Master Hong, transcribe the fine lines onto paper." Su Li ordered someone to bring over pen, ink, paper, and inkstone, and then invited the next young master forward.
After a while, each talented scholar had composed a fine line, which was recorded on paper for evaluation and preservation, and also to help judge whose handwriting was more outstanding.
Su Li read the poems of the talented scholars, each with its own merits, making it difficult to distinguish one from the other. Remembering that there was still a young master Wei, whom Li Tianqi had praised, who had not yet composed a poem, Su Li also wanted to take the opportunity to see this person's talent. So he looked at Wei Zijun and said, "Young master Wei, we are just waiting for you. Please, young master Wei."
Wei Zijun was startled upon hearing this. He hadn't expected Su Li to include him as well. He glanced at Li Tianqi and said, "I am honored by Your Excellency's kindness, but all of you talented gentlemen are locals, while I am not. I'm afraid this would break the rules."
Upon hearing this, Su Li raised his hand and said, "Hey! Young Master Wei is overthinking it. Why would someone with talent choose where to settle? Besides, Young Master Wei is in Wu County, which is also in Jiangnan. It is only natural for him to compete for the title of Jiangnan Talent."
“What Prefect Su said is absolutely right.” Li Tianqi continued, “Zijun, please don’t refuse anymore. Let everyone see your talent.” He actually wanted to see who would be better, him or these talented men.
"Yes, Young Master Wei, hurry up and compose a poem!" the other talented scholars chimed in. This is a common trait among scholars: when they hear of someone's talent, they want to see it for themselves and secretly compare themselves to see who is superior.
"Then Ziju has no choice but to comply." She had no choice but to agree. She didn't want to compete with others for the title of "talented scholar." If it were just a game, she wouldn't refuse, but if she actually won the title, wouldn't those people hate her even more? She had been deliberately reserved, but now it seemed she had no choice but to face it.
Since arriving here, Wei Zijun has composed all her own poems. She doesn't want to plagiarize ancient verses. Firstly, she respects this era and doesn't want to bring any disharmony to it, nor does she wish to deceive the ancients. Secondly, she only wants to rely on her own talent and see how well she can make a name for herself here; she believes her talent is no less than that of the ancients. West Lake has been the source of countless famous lines throughout history, and today she wants to compete with the ancients based on her own abilities. Listening to the ethereal singing, mixed with the chirping of cicadas on the embankment, a seven-character quatrain already took shape in her mind.
The cold moon, a sign of autumn, casts a chilling mist.
A vast expanse of lake and sky.
Where does the boatman's song drift in the autumn wind?
A thousand-mile-long dike, a thousand-year-old cicada.
"Excellent! Excellent! What a magnificent poem! What a beautiful cicada! What a vast sky! What a grand poem! It perfectly captures the chilly early autumn of Qiantang! What a masterpiece!" Su Li exclaimed excitedly over and over again. "Young Master Wei is indeed exceptionally talented. I haven't heard such beautiful lines in a long time. It's comparable to those of a master."
"Fourth Brother is truly exceptionally talented, able to compose such exquisite verses. I doubt anyone on the river can surpass him," Lianwu whispered to Li Tianqi, looking at Wei Zijun with admiration.
"I told you, my fourth brother is incredibly talented. Brother Su, do you believe me now?" Li Tianqi proudly showed off to Su Li, as if Su Li was praising him the most. Su Li was a great talent himself, and he cherished talent. He knew Li Tianqi's identity, but he was not afraid and still addressed him as Brother Li. This was because Su Li was one of the few upright and incorruptible officials whom Li Tianqi greatly admired.
"The younger generation is truly formidable. I, Su Li, feel deeply inadequate. Quickly, prepare pen and ink, and please, Young Master Wei, transcribe your fine verses." Su Li eagerly anticipated seeing Wei Zijun's calligraphy.
Dipping his brush in thick ink and emboldened by the wine, Wei Zijun wrote with unrestrained passion and joy.
She was no stranger to brush, ink, paper, and inkstone, having practiced calligraphy for many years and possessing considerable wrist strength. She first studied Zhao Mengfu, then Yan Zhenqing, then Wang Xizhi, and was finally drawn to the extraordinary and grand style of Zhou Tingjian. As a result, her cursive script was unrestrained and wild, her running script elegant and grand, and her regular script structurally beautiful. However, someone with her personality never wrote regular script; she couldn't bring herself to practice that kind of pedantry. She usually wrote in running-cursive script, so writing these few characters was effortless for her.
When Su Li picked up the cursive script, he exclaimed excitedly, "Great! Great! Great calligraphy! The strokes are vigorous and powerful, with a good balance of density and spacing, and every stroke is full of strength. Great! From this calligraphy, we can see that Young Master Wei has a heart as vast as the sea, capable of embracing all rivers."
Li Tianqi stepped forward curiously to take a look. He had never seen her calligraphy before. After glancing at it, he looked up and stared at Wei Zijun for a long time, as if trying to see through her.
Wei Zijun raised her slightly tipsy face, and her hazy eyes met Li Tianqi's gaze, which seemed to be peeling away her clothes piece by piece until she was completely naked.
Why was he looking at her like that? Wei Zijun couldn't help but wonder, was he questioning her background again?
Su Li sighed, "Brother Li, it seems that all of my dozen or so talented scholars have been defeated by your fourth brother. These ten taels of gold belong to Young Master Wei, and the title of the number one talented scholar in Jiangnan is rightfully his."
“Lord Su! Your actions are rather prudent!” A young man stood up, and upon closer inspection, it turned out to be the same young man who had made the earlier suggestion. “Lord Su, the ten gold pieces should naturally be received by this Young Master Wei, but the title of the number one talent in Jiangnan has always been universally acknowledged to belong to Young Master Jiang. Young Master Jiang is proficient in music, chess, calligraphy, painting, classics, and political strategy, and is a capable person for governing the country. However, it is not appropriate to casually bestow this title upon someone else based solely on a poem today.”
“Lord Su!” Wei Zijun stood up. “What that young master said is absolutely right. I dare not accept the title of the number one talent in Jiangnan.”
"Lord Su, I have a good idea," Li Tianqi said to Su Li, but his eyes were fixed on Wei Zijun. "Wouldn't it be better to let them have a competition to see who is better?"
Wei Zijun raised her face, pursed her lips, and glanced at Li Tianqi with a hint of reproach, inwardly cursing him for being nosy.
"Good idea, good idea." Su Li agreed wholeheartedly.
Wei Zijun bowed and refused, saying, "My lord! I am of limited talent and knowledge, and I humbly admit defeat. Let's skip the competition."
"Is Young Master Wei afraid?" Young Master Jiang sneered, fanning himself with his folding fan. "Young Master Wei is skilled, but I believe not all martial artists are ignorant. Young Master Wei will not disappoint you, will he?" (The implication being: What knowledge could a mere martial artist like you possibly possess?)
Wei Zijun was disappointed to find that this Young Master Jiang was such a despicable person. "Young Master Jiang, are you referring to me, or my second brother?" She wasn't the only one who flew onto the ship. Wei Zijun curled her lips and looked at Li Tianqi: Serves you right for being nosy. You got scolded this time, didn't you?
"This... is a matter between the two of us, and has nothing to do with anyone else," Young Master Jiang quickly explained.
Treating a petty person with leniency is like putting makeup on a dead person. Wei Zijun glanced at Young Master Jiang, then cupped her hands and said to Prefect Su, "In that case, please give me the question, Prefect."
[Volume 1, Deer City Chapter: Chapter 44 The Competition]
“Good, that’s great,” Su Li stroked his beard and pondered for a moment, “Since Young Master Jiang is a man of great talent for governing the country, let’s talk about the strategies for governing the country. May I ask you two gentlemen, what is the emperor?”
These words shocked everyone present. Li Tianqi also glanced at him, thinking that Su Li was indeed bold.
“My lord!” Young Master Jiang said, “The emperor is the son of heaven. How can we mortals judge the son of heaven?”