Book Synopsis
Book Tags
Donation Rankings
Comment
0 Comments
You May Also Like
墨書 Inktalez
Li Jiancheng appeared quite intoxicated, causing Li Yuanji to silently groan.
"Brother, you shouldn't speak so confidently!"
"You're already drunk; how can you remember anything? If you forget the poem you copied, we'll be utterly humiliated today."
Although they were unaware that the two of them were princes, there were still two subordinates present.
"You worthless dog!"
Li Yuanji shot an annoyed glance at Mo Hongkuo and leaned closer to Li Jiancheng. "Young Master Wang, can you recall any other poems composed by our sister-in-law?"
"Actually... I remember two."
Li Jiancheng swayed his head, pretending to be slightly drunk while downing another cup of wine. He remembered plenty of poems!
"Young Master Wang, don’t drink anymore; you'll forget everything!"
Li Yuanji quickly stopped Li Jiancheng. "While you're still sober, recite the poems! Let’s put this dog Mo Hongkuo in his place! I can't stand seeing him so pleased with himself!"
Li Jiancheng's gaze became somewhat unfocused as he felt a wave of exasperation.
You really are a poor student! If only your memory were a bit better, we wouldn’t have to let this fool feel so proud.
Fine! I’ll handle this myself! With good poetry, my younger brother's reputation on the battlefield will soar even higher. This big move will catch everyone off guard; even Li Shimin won’t know it was me who initiated it!
Li Jiancheng smirked secretly and deliberately stood up unsteadily, looking arrogantly at Mo Hongkuo. "You dare to show off your trivial skills here!"
Wow!
At Li Jiancheng's words, the crowd erupted in an uproar. How could someone dare to call Mo Hongkuo's work trivial?
"What a bold claim!"
Mo Hongkuo snorted coldly. "You dare to speak out when you're mingling with talentless fools like Zhang Meng? Don't end up forgetting what you've copied like he does!"
As soon as Mo Hongkuo finished speaking, everyone burst into laughter again.
"Young Master Mo, why bother arguing with a drunkard?"
"Exactly! He looks completely wasted, just spouting nonsense."
"That drunkard should lie down and stop embarrassing himself..."
The crowd laughed heartily. A person who associates with Zhang Meng could have any literary talent? He was just a drunken fool talking nonsense.
Li Jiancheng burped and gazed hazily at Mo Hongkuo. "As the saying goes, a full pot of water makes no sound, but a half pot clinks loudly—this is exactly what people like you are!"
"Are you drunk enough to remember anything?"
"If you forget the poem you copied, we'll be in serious trouble today."
Although they didn't know we were both princes, we still had two subordinates with us.
"Just a bunch of nonsense, you're nothing but a boastful drunk!" Mo Hongkuo scoffed, teasing, "If you have the skill, why not compose a poem right here? If not, just lie down and keep drinking!"
His words immediately drew laughter from the crowd.
Li Jiancheng leaned against the railing on the upper floor, tipsy and shouting, "Alright! Then you better listen closely!"
Mo Hongkuo rolled his eyes, clearly unimpressed. He couldn't believe someone who hung around with Li Yuanji could have any literary talent! Not to mention he was a drunk!
Li Jiancheng took a deep breath. Under everyone's gaze, he popped a grape into his mouth, then lifted a cup of wine and downed it in one go.
Li Yuanji frantically gestured at Li Jiancheng, secretly anxious.
"Brother, stop drinking! If you keep this up, you'll really forget the poem!"
Li Jiancheng ignored Li Yuanji's look and let the wine cup slip from his hand.
"With grapes and fine wine... in a luminous cup, I wish... I wish to drink as the pipa urges me on."
"Drunkenly lying on the battlefield, do not laugh at me; since ancient times in war... how many have returned?"
As Li Jiancheng's voice fell, the scene suddenly fell silent.
"With grapes and fine wine in a luminous cup, I wish to drink as the pipa urges me on. Drunkenly lying on the battlefield, do not laugh at me; since ancient times in war how many have returned?"
Many closed their eyes to savor the moment.
Unlike Mo Hongkuo and Liu Hui's bold and grand poetry, this poem conveyed a sense of carefree detachment and an acceptance of life and death.
The line "Drunkenly lying on the battlefield, do not laugh at me; since ancient times in war how many have returned?" left many applauding in admiration.
"What a great poem! This is true poetry!"
"Carefree and unrestrained, wild and natural..."
"Indeed, how many have returned from ancient battles? Yes, throughout history, how many have come back safely?"
"In my opinion, this poem is more carefree than grand; Young Master Mo's line 'One Sword Frosty Cold Across Fourteen States' is far more imposing!"
"Not at all! Young Master Mo's poem may be imposing but its parallelism is only passable! This young man's poem has excellent parallelism and rich imagery..."
In no time, everyone began to debate. Some felt Mo Hongkuo's poem was more imposing, but the vast majority believed that Li Jiancheng's poem surpassed it in both imagery and structure.
Listening to these discussions, Mo Hongkuo couldn't help but feel furious. A drunkard's poem had actually outshone his own? Where could he hide his face now?
Dan Bingbing glanced up the stairs, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes.
"May I ask how to address you, young sir?" she inquired with a slight bow.
Li Jiancheng shook his head, mumbling, "I am..."
Seeing that Li Jiancheng was about to reveal his true identity, Li Yuanji quickly stepped forward to interrupt. "This is my friend; Miss Dan Bingbing can just call him young master Wang!"
Li Jiancheng nodded secretly. Well, this fellow has quite an eye for things!
"Little girl Dan Bingbing, pleased to meet you, young master Wang," she said with a slight courtesy. Then she added, "In my humble opinion, the poem that young master Zhang recited earlier was also composed by young master Wang, wasn't it?"
"Yes... and so what?" Li Jiancheng continued to feign drunkenness. If he was going to pretend, he might as well go all the way. It was time for his performance! He needed to lead these fools into the pit!
A glimmer of delight appeared in Dan Bingbing's eyes as she said, "That poem earlier was only recited halfway by young master Zhang. Could I trouble you to recite the full poem?"
"Since you wish to hear it, this young master shall recite it for you!" Li Jiancheng leaned against Li Yuanji, pretending to be unsteady on his feet, and declared loudly, "Liang Ma Xin Kua Bai Yu An, Battlefield... Yue Se Han. City's Iron Drum Still Echoes, Golden Blade in the Box... blood yet dry."
"City's Iron Drum..." Dan Bingbing murmured to herself, savoring the lines of the poem repeatedly. The others followed suit in contemplation.
As those last two lines emerged, the essence of the poem instantly came alive. The imagery of battlefields flashed vividly before their eyes.
After a long moment, Dan Bingbing bowed towards Li Jiancheng from afar. " young master Wang's literary talent is remarkable; I am truly impressed! Both of your poems are exquisite works!"
"Exquisite works?" Li Jiancheng laughed self-deprecatingly. "What use is poetry? I can compose such verses offhandedly, but what does it matter? Can poetry drive away enemies? One must be like Prince Qin and bravely fight instead!"
Comment 0 Comment Count