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"As autumn is approaching, Jiang Tingyu casually recites a poem about lotus flowers. This style is something Jiang Tingyu has recently learned. His recitation is not particularly good, so please bear with it."
"Xiuyue, the fragrance of the lotus pond stretches for ten miles. The water's surface reflects the quiet beauty of the evening. Rouge Snow, delicate and fragrant, sinks into the water. Jade Plate, gliding gracefully under the moonlight. The mountains are distant, and the moonlight flows long. The evening clouds and autumn shadows blend into the Xiang River. A drunken soul should chase dreams across the waves. I entrust this night’s coolness to the western wind."
"This poem about lotus flowers describes the early autumn season, under the moonlight at dusk by the lotus pond. The scene is serene and elegant, with a faint fragrance wafting through the air. The interplay of light and shadow creates a tranquil and warm atmosphere."
Jiang Tingyu finishes reciting. Below him, there is complete silence. Everyone cannot help but be amazed by Jiang Tingyu's poetry.
Such poetry is something they have never encountered before. It resembles poetry yet feels different. The strokes are layered and flow smoothly, rich in meaning. Faced with such poetry, no one dares to speak much. Even if they want to utter a simple "good," they hesitate.
Xia Wan'er finds it difficult to express herself. More chapters can be found elsewhere. Jiang Tingyu truly deserves to be the Right Chancellor of the Azure Dragon Kingdom. He is so knowledgeable that he can master such an unconventional poetic form so well, which only deepens her admiration for him.
Only Xia Yuhan understands that this is poetry. At the same time, Xia Yuhan holds immense respect for Jiang Tingyu, who can create such beautiful verses even before this style became popular. Although this is merely an exploration on his path forward.
The entire poem is layered in its composition, first depicting the overall beauty of the lotus pond: "Xiuyue, the fragrance of the lotus pond stretches for ten miles." "Xiuyue" refers to sparse tree shadows. "Water's surface" refers to the lotus flowers in the water. The delicate tree shadows surround the ten-mile lotus pond, and as evening falls, the quiet fragrance of the lotuses wafts through the air. This line echoes Du Fu's "The spring clouds cover the garden wall above the city; at dusk, the river pavilion's colors are still fragrant." The beauty of the lotus pond makes one reluctant to leave...
Just as everyone and Xia Yuhan remain silent, a powerful voice suddenly breaks through: "Your Excellency's poem is truly beautiful! The delicate tree shadows surround the ten-mile lotus pond, and as evening falls, the quiet fragrance of the lotuses wafts through the air. This imagery is truly lovely."
"'Rouge Snow, delicate and fragrant, sinks into water; Jade Plate glides gracefully under moonlight' brings people’s vision closer from afar to near, describing both the lotus flowers in water and their leaves beneath them. 'Rouge Snow' evokes a poem that says 'I lie down to hear the begonia flowers; mud stains resemble rouge snow.' It suggests a mix of red and white colors. 'Sinking water' refers to agarwood used in boudoirs for fragrance. 'Moonlight' refers to droplets rolling on lotus leaves. The scent of lotus flowers makes one yearn for such a pure and beautiful maiden."
"The latter half has a fresh perspective, widening the view to describe mountains by the water and bright moon over lotuses. The mountains appear hazy; moonlight flows gently over waves, merging into a serene and misty realm. 'The mountains are distant; moonlight flows long; evening clouds and autumn shadows blend into Xiang River' is truly commendable. At first glance, facing the fragrant beauty of lotuses on a cool night with gentle breezes is a sight worth appreciating—do not waste youth's beauty."
"This poem has a clear and elegant style like a moonlit lotus pond—fresh and refined with an alluring fragrance wafting through it. It captures not just sight but also evokes a tranquil warmth while admiring lotuses. Every word chosen—'delicate,' 'quiet,' 'slender,' 'distant'—is filled with emotion. Some say 'the lotus body is indeed plump; it should not be described as slender,' which is indeed beautiful."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Tingyu smiles knowingly: "I did not expect Prince Nangong Mo to understand my unspoken poetry so well; moreover, Prince Nangong Mo's interpretation surpasses my own verses in clarity—every line resonates deeply with me. I am truly delighted."
Nangong Mo feels cold sweat on his back. To analyze this poem properly took considerable effort; he feared misinterpreting it could embarrass Southern Kingdom.
"Where? Where? More chapters can be found elsewhere! The Right Chancellor takes an unconventional path; among all who could write such poetry, perhaps only he could do so."
"Too kind. Too kind. Let's focus on our painting skills instead. We can discuss this further later."
At this moment, the Queen spoke up appropriately: "Prince Nangong Mo has the Right Chancellor to add luster to his work. I believe the painting he produces will be exceptional. However, the Azure Dragon Kingdom is not without its talents. Let's begin painting."
Through the curtain, she glanced at Xia Yuhan seated below, her cold gaze revealing everything.
Although Xia Yuhan couldn't see the Queen's expression behind the curtain, she could clearly sense a hint of something ominous in the Queen's tone. She felt that the upcoming developments would not be so simple.
Perhaps this matter would even implicate her...
When Xia Yuhan looked up again, she met Cang Yile's worried gaze and couldn't help but bite her lip: for what was to come, she could only respond as it unfolded.
...
Before long, the two of them finished their paintings.
When everyone saw Xia Wan'er’s peony painting, they couldn't help but praise it once more. Even those young ladies and wealthy young men who had been eager to take their turn swallowed hard. It seemed that few would dare to challenge her next.
However, when the crowd beheld Nangong Mo's painting, they were even more astonished. Although his work was fresh and elegant, it did not lack poetic depth.
Xia Wan'er's painting was indeed skillfully done, but compared to Nangong Mo's work, it felt like stagnant water—lacking a certain spirit.
Moreover, Xia Wan'er had just recited her own poem and painted according to her own thoughts.
Nangong Mo, on the other hand, had drawn inspiration from Jiang Tingyu of the Azure Dragon Kingdom and the Right Chancellor, capturing the elegant beauty of appreciating lotus flowers. To describe it as a masterpiece would not be an exaggeration.
Clearly, at this moment, the distinction between victory and defeat was evident.
It was then that Xia Wan'er realized how dire her situation was. Just moments ago, she had been in the spotlight; now she found herself being criticized and looked down upon.
The Queen's face behind the curtain grew even darker.
She originally intended to take this opportunity to suppress the arrogance of the Southern Kingdom, but unexpectedly, they gained the upper hand.
How infuriating.
Now, how should she explain this to the Emperor?
Seeing that the situation was settled, the envoy from the Southern Kingdom stood up to resign: "Empress, in this round of poetry and painting, our Southern Kingdom has won. I fear that if Azure Dragon Kingdom loses again in the upcoming competitions, the Emperor will truly have to cede territory to the Southern Kingdom."
What? How could it be like this?
Xia Yuhan felt a chill run down her back...
Whether or not Azure Dragon Kingdom would cede territory to the Southern Kingdom depended entirely on these competitions. What kind of situation was this?
Just as Xia Yuhan was confused, the Queen behind the curtain spoke slowly, her tone nonchalant and imposing. Xia Yuhan found it quite exasperating: "You are correct, but do you really think that I would just divide our Azure Dragon Kingdom's territory for you Southern Kingdom?"
The Southern Kingdom Envoy persisted: "But Your Majesty's Words Are Not to Be Taken Lightly. Even if the Emperor is just joking around, as long as our Southern Kingdom wins this competition, we can claim territory from Azure Dragon Kingdom. Your Majesty's Words Are Not to Be Taken Lightly; otherwise, the Emperor will lose credibility, and the people of Azure Dragon Kingdom will not know how to regard him."
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