Volume 1, Chapter 29: Compose a Poem!

The clamor of the Lantern Festival reached an unprecedented peak, fueled by Xiao Ning-shuang’s poem, "Home and Country," and Emperor Li Chengye’s imperial decree, which hailed it as the "Sound that Stabilizes the Nation."

On Vermilion Bird Avenue, the cheers of the masses surged like relentless waves. Countless gazes—filled with awe, worship, and fanaticism—were fixed upon the Crown Princess, who stood as cold and ethereal as an immortal, yet possessed a spirit as unyielding as iron.

Li Zhan’s expression could no longer be described as merely ugly. It was a pallid, ash-colored hue, a mixture of jealousy, resentment, shock, and defeat. Everything he had meticulously orchestrated—from sowing discord and framing her with art, to plotting through poetry—had not only failed to harm Xiao Ning-shuang in the slightest but had instead elevated her to a pedestal, making her the most dazzling presence of the night.

He felt as if an invisible hand were slapping his face repeatedly before the entire world, leaving it stinging and burning.

Beside him, Shangguan Wan’er had long since lost her composure. She kept her head bowed, lacking the courage to even glance at Xiao Ning-shuang. Her petty cleverness had been crushed to dust before the vast, mountainous grandeur of the other woman’s patriotic sentiment, reducing her to a pathetic leaf serving only to highlight the brilliance of the flower.

Li Xuan sat calmly at his table, draining a cup of warm wine, the smile at the corners of his mouth deepening. He admired Xiao Ning-shuang’s continued composure under the gaze of the multitude and nodded inwardly. This ally was becoming more and more to his liking.

However, just as everyone thought the grand event was drawing to a close at this climax, an untimely voice suddenly rang out.

"Your Majesty!"

The Censor-in-Chief, Liu Cheng—a man over fifty, long known for his incorruptible integrity—stepped out from the crowd and bowed deeply to Li Chengye on the dragon dais.

"I have a memorial to present!"

Li Chengye was in high spirits, his heart gladdened. Hearing this, he laughed, "Minister Liu, tonight the sovereign and his subjects enjoy the festivities together; what matter is so urgent that it must be raised now?"

Liu Cheng wore a solemn expression, his voice resonant: "Your Majesty, tonight the Crown Princess has demonstrated peerless literary talent. Her poem, 'Home and Country,' perfectly captured the loyal spirits of our Great Zhou’s soldiers and the hearts of our people—it is truly the fortune of our Great Zhou! I believe that with such a virtuous wife, the Crown Prince must also be a man of extraordinary literary and martial prowess. On this auspicious Lantern Festival, with the people celebrating in unison, why not invite the Imperial Princes to follow the Crown Princess’s lead and contribute poems to the festivities? Let us subjects witness the grace of the Imperial family and showcase the flourishing literary and martial achievements of our Great Zhou!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the arena fell silent for a moment before erupting into even more enthusiastic cheers.

"Minister Liu is right!"

"Indeed, indeed! If the Crown Princess is so remarkable, surely the Princes are dragons among men!"

"We beseech Your Majesty’s approval!"

Xiao Ning-shuang’s heart, which had just calmed, tightened once more. She instinctively looked at Li Xuan, a flash of undeniable anxiety in her beautiful eyes.

Others might not know, but how could she be unaware? Since that incident at the tavern where he had intended to humiliate her, the Crown Prince had displayed astonishing martial talent and unfathomable political scheming, but in the realm of poetry and prose, he had never shown a shred of ability.

In his daily speech, while witty, he often used a form of "vernacular" that was strange and difficult to define, completely out of step with the scholars of this era. As for the original Li Xuan, he was a well-known fop in the capital—adept at cockfighting and dog-racing, but utterly ignorant of literature and poetry.

Liu Cheng’s proposal appeared to be the icing on the cake, but in reality, it was an incredibly sinister death blow.

She understood immediately: this was the follow-up move from the Second Prince, Li Zhan. Having suffered a setback with Xiao Ning-shuang, he had shifted his target to Li Xuan!

They had calculated that Li Xuan was a literary buffoon and intended to humiliate the Crown Prince before the entire world. How could a Crown Prince who could not even compose a poem command respect? How could he be compared to the brilliant Second Prince?

As expected, a cold, sinister smile reappeared on Li Zhan’s ash-colored face. He cast a look of approval toward Liu Cheng.

On the dragon dais, Li Chengye was exceptionally shrewd. He glanced at the smug Li Zhan, then at the worried Xiao Ning-shuang, and finally let his gaze rest on his son, Li Xuan, who remained as unmoved as a mountain. He understood the situation perfectly.

He did not agree immediately, but instead asked with keen interest, "Crown Prince, what is your view?"

In an instant, every gaze shifted from Xiao Ning-shuang to Li Xuan.

Facing the scrutiny of the crowd, Li Xuan showed no nervousness. Instead, he stood up leisurely, bowed first to the Emperor, and then looked around, laughing aloud: "Father, I believe Minister Liu’s words are well-taken. Tonight, the people are celebrating; it is only fitting that my brothers and I join them. However..."

His tone shifted, and a bitter, "troubled" smile appeared on his face: "It is just that my Crown Princess has set such a high bar with her poem, 'Home and Country'—I fear she has exhausted all the passion of the last hundred years. If we men fail to write something worthy, wouldn't we be put to shame by the Crown Princess? If that happens, I fear my Eastern Palace will be ruled by the Crown Princess from now on."

His words, half self-deprecation and half praise for Xiao Ning-shuang, were humorous and witty, instantly drawing good-natured laughter from the surrounding people and officials.

"Hahaha, Your Highness is joking!"

"No matter how capable the Crown Princess is, she is still your virtuous wife, Your Highness!"

Listening to his banter, Xiao Ning-shuang felt both angry and anxious, and she couldn't help but step on his foot under the table. What time did he think it was to be making jokes!

Li Xuan seemed completely unaware, merely winking at her. The mischief and confidence in his eyes left her strangely stunned.

Seeing Li Xuan acting so "timid," Li Zhan was even more certain of his victory. He stepped forward and said, with a look of "humility": "Father, the Crown Prince is being too modest. Since this is for the festivities, it is only right that we brothers contribute our own humble works. Please, Father, set the topic."

"Very well!" Seeing that Li Xuan had agreed, Li Chengye did not hesitate. He pondered for a moment, then waved his hand, pointing toward the bright moon in the sky and the prosperous land beneath their feet. His voice was as deep and resonant as a bell.

"Tonight, let the topic be 'The World'!"

The World!

What a massive topic!

Once this subject was set, it elevated a simple test of poetic talent into a competition of vision and breadth of mind.

The First Prince, Li Yuan, who had always valued martial force, was the first to stand up. He grabbed a brush and wrote a boisterous, aggressive doggerel: "A man should hold a three-foot sword, never returning until the enemy chief is slain. Once I trample the barbarians of the east and west, the whole world shall lie beneath my horse’s hooves!"

The poem was crude and straightforward, drawing a burst of laughter, but it fit his impulsive character well.

The Third Prince, Li Yi, adopted a look of compassion for the suffering, writing: "The mansions of the rich smell of wine and meat, while on the road lie piles of frozen, withered bones. I wish to open the granaries to aid the people; where then would the dust of the world remain?"

This poem had some insight and drew nods from several scholars, though upon closer inspection, it felt lacking in genuine emotion and burdened by a sense of performative posturing.

Finally, it was the Second Prince, Li Zhan’s, turn.

He adjusted his robes and, amidst the expectant gazes of the crowd, walked to the desk.

He did not rush to write, but instead looked up at the moon and then down at the people, radiating an air of calm confidence and superiority.

After a long moment of contemplation, he dipped his brush in thick ink, his movements fluid and bold, completing a seven-character regulated verse in one go.

After finishing, he read it aloud himself, his voice clear and filled with confidence.

"Mountains and rivers guard the Forbidden City, the sun and moon shine upon the rise of Great Zhou.

Waves rise in the East Sea, reflecting the loyalty of ministers; the setting sun over the Western Hills evokes the feelings of old friends.

Civil governance has opened an age of a thousand years, while martial achievement expands our territory by ten thousand miles.

The Son of Heaven rules the world with folded hands; the four seas are peaceful, playing a grand symphony!"

"Excellent!"

As soon as the poem was finished, the hall erupted in applause!

The poem was perfectly balanced and magnificent in scope. It possessed both the grandeur of mountains, rivers, and celestial bodies, and the heroic spirit of expanding frontiers. Most importantly, the final line—"The Son of Heaven rules the world with folded hands"—attributed all glory to the Emperor, a flattery delivered so seamlessly that it also implied his own willingness to assist his father in achieving a golden age as a "Virtuous King."

In terms of literary talent, structure, and intent, it was a work of the highest order!

"A great poem! Truly a great poem!"

"The Second Prince is a man of great talent! This poem has the bearing of a monarch!"

"With this poem, who can compete?"

Words of praise were endless.

Li Zhan wore a restrained, triumphant smile, enjoying the adulation of the crowd.

He cast a provocative look at Li Xuan, his eyes seeming to say: "It’s your turn. I want to see what a buffoon like you can possibly come up with!"

All eyes were now focused on Li Xuan.

The stage was set. The spotlight was on.

Now, it was time for the protagonist to take the stage.