He originally wanted to find a reason to stop Ying Wuji, but he didn't expect him to directly bring up the reason of cultural exchange between Qian Li.

Unexpectedly, Ying Wuji wrote the title of the poem on the stone wall.

"Congratulations to the Great Li's wise minister for taking a new bride."

Luo Yan: "..."

Zhao Ning: "..."

Everyone present: "..."

Everyone took a sharp breath, and it was almost silent at the Moon Lake.

The matter of Luo Yan getting married was not a secret, after all, the Minister's Mansion had been busy buying wedding items these past few days, and many people wanted to take advantage of this literary gathering to flatter him. But...

Ying Wuji?

Wasn't he just recently punished by the Prime Minister with the "Beheading the Beauty" case?

This poem, I'm afraid it's not a good sign!

Sure enough, Ying Wuji continued to write.

"Seventeen brides for a seventy-year-old groom, white hair against red makeup."

Seeing the first couplet, everyone fell silent. The rhythm and rhyme were correct, but the attack was too strong, and the sentences were mediocre.

If it could reach the level of "this song should only be in heaven," even if it was more aggressive, the Prime Minister would probably tolerate it.

But...

They saw Luo Yan's face darken, and instinctively held their breath, feeling that something might go wrong at today's literary gathering.

Even Jiang Taiyuan, who was sitting in the main seat, was a little stunned. He knew that his little brother was fierce, but he didn't expect him to be this fierce!

Although the sentence "I want to be your father" behind the stone wall just now was more extreme, at least it avoided people and wasn't spoken out loud. But you, in front of so many people, using such an aggressive sentence...

Who in Jiangcheng doesn't know that the Prime Minister is aging beyond his years?

Clearly, he had already reached the stage of shedding his mortal body and extended his lifespan to 150 years. Other civil officials became stronger as they grew older, but he already had white hair and looked withered.

And yet, he married a beautiful young woman. The common people all knew that he was a bit old-fashioned, but no one dared to say it.

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You hit the sore spot right away!

And these two sentences can't be considered high-level. If they were a bit higher, it could still be considered a greeting between literati. But you... it's not quite appropriate to publicly point at the Prime Minister and curse him, right?

Jiang Taiyuan rubbed his temples, feeling worried.

However, at this moment, under everyone's gaze, Ying Wuji continued to write.

"Mandarin ducks are paired in the night,

A tree of pear blossoms presses against the crabapple!"

With the last two sentences, the previously quiet literary gathering suddenly became lively.

"Wow!"

"Great poem!"

"Pear blossoms, crabapples, what a scene..."

"The last sentence is truly the finishing touch!"

"Although, however, this is indeed a great poem!"

Everyone turned to look at Luo Yan. Most of them knew about the grudge between the Prime Minister and the hostage from Kingdom Qian, especially after the large-scale sealing of books...

If it weren't for this last sentence, Luo Yan would have had no problem reproaching or even punishing Ying Wuji. But with this sentence, it wouldn't be appropriate to be too aggressive. So, would Luo Yan swallow his anger?

Not only were they anticipating, even Ying Wuji was anticipating.

After all, this Prime Minister was too easy to trigger his skills. But unexpectedly...

"Haha! Great poem!"

Luo Yan stood up with a smile. "A tree of pear blossoms pressing against the crabapple, I thank Young Master Wuji for this wonderful poem!"

His voice was calm, even carrying a hint of joy, as if he really liked this masterpiece, despite its offensive nature.

However, his Emotional Bar still broke through 80%, and when his gaze met Ying Wuji's, his eyes twitched slightly, revealing his inner unrest.

【Essence】: +3

【Energy】: +30

【Spirit】: +25

Ying Wuji pursed his lips. Luo Yan's rise to power was too late. When he entered the court as an official, he had already reached the stage of shedding his mortal body, barely a sixth-grade Spiritual Embryo, and his cultivation had not progressed at all.

But even so, the essence, energy, and spirit attributes he lost were still much stronger than an ordinary Spiritual Embryo. At least, he could easily defeat Senior Brother Jiang Taiyuan. Could it be that this was the credit of the "Cultivating Energy Technique"?

It's just that this old comrade frequently broke through his defenses, and it seemed that his cultivation of energy was not quite up to par.

Unfortunately, he didn't drop any skills this time.

Maybe the previous wave was too intense, so this wave couldn't gather enough momentum.

Luo Yan smiled faintly and made a gesture of invitation. "This poem is a great opening. With Young Master Wuji's brilliant work, today's literary gathering is bound to be extraordinary. Please take a seat, Young Master Wuji!"

"Tsk!"

Ying Wuji shook his head and sat back in his seat.

Although Hua Chao still seemed a bit down, she gave him a warm and sweet smile and whispered, "You don't have to do this anymore. I... really don't mind."

The literati present couldn't help but secretly admire, thinking that the Prime Minister was indeed a person of good character and cultivation.

With this, the atmosphere of the literary gathering was completely mobilized. One poem and painting after another emerged, and there were indeed many excellent works. After all, there were many talented individuals in the world. That poem "A tree of pear blossoms pressing against the crabapple" might not necessarily take the top spot.One by one, the poems were inscribed on the stone wall, and then one by one they were erased, only the recognized masterpieces could remain.

But even so, the stone wall was quickly filled, but fortunately the poetry gathering was coming to an end.

Ying Wuji squinted his eyes. He naturally didn't expect this mocking poem to win a spot, and in fact, it couldn't. However, in this stage, the two people he paid special attention to did not make a move.

Han Juan and Zhao Qi were as steady as Mount Tai, with the former even half-dozing on the wine table.

Could it be that they were both focused on the second stage?

Forget it!

Never mind!

Ying Wuji gently patted Hua Chao's hand: "Hua Chao, it's your turn!"

"Okay!"

Hua Chao took a deep breath and slowly stood up, walking towards the stone wall under everyone's gaze.

Along with her, the singers who had already put on their makeup also stood in front of the stone wall.

The scene was chaotic for a while.

"Oh... Hua Chao is here too!"

"Looking at their posture, are they going to perform an opera?"

"Could it be the second half of 'The Beheading of the Beauty'?"

"Shh..."

"It's really inappropriate. The literary gathering is a solemn place. How can opera be allowed in?"

"What's wrong with opera? You..."

"Don't argue with him. Look, his makeup clearly doesn't belong to the Great Li, and there are patterns of Jixia Academy embroidered on his collar. These old antiques from the Qi Kingdom are not only conservative, but also like to look down on others!"

"You! Jixia Academy is the number one academy in the world. How dare you..."

"Jixia Academy is no longer as prosperous as it used to be. It's all your younger generation's fault that its reputation has declined. Instead of feeling ashamed, you are still flaunting the glory of your ancestors. It's really... I'm ashamed to be associated with you!"

"You..."

"Tsk!"

Luo Ming clicked his tongue. He didn't expect these people from Jixia Academy to be ignorant of "arguing".

But Ying Wuji's method was really effective. Finding a loophole in the opponent and launching a personal attack, as long as he stood on the moral high ground, he had already won seventy percent of the debate.

He turned to the stone wall, his gaze falling on Hua Chao's figure, and a hint of anticipation appeared on his face.

If this opera was sung well and recorded in the Zhou Music Bureau, as the pioneer of opera, she would definitely be qualified to serve in the Zhou Music Bureau. Even if Ying Wuji died, she could still...

Luo Ming thought of the scene behind the stone wall just now. His father should have also thought of these things, so he didn't make things difficult for Ying Wuji, right?

At this moment, Jiang Taiyuan, who was in the main seat, also spoke: "Who is it below? Are you writing poetry or composing? And what is the theme?"

"I am Hua Chao, a singer in Jiangcheng."

Hua Chao smiled slightly: "What I create is both poetry and music, but ultimately it is opera. As for the theme... before my mother passed away, she composed a play, but due to her illness, she was forced to interrupt it. A few days ago, fortunately, Master Wuji helped me complete the opera. Coincidentally, I met you today, so I dared to bring it out!"

While speaking, she never looked in Luo Yan's direction.

But Luo Yan's eyes were already slightly red, and Hua Wanqiu beside her looked at Luo Yan and then at Hua Chao, her expression slightly solemn, not knowing what she was thinking.

Jiang Taiyuan laughed heartily: "Miss, the beauty of your opera has been heard by this official as soon as he entered Jiangcheng. However, the Zhou Music Bureau has very strict requirements for new works. If you want to enter the bureau with your opera, you still need the approval of the music officials present!"

He pointed to the two rows of seats below the stage, where there were ten officials from the Music Bureau.

Jiang Taiyuan smiled: "I don't know what this opera is called."

Hua Chao took a deep breath and slowly uttered five words: "The Peacock Flies to the Southeast!"

"The Peacock Flies to the Southeast?"

There was an immediate whispering below the stage.

In fact, when Hua Chao mentioned that Wuji had helped, they were already looking forward to this opera. Regardless of Wuji's reputation in other aspects, he had never disappointed in literary talent.

Proper poets can write, and they can also compose decent operas.

Although it might not be useful in this era of great disputes, it was enough for appreciation.

Luo Yan also sat up straight, waiting quietly, but it was unclear whether he wanted to see Wuji's skills or the unfinished melody left by his deceased wife.

Hua Wanqiu looked at him with a complicated expression, and he seemed to sense her emotions. He turned his head and forced a smile to comfort her.

"Ding!"

Hua Chao gently plucked the pipa strings, and before the melody was formed, everyone's eyes were drawn to the space in front of the stone wall. Under the reflection of starlight and the water, the open space in front of the stone wall itself was a natural stage, and the movements of the people on it could be seen clearly.

"The Peacock Flies to the Southeast, wandering five miles!"

"At thirteen, she can weave silk, at fourteen, she learns to sew clothes. At fifteen, she plays the konghou, at sixteen, she recites poetry. At seventeen, she becomes a wife, her heart often filled with sorrow. Since you became an official, you have remained loyal. I, a humble concubine, am left in an empty room, and we rarely see each other. The rooster crows, and she enters the loom, never resting at night..."The melodious voice, accompanied by the performance of several actors, instantly immersed people in the scene.

Hua Chao's whisper seemed to be the woman in the song.

Luo Yan's pupils contracted as he looked at Ying Wuji in shock.

Yuefu poetry!

Such profound skills!

He had heard the story in this song from his deceased wife, and he vaguely remembered the content, but he was certain that the original lyrics were not like this. This kid Ying Wuji... actually had such talent.

Hua Chao continued singing: "When the official heard this, he said to his mother: 'My son has a low income, but he is fortunate to have this woman. We have been together for two or three years, but it feels like a short time. The woman's behavior is impeccable, why not treat her well?'..."

With her singing, the story slowly unfolded, revealing the love story of Jiao Zhongqing and Liu Lanzhi.

Liu Lanzhi diligently served her husband's family, but she was constantly harassed by her mother-in-law.

The couple had a deep affection for each other, but under the pressure of Jiao Zhongqing's mother, he had to temporarily send Liu Lanzhi back to her own family, promising to bring her back.

However, after returning home, Liu Lanzhi was forced to remarry by her parents and older brother.

Each sentence was vivid and distinct, especially when Liu Lanzhi was forced into a marriage, many people felt a sense of indignation.

The young people present were all moved, and some young women had even started wiping away tears.

Even Hua Wanqiu, who was sitting next to Luo Yan, was captivated for a moment.

The story continued.

Jiao Zhongqing heard about Liu Lanzhi's forced marriage and became anxious. He went to find her, but the wedding sedan from the wealthy family would arrive the next day.

The two lovers naturally didn't want to be separated, but they had to be torn apart. However, they didn't bow their heads, but chose to die together. One threw themselves into a clear pool, while the other hung themselves on a branch.

Facing numerous obstacles, they still fulfilled their promise of "You be the unyielding rock, and I'll be the flexible reed. The reed is as resilient as silk, and the rock cannot be moved."

Finally.

"The two families requested a joint burial, near Mount Hua. Planting pine and cypress on the east and west, planting parasol trees on the left and right. Branches intertwine, leaves intermingle. In the middle, there are a pair of flying birds, calling themselves mandarin ducks. They raise their heads and sing to each other until the early morning. Passersby stop to listen, and widows feel restless. Thanks to future generations, remember this lesson!"

This ending made countless people feel a bit emotional, but also somewhat relieved.

After the song ended, there was silence in the room for a long time.

Ying Wuji looked at Hua Chao, whose eyes were slightly red, from a distance and felt a sense of emotion. In the script left by her mother, there was indeed a similar story. Although the level was far from "The Peacock Flies Southeast," the core of the story was the same, showing how much her mother longed for such unwavering love.

Unfortunately, Luo Yan was too despicable.

He shifted his gaze to the other side, where Luo Yan was hanging his head slightly, and Hua Wanqiu was wiping his tears. However, her expression was not pleasant.

"Ying brother! Did you write this Yuefu poem?" Zhao Ning suddenly spoke up.

Ying Wuji turned his head and saw her bright and enthusiastic eyes, and couldn't help but ask, "What's the matter?"

Zhao Ning pondered for a moment and said, "Solid foundation, beautiful language, vivid story, profound philosophy. There are few Yuefu poems in the world that can compare to this!"

This praise was already extremely high, but Ying Wuji still curled his lips!

Nonsense!

The twin jewels of Yuefu poetry were not just empty words!

It could be said that this Yuefu poem, apart from not being written by himself, had no flaws.

Ying Wuji didn't dare to say that he copied it, nor did he have the face to say that he wrote it himself, so he could only hum and haw his way through.

But Zhao Ning became even more interested. "But I heard that Ying brother has never had a woman he truly liked, only had relationships with seven famous courtesans from the high-class brothel. How could you write such a moving story? Could it be... you already have feelings for Miss Hua Chao?"

Damn, she figured it out.

Ying Wuji smirked. It was fake to say that he didn't care about this good sister, but his own situation destined him to be a man who relied on others for a living. And Hua Chao, under the shadow of her parents, would find it difficult to accept sharing her husband with other women. It might even trigger her inner demons.

If he still delayed her like this, he would be too despicable. So...

No!

Ying Wuji leaned forward slightly, staring at Zhao Ning for a while. This princess, who undoubtedly had the highest status in the Kingdom of Li, would become his wife as long as the marriage alliance was successful. Was he... jealous?

He raised the corner of his mouth slightly. "If I say yes, would Brother Zhao be willing to help me propose?"

Zhao Ning smiled, "Of course, since I have already agreed to Ying brother, I will naturally follow through. Besides, with Ying brother's talent, it's normal to have some romantic affairs. I am not a petty person."

Ying Wuji said, "Brother Zhao is magnanimous!"

She really was a good girl who was good at self-deception.

Zhao Ning felt a little strange being stared at by him. Strange! Why did it feel like he wanted to marry me...

"Good!"

"Good!"Jiang Taiyuan, seated at the main seat, clapped his hands in praise, his face filled with unstoppable laughter. "This music and poetry are simply exquisite, coupled with your unique performance style, it is indeed a rare masterpiece. What do you all think, musicians?"

The ten musicians exchanged glances, and the one leading them stood up and bowed, "We believe that this opera should be included in the mansion! The mansion lord should write a memorial and present it to the emperor!"

Finally, it was over.

Ying Wuji let out a sigh of relief, looking again at Hua Chao. Their eyes met, and even from a distance, he was infected by the joy in her eyes.

Although it would take a long time from the memorial to the emperor to the appointment, Hua Chao had finally found her place. Ying Wuji felt somewhat relieved. If she continued to be oppressed by Luo Yan every day, she might eventually die of depression.

"Excellent! I will write the memorial immediately."

Jiang Taiyuan's face was full of smiles, and he continued to ask, "For this first place, I believe it should be Miss Hua Chao and Young Master Wuji's 'Peacock Flying Southeast'. Does anyone have..."

His voice abruptly stopped.

Because in his line of sight, a figure suddenly collapsed.

Hua Wanqiu lay on the ground, her face pale without a trace of blood, her energy rapidly fading, as if she was about to die.

Luo Yan was shocked, "Wanqiu!"

(End of the chapter)