Chapter 891 - 893: Invitation from the Huainan King_1
Bai Ruozhu thought for a while and then set it aside. First of all, she could be sure that the Huainan King definitely wasn’t the author of this poem; he had obtained it from somewhere else. Otherwise, there was no need for him to read it from a small piece of paper.
The handwriting on the note was certainly not the Huainan King’s. Otherwise, those judges would have recognized it right away and praised the prince for his fine poem.
From what the Huainan King had said, it could be heard that he had only seen this poem today. But whether he had come up with the question on a whim after seeing the poem or if he had been prompted by the person who gave him the poem was unknown.
Anyway, it was useless to think too much. Bai Ruozhu just wanted to get through the current competition. If she were really exposed for using someone else’s poem, it wouldn’t matter. At most, she would just be embarrassed in public, as she wasn’t trying to achieve scholarly honors anyway.
With that thought, she picked up her brush and wrote down a few lines:
"I will gather autumn grasses side by side, now joining with the evening breeze so light. Soaring skyward like meteors in flight, brushing trees as if flowers come to life.
"The screen seems lit by divine fire bright, curtains like night pearls shining in the night. Encountering you who collects their light, I will offer all my power without spite."
This poem was about the answer to the riddle posed by the Huainan King’s poem, which referred to fireflies. Additionally, the poem also carried a symbolic message, expressing that even if she were as insignificant as a firefly, she would gladly give her all upon finding someone who truly understood her.
"After this round is finished, do not hang up your work; instead, turn your paper face down and hold it. When the time is up, then turn it over," the Huainan King declared aloud.
Upon hearing this, Bai Ruozhu dried the ink and turned her paper over.
After Bai Ruozhu had done all this, she went to check on her elder brother and saw that he, calm and collected, had actually finished a bit faster than her.
Bai Zepei, upon seeing his younger sister had also finished, couldn’t help but reveal a faint smile.
Because time had been allowed for guessing the riddle, this round of the competition lasted half as long again as before. Some people in the audience became impatient, and someone even blurted out the answer. Consequently, many people heard and learned that the Huainan King’s poem referred to fireflies.
The information spread in this manner, reaching the competitors. Those who had not thought of the answer had an epiphany and hurriedly started to compose their poems, but it was already too late.
When the competition ended, eight people handed in their poems, while one person had only managed to write two lines, and another hadn’t yet had an inspiration, frantically wishing the organizing committee would grant more time.
"Hang up the poems and read them!" the judge ordered.
Someone promptly began reading out the poems one by one. Bai Ruozhu saw that her elder brother’s poem was not only accurate but also carried an added elegance, which greatly relieved her.
After all the poems had been read, the Huainan King said with satisfaction, "This year’s scholars are quite good, very clever in their thinking. I was discussing with His Majesty recently, and His Majesty believes that scholars should not be confined by rigid learning, so I came up with such a topic today on a whim. I am glad that everyone has not disappointed me."
While speaking, he suddenly noticed Bai Ruozhu and a smile crossed his face, "Very good, very good, we even have female students who have written poems. Our Danliang Country won’t have fewer female scholars compared to Chengshui Country in the future. I am quite pleased."
Lin Hanlan also took part in the poetry competition. She had also guessed the riddle of the firefly but unfortunately, she did not rank among the top ten and thus was ineligible to continue writing poetry. Thinking of this, she felt extremely frustrated but dared not show the slightest sign of it, for her father was a very strict man.
When the Huainan King praised her, Bai Ruozhu felt extremely awkward, as too many eyes had turned towards her.
The judges and the Huainan King conferred on stage, and finally, the top five were determined.
With only eight people completing their poems, the chances of making it into the top five were greater.
Finally, an elder judge stood up and announced loudly, "First place, Tang Feng of Xuanlang Academy."
The audience erupted into cheers, with many shouting Tang Feng’s name as if they had gone mad. A youth of only eighteen to have shown such exceptional talent was truly a cause of both envy and jealousy.
"Second place, Gai Yunli of Tai’an Academy; third place, Bai Zepei of Beiyu Academy; fourth place, Bai Ruozhu of Beiyu Academy; fifth place, Ding Guangji of Chang’an Academy."
No sooner had the judge finished reading than the Beiyu Academy camp burst into excited cheers. Although Beiyu Academy didn’t win first place, two of its students had made it into the top five—and one was even a girl. Who would dare to mock Beiyu Academy now?
"Congratulations, Miss Bai," Lin Xufei said to Bai Ruozhu as he bowed and offered his sincere congratulations with a smile.
Bai Ruozhu glanced at his poem and felt a pang of regret. Maybe if the Huainan King hadn’t come today, he might have made it into the top five. After all, the Huainan King’s involvement necessitated a certain distance to avoid suspicion; otherwise, the fifth place could very well have been Lin Xufei.
Lin Xufei, seeing what Bai Ruozhu was thinking, assured her with an open and genuine smile, "I’m truly not as good as you. It’s quite normal for me to be ranked behind you."
"But your future is boundless. Wait until you place in the Imperial Examination this autumn," Bai Ruozhu said with a smile as she returned the gesture.
Everyone congratulated each other as Bai Ruozhu and her elder brother rejoined the Beiyu Academy team.
"Tang Feng has taken another first place again," Bai Zepei said in a soft voice, his tone indifferent. Nevertheless, Bai Ruozhu overheard him and couldn’t help but look at her elder brother, curious to see if he would show any signs of defeat.
It goes to show that one doesn’t realize there are people beyond them, heavens beyond the sky, until they step outside Beiyu City and risk becoming a frog in a well.
Even if her elder brother felt some disappointment, Bai Ruozhu still believed it was right to have him come to Jiangnan for the competition. She was confident he wouldn’t be discouraged by this minor setback; on the contrary, it would only fuel his ambition and competitive spirit even more.
He wouldn’t encounter Tang Feng in the Rural Examination, but by the spring Provincial Examination next year, they were destined to meet. With half a year left, that would be the time to truly test their mettle.
The day’s competition ended, and Jiang Yichun came to fetch Bai Ruozhu, and they headed back to their lodgings together.
He looked at her with sparkling eyes that were somewhat intimidating, "My little wife is indeed so talented, I seem to have underestimated you."
"What do you mean ’little wife’? Do you have a ’big wife’ as well?" Bai Ruozhu asked with raised eyebrows.
Jiang Yichun reached out to tease her nose, laughing, "Stop talking nonsense. You’re the only one for me, always have been, and that will never change. Your elder brother once said it’s a pity you’re a girl, otherwise you would have surpassed him. It looks like he wasn’t exaggerating your abilities at all."
Bai Ruozhu shook her head with a smile, "I couldn’t possibly." Then she glanced furtively around and whispered, "Those poems weren’t written by me."
Jiang Yichun was momentarily stunned, then broke out laughing. There wasn’t a hint of blame on his face, just a resigned affection as he ruffled her hair, messing up her hairstyle in the process.
The pair walked out with the Beiyu Academy team when someone clad like a guard caught up from behind and said, "Lord Jiang, Lady Jiang, our prince requests your presence."
Bai Ruozhu’s heart skipped a beat. Had her poems exposed her? But then she noticed the seriousness on Jiang Yichun’s face and immediately thought of the incident with the two hundred elite soldiers from the day before, and she began to worry about him.
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A new week has begun! Could I ask for some monthly votes?