"Lady Du’s words are most apt. On such a fine day with pleasant scenery, wouldn’t rely appreciating it be a wasted opportunity?"
"Why don’t we take the white snow and plum blossoms as today’s the? How does everyone feel about that?"
"I heard the Crown Prince is here today too. Why don’t we select the best ten poems and let the Crown Prince judge them?"
"That’s a good idea!"
Seeing everyone enthused, Shang Wenjun subtly glanced at Ye Qiu: "Isn’t this a bit unfair? Miss Ye is not known for her poetry. Competing in poetry might be unfair, right?"
With that, the ladies imdiately turned their focus on Ye Qiu. It’s a rare chance for them to be around the Crown Prince, and losing that opportunity because of her would be such a pity.
"We are just having so fun today, not like there’s any punishnt for losing. Even if Miss Ye can’t write poetry, she can just join for the count."
"Exactly, we can’t let one person spoil the mood, can we?"
"Just because one has earned military honors, does it an they can be so domineering and unreasonable?"
"This Commandery Princess feels that everyone makes sense. The Empress Dowager recently rewarded with a bracelet, so for everyone’s amusent, I’ll offer it as a prize this ti! As for so people, if they lack talent, they shouldn’t co out and make a fool of themselves." Tong Yingxin glanced at Ye Qiu and rolled her eyes, her tone particularly sarcastic.
"Thank you, Commandery Princess!"
"The Commandery Princess is truly generous!"
"Indeed, unlike so people."
"Ha ha..." As the ladies teased each other, laughter abruptly interjected. They turned with displeased expressions and saw Ye Qiu clutching her stomach laughing at them, her eyes notably mocking.
"What are you laughing at?" Tong Yingxin felt Ye Qiu was laughing at her because it was after she spoke that Ye Qiu started laughing.
"I’m laughing because you all are quite amusing. I don’t recall saying a single word, yet you’ve already convicted ?" Ye Qiu counted on her fingers, "Disrupting the mood, lacking talent, being domineering and unreasonable, and making a fool of myself?"
As she straightforwardly pointed out, they all stood silent, their expressions not very pleasant.
"Miss Ye, the Crown Prince is in the neighboring courtyard. If he’s disturbed, it wouldn’t be good for anyone," Shang Wenjun gently advised, noticing Ye Qiu’s willingness to escalate things.
"I’m escalating? How am I escalating?" Ye Qiu gave her a sideways glance, "Is Lady Shang unclear on the situation? They started provoking first, and you, as the hostess, didn’t think to prevent escalation? I can’t even defend my own reputation a bit?"
At her words, Shang Wenjun appeared awkward: "I didn’t an that."
"Since Lady Shang didn’t an that, I’ll be direct. When did I oppose writing poetry? Since I didn’t oppose it, why did Lady Shang initially say it’s unfair as if wanting to cancel it?"
"I was rely concerned..."
"Concerned about what? Concerned about losing face? If you’re so concerned about , why weren’t you concerned when they were badmouthing earlier? Everyone says Lady Shang, as the Heir of the Pri Minister, is knowledgeable, cultured, and rational, always hailed as the first talent of the Capital City, but from today’s gathering, it seems she can’t even handle small matters—it might be an undeserved reputation." Ye Qiu spoke bluntly.
"How dare you?" Yu Rou couldn’t hold back seeing her best friend being insulted and stepped forward to reprimand, "What are you to speak like this to Wenjun?"
"What are you dare?" Ye Qiu’s aura flared, an Evil Qi enveloped her.
Even those not directly facing Ye Qiu went pale with fright. Yu Rou realized the person before them had taken lives.
"And what are you to speak like this to ? I am an Empress-bestowed First-rank Marquis, and you dare not kneel before and still yell? Did your father, Grandmaster Yu, not teach you manners? Can’t even teach his own daughter properly, I doubt his reputation as imperial tutor." Ye Qiu fixed her gaze on her, seeming to dissect her with her eyes.
Yu Rou was terrified, her lips trembling without words, had Shang Wenjun not supported her from behind, she might have already fallen.
"I apologize to Miss Ye on behalf of Yu Rou. She is close to and couldn’t bear to see wronged. I ask Miss Ye to forgive her with magnanimity." Shang Wenjun expressed, appearing as though victimized by Ye Qiu.
"So it seems both Lady Yu and Lady Shang lack manners. I am a dignified First-rank Marquis, yet you dare one to insult directly and the other to indirectly criticize ? If faced with Your Majesty or Empress Dowager, would you be equally impolite?" Ye Qiu retorted relentlessly.
"I..."
As Shang Wenjun was about to speak, seeing others yet to react, Ye Qiu continued: "Never mind, today I’ve witnessed your manners. I’m a martial artist, I can’t learn your convoluted ways. Today’s events, I won’t fuss about, lest it be said I’m bullying with power."
She glanced over them, raising her voice: "You say I can’t write poetry? Then today I’ll leave two poems, to prevent future talks of my ignorance in literature, listen well. If anyone surpasses these two poems, I’ll gift her a thousand gold."
"In the corner, several plum blossoms bloom, alone in the cold they thrive. Faintly do I suspect it’s not snow, for the hidden fragrance arrives!"
"At the broken bridge beyond the inn, lonely blooms unclaid. Already dusk in solitude anguishing, coupled with wind and rain. Unintentionally struggling for spring, unyielding the jealous of many. Fallen to ground, crushed dust amid rocks, only the fragrance remains unchanged."
Ye Qiu recited these poems and left directly, reach the door finding the Crown Prince alongside several aristocratic family sons watching her with curious eyes.
She bowed to them, her face aloof: "I truly find this setting unsuitable, so I’ll take my leave. I hope Your Highness pardons ."
"It’s no trouble." The Crown Prince raised his hand, intending to say more, but seeing Ye Qiu already leaving, turned with a slightly colder look to the courtyard full of ladies.
"What splendid poetry!" As Ye Qiu departed and the atmosphere was tense, an aristocratic family son suddenly applauded, "That first line, in the corner, several plum blossoms bloom, alone in the cold they thrive. It’s so concise yet vivid in portraying the essence and characteristics of plum blossoms. The words ’in the corner’ are brilliantly chosen—unnoticed, unknown, without admiration, unbothered by such placed isolation, it highlights the simplicity yet proud endurance of the plum blossoms. Demonstrating the poet’s persistence to maintain their principles despite adversity."
Soone chid in: "’Alone in the cold they thrive,’ the word ’alone’ carries strong intent, undaunted by others’ views, standing firm amidst adversity, isn’t General Ye using herself as a taphor?"
"But the most exquisite are the lines that follow."
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