Ci Jun looked at the talent displayed on “Guan Shan Yue”, and couldn’t help but laugh, “There are only wrong names, not wrong nicknames. Fang Zhenguo, Fang Zhenguo, this nickname really makes people convinced. After these two poems, he will surely stabilize the nation.”
“Hmph, I want to see how they suppress Fang Yun!” The elderly Grand Academician Kong snorted coldly.
With two consecutive poems shaking the state, Fang Yun became the sole focus of the Si Shui Academy.
Some people were obsessively reciting the two poems in a low voice, discussing and praising them, or exploring their allusions and artistic conception.
A few people, like judges, observed Fang Yun and Gong Yang Xun, suspecting that the two people from Jing Kingdom had collaborated to create an incident to promote their literary reputation.
Most people were convinced that Gong Yang Xun was taking the opportunity to make things difficult for Fang Yun. Even Ci Jun didn’t dare to help others write poems like this. If he didn’t do well, it would certainly be a disgrace.
Liu Zizhi immediately laughed, “Fang Zhenguo’s reputation is well-deserved! With this poem to help, I didn’t lose face for us people from Jing Kingdom. Thank you, Fang Zhenguo, for your help. Zizhi is grateful! There are many people from Jing Kingdom here, I wonder if you can help them all. Brother Wu, you are a great talent from Jingdu, you won’t be jealous of Fang Yun’s talent and not want Fang Yun’s help, will you?”
A man walked over with a smile, “Zizhi, why are you framing me like this? Do I look like someone who is jealous of talent? Fang Mao Cai, if I ask for your help, will you help me?”
Fang Yun smiled and looked at Wu the Presented Scholar, asking, “Are you from one of the eight great families of Jing Kingdom, the Wu family?”
“My surname is Wu, my name is Xing, I am indeed from the Wu family.” Wu Xing said.
Fang Yun turned his head and said, “Brother Fanming, remember this for me. One from the Gong Yang family, one from the Liu family, and one from the Wu family. I helped these three families write poems. When I go to the capital in the future, I must ask for a gift.”
The atmosphere in the Si Shui Academy became even more tense. Many people already had anger on their faces. It was too much for three people to ask for poems. Today’s poetry meeting can continue, but after the poetry meeting, Fang Yun will definitely settle this account!
Li Fanming immediately said, “I’ve noted it down! After you ask for your gifts, I’ll ask for mine!”
Zu Yuan He on the side said, “In a few days, I’ll go and ask my uncles and brothers. I’ll ask for a gift from the friends of the Gong Yang family in the Holy Academy.”
Gong Yang Xun’s eyes flashed, but he quickly regained his composure.
A man sitting behind a single table said, “I haven’t had a literary duel in the Holy Academy for many days. Tomorrow, I’ll find a literary friend from the Gong Yang family to exchange ideas.”
Gong Yang Xun’s face finally changed.
The Si Shui Academy was in an uproar. That man was from a Semi-Saint Prominent Family, the nephew of the current head of the Tseng family. The teachings of Tseng Tzu and the Tseng family included “self-examination” and “caution in solitude”.
Caution in solitude means that even when one is alone and unsupervised, one must adhere to one’s own principles and behavior. In a public gathering like the Mid-Autumn Poetry Meeting, one must be even more respectful and cautious, and cannot speak wildly. But Gong Yang Xun had forced such a person from the Tseng family to say he wanted a literary duel, which was almost to the point of being pointed at by thousands of people.
At this moment, Liu Zizhi was even more composed than Gong Yang Xun. His eyes held a determination that no one else had.
Wu Xing looked at Gong Yang Xun with difficulty. Gong Yang Xun narrowed his eyes, and a trace of ferocity flashed in his eyes.
Wu Xing sighed lightly, reached into the paper box, and took out a piece of paper with two characters written on it: Chang’e.
Wu Xing said with a guilty conscience, “Hou Yi shooting the sun and Chang’e flying to the moon are ancient myths and common themes in moon poems. Unfortunately, I can’t think of how to write a good poem at the moment. I hope Fang Mao Cai can help.”
Fang Yun looked at Wu Xing, nodded, and said, “Wang Yue Huai Yuan” describes the moonrise, “Guan Shan Yue” describes the moon in the sky, so this third poem will describe the moonset. It will be called “Sigh for Chang’e”, to complete the full moon night!”
After Fang Yun finished speaking, he picked up his brush and began to write.
The candlelight deepens on the mica screen, the Milky Way gradually falls as the morning stars sink.
Chang’e must regret stealing the elixir. The blue sea and the green sky accompany her heart night after night.
As soon as the famous poem by the great poet Li Shangyin came out, his talent once again exceeded three feet, and the three poems of the Mid-Autumn Festival resonated with the state.
“Sha sha…” The ancient tree branches shook again, and the leaves kept falling.
Ci Jun, as before, read it out loud with his booming voice. When people heard the first two lines, they knew it was about the night scene. The candlelight fell on the mica screen, getting darker and darker, and the Milky Way and stars in the sky began to fall, naturally including the bright moon.
After hearing the last two lines, people praised it in their hearts. This was about Chang’e regretting stealing Hou Yi’s elixir for immortality, and in the end, only the blue sea and the green sky accompanied her heart.
“One man tells the story of the moon for a whole night, this trip was not in vain!” Ci Jun praised with a smile, full of joy.
Li Shangyin was the number one love poet of the Tang Dynasty. When this poem was finished, most people were still immersed in Chang’e’s regret, but many people had already seen the intention hidden in this poem.
Fang Yun was determined to make Gong Yang Xun and Liu Zizhi and others who harmed him regret it for the rest of their lives like Chang’e!
Someone whispered, and after a while, it spread throughout the audience. Everyone heard the hint in this poem and looked at Fang Yun for confirmation.
Fang Yun put down his brush, looked around, standing out like a crane among chickens, and finally looked at Liu Zizhi and Gong Yang Xun.
“Who else!”
Fang Yun’s voice was clear and passionate, like the sound of war drums and bugles, grand and majestic. After the three words, it was as if there were thousands of troops standing behind him. Gong Yang Xun and Liu Zizhi were so scared that they didn’t dare to look directly at Fang Yun.
No one responded.
The Grand Academician Kong suddenly snorted, “The bright moon is so clear, such unworthy people in the presence is truly a disgrace to literature! Get out!”
With a wave of his large sleeve, a wave-like gust of wind surged out. Liu Zizhi, Gong Yang Xun, and more than a dozen others were all blown away, falling heavily outside the door, in a state of extreme embarrassment.
People gasped in awe. As expected of someone from the Kong Family. No matter who Gong Yangxun was, he was still the eldest son of a Semi-Saint Prominent Family. To tell him to leave so bluntly, only someone from the Kong Family would have such audacity.
Gong Yangxun’s face turned ashen. He sighed deeply, turned around, and left.
Liu Zizhi glanced back at Fang Yun, then lowered his head. His hands clenched into fists as he hurriedly left.
“The literary meeting will continue,” said the Grand Academician of the Kong Family.
However, no one stepped forward to write any more poems. Some were discussing the three poems, some were discussing the escalating conflict between Jing Kingdom and Qing Kingdom, some were mocking Gong Yangxun for losing his mind, but there were also people trying to understand the deeper meaning behind Gong Yangxun’s actions.
Fang Yun collected the original manuscripts of the three poems and returned to the long table.
The dozen or so people at the same table were extremely excited, passionately discussing Fang Yun’s three poems.
Fang Yun was quietly contemplating the attitude of the Gong Yang family when Li Fanming sighed softly, “Ah, the Gong Yang family is really making one foolish move after another. At this moment, they should be closing their doors and protecting themselves like the Ji family. How could they be so confused?”
“Protect themselves?” Fang Yun was taken aback, then suddenly understood. If the Gong Yang family was truly determined to be his enemy, after the “Three Character Classic” made the front page of “The Path of the Saints”, the head of the Gong Yang family would never personally send him an invitation to attend their literary meeting. They would also not need to make things difficult for him at the Mid-Autumn Poetry Meeting, they would surely mobilize all their forces to target him in Jing Kingdom.
“I see. They shouldn’t put all their eggs in one basket. There must be disputes within the Gong Yang family. The Gong Yang family was originally on good terms with the mixed families of Qing Kingdom and the Left Chancellor, but after the “Three Character Classic” made the front page of “The Path of the Saints”, Jing Kingdom’s status greatly improved, and the power of the mixed families of Qing Kingdom weakened. Different voices emerged within the Gong Yang family. So the head of the Gong Yang family first made friends with me, then did not stop Gong Yangxun from making things difficult for me. In the end, no matter who wins or loses, the Gong Yang family can punish one side and have the other side to rely on.”
Fang Yun roughly understood the situation.
“This is the tragedy of a declining Semi-Saint Prominent Family. However, Gong Yangxun deserved to be driven away. He probably represents the forces within the Gong Yang family that oppose me. He must have learned about my conflict with the Tyrant, and was convinced that I would undoubtedly lose. That’s why he took action before the Holy Land, indicating that the Gong Yang family actually supports the mixed families of Qing Kingdom. Once Qing Kingdom annexes Jing Kingdom, they can smoothly integrate into the prominent families of Qing Kingdom.”
Just as Fang Yun was thinking, he suddenly felt the surroundings quiet down. Then the entire Si Shui Court became silent, and everyone within his line of sight was looking at him and the person next to him.
Fang Yun turned his head in confusion and saw that the Poet King was smiling at him. He quickly stood up.
“I was lost in thought and didn’t notice your arrival. I hope you can forgive me, Poet King.” Fang Yun quickly bowed in salute. The other party was one of the four great talents of this generation and also a Grand Academician. He had been kind to him just now, so he couldn’t be negligent.
The Poet King smiled and joked, “Were you thinking about the Imperial Scholar’s Treasures of Literature and the fake Dragon Pearl?”
Everyone laughed.
Fang Yun blinked and asked, “I thought it didn’t count if I was helping someone else? Do I really qualify for the prize?”
The Poet King immediately pointed at Fang Yun and laughed at the Grand Academician of the Kong Family and others, “Look at this Fang Mao. He’s playing coy after gaining an advantage. Gentlemen, what do you think? If Fang Yun doesn’t take the first place in this literary meeting, who dares to take it? Come on, who wants to stand out? I’ll let Fang Yun help you write three poems, and write about tomorrow’s sunrise and sunset again!”
Many people laughed again.
The Grand Academician of the Kong Family laughed, “Three poems in a row, it’s unheard of. If anyone tries to snatch this first place, I’ll be the first to kick him out!”
The Poet King added, “Fang Yun, I’m worried. You’re going to the Holy Land tomorrow. Any of these three poems could compete for the first place in the Mid-Autumn Literary Meeting in the Holy Land. If you’ve written them all today, what will you do tomorrow?”
“What will happen tomorrow will be dealt with tomorrow. We must get through today to have a tomorrow,” Fang Yun said.
“You’re quite open-minded. Today’s Mid-Autumn Literary Meeting has been an eye-opener for me. I originally didn’t want to attend the Mid-Autumn Literary Meeting in the Holy Land tomorrow, but now I’ve changed my mind. I must go! I will send letters to the other three, asking them to make sure to come and witness this rare event. Fang Zhenguo, if your poems tomorrow are not as good as today’s, don’t blame us four for ruining your show!” The Poet King laughed.
Before Fang Yun could speak, everyone got excited.
“Really? The four great talents will gather tomorrow? Poet King, you must not lie to us!”
“Except for the year when the four great talents were selected, they have never gathered together. We should go and wait now, so we won’t be too far away to get a good spot!”
“Fang Yun, your three poems have summoned the four great talents to gather. It’s really worth it!”
“Fang Mingzhou, why don’t you just write another poem to make it four, corresponding to the four great talents!”
“Yeah! Write quickly, or we won’t let you out of the gate of Si Shui Court!”
Everyone started to make a fuss.
Fang Yun laughed, “I will have to write a poem or prose for the Holy Land Literary Meeting no matter what. Tomorrow’s piece will be considered the fourth one, in honor of the four great talents, how about that?”
“Great!” Everyone cheered in unison. (To be continued.)