The hall was quiet and silent.
All I could hear was the courtesan Wu Yi reciting in a sweet voice: "All the trees are frozen and about to break, only the lone root is warm and alone. In the deep snow in the village ahead, a branch blossomed last night. The wind carries the faint fragrance, and the birds peek at the beauty. If the law is followed next year, the flowers will blossom first on Wangchuntai."
After the recitation, the audience was silent for a while.
After appreciating it, there were bursts of applause and praise: "Good poem! Good poem!"
"Miss Wuyi, I wonder who wrote this poem?"
Someone asked.
The courtesan smiled sweetly, her eyes flickering with affection. She glanced at the rice paper in her hand and said, "This piece of work is temporarily ranked third. It was written by Miss Song Zixi of the Song family."
"Hey! It's Miss Song!"
"This poem has clear language and a clear idea. It is a rare good poem. Why is it ranked only third?"
"Miss Wuyi, stop keeping us in suspense and recite the next two poems!"
Everyone's faces were filled with surprise, and they started talking and urging him to do something.
Song Zixi stood with the girls upstairs with a smile on her face. She said "very satisfied" that she was ranked third, but she was actually a little dissatisfied in her heart. She looked at the stage, waiting for the next two songs.
Several other girls nearby were also standing up for him.
Window seat.
Qin Weimo said softly: "Brother-in-law, Zixi's poem is actually very well written. If it were a normal poetry gathering, it might win first place. But today..."
At this point, she turned to look at the young man beside her, her beautiful eyes smiling, and she said softly, "My brother-in-law is here today."
Before Luo Qingzhou could reply, a cold snort suddenly came from the side: "I am still here today!"
Luo Qingzhou's mouth twitched and he continued to look at the stage.
Qin Weimo quickly withdrew his gaze from him, quietly stuck out his tongue, and looked towards the stage.
Song Ruyue had a cold face and glared at the two of them fiercely.
At this time, under the urging of the audience, the courtesan Mai on the stage finally began to recite the second piece.
"Wash off the makeup to show your true self, not to be a lead flower. A branch of bamboo leans outside, thinking of the beauty, the sky is cold and the sun is setting. In the courtyard at dusk, there is no fragrance anywhere, the wind is gentle, the snow is falling, not to mention the road at the river head."
When everyone heard it, they knew that this was a short poem with the tune of Mo Shanxi.
There is also the next verse.
Wu Yi paused for a moment, and continued to recite in a tender voice: "The sparse shadows on the edge of the moon, I dream of the place where my soul is lost. When the plums are about to turn yellow, it is time to make the rain. I have been alone for a lifetime, and I have been sad for love, and I have become thin and weak. This is Dongyang. Do the flowers know?"
“Good word!”
As soon as the courtesan finished speaking, an old gentleman in a scholar's robe clapped his hands and praised: "The writing is elegant and graceful, with delicate brushstrokes. It not only sings the praises of the plum blossom's fragrance and pride, but also expresses the author's admiration for the noble plum blossom... Good poem! This poem deserves first place!"
Others tasted it and praised it highly.
"Miss Wuyi, who wrote this poem?"
Someone asked.
Wu Yi smiled and said, "This poem was written by Master Su Jiangan."
"Sure enough! As soon as I heard the flavor of this little poem, I knew it must be written by Brother Su!"
A scholar laughed.
Many people looked at the handsome man in the crowd who was wearing a long gown and had a melancholy look.
He is none other than Su Jiangan, a well-known talent in Mo City, who often looks depressed.
It seemed as if nothing in this world could make him happy.
I heard that even when he went to a brothel to have fun with women, he looked sad and depressed.
"Miss Wuyi, is Brother Su's song Moshanxi the first place?"
"If it's this one, we are indeed convinced."
"We are convinced by Brother Su's talent. This little poem is indeed a masterpiece."
Everyone spoke up.
Window seat.
Song Ruyue couldn't help but snort coldly, with a hint of disdain appearing at the corner of her mouth.
Qin Weimo turned his head and glanced at her, with a smile in his eyes, and whispered: "Mother, this poem is indeed a fine work, don't you think it is a good one?"
Song Ruyue rolled her eyes and ignored her.
On the stage, the courtesan Wu Yi smiled and said, "Please wait a moment, everyone. There is one last poem, which happens to be a short poem. After I finish reading it, you can come and comment on it."
"Read! Read quickly!"
Some impatient people can't bear it anymore.
Everyone was surprised, could there be a better song than this
Su Jiangan's eyes were also fixed on the stage.
Wu Yi spread out the rice paper in her hand, looked down at the ink on the paper, her eyes revealed a touch of amazement, paused, and then recited in a clear voice: "The wind and rain sent spring away, and the flying snow welcomed spring. The cliff is a hundred feet of ice, but the flowers are still beautiful."
As soon as the first verse was sung, everyone in the audience fell silent.
The momentum is overwhelming and the picture comes to mind.
This word is not simple!
Wu Yi paused and continued: "She is pretty but does not fight for spring, she only announces the arrival of spring... When the mountain flowers are in full bloom, she smiles among the bushes."
As the second stanza came out, the whole hall fell silent.
Several respected elders in the literary world backstage had just read this poem and had already praised it highly. When they heard the courtesan reciting it, they were touched again and recited it silently in their hearts with mixed feelings.
The words are not fancy, but they have a kind of exciting momentum.
Just a few sentences can make one's heart surge with emotion, and a sense of heroism arises, making it difficult to calm down for a long time.
Everyone who heard it felt excited.
"Good words! These are truly good words!"
The old scholar who was just praising Su Jiangan's poem was now filled with shock, his voice trembling with excitement: "Miss Wuyi, tell me quickly, who wrote this Bu Suan Zi? It is definitely not an ordinary person who can write such a stunning poem!"
Others were also impressed, amazed and full of praise.
Even Su Jiangan, who looked melancholy, couldn't help but clap his hands with the folding fan in his hand and praised in a low voice: "Good words, good words..."
Those talented ladies also looked around and talked excitedly in low voices.
"I wonder who could come up with such a good word!"
While everyone was marveling at the sight and talking about it, Song Ruyue, who was sitting by the window, snorted coldly in a low voice.
Qin Weimo turned his head to look at her and smiled slightly: "Mother, it was my brother-in-law who did this, don't you think it's okay?"
"hehe."
Song Ruyue chuckled and said coldly, "Just make do with it, it's just so-so."
Qin Weimo pursed his lips, turned his head and looked at the young man next to him, and whispered: "Brother-in-law, mother is praising you. As long as mother says these two words, she will be convinced."
"Humph! What are you whispering about again?"
Song Ruyue snorted coldly.
Qin Weimo held back his laughter and dared not say anything else, looking towards the stage.
In the corner of the hall, Tang Jiasong had a distraught expression on his face.
On the stage, the courtesan Wu Yi announced the answer with a smile: "The author of this poem, Bu Suan Zi Chan Plum Blossom, is named Yue Mo. After discussion among several seniors backstage, this poem should win first place in this first competition. Do you have any different opinions?"
"Yue Mo? Who is this person?"
"Miss Wuyi, this poem is number one, and we are naturally convinced. Not to mention the first place in this competition, even in the entire competition tonight, I believe this poem is definitely the first! But, who is this Yue Mo? We have never heard of this person's name?"
"Yes, Miss Wuyi, we don't know whether it's a boy or a girl yet."
"From the name, it should be a girl. Tsk tsk, this girl is not simple. I wonder if she is from our Mo City or from somewhere else. With such talent, she is definitely not an unknown person!"
Everyone was talking excitedly and curiously, urging Wu Yi on the stage to tell them who that person was and where he was.
Wu Yi had no choice but to raise the rice paper in her hand and said to the audience: "Miss Yue Mo, can you come out and let everyone know you?"
As soon as these words were spoken, the audience immediately fell silent.
It turns out that the courtesan doesn't know who the other person is.
Everyone turned their heads, looking at each other, and began to search among the crowd.
Who could it be
But no one in the hall responded.
Wu Yi could only say loudly again: "Miss Yue Mo, can you come out for a moment? You won the first place in this first competition. According to the rules, you should go on stage and say a few words. If it is inconvenient for you to come out, you can send a maid or someone else to go backstage. Several seniors want to see you, is that okay?"
There was silence in the hall.
Everyone looked at each other.
After a while, still no one responded.
"Did he leave after writing this poem?"
"It's very possible. It's also possible that he went to his room to rest."
Seeing this, Wu Yi had no choice but to put away the rice paper in her hand and said, "Everyone wait a moment, I have to go backstage first."
After saying that, he left in a hurry.
The hall suddenly became noisy, with everyone guessing who Miss Yue Mo was.
And at this time.
Song Ruyue, who was sitting in her seat, couldn't help but smile slightly.
Qin Weimo didn't dare tease her anymore, and his eyes were full of smiles.
At this time, a girl in a blue dress came over with a half-smile on her face.
Qin Weimo saw her and whispered, "Brother-in-law, Zixi should have guessed it."
Luo Qingzhou looked at the girl who was approaching.
Song Zixi came over, first looked at him deeply, then greeted Song Ruyue respectfully, then walked to Qin Weimo and whispered: "Weimo, you did it, or..."
Having said this, she glanced at the young man next to her.
Qin Weimo smiled and said, "I don't know either."
Of course she wouldn't admit it.
Among the crowd, only Tang Jiasong knew the truth, but he kept silent.
"Anyway, I know it's you."
Song Zixi smiled and whispered, "Wei Mo, if he is your brother-in-law, tonight is a great opportunity. If he becomes famous and gets to know those literary predecessors, his future will be much easier. There is no need to keep hiding it. Do you want him to be an unknown, despised son-in-law for the rest of his life?"
Qin Weimo didn't say anything, but looked at the young man beside him tenderly.
Luo Qingzhou also looked at her.
The two looked at each other and then immediately looked away.
Qin Weimo retracted his gaze and said softly, "Zi Xi, that poem was not written by my brother-in-law. You misunderstood."
Seeing this, Song Zixi smiled and said nothing more. He leaned close to her ear and whispered, "It's up to you. Keep hiding it. He's your brother-in-law, not mine. If he's looked down upon, it's you who'll feel bad, not me. Let's go. I won't disturb your sister-in-law and brother-in-law from flirting with each other."
After saying that, he left with a smile.
Qin Weimo's cheeks turned slightly red and she glanced at the figure next to her.
Luo Qingzhou looked at the stage, as if he didn't hear the teasing remark.
At this time, the oiran Mai walked onto the stage and announced the start of the second competition.
Only then did everyone quiet down.
Tang Jiasong frowned and hesitated in the crowd. He struggled and thought for a long time, but he still tightly grasped the folding fan in his hand, made up his mind, and walked towards the Qin mother and daughter.
When Luo Qingzhou saw him coming, he moved closer to Miss Qin Er, blocking his sight.
Qin Weimo saw this, her eyebrows moved slightly, the corners of her mouth twitched slightly, and her eyes were full of ripples.
But this subtle expression was still noticed by the sharp-eyed Song Ruyue who sneered in a low voice: "Look how happy you are."
The girl lowered her head, her eyelashes drooped, and her face flushed slightly.