In the side hall, in the room.
The table was already filled with exquisite dishes, and the fragrance filled the entire hall.
The palace maids were still serving various foods.
The Queen Mother, Zhangsun, was sitting gracefully on a chair nearby, drinking fragrant tea and speaking with a loving face.
Emperor Nangong Yang stood nearby with an apologetic smile on his face.
After Nangong Huoyue entered the room, Changsun looked at her and said with a smile, "Huoyue, you can't sit still after just a while?"
Nangong Yang also laughed and said, "My sister has never liked quietness since she was a child. She likes running around."
Nangong Huoyue didn't say anything.
At this time, Li Gui came in with his body bent, taking small steps and lowering his head, and reported respectfully: "Empress Dowager, Your Majesty, Your Highness the Princess, Young Master Luo is here."
The smile on Nangong Yang's face became more intense, and he said, "Please come in."
Then he smiled and said, "Mother, how about letting Miss Wan'er and Luo Qing discuss poetry later?"
Zhang Sun's face showed a hint of surprise: "Luo Qing? You have already appointed him as an official?"
Nangong Yang smiled and said, "With his talent, sooner or later, he will be among the top three in the next spring exam."
Then he looked at Nangong Huoyue who was standing beside him and said, "Royal sister, what do you think?"
Nangong Huoyue said calmly: "How should I know?"
Nangong Yang smiled and said, "My sister should know better than me. I heard that Luo Qing was my sister's most valued aide before. My sister even called him teacher and sir."
Chang Sun was even more surprised: "Oh? Is that true? It seems that he really has some skills."
Then, she looked at the girl in palace dress behind her and said, "Wan'er, spar with Luo Qing later and see what he is capable of."
The girl in palace dress bowed her head and said, "Yes, Queen Mother."
At this time, Luo Qingzhou, dressed in a Confucian robe, walked to the door, bowed his head and said, "I am Luo Qingzhou, a humble citizen, and I pay my respects to the Queen Mother, Your Majesty, and Your Highness the Princess!"
Several people in the room looked at him.
Chang Sun stared at his tall figure and elegant temperament for a few seconds, then looked at his handsome face, nodded and said: "He is elegant and handsome, full of bookish air, worthy of being a talent that Your Majesty values."
Nangong Yang smiled and waved, "Luo Qing, come in quickly. I just talked to the Queen Mother about you, and she is also very interested in Luo Qing."
Luo Qingzhou lowered his head and walked into the room, standing by with his hands hanging.
Chang Sun said in a kind tone, "Lord Luo, don't be so reserved. This is not the time for court. His Majesty just praised you highly, saying that you are talented and good at poetry, is that right?"
Luo Qingzhou bowed and said, "Your Majesty, thank you for your praise. I only have a basic understanding of it, but I cannot say that I am an expert at it."
Nangong Yang smiled and said, "Why should you be so modest, Luo Qing? I have read your test paper several times. By the way, I remember that the imperial sister also admires you very much and often meets with you. Do you also discuss poetry?"
Luo Qingzhou lowered his head and said, "Yes."
Nangong Huoyue sat on a chair, drinking tea, with a dignified and cold expression, and did not speak a word.
Nangong Yang smiled and said, "My sister just came back from the border and she was exhausted. Luo Qing, since you are familiar with my sister, why don't you go and greet her?"
Luo Qingzhou immediately stepped forward and bowed, saying, "Qingzhou greets Her Royal Highness the Princess. Your Highness has worked hard on the journey."
Nangong Huoyue glanced at him and said calmly, "It's not as hard as yours. You've been running back and forth between the outer city and the palace a lot these days, right?"
Luo Qingzhou lowered his head and said nothing.
Nangong Yang said with a smile on his face: "By the way, Luo Qing, the last time you entered the palace, you said that you would be loyal to me and serve the country and share the worries of the emperor in the future. Don't forget it. In the next spring examination, try to get a good ranking. When the time comes, I will definitely give you a few more points in the palace examination."
Luo Qingzhou immediately bowed his head and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty."
Chang Sun looked at the three of them, and seeing that the emperor was still talking, she suddenly smiled and said, "Mr. Luo, have you heard of the person behind me?"
Hearing this, Luo Qingzhou looked up at the pretty and gentle girl in palace dress, then lowered his head and said, "I haven't heard of it."
Nangong Yang at the side said with a smile: "Luo Qing, this is your ignorance. Miss Wan'er is the most talented woman in my palace. Her attainments in poetry and songs are admired by even those people in the Hanlin Academy. Today, the Queen Mother is happy and wants you to discuss poetry with Miss Wan'er. You are my person, so you must not embarrass me."
Luo Qingzhou lowered his head and said, "I am not very talented and knowledgeable, how can I be a match for Miss Wan'er."
Nangong Yang immediately said, "Hey, we haven't even competed yet, why are you saying discouraging words? I just praised you for a long time in front of the Queen Mother. If you don't even dare to compete, I will lose all my face."
Changsun also smiled and said, "Luo Qing, don't be nervous, it's just a competition. You are the top scholar in Mo City, so you must be talented. Of course, you may not be very good at poetry, but it doesn't matter. Try it with Wan'er. Even if you lose, it won't be a problem."
At this time, Zhangsun Wan'er, who was standing behind her, also spoke softly, "Mr. Luo, don't be modest. Although I have never heard of your poems, I have heard of the poems of Miss Qin Er and I admire them very much. I believe Mr. Luo will be no worse."
Nangong Yang smiled and said, "Then Miss Qin Er is Luo Qing's wife. I remember that my sister has a very good relationship with her, right, sister?"
Nangong Huoyue said calmly: "We just talked a few times."
Nangong Yang smiled, looked at the young man in front of him and said, "Luo Qing, next time if you have time, you can bring your wife into the palace to talk to the Queen Mother and meet Miss Wan'er. Wan'er has admired your wife for a long time."
Luo Qingzhou raised his head slightly, glanced at him, then lowered his head and said, "Yes, Your Majesty."
Chang Sun smiled and said, "Okay, Wan'er, you come and compete with Luo Qing. You can do poetry or songs. Whoever wins will be rewarded with this jade bracelet."
As he spoke, he took off a jade bracelet from his wrist.
Nangong Yang smiled and said, "My mother is so generous."
Then he looked at Luo Qingzhou and said, "Luo Qing, it's up to you. You can't embarrass me in front of my mother and my sister."
Chang Sun thought for a moment and said, "Let's take winter as the topic."
Zhang Sun Wan'er said softly, "Mr. Luo, you are a distinguished guest, you go first."
Chang Sun said, "Wan'er, you should go first. Let Luo Qing think about it for a while."
Changsun Wan'er agreed and looked at the remaining snow in the courtyard outside the window. After a moment's hesitation, she recited: "The wind rolled up the cold clouds and the snow cleared up. The river mist washed away the light willow branches. There were a few leaves in front of the eaves but no one swept them. The window of the study was bright all night..."
Nangong Yang praised: "What a good poem! Miss Wan'er is really amazing."
Then he looked to the side.
Nangong Huoyue also looked over here.
Luo Qingzhou paused for a moment and said, "No birds fly in the thousands of mountains, no people are seen on the thousands of paths. An old man in a straw raincoat and straw hat is fishing alone in the cold river in the snow."
As soon as this poem came out, everyone in the room, even the maids in the corner, seemed to see a beautiful picture that was empty, cold, yet lonely and leisurely.
The world is remote and all is silent. On the river in the deep mountains where few people go and even birds have disappeared, a lone boat and a figure are fishing in the snow. It is quiet and lonely, yet pure and aloof, not disturbed by worldly fireworks...
The image is so strong!
The room was silent for a long time.
Changsun was the first to speak: "Luo Qing's poem makes me feel as if I were there, seeing the scene. Although it is cold and lonely, it makes people yearn for that fairyland."
Changsun Wan'er stared at the young scholar in front of her for a while, then lowered her head and said, "Mr. Luo is very talented. I am ashamed of myself for not being able to write such a poem as this."
Nangong Yang smiled and looked aside and said, "Royal sister, what do you think of Luo Qing's poem?"
Nangong Huoyue said calmly: "It's OK."
Nangong Yang smiled and said, "My sister really has a good eye. She has chosen a good talent for me and for Great Yan."
Chang Sun passed the jade bracelet in her hand behind her and said, "Wan'er, give it to Luo Qing."
Changsun Wan'er took it respectfully, then lowered her head and walked in front of Luo Qingzhou, saying softly, "Master Luo, please accept it."
Luo Qingzhou bowed his hands in thanks and accepted it.
Chang Sun thought for a moment and said, "Our Great Yan is vast and rich in resources, with beautiful mountains and clear waters. Every New Year and Spring and Autumn seasons, there are tourists from neighboring countries coming to visit. For the second poem, you two should write a poem about a certain scenery in our Great Yan. If it is good, you can send someone to write it there for tourists to enjoy, and it can also leave a name for eternity."
Nangong Yang smiled and said, "Mother, this is a good topic. There are many talented people from various countries accompanying the envoys to the Taikang Banquet this time. We can let them see the scenery of our Great Yan and the talents of the literati. If they do a good job, we don't need to tell them, and those literati will take it back to help us spread it."
As soon as these words were spoken, Changsun Wan'er's heart skipped a beat. Thinking that if this poem was well written, it might be engraved in the scenery, passed down through the ages, and might even bring glory to Dayan, she suddenly became nervous.
She needs to think carefully about this poem.
Nangong Yang suddenly looked to the side and said, "Luo Qing, this time, you go first. If you win, I will make you the Imperial Reader, and you can enter the palace at any time in the future. You can also come to the Taikang Feast and win glory for my Great Yan."
Luo Qingzhou hesitated for a moment, then bowed and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty. I just thought of a poem I wrote for Mount Tai, Wang Yue."
Chang Sun said with a complicated expression, "Mount Tai is the first of the seven mountains of the Great Yan Empire. When I was a child, I had the honor of visiting it once. It is indeed as beautiful as a fairyland. Luo Qing, I hope you will not let me down."
Luo Qingzhou said: "I am very frightened when the Queen Mother said this."
Nangong Yang smiled and said, "What are you afraid of? Just read it. Even if you do something wrong, the Queen Mother will not punish you."
Chang Sun also smiled and said, "Luo Qing, don't be nervous. I am just expressing my feelings. Just read it."
Zhang Sun Wan'er seemed to have already thought of a plan and looked over.
Luo Qingzhou paused, and recited aloud: "How is Mount Tai? The green of Qi and Lu is endless. Nature has endowed it with divine beauty, and yin and yang divide the day and night. Clouds rise from my heart, and birds fly back into my eyes. I will climb to the top and look down on all the other mountains."
Nangong Huoyue's gaze suddenly turned to him.