Today is the Lu Ming Banquet, a banquet for the Ming Dynasty’s most talented people.
After ten years of studying, the students finally got the ticket to the official career. The ecstasy was unimaginable. The new candidates were all jubilant and full of vigor.
The banquet was of a very high standard, with luxurious and exquisite ingredients. It was said that one of the dishes, "honey pickled carp", took more than a hundred days to prepare. The mutton used in the banquet was top quality, with only half a pound of the most essential meat from the leg of a sheep being taken. There were as many as 58 hot and cold dishes, desserts and soups... ...
Playing the harp and blowing the flute, singing "Deer Singing".
Looking at the table full of luxurious delicacies and listening to the festive music of deer, Zhu Pingan had no appetite at all. The scenes in the alley yesterday afternoon replayed in front of him: the dying, begging, helpless eyes... ...
Everyone else was in high spirits, drinking and writing poetry, eating and drinking well and chatting happily. Only Zhu Ping'an held his chopsticks and hardly ate a single bite.
Zhu Ping'an was known as a "glutton" during the boy's exam. In front of such a sumptuous feast, he didn't even touch his chopsticks. This was so abnormal that some people thought that Zhu Ping'an was so ashamed that he couldn't eat because he ranked last. For example, Guo Ziyu, who was full of envy and hatred for Zhu Ping'an, thought so.
The seats at this Lu Ming Banquet were allocated according to ranking. Zhu Ping'an and the last ten scholars sat at the table at the edge.
Guo Ziyu sat at the table in front of Zhu Ping'an. Although they were next to each other, they were one level higher. Seeing Zhu Ping'an, who usually had a good appetite, not even touched his food, he felt a little superior: "So what if you were the first in the imperial examination, and you were favored by a third-rank official? You are still behind me now! A child prodigy? He is just a luckier Fang Zhongyong."
"Brother Zhu, even if you are at the bottom of the list, why bother? You passed the imperial examination at the age of thirteen. Apart from the famous Yang Ge Lao, who else can compare to you?"
"That's right. You are different from us. We are cicadas in late autumn, and you are so young. You will definitely have a great future."
"That's right. Now the whole Yingtian City knows that our Ming Dynasty has produced another 13-year-old scholar."
The last candidate at the same table with Zhu Ping'an saw that Zhu Ping'an did not move his chopsticks despite the delicious food and wine, and thought that Zhu Ping'an was bothered by being ranked last, so the candidates at the same table comforted Zhu Ping'an one after another.
Listening to the consolation from several of his classmates, Zhu Ping'an felt a little amused and helpless.
"Thank you very much for your concern. I am already very satisfied to have passed the imperial examination. Perhaps I caught a cold last night and I am feeling a little unwell. Please enjoy your meal slowly, and do not waste today's event." Zhu Ping'an bowed to express his gratitude to all the candidates present, and said that he was not feeling well and asked everyone to enjoy their meal slowly.
After listening to Zhu Ping'an's explanation, everyone was relieved. If you think about it, you have passed the imperial examination at the age of thirteen. What else can you not be satisfied with
So, everyone at the table was toasting and talking freely, with a passionate attitude that made people feel like they were once a noble family.
The Luming Banquet is a grand feast, and naturally there is no lack of literary singing.
During the feast, everyone at the table played some fun word games, such as couplets and writing eight-part essays. These were not a problem. Although Zhu Ping'an had no appetite, he would not spoil the fun at this time. When it was his turn, he took it steadily. It was smooth but not deliberately brilliant.
Everyone was having a great time.
When the banquet was in full swing, cheers were heard. It turned out that Cao Jieyuan, sitting at the top table, had written a poem, which was praised by all the examiners present, the prefect of Yingtian Prefecture and others.
The top table was occupied by the biggest names at the banquet, including the prefect of Yingtian Prefecture and his colleagues, Lord Zhao, the educational official of Nanzhili, the two chief examiners, and then the top three candidates in this Nanzhili provincial examination.
This table was the center of attention for the banquet and had a great influence. Soon, the poem was passed to the candidates at several nearby tables, who burst into applause after reading it.
"bamboo"
The bamboos grow in the open field, and the clouds tower over the sky.
No one appreciates your integrity, but you just keep your chastity in vain.
Shame on Xiang Fei's tears, shame on entering the palace to play the zither.
Whoever makes a flute should make it sound like a dragon's roar.
Some curious people copied several copies, and one copy was circulated to Zhu Ping'an's table. A man nearby read it aloud with ups and downs, which drew everyone's praise.
But after listening to it, Zhu Ping'an was somewhat disapproving. Of course the poem was excellent, with allusions and emotion, using bamboo to describe himself, showing that he was pure, clean, noble and elegant but had not met a mentor. He showed a person who was not ashamed to bow to rich bureaucrats, did not want to be tainted by decadent trends, and had lofty ambitions and a very high standard.
But you are only 25 years old, and you have accepted Zhao Tongzhi's offer to be his son-in-law. Where will your wife and children be? How dare you say that you would rather break than bend!
"What do you think, Brother Zhu? You seem to be disdainful?"
A malicious question came from the table next to him. Zhu Ping'an looked up and saw Guo Ziyu looking at him with sarcasm.
This question attracted the attention of the people around. Everyone thought that Cao Jieyuan wrote good poems, but someone was disdainful at this time. How could they not pay attention? After paying attention, they found that it was the person at the bottom of the list at the last table, and he was also the youngest candidate in the room. They couldn't help but get more interested.
"The top scholar is a man of great talent and his poems are excellent. I just feel inferior to him." Zhu Ping'an smiled self-deprecatingly and easily resolved the unfavorable situation brought about by Guo Ziyu.
After the words were spoken, everyone was relieved and smiled in understanding. Guo Ziyu looked unwilling, but he did not continue to vent, waiting for a better opportunity.
Opportunities are reserved for those who are prepared, and sure enough, Guo Ziyu soon found an opportunity.
Because Cao Jieyuan's poem "Bamboo" was very well written, the big names at the top table were in a good mood. They asked all the new scholars present to write a poem on the theme of "Three Friends of Winter" and have fun together.
This kind of opportunity is a good chance to make a name for oneself. If one becomes famous here, the fame will soon spread throughout Nanzhili. The benefits are naturally self-evident, so all the new scholars are trying their best to perform.
Guo Ziyu quickly wrote a poem "Ode to Bamboo", and then turned his eyes to Zhu Ping'an, and then he was a little excited, because Zhu Ping'an had not started writing yet, and his face was full of worry. Poetry is easy to write, but good poetry is hard to find. Looking at his face full of worry, even if he could write it, it would definitely not be good!
That’s right, Zhu Ping’an had no intention of writing anything.
Looking at the future leaders of the Ming Dynasty around me, thinking hard about poetry and composing sentences, I find it quite ironic.
Poetry
What is the use of Taibai while he is alive
Most people in this world don’t need poetry or calligraphy, nor do they like poetry, calligraphy or painting. They don’t need noble character that would rather break than bend and not serve the rich and powerful. All they want when they are dying is a bowl of rice, even if it’s mixed with sand... (To be continued...)
...