Seeing that it was Yuchi Lianqing, Empress Wang knew that she had always been famous, so her complexion took a turn for the better. "Duchess of Yiyang, what I want is a good poem with good lyrics. Otherwise, when it's brought to His Majesty later on, it will be shaming. If you haven't prepared well tonight, I won't blame you. Are you determined to give it a try?"
Considering the previous circumstances, Empress Wang already gave Yuchi Lianqing an escape route. After all, today is a celebratory day, a rare festive day. She also didn't want to turn fun into anger. If a good poem could not be composed, she might as well not hear it, to avoid dirtying her ear.
Her dress arranged in spirals, fragrant breeze brushing all around, Yuchi Lianqing first faced Empress Wang and courtsied. Next, she leisurely walked to the center. Not the slightest bit of anxiety could be perceived on her face. Only a calm and confident slight smile on a face sprinkled with shining rays of moonlight contrasted with the surrounding bright lanterns. Truly a beautiful woman, like a crane among a flock of chickens, with a difficult to describe graceful bearing.
A pleasant voice that sounded like the song of an oriole reverberated, "The house of Marquis of Xuanping's Yuchi Lianqing invites Your Highness to come up with the topic."
Her tone of voice was heroic and imposing. Although her voice wasn't loud at all, it was uniquely firm and confident, which actually made everyone focus all of their attention on her. Looking at her, Empress Wang's eyes shined. Even Luo Qing Luan couldn't help but put the teacup in her hand down. She wanted to know how startling of a masterpiece this Yuchi Lianqing would be able to come up with in the end.
"Good. Good!'
Empress Wang was pleased. The smile on her face also widened a bit as she said, "Deserving of being the Duchess of Yiyang. You indeed have your forefathers' bearing. I'll give you a difficult test then to see how much you've learned from Master Scholar Lin."
"At tonight's poetry meeting, the topic naturally won't stray far from the Mid-Autumn Festival. I'll have you compose a poem concerning our Western Chu's prosperity and strength in the context of the Mid-Autumn Festival. Can you do it?"
A Mid-Autumn Festival poem which had to express the country's strength? Once all of the young ladies heard this, they were immediately alarmed. If they were the ones asked to do this, then they wouldn't be able to do so even given a lifetime!
Every single citizen of Western Chu knew that three years ago, Western Chu was still the weakest country between the four. They were weakest whether it be military strength or economy. However, when the Prince of Chu, Nalan Ye led the troops to defend the country and utterly defeated Nanyue, which harassed them years on end, he established Western Chu's prestige and prosperity in one go to what it is today.
The weakest Western Chu took over Nanyue and in one leap, became second only to Dongwan as the most powerful empire. The country was now prosperous and powerful, its people at peace, it's borders quiet, certainly something worth each and every citizen being proud of!
It's just that……
The Mid-Autumn Festival, to have a group of young ladies who did not understand national politics to compose a poem praising Western Chu's might. This was more or less making things difficult for them.
Countless pairs of eyes stared fixedly on Yuchi Lianqing on stage. A few of those who were good friends with her were even more worried for her. If Nangong Wan'Er didn't get sprinkled with the itching powder last time, resulting in scars which she had yet to heal from, preventing her from coming earlier, very likely, she would be the one with the fiercest outcry.
At the scene, even a pin dropping could be heard. No one dared to give voice no matter how upset they might be. They all waited for Yuchi Lianqing to speak. Either she would lose face, or she would shine brightly, there was still no other possible outcome tonight.
Yuchi Lianqing was also clearly somewhat hesitant about this topic. Her graceful eyebrows creased faintly. She was evidently concentrating fully, pondering deeply. Her head hung down slightly as her red lips gently pursed up. Her pair of beautiful eyes wandered from time to time. After that, the corners of her mouth gradually rose, exposing a knowing smile. Clearly, she already came up wi
th something.
"The moon shines like frost upon the bright courtyard. Firefly shadows follow fragrant autumn breezes……"
As expected, the first verses described the Mid-Autumn Festival atmosphere. Once everyone heard, admiration birthed in their hearts. How deserving of the title as the most talented girl in Western Chu, so nimble and creative. Not enough time had passed to even drink a cup of tea. Their minds were still blank, yet Yuchi Lianqing already composed a poem.
Her sweet-sounding voice seemed even more melodious in the still night. The sound of each word reverberated in a powerful, confident imposing manner as she continued to recite.
"Night falls on five drum beats surrounded by stars. Clouds parts and the moon shines upon an eternal dynasty. Western Chu's heavenly dragon imperial city, a thousand doors of flowering willows. Feasting on jade tables blessed by immortals, four crowned countries paying respects to the court."
With the last verse completed, quiet pervaded for a while afterwards. Empress Wang's face shone bright red, as she actually took the lead in standing up to applaud. "Wonderful. Excellent. What a great verse: Feasting on jade tables blessed by immortals; four crowned countries paying respect to the court. The Duchess of Yiyang indeed deserves to be Master Scholar Lin's disciple. Actually, the student surpasses the teacher. You were surprisingly able to create such a masterpiece."
Imperial Consort Song was also a face full of pleasant surprise. She didn't expect that Yuchi Lianqing, a young lady, was surprisingly able to compose such an impressively majestic poem. This was indeed rare. She immediately praised, "Elder Sister, in my view, there's no need to look further. Tonight's first place will certainly go to the Duchess of Yiyang. This masterpiece is so heroic, expressing our Western Chu's imposing might to the fullest. If His Majesty were to hear of this, his dragon heart will surely be extremely pleased."
A wisp of complacency flashing through her eyes, but not the slightest trace was shown on Yuchi Lianqing's face. Displaying a face filled only with respect, she spoke gently. "I composed hastily, and is not worthy of the Empress and Imperial Consort's over praise. I'm still much inferior compared to my teacher and will still need to continue studying hard."
So modest. Her neither arrogant, nor impatient attitude made Empress Wang feel even more fond of her.
She beckoned Yuchi Lianqing to come over and sit beside her. Her widely smiling face was plain to see, while her eyes twinkled brilliantly as she asked, "Yiyang, you really made me very surprised. I perceived previously that you're wordless and silent, so I even thought that your temperament is yielding and softhearted. I couldn't tell that you're even so heroic, a woman who is as able as a man!"
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