Chapter 98: Discussing Poetry at He Gong Pavilion

Wan'er, acting under the orders of her young mistress, led a group of carpenters to build a half-bridge not far from the Princess's Manor. She also had several men skilled in water-work plant lotus roots in the lakebed, so that by summer, the shores would be lush with lotus leaves and blossoms.

Looking up at the sky, she saw scattered white clouds and the gentle warmth of spring—it was a perfect day.

However, she noticed a crowd gathering at the He Gong Pavilion. She was curious, as that spot was reserved by the Princess specifically for Elder He. Although there was no explicit ban on others entering, she wondered if Elder He had invited them.

As she approached, her feet crunching on the hard gravel, she caught the faint, unpleasant sound of their discussion from afar.

"I am Wang Lizhi! Greetings to the libationer He!"

"It is a great honor for us scholars of Chang'an to meet you, Master He, while out on a spring excursion to the Qujiang Pond!"

Wan'er pricked up her ears to listen. Wang Lizhi—wasn't that the arrogant, unmannerly wretch who had insulted her young mistress? Coming to the lakeshore for a spring outing and "happening" upon Elder He—she couldn't help but suspect it was no coincidence.

"Elder He is a role model for all us scholars in Chang'an. I once had the honor of auditing a lecture at the Imperial Academy and receiving your guidance; it was the student's great fortune! Zhou Yong bows again!"

"Haha! No need for such formalities! Everyone, rise!"

Wan'er stood outside the circle of people. The pavilion was packed with scholars—or as her young mistress would call them, "bookworms" who knew nothing but to bury their noses in texts all day. How did that saying go? She tapped her palm with her fist. Right, "Practice is the sole criterion for testing truth!" Or in the words of the ancients, "What is learned from books is ultimately shallow; one must practice it to truly understand."

Ah, her young mistress was truly brilliant. She could spout poetry with such ease. Wan'er admired her more and more; if the Princess weren't a woman, she would surely have pledged her life to her!

Wan'er rubbed her face, chuckling to herself. Her admiration and respect for her mistress grew like wild grass on a plain, blooming whenever the spring breeze blew.

"This is my close friend, Wang Lizhi, a genius youth of the Wang family! Although I, Zhou Yong, am ten years his senior, I dare not claim seniority! I specifically brought him to meet you, Elder He. I trust that with your sharp eye, you will surely offer some guidance to such a young talent!"

"Haha! Brother Zhou is too kind. I have merely read a few more books than others since I was in the womb, and thus have managed to stay ahead. It is pure luck, pure luck!"

Hearing such arrogant words, Wan'er’s temper flared instantly. This fellow was utterly shameless, praising himself without the slightest bit of modesty!

The surrounding scholars were not in the least bit offended; instead, they vied to humble themselves or lavish praise on Wang Lizhi, calling him a prodigy who understood everything from the heavens above to the ancient past below!

Wan'er felt a surge of anger. A bunch of spineless bookworms! Now she saw that her young mistress was right: so what if he was a talented youth? He was arrogant and looked down on everyone! By that measure alone, he couldn't hold a candle to her approachable and empathetic mistress. And they called him the leading poet of the younger generation in Chang'an? He was nothing but a swaggering fool!

"I hear the Princess Protector's manor is right here by Qujiang Pond. That 'wild village' princess cowers here, forcing us scholars of Chang'an to leave the city just to hold her accountable!"

"Indeed. I, Wang, am no talent, but I wanted to vent some righteous anger on behalf of the scholars of Chang'an, so I wrote a satirical poem. Who would have thought there would be no response? This 'wild village' princess is nothing more than a coward who hides her head! If she truly had any literary heart, how could she fail to produce a single poem during the Saint's spring outing?"

The peach trees beside the pavilion had been groomed, releasing a faint, delicate fragrance that tried to soothe Wan'er’s indignant heart. These scholars, who looked so refined, were actually harboring such malicious intent! They were always looking for ways to trouble her mistress—it was simply unbearable!

"Hmph! You pack of bookworms, all you know is how to spout nonsense and wag your tongues! My young mistress is the adopted daughter of the current Saint and has protected His Majesty! And what about you? All you know is jealousy and idle chatter! Back at Xiangjun, it was my mistress’s talent that convinced me to serve her!"

Wan'er shoved her way past one scholar after another, her face flushed with rage, her bright eyes flashing with a strength rarely seen. She marched up to Wang Lizhi and glared at him fiercely.

"Where did this woman come from?"

Zhou Yong looked over and saw a woman in a black dress, with a full, curvaceous figure and a waist as supple as a ribbon. Her clear eyes were wide with fury—what a beauty in a rage!

Wan'er was not intimidated by these lecherous men. Ignoring their prying gazes, she curtsied to Elder He, then waved her hand grandly and pointed at Wang Lizhi’s nose. "My young mistress can write poetry and compose lyrics; she is far better than you lot who only know how to read books until you’re half-dead! Beyond letters, she also knows martial arts—she saved the Saint and became a Princess!"

"Hmph!" The youth Wang Lizhi sneered, his face full of disdain, his clear eyes brimming with arrogance. "A woman has no business with talent! You lot should just focus on serving men well. To think that a mere servant of the Princess's manor would dare to act so wildly! It just goes to show the barbarism of that manor!"

"Opening taverns and engaging in trade, beating hundreds of scholars until they lost teeth and had crooked noses, and recently, rumors of disrespecting teachers—may I ask, Libationer He, if these things are true?" Wang Lizhi asked with a cold face, looking at Elder He in the pavilion. He was certain the elder would support him.

"Is that so? I don't seem to recall! I know the Princess Protector; she is a young friend of mine!"

A gasp went through the crowd. Wang Lizhi licked his lips, rendered speechless. What was going on?

Wan'er covered her mouth to hide a smile and bowed to thank Elder He.

Wang Lizhi’s first scheme having failed, he hatched another, a shadow of malice crossing his handsome face.

"Elder He, even so, her vanity and thirst for fame must be true. Otherwise, why would she ignore my satirical poem? It only shows she has a guilty conscience! In the end, she is just a woman!"

He Zhizhang cast a lazy glance at the arrogant Wang Lizhi. This youth was far too isolated and extreme. Women could also be heroes; why look down on them? You’re looking down on your own mother!

"Hmph! It’s just a poem, isn't it? Have you never heard the lines: 'An old man in a straw cloak and hat, fishing alone in the cold river snow'? That is a poem written by my Princess! The imagery is profound, capturing the very essence of the vast, desolate loneliness of the world!"

After Wan'er finished, she sang it again. Under her ethereal voice, the surrounding scholars felt that very sense of isolation, and they couldn't help but sigh in admiration.

Seeing things turning against him, Wang Lizhi squinted. He couldn't let the scholars he had brought over defect to her side! He immediately recited a poem of his own to regain his face.

Wan'er listened to the arrogant poem. Although it was novel and grand, it felt wrong—much like the phrase her mistress once used: "Forced to feign sorrow for the sake of a new poem!" That was exactly how it felt.

Elder He and Cen Shen exchanged a look, both seeing that the other was unsatisfied with the youth’s new poem, as the words failed to convey any real meaning.

"Hmph! If the Princess has any skill, let her come and write a poem on the spot! Besides, it is currently spring, a season of vitality and growth. How can one use a poem about cold, desolate isolation to brush us off?"

Wan'er wanted to argue, but hearing the scholars around her join in the clamor, her anger became impossible to suppress. Since they wanted to see her mistress’s poetry, she would go get one! She told them not to leave and to wait right there, then flicked her skirts and headed back to the Princess's Manor to retrieve a poem.