Song Dynasty Dreams: Marrying Zhao Pan'er at the beginning-Chapter 49 - The Dignity of a Top Scholar
Chapter 49 The Dignity of a Top Scholar
Xiao Lingdang followed Sun Sanniang into the kitchen, her face full of confusion.
“Sanniang, what’s so good?”
“Their relationship, of course!”
Sun Sanniang explained with a smile.
“Last time, Prince Qian’s residence rewarded him with a hundred taels of gold, silk, and pearls!”
“That basically set the price for Gao You’s paintings—starting at a hundred gold!”
“Think about it, just a simple painting can earn that much. What kind of hands are those?”
Xiao Lingdang frowned.
“What kind?”
“Hands of gold!”
Sun Sanniang playfully knocked on her head. “But Gao You doesn’t care about how valuable his hands are!”
“Just because Pan’er likes honey, he rushed into the deep mountains without hesitation!”
“Isn’t that a beautiful kind of love?”
Xiao Lingdang nodded, still half-understanding.
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“Ouyang!”
Du Changfeng pushed open the door and entered the courtyard. He and Ouyang Xu had passed the imperial examination in the same year and were friends. Hearing that Ouyang Xu had just returned to the capital, he personally came to visit.
“Brother Du, please come in!”
Ouyang Xu invited him into his study.
Du Changfeng took out an invitation.
“Minister Qin of the Ministry of Appointments is hosting a poetry gathering on East Street!”
“He’s inviting all the newly appointed scholars!”
“It’s tonight—are you going?”
A poetry gathering?
Ouyang Xu hesitated for a moment.
On his journey back to the capital, the Gao family had already used their influence to suppress the news of him losing a poetry duel to Gao You. Though some scholars still whispered about it in private, it no longer posed a serious threat to his reputation.
Soon, he would be meeting the emperor and participating in the selection of officials. Attending this poetry gathering to boost his prestige might be a good move.
“I’ll go!”
Ouyang Xu nodded.
“Brother Du, do you know the theme for tonight?”
“Not sure,” Du Changfeng replied and shook his head. “But Minister Qin loves chrysanthemums!”
“So chances are the theme will be related to chrysanthemums. You should prepare something!”
“With your skills, you’ll surely outshine everyone!”
Ouyang Xu merely smiled, not directly agreeing. Although he was confident in his ability to win, as a scholar, he needed to maintain an air of humility. After chatting for a while, Du Changfeng took his leave.
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That evening, Ouyang Xu, accompanied by De Shu, arrived on East Street.
“The top scholar!”
Upon seeing him, the crowd immediately bowed in respect. At last, here, he could reclaim his dignity as a top scholar.
“Greetings, everyone!”
He returned the courtesy, and they all entered the venue. Minister Qin, who was hosting the gathering, was pleased with the turnout and commenced the banquet.
Du Changfeng’s guess was correct—Minister Qin indeed asked the guests to write and discuss poetry centered on chrysanthemums. Though Ouyang Xu wasn’t the best poet, his skills were enough to impress the other scholars. His poem about chrysanthemums won the entire room’s applause!
“Wonderful!”
“As expected of the top scholar! Even his poetry is extraordinary!”
Listening to the praises, Ouyang Xu modestly deflected them and returned to his seat. Just then, a young eunuch rushed into the imperial palace, carrying a scroll.
“Your Majesty, Gao You’s painting has arrived!”
The emperor, who had been chatting with his ministers, raised an eyebrow in surprise.
“Wasn’t he supposed to take six months?”
“It’s only been a few days, and he’s already done?”
“Unroll it—let me see!”
The eunuch carefully unfurled the painting. At once, everyone in the hall was captivated.
“I never expected Liuyun Jushi’s painting skills to reach such heights!”
“Truly incredible!”
“Your Majesty, you have an eye for talent!”
The officials enthusiastically flattered the emperor. After all, it was the emperor who had first recognized Gao You’s talent. The emperor looked at the painting with satisfaction.
If Gao You was a thousand-mile horse, then he himself was the discerning Bole. Seeing a great talent thrive naturally made him proud.
“A well-executed piece!”
The emperor calmly praised it, as if everything was within his expectations. His composed demeanor earned further admiration from the officials. He was about to reward Gao You when he suddenly realized that the magnolia tree in the painting looked oddly familiar.
“Who is the woman in the painting?”
The eunuch hesitated briefly before answering, “It should be the second lady of the Cao family from Zhen Ding.”
“The second lady?”
The emperor frowned.
“Why is she in Qiantang?”
“Tell me everything!”
Since the emperor had personally asked, the eunuch dared not omit anything. He recounted everything about the banquet at Prince Qian’s residence, down to the smallest detail.
“Gao You can compose poetic couplets?”
“And he defeated the top scholar?”
The emperor looked at the eunuch in astonishment. He had always thought of Gao You as just a painter. But it turned out he was also skilled in poetry?
And had even humiliated the top scholar in a duel? Of course, the emperor knew Gao You hadn’t done it on purpose. He had simply been excited by the challenge. It was Ouyang Xu who had been too weak.
“‘A rat, regardless of size, is always called ‘old.’ A parrot, regardless of gender, is always called ‘brother.’”
How amusing!
After hearing the full story, the emperor made no further comments. He didn’t even mention any rewards for Gao You. He had asked him to paint a masterpiece. Yet the man had used the painting to deliver a complaint!
No matter how beautiful the painting was—It was still an act of defiance!
