Transmigration: Space-Aided Rise to Power and Prosperity-Chapter 287 - 123: The 3 Great Scholars of Jiangnan

He had inquired beforehand; those two definitely wouldn’t arrive today. He dismissed both the lower and middle rooms, naturally heading straight for the upper room. He didn’t even bother glancing at the topics. Such simple matters, yet these people couldn’t solve them, and still had the nerve to make a fuss here?

Gu Chengyu saw this and turned around to give a salute, "Thank you very much then!"

Although he arrived first and rightly should write first, the other had spoken graciously, so he couldn’t appear inferior. Gu Chengyu focused, preparing to write. He never underestimated others; anyone called a Jiangnan scholar surely had substance.

"Huh? It’s actually Senior Brother Min?" Suddenly, a student exclaimed loudly.

Gu Chengyu twitched his mouth and took a deep breath. Dammit, couldn’t a man finish writing? He decided to ignore it and finish his poem first.

Unexpectedly, the voices in the crowd grew noisier.

"Senior Brother Min is also here, so it seems there will be a good show!" said a student in a tone expecting a spectacle.

"Wow! Isn’t that Huang Junheng at the back? How come the Three Great Scholars of Jiangnan all seem to have made an appointment? They’re all here! Looks like today will indeed have a dragon and tiger fight!" Other examinees shouted excitedly, as these were the three most promising scholars for the provincial top scorer!

"I’ve never seen Min Feng before, indeed all young prodigies!"

"Hmph! What’s so special about the Jiangnan scholars? You all haven’t seen the scholars from the Boshan Academy in the capital, have you? Now that’s real talent! Any student coming from there is stronger than anyone present!"

Where there’s praise, there will be those who disagree. See, someone has already begun to argue!

Speaking of the Boshan Academy, Fu Ming originally had some curiosity about the Jiangnan scholars, glanced at them, but found the little youngster in front of him had already started writing a poem. All of his attention was drawn to Gu Chengyu’s poem.

Gu Chengyu had just written down "Apricot blossoms and spring rain moist silently, fragrant beauty overflow beside the clear lake," when hearing the three great scholars had gathered, he became curious and quickly turned to look back.

Two men, about the same age as Liu Haonan, approached from the left street. Both had handsome features, refined and cultured, giving a better impression than Liu Haonan.

One wore silk, while the other was in a silver-gray robe with a high collar and wide sleeves made of fine cotton, suggesting a less prosperous family background compared to the former two.

The three scholars were considered to have gathered, and Liu Haonan’s face turned pale. Hadn’t it been said they wouldn’t arrive for a few more days? How come they were here today?

The other two scholars, upon seeing each other, were similarly surprised, clearly unexpected.

"Senior Brother Min, what a coincidence! Didn’t you say you were coming by carriage? How so quickly?" The two scholars walked to Liu Haonan and exchanged greetings, one asked the other.

Gu Chengyu found this amusing, these people sure were interesting. Perhaps each feared meeting the other, so intentionally gave the wrong arrival dates to avoid a head-to-head, lest they lose and be embarrassed. Little did they know, the other two had the same thought, and there they were, meeting indeed.

Regardless of what the three great scholars thought, the students’ enthusiasm in front of the inn was unprecedentedly high. Aside from the provincial examination, it was indeed difficult to gather these three together. They had not participated in the scholar examination at the same time either.

Though poetry contests would also invite all three simultaneously, everyone considered their poetic skills comparable; today, however, a winner would be determined, with the capital’s great scholars and officials as judges, ensuring no deceit. Could it be that today the showdown would happen in advance? The students were exceptionally excited, glad to have arrived early!

Gu Chengyu intended to keep watching but was interrupted by a nearby voice.

"Hey, aren’t you going to write? So young and already so fond of spectacles?" Fu Ming had looked at the first two lines of the poem, sensing some sentiment. The opening was quite well written. He was waiting for Gu Chengyu to continue writing, but who would have thought Gu Chengyu turned to watch the commotion instead! Alas, young people truly lack discipline!

"Ah?" Gu Chengyu was caught between laughing and crying. Alright then, his poem too had been simmering for a while; it’s better to finish it quickly!

Gu Chengyu stopped paying attention to what happened behind him and continued writing, "In summer days makeup lingers by chirping willows, grape wine in a luminous cup. Dragonflies rest on lotus in colorful clouds fly, autumn chrysanthemums with red glamour show. A pipa piece in early winter plays well, the silent signal arrow understands the meaning."

Gu Chengyu, fully absorbed, finished the poem in one go and finally wrote his name at the bottom. After completing, he just set the pen down when Fu Ming grabbed it.

"The lad’s handwriting is quite good; since it’s finished, lest you make changes, let me keep it for you!"

Gu Chengyu didn’t mind, thinking it was the same whether handed in early or late. He watched Fu Ming take the other answers over to his seat and started discussing them with Mr. Fang.

"Oh? You’re done writing? Then make way so we can see the calligraphy of the three great scholars!" A student, seeing Gu Chengyu had finished, hurriedly asked him to move.

"This young scholar must also be quite talented, to be able to write down all the answers, I’m impressed!" Min Feng suddenly said to Gu Chengyu.

Ming Mo came to Gu Chengyu’s side and whispered, "My young master! This is Min Feng, the one beside him in moon-white silk is Huang Junheng."

Gu Chengyu bowed in return, "Senior Brother Min overpraises; I’ve long heard of the Three Great Scholars of Jiangnan, yet have seldom met you. To see you today is a great fortune!"

Ancient people valued modesty and elevating others. Even if it was Gu Chengyu’s first time hearing of these three, he must pretend familiarity, a basic etiquette.

Having said this, Gu Chengyu stood aside, ready to appreciate the literary style of the Jiangnan scholars.

Mr. Fang picked up Gu Chengyu’s answers for a look; both answers were indeed correct. Seeing the answer regarding the flower shadow, he paused for a moment, and then nonchalantly set the paper down again.

In fact, aside from Fu Ming, no one knew the poem was written by him. He glanced at Gu Chengyu standing not far away and shook his head. Perhaps it was a lucky guess? The true meaning of this poem was known only to himself; how could such a youngster possibly understand?

"Oh? This couplet is quite well matched! Truly exceptional!" Mr. Fang then dismissed the thoughts in his heart, casually picked up Gu Chengyu’s lower couplets, and was very surprised. Even he might not have matched such lower couplets.

"Not just that! Look at this poem, it’ll surely be refreshing!" Fu Ming chuckled and said to Fang Huai.

"Let me see!" Fang Huai eagerly took it and began reading attentively. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

Once he read the first line, he felt it must be an excellent work. After finishing the poem and savoring it, he nodded; the quality was indeed beyond reproach.