Why My Domineering Prince Regretted Filing for Divorce?-Chapter 603 - 490: Will Not Return Until Loulan is Unbroken
Upon hearing this, both Yu Wenye and Shang Ruyi were a little surprised, especially Shang Ruyi, who widened her eyes at her brother: "Brother, what did you do?"
But before Shen Wuzheng could speak, Pei Xingyuan cheerfully leaned in.
He said, "Here’s what happened. Just a few days ago, Vice Minister Tao He of the Ministry of Revenue and Historian Wei Wen Zhuo’s families were building houses in the west of the city, right next to each other. The courtyard wall of Vice Minister Tao’s house was to extend three feet westward, and Mr. Wei’s courtyard wall was to extend three feet eastward, and they collided like this, neither side willing to concede, on the verge of starting a fight."
Shang Ruyi hurriedly said, "Then—"
Pei Xingyuan waved his hand and smiled, "Then, your brother arrived."
"..."
"He somehow wandered over there to watch the commotion and said to the people on both sides—" At this point, he deliberately straightened his back, assumed an air of strolling through a courtyard, and said more aloofly, "To occupy three feet is to gain, to balance three feet is courteous, to yield three feet is virtuous. Whoever lacks should take, whoever doesn’t lack should yield."
The nearby Shen Wuzheng frowned and ignored him.
Pei Xingyuan continued, "Look at what he said, who is willing to lack virtue, right? Just like that, Vice Minister Tao and Mr. Wei stopped arguing, not only stopped arguing, but each conceded three feet, leaving a six-foot-wide alley outside their courtyard walls. Later, it seems it was Mr. Wei who suggested naming the alley—No-Controversy Lane."
"..."
"This incident made him famous in Daxing City. Everyone knows that Young Master Shen, at a young age, persuaded two ministers of the court, and someone even suggested that if there were more wars, just let Young Master Shen say a few words and it would naturally be resolved."
"..."
By this time, Shen Wuzheng seemed to have given up, glaring at Pei Xingyuan with mild annoyance.
He was naturally cool-headed and decisive, never losing his composure even against Yu Wenye, but facing someone like Pei Xingyuan, who was enthusiastic and somewhat innocent, left him at a loss. Meanwhile, Shang Ruyi listened in amazement and smiled at Shen Wuzheng, "Brother, you’re amazing!"
Shen Wuzheng glanced at her, scolding, "You!"
Pei Xingyuan laughed again, "Since then, he has become a guest of honor among those ministers, everyone wants to invite him for a drink, to observe his demeanor. Especially the people from the Historical Bureau, they are very close to him. Today, I was looking for him, went straight to the Historical Bureau to find him."
Upon hearing this, Shang Ruyi’s heart stirred slightly.
Historical Bureau...?
At this point, Yu Wenye, who had been quietly listening, seemed thoughtful, looking at Shen Wuzheng, "Brother Fu Ming has always been a man whose words are worth thousands in gold."
Shen Wuzheng glanced at him but said nothing.
"Not just words worth thousands in gold,"
Before Shang Ruyi could speak, Pei Xingyuan laughed cheerfully, "This time at the poetry contest in Daxing City, our Brother Fu Ming’s words were as astonishing as if spoken by spirits, his strokes worth thousands in gold."
Yu Wenye and Shang Ruyi exchanged glances again, "Poetry contest?"
Pei Xingyuan said, "Yes, that’s what I heard. Half a month ago, when news of your victory at Fufeng arrived, the city of Daxing was all excitement, and someone held a poetry contest at the Divine Tired Pavilion, specifically to celebrate the great achievements of the Assistant General in this battle. Tsk tsk, it was a grand gathering."
"..."
"Unfortunately, I returned late and missed it."
Shen Wuzheng glanced at him, seemingly intending to tease him that even if he returned, he wouldn’t be able to write any remarkable verses. However, he was ultimately a calm person and couldn’t say such harsh words, so he just shook his head and sighed.
Shang Ruyi immediately laughed, "With Brother’s poetic talent, you must have won the prize, right."
Upon finishing her words, she noticed Shen Wuzheng’s expression was indifferent, but his gaze seemed to dim slightly. Shang Ruyi was momentarily puzzled, while Pei Xingyuan was already shaking his head, laughing, "To be honest, Brother Fu Ming’s poetry is genuinely excellent."
"..."
"If not for encountering that Guanghan Guest, he would surely have taken the prize."
"Guanghan Guest?"
Upon hearing this name, both Yu Wenye and Shang Ruyi showed surprise. Shang Ruyi quickly asked, "Who is that person?"
At this point, perhaps not wanting to hear Pei Xingyuan say anything more exaggerated, Shen Wuzheng finally spoke, quite calmly, "This person never appeared, only wrote a poem in a private room and had someone pass it out. I read it, it indeed surpasses mine by far. I, so to speak, admit to losing willingly."
So to speak?
These words made Shang Ruyi more surprised.
You have to know, her brother had been learned from a young age, surpassing many, later studying under the great scholar Li Tong, undoubtedly gaining more advancement, and it would be difficult for ordinary people to win against him; and even if someone could win against him, Shen Wuzheng was not the kind of narrow-minded person, if someone’s literary talent surpassed his, he would naturally be convinced.
However, why did he say—so to speak, admit to losing willingly.
It seemed as if there was still a bit of unwillingness?
Yu Wenye said, "Brother Fu Ming’s poetry—"
Shen Wuzheng looked at him but hadn’t had time to speak when Pei Xingyuan eagerly interrupted, "I remember, let me!"
After saying this, he adjusted his attire, cleared his throat, and recited solemnly, "The blood-armored soldiers break through the heavenly gates, layers of peaks appear in order, the arrow breaks through the clouds at the gilded place, a wildfire in one decisive moment sinks the Nine Provinces."
"...!"
Upon hearing this poem, Yu Wenye’s eyes suddenly flashed.
While Shang Ruyi, upon hearing this poem, was initially about to praise, but before she could speak, she paused again, after pondering it carefully twice more, she immediately realized, joyfully looking at Shen Wuzheng, "Brother!"
This poem vividly depicted the scene where she used a stratagem to set fire to Xue Xian’s army!
That day and night, an almost exhausting battle, even recalling it now made her scalp tingle, also slightly unbelievable at her own fortune, having accomplished this; and Shen Wuzheng’s few verses vividly painted that day’s scene, not only that, but added a few touches of exciting brilliance!
"The arrow breaks through the clouds at the gilded place, a wildfire in one decisive moment sinks the Nine Provinces..."
Yu Wenye also repeated these two lines; that day, he was unconscious in bed, no matter how tirelessly everyone recounted the thrilling battle afterward, it always seemed a bit removed.
But these two lines of poetry instantly painted a vivid picture of a battlefield in his mind!
"Excellent poem!"
He nodded and sighed, then slightly frowned, looking at Shen Wuzheng and Pei Xingyuan, "And this poem also lost?"
Pei Xingyuan said, "Narrowly lost, narrowly lost."
Shen Wuzheng helplessly smiled, shaking his head, "Lost is lost. Why say narrowly lost? Such a thing I’ve never heard of."
At this point, even Shang Ruyi frowned and said, "Then, how exquisite is that Guanghan Guest’s poem? I want to hear it!"
Unconsciously, she stood in solidarity with her brother.
Pei Xingyuan immediately said, "I also remember that person’s poem, listen to me recite it!"
Finishing, he cleared his throat, softly reciting, "Qinghai’s long clouds darken the snowy mountains, a lone city gazes far to Yumen Pass. Huangsha hundred battles wear golden armor, unbreakable Loulan, never returning home."
"..."
After listening, everyone present fell silent.
