Reborn as Powerful Minister's Beloved
Chapter 176: First Update

Chapter 176: Chapter 176: First Update

"Dong—" The crisp sound of the copper gong rippled across the water.

"Weng Qing, the second son of the Liugui Aristocratic Clan, has completed a seven-character regulated poem—" Immediately, small boats swiftly spread out across the lake, copying the verses that had already been handed over to Lake Heart Island, distributing them to various boats.

Other boats carrying singers and players of musical instruments sent sounds from deep within the lotus leaves, creating a lively scene on the lake.

"Dong—" Another clear gong sound rang out.

"Lord Mu Qingfeng and Lord Shen Houmu from the Youchun Workshop make it to the next round." As the voice of an attendant on a boat announced, cheers came from some boats, while sighs emerged from others.

"Congratulations Brother Mu, congratulations Brother Shen—" Luh Xingze was the first to congratulate Mu Qingfeng and Shen Houmu.

"Brother Luh, it’s still too early to congratulate, as there are already twelve contestants in the first round, and we still have to select the best three poems from these twelve," Shen Houmu thought deeply, with intent to make a mark.

However, everyone knew that since the Crown Prince was participating, the first place was reserved for the Crown Prince, and what they could compete for was second place at best.

...

"Young master, shall we give up?" Gu Dao looked at the crumpled papers scattered on the ground, as time was running out and there was no comfort to be had; after all, their young master did not enjoy composing poetry. It wasn’t that he couldn’t, even their teacher said that the young master was highly intelligent, yet more playful.

Zong Yunqian clenched his teeth, picked up the brush, and wrote down a poem swiftly. Without waiting for the ink to dry, he hurried Gu Dao to submit it.

A moment later.

"This Lord Mu’s poem is truly excellent."

"And the poem by the eldest son of the Fu Feng, Ma Family is grand. Listen to this line... "

"Dong— Heir Yun from the Zong Sheng Aristocratic Family has qualified—" At the moment the gong was struck, Zong Yunqian revealed a sly smile, tossed aside his brush, and sat down again.

"This Lord Mu’s poem is truly excellent."

"And the poem by the eldest son of the Fu Feng, Ma Family is grand. Listen to this line... "

"If you ask me, it’s still the Crown Prince’s poem that ranks foremost, with a vision lofty and broad, caring for the entire world, something ordinary people cannot reach... "

"Yes, yes, yes..." Amidst the chorus of agreement.

"Why haven’t we seen the poem written by Heir Yun?"

"Right, only eleven poems have been passed around; how can they decide—"

...

By now, Qi Jin had already arrived at Lake Heart Island and found Ju Nanyi, who had just finished judging the first round’s top three poems and had already sent someone to deliver the results to Zheng Congyuan.

Qi Jin took a glance at Ju Nanyi, who nodded slightly without any change in expression.

Prince Duan, as the judge of this poetry event, initially did not want to undertake this thankless task, but Zheng Congyuan had mentioned that it presented an opportunity for the Commandery Princess to also take a boat trip.

Thinking of this, Prince Duan felt that even if he did not want to undertake this task, he had to endure it, remembering that Nian Ru had never come out to enjoy herself openly since she was young, he felt guilty.

When Prince Duan saw Ju Nanyi approaching, he immediately grew nervous.

"Is everything in order?" Prince Duan, still uneasy, asked. Nian Ru’s status was at stake, and as she had never been exposed to a grand social scene, and Zheng Haoyuan was unreliable in handling tasks. In any case, he could not sit still.

"Prince, rest assured, the Commandery Princess looks unfamiliar here; no one will notice her among so many ladies from prominent families. Who would really pay attention? Once at Lake Heart Island, Prince Duan will take the Commandery Princess for a good walk around, how about that?" Ju Nanyi spoke smoothly, and Prince Duan nodded in agreement.

Indeed, indeed, Nian Ru didn’t come out, so who would recognize her?

"By the way, Prince, besides this matter, there is another thing, I am here especially to congratulate you," he said.

Prince Duan looked at Ju Nanyi, puzzled.

"Prince, the four lords from your Youchun Workshop did well with their poems this time, among them, Lord Mu and Lord Shen’s poems were shortlisted, and Lord Mu Qingfeng’s poem even made it into the top three."

Upon hearing this, Prince Duan was somewhat surprised, but he couldn’t help but nod again.

"I always saw that lad Qingfeng as promising; all four lads are commendable. Ha ha, of course, it is also the glory of Hanlin Academy, joy for us all, joy for us all," Prince Duan knew the purpose of having these four participate by the Crown Prince’s order—it was naturally to pull together this group of new school forces.

"Yes, Prince, please wait a moment, I will have Lord Qi Jin personally go to receive the Commandery Princess," Ju Nanyi said no more, but bowed respectfully and withdrew.

...

The twelve poems that made it past the first round were already being circulated on all the boats, and the competition was fierce, everyone casting their three votes for their favorite three poems.

Those tiny boats were constantly reporting the vote count for each poem.

Gradually, five of the poems slowly pulled ahead of the latter seven, and everyone nodded in agreement, setting aside personal biases and favoritism, recognizing these five poems as truly exceptional.

The ladies from prominent families quietly recited those poems, thinking of the young aristocrats who wrote them, casting their votes with a slight bias.

As all the boats were nearing Lake Heart Island, a portion had already landed on the island. Shortly, the results of the first round zoomed through at the fastest pace.

The first place, of course, unquestionably went to Crown Prince Zheng Congyuan.

The second place was from the Zong Sheng Aristocratic Family, Heir Yun.

The third place was Mu Qingfeng of the Youchun Workshop.

"I still feel that the poem by Heir Chen from the Wuxing Aristocratic Family was superior," many ladies lowered their heads upon hearing this, clutching the poem by Heir Yun tightly in their hands.

Nanmen Yuyan, in her heart, was silently reciting the poem by Zheng Congyuan; she hadn’t looked at others’, spotting it at first glance, she nearly completely understood the Crown Prince’s state of mind and intentions when he wrote that poem.

Nanmen Yuyan, head bowed, felt that there were many similarities between herself and the Crown Prince, such as the Crown Prince’s dedication to Nanzheng but internally disliking the constraints of this identity, just as she wished to become a goose or a bird, able to fly freely in the sky.

Nanmen Yuyan felt a sweet warmth in her heart as she followed the crowd to Lake Heart Island.

Lake Heart Island lay in the center of Siyan Lake, with pavilions, towers, exotic trees, dense forests, bamboo groves, and patches of blooming flowers. Nanmen Yuyan suddenly remembered that the Crown Prince’s Mansion also embraced a narrow expanse of Siyan Lake, and thinking of the recent poem, felt as if she were in the Crown Prince’s Mansion, facing Siyan Lake while reading his poem.

Zheng Haoyuan’s boat chose a less crowded shore, and Zheng Nianru was helped ashore.

Zheng Haoyuan was very happy; after all, Mu Qingfeng’s poem had made it into the top three, and this was only the first round. The second round was a chance to start over, and the other three had also performed well in the first round, naturally hinting at the possibility of better results in the next.

"Cousin, what do you think of all this?" Zheng Haoyuan asked, waving the poems in his hand.

"I don’t understand," Zheng Nianru didn’t even glance, her mind was not in a place to be distracted. What if she fell off?

Mu Qingfeng intentionally slowed his pace; he naturally noticed that Princess Chao Ren was also there, perhaps having read his poem too.

"Lord Mu, Lord Shen, gentlemen, right this way—" Qi Jin was already standing on the shore, watching the approaching men.