The Immortal Seeker: Legend of Bronze Mirror
Chapter 100 - 74 Taming

Chapter 100: Chapter 74 Taming

Before long, under the guidance of Academician Zhou, everyone started playing the "Flying Flowers Order." With Xu Qing’s current knowledge, he naturally had more than enough wit to play this game, but he didn’t overly show off.

When it was his turn, he neither blurted out an answer without thinking nor took too long.

But when it was Academician Zhou’s turn after Xu Qing, one could clearly feel the depth of Xu Qing’s knowledge, and he was definitely quick-witted.

This is because the "Flying Flowers Order" that Xu Qing took on always made it very easy for Academician Zhou to follow.

Beside them, Su Lianqing picked up the lute to accompany and sing, providing background music.

The atmosphere at the banquet gradually livened up.

The clout of Inspector Wu was not large enough, hence the Imperial Music Bureau’s performance troupe was not invited due to the lack of a postmaster.

Of course, there was another reason; the Imperial Music Bureau’s troupe was currently hired by someone else, the Marquis Wuding, who was hosting the Governor of Zhili and the governor of Yingtian.

The Imperial Music Bureau also needed to earn money.

And Marquis Wuding was very generous.

Moreover, Mr. Wu had only been an Imperial Censor for a year, while Marquis Wuding, unless he falls, will still be around for decades to come.

In the world of officials, one must never hastily conclude until one sees the fall of another.

Leave some leeway in life.

Those who kick someone when they are down as soon as they sense bad momentum are either foolish or are harboring deep grudges.

Who can guarantee a lifetime of smooth sailing in their life?

Even the Emperor dare not assure whether he will have a day of precipitous flight from the palace, or go to the North Country for study.

For example, an Emperor from a former dynasty, whose reign had benefited from the foundation laid by his predecessors, and during a period when culture and economy were thriving, ended up being ’invited’ by the Northern Barbarians to retire in the North.

Naturally, the dignitaries present wouldn’t rush Xu Qing to make a poem, song, or verse. It would be good if he could produce one, but if not, it would be an unwarranted offense.

Thirty years in the east and thirty years in the west, don’t bully the young when they’re poor.

It was Academician Zhou, noting that Xu Qing indeed had a solid foundation, who pointed to Su Lianqing and the plum blossoms outside the room, suggesting a poem with the beauty and the plum blossoms as subjects.

This was a task of the lowest difficulty, also inviting the dignitaries to join in.

The Magistrate was the atmosphere maker, after musing for a while, he started,

"Plum blossoms stand proud amidst the snow, beauty’s grace surpasses the blossoms;

Snow weighs on branches making flowers dazzle, wind sways beauty’s garment fluttering aside."

Everyone praised unanimously, giving the Magistrate a lot of face. Following this, the officials took turns making poems, and before long, it was Academician Zhou’s turn, and he produced,

"Winter fragrance pervades, hearts close to intoxication, clear charm before eyes, emotions fully embraced.

Do not say winter lacks beauties; just look at the plum blossoms and the beauty."

This poem matched the Magistrate’s in terms of being well-matched and meeting a worthy counterpart. Still, it was clear that it flattered Academician Zhou a tad more.

Next, Inspector Wu bluntly expressed that he, a Third Class Scholar, had limited knowledge and was not adept in the arts of literature. Referring to the saying, "When the master is troubled, the disciple shoulders the burden," he asked Xu Qing to make a poem on his behalf.

People swiftly complimented, saying a hero is not judged by his origin, Third Class Scholar or not, he is still a Scholar.

After all, you can’t take it seriously when someone says they don’t care.

Wu was a magnanimous person.

Knowing that some would gossip about his Scholar status, he’d been self-deprecating about his Scholar status at banquets in recent days.

If I stab myself first, naturally I wouldn’t fear others using that to stab me.

It’s like if someone writes and has no lower part, if he says he is a eunuch with no lower part, what can you do to him?

Since Inspector Wu had spoken, Xu Qing of course could only accept the command. He didn’t rush to produce a poem but mused for a while before slowly starting:

"Peaches can bloom purple, apricots can turn red, fearful of the late wind with face covered in dust;

Nothing compares to the bottom of Luofu Mountain Stream, a solitary branch, cold and clear under the bright moon."

"Brilliant!"

Everyone sincerely exclaimed in applause.

This poem was no ordinary piece, and with the Magistrate’s and Academician Zhou’s poems as foils, it appeared even more ethereal and transcendent.

Also, within the lines of the poem, there was plenty of flattery for Inspector Wu; the flattery was unmatched.

For instance, the phrase "Peaches can bloom purple," referred to the nobles born of privilege, wasn’t this an indirect reference to nobles like Marquis Wuding?

Look how they flourish in red and purple, but in reality, they are nothing more than beings covered in worldly dust, weak and trembling in the sightly cold evening wind.

The bottom of Luofu Mountain Stream referred to Inspector Wu’s upbringing from a poor family. What of it? A solitary branch, cold and clear under the bright moon. How lofty and proud, untainted by the mundane world.

And this line, used to describe beauty, was also quite fitting.

Su Lianqing, coming from the lowly and humble origins of the Imperial Music Bureau, wasn’t hindered from being a solitary branch, cold and clear under the bright moon.

The entire poem, without a single mention of plum blossoms or beauty, praised them to the fullest.

Elder Fang, who came to enjoy the banquet, his muddy eyes flickered with clarity as he looked at Xu Qing. Although initially unconcerned with the Young Scholar from Jiangning Prefecture, considering Elder Fang himself had seen many ups and downs in his official career, even working with a Grand Secretary who was a top Scholar, the young figure now reminded him of another talented young man from many years ago.

Looking back, that was... nearly fifty years ago.

He still didn’t say anything, though. The older one gets, the less one does, the fewer mistakes. Being a mascot is enough; no need to overthink.

Uttering myriad words is not as good as silence. This was his secret for retiring intact from the political arena.

As for the merits he had earned in the past, those who remember will remember, and those who forget, will still forget.

In the end, what truly moved him about Xu Qing was not his talent, but the fact that he... was still a youth.