In Zhao Ying's anticipation, the day of Shen Jing's marriage finally arrived.
Early in the morning, Zhao Ying led a procession, making a lot of noise, and rushed towards Shen Jing's dilapidated courtyard.
“Aren’t we being a bit too much?”
In the carriage, Song Lianxin frowned, looking at the inexplicably excited Zhao Ying.
“Too much?”
Zhao Ying turned his head to look at Song Lianxin, “Could it be that you still… for him…”
“What are you saying!”
Song Lianxin lightly patted Zhao Ying once, pouting, “What I mean is, what is our status, and what is Shen Jing’s status? For us to go and watch Shen Jing make a fool of himself, it’s a bit beneath us!”
In their eyes, the current Shen Jing was just an ant.
And they, however, were fierce tigers.
For a fierce tiger to specifically go and watch an ant make a fool of itself, if word got out, it would severely damage their reputation.
“So that’s it!”
Zhao Ying instantly smiled, reaching out to embrace Song Lianxin’s waist, “This dog of a thing dared to make me lose face in public; if I don’t properly humiliate him, I really won’t feel at ease!”
Thinking of the Qin She (Music House) incident, Zhao Ying was furious.
In this Luochuan Prefecture, who didn't give Zhao Ying some face?
Yet, Shen Jing, this dog of a thing, made him lose all face at the Qin She (Music House).
Although the matter had passed two days ago, the anger in his heart had never subsided.
Shen Jing was indeed an ant.
To deal with such an ant, he didn’t need to act personally.
He had already sent people to inform the Wang family what to do.
He just wanted to see this ant’s desperate and helpless appearance!
Making this ant kneel before him, kowtowing for help, would also allow him to vent his pent-up anger!
“Alright then!”
Song Lianxin also didn’t want to spoil Zhao Ying’s mood, “However, once we get there, you must restrain yourself! Shen Jing might not care about his reputation, but we still need to care about ours.”
“Don’t worry, I know what I’m doing!”
Zhao Ying chuckled, then kissed Song Lianxin on the cheek, which earned him a playful scolding from her.
Just as the two were engrossed in their affection in the carriage, exclamations suddenly reached their ears.
Curious, Zhao Ying lifted the carriage curtain and peered outside.
Upon seeing this, he discovered that a large crowd had gathered outside the poetry society ahead.
Two people were surrounded by the crowd, chatting and laughing with everyone.
One of them, he recognized, was named Xie Yu.
Xie Yu’s family was quite wealthy, owning several hundred acres of fertile land.
But Xie Yu was clearly not cut out for studying; he was already over twenty, hadn't even passed the imperial examination for a scholar, and spent his days trying to ingratiate himself with their group of literati and refined scholars.
Not only did he look down on Xie Yu, but many people in their circle also did.
What was going on today?
These people were so enthusiastic towards this good-for-nothing, who was even worse than Shen Jing.
Just as Zhao Ying was secretly wondering, the people gathered outside the poetry society also saw Zhao Ying in the carriage.
“Zhao Titled Scholar!”
“Greetings, Zhao Titled Scholar.”
Everyone greeted Zhao Ying.
Zhao Ying stopped the carriage, slowly stepped down, and slightly cupped his hands to the crowd: “What are you all doing?”
Seeing that Zhao Ying seemed unaware, someone immediately told him: “Zhao Titled Scholar, you don’t know yet? Yesterday, Brother Xie composed an excellent work in this poetry society, and it has already been selected into the First Class of Collection A…”
What?
Zhao Ying’s face twitched violently.
Something written by Xie Yu, could it enter the First Class of Collection A of the poetry society?
He was also a regular at this poetry society, so he naturally knew the significance of the First Class of Collection A.
These poetry societies would publish poetry collections every three years, and poems selected for the First Class of Collection A were bound to be published and circulated to the world!
As Huaizhou's foremost talent, he only had one poem selected for the First Class of Collection A of the poetry society!
What was Xie Yu?
Did the poems he wrote deserve to be included in the First Class of Collection A?
“The appreciation standards of this poetry society are really getting worse and worse!”
Zhao Ying made no secret of his disdain for Xie Yu, scoffing, “Any random person’s poems can now be selected for the First Class of Collection A of the poetry society!”
Hearing Zhao Ying’s contemptuous words, Xie Yu, who had finally managed to gain some attention, instantly became displeased.
But before he could speak, someone else spoke for him, “Zhao Titled Scholar, the poem Brother Xie wrote yesterday is absolutely a rare masterpiece! Even if it were placed in a poetry society in the capital, I’m afraid it could also be selected for the First Class of Collection A!”
“Exactly, exactly, Brother Xie’s poem has a profound artistic conception, is easy to recite, and its selection into the First Class of Collection A is absolutely well-deserved!” others echoed.
“Oh, what is it?”
Zhao Ying sneered, “Since everyone says so, I must appreciate Brother Xie’s great work today!”
With that, Zhao Ying strode into the poetry society.
Although it was still early, there were already quite a few people in the poetry society.
Xie Yu’s great work was even framed and hung side by side with his own great work.
Even before reading the content of Xie Yu’s poem, Zhao Ying was already extremely displeased.
How could some trash written by a good-for-nothing be hung side by side with his own masterpiece?
Zhao Ying cursed inwardly, then quickly scanned Xie Yu’s poem.
Clouds think of clothes, flowers think of faces; the spring breeze brushes the railing, and the dew is thick.
If not seen on the peak of Mount Qunyu, we would meet under the moon on Yao Terrace.
Good poem!
Zhao Ying was suddenly startled.
Damn it!
The poem written by this good-for-nothing was actually better than his own masterpiece?
Copied!
It must have been copied!
With the little ink in Xie Yu’s belly, he absolutely could not write such a masterpiece!
Xie Yu chuckled as he came to Zhao Ying’s side, “Yesterday I heard that Shen Jing composed half an ‘ode to the goddess of the luo river,’ greatly praising Miss Su, the foremost beauty of our Luochuan Prefecture. I was inspired and wrote this poem. What does Zhao Titled Scholar think?”
ode to the goddess of the luo river?
Zhao Ying’s heart twitched violently.
He got angry just thinking about those three words now.
He had stayed home yesterday, pondering all day, and finally managed to continue a few lines, but even dogs shook their heads at them!
“The poem is indeed a good poem.”
Zhao Ying suppressed the urge to curse, “However, is this poem really by Brother Xie?”
When questioned by Zhao Ying, Xie Yu immediately felt extremely guilty.
However, he was currently in the spotlight, so he certainly couldn't admit that he had plagiarized!
Suddenly, Xie Yu remembered what the man who sold him the poem had told him yesterday.
“Whether this poem is by me or not, it doesn’t matter.”
Xie Yu looked at Zhao Ying with a chuckle, “I happen to have something today I’d like to ask Zhao Titled Scholar for help with.”
“What is it?”
Zhao Ying asked casually.
Xie Yu sighed, “This morning, I suddenly had an inspiration and wrote half a poem, but alas, my literary talent is limited, and I really can’t write the second half! Zhao Titled Scholar is the foremost talent of Huaizhou, so I would like to ask Zhao Titled Scholar to help me complete it.”
Before Zhao Ying could agree, Xie Yu began to recite the poem, swaying his head.
“Last night’s stars, last night’s wind, west of the painted building, east of the cassia hall.”
“Though without phoenix wings to fly together, our hearts are connected by a subtle understanding.”
Listening to the poem Xie Yu recited, everyone couldn't help but be surprised.
“Good poem!”
“This work is absolutely no less than Brother Xie’s great work from yesterday!”
“What a pity, it doesn’t have a second half!”
“Even without the second half, this poem absolutely deserves to be selected for the First Class of Collection A!”
Everyone discussed animatedly, then all cast admiring glances at Xie Yu.
Zhao Ying’s face twitched slightly, and his molars were almost ground to dust.
Go to hell!
He hadn't even finished the 'ode to the goddess of the luo river', and now he was being asked to complete another poem today?
This poem…
He certainly wouldn't be able to complete it anytime soon.
Bastard!
He was clearly being humiliated in public!
Zhao Ying’s face alternated between green and white, but he couldn't flare up, only clearing his throat twice to cover his embarrassment, “I have important matters today, you should let those present help you complete it!”
Having said that, Zhao Ying immediately walked out as if fleeing.
Watching Zhao Ying flee in disarray, Xie Yu couldn't help but secretly feel lucky.
Thankfully, that gentleman was incredibly resourceful; otherwise, he would have made a fool of himself today.
“Our Huaizhou’s foremost talent isn’t so great after all!”
“If your father were the Huaizhou Prefect, you’d be Huaizhou’s foremost talent too!”
“That’s true, haha…”
Everyone whispered again, instantly feeling that Zhao Ying, the foremost talent of Huaizhou, was merely famous in name only.
What foremost talent of Huaizhou!
He couldn't complete the 'ode to the goddess of the luo river', nor could he complete the poem!
It's quite possible that someone leaked the exam questions to him, which is how he managed to become a Titled Scholar!