Great Zhou Wensheng

Chapter 162, "The Magpie Bridge Fairy - The Delicate Clouds Weave Clever Patterns - A Gift to Xue Lingqi"!
"Jiang Sima—"

Wang Su suddenly slammed his hand on the table, slamming down his wine cup. The amber-colored wine splashed onto the table, appearing shockingly like bloodstains in the candlelight.

His hawk-like eyes were fixed on Jiang Xingzhou's scarlet official robe, and he said, word by word:

"Today is the Qixi Festival literary gathering. In the ten prefectures and one hundred counties of Jiangnan, from the top two Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations) to the newly appointed Juren (successful candidates in the provincial imperial examinations), everyone has already wielded their brushes."

"You alone, the top scholar in the Jiangnan provincial examination, have not written a single word. Doesn't this greatly disappoint the eager minds of all the learned scholars present?!"

Wang Su suddenly raised his hand and pointed at the guests in the hall, the gold talisman in his sleeve clanging loudly:
The tea lid between his fingers twitched, and the smile beneath his silver beard deepened.

Xie Yuheng slammed his folding fan shut, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes—

The two elders spoke in unison, each word laced with hidden meaning, clearly trying to force Jiang Xingzhou to put pen to paper!

anyway,

They absolutely must get him to make a move tonight!
If his literary talent remains unchanged, then so be it;

But if he truly runs out of ideas and writes a mediocre piece that barely qualifies as "outstanding" or even "below the county level,"...
Then the name of the "Four Great Talents of Jiangnan" will probably be ruined from now on!
Jiang Xingzhou fell silent, his expression seemingly strange.

He spread a sheet of white paper on the table, lowered his eyes and stared at the Xuan paper. His fingertips hovered over the wolf-hair brush but he hesitated to put pen to paper. His fingers trembled slightly as he fell into deep thought once again.

The candlelight in the hall flickered, casting an indistinct shadow over his features.

The room fell silent.

Everyone craned their necks to watch, and all were astonished.

—Jiang Sima, who used to wield his brush with unrestrained talent and whose inspiration flowed like a spring, could not even utter a single word at this moment.
Judging from this situation, it seems that... it really is depleted?

In the past, Jiang Xingzhou was always quick to write, not to mention easily writing an article of [Dafu] level or higher, even three or five articles were no problem.

"How strange! What's going on?"

During the scholars' gathering, Tang Yanqing covered his lips with his sleeve and whispered, "In the past, Brother Jiang could compose [Mingzhou] essays in the blink of an eye. How could this be today?"

"Could it be that he really is the one who frequents the pleasure boats of the Qinhuai River every night, ruined by wine, women, and rouge?"

Xu Canming's expression changed.

Everyone whispered.

Jiang Xingzhou looked so hesitant.
The young masters of the Twelve Families of Jinling exchanged glances, their conviction growing stronger. There was definitely something wrong, and a sneer crept onto their lips—it seemed that the title of "Number One Talent in Jiangnan" was going to be lost tonight!
At this moment, the beaded curtain was suddenly rolled up, and a fragrant breeze wafted in.

After performing the "Cowherd and Weaver Girl" dance, the courtesan Su Xiaoxiao gracefully entered the painted boat Xiefang. With her sleeves fluttering, she bowed to the governor and received her reward.

She looked up, about to express her gratitude, but saw that Jiang Xingzhou had a sheet of white paper on his desk, and a wolf-hair brush in his hand, suspended in mid-air.

Some scholars even whispered among themselves, seemingly implying something.

"Young Master Jiang"

Her slender fingers suddenly gripped the hem of her skirt, and her almond-shaped eyes instantly filled with tears.

Is it all her fault?
Was she the one who harmed Young Master Jiang?
Last night on the pleasure boat, she insisted that Jiang Sima guide her through the musical score.

He smiled then, re-calibrating the musical scales for her, and only left when dawn broke this morning.
A single tear splashed onto her embroidered shoe with a "plop".

If she had known earlier that it would implicate Jiang Lang and lead to his current creative block, she would rather... rather play the wrong tune forever!

"Since ancient times, many people have written poems on the theme of Qixi Festival, but it is not easy to come up with one that is original."

This question requires considerable thought; Jiang Sima will likely need another half an incense stick's time to ponder it!

Du Jingchen suddenly clapped his hands and laughed, his wide sleeves fluttering as his powerful voice resounded like an ancient bell: "Gentlemen, if this Qixi Literary Gathering only judges articles and awards a Qixi Literary Champion title, wouldn't that be boring? I have a suggestion, how about adding some extras?"

Upon hearing this, Wei Guanlan's eyes flashed with a sharp light, and he suddenly clapped his hands and laughed loudly, his voice echoing throughout the painted boat:

"Excellent! My official residence has a [yin-yang fish] ancient inkstone in its collection. Today, I will use it as a prize for the literary champion!"

With a flick of his sleeve, he shouted, "Head sergeant Wang, quickly fetch the sandalwood box from my study!"

"Follow orders!!"

Wang Bantou moved with lightning speed, and in the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, he brought back a treasure box carved with dragons.

Wei Guanlan tapped the golden lock on the box three times with his fingertips, producing a clear "click" sound.

Wow!
The moment the box was opened, the room was filled with fragrance.

A jade inkstone lies quietly in the brocade, its inkwell naturally forming the shape of a tai chi symbol.

Wei Guanlan slowly ground ink with water from the Heavenly Spring, and suddenly saw the clear and turbid ink in the inkwell separate.

Soon, one could see the ink pool...
A fish in ink wash painting leaps out of the murky ink, its scales as black as night.
A fish that transforms into clear water appears from the clear waves, its entire body as clear and lustrous as jade.

These two ink-wash fish, swimming tail to tail in the ink pool, exude talent and are truly amazing!

The two fish chased each other, drawing mysterious trajectories in the inkstone, which caused the pendants on the waists of the talented scholars to jingle and the poems on the desks to move without wind!
wow——

The room erupted in uproar, and everyone's expression changed.

"[Yin-Yang Fish] Wenbao?!"

"This is a top-grade Taoist literary treasure that has been passed down from the pre-Qin period! Legend has it that it can harmonize Yin and Yang, generate its own talent, and greatly reduce the amount of talent that scholars need to expend when writing articles!"

The expressions on everyone's faces changed drastically, and even their breathing became rapid.

Tang Yanqing snapped her folding fan shut, her eyes widening in surprise.

Xie Qihe suddenly stood up, his eyes filled with greed.

The young masters of the twelve noble families of Jinling had already left their seats and gathered around, their eyes filled with infatuation.

"Do any of you gentlemen still have the leisure to add some more festivities as a congratulatory gift for the champion?"

The governor stroked his beard and smiled, his gaze sweeping over the crowd.

Du Jingchen took out a purple jade brush from his sleeve. The brush was carved with phoenix patterns and had a faint shimmering light. "This 'Phoenix Seeking Its Mate' brush of mine was a literary treasure bestowed upon a Jinshi (successful candidate in the highest imperial examination) by the emperor. Today happens to be the Qixi Festival, so I'll add it as a bonus."

As soon as he finished speaking, the scholars in the audience responded enthusiastically—

Zhou Dunshi, the chief editor of "Jiangnan Elegant Gathering", took out a green jade inkstone, while Master Pei Jingyi presented a rare copy of a previous dynasty's manuscript. Both were literary treasures of the Jinshi level, and although not rare, they were still quite valuable.

Wang Su and Xie Yuheng exchanged a glance, thinking to themselves: Even if the top prize doesn't go to the Wang and Xie families, it will still be awarded to other scholars. We must not let others underestimate the prestige of the Wang and Xie families.

The two gritted their teeth and each took out a treasured literary item, placing it on the table.

Upon seeing this, all the scholars and officials present held their breath, their eyes filled with undisguised envy.

Seven or eight literary treasures were already displayed on the table, some jade brushes shining brightly, others ancient inkstones gleaming, all rare items.

Wang Su lightly waved his folding fan, looking at Jiang Xingzhou with a half-smile: "Jiang Sima, with so many literary treasures as prizes, is it enough for you to pay for your writing?"

If this is not enough to entice Jiang Xingzhou to take action, then perhaps the rumors are true.

Jiang Xingzhou sighed silently.

The reason he hesitated and did not start writing was not because he had run out of ideas, but because his beloved was far away in a foreign land, and he could not put pen to paper for this poem for the Qixi Festival.
The poem by Qin Guan that once amazed China for a thousand years, written for the Qixi Festival, was originally intended to be presented to Xue Lingqi in person.

Only this poem could express his longing.

"Oh~!"

"Enough! I will stay here and send my longing from afar!"

A night wind suddenly rose outside the painted boat, blowing through the curtains and causing his wide sleeves to flutter like crane wings, his face as cold as moonlight.

Under the watchful eyes of everyone, he lowered his head and stared at the remaining wine in his cup.

In the amber-colored wine, the lights of the painted boats were reflected—and it seemed to transform into the flickering lamp that accompanied him through his five years of studying in Jiangyin.

Jiang Xingzhou's wide sleeves fell down, and his fingertips tapped three clear sounds on the table.

When I looked up again, it seemed as if a galaxy was pouring down in my eyes—

He wielded the purple brush, his strokes as swift as a startled swan—

"The Magpie Bridge Fairy - Delicate Clouds Weaving Patterns - A Gift to Xue Lingqi"

[The delicate clouds weave patterns, the shooting stars convey sorrow, and the Milky Way stretches far and wide in secret.]

A single encounter amidst the golden autumn breeze and jade dew surpasses countless joys in the mortal world.
In the first half of the poem, as the brushstrokes come to a close, a clear and melodious phoenix cry is suddenly heard.

But then, a flash of golden light appeared on the paper, and talent burst forth from the painted boat like a rainbow.

In an instant—the golden wind condensed into jade dew, wispy clouds unfurled, shooting stars swirled, and a silver river of talent, from the scrolls on his desk, pierced through the dome of the painted boat and soared straight into the nine heavens.

"A single encounter in the golden autumn breeze and dewy moonlight surpasses countless meetings in the mortal world."

Upon hearing this, Wang Yong of the Jinling Wang clan looked at the poem on Jiang Xingzhou's desk, his expression changed drastically, and the hand holding the fan began to tremble uncontrollably.

With Jiang Xingzhou's poem, his own poem "Star Bridge - Qixi Festival"—[A thousand lotus lanterns illuminate the Milky Way, half the city ablaze with fireworks, half a city a poem!]—is immediately recognizable.
In an instant, it paled in comparison, like a firefly compared to the bright moon, or dust compared to a celestial palace.

This sentence, with its profound emotion and far-reaching imagery, is truly breathtaking!
This half-stanza alone already reveals the pinnacle of Mingzhou's grandeur!
"Surpassing countless others in the mortal world."

His Qixi Festival poem, which he had painstakingly crafted over the past year, vanished in an instant before this poem, "The Magpie Bridge Fairy: Delicate Clouds Weaving Patterns - A Gift to Xue Lingqi".

On a painted boat in Suzhou, Tang Yanqing stood by the railing, facing Xu Canming on a painted boat in Yangzhou across the water.

The two looked at each other and simultaneously let out a long sigh of relief.

Jiang Xingzhou truly deserves the title of the greatest scholar in Jiangnan!

His talent was so great,
Like a lone moon soaring in the sky, it proudly overlooks countless fireflies.

He always stood above all the scholars.

Such crushing,

It made them feel both bitter and inexplicably at ease.

"Brother Tang, it's laughable."

Xu Canming shook his head and smiled wryly, "To be so thoroughly outshone by Brother Jiang's poems and essays, I actually feel a little bit of pleasure?"

Tang Yanqing looked up at the sky, her eyes reflecting the golden light, and sighed, "To witness such stunning poetry in this life is the greatest fortune of our lives! Even if we are trampled into the dust..."

He suddenly smiled and said, "It's like drinking fine wine and dew, sweet as honey."

"Indeed! If it weren't for Brother Jiang..."

Xu Canming sighed softly, "In this world, who can write such an amazing article? We are like frogs in a well, taking pride in our little poems about fireflies all our lives."

Jiang Xingzhou remained calm, dipped his purple brush in thick ink again, and continued writing the second half of the poem—

He picked up his pen and wrote half a poem.
"[Tender feelings like water, a beautiful time like a dream, how can I bear to look back on the road to the Magpie Bridge.]"

If love between two people is destined to last, why should they be together every day and night?

in an instant,
Thousands of magpies suddenly appeared in the night sky over Nanjing.

Their wings gleam, weaving together to form a dazzling magpie bridge spanning the Jiangnan region.
It winds its way from the top of Jinling City, heading straight towards Jiangyin.

These strange phenomena—

The sky canopy actually spans most of the ten prefectures of Jiangnan Circuit.

It completely obscures the starlight and moonlight!
Once the second half of the poem is performed,
"boom--!"

All thirty-six pleasure boats on the Qinhuai River trembled simultaneously.

All the scholars and those who had passed the imperial examinations were shocked and turned pale. They all rose from their seats and looked out of the painted boat's windows.

Xie Qihe held a jade cup and recited in a trembling voice: "'If love between two people is destined to last, why should they be together every day and night?'—This line is too stunning!"

His eyes welled up with tears, and his heart was filled with sorrow.

Jiang Xingzhou's poems and essays are truly excellent!

Good.

Every single one of them filled him with despair—a poem or essay written casually by Jiang Xingzhou was, to him, a towering peak of poetry that he could never surpass in his lifetime.

Good.

He often secretly copied Jiang Xingzhou's poems and essays late at night, every single piece and every line, trying to find the secrets and techniques behind them.
Unfortunately, Jiang Xingzhou's poems and essays are always unrestrained and imaginative, like a startled swan appearing in the world, with absolutely no discernible pattern.

"Young Master Jiang's poem for the Qixi Festival must have been written by a celestial being."

Su Xiaoxiao gazed intently at the starry sky, her beautiful eyes reflecting the Magpie Bridge that spanned the night sky. Her lips were slightly pursed, and her fingertips unconsciously clenched her handkerchief.

—The Magpie Bridge spans more than just the night sky.

It has probably been imprinted in the dreams of countless young women and married women in Jiangnan.

After tonight,

I fear that within the red candlelight and gauze curtains of the entire Jiangnan region, there will be countless more groans of tossing and turning.

Zhouzhuang Town.

A cold night.

A lone lamp flickered in front of the paper window, reflecting Gu Zhimian's pale face.

After teaching the students during the day, he was now studying diligently at night—he was going to the capital next year to take the imperial examination. Although his chances of passing were slim, he still had to do his best.

This is his only chance to defy fate.

While everyone else was celebrating Qixi Festival, he remained alone in his dormitory, studying diligently.

On his desk, the edges of a thick volume of "Collected Annotations on the Four Books" were worn rough, and the ink stains were deeply seeped into the wood grain.

"Snapped!"

The pen nib suddenly broke.

He looked up abruptly and saw the night sky outside the window suddenly brighten—

Millions of magpies flapped their wings, creating a starry magpie bridge across the sky from Nanjing to Jiangyin!
"boom!"

The bamboo chair overturned, and Gu Zhimian stumbled and fell into the courtyard in shock, looking up at the sky.

The autumn wind blew away the cloth covering his hair, but it could not dispel the dazzling brilliance that stretched across the night sky.

Today is Qixi Festival!
Could this be Brother Jiang's writing? Is this the pinnacle of Qixi Festival poetry and prose?

Two streams of tears flowed down his face as he trembled and stretched out his hands, as if to catch the falling starlight.

The sleeves of the poor scholar fluttered in the wind, but they could not conceal the blazing fire burning in his eyes.

Brother Jiang!
He remains as outstanding as ever, as unparalleled in Jiangnan!

Even if I am but a firefly, I will strive to keep up with his pace!

Gu Zhimian wiped away the tears from the corners of his eyes, resolutely stepped into his humble abode, and continued to bury himself in his studies.

The main painted boats on the Qinhuai River.

"boom--"

The jade belt hooks of several Hanlin scholars trembled in unison, and the wine in the golden goblets on the table moved without any wind.

All the Hanlin scholars were horrified.

Such a magnificent spectacle, spanning the entire starry sky of Gangnam Province, is almost unbelievable.

A volume of "Jiangnan Elegant Gathering" fell to the ground with a "thud," splashing up a three-foot-high halo of silver candlelight.

"The lineage of Qixi poetry, from the Nineteen Ancient Poems to the present day—"

Zhou Dunshi, the old scholar, his powerful voice cleaved through the room's astonishment, his finger pointing directly to the Magpie Bridge spanning the Milky Way outside the window:

"They are all trapped by the legend of the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl, the sorrow of meeting only once a year, the resentment of more separation than meeting!"

The entire assembly of people in purple robes and jade tablets suddenly fell silent.

Zhou Dunshi rasped, his white beard trembling violently, "But this poem alone says, 'Love between two people lasts forever, regardless of day or night'? This transforms a thousand years of sorrow into something magical, making it an eternal masterpiece!"

"The first stanza describes the preciousness of a chance encounter amidst the golden autumn breeze and jade dew, while the second stanza expresses the reluctance to part. Yet, the entire poem is devoid of any sense of despondency; it is filled with profound and heartfelt emotion!"

"Upon the utterance of this phrase—"

"From this day forward, let all scholars compose poems for the Qixi Festival."

"All must avoid this poem, 'The Magpie Bridge Fairy: The Delicate Clouds Weave Patterns - A Gift to Xue Lingqi,' for a thousand miles of bright light!"

(End of this chapter)