Da Ming: Father, step aside, I'll be the prime minister!

Chapter 360 A Quatrain on the Lantern Festival! Zhang Yunxiu, you deserve to die!

"The lights in front of the twelfth floor are like fire, and the moon outside Siping Street is like frost."

These two sentences vividly depict a warm and lively scene of the Lantern Festival, as if leaping off the page and appearing before everyone's eyes.

Everyone present turned their attention to Zhang Yunxiu, looking at his tall figure and handsome face, and couldn't help but feel a little emotional.

Young people are full of vigor and vitality; shouldn't they be like this?
Such verses, paired with today's scene, how could one not be captivated?

Especially for Hosokawa Iya, she originally had some expectations and wanted to see what kind of poems Zhang Yunxiu could produce.

To her utter surprise, in just a short time, the poems recited by Zhang Yunxiu exceeded her original expectations.

Lord Shiyuan is not only accomplished in miscellaneous studies and knowledgeable in astronomy and geography, but also has some research in poetry.

So, in the past, Lord Shiyuan was always hiding his talents, wasn't he?

Young people are often ambitious and competitive, and they often crave respect and admiration. Yet, he was able to be so patient and restrained.

For a moment, Hosokawa Iya was somewhat lost in thought again. She even felt that being able to fulfill her father's instructions was not a task, but rather a blessing.

Yu Shenxing, who was standing in the same row, was also so surprised that he could hardly contain himself. If he hadn't been standing in front of the Wanli Emperor, he would have definitely shouted and yelled.

But he didn't. He just stood there blankly, sweat beading on his forehead on the city wall in the first month of the lunar year.

Is Zhang Shiyuan really this terrifying?
This seven-character quatrain is perfect in its tonal patterns and rhymes, truly a work of art!

Wasn't Zhang Shiyuan known for his lack of poetic talent?

Could it have been done by someone else?

However, Yu Shenxing quickly rejected this idea. How could someone with such talent and learning be willing to act as a "ghostwriter" for Zhang Yunxiu?
The circle of literati in the capital was not large, and Yu Shenxing knew most of them, even those who had joined the Western Hills.

Even among all of Zhang Yunxiu's men, not a single talented scholar could write such a poem!
Yu Shenxing looked at Zhang Yunxiu with even more vigilance and fear, unsure of how many tricks the other party had up his sleeve.

All he knew was that his eagerness to impress the emperor and his desire to rise above the Zhang family was a grave mistake!
For Zhang Juzheng, there was absolutely no need to pay attention to an unknown nobody like Yu Shenxing.

His gaze remained fixed on Zhang Yunxiu, and he let out a long breath, his eyes becoming even more profound as he looked at his young son.

Shen Shixing, standing to the side, shook his head and sighed.

"The most exquisite aspect of the seven-character quatrain lies in the order of its metrical rules. The so-called 'oblique beginning and level ending' should make the reader feel the rhythm and cadence, without any sense of forced rhyme. Only then can it be considered a masterpiece of regulated poetry!"

He had been somewhat prepared beforehand, but he still found the poem to be wonderful, perfectly capturing the mood and situation of the day.

The only thing lacking is the imagery of "all nations paying tribute," and everyone knows why.

Among the crowd, some couldn't help but sigh.

"This poem does not deliberately seek 'strange lines' or 'obscure images,' but strictly adheres to the rules of prosody. It uses images of fine horses, lanterns, and the moon, and its lively and vivid style achieves simplicity over complexity. I am far inferior to it!"

Everyone turned to look, and it was none other than Xu Guangqi who was speaking.
Xu Guangqi didn't care about other people's opinions. He came to this poetry gathering today not only to try his luck by meeting the emperor, but also to find an opportunity to meet Zhang Yunxiu.

He was proficient in military affairs, engineering, and agriculture in Xishan, and was clearly more interested in these things than in becoming an official.

His previous desire to study under the Western missionary Janella was precisely to find the true essence of miscellaneous knowledge from Western learning.

But after visiting Xishan, Xu Guangqi realized that he had gone in the wrong direction.

If you want to find the path of "science", going to the West is not a shortcut; going to the Western Hills is the real place of prosperity and development!

Compared to everyone's surprise, Zhang Yunxiu breathed a long sigh of relief.

Copying poems from the Ming and Qing dynasties was far more difficult than inventing science. Throughout the hundreds of years of Ming and Qing history, the number of poems that can be called masterpieces is extremely limited.

It also especially needs to have the imagery of the Lantern Festival.

Fortunately, even though poetry declined after the Ming and Qing dynasties, we can still find a few good poems from hundreds of years of history.

This poem by Yao Yuanzhi, "Ode to the Lantern Festival," may not be as famous as some of the Tang and Song dynasty poems, but it is still a fine work, and reciting it here today is more than enough.

Did you write this poem?

After hearing the entire poem, Emperor Wanli nearly fell off his chair. He had thought that Zhang Yunxiu might have been prepared, but he hadn't expected him to be so well-prepared.

If it were someone else, the emperor would not only directly appoint them as the "top scholar," but would also find an opportunity to let them enter officialdom and be given important responsibilities.

But it had to be Zhang Shiyuan! How could it be Zhang Shiyuan! What makes him worthy of writing such beautiful poetry!
The Wanli Emperor's gritted teeth suggested he was unable to accept reality.

After all, in his impression, Zhang Yunxiu was indeed a master in miscellaneous studies.

But how can one be so outstanding in poetry and literature?
It's outrageous! We're all classmates and brothers, so why do you get to stand out like this?!
The Wanli Emperor had a certain air about him, like a poor guy who suddenly became rich after being poor all the time.

It's not that I don't want him to do well, it's just that I feel—what makes this kid so special?
The emperor wouldn't casually ask about other people, but Zhang Yunxiu didn't care.

The Wanli Emperor leaned forward slightly and spoke with a suspicious look in his eyes.

"Shiyuan, tell me, where did this poem come from?"

Zhang Yunxiu's eyes showed a hint of helplessness; the fat emperor seemed to be having a big reaction.

This poem was indeed not written by him, but the original author was almost a hundred years away from being born.

He spread his hands and smiled as he explained.

"Your Majesty has discerning eyes; this poem was indeed not written by me."

"That's good." Emperor Wanli let out a long breath, seemingly much more at ease.

But Zhang Yunxiu then said, "When I was three years old, I met a wandering old Taoist priest at my doorstep and heard this from him. Today I have come to offer this as a token of my apology, and I hope Your Majesty will forgive me."

Emperor Wanli's round, chubby face immediately scrunched up, and he said with some annoyance.

"Zhang Shiyuan! You're putting on an act again! All you do is pretend to be a wandering Taoist priest. How come I don't encounter wandering Taoist priests every day?"

Zhang Yunxiu lied without batting an eye, speaking leisurely.

"Your Majesty is in the Forbidden City, so the wandering Taoist priest naturally dares not enter. However, I often encounter him at my doorstep, every few days."

If Your Majesty truly has any doubts, you may send spies from the Eastern Depot to investigate. I dare to guarantee with my own life that this poem is being made public for the first time today.

"you!"

The little fat emperor was furious. This kid had put on a show of divine power in front of everyone, and shamelessly called himself a "wandering Taoist priest." It was absolutely infuriating.

"Cough cough!"

Yu Youding, the Minister of Rites, noticed that Emperor Wanli was somewhat "furious and embarrassed," so he stepped in to smooth things over.

"Your Majesty, Zhang Yunxiu's poem is indeed exquisite, but today we not only have Zhang Yunxiu here, but also Envoy Hosokawa and this Young Master Liu. Please examine them carefully before making a decision." Emperor Wanli glared and exhaled heavily, thinking he would settle accounts with Zhang Yunxiu later, and turned his gaze to the other two.

Hosokawa Iya, dressed in a ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), made no attempt to conceal her identity as a woman.

The "Liu Yongning" was trying to hide her identity, but after a few disguises, anyone with eyes could tell that she was a woman.

If we really want to be serious, punishing this person for deceiving the emperor wouldn't be excessive.

However, Emperor Wanli knew the origin of "Liu Yongning" and also wanted to see what would happen.

His gaze lingered between the two women for a moment before finally settling on Hosokawa Iya, and he slowly began to speak.

"Envoy Hosokawa, with Zhang Shiyuan's masterpiece preceding you, and with your reputation for talent, you must not embarrass yourself. If you have any excellent works to share today, please do not hesitate to present them."

Hosokawa Iya slowly stepped forward, bowed respectfully to the Wanli Emperor, and said...

"Your Majesty, I admire Lord Shiyuan's poem so much that I have lost all desire to compete. I am completely convinced of my defeat."

Once this poem was released, it was practically a done deal. No matter how talented Hosokawa I was, how much preparation he made, or how much money he spent, he couldn't buy a poem titled "Ode to the Lantern Festival"!

Hosokawa Iya, being well-versed in poetry, was somewhat aware of this, and even felt a sense of relief about it.

Emperor Wanli, however, remained amused and shook his head, saying...

"Envoy Hosokawa, please don't underestimate yourself. As the saying goes, a red flower needs green leaves to complement it. If the green leaves steal the show and become the head of the table, can't the red flower at least play a supporting role? Don't you think so?"

The emperor's words seemed to have a hidden meaning, yet they also seemed to be merely encouragement.

Hosokawa Iya blushed immediately. After thinking for a moment, a bold idea popped into her head.

She bowed to the Wanli Emperor again and said, "Since Your Majesty has said so, then I do have some ideas, but the original verses are no longer suitable."

"Oh?" The Wanli Emperor became interested. "The Hosokawa envoy actually wants to compose a poem on the spot? Very well! If he does a good job, I will not hesitate to reward him!"

Hosokawa Iya bowed and explained, "However, please forgive my humble talent, Your Majesty, for I am not capable of composing a seven-character quatrain; at most, it is only half a poem."

The Wanli Emperor was quite tolerant, waving his hand and saying...

"It is already difficult to compose a poem on the spot. Today, we are just trying to have some fun. Envoy Hosokawa, please feel free to improvise."

Today's poetry gathering wasn't supposed to be too formal, otherwise many of the poems at the beginning wouldn't have been quite relevant to the topic.

Not to mention that writing is all about "revising." Without time to refine and correct, even the most talented writer will produce nothing but a pile of garbage.

Therefore, improvisation is all the more precious.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yunxiu's lips twitched slightly. The little fat emperor just loves to watch the show and is thinking of stirring things up, isn't he?

As for Hosokawa Iya, does he have other plans?

Liu Wan'er stood in the crowd, initially relieved, but now her mood tightened again.

Not long after, Hosokawa Iya stood with his hands behind his back, slowly pacing in the moonlight. Finally, he stopped and secretly glanced at Zhang Yunxiu from a very subtle angle.

Zhang Yunxiu shuddered, suddenly sensing that something was amiss.

But then Hosokawa Iya softly recited something.

"A hundred branches of fiery trees and a thousand golden slippers, the fragrant dust of precious horses never ceases. Fairies come in pairs to test the lanterns, how can they bear to part lightly with their beloved?"

Her voice was melodious, even seemingly carrying a touch of allure.

After the poem was finished, the Wanli Emperor immediately slammed his hand on the table and loudly praised it.

"Excellent! What a magnificent sight! Envoy Hosokawa truly lives up to her reputation as a woman of talent!"

Yu Youding couldn't help but sigh and say, "This poem, 'Yujie Xing,' is truly exquisite. The language is extremely elegant, perfectly highlighting the delicate and gentle nature of a woman. It also evokes the atmosphere of the Lantern Festival. It has six-tenths of the skill of Li Qingzhao from the Song Dynasty. It's a pity that it's only half a poem."

Emperor Wanli also exclaimed, "Counselor Hosokawa really couldn't think of a second half? This poem has a delicate and graceful quality, expressing a woman's feelings in a gentle and subtle way. If the whole poem could be completed, it would be a masterpiece that will be passed down through the ages."

He emphasized the word "feelings".

Hosokawa Iya lowered his head somewhat shyly and bowed.

"Your Majesty flatters me. My daughter has been pondering this poem in her heart for several months, but she has only managed to come up with half of it. It is not particularly impressive."

The Wanli Emperor paced beside the dragon throne, twisted his belt, and couldn't help but sigh.

"The woman's shy demeanor is truly moving, and only Hosokawa could compose such a poem. But I wonder if the red flower is willing, while the green leaves are indifferent?"

He couldn't help but glance at Zhang Yunxiu again.

This scene was witnessed by everyone, and today's poems could not possibly be hidden; in fact, every poem on this city gate tower would be recited by people.

Zhang Yunxiu's poem "Ode to the Lantern Festival" is indeed a masterpiece.

Hosokawa Iya's half of the poem was a bit lacking and not quite on topic, but it was still memorable.

Most importantly, the line "How can I bear to part with my beloved so easily?" perfectly matches the various speculations circulating in the capital recently regarding the relationship between the two.

When Zhang Yunxiu sang, Hosokawa Iya responded in unison. Regardless of what Zhang Yunxiu was really thinking, in the hearts of ordinary people, the two were already considered a perfect match, a talented scholar and a beautiful woman.

Is this their objective?

Zhang Yunxiu was a little embarrassed; this was an infringement on his reputation!
If I were to spread these two poems, I would be ashamed as if I had dirt on my crotch; I would either die or be left with excrement.

What's most infuriating is that a group of ministers around them were making a fuss, as if they were just watching a spectacle.

"Zhang Zhangwei is truly blessed!"

"Oh my, these young talents are so full of vigor and ambition, it reminds me of my own youth."

"A talented man and a beautiful woman are truly enviable. Zhang Zhangwei must not betray the woman's sincere heart."

"If you start something and then abandon it, then you have committed a moral transgression, and I will certainly impeach Zhang Zhangwei!"

Zhang Yunxiu glared at the group of old men who were quite sarcastic, and only then did they shut up.

When the noise subsided, he stepped forward, cupped his hands in greeting to the emperor, and said...

"Your Majesty need not be in a hurry. Isn't there still one person who hasn't composed a poem yet?"

He pointed to Liu Wan'er standing to the side and said.

"I think Young Master Liu is also very talented, and he is probably not much less talented than Envoy Hosokawa!"

(End of this chapter)