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All the noise disappeared at the same time.

All eyes turned to the source of the sound.

A scholar in white robes stood up from the crowd...

He was tall and slender with a handsome face.

Standing among this group of scholars, he was like a crane standing among chickens.

At least, in Lin Nongyue's eyes, who was hidden in the void, she truly stood out from the crowd.

He is Zhou Wenju.

He Wenxin's gaze fell on his face: "As I just said, inquiring about the Dao is a common practice in discussions of the Dao; if you have a question, then ask it!"

His expression was calm, as if he had no idea who Zhou Wenju was.

Zhou Wenju said, "What I wish to ask is... Master He's discussion today was well-prepared and performed exceptionally well, yet you still couldn't break through to the 'Great Dao Blossoms' realm. Does Master He know where the problem lies?"

This question caused a great stir in the room.

Because this question appears to be a question about the Way.

In fact, it's reopening old wounds.

Who is this person?

How dare you be so rude...

In the adjacent private room, however, both ministers' faces darkened simultaneously: "That thief has come too!"

Bai Luoshui, sitting opposite, gently waved her folding fan: "I already knew he was here, so let's just wait and see what he does!"

He remained confident and composed.

He Wenxin's calm expression stiffened for a moment: "Since you've asked such a question, you must have your own answer. Why don't you tell me your answer first?"

"My answer is rather disrespectful. I wonder if Master He possesses the magnanimity to 'remain calm when criticized and delighted when he hears the truth' in his literary pursuits?"

How is He Wenxin supposed to respond to that?

Naturally, he could only smile and say, "On the path of sainthood, seeking truth and finding joy in hearing it, and remaining calm in the face of criticism are fundamental principles. Please speak freely, young master!"

Zhou Wenju said, "As far as I know, Master He wrote hundreds of poems in his lifetime, but only three of them reached the level of 'five colors' (a high level of poetic skill). In my humble opinion, his understanding of poetry is flawed; he only has a superficial understanding of poetry, yet he forces himself to discuss it... It's like someone who can't cook teaching others how to cook, someone who doesn't know anything about farming talking about farming, or a general who has suffered many defeats teaching others military strategy. Not only is it impossible to produce anything outstanding, but it's truly laughable!"

The smile on He Wenxin's face vanished instantly, replaced by a face full of black lines.

The dozen or so literary figures in the front row simultaneously opened their half-closed eyes to listen to the teachings.

All the scholars in the room stared wide-eyed.

One word: "Fuck..."

It flowed throughout the entire venue!

In the world of philosophical discussions, when have we ever seen such a scene?

When has anyone ever exposed someone's shortcomings so thoroughly and so mercilessly?

"Ignorant brat, so audacious and arrogant! How dare you insult Master He?" The "plant" who asked the first question dropped the pretense and suddenly turned around.

Zhou Wenju smiled faintly: "I have objectively described Master He's past poems. Is there even a single inaccurate statement? If it is all true, then how can there be any insulting words? Master He just said that he was happy to hear the truth. Why, now that he has heard the truth, is he angry instead of happy?"

The shill in front of him was speechless.

But someone stepped forward and said, "Master He has written a hundred poems, three of which are considered excellent. May I ask what qualifications you have to say that Master He's poetic skills are flawed?"

Yes, writing hundreds of poems in a lifetime, with three of them winning awards, shouldn't that be irrefutable proof of his outstanding achievements?

You dare to say your expertise is flawed?

Zhou Wenju said, "I am Zhou Wenju. I have been in the industry for half a year and have written five poems and two lyrics, all of which are colorful. Do I have the right to say that Master He, who 'only wrote three colorful poems in his entire life,' has any flaws in his poetry?"

With a loud bang, the entire audience erupted in uproar!

He is Zhou Wenju!

Zhou Wenju, a master of ci poetry!

His first poem, "Let the bright moon descend the west tower," was published in less than half a year.

He has already written seven poems in seven colors.

Others are not qualified to say that He Wenxin, the master of Sancai poetry, has flaws, but he is.

Because his poetry is better than He Wenxin's!

The main character has finally arrived!

The first move was precise and ruthless, seizing He Wenxin's weakness and tearing her apart in a bloody manner under the watchful eyes of the entire city.

Another private room.

A zither.

Beside the zither, a man in purple suddenly looked up.

His gaze, peering through the curtains, was fixed firmly on Zhou Wenju's face.

Throughout the entire discussion, he rested his feet on the zither, displaying a languid expression. Only now did his gaze truly turn to the audience below the stage…

Lin Nongyue, who was hidden in the void, opened her eyes wide again.

I'm confused again.

She had just heard someone mention the name Zhou Wenju, praising him as a prodigy in poetry, and that he had opened something she knew nothing about called "the Way of Lyrics," which had left her completely bewildered for quite some time.

Then I suddenly heard something more specific...

Five poems and two lyrics, all brimming with vibrant colors!

She didn't understand what "words" meant, but she did understand "seven colors".

This is the highest realm of poetry.

Her father once captivated her mother with a poem, a colorful one, which led to her playing the "Three Variations on Plum Blossoms Under the Moon." Her mother was won over, yet she had no regrets—that was the allure of the colorful poem.

The person I met along the way now claims to have written seven poems in seven colors.

Why is no one refuting this?

Is it true?

is it possible?

He Wenxin's face darkened, and after taking a deep breath, he finally spoke: "In my whole life, I have been devoted to the study of poetry, and have had no time to compose poems about the wind and moon. I am sorry that you have made me laugh! Fortunately, the sages are enlightened and the wise men are wise, and a consensus has been reached that the study of poetry is more important than writing poetry itself."

"Exactly!" said a senior figure in the front row. "A treatise on the art of poetry benefits the art of literature, while poetry itself only benefits itself; the scope is completely different."

"Master He's achievements in poetry are evident to all; why should we concern ourselves with the knowledge of a mere child?" another great Confucian scholar said.

"..."

Suddenly, the wind shifted again.

The poems themselves are not important; what is important is a dedicated treatise on the art of poetry.

A treatise on the art of poetry is the poet's means of establishing his words. For a scholar, there are three essentials: establishing merit, establishing virtue, and establishing words, with establishing words being the most valuable...

"So establishing one's words is so important!" Zhou Wenju smiled faintly. "Then how about I establish my own words?"

He Wenxin laughed heartily: "Young Master Zhou also wishes to establish his own doctrine?"

"yes!"

"What do you intend to say?" He Wenxin's smile returned, tinged with sarcasm.

Once he withdrew from the legacy of poetry, he regained his confidence.

Because "establishing one's words" is his domain!

Zhou Wenju said, "Master He has achieved great success with his 'Twelve Poetry Criticisms.' I, a humble student, presume to offer my opinion on my own proposed book, 'Twenty-Four Poetry Criticisms,' on this very platform!"

The reason for the dark lines on He Wenxin's face is unknown.

The entire audience looked at each other in bewilderment once again...

Countless voice transmissions began...

Have you heard of "Twenty-Four Poetry Criticisms," brother?

"Master He's 'Twelve Poetry Criticisms' are replaced by his 'Twenty-Four Poetry Criticisms'; they're clearly just a patchwork of comparisons, and there's no ready-made template for them."

"Others have twelve, but he doubles it to twenty-four. Isn't that a bit too much of a targeted move?"

"Who can argue with that? But it's normal, after all, Master He's spearhead is already pointed at his head, so any kind of counterattack is to be expected..."

"While it's human nature to retaliate with a needle and thread, using the book title as a counterattack shows a lack of sophistication. How can such a person truly produce profound and insightful arguments?"

No one present was a fool.

In an instant, the intense smell of gunpowder was captured through the doubled "24".

The scholar in purple robes inside the private room smiled.

His smile was exceptionally carefree.

In another private room, Bai Luoshui's face suddenly turned ashen...

He Fang frowned: "Discussing the Dao? Is he...is he proficient in discussing the Dao?"

"That's impossible!" Li Zhongze said, "Discussing the Dao is not the same as composing poetry. Composing poetry can rely on talent, but discussing the Dao requires a complete mastery of the sacred scriptures and Scriptures. It cannot be done without decades of hard study. This should be his absolute weakness!"

"That's true!" He Fang let out a long sigh. "Judging from this aggressive 24, this kid's vision is extremely low. Even if he were to force a discussion, it would be completely distorted... Does Mr. Bai agree?"

Bai Luoshui frowned deeply: "What the two gentlemen say makes a lot of sense. However, in the art of chess, one must be good at seeing through appearances to the essence. He is by no means a common person who only takes things one step at a time. If he was not confident, why would he take the initiative to bring up the discussion of the art?"

The two vice ministers focused on theory.

But what he was looking at was Zhou Wenju himself...

One statement sparked a wave of discussion throughout the hall.

He Wenxin's face showed a conflicted expression...

He originally planned to take the opportunity to back down and let everyone see Zhou Wenju make a huge fool of himself, thus reversing all the unfavorable circumstances of the day. However, he received a telepathic message from a certain gentleman.

Don't let him go on stage!

then……

A learned scholar beside him frowned: "Ignorant brat, what do you think the Dao Discussion Platform is? Is it a place where just anyone can come up and discuss?"

"Haha!" Zhou Wenju strode forward: "Senior, what do you think the Dao Discussion Platform is? The so-called Dao Discussion Platform is for discussing 'the Way' and 'the Principle,' not 'seniority'! I'm going to have a discussion today! You can listen if you want, or leave if you don't!"

"Utterly arrogant!" The great scholar was furious.

"Ignorant brat, do you think the capital is Lingnan?" Another scholar stood up.

The entire audience was in motion...

There are signs that they are leaving.

Chung-hachi's heart was pounding...

From the moment Zhou Wenju stepped forward and uttered his first words, he was extremely tense.

This kid is truly outrageous; he tears people apart by reopening old wounds.

His criticisms cut to the bone.

He anticipated that Zhou Wenju would present his reasoning, using himself as an example and the exquisite poems on the Xishan Liuwen Wall as examples, to demonstrate that "poets are not judged by their origins," and he did indeed do so.

With his seven colorful poems, he delivered a resounding slap to He Wenxin's face.

However, he did not foresee the step of "formal discourse".

In his subconscious, he shared the same thoughts as the two vice ministers.

This young man's poetic talent is absolutely genius-level; his pioneering work in the field of ci poetry is truly a radiant achievement. However, he has a weakness: he lacks the necessary years of dedicated study and his literary foundation is incomplete. Such a person is suited for poetry gatherings, but definitely not for a literary debate.

But he insisted on going on stage to discuss his ideas.

When an ordinary person goes on stage to give a speech, the whole audience welcomes them. But when he went on stage, everyone rushed to leave. This is completely upside down, and the situation is out of control.

However, as a member of the Stable Court, he was aware of his own sensitivity.

He could not openly stand behind Zhou Wenju, because that would make the already incredibly complicated situation even more uncontrollable by incorporating elements of imperial power.

Now, even this meticulous "secret agent" is at a loss for what to do...

Just then, a melody of a piano suddenly came from one of the private rooms.

As the music began, all the noise subsided.

Everyone looked up and stared at the room.

The window of the side room opened, and a figure sat in the darkness. A voice came through, light and unrestrained: "The path of sainthood, 'If one hears the Way in the morning, one can die content in the evening,' has been regarded as the guiding principle for the cultivation of countless scholars. But today, in the capital of the Great Yu, a hundred or so literary figures are present, and they are enraged upon hearing the Way. Haha... this is truly a unique occasion!"

All the learned scholars who had left their seats were immediately captivated and unable to move.

Because this statement is the truth.

Because it is correct, it is irrefutable.

The man's light and carefree laughter ceased: "Brother Zhou, if you wish to discuss the 'Twenty-Four Poetry Criticisms,' feel free to do so from this stage. Even if no one in the audience listens, I will still be here to hear your words!"

Zhou Wen raised his hand slightly and said, "Thank you, Brother Xie!"

He strode up to the platform to discuss the Dao...

The difficult problem was now directly handed over to the audience.

They don't care whether you listen or not, they're just going to say what they want!

Are you still coming or not?

Once you leave, you lose the literary and moral spirit of "rejoicing upon hearing the truth".

Everyone had no choice but to sit down...

Zhou Wenju stepped onto the platform to discuss the Dao, spending one day visiting the Confucian Temple, one day visiting the Imperial Palace, and one day visiting the area below the platform.

It was exactly the same as He Wenxin's previous discussion on Taoism.

The crowd below, their faces filled with conflicted emotions, could only return the greeting.

This leads us to the proper path of discussion.

Let's see how he discusses the Dao...

Zhou Wenju began his discourse: "The ways of the sages are vast and profound, and what scholars gain is but a fraction of it. I, Zhou Wenju, have gathered the wisdom of the ancients and composed 'Twenty-Four Poetry Criticisms' on the subject of poetry, presenting them to Heaven, to the Sacred Hall, and to the great scholars and sages of Luoyang, for their critique!"

With a soft hum, a stick of incense inserted on the altar suddenly trembled slightly, its smoke billowing into the sky.

A sudden burst of literary brilliance emanated from Zhou Wenju's lips...

"The fragrance lingers on the lips and teeth!" someone below exclaimed.

"The sage's teachings are vast and profound, while scholars only grasp a fraction of them! How exquisitely he has summarized this! Truly a prodigy of poetry, his every word is a masterpiece!"

"The success of any discourse on the Dao has a 'key point,' and these two sentences are that 'key point'! Therefore, the Dao of Heaven immediately bestows upon us a lingering fragrance..."

What is the finishing touch? It is the finishing touch! What is the finishing touch? It is the exquisite statement that people can still remember after the discussion has ended.

Zhou Wenju's opening fourteen characters are brilliant words that will be passed down through generations; they are the key points...

In the first instance, one achieves the first level of philosophical discourse: lingering fragrance on the lips and teeth.

What a spectacle!

"Of the twenty-four poems, the first is described as majestic and powerful, its great function manifested outwardly, its true essence discarded inwardly, returning to the void to enter the whole, accumulating strength to achieve magnificence, encompassing all things, traversing the vast sky, boundless clouds, and sparse, long winds..."

Chung-hachi suddenly looked up, his eyes shining brightly.

omg...

This commentary truly captures the essence of its grandeur.

This is what poetry should be like!

Compared to his argument, He Wenxin's argument just now is completely insignificant.

How could Zhou Wenju possibly be able to discuss the Dao?

Moreover, every word he utters is precious and insightful, with not a single word superfluous.

He was a discerning person and immediately recognized the value of these words.

Who among those present didn't know its value?

Everyone's eyes widened simultaneously, staring in disbelief at the increasingly intense literary aura emanating from Zhou Wenju's lips on the high platform...

Inside the private room, the expressions of the two vice ministers changed simultaneously.

Bai Luoshui had already stopped folding her fan.

He couldn't believe it either...

Even though he was a prodigy in the art of chess and had always considered things from a different perspective, he still hadn't expected Zhou Wenju's arguments to be so profound.

Could it be that today's grand debate, which he personally orchestrated, is going to fall apart?

His idea of ​​using the Dao as a tool is a brilliant one, almost a continuation of his usual way of doing things, where the conspiracy is like an open strategy and the covert game is like an open game.

The argument is very sound!

No one could stop it, not even the emperor.

Even if discussing philosophy would have adverse consequences for the emperor, the emperor could only watch helplessly.

This is Yang Conspiracy.

No scheme of the enemy can be thwarted, because the unorthodox can never triumph over the righteous.

However, Zhou Wenju's move was a direct counter to direct confrontation!

He also discusses doctrines!

It's also about poetry!

No one else can stop it either...

With Bai Luoshui's spear against Bai Luoshui's shield, he was in a very difficult position...

Hopefully, this kid's performance will stop here. If he accidentally causes the Great Dao Flower to bloom, then things will really get out of hand.