The First Marquis of Leisure

"Young Master!"

Bai Heng quickly tugged at Bai Xinghe, while trying to explain to Zhang Chunqiu with a forced smile.

"Mr. Zhang, my son only spoke impulsively and carelessly. I hope you won't take it to heart."

"Hmph!" Zhang Chunqiu sneered, "A gentleman's word is as good as his bond. Is the heir of the dignified Marquis of Zhenguo's mansion going to break his promise in public?"

Upon hearing this, Bai Heng didn't know how to respond and felt anxious.

"Hehe." Bai Xinghe chuckled and gave Bai Heng a reassuring look.

He was well aware that Zhang Chunqiu was deliberately trying to embarrass him, using this opportunity to teach him a lesson once again.

"Mr. Zhang is right. A true man keeps his word; what he says, he must do!"

"Very good." Xiao Changqing said confidently, mocking, "Bai Xinghe, don't blame me for bullying you. I've given you a chance."

"Alright, enough nonsense, just name your stake." Bai Xinghe didn't care at all.

Xiao Changqing snorted coldly and said, "Very well, let's compose a poem on the spot, without any restrictions on form, only focusing on the artistic conception!"

"As for the prize, whoever loses has to take off their pants and crawl from the Zhang residence to Jufu Restaurant in the capital, how about that?"

"This prize is exactly what I wanted," Bai Xinghe replied with a smile.

Bai Heng's forehead was now completely blackened, and he was fully prepared for how furious he would be when Bai Tian returned to the capital in triumph!

Now the Marquis of Zhenguo's mansion has completely lost face and will become a laughing stock of the entire Great Zhao!

"Senior Brother Xiao, how about we change the prize?" Zhao Sisi suddenly stood up and sighed.

She had heard many outrageous things about Bai Xinghe and was somewhat curious about him, but she didn't feel any disgust towards him.

On the contrary, she and many others in the Prince's Palace held Bai Tianque in high esteem.

Like everyone else, she believed that Bai Xinghe had taken the wrong medicine and was clearly humiliating himself.

If they lose, it won't just be Bai Xinghe who loses face, but also Bai Tianjie, the national war god.

"Junior Sister, you heard it yourself. It wasn't that we wanted to bully Young Master Bai; he brought it on himself. You've always been kind-hearted, but you should stay out of this."

Seeing Zhao Sisi stand up for him, Bai Xinghe felt a surge of goodwill towards her.

This woman is not only stunningly beautiful, but also gentle, polite, and kind-hearted; she is truly a goddess.

"Young Master Bai, are you ready? Don't say I'm taking advantage of your lack of talent; I'll let you go first."

"This topic focuses on plum blossoms; you can write a poem about it."

Ode to Plum Blossoms?

Bai Xinghe almost burst out laughing when he heard this.

Several timeless masterpieces about plum blossoms instantly popped into his mind!

Any one of their songs would easily crush Xiao Changqing.

"Singing about plum blossoms? Very well, I also love plum blossoms, but you should go first. Because once I start composing about plum blossoms, you probably won't even have a chance to speak."

"hehe."

"Ignorance is bliss. I really don't know where a playboy gets his confidence."

"Senior Brother Xiao, you shouldn't worry about General Bai's feelings."

Zhang Zhi and the others burst into laughter.

Xiao Changqing scoffed, hands behind his back: "In that case, I eagerly await your masterpiece of plum blossom poetry that will leave me speechless!"

A mocking expression appeared in Bai Xinghe's eyes, and he said nothing more.

He glanced around the entire Zhang residence; apart from Bai Heng, everyone else was waiting for him to make a fool of himself.

So he followed the example of Xiao Changqing and the others, put his hands behind his back, took a step forward, and tried to emulate the seven-step poem.

"The wind and rain bid farewell to spring, and the flying snow welcomes its arrival!"

With one step, Bai Xinghe recited these two lines.

Immediately, Zhang Chunqiu, Zhang Zhi, and the others stiffened noticeably, revealing surprised and strange expressions.

Then they all revealed their contempt and disdain.

"Ha, I thought it was some great masterpiece by Xiao, but it's nothing special."

Zhang Zhi chimed in, "Indeed, plum blossoms have always been associated with enduring the bitter cold. It seems our young master Bai completely misunderstands the symbolism of plum blossoms!"

Hearing the crowd's mockery, Bai Xinghe remained unfazed; this was exactly the effect he wanted.

Indeed, since ancient times, whenever people write about plum blossoms, they have always described them as delicate and lonely.

However, the plum blossom poem he composed can be described as the first in thousands of years of history, going against the grain.

He was absolutely certain that if he brought this with him, it would be just as astonishing!

Then Bai Xinghe took a second step, pretending to be stuck.

This made Xiao Changqing, Zhang Zhi, and others even more smug, and they began to ridicule them relentlessly.

When Bai Xinghe took his third step, he deliberately scratched his head.

"Even on a cliff edge covered in ice, a flower still blooms beautifully!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Zhi, Xiao Changqing, and the others were slightly surprised, but not too much.

Bai Xinghe ignored him and continued to take the fourth step.

"It is beautiful but does not vie for spring's favor; it only heralds its arrival!"

Upon hearing this, the smiles on Zhang Zhi, Xiao Changqing, and the others froze.

Zhang Chunqiu, who had been watching the show, opened his eyes and muttered to himself.

It is beautiful but does not vie for spring's favor; it simply heralds its arrival!

How could such an ignorant and incompetent person come up with such a masterpiece?

Seeing the changes in the expressions of the group of people, Bai Xinghe chuckled to himself.

He knew that the last two lines were the key, the only ones that could truly express the meaning of plum blossoms and be the only ones to write about them throughout the ages!

"Four more steps, seven steps to compose a poem!" Bai Xinghe murmured to himself.

Then he pretended to be racking his brains, silently counted his steps, and took two steps in a row.

I walked to the wall on one side of the corridor, where a painting of plum blossoms in the snow was hanging.

"When the mountain flowers are in full bloom, she smiles amidst them!"

As Bai Xinghe let out a long sigh, he loudly recited the last two lines.

In an instant, everyone's faces froze, petrified on the spot.

The last two sentences immediately came to mind for everyone!

"When the mountain flowers are in full bloom, she smiles amidst them!"

"What a fine poem! What a fine poem, young master! When did you learn to compose poetry?"

Bai Heng slapped his thigh and burst into laughter. Although he was a martial artist with a rudimentary understanding of literature, he could definitely tell that Bai Xinghe's poem was extraordinary!

The wind and rain send spring away, and flying snow welcomes spring's arrival.

Even on a cliff of ice ten thousand feet high, a flower branch still blooms beautifully.

It is beautiful but does not vie for spring's favor; it simply announces spring's arrival.

When the mountain flowers are in full bloom, she smiles amidst them!

"That's fantastic, Mr. Zhang!"

Princess Zhao Sisi shouted excitedly, her eyes fixed on Bai Xinghe with fervor!

Zhang Chunqiu was visibly trembling, his eyes filled with shock.

He couldn't believe that anyone in the world could compose such a poem about plum blossoms!

This surpassed everything he had ever imagined or seen in his life!

Zhang Zhi, Xiao Changqing, and the others were filled with embarrassment and shock!

"Elder Zhang, I would be so kind as to offer my judgment on my poem about plum blossoms. Does it meet your approval?"

Bai Xinghe suppressed a laugh, but deliberately asked in a humble manner.