The First Marquis of Leisure

"You copied it, you must have copied it!"

At this moment, Xiao Changqing, who had recovered from his extreme shock, was the first to express his dissatisfaction.

His face was very unpleasant. He couldn't believe that a famous playboy and spoiled brat could produce such a masterpiece!

Not only him, but Zhang Zhi and Zhang Chunqiu's other students all thought so.

"That's right, Junior Brother Xiao is correct. You must have copied this poem. With your talent, it's impossible for you to have created such an amazing work!"

Zhang Zhi also jumped out, accusing Bai Xinghe of plagiarizing the poem about plum blossoms.

Bai Xinghe just smiled coldly. In fact, Zhang Zhi, Xiao Changqing and the others were not wrong.

This was indeed copied by myself, and it was copied from the work of an unparalleled great man throughout history.

But so what? That's poetry from another world, it doesn't exist in this world at all, which means it's equivalent to original work!

"Xiao Changqing, Zhang Zhi, you can't be sore losers, can you?"

Bai Xinghe calmly replied, "I've always just been living a carefree life, drowning my sorrows in wine. My seven-step poem was merely a small test. Do you really think I'm uneducated and only good for debauchery?"

"You!" Xiao Changqing was still unconvinced.

Because let alone him, he believed that even Zhang Chunqiu, the tutor of three emperors, could not possibly have created such a masterpiece within seven steps.

Let alone seven steps, even seven days or seven years might not be enough to accomplish it.

"You say I copied it, then please tell me, whose work did I copy?" Bai Xinghe asked, leaving Xiao Changqing, Zhang Zhi, and their group speechless.

"I never expected this, I never expected this." At this moment, Zhang Chunqiu finally came back to his senses from the shock.

He showed unprecedented excitement; even someone as learned as him as he was could never have dreamed of such a masterpiece!

I never expected that the playboy I always looked down on would actually do it in seven steps!

Although Zhang Chunqiu had a simple and unsophisticated way of thinking, he was still a respectable scholar.

"When the mountain flowers are in full bloom, she smiles among them—how wonderful, how wonderful!"

Zhang Chunqiu could not hide his excitement and walked up to Bai Xinghe.

"Young Master Bai, I was blind; please accept my bow!"

"Old Zhang!"

"Mr. Zhang, how could you...."

Zhang Chunqiu's actions astonished everyone, for he was not required to bow even to the current emperor.

At this moment, he was bowing to Bai Xinghe, a junior. If this were to spread, it would likely cause a stir among scholars throughout the land.

Zhang Chunqiu ignored the others and continued with admiration and respect, "Young Master Bai, I have spent my whole life studying classics, and I never thought that I would see such a masterpiece a hundred years ago. I can die without regrets."

"Mr. Zhang, you flatter me," Bai Xinghe replied calmly. "It's just a poem!"

modesty!

Zhang Chunqiu's opinion of Bai Xinghe has completely changed. He used to hate him no matter what, but now he likes him no matter what.

"So young, yet so humble; a promising young man!"

"Old Zhang!" Zhang Zhi couldn't stand it anymore; he was Zhang Chunqiu's grandson.

However, within the Zhang family, there was no distinction of kinship or status; they addressed each other as teacher and student.

"Bai Xinghe has a great reputation. I don't believe he could have written this poem. Don't be fooled."

"Hehe." Bai Xinghe had long expected that some people would have doubts.

He didn't care and said calmly, "Since Young Master Zhang has doubts, then please give me any topic, and I will compose another poem!"

"Okay!" Zhang Zhi was going all out.

"However, as you just said, we'll add a little something extra to the literary contest. If I can't come up with a poem, you can do whatever you want with me. But if my poem satisfies you all, then please, Young Master Zhang and Young Master Xiao, take off your pants and crawl to Jufulou."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Zhi immediately became somewhat intimidated.

However, after seeing the way Zhao Sisi looked at Bai Xinghe, he gritted his teeth and agreed without hesitation.

"Bai Xinghe, Zhang is now asking you to compose a seven-character quatrain on the theme of a beautiful woman. If you cannot compose one within seven steps, it will prove that the poem about plum blossoms you just wrote was copied."

Bai Xinghe couldn't help but laugh. Whether it was a seven-character quatrain, a five-character quatrain, or a poem or song, he, as a doctoral student from a 985 university, could do it all with ease.

But he was well aware that regulated verse was very difficult in this era, which is why Zhang Zhi brought it up!

"Senior Brother Zhang, seven-character regulated verse is extremely difficult; even Elder Zhang would have to put in considerable effort. Isn't it a bit much to ask Young Master Bai to compose a poem within seven steps?"

After a moment's thought, Zhao Sisi was the first to stand up and speak up for Bai Xinghe.

"Junior sister, don't worry about this. Since he was able to compose such a masterpiece as 'Ode to Plum Blossoms' in seven steps just now, it's reasonable to ask him to compose a seven-character regulated verse in seven steps now."

"Yes, junior sister, senior brother Zhang didn't go too far, but rather gave Bai Xinghe a chance to prove himself."

The others chimed in, clearly impressed by Bai Xinghe's poem about plum blossoms.

"That's easy!" Bai Xinghe said confidently, hands behind his back. "This young master can compose a poem in no time, without needing seven steps!"

Bai Xinghe glanced at Zhao Sisi, who was worried about him, with amusement, and already knew which song to borrow.

"Miss Zhao, I'll give you this poem. Listen carefully."

Zhao Sisi was stunned for a moment, her face flushed slightly, which made Zhang Zhi even angrier, and he clenched his fists tightly.

Bai Xinghe ignored him and cleared his throat.

"Clouds remind me of her clothes, flowers of her face; the spring breeze caresses the balustrade, the dew is heavy."

"If we don't meet on the summit of Mount Qunyu, we'll meet under the moon on the Jade Terrace."

Upon hearing this poem, the entire room fell silent.

Zhang Zhi and Xiao Changqing were ashen-faced, feeling as if they had eaten shit, and were almost in despair!

Zhang Chunqiu's eyes widened again, while Zhao Sisi's eyes were filled with admiration!

"Wonderful, truly wonderful! How could there be such beautiful poetry in the world!"

Zhang Chunqiu trembled violently with excitement and nearly fainted.

"Young Master Zhang, how is it? Is the poem I presented to Miss Zhao acceptable?"

Zhang Zhi was speechless. He had been studying under Zhang Chunqiu for a long time and was considered quite talented among the younger generation in the capital.

But today, I haven't even scratched the surface in front of Bai Xinghe!

"Now who still doubts that my poems are plagiarized?"

"You, or you?"

Bai Xinghe snorted coldly and pointed at Xiao Changqing and the others.

All of them lowered their heads and remained silent.

Seeing this, Bai Xinghe smiled and looked at Zhao Sisi: "Miss Zhao, do you like this poem?"

"Mm." Zhao Sisi nodded slightly.

"Alright, since Miss Zhao likes it, that's fine!"

"Young Master Zhang, Young Master Xiao, isn't it time to pay out the extra prize?" Bai Xinghe asked with a smile.

Zhang Zhi and Xiao Changqing were covered in sweat, never expecting this outcome.

He lifted a stone only to drop it on his own foot; what if he really took off his pants and climbed from Zhang's mansion to Jufulou?

That would inevitably become a laughing stock in the entire Zhao state, and Zhang Chunqiu would lose all face as well.

"Young Master," Bai Heng said, understanding the situation perfectly, and quickly tried to persuade him.

Zhao Sisi also stepped forward and whispered, "Young Master Bai, perhaps we should just forget about it?"

"Okay!" Bai Xinghe hadn't originally planned to do that, after all, Zhang Chunqiu was highly respected and even his own father respected him greatly.

Not wanting to push things too far, he went along with it, saying, "Since Miss Zhao has pleaded for you, I will not pursue the matter further."

Hearing this, Zhang Chunqiu breathed a sigh of relief.

He was genuinely afraid that Bai Xinghe would take it seriously, and then he would be too ashamed to face anyone.

"Zhang Zhi, Chang Qing, why don't you quickly thank Young Master Bai for his magnanimity?"

Although the two were very reluctant, they had no choice but to bow their heads and thank him.

Then Bai Heng asked with a smile, "Elder Zhang, what do you think of my young master becoming your disciple?"

Zhang Chunqiu was speechless. Given that Bai Xinghe had produced two masterpieces in such a short time, it was more likely that Zhang Chunqiu had become Bai Xinghe's student.

"Lord Bai, please don't flatter me. Young Master Bai's talent is beyond my reach."

"Let's skip the apprenticeship formalities. If Young Master Bai doesn't mind, I have two requests."

Zhang Chunqiu adopted an extremely humble posture and a very sincere attitude.

"No need to be so polite, Elder Zhang, please feel free to give your instructions," Bai Xinghe said with a smile.

Zhang Chunqiu paused for a moment, then said, "Firstly, I wish to learn poetry from Young Master Bai. Secondly, the foremost talent of Great Yan will soon lead a delegation to my Great Zhao."

"As is customary, this will surely be another war without gunfire. I am getting old, and I have heard that a great talent, unseen for a century, has appeared in Great Yan."

"This matter concerns the face and prestige of the Great Zhao, and I would like to invite Young Master Bai to participate in the battle."

Bai Xinghe chuckled inwardly upon hearing this, and said, "Old Zhang, you flatter me. It's just a small matter. As for learning poetry from a junior, let's forget about it. You are renowned throughout the world and have a wealth of knowledge. It's enough for us to exchange ideas."