Chapter 5: Self-Proclaimed Poetry King
Chapter 5: Self-Proclaimed Poetry King
When there was no class, Xiao Rui had the energy of a chicken and the drive of a dog. He could wake up to enjoy the scenery before the sun even rose. Sadly, once it was a school day, he just wanted to hide under the covers and let the blankets strangle him.
“Gao Quan, save me! I’m tangled in the blanket.”
“Can you ask for leave on my behalf? Just say I fought with my blanket and we both lost.”
“Someone save me! Ah…”
…
Gao Quan was used to it. His master was good in every way except he hated studying. The whole purpose of training Gao Quan to study was to help him with his schoolwork. Would the doctors of Jiwen Hall die of anger if they knew?
“Your Highness, if you don’t get up now, you’ll be late for class. Today is Dr. Jin’s lesson,” Gao Quan reminded him.
Xiao Rui sprang up with a start. While putting on his clothes, he cursed, “Old Man Jin’s class? I’m dead. What assignment did he give last time? Ah, I was too busy, I can’t remember at all.”
“Write a poem with ‘spring’ as the theme,” Gao Quan reminded him.
“A poem?” Upon hearing this, Xiao Rui immediately became calm again. “I thought it was another ancient text annotation. A poem is good. I dare not call myself a Poetry Sage, but I can certainly claim to be a Poetry King!”
“The Golden-Haired Lion King?” Gao Quan asked.
“Get lost!” Xiao Rui laughed and scolded.
After the meal, Gao Quan drove the carriage slowly toward the Imperial City.
Entering the outer Imperial City and arriving in front of Jiwen Hall at the northeast corner, Xiao Rui got down and walked.
“Seventh Brother! Seventh Brother!”
Before he had taken two steps, Xiao Rui heard someone calling him from behind. The voice was light and cheerful. He didn’t need to look to know who it was.
“Seventh Brother, why are you ignoring me?” A young boy ran over, his face delicate and handsome.
Xiao Rui glanced at him and said, “It’s Little Ninth! You came quite early today. Didn’t skip class.”
The boy was the youngest of the nine Imperial Princes, the Ninth Prince, Xiao Yan.
“My mouth is sweet, I’m diligent and eager to learn. Have I ever skipped class? But Seventh Brother, have you changed today? You came so early too.” Xiao Yan grinned. “Seventh Brother, after class today, can I go to Fourth Brother’s place to play with you?”
“No, I’m busy,” Xiao Rui refused.
Xiao Yan persisted, “What are you busy with? Can I keep you company?”
“Taking a big dump. You want to keep me company for that too?” Xiao Rui said, speechless.
Xiao Yan thought for a moment, then nodded seriously. “Then I’ll wait. After class, I’ll accompany you then.”
“…” Xiao Rui quickened his pace.
Xiao Yan followed closely, chattering nonstop like a loudspeaker.
Entering Jiwen Hall, Xiao Rui saw the Eighth Prince, Xiao Jing.
He was half a year younger than Xiao Rui, only half a year older than Xiao Yan, but his personality was much more mature than Xiao Yan’s. Now that he had become a disciple under the great Confucian scholar Master Qiu, he became even prouder. After all, among the Confucian scholars of the Great Xia Kingdom, Master Qiu’s name could rank in the top twenty.
He also saw Xiao Rui and Xiao Yan, giving a slight nod as a greeting.
Xiao Yan pestered Xiao Rui, daring to joke and chat freely, but facing Eighth Brother Xiao Jing, he didn’t dare cause a fuss.
After all, the title of Eighth Brother wasn’t for nothing—he was sharp-tongued.
Besides the three Imperial Princes, others studying in Jiwen Hall included the sons of other Imperial Princes and Commandery Princes. Emperor Xia did not forbid women from studying, so there were also Princesses and Commandery Princesses—twenty-three students in total.
Xiao Rui found a corner seat in the last row and slumped lazily over the desk. Compared to Xiao Jing, who sat upright in the front row, Xiao Rui was always the most low-key. It would have been even more perfect if he could have gotten rid of Xiao Yan beside him.
Dr. Jin arrived.
Holding a ruler with his hands behind his back, he tottered into the room, old and frail. His gaze swept across the room, and wherever it went, everyone kept their eyes forward.
“Oh! Xiao Rui is here.”
Dr. Jin stared at Xiao Rui in the last row and said this.
The corner of Xiao Rui’s mouth twitched. There was no helping it. A year ago, when he first came to this place, he relied on his status as an Imperial Prince to skip class, asking for leave for big reasons every three days and small reasons every two days, and even talked back to Dr. Jin, which eventually angered Emperor Xia, who punished him.
If he had known his situation earlier, how would he have dared to act so recklessly?
“Class begins!” Dr. Jin went to the lectern and said, “How is everyone’s preparation for the assignment from last class? With ‘spring’ as the theme, compose a poem. No copying or having someone else write it! For excellent works, I have a reward. As for those who mess around, hmph, my ruler will not be lenient.”
“Smack!”
The ruler slapped against the desk, making sharp noises.
“Who wants to go first?” Dr. Jin scanned the crowd.
The Eighth Prince, Xiao Jing, stood up and bowed. “Doctor, this student will go first.”
Dr. Jin showed a smile. “Good!”
Xiao Jing recited: “Willows sway gently in the fine rain clearing, fallen blossoms fade as orioles appear. The spring breeze blows hometown dreams overnight, chasing the spring breeze to Dream City once more.”
“This poem was inspired by my mother’s longing for her hometown,” Xiao Jing said with a smile.
Dr. Jin nodded and commented, “In this entire poem, spring plays a role that runs throughout. It triggers homesickness, stirs dreams of home, and carries dreams of return—it’s everywhere. Well written. I can see it’s the result of your careful thought after class. I rate it as high quality.”
“Thank you, Doctor.” Xiao Jing was overjoyed, his eyes glancing around the classroom.
Suddenly.
He saw a middle-aged man standing outside the back door. Startled, he quickly turned his head back. Though he didn’t see the face clearly, that apricot-yellow casual robe embroidered with dragon patterns—didn’t that speak for itself?
Emperor Xia was observing the class!
Xiao Jing secretly rejoiced. When he recited his poem, his father must have been outside the door. This poem could showcase his literary talent and also reflect his emphasis on filial piety from the side. Surely, his father took note.
Dr. Jin naturally also saw Emperor Xia’s figure.
He showed no expression and asked, “Who’s next?”
The son of the Imperial Prince of the Wang Family stood up and honestly recited a poem. It was conventional, not outstanding. Dr. Jin rated it as low quality.
The twenty-three students took turns reciting their poems one by one, until only Xiao Rui and Xiao Yan remained.
Dr. Jin knew perfectly well but deliberately asked, “Who hasn’t recited yet?”
Xiao Yan tilted his head slightly and asked Xiao Rui, “Seventh Brother, you go first?”
“You go ahead. My poem is too good; I’ll be the finale,” Xiao Rui said, resting his chin on his hand, feeling utterly bored.
Xiao Yan curled his lip, then stood up and said, “Doctor, there’s still me.”
“Two sparrows sing in the green willow, a line of egrets flies in the blue sky. Outside the window, the mountain peaks are all snow, looking afar, a row of boats on the river.”
“Pfft…” Xiao Rui couldn’t help but laugh, then quickly covered his mouth.
Xiao Yan shot him a resentful look. Was this poem funny?
Dr. Jin glared at Xiao Rui and said, “Although it’s a doggerel verse, I can see you put effort into it because you observed your surroundings. That deserves praise. Xiao Rui, you think it’s funny? Do you perhaps have a top-quality masterpiece? If you can’t produce one, don’t blame me for punishing you!”
Ding-dong…
A prompt suddenly sounded in Xiao Rui’s mind.
With closed eyes, a line of information code popped up.
“New task: Accept Dr. Jin’s challenge, complete a top-quality poem, Advent Points +5.”
Xiao Rui raised an eyebrow. He wanted to see what function there would be when the Advent Points were fully collected.
Standing up, Xiao Rui bowed. “Doctor, this student lacks literary talent. A top-quality poem… isn’t that too difficult?”
“Difficult? Then why did you mock others?” Dr. Jin shouted. “How about this: if you can compose a top-quality poem, from now on whenever you ask for leave, I will approve it and never question you. But if you cannot produce a top-quality poem, or if there’s suspicion of copying or having someone else write it, I will punish you by copying ‘The Great Learning’ five times! Copy it yourself. You will not leave Jiwen Hall until you finish.”
Oh, this old guy was forcing him to show his skills. Stay low-key as a person but do things with high profile. Today, I’ll show my power.
“Fine. Since the doctor keeps his word, this student naturally agrees.” Xiao Rui said arrogantly, “Then please, Doctor, comment on my verses.”
“Spring days are slow, grass and trees lush. Orioles chirp, gathering aster abundantly!”
“This is a four-character short poem, inspired by feeling. Next, there’s a five-character quatrain. Dr. Jin, please listen: I slept in spring not conscious of the dawn, but heard the gay birds chattering all around. After last night’s wind and rain, I wonder how many blossoms fell.”
“I also have a seven-character quatrain; might as well recite it too: The fine rain on the heavenly street moistens like cream, grass hues seen from afar appear then disappear. This is the best time of the year in spring, better than smoke-willows filling the Imperial Capital.”
“Dr. Jin, do any of these poems meet your standard? Not enough? I still have lyrics. I can even sing them.”
Xiao Rui was immensely pleased with himself.