CHAPTER 308: CHAPTER 294: A FINE POEM (PART 2)

Yu Xiaolian flashed a toothy grin at Su Jingchen before pulling a thick, black signature pen from her sleeve.

With quick swipes, she copied Master Su Shi’s winter scene poem.

Having finished one poem, seeing the incense hadn’t burned out, Yu Xiaolian eagerly continued to write a second poem.

When Yu Xiaolian finished the second poem, the incense still had a small segment unburnt, yet she didn’t wait and gleefully handed the two poems to Dean Zhao.

Seeing this, Ma Xiyue hurriedly handed in her poem too, placing it just above Yu Xiaolian’s.

Reluctantly, Dean Zhao had to read Ma Xiyue’s first.

"Winter descends, clouds and mist shroud, cold rain falls, chilling and desolate. Wandering alone, lost in confusion, the future is uncertain and unpredictable."

Zhao Zhiyun, after finishing reading, glanced at Ma Xiyue, "This poem seems more suited to one in office, at a time of bewilderment. How do you, at such a young age, have this reflection?"

Ma Xiyue startled, flusteredly said, "Though Xiyue is still young, her mind is mature. This poem was composed just now with feeling."

Zhao Zhiyun snorted coldly, said no more, and passed Ma Xiyue’s poem to Lu Manluo beside him.

Lu Manluo, after reading, passed it to County Magistrate Ma.

County Magistrate Ma took it and read the poem aloud with great emotion, then repeatedly praised, "A good poem, a very good poem!"

After County Magistrate Ma finished his display, Zhao Zhiyun then read the poem written by Yu Xiaolian.

His reading became more surprising with each line, the joy in his eyes increasingly uncontainable.

"Lotus leaves gone, no longer shielding from rain; chrysanthemum withers, yet holds frost-defying branches. Remember well the year’s fine scenes, ’tis the time of orange and green."

After reading one poem, Zhao Zhiyun eagerly read the second one.

"Snowflakes enter the house, seeing bamboo transform into jade branches. Now rising high to view, covering all worldly treacherous roads."

Zhao Zhiyun’s face full of excitement; even when Lu Manluo came to take the paper from his hand, he was reluctant to give it up.

He carefully handed it to Lu Manluo, still advising, "Be careful, this is the original draft."

In his life, he had never seen a female scholar with such talent; he must request the original manuscript from Yu Xiaolian later to preserve it well.

Lu Manluo was also amazed by Yu Xiaolian, not just by the quality of the poetry, but by the accomplishment of writing two masterpieces in such a short time.

Lu Manluo finished reading, then it was County Magistrate Ma’s turn.

If not for his daughter, County Magistrate Ma would wish to exclaim thrice, what a good poem.

But thinking that his daughter might lose her graduation certificate, he could only suppress his excitement and read with a blank face.

Upon reading the last line of the second poem, County Magistrate Ma couldn’t help but twitch his mouth.

Covering all worldly treacherous roads.

The meaning of Yu Xiaolian’s poem was obvious, hoping the white snow could cover all the ugliness of the world, making it as pure and beautiful as snow.

In the last line, Yu Xiaolian expressed her heart’s lament and discontent.

She was mocking him, County Magistrate Ma knew.

County Magistrate Ma wanted to cry, he didn’t want to make things difficult for Yu Xiaolian. He also wished to be a good official; one winter poem would be enough, why add a mocking verse too?

Boohoo X﹏X

He isn’t a bad person; the brother from Jin Cangchang is the Minister of Agriculture, how could he dare offend him? When Jin Cangchang wants to raise grain prices, what can he do?

Besides, the grain prices in the north are several times more expensive than in Luocheng; forced by circumstances, what can he do? He has no grain in hand; his words don’t count. Even if he has the heart to seek welfare for the people, a wise housewife cannot cook without rice.

From the dazed hands of County Magistrate Ma, Dean Ying took Yu Xiaolian’s poem. After reading, he excitedly paced back and forth.

"A great poem, an outstanding poem!"

Poems unanimously praised by several deans, aroused curiosity among the observing scholars, stretching their necks in curiosity.

They were too far away; even though Dean Zhao recited once earlier, they didn’t hear clearly, so someone demanded to see the poem.

Dean Ying was delighted to showcase Yu Xiaolian’s poem, since Yu Xiaolian was the treasure he discovered. Her local fame, old Ying would be proud to follow.

Dean Ying gleefully took Yu Xiaolian’s poem over to show the onlookers. Seeing this, Zhao Zhiyun couldn’t sit still.

"Be careful, don’t tear it..."

Ma Xiyue initially thought her father’s poem would dazzle the audience, but things went contrary to her wishes. Her poem not only received no praise but was doubted by Dean Zhao as not her creation.

Upon seeing the situation, County Magistrate Ma already knew his daughter would inevitably fail; with not just Zhao, Lu, and Ying, but even he himself felt that Yu Xiaolian’s talent was exceptional and prominent.