mtlumby2d Chapter 578 Poetry Fight
Chapter 578 Poetry Fight
Chapter 578 Poetry Contest
Knowing the Left Prime Minister's thoughts, Ye Ru couldn't help but curse him inwardly for his ruthlessness. However, despite his curses, he remained outwardly composed and then slowly said:
"I dare not be presumptuous in the imperial court. If you wish to spar, then let's wait until I return."
Upon hearing this, the Left Prime Minister frowned, then addressed the Emperor of Yanhuang Kingdom:
"Your Majesty, this duel is harmless. Moreover, our Yanhuang Kingdom is currently recruiting talents widely. Even just taking a look at Su Feng's talent is not a bad thing."
"Moreover, it's still uncertain whether Ye Anshou can surpass Su Feng. Since that's the case, why doesn't Your Majesty take a look and add some excitement to today's event?"
"Chief Ye, what are your thoughts?"
The Emperor of Yanhuang Kingdom seemed to be persuaded as well, and then asked Ye Ru, "..."
"Could it be that Chief Scholar Ye is afraid?"
Su Feng smiled in return.
"It's not that I'm afraid, it's just that I'm worried about other people having ulterior motives."
Ye Ru smiled slightly, seemingly making a veiled criticism, and said.
These words caused Su Feng's smile to slowly fade, and he then said:
"If Chief Ye puts it that way, then I have nothing more to say. However, it might be difficult to explain to others in the future."
'I can't very well say, "Let's have a contest of talent with Ye, and Ye wouldn't dare," could I?'
The words were barbed, which made Wen Xiang and the others understand a lot. Then the former said:
"Chief Ye, since Su Feng wants to give it a try, why not let you give it a try?"
"Alright, since the Minister of Literature and His Majesty have given the order, I naturally dare not refuse. Since you have no literary rank, then you can decide what the competition is about."
Ye Ru nodded and said.
"We'll just have a contest with one poem. Whoever writes the best poem within the allotted time wins, how about it?"
Su Feng pondered for a moment before speaking.
These words made the Emperor of Yanhuang Kingdom laugh, and then he asked curiously:
"Don't you know that Ye Anshou is a talented poet from our Yanhuang Kingdom? Not to mention his poems on cultivating virtue, his poems on astonishing the sages are just words that come out of his mouth. Isn't what you're doing just showing off your skills in front of Guan Yu?"
"That's why I want to see just how talented Ye Anshou is at writing poetry, and whether he's worthy of being my opponent."
"Is it really that difficult to compose a poem that amazes the saints?"
Su Feng smiled and said with a hint of disdain.
"Very well, I would be happy to let the two of you have a go at it."
"Well, but I have one condition."
"You said."
"As we all know, our duty is to protect the Yanhuang Kingdom. I also want to do my part for the safety of the Yanhuang Kingdom. If I can win over Ye Ru, please allow me to participate in this mission to wipe out the assassin organization."
Upon hearing the words of the Emperor of Yanhuang Kingdom, Su Feng clasped his hands in greeting once more.
"Okay, if you win, how about I let you participate?"
The former nodded and said.
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Seeing that the Emperor of Yanhuang Kingdom had agreed, Su Feng turned to look at Ye Ru:
"Since Chief Scholar Ye is so modest, then I shall respectfully comply. Let us compose a poem on the theme of the Holy Way and then submit it to the esteemed officials and His Majesty for judgment. What do you think?"
"Poems of the Holy Way?"
Upon hearing this, the officials present began to discuss among themselves.
In the Confucian and Taoist continent, the most difficult thing to compose is the verses of the Sage's Way, and if these verses of the Sage's Way are not composed carefully, they can easily become a useless poem.
As for useless poems, those are poems that are completely utterly useless; even the Primordial Poems are better than them.
Even great Confucian scholars wouldn't dare to immediately compose such sacred verses, because comprehending a sacred principle requires several years or even ten years.
"Poems of the Holy Way?"
Ye Ru frowned. He had previously written a poem on the sacred way, which, in other words, was a philosophical poem.
"Yes, Chief Ye, you wouldn't be so ignorant of even the sacred verses, would you?"
Su Feng said sarcastically.
"Since Brother Su has decided to write philosophical poems, then please do so."
Ye Ruyi stretched out his hand and then said.
"Alright, then I'll gladly accept your offer."
Su Feng nodded, then took out paper and pen. The Emperor of Yanhuang had a writing desk brought over, and Su Feng began to write:
"Where the wind rises and the clouds deepen, no one knows..."
The soft rustling of the brush tip touching the Xuan paper made everyone hold their breath, their eyes fixed on Su Feng, as if trying to see what kind of talent he possessed.
As time passed, about five minutes later, Su Feng finished writing the last stroke and then put down his pen.
The surroundings were completely quiet, as if everyone was trying to see what power the poem truly possessed.
After a brief pause, the poem on Su Feng's paper suddenly emitted a powerful sacred force, which swept outwards, causing everyone to widen their eyes in astonishment.
"This is a poem that astounds even saints, and it's even a poem that astounds even saints in the way of sainthood. How can Su Feng be so powerful?"
As the radiant verses gradually materialized into tangible words, many people were stunned, their expressions turning to one of utter shock.
In less than five minutes, he wrote a poem that was both astonishing and sacred. Such talent was simply terrifying.
After a brief moment of shock, everyone turned their attention to Ye Ru, eager to see how he would handle the situation.
"The poem is good, but it's still missing something."
Ye Ru smiled as he pointed out Su Feng's shortcomings, which made the latter's gaze sharpen, and then he said with disdain:
"Ye Anshou, you have quite the big mouth. If you can't write a good poem later, you'll lose face big time. At the very least, your reputation as a poet will be ruined."
"I hope so."
Ye Ru retorted sarcastically, then took out paper and pen and began to write as well:
"Qingyun County has a great talent for literature, but he has been neglected for eighteen years."
The first line left everyone around bewildered. It was a very plain line, utterly devoid of any substance. Trying to use this poem to defeat Su Feng's poem would be quite difficult.
"What's wrong with Ye Ru? He started off strong, but he's already at a disadvantage. How difficult will it be for him to surpass Su Feng in the rest of the poem?"
Wen Xiang also had some worries in his heart, and said to himself.
'Chief Ye, based on this opening, are you really not just messing around?'
Su Feng said sarcastically.
However, Ye Ru remained unmoved and continued writing:
"I idly recite the 'Ode to the Flute' in nostalgia, but upon returning home, I feel like a stranger who has lost his way."
These two sentences caused the ministers present to slightly narrow their eyes:
"These two lines of poetry are quite interesting. The first line can be guessed because it uses an allusion, referring to Xiang Xiu's 'Ode to Remembering the Past' from the Western Jin Dynasty."
"It is said that at the end of the Cao Wei period of the Three Kingdoms, Xiang Xiu's friends Ji Kang and Lü An were killed for their dissatisfaction with the Sima clan's usurpation of power. Later, when Xiang Xiu passed by the former residence of Ji Kang and Lü An, he heard a neighbor playing the flute and was overcome with grief, so he composed the 'Ode to Remembering the Past.' The last line uses the story of Wang Zhi's rotten axe handle to imply that he has not returned for a long time, and on the other hand, it also shows the changes in the world. That's true, but it's still not enough."
Wen Xiang grew increasingly worried, and his fists clenched tightly.
Su Feng's gaze sharpened; this anecdote certainly added a lot of points to the other party's score.
As these two lines of poetry were written, the light on the paper seemed about to burst forth, but because two lines were still missing, it was merely brewing there.
If Ye Ru's next line is good enough, it can basically make up for the shortcomings of the previous lines.
It's even possible that it could surpass the legendary poem.
"A thousand sails pass by the side of the sinking boat, and a thousand trees spring ahead of the sick tree."
As these two lines of poetry were written, the light accumulated more and more, and a rich power of the Holy Path quietly spread here. This power made the power of the Holy Path created by Su Feng's poem somewhat dim.
"Your Excellency, what do you think of these two lines of poetry?"
After carefully appreciating these two lines of poetry, Wen Xiang felt as if he had suddenly attained enlightenment, and a continuous stream of talent flowed towards his study.
"These two lines of poetry are truly amazing. On the one hand, they illustrate a sacred principle: the Yangtze River's waves push the previous ones forward. On the other hand, they also let people know that the elderly should not be discouraged, as this is an inevitable trend in the development of history. If this poem were to be integrated with the long river of history, it would surely elevate the power of history to a new level."
Wen Xiang nodded, his eyes full of praise.
"Today I saw your poem, and for now I'll rely on a cup of wine to lift my spirits."
While Wen Xiang was speaking, Ye Ru quietly put down his pen.