Chapter 298 - 216: The Arrow Has Left the Bow
Chapter 298: Chapter 216: The Arrow Has Left the Bow
"But if we let one of those outsiders win, wouldn’t it needlessly tarnish the reputation of our Guiyun Academy?"
Chen Yi shook his head and said helplessly, "Headmaster, it’s only a poetry gathering. Whoever wins the title of Poetry Champion deserves it. It’s a testament to their skill."
"Besides, I’m not from Shu State myself. I’m from Jiangnan Prefecture."
"If I were to win the title of Poetry Champion, I doubt many would be convinced, would they?"
"That... is also true."
Mr. Yue Ming was, of course, well aware of this.
However, he had waited so long for an opportunity to bring glory to Guiyun Academy that he wanted everything to be perfect.
But seeing that Chen Yi wasn’t committing one way or the other, Mr. Yue Ming had no choice but to drop the matter.
He then picked up a letter from his desk and handed it to Chen Yi. "Mr. Ju Yi from Jinling Academy just sent over a few letters."
"One of them is specifically for you."
Chen Yi stepped forward and took it. Just as he was about to open it, Mr. Yue Ming continued,
"The poetry gathering is about to start. You can read the letter when you get back; it won’t be too late."
Chen Yi subconsciously squeezed the envelope. It felt like there was something else inside besides the letter. He tucked it safely inside his collar.
He didn’t know much about Mr. Ju Yi, his teacher in name only, so he couldn’t guess why the man would send a letter at this particular moment.
Fortunately, it would only be for half a day. He could afford to wait.
They did not linger long.
The group left the residence together. In the fading twilight, they followed a stone path illuminated by lanterns toward the site of the poetry gathering.
By this time, most of the guests had arrived for the poetry gathering, packing the specially prepared study hall to the brim.
The most prominent seats were naturally occupied by Liu Hong, Yang Ye, and other high-ranking officials of Shu State. Beside them sat several highly respected great scholars.
These included Mr. Yue Ming, Mr. Zhuo Ying, Mr. Lingchuan, and Mr. Zhangping of Yuelu Academy, among others.
Compared to them, even Liu Si, the Prefect of Shu State, could only take a seat off to the side.
To say nothing of Chen Yunfan, Li Huai’gu, and their peers.
Chen Yi scanned the room. Instead of taking a seat of honor with Mr. Yue Ming, he led Xiao Wan’er and the others to sit beside Chen Yunfan.
Shen Huatang, meanwhile, took Xiaodie to another side of the study hall to wait with a group of maids and servants.
After exchanging a few pleasantries and greetings, Chen Yunfan leaned in closer. "Why did you bring that Tiger Girl along? She’s not going to poison anyone again today, is she?"
The memory of being knocked out by Pei Guanli’s sedative at the last academy poetry gathering was apparently so profound that he still had lingering fears.
This was especially true after he learned of Pei Guanli’s true identity, which made him all the more wary of her.
Chen Yi couldn’t help but laugh. "Brother, are you still worried about that?"
He knew just how deep Chen Yunfan’s Martial Arts Cultivation ran; he didn’t believe for a second that his friend was truly afraid of Pei Guanli.
"How could I not be?"
"That girl dared to use poison at the Old Marquis’s own birthday banquet! She’s completely lawless..."
Catching Pei Guanli’s gaze out of the corner of his eye, Chen Yunfan immediately sat up straight and cleared his throat.
"The academy invited quite a few courtesans today, Brother Yi. Don’t miss the beautiful sights and songs."
Chen Yi paused, then, noticing the looks from Xiao Wan’er and the others, replied, "You’re joking, Brother."
"How am I joking? I..."
Before Chen Yunfan could finish, Cui Qingwu gave him a quiet tug. With an apologetic glance at those around them, he pulled Chen Yunfan aside to whisper about other matters.
Xiao Wan’er looked at Chen Yi’s feigned innocence, smiled sweetly, and said,
"I hear that several of the courtesans who sent you invitations before are also in attendance today. You really should watch and listen closely."
’That’s ancient history,’ Chen Yi muttered to himself.
Grumbling internally, he took in the scene around him—Chen Yunfan and Cui Qingwu were whispering affectionately, Li Huai’gu and Lady Yun were lost in their own world, and Xiao Wuge and Pei Guanli...
...those two were looking everywhere, their eyes wide, clearly finding everything new and exciting.
After a moment’s thought, Chen Yi figured he might as well make a pair with Xiao Wan’er.
"Are you feeling comfortable, Wan’er?"
Xiao Wan’er subconsciously pulled her large cloak tighter, half her face disappearing into the fluffy white fur trim. "It’s alright," she murmured softly.
She was, in truth, a little uncomfortable.
She had only ever heard about poetry gatherings, never attended one herself.
Now that she was here, she was discovering that this sort of occasion didn’t suit her at all.
There were too many strangers, and it required so much polite conversation.
She also had to be mindful of her posture and status, all while enduring the occasional whispered criticisms and impolite stares.
It was all making her feel out of place.
If Chen Yi and the others weren’t sitting by her side, she probably would have already found an excuse to leave.
Chen Yi noticed her discomfort. He offered a few comforting words with a smile, then started telling her amusing stories to distract her.
But while Chen Yi’s group chatted quietly, other parts of the hall were much more boisterous.
The students of Guiyun Academy were gathered together, the members of the Noble Families had formed their own small cliques, and the guests from other state capitals did the same.
The groups kept to themselves, but as they laughed and chatted, their topics of conversation began to overlap.
"There’s been a lot of trouble in Shu State lately. It’s truly become a laughingstock for the whole world."
"Indeed. Who would have thought the culprit behind the attacks on the Three Towns wasn’t from the Barbarian Race or Poshisu Country, but was..."
A long-faced young scholar jutted his chin toward Liu Hong on the high platform. "...that one."
Ma Guan, sitting in the middle of the group, cut in. "Brother Yuan Lin, quiet down, lest the masters overhear you."
"If he can do such things, why can’t we talk about them?"
"Speaking ill of others behind their backs is not the act of a gentleman."
"If you’re so inclined, Brother Yuan Lin, why don’t you go up on that stage and hold forth in front of Lord Liu himself?"
The long-faced scholar pointed at Ma Guan. "You..."
He was bold enough to say such things in private, but if he were to actually stand before Liu Hong, the Lord Governor of Shu State, he’d probably be too scared to utter a single word.
Someone nearby tried to smooth things over. "The masters are all watching."
"Alright, let’s talk about something else..."
Meanwhile, at another table, Pei Zhaoye of Yuelu Academy was in the middle of a heated debate.
"Who cares if he takes me as a student?"
"There are countless people in this world who have reached Perfection in the Calligraphy Dao, even some in the Saint Realm. If I don’t study under Chen Qingzhou, there are plenty of other famous masters."
A similarly-aged scholar in blue robes asked with a smirk, "Then why did you try to become his disciple right then and there?"
"Who said I did?"
"Weren’t you? The masters from Guiyun Academy can all attest to it."
"I also heard Mr. Qingzhou said he ’couldn’t teach you.’ HAHA! Is that true?"
"Outrageous!"
Pei Zhaoye’s face flushed red with anger. Stiffening his neck, he retorted, "Today is the Mid-Autumn Poetry Gathering! We’re here to befriend one another through poetry, not the Calligraphy Dao."
The scholar in blue robes said, "Oh? So you’re saying, Brother Pei, that you plan to compete with Mr. Qingzhou in the art of poetry?"
"If he wants to compete, then we’ll compete!"
His voice was rather loud, making it difficult for Chen Yi to ignore.
However, he was in the middle of a quiet conversation with Xiao Wan’er and couldn’t be bothered with the chatter around him.
「Not long after.」
The poetry gathering began as scheduled.
Courtesans took the stage, performing songs and dances. With the endless courses of the banquet, the atmosphere could certainly be described as "elegant."
After three rounds of drinks, Mr. Yue Ming gave a short speech, then conferred with the other masters and announced the topic:
"The theme is the bright moon, in celebration of the Mid-Autumn Festival."
It was a fitting theme for the occasion, and many of the scholars who had come prepared looked visibly pleased.
Even Chen Yunfan looked eager to give it a try.
"Brother Yi, I’ll go first later. Don’t you jump ahead of me."
Chen Yi smiled and nodded. It wouldn’t have mattered to him if he didn’t write at all, let alone who went first.
However, as he glanced around their table, a flicker of confusion crossed his face. "Where did Pei Guanli go?"
Xiao Wuge, his eyes glued to the performers on stage, answered distractedly, "Sister Guanli said she was going to the latrine."
Xiao Wan’er tapped him lightly on the arm. "Mind your manners," she chided. "Don’t use such crude language."
Upon hearing this, Chen Yi thought for a moment, then stood up. "Wait here, I’m going to go check on her."
He was still a little worried. It wouldn’t do to have that Tiger Girl try her poisoning tricks here.
"Hurry back, Brother Yi. It’ll be your turn after I’m done writing."
"Got it..."