Chapter 31: A Poem for Bluebird! Extre Envy and Jealousy!
The fight ended so quickly that the onlookers hadn’t even reacted yet.
Even Xie Bi’an, who had lost, was in a daze!
He didn’t even know how he had lost!
What made it even more humiliating was that he, who was known as the fastest sword in the capital, was defeated by Bluebird in a single move with speed!
This was like a stab to the heart—worse than being trampled underfoot, it made him collapse from within!
What made Xie Bi’an feel the most ashad was that after losing, he realized Bluebird had been wielding her spear backward the whole ti!
In other words, he had been defeated by a spear without a tip!
If Bluebird had used the spearhead, he might have died in that instant!
The more Xie Bi’an thought about it, the more humiliated he felt.
But after the sha, all he could do was accept his fate.
Because she hadn’t used any tricks, she won fair and square. To avoid injuring him, she had deliberately concealed her edge—he had no grounds to complain about his loss!
’
“Clap, clap, clap!”
The crisp sound of applause woke everyone up.
Everyone turned their heads to see that it was none other than Li Chengyuan clapping.
Li Chengyuan walked forward, crouched down, and looked at Xie Bi’an. He asked, “Do you admit defeat?”
Xie Bi’an, having a sword pointed at his face, didn’t dare to be angry. He could only coldly reply, “I lost.”
“Good that you admit it!” Li Chengyuan stood up and looked at Bluebird.
Bluebird lifted her foot and a faint smile appeared on her lips.
She couldn’t bear to see anyone hurt Li Chengyuan.
That kick just now had vented her anger.
“Are you hurt?” Li Chengyuan asked with concern.
Bluebird’s eyes softened, and she shook her head gently.
“That’s good!” Li Chengyuan said. Then, he looked around and announced, “I declare the winner to be Bluebird!”
“Oh~!!!”
“Clap, clap, clap!”
Everyone finally began to cheer and applaud.
At the sa ti, they couldn’t help but start discussing.
“Who would’ve thought that this young girl is so powerful!”
“Yeah! I wonder where the Third Prince found such an expert, soone who could defeat Xie Bi’an!”
“It seems the Third Prince has been hiding his strength all along! We thought his foundation was weak, but it turns out he can casually bring out a ninth-rank expert. No wonder he’s a prince—he’s really impressive!”
Everyone was full of admiration.
Many people began to change their opinion of the Third Prince because of this event.
Even Fan Ruoruo and Lin Wan’er wore expressions of surprise!
They hadn’t expected that this Third Prince, who always seed so scholarly and unassuming, was also hiding such depth!
’
The defeated Xie Bi’an clutched his chest as he returned to Li Chengze’s side.
“I’m sorry, Your Highness, I was incompetent!”
Li Chengze shook his head, his face cold, without saying a word.
Nearby, the Crown Prince squinted his eyes as he gazed at Bluebird in the arena, lost in thought.
’
After the applause died down, Li Chengyuan spoke again, “Now that the duel is over, it’s ti for to fulfill my promise! Bring paper and brush!”
Upon hearing this, everyone realized that Li Chengyuan was about to write a poem for Bluebird.
Everyone imdiately gathered around with great interest.
After all, this was a poetry gathering. Poetry was the main focus.
Though the duel had been exciting, they were more interested in Li Chengyuan’s poetry.
Even the Crown Prince and Li Chengze approached.
Li Chengze remained cold and silent, having lost his earlier fire.
Bluebird’s appearance made Li Chengze realize that he knew nothing about Li Chengyuan.
It would be unwise to act rashly without understanding one’s opponent.
So Li Chengze planned to probe Li Chengyuan further.
Now, Li Chengyuan writing a poem was a good opportunity!
At least he could see whether Li Chengyuan had any literary talent, and also check if the famous slender gold script was truly his.
’
Soon, two servants brought over a prepared writing desk.
Bluebird skillfully stepped forward to grind ink for Li Chengyuan.
At the sa ti, Bluebird felt full of anticipation, as this was a poem Li Chengyuan was writing just for her!
On the other side, Sangwen quietly ca over as well.
But she was there to hold an umbrella, shielding the desk from the occasional raindrops that might wet the paper.
Li Chengyuan stood behind the desk, picked up a wolf hair brush, dipped it in ink, and then closed his eyes in thought.
To be honest, Li Chengyuan knew a lot of poetry, but he could only use Su Shi’s poems now!
After all, Su Shi’s poetry was system-rewarded, and using other poems would reveal his identity as a ti traveler to Fan Xian!
However, most of Su Shi’s poems were heroic and broad-minded, with only a few suitable for writing to a woman.
Moreover, Li Chengyuan had to consider the location and historical references of this era, so it wasn’t easy to choose a suitable one for Bluebird.
Seeing Li Chengyuan think for a while, Li Chengze couldn’t help himself. He spoke again, “Third Brother, this poem was won by Miss Bluebird’s hard-fought victory. You mustn’t take it lightly!”
Li Chengyuan glanced at Li Chengze, his eyes cold.
Li Chengze’s words seed to be in support of Bluebird, but they were reminding Li Chengyuan that the poem had to match Bluebird’s temperant and couldn’t be done half-heartedly.
This subtly increased the difficulty for Li Chengyuan.
That’s why Li Chengyuan was displeased!
This second brother still needed a lesson!
Others also picked up on the aning behind Li Chengze’s words but kept silent, amazed at the subtle challenge.
Li Chengyuan temporarily ignored Li Chengze. He lifted his head, looking at the lake in front of him and the distant, faintly visible mountains to the west of the capital, and suddenly had an idea.
He smoothed a piece of paper and quickly began to write.
Soon, Li Chengyuan’s slender gold script, as firm as iron hooks and silver strokes, revealed the first line:
“The water’s gleaming surface is best on a sunny day!”
The mont the first line appeared, soone couldn’t help but exclaim, “What a wonderful line!”
Everyone knew that Li Chengyuan was describing the very lake in front of them—Qinghu Lake!
Over the years, many people have written poems about Qinghu Lake, but nonehaved captured its beauty as perfectly as this!
Many couldn’t help but silently praise the Third Prince, who had composed the famous Die Lian Hua (Butterfly Love) verse. This single line vividly conveyed the stunning scenery of Qinghu Lake.
However, before they could fully savor it, Li Chengyuan had already written the second line.
Beside him, the Crown Prince couldn’t resist reading it aloud:
“The mountains shrouded in misty rain are marvelous too! What a beautiful line!”
Everyone turned to gaze at the faintly visible mountains outside the city. Under that drizzle, the scene was especially ethereal.
This breathtaking description once again left everyone in awe.
Then, Li Chengyuan wrote the third line.
“Shall I compare Qinghu Lake to Lady Qing?”
Lady Qing was a legendary beauty in this world’s ancient history.
Since this world didn’t have Xi Shi, Li Chengyuan used Lady Qing for comparison!
After reading this, soone finally raised a question.
“Did His Highness write the wrong character? Shouldn’t it be ‘Qinghu Lake,’ not ‘Qinghu Lake’?”
“You don’t understand!” Before Li Chengyuan could explain, soone else rebuked the questioner: “Don’t you know this lake used to be called Qinghu? And His Highness used the na Qinghu to make a comparison with Lady Qing. This is a normal poetic technique. How did you even get into this poetry gathering?”
The person was too ashad to speak.
At this mont, Li Chengyuan also glanced at Bluebird and wrote the final line:
“Whether light or heavy makeup, it is always beautiful!”
The mont this line appeared, gasps of astonishnt erupted.
This single line elevated the entire poem to new heights.
If the previous lines were considered stunning, sothing an ordinary person might manage with great effort, this last line was a tiless masterpiece.
Just this one line made everyone bow in admiration!
It was simply too perfect!
Especially when paired with the third line, it was a stroke of genius.
So had wondered earlier, Wasn’t this poem supposed to be for the maid? Why did it suddenly turn into a description of Qinghu Lake?
But when the fourth line appeared, everything beca clear.
It turned out that His Highness was using scenery to describe a person.
By comparing the maid, Bluebird, to Qinghu Lake, the poem praises her as naturally beautiful, whether with light or heavy makeup—just like the lake, which is stunning in all weather.
The imagery praised both the person and the scenery, blending them in perfect harmony.
But the true brilliance lay in the third line, where “Lady Qing” could refer to both the ancient beauty and the maid, Bluebird.
In other words, the poem wasn’t just comparing a person to a landscape—it was comparing a beauty across ti!
What an honor!
In an instant, many noble young ladies began casting envious glances at Bluebird!
’
This maid’s fate is simply too good!
With this poem by Li Chengyuan, Bluebird will surely be rembered in history alongside it!
In the future, whenever people ntion Lady Qing, they’ll also think of Bluebird!
This is no longer just a matter of being rembered in history;
It’s already beco a story, a legend!
At this mont, these noble young ladies wish they could drive Bluebird away and stay behind as Li Chengyuan’s maid themselves!
If they could receive such a poem, forget being a maid—being a concubine wouldn’t be out of the question either!
’’
Footnotes:
青史留名(qīng shǐ liú míng): ans “to leave one’s na in the green history books,” aning to be rembered in history for a good deed or accomplishnt.青女(Qīng nǚ): Refers to Lady Qing, a renowned beauty from ancient history in the context of the story, not a specific real figure.
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