The capital was filled with high-ranking officials and nobility, with countless beautiful won from wealthy families.
Those imperial princesses and county princesses of the imperial clan were especially like golden branches and jade leaves, phoenixes descended to the mortal world—their beauty was peerless while their status was beyond words.
But beauty was also a feeling.
Sun Jinhu's entrance seed to carry the tender green breath of Jiangnan, like mist and rain after clearing, refreshingly new.
Her sky-water-blue gauze wide-sleeved robe moved lightly, revealing the inner tea-white narrow waist garnt embroidered with gold thread depicting the Twenty-Four Bridges Under Moonlight. Her waist was cinched three degrees thinner than the fresh willows beneath those bridges, yet contained a hidden resilience—the bone rhythm cultivated from practicing the Startling Swan Dance since childhood.
With asured steps, she walked into the center of the great hall.
She settled before a qin zither that had been prepared in advance, her slender jade hands with their distinct bone structure as white as untouched snow.
Her nobility was innate.
She possessed both the charm of a small family's jade and an unaffected grace.
Her fingers lightly plucked the zither strings once, purifying the mortal dust with lodious, ethereal tones.
Every scholar present had their gaze fixed upon her, unable to look away for even a mont.
Thinking that one of the nine present had the chance to join hands with such a woman for a lifeti, they couldn't help but feel surging passion.
No wait—Song Shi'an had already been eliminated.
The competition was among the remaining eight.
Minister Sun in the seat of honor revealed a satisfied smile, nodding slightly.
Inevitably, he turned his head to look toward the Prince of Zhongping.
Sensing the gaze, the Prince of Zhongping smiled and nodded. Then he raised his cup, and after the two quietly drank together, they turned their attention back to the center.
But his attention wasn't on Sun Jinhu.
It was on Song Shi'an, seated to the side.
Still drinking.
Earlier, he'd made Minister Sun eat so humble pie and feel thoroughly uncomfortable. But the scenario he wanted to see hadn't appeared—that is, an unseemly loss of composure and tearing off of face.
Minister Sun's goal was nothing more than obstructing the military farming initiative under the guise of suppressing Song Shi'an.
But what was Song Shi'an thinking?
The current him had no qualifications whatsoever to lead the military farming initiative.
But since they'd pushed him forward, they would inevitably use him in the future.
His attitude was also important.
Sun Jinhu's performance flowed like clouds and water, yet turned and circled back—it should be a famous Jiangnan lody.
It was as if one could hear birdsong and flower fragrance beyond the strings, the tinkling of clear springs.
There was a sense of déjà vu, like hearing "cuckoo, cuckoo" on a morning in a forest cottage.
Even the air felt fresher.
Smiles appeared on everyone's faces.
The zither was wonderful indeed—one really should learn it.
Perhaps beautiful things were too captivating, for it seed to have just begun when it was already ending.
The music stopped.
Sun Jinhu raised her head, slowly rose, and said softly: "Jinhu wishes Father a joyful birthday, and blessings as vast as the Southern Mountain."
Her voice was pleasant too!
"Co sit down."
Seeing his daughter had changed so much, Minister Sun, who hadn't seen her in a long while, was in much better spirits. He smiled and beckoned with his hand.
Then, after Sun Jinhu paid respects to the Prince of Zhongping, she sat on a cushion to the lower front of Minister Sun, the father and daughter separated by about two ters.
This placed her below the seat of honor but slightly above Sun Heng and Sun Qian.
Because today was about finding her a boyfriend—she was the protagonist.
Seated here, the first person Sun Jinhu saw was Song Shi'an, after all, his position was particularly conspicuous.
It was that person from the other day who, after being caught in the "seizing a son-in-law beneath the examination rankings," had asked if the young lady was ho...
He was the jieyuan being targeted today?
Actually, she hadn't known about the targeting beforehand—she'd overheard so maidservants talking about it outside before her entrance.
She naturally couldn't interfere in her father and brother's affairs, but seeing Song Shi'an sitting in the corner, continuously drinking to mask his embarrassnt, she did feel so sympathy.
At this mont, Fan Wuji said: "Miss Sun's performance—it should be the Yangzhou famous lody 'Erging Lotus'?"
As soon as he finished speaking, Sun Heng, who had a political mission, smiled and said: "Precisely so. Young Master Fan is also well-versed in music?"
"I have a superficial understanding of it." Fan Wuji smiled modestly. "Naturally, I'm not like Miss Sun, who is so attuned to musical principles and possesses such superior qin skill."
"You're too modest, Young Master Fan. Why not give us a demonstration?" Sun Heng said teasingly. "And offer guidance to my little sister."
"How would I dare show off before the young lady today and invite ridicule from all my brothers?"
Fan Wuji hastily declined, though that word "today" conveyed his enthusiasm for continued acquaintance.
The competition for mates had begun.
Their earlier restraint was simply because they hadn't seen the little beauty in person.
Watching this scene by scene, Han Zhongchen felt irritated.
Brother-in-law Sun Heng, since there was a performance, why didn't you inform of the piece's na in advance so I could pander a bit?
I'm acting as your blade here!
"My daughter has so small talent in music, but it can't compare to all you young talents' mastery of lyrical composition."
At this mont, Minister Sun adopted an "I just thought of sothing" expression: "Since this is a gathering of talented scholars, why not have so refined entertainnt?"
After speaking, he looked toward the Prince of Zhongping and asked: "What does Your Highness think?"
"Since everyone here is a sub-yuan from our Great Yu, your level of lyrical composition certainly isn't low." The Prince of Zhongping played along. "Speaking purely of lyrical composition, this prince is genuinely curious about who's superior."
"Your Highness, in terms of lyrical composition, the first place is the jieyuan—certainly the jieyuan is highest."
Sun Qian cupped his hands in salute and replied.
"Really?" The Prince of Zhongping asked. "All you sub-yuan, what do you think?"
At this question, everyone began exchanging glances.
Then everyone noticed that Song Shi'an had sohow already collapsed onto his table.
Drunk?!
"Your Highness."
At this mont, Han Zhongchen spoke up: "Although 'An Exhortation to Learning' is first in lyrical composition, it emphasizes reasoning more. In terms of literary brilliance, naturally Young Master Sun Qian's 'Ode to the Great River' is superior. Moreover, when the young master was only fourteen, he wrote a magnificent work like 'Ode to the Crimson River.'"
After he finished, Hu Yu chid in: "Examination essays emphasize aning, but speaking of textual 'beauty,' Young Master Sun Qian is incomparable among us."
Reading the situation, the sub-yuan began stepping on the fallen.
But Fan Wuji had no intention of following this shaless behavior.
However, Gao Yunyi couldn't bear it and interjected: "Although 'An Exhortation to Learning' lacks flowery rhetoric, its aning is apt and profound. The beauty of the text, if one has discernnt, can naturally be seen."
This iteration of "An Exhortation to Learning" was genuinely impressive.
So disparaging the first place in lyrical composition was unacceptable to most scholars.
Only Gao Yunyi spoke up.
Han Zhongchen's face reddened slightly again.
Can't you see Minister Sun wants to ss with Song Shi'an?!
"'An Exhortation to Learning' can indeed beco a classic."
At this mont, Sun Heng entered the fray. After affirming Song Shi'an, he pivoted: "Since that's the case, why don't each of you compose impromptu poetry on a random topic?"
"Then, young master, what should the topic be?" Hu Yu asked.
"What does Your Highness think?" Minister Sun asked.
"This prince will rely be a listener today." The Prince of Zhongping declined with a smile.
"Today's gathering of worthies, so the the for lyrical composition..." After surreptitiously glancing at Han Zhongchen, Sun Heng shook his head. "Ah, I really can't think of one."
"Young Master Sun, I have sothing to say."
Seeing this, Han Zhongchen spoke up: "Today is Minister Sun's birthday—why not use 'birthday' as the the? What do you think?"
Hearing this, all the scholars nodded in agreent.
Since it was the host's birthday, so poems praising him were perfectly normal.
Honestly, many had already privately prepared a poem.
In ancient tis, when jieyuan and jinshi gathered for banquets, they often played this kind of ga.
However, this Han Zhongchen has been jumping around all day—could he have coordinated with Young Master Sun beforehand?
For what purpose?
Just as the ga was about to begin, Sun Heng raised his voice and said to Song Shi'an: "What does the jieyuan think?"
He didn't wake up.
So a sub-yuan beside him shook his shoulder: "Jieyuan, wake up."
Gradually, Song Shi'an climbed up.
Sowhat confused and drowsy, he asked: "What is it?"
Instantly, the entire hall laughed.
They were amused by his comical state.
Sun Jinhu also couldn't quite contain herself, but beautiful won don't show their teeth when laughing, so she could only lower her head and raise her sleeve, pretending to drink tea.
"Jieyuan." Han Zhongchen said impatiently, "We're drinking and composing—using 'birthday' as the na, each person will compose one poem or lyrical piece."
Looking at him, Song Shi'an smiled slightly and said casually: "Understood."
"Then, jieyuan, please begin." Sun Heng extended his hand with a smile.
However, as soon as he finished speaking, Song Shi'an directly replied: "I am the jieyuan—how can I be the first to compose poetry?"
"..."
This statent imdiately silenced the entire hall.
His arrogance was secondary—the one speaking was the Sun family's legitimate eldest son, moreover a fourth-rank official of the court. How dare he respond so defiantly?
Sun Heng's expression darkened.
He's drunk.
All the sub-yuan could see it clearly. They could see even more clearly that Sun Heng's mood was currently terrible.
Yet Song Shi'an paid no mind. He raised his hand, lightly waved his sleeve, then smiled and said loudly to everyone: "Gentlen, throw out a brick to attract jade!"
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