Chapter Forty-Seven: The Courtesan's Verse

“This poem is fresh and delicate, using the sorrow of spring’s passing to express the heartbreak of lost love; the scenery and sentiment intertwine perfectly! This is truly a masterpiece among masterpieces! Anyone who still doubts Jiang Han’s talent must be blind!”

“Indeed, this is undoubtedly the finest among all spring lament poems!”

“If this spreads, it will surely be included in this year’s ‘Great Yu Anthology.’ Many poems in that collection don’t come close to this one.”

Many scholars present couldn’t help but voice their admiration. Yin Rong was dumbfounded by the scene. He never imagined Jiang Han could compose such a poem. If only he hadn’t pressured Jiang Han so much. Not only did Jiang Han prove himself, but Yin Rong had become nothing more than a mere foil.

Jiang Han glanced at Yin Rong and Zhou Kang with a smile. “Gentlemen, isn’t it time you apologized?”

Yin Rong forced a smile. “Brother Jiang, your talent is great! It was wrong of me to doubt you before.”

Zhou Kang gritted his teeth and said, “I’m sorry, Young Master Jiang. It was wrong of me to question your talent.”

Jiang Han asked, “You haven’t forgotten what you said earlier, have you?”

Zhou Kang’s anger made him grind his teeth until they ached. If he were to kneel and kowtow to Jiang Han, it would become a laughingstock once it spread.

Someone advised, “Young Master Jiang, please show mercy. Let it go.”

Jiang Han looked around. “If I had failed to produce a good poem just now, you all would know the kind of slander I’d face. Not only would my reputation be ruined, but my father would become a laughingstock, making it impossible for us to stand in Yunyang County in the future! If slandering someone can be brushed off with a light apology, then today he could accuse me of plagiarizing poetry, and tomorrow of lawlessness.”

Everyone exchanged glances, feeling Jiang Han’s words were reasonable.

“Exactly, Young Master Jiang is right. Zhou Kang, you better kneel!”

“Zhou Kang, you really went too far earlier. What you said was utterly offensive.”

Seeing the crowd turn against him, including some friends, Zhou Kang trembled with fury.

After much hesitation, he bit his lip and knelt, his voice barely a whisper, “I’m sorry, Young Master Jiang. I was wrong.”

Jiang Han said, “Since you’ve apologized, I forgive you.”

He then looked at the others. “I have other matters to attend to and will not stay longer. Goodbye.”

Upon hearing this, many gathered around him, including some young ladies.

“Young Master Jiang, are you leaving so soon? The literary gathering isn’t over yet. Would you like something to eat?”

“Brother Jiang, don’t go yet. I want to ask you about poetry.”

“Young Master Jiang, would you like an orange? I’ll peel it for you.”

Jiang Han felt somewhat overwhelmed by their enthusiasm. A young girl even peeled an orange and offered it to him.

Yet he remained composed, cupping his hands and addressing the crowd in a clear voice, “Everyone, my presence here was purely by chance. I had no intention of attending this literary gathering, but fate brought us together.

“You are all talented members of the Yunyang Poetry Society, expected to compose poems and lyrics that capture the beauty of the three rivers and do justice to this splendid scenery!

“I should have accompanied you to appreciate the views and savor poetry, but I have matters to attend to... As you know, I run a fragrant dew shop, and my affairs are many, making it impossible to stay.”

Pausing briefly, Jiang Han smiled gently. “However, meeting you all today is a fate that comes once in a millennium. Should any of you wish to purchase the secret fragrant dew, I offer an 20% discount.”

His humble and courteous manner, despite the subtle advertisement at the end, won their favor.

“Brother Jiang is right; we should enjoy the scenery properly.”

“Safe travels, Young Master Jiang. I shall come to buy fragrant dew one day; you must give me a discount!”

“That’s a given. Young lady, I remember you. You’ll get a discount for sure!” Jiang Han laughed.

“I’ll take my leave now. Please all enjoy the beautiful scenery.”

Jiang Han bowed and stepped into Qin Yunmian’s carriage under their gazes and departed.

Even after he left, the crowd continued to discuss excitedly.

“I never expected to witness the birth of this ‘Butterfly Loves Flower’ poem today. I dare say it will be widely circulated and surely be featured in this year’s ‘Great Yu Anthology’!”

“Today was truly worthwhile. If this poem spreads, it will honor us as well. We owe thanks to Zhou Kang; if not for his slander, we wouldn’t have heard such a piece.”

“Jiang Han is truly gifted... Who said he was a fool before? They must have been blind! Not only blind but heartless too!”

At the mention of blindness, many secretly glanced at Gu Xirou.

Her face was dark, watching everyone lavish praise on Jiang Han, especially the young girls who looked at him with admiration. She felt unbearably humiliated.

Though no one spoke directly, Gu Xirou read their eyes clearly.

They were calling her blind!

“Damn Jiang Han! Did he compose this poem just to humiliate me?” Her eyes reddened, misted with tears, and she bit her lips until they bled.

She couldn’t believe Jiang Han had such talent. Why did he hide it before?

Especially since Jiang Han had just boarded that carriage; it infuriated her even more.

She clenched her silver teeth. Even if Jiang Han composed a beautiful poem, so what? He wasn’t even a student on the imperial examination path. How could he compare to Yin Rong?

Wang Siyi, seeing her friend’s sullen face, knew she was on the edge of an outburst and wanted to say something to soothe her when suddenly the crowd stirred.

“Miss Zhou Yun has arrived!”

A carriage rolled up, and the courtesan of Ningyan House, Zhou Yun, stepped down gracefully, her gaze sweeping over the crowd.

The scholars turned their eyes to her, burning with interest; the young ladies looked on with curiosity.

Indeed, the courtesan of Ningyan House was stunningly beautiful!

“I am Zhou Yun, honored to attend today’s Yunyang Poetry Society spring outing... I apologize for my tardiness due to some matters before arrival,” Zhou Yun said in a soft, mellifluous voice, bowing deeply.

The talented men immediately became excited.

“I heard Miss Zhou Yun is as beautiful as a celestial fairy. Seeing her today, she truly lives up to the reputation.”

“Miss Zhou Yun is famed as the ‘Jade Flute Maiden,’ skilled at playing the flute. I wonder if we’ll hear her melody today.”

“I’m a fan of the Jade Flute Maiden!” someone shouted excitedly, causing laughter.

Zhou Yun smiled lightly. “Since this is such a refined gathering, I am willing to offer a poem to entertain you all.”

Hearing this, many scholars couldn’t help but exclaim:

“The Jade Flute Maiden is going to compose a poem? I’ve heard she’s talented and known as a gifted woman. Let’s see how her verses are.”

“The Jade Flute Maiden is known for her flute playing, not poetry. It probably won’t be outstanding.”

Yin Rong, in a sour mood, thought that Zhou Yun’s arrival might ease the tension from before. Ideally, she would play a flute piece to help everyone forget the earlier matter.

He stepped forward with a smile. “Miss Zhou, your talent is exceptional. Please recite your poem; we are eager to listen.”

Zhou Yun smiled faintly. The reason she attended this gathering was to recite the poem composed for her by that person.

She adored that poem and had memorized it thoroughly. She smiled gently and said, “That poem is ‘Butterfly Loves Flower.’”

At this, Yin Rong was stunned. Why ‘Butterfly Loves Flower’ again?