Chapter 97: Increasingly Interesting
“Hey, have you heard… the eldest son of the Gu family, his talent is overflowing!”
“Eh, what you said is interesting, what does overflowing mean?”
In the alleys of the capital, people who were idle and out for a stroll, upon meeting acquaintances, could not stop their itching tongues and actively began to spread gossip.
While it wasn’t as leisurely as chatting and drinking tea in a teahouse, as the onlookers cast curious glances, it held a different kind of flavor in their hearts.
This immediately gave the gossip spreaders enough motivation to exaggerate their prepared stories even further.
“Heh heh, because Gu Qingheng won the top scholar in the imperial examination, the Gu family grandly held several days of banquets. The attendees were all prominent figures, making it a very influential banquet. Many people were proud to have attended this banquet…”
“Stop, stop, stop, who doesn’t know about this! Just get to the point! What happened to that top scholar Gu?”
“I am providing a prior context, young man, you need to be patient… Originally, they were happily holding a banquet, but not everyone attended with good intentions. There were quite a few malicious guys who prepared to embarrass Gu Qingheng and make this top scholar look foolish!”
Perhaps the speaker had been a storyteller before, because the words that came out of his mouth were vivid, arousing the interest of many.
Even the person who interrupted him earlier stopped speaking and looked over with interest, eager to hear how it would develop and whether the Gu family’s top scholar would lose face.
The title of young genius is not easy to maintain.
As long as they lose face once, they can no longer be called a genius and cannot remain on the pedestal.
Coincidentally, the current imperial examination reform has caused quite a stir between the conservative faction and the reformist faction. If Gu Qingheng, the top scholar, were to have an accident, it would not be a simple incident of losing face, but a direct blow to Empress Bai Qian’s reputation!
Therefore, this is not a small matter.
It is not entirely targeting Gu Qingheng, but rather an attempt to attack those in powerful positions in the capital.
Under such circumstances, what kind of situation Gu Qingheng would encounter is even more anticipated… Pfft, it’s getting tense.
“Under the design of some well-intentioned people, a poetry gathering activity appeared at the banquet… It is said that the hosts were the previously famous Li Fei and Wang Suili. Facing wolves in front and tigers behind, the young top scholar Gu Qingheng encountered his greatest crisis.”
“However, a crisis can also be an opportunity, because after the event began, Gu Qingheng directly composed a poem!”
“The waxing and waning moon enters the high pavilion, behind the curtain, peeking at the eaves, the curtain is not rolled. How many times have I seen the moon among the mountains and forests, alone and desolate, my heart unable to speak.”
After saying a lot in succession, the speaker felt parched. The people listening to the gossip nearby cleverly brought tea to quench their thirst, their eyes full of curiosity, wanting to continue listening.
This matter is getting more and more interesting!
“As the first person to compose a poem, and one that was very good, it was a direct slap in the face! It is said that the two ministers hosting were also very satisfied and praised Gu Qingheng privately again and again.”
“However, even though Gu Qingheng was so excellent, there were still some sour and arrogant scholars who couldn’t stand it and always wanted to make things difficult for this young boy who was just 14 years old.”
“Using the excuse of the increasing number of participants, they asked Gu Qingheng to compose another poem to prove the authenticity of his title as top scholar.”
At this point, the speaker quickly took a sip of tea to moisten his throat again.
However, the surrounding crowd listening to the gossip was not pleased.
“How can these black-hearted guys treat Gu Qingheng like this!”
“Yes, this is clearly making things difficult! One plan failed, and another arose. They are too wicked!”
“What happened next? Did Gu Qingheng compose the second poem? Tell us quickly, you’re driving me crazy!”
“The Gu family is not to be trifled with. These people are definitely finished, seeking death!”
Everyone spoke one after another, and the original speaker couldn’t find an opportunity to speak.
This made him anxious, and he quickly stopped everyone, thinking that the news was not finished and his reward would be halved!
“Everyone, please be quiet, I haven’t finished speaking yet. Do you still want to hear the follow-up!”
However, the sentence that followed was very effective.
It made everyone fall silent, and one by one, they cast expectant glances, wanting to hear what happened next.
Although they could vaguely guess the ending, the process was the most important!
“In response to the provocation, Gu Qingheng did not remain silent but directly accepted the challenge… Composing poems, it’s as easy as breathing, and very impressive!”
“Moonlight in front of my bed, I suspect it’s frost on the ground. I raise my head to gaze at the bright moon, and lower my head thinking of my hometown.”
“Do you think that’s all? No, it’s not. After reciting such beautiful lines, Gu Qingheng didn’t stop at all. He recited five poems with the moon as the theme, such as ‘raising a cup to invite the bright moon, forming three in the shadow,’ and so on. It was truly extemporANEOUS!”
When the follow-up was told, even though everyone around was a commoner, they could understand the poems to some extent.
Even if they didn’t understand the meaning of the poems, as long as they sounded pleasant, it was enough.
Especially when they heard others ostracizing Gu Qingheng before, listening to Gu Qingheng’s counterattack and slap in the face made them feel incredibly pleased, almost wanting to shout for joy.
They only regretted not being able to be present at the scene, so they could truly shout for joy and make those bad guys who bullied others suffer the consequences and taste what it’s like to be humiliated.
“Just by listening to these poems, many people present were stunned! And Gu Qingheng’s title as top scholar was finally confirmed. No matter how other insignificant people slandered him, they could not shake Gu Qingheng’s position!”
“This outcome is truly satisfying. It is said that after the Empress heard about this, she specifically sent someone to bestow rewards and placed high hopes on Gu Qingheng… It is likely that when Gu Qingheng grows a bit older, he will be highly regarded in the imperial court!”
As the man spoke with great gusto, Gu Yu, who was mixed in the crowd, covered his face with a fan, speechless. He was truly impressed by the gossip deliberately spread by his younger brother-in-law!
If he praised it any further, he would vomit!
Even though the gossip was not false, it always felt a bit strange to listen to.
“Young master, are we still going to find those people who framed the young master?”
As Gu Yu covered his face with his fan, the servant beside him quietly asked.
This made Gu Yu glance at him obliquely, and the words from his mouth became sinister: “Why not? They dare to mess with Gu Yu’s people, they truly have the guts of a leopard! If they are not punished, wouldn’t that be directly slapping Gu Yu’s face?”
This made the servant break out in a cold sweat, thinking that he had said something he shouldn’t have and angered the young master!
“Don’t worry, I won’t kill anyone, I’ll ‘just’ teach them a small lesson.”
Gu Yu didn’t look at the servant anymore. The words that followed, although spoken with a smile, made the servant feel utterly chilled to the bone.
His young master truly had the demeanor of a great villain!