NOVEL NEXT Chapter 477: Surpass Ancient Scholars
Qin Weiyu blinked.
Chen Mo jumped off the carriage, spreading his arms open to give her a hug. Qin Weiyu stepped back and faintly smiled: "Weiyu must be seeing things, are you showing off some luxury to impress a beauty."
"It's been so long, shouldn't we have a warm embrace?" Chen Mo said in disappointment.
"It is improper for men and women to touch when passing things. We cannot allow for misunderstandings." Qin Weiyu still smiled.
"Junior Brother, who is this lady?"
"She is?"
Jiang Kui and Mi Fu dismounted the carriage. They were a bit puzzled to see Chen Mo chatting cheerfully with a beauty.
"This is a friend I made in the Outer Star Fields!" Chen Mo introduced her: "She is Magpie Bridge Immortal Qin Guan."
"Your Servant is Qin Weiyu." Qin Weiyu blinked.
"‘Unknown Literati' Mi Fu Mi Ji!"
"‘Intoxicated Sigh Of Joy And Sorrow' Bai Juyi Bai Qingyu!"
The three girls all introduced themselves.
"Magpie Bridge Immortal, your ‘if two hearts are united together forever, what need of them to stay together day by day and night by night' is quite famous in Realm. I never expected that Junior Brother would know you."
"I have not been deceived by Chen Mo, I have no relationship with him." Mi Ji emphasized her innocence.
Chen Mo saw that exhaustion was upon Qin Weiyu's brow, a weariness after self-improvement. The hard work she put in these past few years was evident. "Weiyu, how have you been these past few years?" Chen Mo looked around. He did not see that Yan Jidao Yan Luohua.
"For sure not as brilliantly as you." Qin Weiyu faintly smiled.
Chen Mo had many things he wanted to chat with her about. Seeing that she was apparently forcing herself to smile, he could not bring this up at the moment. "Weiyu, just now, was there a conflict between you and this guard?"
That guard said: "This lady insists on entering the poetry banquet, but she has no invitation."
"Your Servant merely wants to go find an acquaintance and will not disturb the mood inside." Qin Weiyu was tired.
"Subordinate is merely following orders." The guard answered stiffly.
Chen Mo could guess who she wanted to find. She said to Bai Juyi: "Little Sister, Qin Weiyu is my close friend, could we go in together?"
"Since she is Big Brother's close friend, of course. Qingyu has also long heard of Qin Guan's Star Name. To be able to make contact with you is an honor." Intoxicated Sigh Of Joy And Sorrow warmly said.
"Many thanks."
"Sister Qingyu, you actually spoke up for a man, I am too disappointed."
A haughty voice interrupted them. A long-haired woman walked out of the banquet hall. That woman was beautiful, an expression of complete confidence and ease in her eyes. Walking over, she gave off a fully frivolous feeling.
At the corner of this woman's mouth was a beauty mark. She sneered, yet this gave her the masculine air that a man had.
Her gaze swept over Qin Weiyu, Jiang Yuezhuo, and Mi Fu, wearing a provocative expression. At last, she saw Chen Mo, and then she finally retracted her smile and said in displeasure: "Who is this man, how can he appear in the vicinity of the River Viewing Pavilion and disturb our poetry."
"Yingying, you dare mock Big Brother. Let us part ways then." Bai Qingyu glowered.
"Big Brother? Qingyu, when did you have a big brother?" The woman snorted.
Bai Qingyu paid her no attention. Afraid Chen Mo would be upset, she explained: "Big Brother, no need to take offense, Yingying does not mean ill. Her mouth is simply faster than her brain."
"This is my Big Brother Chen Mo."
"Hm, hm, so you turned out to be that Chen Mo who composed the most outstanding ‘he asked if I would be the Green Emperor?'" Yingying was unconvinced: "I see nothing special about you. You do not even look as beautiful as This Lady."
Chen Mo thought to himself, As if I'm supposed to be more beautiful than a woman like you.
"Qingyu says you are very incredible. I do not believe a cultivator can compare to us Four Heroes. You may enter the River Viewing Pavilion with your friend if you so wish, but I will test you. If you truly are as splendid as Qingyu says, with Realm and ability, I will permit you entry."
"Sure." Chen Mo agreed. How could he be afraid when he had experience from a previous life. Ever since he cultivated, his memory became extremely formidable. The history and poems he ready in his past life were originally mostly forgotten already, but now, so long as he calmed a bit, he could see everything from the past vividly in his mind, as far as the eye could see. He knew all of Chinese history's poems and classics by heart.
"Heh, heh. I have a couplet that I wonder if you can complete it or not." The woman knew that Chen Mo's two lines were too astonishing, that she was no match, so she changed tactics.
This couplet was the most beloved by spiritual power Star Generals, however, this was just pure amusement.
"Speak." He had researched this couplet before. Now, his horizons were wide, and he was unafraid with several centuries' worth of knowledge and experience.
Hearing that people were competing with couplets, many people came out of the River Viewing Pavilion to spectate.
Yingying rolled her eyes: "A foolish heart falls in love with everyone."
"Cold eyes now suspect everything." Chen Mo blurted out.
The woman raised her brow. Her opponent reacted faster than she thought, but her couplet hid mysteries. She followed with her second line: "Disappointment year after year, hope year after year."
"Fail time after time, succeed time after time."
"Move, move, move, move and stop!" Yingying frivolously said: "These three couplets represent a person, do not respond erroneously."
Her last phrase of alternating characters left Mi Fu dumbstruck. She felt dizzy listening.
Chen Mo smiled: "Hearken, what harm is there to just sit, sit, sit, sit. My three couplets combined together are an undertaking.
The woman's expression was a bit unsightly. She did not expect Chen Mo to respond so easily.
"Want to go on?" Chen Mo's face said he could continue for a hundred years.
Yingying bit her lip.
"I heard that Second Sister was finishing couplets with someone here. Could this Jia join in?"
A woman in a white palace skirt and with her hair tied in a bun smiled and walked out from within the crowd.
"Third Sister." Bai Juyi gasped: "Third Sister, do not blindly cause a disturbance as Yingying has."
"Your Servant's Star Name is Jia Dao,1 True Name Jia Lianjun."2 The woman introduced herself.
"It's an honor to meet you at last." Chen Mo cupped his fist.
"At last?" Jia Lianjun was confused.
"I have heard of Lady Jia's work in the Literary Excellence Convention." Chen Mo said.
Jia Dao smiled: "You and Second Sister competed in couplets just now. Lianjun suddenly thought of one to consult with you."
"Please." Chen Mo indicated.
"Jia Dao came drunk yet did not fake a fall."3 The woman said. Her couplet could be described as ingenious, using her own Star Name to form a homophone. This would not be easy for the average person to respond to. It would be a bit challenging at least in terms of the homophone.
"Third Sister, this is a wonderful couplet." Yingying applauded.
Everyone else also praised it, and they looked eagerly at Chen Mo.
Chen Mo pondered rapidly, and he very quickly answered. "Chen Mo drank wine without falling silent."4
The surroundings were dumbstruck.
Jia Dao was taken aback. She was helpless: "Your Distinguished Self's name really is silent…"
"Are we done?" Chen Mo did not want to waste time.
Jia Lianjun glanced at Yingying. The latter raised her brow and shook her head: "No, this will not do. Couplets are too simple. How about poetry instead."
"Elder Sisters, your treatment of Big Brother is a bit outrageous." Bai Juyi very seriously cupped her hands.
The two women looked at her. Seeing their little sister was about to be angry, they could not help but laugh.
"Qingyu went through great trouble to invite Chen Mo to the banquet. Lianjun, Yingying, do not make things difficult for Little Sister." A warm voice softly interrupted. A well-educated and extremely learned woman delicately stepped forth.
"At least Elder Sister is considerate." Bai Qingyu happily said.
This woman had a head full of white hair. Her entire presence was restrained. She was not a novice like Bai Juyi or Jia Dao. She seemed very informed and knowledgeable. Perhaps she was already Heavenly Star in Realm.
"Long have I heard of Your Distinguished Self Chen Mo's poem. Today, to be able to invite you to our abode is our honor." The woman was courteous, elegantly following etiquette. "This Young Woman is Meng Jing,5 elder sister to these girls. Please forgive their thoughtlessness."
"Not at all, Sister Meng. This is also a kind of interaction, one that I could not have asked for." Chen Mo answered.
"In that case, please, come in."
The group moved towards the River Viewing Pavilion. From Meng Jing's words, Chen Mo finally understood the identities of these four.
The knowledgeable eldest sister was Heavenly Cool Star "Lone Goose Dongye" Meng Jiao,6 True Name Meng Jing.
The accomplished and frivolous second sister was Heavenly Weizhi Star "One Cup Accomplished" Yuan Zhen,7 True Name Yuan Yingying.8
The third sister was Heavenly Wuben Star "Immortal Slave In The Dry Moat" Jia Dao,9 True Name Jia Lianjun.
The fourth sister was "Intoxicated Sigh Of Joy And Sorrow" Bai Juyi Bai Qingyu.
The four of them recognized each other as sisters, and among the spiritual power Star Generals, they were quite famously known as the Four Heroes. This banquet was considered one of the most famous viewing banquets in Qu Yuan City. Many Star Generals and cultivators wished to attend.
Chen Mo was inwardly startled. In Chinese history, these four were indeed geniuses. Meng Jiao had the nickname "Prisoner Of Poetry," Jia Dao "Slave Of Poetry," and Bai Juyi "Demon Of Poetry." These kinds of appellations all demonstrated the poet's characteristics, distinguishing themselves from innumerable other poets. Their talent was plainly visible, and although Yuan Zhen did not have such a characteristic, he had the reputation of being extremely distinct. That classic idiom, "there are no rivers to one who has crossed the ocean, and no clouds to one who has passed Mount Wu" was his work.
Among the four sisters, Heavnely Cool Star Meng Jiao was the strongest, however, Bai Qingyu nevertheless improved with lightning speed. She had enormous talent among the four, so she was deeply loved. After Bai Qingyu returned, she mentioned Chen Mo's name with fervent admiration. As her older sisters, they naturally were a bit apprehensive.
The River Viewing Pavilion was close to the Miluo Star River, and the Chongli Pavilion in the middle was able to look down on this vast Star RIver. The geographical location was ideal, and the shadow of the Tne THousand Sages Hall was even visible in the distance.
Four everlasting steles stood at the River Viewing Pavilion's gate.
They were the work of the four sisters, flowing and elegant, of different styles, a feast for the eyes. It could be clearly seen they had left their name behind in Qu Yuan City.
On the River Viewing Pavilion, other than these four sisters, there were other good friends, like "Hero Of Poetry" Liu Yuxi. There were also calligraphers like Xue Ji, painters, and even Heavenly Zi'ang Star "Royal Crown Of The Yuan" Zhao Mengkan, the famous calligrapher, painter, and poet of the Yuan.
This was a stiff woman of constantly changing expressions. She did not seem particularly remarkable, but to be able to be here among those "Muscular Like the Yan's, Bony Like the Liu's," she was accomplished.
Jiang Kui was a bit excited. Her Sequel to the Treatise on Calligraphy clearly could improve in this session. After she brought out her work, several calligraphy Star Names were also astonished and endlessly impressed.
Other than them, there were various Star Names that Chen Mo knew and did not know. There were even top-notch cultivators and Star Warriors from the Ten Great Sects' "Heaven Beyond Heaven." The River Viewing Banquet could be said to be a gathering of glittering stars. The jade pendant's power rapidly increased.
The banquet started at the Chongli Pavilion. Scaling to its high view, one could see across a thousand li over the Star River, a broad perspective.
"Right, the Chongli Pavilion just so happens to need a couplet. The one that Sir composed just now could be called ingenious. Would it be possible for Meng Jing to request Sir to make a couplet." Not long after joining the banquet, Lone Goose Dongye Meng Jiao changed the topic.
What should have come had finally arrived.
- 賈島 ↩
- 賈憐君 ↩
- 賈島醉來非假倒, a pun between 賈島, her name, and 假倒, "fake a fall." ↩
- Remember, the "Mo" part of his name means "silence." ↩
- 孟婧 ↩
- 天涼星『東野孤鴻』孟郊 ↩
- 天·微之星‘一盞風流’元稹 ↩
- 元鶯鶯 ↩
- 天·無本星‘閬中仙奴’賈島 ↩