My younger sister insisted on marrying me and made me the Marquis' wife.

Chapter 133 Maybe
As they were talking, several other scholars that Lin Ziqi had invited also arrived.

After meeting them, Qin Siyuan became more certain that Lin Ziqi's association this time was all for the purpose of highlighting his poetic talent.

I just don’t know if that noble person will really come to visit.

A group of people strolled along the embankment, chatting and laughing as they toured the Yuyuantan Lake.

The emperor of the previous dynasty built Diaoyutai here, and thus there are famous scenic spots such as Yangzun Linquan and Diaoyu Hequ. Later, a famous prime minister built Wanliutang, and Yuyuantan became a gathering place for scholars.

Every year people come here to enjoy cherry blossoms in spring, water activities in summer, leaf viewing in autumn, and snow playing in winter.

It is summer now. Yuyuantan is a pool formed by gushing springs. The water is shimmering, and there are willows and lotus flowers in the shade. In the distance there are endless reed marshes and rice fields, and a circle of earthen hills all around.

There were forests on the mountain, and nobles would go up there to hunt, hunting rabbits, pheasants and the like for fun.

Mr. Gu Liu often came here and went boating with a group of romantic literati. It was also here that he met Aunt Zheng. However, this time it was Lin Ziqi's society, so the expenses were simple, so only a group of people could watch by the water.

Qin Siyuan did not like extravagance because of the Qin family's family motto. His father died early, and he was supported by his widowed mother alone, but he did not think much of it.

The other scholars, who were originally trying to make friends with the future Jinshi and the Sixth Master of the Dingbei Hou family, were naturally willing to compromise.

Mr. Gu Liu was happily chatting with Qin Siyuan, and he didn't care whether he could take a boat ride or whether there were kabuki to entertain him.

After walking for a long time, they finally reached the fishing river bend. They were inevitably a little tired, so they stopped when they saw some tea stalls and restaurants on the roadside.

Lin Ziqi asked, "How about we just rest here and write some poetry?"

Qin Siyuan nodded.

Mr. Gu Liu also nodded.

Others say yes.

Lin Ziqi added: "Since I initiated the poetry gathering, I will first explain the rules of poetry writing. We are gathered here today, not just for fun, but to make friends through poetry."

"Yep."

Several scholars who were invited to make up the numbers and were not very good at writing poems nodded in agreement.

Mr. Gu Liu felt that this time's entertainment was different from the previous ones, more serious and more prestigious, so naturally he had no objection.

Qin Siyuan nodded and said, "That's exactly what should be done."

What else are you doing here? It's so hot, you might as well stay home and memorize your lessons.

Seeing that everyone agreed with him, Lin Ziqi said proudly: "Then I will give a few topics and put them here. Each of us can choose one or more. Those who can write poems should do more, and those who are slow at writing poems should do less. After you finish writing, we will slowly evaluate them."

"Ok, Ok."

Everyone thought it was appropriate.

Lin Ziqi said, "It doesn't matter if it's five-character or seven-character verse, or even ci. Some of us are not familiar with it, and this is our first time here, so we don't know what we are good at. So, can we just write according to what we are used to?"

"Row."

Lin Ziqi and others occupied the two adjacent tables at the innermost side of the tea stall and ordered a few pots of tea and some melon seed snacks.

Gu Liuye had never played like this before, and he didn't mind the stale tea leaves and hard snacks. He sat next to Qin Siyuan and asked with great interest, "Brother, how are you at writing poetry?"

Qin Siyuan smiled and said, "It's just upright, far inferior to Brother Ziqi."

Gu Liuye looked at Lin Ziqi with admiration and said, "Brother Ziqi is indeed talented. I don't like to make false statements. It seems that you are the leader of the poetry club this time." Lin Ziqi waved his hand and smiled, "But you can't say that. The key to poetry is the artistic conception. Even if you can't read, you can still say good sentences if you have the artistic conception. If you don't have the artistic conception, the poet is just saying some clichés."

"That's true," two people were sitting at the outermost table of the tea stall.

One was older, with a fair complexion, red lips and white teeth, and looked intimidating without even getting angry. The other was in his prime, not tall, thin, with two mustaches on his long face.

Both of them were wearing dark silk shirts, so their identities could not be discerned, but one could tell that they were pampered people.

Lin Ziqi stood up quickly and asked respectfully, "What do you two think?"

The older man said, "I don't have any great ideas. I also liked to write poetry when I was young, but now I don't have the mood to do so anymore, so I've gradually stopped. When I heard you say that just now, I deeply agree with you and couldn't help but agree with you. Please don't blame me for disturbing your interest."

Lin Ziqi smiled and said, "You are too polite, old man. Meeting each other is fate. How about writing a poem together?"

The one who was in his prime waved his hand and said, "Forget it, we'll just listen from the side. We're busy with other things, so we'll leave after sitting for a while."

Lin Ziqi bowed and sat down.

Qin Siyuan already understood that these two were the noble persons Qin Yuan was talking about.

He and Lin Ziqi were both juren, and these two people saw their identities but didn't care at all. It can be seen that juren were just ordinary people in their eyes.

Qin Siyuan glanced at Lin Ziqi again, and seeing that Lin Ziqi's eyes were shining and his brows showed a bit more determination than before, he was even more certain that Lin Ziqi was waiting for them.

Gu Jingjun poured them two cups of tea and said with a smile, “I’m just here to make up the numbers. Brother Qi, please give me some water later.”

Qin Siyuan lowered his head and smiled quietly.

Today they are all here to make up the numbers for Lin Ziqi.

But Qin Yuan reminded him that this opportunity might not be obtained by Lin Ziqi alone.

Lin Ziqi smiled and said, "Sixth Master often recites poems and forms a club, so how could he be stumped by the poem topic I posed? You and Siyuan are sitting close to each other, if you are stumped, just ask him to help you think of a few words."

Gu Jingjun asked: "Is it still possible?"

Lin Ziqi was very happy and said, "Of course you can. Today we are meeting friends through poetry, not competing for any ranking. We are just getting to know each other for the first time. If we have similar interests, we can increase the difficulty later."

Gu Jingjun said: “Then it will be my turn to start a club next time.”

Qin Siyuan didn't say anything, just waited for Lin Ziqi to ask a question.

After leisurely drinking a cup of tea, Lin Ziqi spent a few cents to ask the store owner for a pen, ink, paper and inkstone.

There are many scholars and writers who come here to play, and all the things are prepared, but the quality is not very good. The inkstone is half a piece, the ink is coarse, the pen tips are bald, and the paper is even rougher.

But Gu Jingjun was delighted and did not dislike it. Instead, he found everything new and interesting.

Lin Ziqi wrote eight poem titles in one breath, listed them on a piece of paper, and let everyone read them.

There are less than eight people in total. Qin Siyuan thought quietly in his heart that he didn't know whether Lin Ziqi planned to write all the poems. These poetry topics had been circled by his elder sister, so he was prepared and felt not disappointed.

After a break from sweating, everyone dispersed. Some sat on chairs to rest their feet, while others wandered around to look for the scenery and poetic inspiration. Qin Siyuan pulled the lazy Gu Jingjun to stand up and said, "Let's walk around and take a look. Maybe we'll find it."

Gu Jingjun said indifferently: "It's not like a woman is pregnant. I don't have anything in my belly. I just keep writing the same things."

(End of this chapter)