Great Zhou Wensheng

Chapter 76, "Bodhisattva's Charm: Ode to Feet" (Fourth Update)

Jiang Xingzhou simply chuckled lightly, his expression calm.

"It doesn't matter!"

Jiang Xingzhou shifted his gaze slightly, sweeping over the young masters and top-ranking students from the prefecture and five counties.

Although this poem, "Bodhisattva's Charm: Ode to Feet," is an erotic poem that may make one blush, it is a very interesting and elegant work, and by no means a vulgar or crude piece.

Otherwise, how could it have been passed down for so long, still being recited and passed on by scholars throughout the ages? Truly inferior and vulgar works have long since disappeared into the river of history.

"Let it spread, let it spread!"

He knew what he was doing.

The little barbarian was slightly taken aback, then her eyes sparkled with delightful surprise.

She had already given up hope—at this tense poetry banquet, all the young scholars were calculating the pros and cons, fearing that they would be tainted and ruin their future. How could anyone be willing to write for her, a mere courtesan?

but never thought,

Jiang Xingzhou, the top scholar from Jiangyin, actually agreed to write a poem about her "Jade Feet" in front of everyone at the poetry banquet!
"This humble servant thanks Young Master Jiang."

Her voice trembled slightly as she presented a Chengni inkstone with her slender hands.

With her long, flowing hair, she ground ink with exceptional gentleness, as if afraid of disturbing this unexpected surprise.

Jiang Xingzhou picked up his brush and dipped it in ink.

The moment the brush tip lightly touches the rice paper.

[Bodhisattva's Charm - Ode to Feet - Presented to Xiaomannu, the Courtesan of Jiangzhou]
A wisp of green light flowed from between the fingers into the tip of the brush, seeping into the Xuan paper like smoke or mist.

The first copy of an article, printed on paper when it is first published, is called the "first copy" and is the most precious literary treasure, which can be used to gain enlightenment.

The original text, with its primordial words, contains the spiritual essence of the universe, which can help scholars comprehend the Tao.

As for the copies of books that were passed around and circulated, they were called "handwritten copies" or "printed copies," but they were merely in name only.

Printed copies, made using printing technology, have little value and are only for reading.

A handwritten copy is more valuable if the person who copied it infused it with literary flair.

His previous county examination essay, "Deep in the Clouds: Seeking a Hermit in Vain" [first edition], was sealed and stored in the archives of the Jiangyin County Government.

The first copy of the poem "Grass" was not written on paper, but was sealed on the mast of the locust tree ship in Qingqi, becoming Qingqi's signature poem.

And tonight, the third version of "Bodhisattva's Charm: Ode to Feet" [the first version] is being created under his pen.

Zhao Zilu's pupils contracted sharply, followed by a gleam of wild joy in his eyes.

He was already disheartened—he thought it would be impossible to shake the reputation of the top scholar in Jiangyin, and that he would be unable to smear this mud.

But at this moment,
Jiang Xingzhou actually offered to write a poem about jade feet and present it to the courtesan Xiaomannu!

“Okay! Okay! Okay!

As expected, Brother Jiang is still the top scholar in Jiangzhou Prefecture!

Besides Brother Jiang, who else has such courage?!

Zhao Zilu exclaimed "Good!" three times in a row, praising him excitedly.

Tonight, he spent a fortune to hire impoverished students and scholars from humble backgrounds to copy the poem all night long, spreading it throughout the city.

Tomorrow, I must, I must ensure that every courtesan in the entire Jiangzhou Prefecture, every storyteller in the teahouses, and every wall in the taverns sees Jiang Xingzhou's erotic poem about "jade feet."

When those Confucian scholars angrily slammed their folding fans down on the lecturing table, their spittle engulfing Jiang Xingzhou!

When Zhou Yuanjun's vermilion brush hovered over the list of successful candidates in the prefectural examination, he hesitated, unwilling to award the top spot in the Jiangzhou Prefecture's examination for the title of Xiucai (a successful candidate in the county-level imperial examination).

Prefect Xue was extremely disappointed!

Upon realizing this, Zhao Zilu couldn't help but show his delight.

Jiang Xingzhou!
This is an erotic poem you wrote yourself, so you can't blame Zhao Zilu for being ruthless!

The top scholars from the five counties and the top-ranking students all looked shocked.

Inside the Star-Picking Pavilion, the young scholars and even the singing girls gathered around, forming three or four layers around the large table of the young scholars from Jiangyin.

Wait until you can clearly see the words on the paper—

"Sigh~"

Shen Zhiyun, the top scholar in Jiyang, gasped in shock.

"This"

Du Qingyin, the top suspect in the Kunshan case, was dumbfounded.

They dare not judge.

This poem surpasses their usual poetic level! Is it beautiful?

Is it vulgar?

Is it elegant?

How could they, a group of mere students, possibly have the right to comment?!

They didn't dare to offer their opinions.

Only renowned literary figures from Jiangzhou Prefecture who have passed the imperial examinations or are at least successful candidates in the provincial or metropolitan examinations are qualified to judge this poem!

Jiang Xingzhou's brushstrokes flowed like dragons and snakes, the ink spreading across the rice paper like drifting clouds and startled dragons.

"Bodhisattva's Charm: Ode to Feet"

[Do not begrudge the lotus-like steps adorned with fragrant ointment, for she longs for the silk stockings that glide across the water.]

All I see is the wind dancing around, with no trace of where it is going.

Sneaking through the palace is as stable as possible, and standing on both sides to get trapped.

Its subtle nuances are difficult to describe; one must observe them in the palm of one's hand.
As Jiang Xingzhou's brushstrokes flowed, a wisp of green light seemed to cascade from the tip of the brush, meandering across the Xuan paper like moonlight and dew.

Where the ink was not yet dry, tiny specks of light floated faintly, like the moonlight splashing on the water when silk stockings glided across the waves in the poem.

"Wonderful~!"

The students held their breath and stared wide-eyed.

"[It is difficult to describe its subtleties; one must observe it from the palm of one's hand.]"

This line is considered the pinnacle of poetry about feet!

No other sentence in the world can surpass this one!

Cao An sighed.

Whether jade feet are beautiful or not, of course they should be held in the palm of your hand and carefully examined and appreciated!
Such simple and unadorned language, devoid of any flowery words, could only be written by Jiang Xingzhou.

He considered himself to have excellent writing skills, yet he could not write such natural and masterful poems.

"Let's set aside the distinction between refined and vulgar!"
Brother Jiang's poem is truly excellent, exceptionally so!

After reading it, Han Yugui nodded and sighed.

"Do not begrudge the lotus-like steps adorned with fragrant ointment, for the long sorrow lingers as she glides across the water in her silk stockings!"

The little maid parted her lips slightly and recited the poem word by word.

"All that can be seen is the swirling wind, leaving no trace of its movement!"

"Hiddenly dressed in palace attire, they stood side by side, their legs crossed, seemingly trapped."

As the rhyme scheme changes

With her flowing sleeves fluttering, she spun around on her toes, and amidst the tinkling of golden bells, she danced a breathtakingly beautiful dance.

"It is difficult to describe its subtleties; one must observe it from the palm of one's hand!"

Completely engrossed,

Like a dream!

When the dance reached its most emotional point,
Her glistening tears rolled down her rouge-covered cheeks, appearing like weeping pearls in the candlelight.

Suddenly, she stopped, stood still, bowed deeply to Jiang Xingzhou, tears streaming down her face, and looked up at him.

"Young Master Jiang!"

"I am willing to offer two thousand taels of silver to obtain this [first copy], sir!"

Her voice trembled slightly, and the flower ornament on her forehead quivered gently with her breath.

With this poem by my side,
In the future, whenever literary figures praised her jade feet, they would think of her as Xiao Mannu.

This poem was enough to solidify her position in Jiangzhou Prefecture, making her a star for at least a decade.

Inside the Drunken Immortal Pavilion, the music ceased, and all the singers and dancers held their breath, their eyes filled with undisguised envy.

"Sister Xiaoman, you are truly blessed!"

A dancer in green sighed softly, her fingers twisting a handkerchief.

"I'm afraid that by tomorrow morning, the entire city of Jiangzhou will be filled with the singing of this poem, 'Bodhisattva's Charm: Ode to Feet,' on the painted boats and pavilions."

The other whispered, his eyes filled with longing.

Behind the red silk curtains, a girl chuckled softly, "With this poem, no courtesan for the next ten years could match even a fraction of Xiaoman's charm!"

The women chattered amongst themselves, each word filled with astonishment.
-
Fourth watch, 9000 words finished!
Asking for a monthly ticket!
(End of this chapter)