Great Zhou Wensheng

Chapter 81, the article [Leaving the County], heads straight for [Dazhou Prefecture]!

Jiangzhou Prefectural Government Office.

Prefect Xue Chonghu sat alone in the high hall, slowly shaking his head, a hint of mockery flashing in his eyes.

These pedantic old scholars are truly blind!
This poem, "Bodhisattva's Charm: Ode to Feet," clearly demonstrates a mastery of the art.

Looking across the entire Jiangzhou Prefecture, how many people are qualified to judge such an article?
He remembered clearly that the Hanlin Academy had once specially formulated the "Regulations on the Evaluation of Articles" to prevent scholars from making arbitrary evaluations of articles.

The gilded pages clearly bore the inscription: "The writings of the Dafu Prefecture cannot be lightly judged by anyone other than the Hanlin Academy."

The words, though spoken with such force, still resonate in my ears.

Even a prefect who had passed the imperial examinations had to be mindful of his position when faced with poems and essays of high caliber—this was beyond his authority to appreciate.

Rules for article critique:
If it is only "leaving the county", it can still be decided by the Jinshi (successful candidate in the highest imperial examination).

Once someone reaches the "prefecture level," they cannot be judged without the approval of a Hanlin scholar.

As for the distinction between refined and vulgar, and between high and low, that was the exclusive right of the learned scholars in the Hanlin Academy.

Therefore, after examining this erotic poem, "Bodhisattva's Charm: Ode to Feet," he dared not draw any hasty conclusions.

These few pedantic old scholars in front of me are truly ignorant of their own limitations. At best, they are only qualified to comment on the shallow essays of children like "Wenxiang," yet they dare to point fingers at the essays of [Dafu].

If they had only asked a scholar to review this poem, "Bodhisattva's Charm: Ode to Feet," and understood the rules of judgment, they would never have made such a laughable and low-level joke.

"This is absolutely impossible!"
Prefect, please don't look down on this old man!

This article's debate on whether it's refined or vulgar is something I, an old man, consider lacking in talent and knowledge, and dare not presume to offer any further judgment.

But whether an article is of high quality or not is such a simple matter. Even though I am old and my eyesight is failing, can I not tell the difference?
The bell at the Confucian Temple remained silent, showing no unusual sound whatsoever.

Old Scholar Li was momentarily stunned.

He quickly came to his senses and realized that he had caught a major flaw in Xue Chonghu's words, so he became even more defiant and shouted loudly.

"Exactly!
The bell of the Jiangzhou Confucian Temple has not yet rung, so how can it be said to be from Dazhou?

Lord Xue is clearly intimidating us and intentionally protecting Jiang Xingzhou!

Upon hearing this, the group of old scholars were immediately enraged and began to shout incessantly.

The thousands of commoners and students who were watching below the government hall, although they did not agree with the complaints of these pedantic scholars, also showed doubts at this moment.

They indeed had never heard the bell of the Confucian Temple ring.

Since there was no four-ringing bell at the Confucian Temple, this article could not possibly be from Dafu.

Why did the bell at the Confucian Temple not ring?

Xue Chonghu chuckled lightly, his gaze sweeping over the crowd below. He flicked his sleeve, his voice neither hurried nor slow, yet each word was as firm as a hammer blow.

"This matter is quite simple—it's just that it's a love poem."

This poem, though written in one stroke, has already reached its full potential.

However, the Confucian Temple always automatically downgrades the inclusion of erotic poems by one level. Therefore, what was originally a poem from a high-ranking prefecture was demoted to a poem from a lower-ranking county.

He paused briefly, and seeing the astonished expressions on everyone's faces, he continued:
"Now that it has been downgraded to a county, the Confucian Temple in Jiangzhou Prefecture will naturally not have any unusual bell ringing phenomenon."

Xue Chonghu stood up, put his hands behind his back, and felt that this was a rare occurrence.

After all, this was the first time in his life he had encountered something like this.

If he hadn't heard of a similar incident in his early years—that a talented scholar's erotic poems were eventually demoted and quietly included in the Confucian Temple—he would have been in a different category.

He might even be fooled by the illusion that the temple bells are not ringing.

However, by simply sending someone to check the articles collected at the Confucian Temple, one can find this poem, "Bodhisattva's Charm: Ode to Feet," which has been downgraded by one level.

"A piece of erotic literature of the highest rank, downgraded by one grade, and included in the Confucian Temple?"

The whole hall was in an uproar.

The old scholars, the common people outside the hall, and the students all looked at each other in disbelief.

Dafu's articles are already rare to see, let alone... that they would be downgraded for inclusion?
They had never heard of such a thing before.

Before Xue Chonghu could finish speaking...

"Boom--!"

"Boom--!"

"Boom--!"

"Boom--!"

In an instant,
Four deep, resonant chimes.

The sound of the explosion erupted from the Confucian Temple in Jiangzhou Prefecture, reverberating throughout the entire prefecture!

In an instant, the entire Jiangzhou Prefecture was bathed in a hazy glow.

Thousands of painted boats and pavilions were all bathed in a layer of shimmering, clear light.

Talent surged forth from all corners of the prefectural city, filling Jiangzhou Prefecture with boundless energy.

Yet they converge on painted boats and pavilions, flowing endlessly among the carved beams and painted rafters, seemingly rejoicing over this poem, "Bodhisattva's Charm: Ode to Feet".

The most concentrated source of talent, like a vortex of genius, is on the terrace of the Drunken Immortal Pavilion.

"This"

Registrar Liu Mingchuan was shocked and suddenly stood up, his eyes wide open.

From afar, one can see painted boats and pavilions, with delicate flowers blooming from the eaves, their subtle fragrance wafting in the air.

Ripples of talent spread between the painted boats, their lingering notes transforming into a tangible, clear sound that seemed to be softly chanting the melody, "[Delicate beauty is hard to describe, it must be seen in the palm of your hand]".

Registrar Liu Mingchuan unconsciously murmured to himself:
"Tonight, I must go to the pavilion to listen to music."

Such boundless talent, if one could immerse oneself in it for a single night, would probably be equivalent to a month of secluded arduous study by an ordinary scholar!
Inside the Jiangzhou Prefecture government office.

The lingering echoes of the four chimes had not yet faded, and the hall was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

The old scholar Li Qing and the other old scholars were pale-faced, their lips trembling, but they could no longer utter a single word.

They stared at Xue Chonghu, dumbfounded, their eyes filled with shock and awe.

No sooner had Prefect Xue finished speaking than the bell at the Confucian Temple in the prefecture rang out, a truly divine judgment.

"This woman, whose poems were considered erotic, was originally a lower-ranking official from a county, and was virtually unknown."

Xue Chonghu smiled and swept his gaze across the crowd below the hall, saying, "However, you have made such a fuss and caused such a stir in the city."

They even filed a joint lawsuit and made a scene at the Jiangzhou government office.

Now, everyone in the prefecture, from commoners to scholars and writers, knows this text and has firmly pushed it back to its former position in the prefecture. The bell of the Confucian Temple has already rung.

This article is undoubtedly the work of the Da family!

"I see!"

"This poem became so popular that all the pleasure boats in Jiangzhou Prefecture were singing it."

We were all overjoyed to hear this. Overnight, it caused a sensation throughout Jiangzhou Prefecture. How could it be just an ordinary piece of writing from another county?

The scholars in the hall suddenly realized the truth and applauded in admiration.

"Although the Confucius Temple downgraded it by one level for inclusion, it could not stop the people's will!"

Only then did everyone understand.

So to say,

It was precisely because of the countless painted boats and pavilions in Jiangzhou that songs were sung all night long, and storytellers in teahouses vied to perform them.
And this group of old scholars caused a ruckus at the government office, attracting the attention of the entire city and shaking the whole of Jiangzhou.

This word was so popular that it was pushed back to the position of "Dafu"!
The Confucian Temple was forced to acknowledge its true status as a prefecture-level city.

"What a powerful statement that public opinion cannot be defied!"

Even the Confucian Temple had to heed the calls and restore its former status as a prefecture-level city!

Laughter erupted from the audience, and the tense atmosphere from before transformed into admiration.

"This piece may seem like erotic poetry, but it is actually quite elegant!"

Xue Chonghu stood with his hands behind his back, his voice booming like a bell: "The four sounds of the Confucian Temple have already vindicated it—this is the work of a dignified and powerful official!"

His gaze was sharp as lightning, and his disdainful expression swept over the assembled scholars in the hall: "True literary talent has nothing to fear from rumors and gossip."

He paused, then said, "If you still insist on discussing its elegance and vulgarity..."

"The only way-"

"Please invite the reclusive scholar Pei Jingyi from Jiangyin County to personally critique this essay by Da Fu!"

Upon hearing this, the audience fell silent.

The old scholars turned ashen-faced and looked at each other in bewilderment.

Please ask that literary giant from Jiangyin?

How dare they, these incompetent and stagnant scholars, presume to be worthy?!
Only gasps filled the hall; not a single old scholar dared to utter another word.

"Master Pei is Jiang Xingzhou's private tutor! Master Li, do you dare to question him to his face?"

A question suddenly erupted from the crowd.

These words caused another uproar in the room.

Li Qing and the others were struck dumb, their faces turning deathly pale instantly.

Jiang Xingzhou is actually Pei Jingyi's disciple?
How could this scholar from a humble background have the opportunity to become a disciple of this literary giant? Could it be that he has a different background?
"Old Li, do you know..."

A constable at the gate couldn't help but lower his voice, "This young master Jiang is Lord Xue's nephew! He's really senile!"

"what?!"

The old scholars were so frightened that their souls trembled and their faces showed horror.

Didn't Zhao Zilu of the Zhao family say that this was a poor boy from an unruly family?

Only then did they dare to jointly submit a letter denouncing Jiang Xingzhou.

Although the old scholars were pedantic, they were not completely ignorant.

Even if they were bold, they wouldn't dare to launch a deadly attack on the prefect's sons and nephews.

Suddenly realizing what had happened, cold sweat poured down his back.

not good!

They were being used as pawns by Zhao Zilu of the Zhao family!
"You don't even dare to invite Master Pei, yet you dare to slander Brother Jiang's literary reputation? Bah!"

"Get out!"

Amidst the laughter of the room, more than a dozen elderly scholars in their seventies and eighties turned ashen-faced and hastily defended themselves, saying, "It's a misunderstanding, it's all a misunderstanding!"

"It was all that scoundrel Zhao Zilu who instigated us to jointly accuse Young Master Jiang of writing erotic poems!"

Before he could finish speaking, several rotten eggs came flying through the air.

The old scholars fled in panic, their hats askew, stumbling out of the government office amidst the scorn and curses of the scholars, commoners, and drunkards.

Amidst the laughing crowd outside the Jiangzhou government office, someone spotted Zhao Zilu, the illegitimate son of the Zhao family, hiding among the crowd and looking around.

"Brother Zhao Zilu, you spent a fortune last night to host a top-notch poetry banquet at Zuixianlou, making Brother Jiang famous. You are truly generous! It has really cost you a lot, Brother Zhao!"

Someone in the crowd shouted, which immediately drew a burst of laughter.

The gazes of the crowd were like knives, all aimed at the lurking figure in the corner—Zhao Zilu, the illegitimate son of the Zhao family.

"Five thousand taels of silver in exchange for Brother Jiang's single word reaching the mansion, Brother Zhao is truly generous!"

"Hahahaha!"

The students around him laughed so hard they were doubled over.

Last night's events had already spread among the students of Jiangzhou Prefecture and its five counties. Who didn't know that Zhao Zilu originally intended to use the poetry banquet to suppress Jiang Xingzhou, but by a twist of fate, it made "Ode to the Bodhisattva's Charm" famous?

This poem, "Ode to the Footsteps of Bodhisattva," was originally ranked below it by the Confucian Temple!
Zhao Zilu, however, used money to promote and spread the song everywhere, forcefully pushing it back to the Da Mansion!

This tremendous credit belongs entirely to Zhao Zilu.

Zhao Zilu listened to the laughter of the crowd, his face turned ashen, and his ears rang.

He felt like a clown, as if the whole of Jiangzhou was mocking his foolishness.

From this day forward, his scandal will spread throughout the entire Jiangzhou Prefecture.

"Pfft~!"

He suddenly felt dizzy, his vision went black, and he tasted a metallic taste in his throat. A mouthful of blood welled up, but he swallowed it back down.

“I have always admired Brother Jiang’s literary talent. I am willing to spend five thousand taels to hold a poetry banquet to make him famous!”
Don't listen to the nonsense and instigation of those pedantic old scholars!

Zhao Zilu's face turned deathly pale. He tried to defend himself, but his voice trembled uncontrollably.

Before he could finish speaking, he staggered back out of the crowd outside the government office and fled in panic towards the Zhao residence amidst the jeers of the crowd.

(End of this chapter)