Tang Dynasty: A Guide to Avoiding Pitfalls for Li Er at the Start

Chapter 302 When the mountain flowers bloom in profusion, she smiles amidst them.

Lu Shaoyou's face turned pale and then red, as if he had been slapped in public. His eyes were practically spitting fire as he glared at Wen He, but he was too angry to utter a single word.

"Is the magistrate of Gaoyang trying to intimidate us with his power?"

Shangguan Yi suddenly stepped forward, her brows furrowed as she questioned him.

He deliberately raised his voice, wanting everyone around him to hear.

See? This young man is bullying the weak at the literary gathering because of his status.

In the future, what will circulate in Chang'an will be Wen He's arrogance and domineering attitude, not his poem that contained veiled sarcasm.

Upon hearing this, Wen He turned around, curled her lips at Shangguan Yi, and said with a hint of mockery, "If I were you, I would never step forward now."

Shangguan Yi felt a sudden chill and involuntarily took a half step back.

He was really scared.

He feared that the boy would attack him in public, just like he had attacked Changsun Chong.

For a grown man in his twenties to be so wary of a ten-year-old child is already a huge joke, and today he has completely lost face.

Seeing his appearance, Wen He immediately chuckled, turned around, put her hands behind her back, and slowly walked into the crowd.

Everyone thought the matter was over, and even the aristocratic families who were waiting to see what would happen next secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Just as Wen He was about to blend into the crowd, he suddenly spoke, his voice clear and melodious.

"The wind and rain send spring away, and the flying snow welcomes spring. The cliff is already a hundred feet of ice, but the flower branches are still beautiful."

Everyone present was stunned.

Lu Shaoyou stared wide-eyed in disbelief, as if he hadn't heard those words clearly.

Shangguan Yi held her breath, her fingertips gripping the hem of her clothes tightly, forgetting even to breathe.

Even Li Shimin couldn't help but nod, a hint of amazement flashing in his eyes.

Wen He continued walking forward, and those who were blocking his way were pushed aside as if by an invisible force.

He continued walking without turning his head.

"It is beautiful but does not vie for spring's favor; it only heralds spring's arrival."

"When the mountain flowers are in full bloom, she smiles among them."

As he read the last sentence, he happened to walk up to Li Lizhi.

The little girl looked up, her eyes filled with starlight of admiration.

Suddenly a gentle breeze swept by, stirring up the remaining snow on the plum branches beside them. A few red plum petals swirled in the wind, gently landing on Wen He's brocade robe shoulder and on Li Lizhi's hair.

Snow falls and plum blossoms exude fragrance; a young boy and girl stand amidst it all, like a meticulously crafted traditional Chinese painting, serene and beautiful.

"good words!"

Li Shimin couldn't help but exclaim in amazement, his tone full of admiration.

"This song is more fitting than the previous one!"

Even the elders of the aristocratic families couldn't help but clap their hands and nod in approval.

This poem, seemingly about plum blossoms, actually contains a magnificent spirit, like the "beautiful blossoms" amidst "a hundred-foot cliff of ice".

The "smiling amidst the blooming mountain flowers" in the poem, is it actually describing plum blossoms?
It is clearly about a spirit that remains unyielding through harsh winters and remains calm even after achieving success!
"Is it really good?"

Li You scratched his head and looked at Li Tai beside him with a puzzled expression.

“Ah, you say it’s appropriate for the occasion, but there’s neither a cliff nor a hundred-foot-high ice wall here?”

Li Tai couldn't help but roll his eyes and gave him a sharp rap on the head: "Idiot, this is a metaphor. If you don't understand, try to figure it out."

Li Chengqian, standing to the side, explained with a smile: "Sir, this poem describes the current situation of our Great Tang. The Turks are eyeing us covetously from the outside, just like a 'cliff of ice a hundred feet high.' But even so, our Great Tang still stands proudly like this winter plum, 'still with a beautiful flower branch.'"

He paused, his gaze sweeping over everyone present, his tone carrying the unique pride of a young man: "When the world is at peace and the four seas are at tranquility, it will be the time when 'mountain flowers bloom in profusion,' and my Great Tang will naturally bloom calmly in this prosperous age, just like these plum blossoms."

"Gao Ming is right!"

Li Shimin was deeply moved upon hearing this. He patted Li Chengqian's shoulder heavily, his eyes filled with undisguised pride: "As expected of my eldest son, to have such insight at such a young age, I am very pleased!"

Changsun Wuji, standing to the side, watched this scene unfold, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

He was pleased that the Crown Prince had such vision and magnanimity at such a young age, and also pleased to see that His Majesty's trust in the Crown Prince was growing stronger day by day.

Now, Li Chengqian's brows already hint at the composed demeanor of a crown prince.

But ironically, the person who brought about all these changes was Wen He, who never played by the rules.

Is it good or bad?

He couldn't explain it clearly for a moment.

"Hey, where's Gaoyang County Magistrate?"

Some people snapped out of their reverie by the imagery of the poem "To the Tune of Bu Suanzi: Ode to the Plum Blossom" and were about to approach Wen He to chat when they turned around and discovered that the young man who had just been beside Li Lizhi had vanished without a trace.

"They just left like that?" someone asked, looking surprised.

"He wrote such amazing lyrics, and then left without a trace?"

They simply couldn't understand it. Any other scholar would probably be surrounded by people by now, receiving praise from everyone, and would be eager to copy the poem a hundred times so that all the literary sages present could appreciate it and make a name for themselves.

Just like Shangguan Yi before him, after finishing a poem, he would stand tall and wait for everyone to praise him.

What about Wenhe?

He didn't even pause for a moment, as if those exclamations and praises were nothing more than passing wind to him.

This gesture is clearly saying something.

I don't care about your comments.

I don't need your adoration.

"That brat!"

Li Shimin shook his head, his tone laced with a hint of mockery, but his eyes held a hint of approval.

Empress Zhangsun, standing beside him, saw through it all; she knew her second son was surely happy at that moment.

This young man's lack of interest in fame is precisely the most precious quality.

"Gao Yue, do you know where Jia Ying has gone?" Empress Dowager Changsun summoned Gao Yue and asked.

Gao Yue bowed and replied, her tone tinged with helplessness: "Reporting to Madam, the magistrate of Gaoyang said that there were too many people here, which disturbed the enjoyment of the flowers, so he took Fifth Sister and Miss Wen to the other side of the plum grove."

While others go to great lengths to seek attention, this man from Wen County avoids it like the plague.

"Fine, let them go."

Li Shimin smiled and waved his hand.

"It's rare to have some peace and quiet, so don't disturb them."

At this moment, the most embarrassed person was none other than Shangguan Yi.

He originally wanted to make a name for himself at the literary gathering, but unexpectedly he became Wen He's background figure instead.

Those gentry and aristocratic scions who had originally wanted to recommend him now looked at him with a hint of indifference, as if to say, "He's a hopeless case."

As Lu Shaoyou was leaving, he let out a heavy snort and glared at Shangguan Yi with resentment.

It was as if the humiliation she had just suffered was all because of him. Shangguan Yi stood there, her face pale and ashen, her hands clenched tightly in her sleeves.

He knew that after this battle, his reputation in Chang'an's literary circles would likely plummet.

"Is Shangguan Yi also going to take the imperial examination this year? Is he taking the Jinshi exam?"

Li Shimin suddenly turned his head and asked casually.

Fang Xuanling responded from the side, "Your Majesty, that's right. He was prepared long ago and was originally a hot candidate for this year's imperial examination."

Upon hearing this, the crowd gathered around couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

When His Majesty brings this up now, it's not because he values Shangguan Yi's talent.
This is clearly a pointed remark, and it seems that this "talented scholar" will have a difficult time in the upcoming imperial examinations this year.

"He does have some literary talent."

Li Shimin gave a brief comment, but then abruptly changed the subject.

"It's just that his character is lacking."

A single, seemingly casual remark carries the weight of an invisible judgment.

Before the exam even started, Shangguan Yi was dismissed for this reason.

Fortunately, Li Shimin and his group were far away, and the others did not know their identities. Shangguan Yi had already left in a daze.

If he were to find out about this now, he would probably go insane.

And the other side.

Wenrou and Li Lizhi were pulling on Wen He's sleeve as they walked through a plum grove and came to the side of the street.

Such a scene today would naturally include vendors.

The pastries made with fresh plum blossoms were especially popular with the young girls.

"I want ten."

"No, just three."

"Eight."

"Three."

"Five!" Wenrou pouted, put her hands on her hips, and stared intently at Wen He with her big eyes, determined not to give up until she achieved her goal.

“Three.” Wen He reached out and pinched the little girl’s nose, making her stomp her feet in anger.

"It's too sweet." Li Lizhi shook her head in displeasure after taking only one bite.

She was curious because of what Wenrou said, so she wanted to try it.

But these pastries are far inferior to those in the palace.

"Then give it to me, give it to me." Wenrou quickly reached out to her, but Li Lizhi glanced at Wen He and saw that the latter shook her head.

She put it away immediately.

“No, Wen He said it’s not good for you to eat too much, so these are for Wu Erniang.” Li Lizhi put the uneaten food into the box.

Seeing this, Wenrou immediately snorted unhappily: "You, you, you two are in cahoots, ah, no, you're conspiring against each other!"

I wonder who this little girl learned idioms from.

Even insults use inappropriate language.

Wen He lightly tapped her forehead in an annoyed tone.

He turned around, intending to explain to Li Lizhi, but noticed that the little girl's face was a bit red.

Are you hot?

"Huh?" Li Lizhi looked up blankly, blinking her big eyes in confusion.

After a long while, he finally realized what was happening and nodded stiffly.

"It's getting a bit hot."

"Forehead"

Wen He looked at the still-snowing sky, then looked down at her.

Suddenly, he reached out and touched her forehead. Li Lizhi immediately recoiled as if bitten by an insect.

"What are you doing?"

"I'm worried you might have a fever, but the weather is getting colder and colder, so let's go back."

Wen He was worried that if Li Lizhi got sick, Li Shimin would skin him alive.

When they returned, Li Shimin also planned to return to the palace.

After what happened with Wen He just now, today's writing session is rather dull.

With that poem in mind, no one dared to show their face again.

On the way back, Li Shimin only allowed Wen He to get into his carriage, while Li Chengqian and the three little ones were sent to be with Changsun Wuji.

"That poem you just wrote was quite good."

As soon as Wen He got into the carriage, he heard Li Shimin praising her.

He smiled awkwardly.

"I didn't write this, I plagiarized it."

He absolutely refused to admit that he wrote this poem.

That person was, in his heart, the greatest man of all time.

Li Shimin, however, did not care.

"It's alright, no one will expose you. That poem just now truly touched my heart. It's a pity that I have no chance to meet him. It's a real shame."

Li Shimin sighed softly, a hint of disappointment in his eyes.

It's been over a thousand years.

However, that person's assessment of Li Shimin was quite fair.

Emperors Tang and Song were slightly less impressive.