At the same time, in the house in the backyard of the Pan residence, the women who participated in the performance were putting on makeup or resting in the rooms. The garden of the Still water poetry meeting was only separated by a wall, and if they went out of the corridor, they could also watch the gathering from behind the gauze curtain at the entrance.
Most of the women who were able to participate in the performance tonight were already famous women by the Qinhuai River, and most of them had their own attraction. If it was an ordinary poetry meeting, one of them could also stir up the overall situation, but it was not possible today. The people who came to the Still water poetry meeting were not all men. Many people came with their companions. For example, Elder Qin brought his concubine Yunniang who understood poetry and literature, and many others came with their wives, or young ladies of a certain family. On such an occasion, they must not become the protagonist, and even sitting out after performing to attract attention was not allowed.
However, even if they just went out to perform, as long as they had outstanding talent, it was enough to leave a deep impression. Women like them, if there were only many men around them, they would put on a higher and more reserved attitude. If it was on such an occasion, they would quietly play the role of a green leaf, moisten things and make people remember them. Being arrogant and reserved was just a means, fame was the real and most important thing.
The two most famous women who came here tonight were Yuan Jin'er of Golden Wind Pavilion and Lu Caicai of Spring Pavilion. At this time in the room, Yuan Jin'er was holding her cheeks and looking left and right at her makeup in the bronze mirror. Servant girl Kou'er was also looking at her, chatting with her Miss with a smile, "Miss, when you went out to perform just now, that Gongzi Cao kept looking at you, his eyes did not even blink."
Yuan Jin'er smiled and glanced at her, "When I went out to perform, they naturally looked at me, what's strange about that. But Kou'er, you only saw Gongzi Cao, it's very strange. "
"Miss, it's true." Kou'er wrinkled her little red face in protest. "He was staring at me!"
"If you hadn't been looking at him, how would you have known that he was looking at me?" Yuan Jin'er continued to tease her with a smile. The little maid was so embarrassed that she pouted and decided to ignore Yuan Jin'er. However, after a while, she came over again. "Miss, who will be the champion of tonight's poetry competition?"
Yuan Jin'er tilted her head and placed a small flower in her hair, "There is no first place in literature, and there is no real standard for poetry. How can there be a champion? You just love to ask about these things. But if you want to know which songs will be sung for the longest time, it's possible. " She picked up a few pieces of paper on the table. "Young Master Wang's, Young Master Xi's, and also these few by Young Master Cao that you like. 'Blue Sky Like Water, Deep Silver Decorations Clear and Shallow'. Heh, this is probably the best. You'll be happy like this … and Young Master Li and Young Master Tang from Lichuan …"
The maid pouted. "Who likes Young Master Cao?"
"Uh, you hate him?" Yuan Jin'er looked at her with her clever eyes.
"No, but Kou 'er is thinking about you, Miss. Childe Cao likes you, and you came here with him today. If you can get Childe Cao's help, I'm afraid that you will be the Top Beauty of Qinhuai next year. And if Young Master Cao passes the Spring Examination next year … "
The maid talked incessantly. Yuan Jin'er smiled and touched her nose. "I know." Then she picked up the poem written by Cao Guan and looked at it. Between her and Lu Caicai, Lu Caicai was good at the pipa, and she was good at the zither. Speaking of singing, Lu Caicai was better. She was going to sing this poem later, so she sang it in her heart while looking at it. She smiled softly. It looked like a happy smile that was pursued by a great scholar.
In fact, most of the slightly dedicated prostitutes on the Qinhuai River claimed to have had a rough life. Most of them were fake and made up, but that was only in the details. They all had a rough life, but the concept was basically correct. When it came to famous courtesans like Yuan Jin 'er and Lu Caicai, they would naturally admire all kinds of talented scholars after learning poetry and literature. However, although there were occasionally famous courtesans who married poor scholars because they admired other people's talent, they were still the minority. Today, she accepted the invitation of the Pan Mansion, but she came with Cao Guan in the carriage. It seemed that they were already very close. She also admired Cao Guan's talent in her heart, but whether or not she liked him to the extent that Kou'er described was something that even she didn't know. For them, it seemed that they were surrounded by stars, but in fact, there were not many opportunities to choose.
However, if she could slightly avoid these thoughts, tonight's poetry competition would be very rewarding.
She sang the poem repeatedly. After a while, Kou'er came from the door. "Miss, Miss, it seems that there is another good poem. Let's go and have a look."
"Oh?" She put down the paper with a smile and went out with Kou'er. They walked towards the gauze curtain at the entrance of the long corridor. Several women had already gathered there. Lu Caicai had also come over. She whispered, "Sisters, what's wrong?" Then, she leaned close to the gauze curtain to have a look. Just then, she heard the sound of "Holding a cup of wine and asking the clear sky". Pan Guangyan had already read it once, and this was the second time that one of the students had recited it.
The atmosphere of the poetry competition was actually a little strange at this time. It was a little quieter. In the previous grand occasion, everyone was very enthusiastic about writing poems and laughing. At this time, it seemed that they were suppressed by some kind of aura. Everyone was still thinking about the poem. Then, these women also got a piece of paper with the poem copied on it. They gathered around and read the whole poem, and then read it again. Yuan Jin'er raised her head and happened to meet Lu Caicai's eyes.
"Pu Yuanshi's poem …"
"How could it be …"
"Su mansion, Ning Yi, Ning Liheng, who is this?"
"I've never heard of it …"
Compared to the group of students outside who were first immersed in the poem, the women here, after realizing the meaning of the poem, were first concerned about who wrote it. They read the inscription several times and asked each other, but they had never heard of this name. At this time, someone outside asked, "What do you think of this poem?"
"People have joys and sorrows. The moon waxes and wanes. This matter is difficult to understand since ancient times …"
"This poem …"
"Who wrote this poem?"
For a moment, no one gave an evaluation. But someone murmured "excellent" while nodding. Then, the person who read the poem picked up the inscription again. "Su mansion, Ning Yi, Ning Liheng. Does anyone know who this person is?"
There was a moment of silence.
"But if this person's surname is Ning, why is it signed in Su mansion?"
"Which Su mansion?"
"Pu Yuanshi's poem competition. I'm afraid it's the one at the Su Clan's Cloth Shop."
"Could this person be the steward of Su mansion?"
"I've never heard of this person before …"
Everyone looked at each other in dismay and began to discuss spiritedly. However, no one had heard of this name before, and no one had ever heard of it. Pan Guangyan then called the person who went outside to fetch the poem. This person was not a servant, but half a disciple of his. He had some talent. Hearing the teacher's question, he smiled and told what he knew.
"Oh, I heard that this person is the son-in-law of Su mansion. He married into the Su family a few months ago and is the husband of the second miss of Su mansion, Su Tan'er. Interestingly, I also heard some rumors that Ning Liheng caught a cold today and did not attend the Pu Garden Poetry Meet. Tonight, when he was resting at home, he recited this poem with a little servant girl. It was originally to amuse himself. Who knew that at the poetry meet, someone said that he had no talent in poetry. This little servant girl could not bear to hear it, so she took out this poem … Hehe, that is what they said, I do not know whether it is true or false. "
"Su mansion … son-in-law?"
As soon as this was said, not only the people present, but the woman behind the gauze curtain also looked at each other. Then, a voice sounded.
"Did not attend?"
"Isn't this too bizarre …"
"I … I've never heard of a son-in-law who has such talent …"
"Ning Yi, Ning Liheng, I've never heard of him …"
On the other side of the gauze curtain, the servant girl, Kou'er, said doubtfully, "Could it be that Pu Garden Poetry Meet wants to make a name for itself and bought it?"
It was not uncommon to buy poems to make a name for themselves in the poetry meet every year. Everyone knew the inside story. But even if they bought it, it was impossible to buy a poem of such quality. After knowing the identity of the other party, everyone had this suspicion in their hearts. If he really had such talent, why would he marry into the family? At this time, someone on the other side also voiced out his doubt.
"I'm afraid it's hard to convince people …"
"Could it be that Su mansion wants to make a name for itself and bought this poem?"
This voice was not loud, and the person who spoke was only probing. But everyone could hear it. After a moment of silence, someone obviously wanted to agree. "This kind of thing is …"
At first, everyone was influenced by this poem and did not think too much about it. Then, information about "son-in-law" and "nobody" surged in. When compared to the poem, there was a huge contrast. Some doubtful thoughts rose up uncontrollably. After all, there were some calm people who did not speak, but there were many who wanted to compete in tonight's poetry meet, so some people spoke up subconsciously. At this time, a stern voice suddenly came down from the stage. "Zixing! Shut up! "
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