activa-t Chapter 407: May the days to come be peaceful and calm.
Chapter 407: May the days to come be peaceful and calm.
After leaving the grassland, they arrived at an ancient temple. Incense smoke curled upwards, and the temple bells tolled melodiously and deeply. The princess and Fang Xiaoxiao clasped their hands together and prayed devoutly.
The princess silently wished for peaceful days to come, and for a place where her heart could find solace.
Fang Xiaoxiao prayed, "I hope the princess will always be happy and that everything will go smoothly for her."
Fang Xiaoxiao and Princess Li Wan'er were strolling leisurely through the streets when they suddenly heard a noisy discussion.
"Have you heard? Mount Hua is holding its annual poetry festival. It's incredibly lively!"
"Really? I imagine scholars and literati from all over will gather here; it will surely be a magnificent event."
Upon hearing these words, Princess Li Wan'er stopped in her tracks, her bright, star-like eyes instantly igniting with curiosity. She gently tugged at Fang Xiaoxiao's sleeve and said sweetly, "Xiaoxiao, this Huashan Poetry Gathering sounds so interesting, I really want to go and find out more."
Looking at the princess's expectant eyes, Fang Xiaoxiao's heart stirred, and she smiled and replied, "Since the princess is so interested, then let's go!"
However, Fang Xiaoxiao frowned slightly, then thought for a moment and said, "Princess, it would be inconvenient for us women to attend. Why don't we dress up as men so that we can act more freely?"
Princess Li Wan'er's eyes lit up upon hearing this, and she nodded repeatedly, saying, "This plan is brilliant!"
After saying that, the two hurriedly returned to their lodgings and began to carefully dress up.
Princess Li Wan'er stood in front of the bronze mirror, carefully adjusting her moon-white long robe, putting on her scholar's hat properly, gently waving a folding fan in her hand, and slightly raising the corners of her mouth. Her original delicate demeanor was now replaced by a heroic air.
Fang Xiaoxiao put on a dark blue robe with a jade belt around her waist, stood tall and straight in front of the mirror, trying her best to look like a dashing young gentleman.
After getting dressed, the two looked at each other and smiled, their eyes full of excitement and anticipation.
Princess Li Wan'er moved gracefully, closed her folding fan, and said, "Xiao Xiao, let's set off now!"
Fang Xiaoxiao replied, "Yes, Princess!"
Along the way, the spring breeze gently caressed their faces like a tender hand, the flowers by the roadside vied for attention, and the birds sang merrily on the branches.
Princess Li Wan'er was in a good mood, glancing around from time to time like a cheerful little bird. She parted her lips slightly and recited: "The spring breeze caresses my face, the dew is heavy, and the fragrance of flowers fills my heart."
Fang Xiao smiled and praised, "Your Highness has such talent!"
Finally, Mount Hua came into view. At the foot of the mountain, crowds thronged, creating a lively and bustling scene.
The two walked slowly up the mountain with the flow of people, and the lively discussions of scholars and poets could be heard from time to time.
"I'm determined to showcase my talent at this poetry gathering!"
"I wonder what outstanding works will be published this year."
Upon arriving at the poetry gathering, one finds pavilions and towers arranged in a harmonious and orderly fashion, with scrolls of poems and paintings hanging all around. A gentle breeze causes the scrolls to sway softly, as if telling poetic stories.
The group sat together, some with furrowed brows, heads bowed in deep thought; others, with passionate voices, recited aloud.
The princess and Fang Xiaoxiao found an inconspicuous corner to sit down and quietly listened to the poems being recited. The princess's eyes were focused and fervent, and her heart was already overflowing with poetic inspiration.
On this sunny day, the poetry gathering atop Mount Hua was in full swing. A gentle breeze carried the fragrance of flowers, and the venue was elegantly and solemnly decorated, with masterpieces by literary figures hanging all around. The scent of ink mingled with the fragrance of flowers, creating a unique cultural atmosphere.
The talented scholars, dressed in fine clothes, some holding folding fans, others stroking their beards, exchanged their insights on poetry in a warm and harmonious atmosphere. Some stood in pavilions and towers, gazing at the distant mountains, their inspiration bursting forth as they spontaneously recited beautiful poems; others sat together, critiquing the poems of their predecessors, each expressing their own opinions and engaging in lively debate.
Just then, a group of barbarians barged noisily into the poetry gathering. The leader was a tall, dark-skinned man with a full beard like steel needles, and his large, bell-like eyes were filled with contempt and disdain. He looked around and loudly mocked, "Look at you men of the Great Yu, all so weak and frail, only good for composing poems and writing about flowers and plants in this place of romance and beauty—a complete waste of your time!"
His voice boomed like a bell, making everyone present's ears ring. A scholar in a blue robe, with a handsome face and refined demeanor, turned red with anger upon hearing these insulting words. He bit his lower lip, frowned, glared angrily, and retorted loudly, "You barbarians, crude and ignorant! Poetry is a treasure of culture. We use our pens as swords, and poetry to express our feelings about the world and our pursuit of a better life. How could you barbarians understand such things!"
From among the barbarian horde emerged a burly man with a broad back and powerful build. His bare arms, covered in bulging muscles and scars, gave him a menacing appearance. He strode to the center of the field, crossed his arms, threw his head back, and roared with laughter, "Hahahaha! What cultural treasures? To me, they're all useless nonsense! A true man should wield swords and spears, gallop across battlefields, and defend his country, not nitpick over words here!"
His words once again provoked the anger of the assembled scholars. A scholar in flowing white robes stepped forward, his posture upright and his face resolute. He cupped his hands and said, "Brother, you are mistaken! Poetry can not only express emotions, but also inspire people and unite the national spirit. Today, I will challenge you to a contest and show you the brilliance of the scholars of our Great Yu!"
After that, the two began a fierce poetry contest. The scholar in white spoke fluently, reciting a seven-character quatrain with effortless grace: "The spring breeze caresses my face, its warmth is boundless; the green waters and verdant mountains are endlessly charming. I cultivate my pen and ink to express my lofty aspirations; my heart is filled with boundless love for my country."
The barbarian man scoffed dismissively, saying, "What's this? Soft and weak, utterly lacking in presence!"
Then, he roared in a rough voice: "The blood of the enemy on the battlefield is still wet, and the heart is not cold from the flashing of swords. A man should have lofty ambitions to protect his country and guard the border."
The scholar in white was speechless for a moment, his face turned pale, and he finally shook his head helplessly, admitting defeat.
Then, several more talented men took to the stage to challenge him. Some expressed their inner feelings with delicate words, while others displayed their lofty ambitions with bold poems, but none of them could defeat the barbarian man. The barbarian man became increasingly smug, pacing back and forth in the center of the arena, laughing wildly: "Hahahaha, the men of Da Yu are nothing but this! A bunch of incompetent fools who only know how to talk big!"
Princess Li Wan'er watched anxiously from the sidelines. Her eyebrows furrowed, her almond-shaped eyes widened, and her beautiful face flushed with anger. Unable to contain her rage any longer, she stood up abruptly and shouted in a sharp voice, "I want to make a bet with you!"