Chapter 5

Lu Mansion was so large that after leaving the small hall with a servant, Hao Fenglou's eyes were overwhelmed by the twists and turns. Before he could recover, he was led to a side hall.

It was only the early Ming Dynasty, and the extravagant style had not yet taken hold. Although the mansion was grand, the decorations in the halls were mostly simple. The Lu family, being a martial lineage, also had a taste for elegance. The furnishings in the side hall were simple yet exuded a scholarly atmosphere, which was mainly due to the calligraphy and paintings on the walls.

As a master of romance, Hao Fenglou not only had to be proficient in music but also had to understand various types of poetry, whether it was朦胧诗 (obscure poetry), modern poetry, pear blossom style, or Tang and Song poetry. He could recite them all backward. To move a woman, one had to be able to come up with appropriate poetry on the spot, and this was clearly not enough for Hao Fenglou.

Therefore, Hao Fenglou had his own unique insights into appreciating calligraphy and paintings. His gaze was soon drawn to a cursive script on the wall. It was clear that this poem was a copy, but Hao Fenglou was more interested in the copy than the original. Originals were common, but a skillful copy was rare, especially those that could be hung in the halls of a noble family. Such copies were as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns. A copy that could be made skillfully was even rarer than the original.

Hao Fenglou stood with his hands behind his back, almost forgetting that there was someone else in the side hall.

This person seemed to have been there for some time, wearing a scholar's cap and robe, looking like a proper scholar. He was about twenty years old and quite handsome.

When he saw Hao Fenglou enter, he did not speak but compared himself to Xu Qian. He immediately felt a twinge of jealousy, thinking that he was slightly inferior in appearance.

He laughed coldly and said, "Brother, did you also pass the initial test?"

Hao Fenglou was taken aback and only then noticed him. Seeing that he was rudely sizing him up, he nodded and said, "Yes, I did. I haven't had the pleasure of your name yet."

The man, impatient, said, "My surname is Zhou, and my name is Yan. You should call me Master Zhou. Who are you?"

This Zhou Yan had quite a bit of arrogance. Hao Fenglou naturally did not like him and said his name, then asked, "Is Master Zhou also here to apply?"

"Of course," Zhou Yan said confidently. "I don't know what luck you had to pass the initial test, but I advise you not to have any delusions. The Lu family's daughter is my prize. If you want to compete with me, you should first consider your worth."

Hao Fenglou almost spat out a mouthful of blood. This guy was actually here to snatch his woman.

Zhou Yan was also furious. Originally, he was the only one to pass the initial test, and he thought that after today, he would become the Lu family's daughter's teacher. Then, like Sima Xiangru and Zhuo Wenjun, he would win her heart and marry her, gaining both beauty and wealth.

Who knew that just as the initial test ended, a Cheng Yaojin appeared. Now he hated Hao Fenglou but also secretly probed him to see what kind of person he was.

Faced with such rudeness, Hao Fenglou responded with a cold laugh, "We'll see when the time comes."

Zhou Yan angrily asked, "Do you have any official rank?"

When it came to official rank, Zhou Yan had a smug look.

Hao Fenglou said calmly, "An official rank is like a passing cloud to me."

"Ha ha..." Zhou Yan laughed loudly. "I thought you were a formidable opponent, but you're just a nobody. Ha ha... I am a scholar, and not just that, I am a student of the government school in Zhenjiang. Next year, I will take the provincial exam and eventually become an official. But... being an official is boring. Even if I become an official, I must first win the beauty. The Lu family's daughter is my goal. You, without any official rank, think you can compete with me just because you passed the initial test? Who do you think you are?"

This guy was really obnoxious, but Hao Fenglou knew that Zhou Yan was just trying to undermine his confidence, a common psychological tactic.

"What, you don't say anything? Fine, I pity you. I have several taels of silver here. Consider it your hard-earned money. If you give up now, the silver is yours. What do you say?"

Zhou Yan was already showing off his wealth, looking confident and self-assured. In contrast, Hao Fenglou, who was calm, seemed to be at a disadvantage.

Hao Fenglou said, "I don't want the silver. I want to be the Lu family's daughter's teacher."

"Scared!" Zhou Yan almost jumped up, unable to resist mocking him. "Why don't you look at yourself in the mirror? You don't even have an official rank, and you probably haven't read many books. I've seen many people like you, who are like toads dreaming of eating swans. You should know your place and not overestimate yourself!"

Hao Fenglou said calmly, "I have read books."

"What's the use of just skimming the surface?" Zhou Yan continued to mock him. "Just because you can read a little, you think you can be a teacher and compete with me for a woman?"

Hao Fenglou said, "I said, an official rank is like a passing cloud. I don't care about it."

Zhou Yan almost burst out laughing. "Without an official rank, you still call yourself a scholar?"

Hao Fenglou said, "I read books for pleasure, not to seek a career. As for my knowledge, I can't say much, but... since you put it that way, I'll have to ask for your guidance."

Hao Fenglou looked at a painting on the wall, "Master Zhou, see how the painting is full of spring. With your talent, can you compose a poem?"

Zhou Yan was stunned. Compose a poem on the spot? He could write poems, but only a genius like Cao Zhi could do it in seven steps. He was just a small scholar and couldn't do it on the spot.

Realizing that Hao Fenglou was deliberately trying to undermine him, Zhou Yan laughed coldly, "I'm not in the mood right now. What, can you do it?"

Hao Fenglou said without hesitation, "It's drizzling outside, but inside, I see this spring painting. I'm inspired." After a moment's thought, he recited, "The trees by the stream are dark and dense, the grass by the river is wet and soft. After the rain, I open the curtain, and spring enters all at once."

Zhou Yan almost spat out a mouthful of blood. It was indeed a five-character poem, and both the theme and the words were excellent. Could this really be his work? Zhou Yan was a connoisseur, and such a poem would take even a jinshi or a juren a lot of effort to compose. And this guy without an official rank could do it on the spot.

But if you accused Hao Fenglou of plagiarism, it would be unreasonable. Poems spread quickly, and Zhou Yan, being a scholar, often gathered with literati in Zhenjiang. If Hao Fenglou had plagiarized, he would have heard about it.

Zhou Yan began to look at Hao Fenglou with a strange expression, believing his words to some extent. Perhaps he was from a noble family with a deep academic background, and his family was large and wealthy, so they didn't care about his official career. Or perhaps he was waiting for the right moment to make a big splash.

Various possibilities flashed through Zhou Yan's mind, and he felt a mix of anger, doubt, and loss of confidence.

Hao Fenglou said calmly, "In a moment, I have another inspiration."

Another one...

Zhou Yan felt the urge to spit blood again.

Hao Fenglou said, swaying his head, "I traveled from Songjiang to Zhenjiang, and today I saw this spring painting. Thinking about my recent experiences, I am inspired to write another poem. I hope Master Zhou will not laugh." He sat solemnly and recited, "The river in Dantu County slants, and in spring, there are no people on both banks. In the deep forest, the birds stop singing at noon, and the mountains are covered with red and white flowers. What do you think, Master Zhou?"

These poems were ones Hao Fenglou had memorized under his master's supervision, and now they came in handy.

Zhou Yan was speechless, his confidence completely shaken. Dantu County was the seat of Zhenjiang Prefecture, and the two poems Hao Fenglou recited were both excellent. This guy could recite two poems on the spot.

Just as Zhou Yan's confidence was about to collapse, Hao Fenglou smiled bitterly and said, "I write poems like this. Once I start, I can't stop. Once, I wrote over a dozen poems in an hour. Look, I have another inspiration now."

Another one... Zhou Yan's confidence was completely shattered, and his self-esteem was also hurt. However, he gradually realized that Hao Fenglou looked like a bookworm who rarely went out, and while he had talent, he lacked social skills.

Zhou Yan interrupted Hao Fenglou, "Master Feng's poetry is quite good." He reluctantly said it was good, but his heart was aching. If Hao Fenglou was just good, he would be nothing. Finally, he said tactfully, "But if Master Feng has such talent, why come to the Lu family to apply for a teaching position? I can tell you are from a noble family, so..."

"Ah... actually, I didn't want to come," Hao Fenglou sighed. "But the elders in my clan forced me to. They said I'm not young anymore and should get married. A distant relative of mine works for the Lu family and wrote to me, saying that the Lu family has a daughter who is a beauty. He asked me to come and be her teacher, and the rest depends on my luck. Besides, my relative has some influence in the Lu family, and with his help, my family is more at ease."

Zhou Yan's pupils dilated, and his heart was bleeding. This time, he really wanted to spit out a mouthful of blood.

You have talent, a deep academic background, and even a relative in the Lu family...

It's unfair, so unfair...

Zhou Yan wanted to beat his chest and stamp his feet. He immediately realized why this Feng guy could easily pass the initial test. Normally, even with talent, one had to excel in the Four Books for Women to pass. Even Wang Anshi or Fan Zhongyan would have to give up.

Thinking this, Zhou Yan understood. Someone was helping him, and he had connections. The initial test was rigged.

Zhou Yan's confidence was completely shattered.

He couldn't help but ask, "What position does your distant relative hold in the mansion?"

Hao Fenglou said calmly, "He is just the chief steward of the mansion."

Zhou Yan's slightly handsome face twitched violently, and the future looked bleak.