Chapter 39

"Please welcome Miss Pan'er!"

After Guan Yaoyuan finished speaking, a woman dressed in a pink skirt and red top walked out. Many men in the audience held their breath, while many women looked on with envy.

Fang Yun, who had been looking forward to it with great hope, couldn't help but compare her to Yang Yuhuan, and then, there was nothing more to it.

Fang Yun lowered his head to drink tea, thinking she was an acceptable woman, but despite her efforts to hide it, she had too much of a worldly air, and her act was overdone. He didn't bother to remember what she looked like specifically; even if he did, he would forget it as soon as he saw Yang Yuhuan at home.

Many men, including Guan Yaoyuan, were watching Pan'er, but Fang Yun alone lowered his head to drink tea, then picked up his chopsticks and picked up a piece of mung bean cake, eating it leisurely.

Pan'er, like a moon among the stars, smiled, raised her chin, and scanned the entire room. Her expression remained unchanged, unaffected by anyone, even the person eating the mung bean cake.

The scholars began to flatter Pan'er one after another.

He Yutang, sitting next to Fang Yun, asked in a low voice, "What, you don't like this kind? What kind of woman do you like? Tell me, and I'll definitely find you a satisfactory one." He then showed a slightly lecherous smile.

"Does she really earn twenty thousand taels of silver a month?"

He Yutang said, "No wonder you doubt it. She can't earn that much just by her looks. What she sells is not her beauty but her talent. There's a rumor that her grandfather was a Hanlin scholar, and she can write poetry and articles. Some even praise her as a 'female scholar,' and then she became famous. Others believe it, but we all know it's just a way for Mingyu Tower to promote her."

Fang Yun glanced at Pan'er and asked, "Have there been some famous scholars and scholars who were humiliated by her and then widely publicized?"

"Indeed, she's not a virtuous woman. She can play along in social settings. She can step on other scholars to rise, and she can use you as a stepping stone. It seems you see through her." He Yutang looked at Fang Yun curiously, thinking that he truly lived up to being a child prodigy before the sage. Compared to him, those who were deceived had lived their lives in vain.

Fang Yun continued to eat his lunch.

Pan'er slowly descended the stairs. The musicians on the low platform in the hall left, and the maids of Mingyu Tower walked in front of her, scattering petals along the way, leaving a fragrant path.

The organizer, Guan Yaoyuan, and some scholars escorted Pan'er to the high platform, where she stood behind a table with the Four Treasures of the Study.

Guan Yaoyuan smiled and asked, "Who will be the first to compose a poem?"

"I will!" Over a dozen scholars stood up, eager to get close to Pan'er.

Pan'er immediately covered her mouth and giggled, and many people stared at her with wide eyes.

Guan Yaoyuan said, "Then let's have Brother Lai Yong go first. He was among the top ten scholars in Dàyuan Prefecture and has climbed the Book Mountain. He has also been very helpful with today's poetry gathering."

The others immediately sat down, clearly aware that Guan Yaoyuan was helping Lai Yong. To argue would be to lose face with Guan Yaoyuan.

"Thank you all for letting me go first," Lai Yong said politely, walked to the table, greeted Pan'er, and then pondered for a moment. "With Miss Pan'er here, I will choose the tune 'Dian Jiang Chun.' Although I can't paint her lips red myself, I can at least imagine it in my heart."

Everyone laughed, and Pan'er's face turned slightly red. She looked at Lai Yong with a mix of joy and annoyance, making many hearts itch.

Lai Yong picked up the brush, thought for a long time, and then recited and wrote: "In spring, the fragrant heart, the subtle scent lingers at dusk. Her jade skin is cold, and she becomes even more slender. Her shadow falls on the pond, and the moon is pale after people leave. Do you know? One branch blooms first, and it should be presented to the East Wind."

When Lai Yong finished writing, everyone applauded.

"The use of the word '逗' (tease) is brilliant, turning a static object into a living one."

"One branch blooms first, this line is very beautiful!"

"Brother Lai is a great talent, he will surely be in the top three!"

Fang Yun nodded. This poem was really good and could potentially reach the county level. It was a pity to use it to please a woman.

Amidst the applause, Lai Yong left the platform gracefully and returned to his table.

The first poem was so good that many who were eager to try gave up, as it would mean sacrificing themselves to help Lai Yong. For a moment, no one else went up.

"Is there no one else to compose a poem?" Guan Yaoyuan asked loudly.

No one responded.

Suddenly, the courtesan Pan'er said, "Which one is Fang Shuangjia? I boldly ask Fang Shuangjia to compose a poem for me. I wonder if I have the good fortune?"

Everyone looked at Fang Yun, extremely envious of his treatment.

Fang Yun remained calm.

"Oh, you're the one eating the mung bean cake?" Pan'er said in an extremely innocent tone.

Guan Yaoyuan asked curiously, "What do you mean by that?"

Pan'er looked at Fang Yun with a sad expression and said, "When I came down the stairs earlier, everyone was looking at me, but only Fang Shuangjia was drinking tea and eating mung bean cake. It seems that my humble appearance doesn't catch his eye at all."

A few people, provoked by Pan'er, looked at Fang Yun with slight hostility, thinking he was deliberately trying to attract her attention.

Guan Yaoyuan laughed, "Pan'er, you don't know. Not only you, but even the courtesans in the capital are not in his eyes."

"Really?" Pan'er asked.

"Of course. Fang Shuangjia's foster wife is the famous Jiangzhou Xi Shi in Jixian County. Even Lord Liu Zicheng was amazed by her beauty. Fang Yun misunderstood and thought Liu Zicheng wanted to take his foster wife, so he asked Magistrate Cai to drive Liu Zicheng away. But it's not Fang Yun's fault at all. Who could blame him for Liu Zicheng's loose talk? Fang Yun is deeply devoted to his foster wife, who raised him. He naturally can't tolerate any disrespect. Fang Yun, your talent is renowned in ten countries. Why don't you compose the second poem? You can win the competition and take Pan'er to the bridal chamber." Guan Yaoyuan said.

"Disgusting!" Pan'er turned away, covering her red cheek.

Everyone cheered, urging Fang Yun to write a poem.

Fang Yun slowly stood up and smiled, "Liu Zicheng brought four servants to my house, intending to kill me and take my sister Yuhuan with a paper battle of 'Yishui Song.' Fortunately, Captain Lu and Magistrate Cai arrived in time with their sharp tongues and killed one of the servants. How did it become, in your mouth, that Liu Zicheng was right and I was wrong? If you clear Liu Zicheng's name today, will you go to the capital tomorrow to appeal for the dead servant?"

The Mingyue Tower fell silent. No one expected Fang Yun to be so direct.

Guan Yaoyuan immediately looked aggrieved and said, "Fang Shuangjia, you misunderstood. I really didn't know the truth; I only heard rumors. I apologize for not listening to both sides. But you can't believe everything you say either, or you're still listening to one side. Today is the Start of Summer poetry gathering. Let's talk about the moon and the breeze, not other things. For the sake of the dozens of scholars here, please write a poem."

Fang Yun sneered, "No one here is a fool, but you are pitifully foolish. You want to isolate me by forcing others to side with you, thinking these scholars will fall for your tricks? You and Liu Zicheng have gone to great lengths to deal with me!"

He Yutang, sitting next to Fang Yun, thought, "What a child prodigy before the sage. Although this approach is a bit brutal, it clarifies the situation first, and those who were neutral will likely not help Guan Yaoyuan."