Chapter 13: A Singing and Harmonizing Gambit (1)

  Choi Hwan's eyebrows furrowed slightly.

  Zhang Xuan couldn't bear it anymore, but on the surface, he was still the future son-in-law of the Cui family.

  As long as the engagement between the Zhang and Cui families is not broken, Zhang Xuan will remain Cui Ying's fiancé. Therefore, seeing Zhang Xuan about to be humiliated, Cui Huan's heart was also not very comfortable.

  It had come to this, and he was helpless. He could only hope that Zhang Xuan would understand some poetry and manage to come up with a poem to get through the occasion, so as not to let the Cui family be humiliated along with him.

  Xiao Fu and Chen He glanced at Zhang Xuan with disdain, then turned their heads away. The two sat together, shoulder to shoulder, pointing at the blooming lotus flowers on the surface of Qujiang Pool not far away, admiring the scenery while chatting and laughing, without putting Zhang Xuan in their eyes at all.

  The lady of Guo gazed at the young man before her, notorious but looking refined and elegant with an extraordinary temperament. She smiled playfully, "Zhang Xuan - your father was also a famous scholar of my Great Tang, renowned throughout the land. I suppose the son of Zhang Jiuling wouldn't be too bad in terms of literary talent either. Alright, you recite something for me. If it's good, I'll definitely reward you handsomely."

  "Yes." Zhang Xuan glanced at the infamous Lady Guo of the historical records, bowed again, and then said loudly, "My lady, Second Master Xu Wenbin of the Xu family in the Da Li Temple is also a talented scholar, especially skilled in poetry. Today's poetry gathering is a rare opportunity, I am willing to sing with Second Master Xu to entertain you, please grant me permission."

  Madam Guo nodded and smiled, her beautiful face filled with playful smiles. She glanced outside the scene and then laughed loudly, "Well, since you two are so eager, I'll accept your offer. Someone, go invite Second Master Xu Wenbin of the Xu family to enter."

  It's not necessary to send someone to invite him, Zhang Xuan's words have already been spoken in public and have reached Xu Wenbin and the people present.

  Zhang Xuan was indeed notorious, but Xu Wenbin of the Xu family was no better, with a reputation that preceded him. These two young masters from Chang'an were actually publicly tearing each other apart like "dogs biting dogs". As soon as Zhang Xuan spoke up, many people couldn't help but burst out laughing. Even Xiao Fu and Chen He turned their heads back to look at the scene with great interest, ready to watch a good show.

  In the midst of whispers and strange gazes, Zhang Xuan stood up straight on the spot. He beckoned to Xu Wenbin at the edge of the crowd with a cold smile, "Xu Er Gongzi, Madam has invited you, what are you waiting for?"

  Xu Wenbin glared at Zhang Xuan with a fierce expression, gritting his teeth secretly, thinking: Come on then, I'm not afraid of you, you little thief. I don't believe you can really compose poetry.

  Two people have been together for over a year, and naturally they understand each other very well. Xu Wenbin was sure that Zhang Xuan was just pretending to be tough, and in front of everyone, he couldn't lose face for the Xu family, so he gritted his teeth and walked into the arena.

  Everyone in the hall, including officials and nobles, sat or stood with a smile on their faces, watching the two young men from Chang'an with amusement, wondering how they would continue this farce.

  "Please, Second Master." Zhang Xuan waved his hand and smiled slightly.

  Xu Wenbin glared at Zhang Xuan, but coldly smiled and said, "You first. If you can recite it, I can too. Zhang Xuan, today I just want to see how this ignorant little thief like you can recite poetry?"

  "If I can recite it?" Zhang Xuan gazed at Xu Wenbin, lightly waved her hand with a faint smile and said, "What are you going to do then?"

  "That's it, I'll bet you a hundred taels of silver!" Xu Wenbin blurted out in a huff, not even considering that this was a high-society poetry and wine gathering. Breathing heavily, he continued, "If you can't come up with a poem, then hand over that Sulaber's white parrot to me! Do you dare to make the bet?"

  It's really hopeless for this kind of person. In such a gathering, he actually started gambling, and even if he did gamble, it wouldn't be a big deal, but the stakes he asked for were such shameful and frivolous things - everyone burst out laughing, and famous scholars like Wang Wei frowned in silence.

  "Alright. If I fail to recite the poem about the willow, that white parrot of yours wins. However, if I do manage to recite it, you don't have to pay me a hundred taels of silver, just apologize in front of everyone and say 'Xu Wenbin is a good-for-nothing'!" Zhang Xuan's mouth curled up into a strange smile as he teased.

  "You little thief!..." Xu Wenbin was about to erupt in anger, but saw Zhang Xuan bowing again to Madame Guo, "Please, milady, bear witness!"

  "Alright, alright! I'll be a witness for the two young masters. With me and all these esteemed gentlemen as witnesses, no one is allowed to go back on their word." Lady Guo laughed loudly, repeating "alright" three times, her laughter causing her elegant chest to heave up and down in waves.

  She organized the poem and wine party on the Qujiang Pool, just to relieve her boredom. To her, Zhang Xuan and Xu Wenbin, this pair of "treasures" performing on stage was much more enjoyable than reciting poems.

  With Lady Guo's statement, others could no longer raise any objections and had to let the two continue their nonsense.

  Xu Wenbin's face turned pale with anger, his teeth clenched and his head hung down. He didn't dare to openly defy Guo Furen in public, so he could only seethe with hatred and wait for Zhang Xuan to make a fool of himself.

  "The most shameless!" Xiao Fu sneered with a scornful smile.

  Chen He, who was standing beside him, also sneered with disdain, "How boring, these two good-for-nothings are really shameless, they're truly detestable."

  Choi Hwan let out a faint sigh, and silently raised his head to scan the group of ladies outside the court. Not far away, surrounded by several maids, a slender and elegant girl with bright eyes and white teeth, about sixteen or seventeen years old, was standing there with her eyebrows furrowed, looking at Zhang Xuan who was chatting and laughing on the court, and a blush of shame actually appeared on her pretty face.

  It was Cui Huan's younger sister with the same mother, Cui Ying.

  Although she was extremely disgusted with Zhang Xuan and strongly opposed to marrying him, the Cui family also intended to break off the engagement; however, before the betrothal was dissolved, Zhang Xuan was still her fiancé in name.

  This guy is so shameless and brazen in public that Cui Ying felt her face burning with embarrassment.

  Zhang Li, a lower-ranking member of the Zhang family standing at the edge of the crowd, looked on with growing embarrassment, eventually lowering his head in shame, feeling too ashamed to continue watching.

  ……

  ……

  Zhang Xuan walked slowly to the bookcase in the middle of the room with his hands behind his back, his posture elegant and calm. Although his face looked serene and composed, he was secretly scolding himself for his mistake.

  With his previous life's foundation in classical studies, it wouldn't be impossible for him to learn and compose a few ancient poems. However, wanting to surpass a group of Tang Dynasty poets might not be easy. At this point, he could only imitate or even plagiarize some "ancient" poetry works. In order to clear his name and thoroughly wash away the stains on his body as a young master, he didn't care about much anymore.

  Walking up to the desk, Zhang Xuan picked up his pen and hesitated for a moment.

  Xu Wenbin stood by and suddenly sneered, "What? You were boasting just now, but now you're backing down?"

  Zhang Xuan ignored him and continued writing with his head down.

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