Chapter 0216: Do Not Say Women Are Inferior to Men, the Jade Tree Seeks a Fair Lady
Meeting Sheng Yiren’s complicated gaze, Xie Chengze raised his head with righteous confidence. “What?”
“Hmm…” Sheng Yiren fell into a subtle silence. “Nothing, I just suddenly don’t feel like writing anymore.”
Even copying it out made her feel choked up and her hands tremble.
In the end, Sheng Yiren steeled herself and copied the poem, but as soon as she finished, she wished she could wash her hands immediately, hypnotizing herself into believing she had never seen this poem.
As the Esteemed Daughters finished their poems, the papers bearing their writings were sent to the male guests’ side, posted on wooden boards. The host of the banquet read them out one by one, after which the men would appreciate and admire the calligraphy.
Bian Yangchun received the first poem. After reading it, his eyes lit up, and he immediately proclaimed loudly, “This is Poem Number One—”
“Delicate flowers are branches reaching for the clouds, aspiring to rival the heavens in height.
Unafraid of wind and frost invading proud bones, undaunted by rain and snow dampening silk robes.
Hearts harbor grand ambitions to climb the highest peaks, bodies bear heroic spirits to roam the four directions.
Do not say women are inferior to men, for heroines can also surpass the bearded ones!”
As his voice fell, the male guests listening grew slightly quieter, exchanging glances. This poem fully expressed its author’s heroic spirit and lofty ambitions, with exceptionally brilliant wording, but…
“Do not say women are inferior to men”?
What was this about? Trying to compete with men like them, who cultivate themselves, manage their families, govern the state, and bring peace to the world? It seemed far too arrogant.
Some sneered, while others admired it. The purpose of meeting “friends” through poetry was to seek like-minded individuals. Some men who resonated with this poem secretly noted down Poem Number One, wanting to meet this woman with such soaring ambitions.
Others wanted to see what kind of foolishly arrogant woman she was, hoping to splash some cold water on her to bring her back to her senses.
However, none of them expected that the poems that followed would be filled, word by word, with the women’s ambitions and defiance. They questioned why there was no place for women on the path to great heights, why women’s feet were met with thorns and obstacles at every turn. They directly expressed their desire to challenge the heavens, and even praised the Prince Regent’s wise decision to establish academies for women, leaving the male guests present utterly dumbfounded.
Had the female guests gone mad?
Originally, the theme “Ascending Heights” was chosen because Hanshan Temple’s mountain was not particularly low, and for delicate women, it could indeed be considered an ascent. In previous years, themes like peach blossoms, plum blossoms, or romance had become stale, so they decided to change it to this poetic theme.
The male guests, on their side, could also use this theme to expound grandly on their own lofty ambitions and, during their meetings, showcase their talent and charm through the depth of their interpretations.
They never imagined that the women would also imbue the theme with such profound poetic meaning and even recite it for them, the men, to hear.
“This is outrageous! What are they trying to do?”
“What does this ‘academy for women’ mean? Will women be able to attend school in the future?”
“Probably just to learn music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. They can’t possibly think they’ll study the Four Books and Five Classics like us, can they?”
“Hahaha, that would indeed be wishful thinking! Why not just be good Esteemed Daughters? Why suffer alongside us? Not everyone can endure the hardships of studying.”
Most of the male guests laughed it off, not taking the matter to heart.
They had grown rather weary of these poems and casually selected one with decent calligraphy for its verse, then began pondering what to say upon meeting to jolt the other person awake. Just then, a love poem burst forth, leaving everyone momentarily dazed, their mouths agape in stunned silence.
“This is Poem Number Twenty-Three.”
“Guan-guan go the ospreys,
On the islet in the river.
The handsome, elegant gentleman,
Is the one I desire.
Of uneven length is the waterlily,
To the left and right we trail it.
The handsome, elegant gentleman,
Waking and sleeping I seek him.
Seeking but unable to get him,
Waking and sleeping I think of him.
Longing, oh so longing,
I toss and turn, unable to sleep.
Of uneven length is the waterlily,
To the left and right we gather it.
The handsome, elegant gentleman,
With cage and companionship I befriend him.
Of uneven length is the waterlily,
To the left and right we choose it.
The handsome, elegant gentleman,
With whip and delight I pleasure him.”
Everyone: ???
Leaving aside the fact that the poem was off-topic, what on earth were “cage” and “whip” about?
Did it have to be so perverted?! Was this someone looking for a male companion?!
In the tea seat, Shen Yuan slightly raised an eyebrow, a helpless yet doting smile flickering in his eyes.
Such an unconventional and speechlessly absurd poem could only have been written by Xie Chengze.
However, this “handsome, elegant gentleman” probably referred to him, right? After all, Xie Chengze loved calling him “Shen Lang” when in a good mood, and among those present, he was the closest to Xie Chengze. Only by making the poem peculiar could Xie Chengze lure him to a “rendezvous” under the peach blossom tree, preventing anyone else from getting there first.
“Could this be… His Highness’s poem?!” Zhu Xiaobiao widened his eyes and whispered.
Such perverted “affection”—truly worthy of his Highness!
But… “Who does His Highness want to imprison and whip?”
Shen Yuan, in high spirits, was already prepared to hear his own name from Zhu Xiaobiao, when he saw the latter stroke his chin thoughtfully and mutter, “Could it be the Second Young Master of the Su Family?”
Not to mention that His Highness and the Second Young Master of the Su Family were indeed close, Su Qinghe was currently “imprisoned” in the Directorate of Celestial Observation and the Ministry of Works, unable to leave the palace. Yet Su Qinghe was perfectly willing and even delighted about it, which aligned quite well with “cage” and “befriend him.”
But the whipping… Zhu Xiaobiao couldn’t help but turn to Jing Ze and ask earnestly, “Jing Ze, while ‘cage and companionship’ fits the Second Young Master of the Su Family, the ‘whip’ part doesn’t quite match. Did I guess wrong?”
Jing Ze took a sip of tea and said calmly, “Your thinking is too narrow. What if it refers to more than one person?”
Shen Yuan, nearby: ?
That was a perspective he hadn’t considered.
Zhu Xiaobiao slapped his palm in sudden realization. “Oh, right! His Highness is a prince—how could he have only one person by his side?!”
“Whip, whip… Let me think who His Highness has whipped and who was happy about it…” Zhu Xiaobiao racked his little brain, then suddenly blushed coyly. “Huh? Didn’t His Highness whip me once?”
He still remembered the second day they met, when His Highness kicked him flying far away… and he had been ecstatic about it at the time!
Jing Ze gently rubbed his temples, somewhat exasperated. “Sir, don’t force the interpretation.”
Ouyang Jiu joined in teasing, “Exactly, exactly. You and His Highness are clearly cut from the same cloth.”
Zhu Xiaobiao looked at Ouyang Jiu in confusion.
What did “cut from the same cloth” mean? How could he possibly compare to the peerless His Highness?!
“If it wasn’t me, then who was it?” Zhu Xiaobiao began counting on his fingers, listing names that included the handsome scholar he’d met back in Yi Province, the dashing soldiers he’d befriended in the army, and even Da Dangjia and Er Dangjia. Suddenly remembering something, he exclaimed with sudden realization, “Ah! I almost forgot those two!”
Shen Yuan already knew who he was going to mention.
And he really didn’t want to hear those two names.
So he spoke calmly, cutting off the conversation, “He’s fought me.”
“Right! Maybe His Highness has fought Wuhen and Wuji, ah—ah?” Zhu Xiaobiao nodded vigorously before suddenly processing the words. He whipped his head around in shock, “Lord Shen! When did His Highness ever fight you?!”
How could he not know about this?!
Shen Yuan took a calm sip of tea.
Xie Chengze had indeed never fought him.
But he had pinched him, kicked him, and even ridden him.