Chapter 16: At Best, Merely a Poet Immortal

“Everyone heading to the capital for the imperial exam is a scion of scholarly families, brimming with knowledge!”
“And what are you going for? Just to make up the numbers? Play the role of a foil?”
Jiang Qingyue could hardly stand to watch Ying Shuo’s affected display, her tone dripping with undisguised disdain.
Going to the capital for the imperial exam?
He’d be lucky to even pass the local gentry exam!
“Jiang Qingyue!” Lady Jiang called out sternly, and only then did Jiang Qingyue turn her head away and fall silent.
But Jiang Lanfeng was unwilling to let the matter drop.
“Sister, you’re mistaken. Young Master Ying is a little Poet Immortal! Today, at the Eight Treasures Pavilion, I ran into that annoying Fan Zeng, who wanted to have a battle of wits with Young Master Ying.”
“In the end, for my sake, Young Master Ying composed a poem in just seven steps and drove Fan Zeng away!”
Jiang Lanfeng embellished the tale, recounting for everyone what had happened at the Eight Treasures Pavilion earlier.
The crowd listened, secretly astonished.
“A poem in seven steps? Lanfeng, do you really believe such tricks?”
“It must have been prepared in advance, just a lucky fluke that he’d memorized a poem matching Miss Ruan’s topic!”
Jiang Qingyue was still unconvinced.
How could anyone named Ying compose a poem in seven steps?
The girl was still too young and naïve!
“It’s true! I’ll write out Young Master Ying’s poem for you all to see!”
Half out of stubborn pride, Jiang Lanfeng fetched paper and brush, wrote it out in her elegant hand, and lifted her chin to display it to everyone.
“Look! This is the poem Young Master Ying composed!”
Though somewhat abashed, Ying Shuo could only nod in forced acknowledgement.
“O Poet Immortal! I must apologize to you!”
“All for this cursed life!”
“I’ll be sure to offer incense and prayers from now on!”
Everyone exchanged glances, putting down their chopsticks and gathering around to examine the poem.
“Beyond the hills, more hills; beyond the towers, more towers. When will the feasting and singing by West Lake come to an end…”
After reading it through, everyone was surprised and read it again.
Perhaps fearing that those not present at the scene might not grasp its depth, Jiang Lanfeng patiently explained the meaning behind Ying Shuo’s poem.
“This is borrowing from the ancients to satirize the present, criticizing Fan Zeng, a bureaucrat’s son, for caring nothing for the people or the state, spending his days in idle pleasure!”
“Fan Zeng was left speechless, his face turned green, and he had to be carried out by a maid.”
Having finished, Jiang Lanfeng looked proudly at Ying Shuo, like a delighted wife boasting of her husband’s talents.
Her haughty demeanor made Ying Shuo want to laugh.
Father Jiang read the poem several times, exclaiming,
“What a fine poem! What a fine poem indeed! Who would have thought Young Master Ying possessed such skill! In the past, this would have been worthy of the top scholar!”
Father Jiang, stirred with excitement, came forward to grasp Ying Shuo’s hands and lavish him with praise.

Upon hearing this, Xin Qi—who had never been much of a scholar—stared wide-eyed, jaw nearly dropping to the floor.
“A—A top scholar! Heavens, did I nearly cut down the future top scholar with my blade?”
He swallowed hard, only for the steward to smack him on the back of the head.
Ouch!
Despite the pain, Xin Qi felt no resentment—only relief that he hadn’t actually struck.
Otherwise, he’d be the one with the executioner’s blade at his neck.
Lady Jiang, beaming, could not contain her happiness as she gazed at the poem. She had come from the Fu family and had studied a few years herself—though mostly in women’s work, she could still tell a masterpiece when she saw one.
This was clearly a work for the ages!
Ying Shuo was not merely a hidden dragon, but a celestial being!
The Poet Immortal of their time!
Never mind the top scholar—even those who became officials rarely composed such classics.
“Young Master Ying, your literary talent is truly remarkable!”
“This time, in the capital’s court exam, the top place is surely yours!”
“Just don’t forget you are our Jiang family’s son-in-law!”
As she spoke, Lady Jiang clasped Ying Shuo’s hands, her gaze full of meaningful intent as she urged him.
Neither the Jiang family nor the Fu family had ever produced a top scholar.
Even Old Master Jiang, in his day, had only managed to tie for Third Place.
Yet just that title had brought the family prosperity for three generations.
If a top scholar truly emerged—even as a son-in-law—it would be the Jiang family’s great fortune!
Their power would only grow.
Such a promising son-in-law could not be let slip away!
Beside them, Mei Zhen’s eyes shone with admiration, and she could not help but sigh in praise.
“Young Master Ying, you are truly accomplished for one so young.”
But after her praise, there was a trace of melancholy on her face.
Ying Shuo noticed and guessed she must feel lonely, having become a young widow—seeing other talented young men must only make that loneliness keener.
Don’t be afraid, precious one! I don’t mind! I find it thrilling!
Let me soothe your wounded, lonely heart.
Ying Shuo grinned inwardly, about to offer some comfort, when Jiang Qingyue burst out angrily,
“Hmph! How could he possibly have written that poem?”
She pointed accusingly at Ying Shuo, her voice tinged with grievance, “Impossible! It’s impossible!”
“He must have copied it from someone else!”
She wasn’t wrong, Ying Shuo thought to himself. Is this girl my nemesis? She keeps blurting out the inconvenient truth!
Luckily, no one else here knew the real story—it was easy enough to muddle through.

Silently offering thanks once more to the Poet Immortal, Ying Shuo cleared his throat and asked,
“Why are you always at odds with me?”
“I already said, if you can’t stand me, just call off the engagement!”
“So tell me, what would it take to prove I wrote this poem myself?”
At his unbothered, almost roguish manner, Jiang Qingyue grew furious.
Her eyes darted mischievously as she replied, “Aren’t you the Poet Immortal?”
“Maybe you’ve already memorized plenty of poems in advance, just waiting for a chance to use them!”
“The court exam is divided into the Literary and Political Sessions. The Literary Session includes poetry composition, music, matching couplets, and strategic games.”
“How about this—you try matching couplets!”
Matching couplets?
That was a walk in the park!
He’d competed in such contests before—burned the midnight oil memorizing all kinds of couplets!
From ancient masterpieces to clever modern pairings, even a hundred festive couplets for New Year’s doors—there was nothing he hadn’t seen!
Just as Ying Shuo was confident he could handle it, Jiang Qingyue upped the difficulty, a sly smile on her face.
“You give the first line, then match it yourself with the second!”
What?
This time, even Ying Shuo was caught off guard.
Wasn’t she just making it easier for him to cheat?
If he composed both lines himself, wouldn’t it be more suspicious?
“No, she’s trying to trick me!”
“No matter what I say, she’ll claim I memorized it in advance!”
“She’s determined to win this war of words today!”
What a petty, narrow-minded woman!
Realizing this, Ying Shuo refused to fall for it and declared loudly, “Giving both lines myself? That’s far too easy.”
“Why not let the esteemed guests here provide a first line, and I’ll match it?”
“That way, no one can fault me!”
As he said this, Ying Shuo deliberately glanced at Jiang Qingyue, leaving her fuming yet helpless.
But Ying Shuo did not expect the next voice to come from Mei Zhen.
With graceful composure, Mei Zhen removed the hairpin from her coiffure and spoke gently,
“Since we're matching couplets, I happen to have one. My mentor left it to me before she passed, while I was still an apprentice physician.”
“For years, I’ve been unable to solve it; it's always been a regret in my heart.”
“I wonder, Young Master Ying, would you try your hand at it?”