Chapter 648 The Upper Couplet
“Miss Zhan, everyone has gone to the waterside pavilion for a poetry gathering. Won't you join us?” The young lady speaking was the youngest daughter of Lord Chang, Chang Zhenzhen. While others might ignore Zhan Feiyu, as the hostess, Chang Zhenzhen naturally had to attend to her guests. Moreover, she was particularly curious about Zhan Feiyu.
Zhan Feiyu stood up, “Thank you, Miss Chang.”
He Nuan, standing by, quickly fetched a cloak and helped Zhan Feiyu put it on. She then handed over a hand warmer before following Zhan Feiyu out the door.
Although it was winter, only withered lotus stalks remained outside the waterside pavilion. However, the room was warmed by charcoal braziers, and double-sided painted screens were placed by the windows facing the lake, blocking the cold wind while allowing ventilation. Coupled with the lingering lotus fragrance from the incense burner, it truly evoked the charm of enjoying lotuses in summer.
As Chang Zhenzhen accompanied Zhan Feiyu into the room, the previously boisterous waterside pavilion fell into an eerie silence. All eyes turned towards Zhan Feiyu.
The early arrivals were fine; they had already seen Zhan Feiyu during the flower viewing and rest period. The young ladies who arrived later now looked at her with curiosity, disdain, and even clear hostility in some eyes.
“I wonder what kind of noble lady she is, to require three invitations from the hostess. She puts on quite a show!” a young lady seated by the window sneered, her gaze sweeping across the room. “She clearly doesn't put the young ladies of the capital in her eyes.”
This remark instantly drew a great deal of animosity towards Zhan Feiyu. Although not all the young ladies in the room disliked Zhan Feiyu, none were willing to offend someone for the sake of a stranger, especially with Zhe Jing, that madwoman, present.
“Please be understanding, Sister Li. I sprained my ankle when I arrived, which delayed me. I apologize to all the elder sisters,” Chang Zhenzhen, being young, smiled sweetly and bowed to everyone. Regardless of whether her words were an excuse, they at least smoothed things over.
Upon hearing the surname Li, Zhan Feiyu knew this was a young lady from Madam Bai’s maternal family, likely Madam Bai’s niece.
Smiling at Chang Zhenzhen, Zhan Feiyu walked directly to an empty seat in the corner.
Just as everyone thought Zhan Feiyu would back down, a clear voice spoke without hesitation, “Miss Li’s opening statement represents all the young ladies of the capital. I assume everyone present follows Miss Li’s lead. However, regarding appearance, etiquette, talent, virtue, and family background, I haven’t seen where Miss Li excels?”
The room fell into another eerie silence. The questioned Miss Li’s face flushed red. In terms of appearance, she was only above average. Her etiquette and talent were also average, and her family background was definitely on the lower side, as her father was still accumulating experience in the Hanlin Academy.
“Plum blossoms are three parts whiter than snow, yet snow lacks a plum blossom’s fragrance. All sisters have their own merits, why must Miss Zhan be so narrow-minded?” Wen Ruyi interjected with a smile, offering Miss Li a way out.
With Wen Ruyi’s stance, the other noble ladies who followed her lead also spoke up, “Spring orchids and autumn chrysanthemums each have their own beauty, why must we compare them?”
“When three people walk together, one must be my teacher. I have long admired Sister Li’s Bronze Sparrow Dance,” Miss Chen said with a sweet smile. She was slightly plump, unlike the slender Miss Li. She was proficient in chess, music, calligraphy, and painting, but dance was her weakness.
“If you ate fewer pastries and snacks, you’d surely be able to dance the Bronze Sparrow Dance too.” This teasing remark immediately drew a burst of laughter, and the previously tense atmosphere turned harmonious and joyful.
Miss Li often tried to curry favor with the circle of noble ladies led by Wen Ruyi. However, due to her father’s low official rank, the only thing she could boast about was her aunt, Madam Bai. But there was still a layer of separation, so Miss Li had always left previous gatherings disappointed.
Today, she had become the focus of everyone’s attention, which made Miss Li feel proud. She glared at Zhan Feiyu with even more disdain, thinking that a country bumpkin from out of town dared to be so presumptuous in the capital.
Recalling that Zhan Feiyu had extorted ten thousand taels of silver from Wen Ruyi at Duobao Pavilion, Miss Li did not hesitate to target Zhan Feiyu again. “All the sisters here are naturally beautiful and intelligent, each with their own strengths. However, there is one thing we all have in common.”
Miss Li paused here, deliberately creating suspense, and looked at Zhan Feiyu with a mocking tilt of her eyebrows.
“Sister Li, tell us what you and Sister Wen have in common. That way, when my mother scolds me next time, I’ll have a retort,” a young lady in a blue short jacket followed Miss Li’s lead, subtly flattering Wen Ruyi.
With someone chiming in, Miss Li became even happier. She deliberately raised her voice, “These noble ladies of our capital, no matter which of the arts they excel in, their character is absolutely as pure as ice, as clean as jade. Unlike some people who are cunning, greedy, base, and shameless!”
Well, the recently harmonious atmosphere became tense once more.
“Chess, music, calligraphy, painting?” Zhan Feiyu, who had already sat down, smiled faintly, holding her teacup and idly fiddling with the lid. “I was fortunate enough to see an upper couplet before. I wonder if Miss Li has the talent to provide a lower couplet?”
Zhe family had investigated Zhan Feiyu’s identity, and the Wen family had also investigated. Unfortunately, Magistrate Bai had immediately destroyed the page of the entry permit for entering the city, so none of the families could find out anything. However, seeing her uninhibited actions, most people assumed she was the daughter of a military general.
Upon hearing Zhan Feiyu’s words, the self-important Miss Li sneered, and the other young ladies also showed a hint of disdain. The young ladies in the room today had all started their studies at the age of four or five. Except for a few who were slow learners, their talents were no less than those of the young talents in the capital.
Especially the four noble ladies led by Wen Ruyi, their poetry and paintings were so admired that scholars like Ning Chen’an and Bai Zhaohui, who were preparing for the imperial examinations, would praise them. In Miss Li’s opinion, Zhan Feiyu was merely showing off with an upper couplet.
Miss Li chuckled sarcastically, deliberately raising her voice, “Please enlighten us, Miss Zhan.”
“Smoke locks the pond willows, lamps hang by the brocade railing waves. Ripples begin the dance, willows are bent as songs are heard.” Zhan Feiyu recited loudly, looking at the slightly stiffened Miss Li, and continued, “This upper couplet is ‘Smoke locks the pond willows.’ I am untalented and have struggled for many years to find a lower couplet. I beg Miss Li to enlighten me!”
Not only did Miss Li frown, but even the noble ladies who were initially confident now showed expressions of difficulty. They quickly recalled lower couplets in their minds, but almost simultaneously rejected them. Both the five elements in the upper couplet and its artistic conception were considered superb. This upper couplet was too difficult.