The Red Chamber begins with a bastard

Chapter 487: Xue Hengwu's cleverness is hard to beat Wei Lang, Lin Xiaoxiang wins the first prize of chrysanthemum poem

Everyone finally had their fill, and Shi Xiangyun and Xue Baochai used a small needle to pin the poem topics they had agreed on last night on the wall, a total of twelve, for everyone to choose from.

Everyone said the title was novel, but they were afraid it was too difficult to write. Shi Xiangyun smiled and said, "There is no limit to the rhyme. You can express yourself freely. The only requirement is that it must be a seven-character regulated verse."

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief after hearing this. If there was no limit on the rhyme, it would be much easier, so they all began to work out their drafts in silence.

Lin Daiyu picked up an embroidered chair and sat down, picked up her fishing rod and continued to fish leisurely, while Xue Baochai walked to the yard to watch the snow scene, while Shi Xiangyun went down the table to persuade them to drink again. The maids from each family were grilling and watching the fun, and secretly betting on whose master would win the first place in poetry today.

Jia Huan had luckily won second place in the last Begonia Poem, but this time he was just trying to get in on the action. Plus, there was no limit on rhyme this time, so it would be easy for him to be a plagiarist and he shouldn't make a fool of himself. So he was very relaxed and walked to Lin Daiyu's side to watch her fishing. He even played a prank on her by throwing some bread crumbs onto the water to lure the fish under the water to eat them.

Lin Daiyu's original intention was not to fish, so she ignored that person and just continued to think about her speech. However, that person went even further and threw half of the steamed bun into the water, making a "dong" sound and scaring away all the fish.

Lin Daiyu was both angry and amused, but she also liked him inexplicably in her heart. Although she was one year older than Jia Huan, the latter had always been young and steady, and could deal with any crisis calmly. Even her father relied on him very much during his lifetime, and even gave him the governor's seal at critical moments. She was even more accustomed to relying on Brother Huan. Although she called him Brother Huan, she was actually his "sister" protected by him.

Therefore, the occasional "childishness" shown by Jia Huan actually made Lin Daiyu feel warm, because wasn't this a different kind of pampering?

"Brother Huan, if you keep making trouble, I will be angry!" Lin Daiyu frowned slightly and gave Jia Huan a sidelong glance, but it had no harming power, but instead had a kind of coquettish charm.

Jia Huan smiled and pretended to throw away the remaining half of the steamed bun in his hand, but then he put it into his mouth and ate it. This scene made the cold-faced and cold-hearted Jia Xichun laugh, and Li Wan couldn't help laughing as well.

Last time, Jia Baoyu ended his poem about the crabapple tree. This time, he put all his effort into saving his face. He was deep in thought and did not see this scene, otherwise he would have felt uncomfortable again.

Lin Daiyu raised her fishing rod and was about to hit Jia Huan, but Jia Huan smiled and walked away quickly. When he came to the table where Ping'er and the others were sitting, pretty Ping'er poured some wine and handed it to him, saying softly, "It's very cold. Third Master, have a glass of hot wine to warm yourself up."

Jia Huan drank the whole cup in one gulp as he was told. Mandalin also joined in the fun by handing him a skewer of freshly grilled mutton, saying with a smile, "If you eat our wine and meat but don't win the first place in poetry, you will be punished."

Jia Huan just looked down vividly, and the foreign maid immediately sat down obediently. The maids at the same table were a little confused, but Ping'er, who understood the secret message, had a flushed face.

At this time, Xue Baochai had obviously already had a draft in mind. She picked up her pen and walked to the wall, crossed out the first word "忆菊", and added the word "昅" below it, indicating that she had finished the poem.

Seeing this, Jia Baoyu hurriedly said, "Sister Bao, I already have four lines for the second poem. Please let me write it."

Xue Baochai had wanted to tick the second one as well, but when she heard this, she stopped writing and said with a smile, "I finally got one, but you're so busy. Well, I'll give it to you."

Jia Baoyu thanked her and hurried forward to tick the word "Visiting Chrysanthemum" in the second poem, and added the word "Jiang" at the end.

Lin Daiyu threw away her fishing rod and caught three at once, namely "Asking about the Chrysanthemum", "Dreaming about the Chrysanthemum" and "Ode to the Chrysanthemum". Jia Baoyu gasped and said, "It's incredible, Sister Lin actually got three."

Jia Tanchun also came forward and said with a smile, "No one has ever composed a poem called 'Pinning the Chrysanthemum'. This is a good thing for me. I will compose it myself."

Jia Tanchun put a check mark after "Hairpin Chrysanthemums" and added the word "Autumn". She pointed at Jia Baoyu and smiled and reminded him, "Master of the Flower Cave, you are calling me sister again. If you do it again, you will be punished."

At this time, Shi Xiangyun was not willing to be outdone. She stepped forward and wrote three poems in one breath, namely "Offering Chrysanthemums", "Facing Chrysanthemums" and "Chrysanthemum Shadows". As a result, there were only three poems left out of the twelve.

Seeing that Jia Huan was still indifferent, Lin Daiyu leaned close to his ear and whispered, "Has Jia Jieyuan run out of ideas? Didn't you have time to be naughty just now? If you can't write a single poem, I'll show you how to embarrass you."

At this time, Xiangling also rushed forward to tick "种菊", and added the word "香" at the end. Seeing this, Lin Daiyu secretly teased Jia Huan, saying that she had already taught an apprentice, but Jia Huan didn't.

Jia Huan just smiled calmly and said, "It doesn't matter. You guys do it first. If there are any left, I'll do it later. If there are none left, the worst that can happen is that you'll be punished."

Lin Daiyu glanced at Jia Huan thoughtfully, but said nothing. At this time, Baoqin also stepped forward and wrote a poem "Withered Chrysanthemum", so only the last poem "Painted Chrysanthemum" was left unwritten.

Coincidentally, Jia Huan and Xue Baochai walked to the wall almost at the same time, and they smiled at each other. "My dear sister, there is only one song left, why don't you let me sing it, at least let me save some face." Jia Huan bowed and said.

Xue Baochai's beautiful eyes, like those of apricots, turned and she said with a smile, "Master Yuewei wants me to give up the poem, and that's fine. How about this? I will only write the first two lines, and Master Yuewei will complete the poem. If it is really good, I will give it to you. How about that?"

As soon as these words came out, all the girls cheered and cheered, especially Baoqin and Xiangyun, one of them clapped her hands and laughed, "Mr. Hengwu is so difficult. If Master Yuewei can't pass this test, he will be known as the failed Southern Zhili Jieyuan. His reputation is not up to par."

"That's absolutely right, Brother Huan... Young Master Yuewei, just accept it." Baoqin said with a smile, looking as if she was afraid that the world would not be in chaos.

Lin Daiyu and Jia Tanchun were a little worried. Of course, continuing a poem is much more difficult than writing it, not to mention that they have to continue it on the spot. It also has to fit in with the intention of the other party's first two sentences and have the same rhyme, which means that both the rhyme and the intention have to be limited. So it's good enough to be able to continue it, and to continue it well is really difficult!
Jia Huan couldn't help but be a little surprised. Sister Bao has always been open-minded and generous, and she knows how to deal with people. He didn't expect that she would be so difficult for him this time.

At this time, Jia Baoyu was gloating, because in his opinion, even if Jia Huan was talented, he would not be able to accept it. If Jia Huan showed his weakness and refused to accept it, he would be embarrassed. If he accepted it and couldn't do it, he would be even more embarrassed. Haha, it would be embarrassing either way. Third Brother Huan, you have come to this day!
Xue Baochai looked at Jia Huan with a smile and said, "If Master Yuewei feels embarrassed, forget it. I will give you the poem."

Jia Huan inexplicably felt a surge of competitive spirit when he heard this. He also wanted to save face, so he smiled calmly and said, "No need, I will take the responsibility. Heng Wujun, please go first!"

A strange light flashed in Xue Baochai's eyes. Without taking the paper off the wall, she picked up a brush and wrote on it: I write poems in a playful way without knowing how crazy I am, so how can I compete with painting?

Jia Huan hesitated for a moment, then picked up his pen and continued:
The gathered leaves are splashed into thousands of dots of ink, and the gathered flowers are dyed into a few traces of frost.

The shadow in the wind is divinely combined with the fragrance from autumn's wrist.

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Don’t mistake me for picking flowers leisurely by the eastern fence, I’m sticking them on the screen to comfort myself on the Double Ninth Festival.

When everyone gathered around and took a look, they all praised it, saying it was amazing. Not only did Jia Huan actually write the sequel, but he also completed it in almost an instant. His quick wit was truly astonishing.

"I am truly convinced. Master Yuewei is worthy of being the top three in the boy's examination and the first place in the Nanzhili provincial examination. His talent in poetry is unparalleled." Shi Xiangyun couldn't help but sigh.

Jia Tanchun was both surprised and proud. My brother is truly a top scholar!

Lin Daiyu's eyes flashed with surprise, with both joy and suspicion. It was amazing that Huandi could continue writing, but what was even more amazing was the tone and wording. The style was so similar to Baochai's. It seemed as if it was written by the same person. It was really strange.

Lin Daiyu had no idea that this poem "Painting Chrysanthemum" was originally written by Xue Baochai, but Jia Huan's plagiarism was too open, and he actually copied Baochai's original work directly. Not to mention her, Xue Baochai was also shocked and suspicious at this moment, because the draft she had prepared in her mind was exactly these few sentences, and not a single word was missed, not a single word was wrong. This coincidence was too much, right? Could it be that Brother Huan could read minds?
Thinking of this, Xue Baochai looked at Jia Huan in surprise, while the latter looked at her with a smile. Baochai's heart trembled, and both cheeks felt hot as if they were on fire. If Jia Huan really could read minds, then wouldn't he know everything she was thinking?
It was a rare sight to see the dignified and quiet Bao sister showing such panic and shyness. Jia Huan couldn't help but laugh secretly, thinking, I've allowed you to make things difficult for me, and this time I'm confused too.

Xue Baochai was steady after all, and soon recovered. She comforted herself by saying that there was no such thing as mind-reading in this world, and it was probably just a coincidence. She pretended to be nonchalant and said, "Mr. Yuewei is so talented, I admire you so much. This poem is yours."

Jia Tanchun asked, "What was Hengwujun's original poem like? Why don't you write it down for comparison?"

Everyone was also very curious and urged Xue Baochai. The latter smiled and said, "Mine is not as good as Master Gewei's, so I won't show off my skills, so as not to make a fool of myself." After saying that, she looked at Jia Huan deeply.

When everyone heard this, they thought that Baochai was indeed ashamed of herself, so they stopped forcing her and just silently wrote out the poems they had marked, and gave them to Yingchun and Xichun to copy and record.

Finally, Jia Xichun copied all twelve poems onto a piece of Xuelang paper and gave it to Li Wan for evaluation.

I won’t go into detail about these twelve chrysanthemum poems, so as not to seem to be trying to make up the word count. Anyway, after Li Wan’s evaluation, the top three poems were all written by Concubine Xiaoxiang, and the first one was the poem “Asking about Chrysanthemum”:
I want to ask about autumn’s feelings, but no one knows. I knock on the eastern fence with my hands behind my back, mumbling something.

Who will I hide with this proud and lonely man? Why do the flowers bloom so late?
How lonely is the garden courtyard in the frost? Could it be that the returning wild geese and crickets are sick with lovesickness?
Don’t say that there is no one in the world who can talk. If you understand what I am saying, why not say a few words to me?

This poem "Asking the Chrysanthemum" is undoubtedly a portrayal of Lin Daiyu's character. She is proud and independent, and expressing her aspirations through poetry is the highest realm of poetry writing. Lin Xiaoxiang deserves to be the champion of poetry today.

(End of this chapter)