Red Mansion: Fuyao River and Mountain

Chapter 28: Plum Blossoms Shock Everyone

Everyone present was puzzled by Jia Cong's words. Could it be that Wu Jinrong had bullied him too much and he became flustered and started talking nonsense?

In ancient times, Cao Zhi could compose a poem in seven steps. Wu Jinrong has just given the topic, and you haven't even taken half a step, but you already have a poem?
Regardless of what everyone thought, Jia Cong picked up his pen and started writing.

Everyone present was disgusted by Qiu Xuanfu's despicable attack just now, and they were also deeply moved by Jia Cong's public confession of his regret for not having received the teachings of his biological mother and not having been fully raised by her.

If the biological mother is prominent, it is normal for the children to be filial and respectful. But for Jia Cong, whose biological mother is humble, he still accepts it calmly and expresses his admiration for her in words. That is the true filial piety.

Our dynasty has been established for seventy years and advocates governing the world with filial piety. Young people like these should be role models of filial piety and etiquette.

Although Wu Jinrong was not as mean as Qiu Xuanfu and seemed to be very polite, he still made things difficult for the young man. Moreover, this young man had an affair with Zhou Junxing, and his reputation in the literati circle was tarnished, so everyone disliked him.

Seeing Jia Cong pick up the pen to write a poem, they all felt a sense of solidarity. Several people left their seats and gathered around Jia Cong's desk to see what he was going to write.

Liu Bi also came to Jia Cong and helped him to flatten the rice paper. Although he had never seen Jia Cong write a poem, he saw that he was confident and must have a plan in mind.

Just now, Jia Cong responded brilliantly to Qiu Xuanfu's questioning, which opened Liu Bi's eyes.

When he first met Jia Cong in Chunhua Tower, he knew that Jia Cong was an outstanding calligrapher, but he thought it was just a gift from nature. Besides, he was really young, so he didn't really care too much about it.

It can be seen that what he experienced and did today made him sincerely convinced of this young friend.

If it were me who was in charge of what happened today, I would not be able to do it so well. I would probably have a big fight with Qiu Xuanfu and lose all my dignity.

Jia Cong was seen writing down the title of the poem: Bu Suanzi, Ode to the Plum Blossom.

Under the tune it is written: In the tenth year of Jiazhao, I was in Shuyun Garden in Shenjing, and saw a cliff frozen with ice, isolated from the world. There were wild plum blossoms growing on the cracks in the rocks, their colors were bright and their aura was awe-inspiring, and I wrote this poem inspired by what I felt.

The last two lines are: Wind and rain send spring away, flying snow welcomes spring.

Everyone silently recited these two lines. Although ordinary, they were quite appropriate in describing today's scene, though the words were a bit plain.

But considering that the boy is so old, he has only studied for a limited number of years, and it is not like him to be as eloquent as an old Confucian scholar.

What amazed everyone was the handwriting, which was truly outstanding. It was incredible that he could be so good at such a young age.

Jia Cong was invited by Prince Jiashun and did not know the others. Although everyone saw him sitting in the recorder's seat, they could not see the words he wrote because they were far away.

Now that I have seen this calligraphy that is ancient, elegant, and unique in style, I know that this young man truly deserves the position of recorder.

Jia Cong continued: The cliff is a hundred feet of ice, but the flowers are still beautiful...

As soon as these two sentences came out, the crowd watching couldn't help but take a breath of cold air. These people were all old Confucian scholars and famous people, with extraordinary knowledge and vision, so they could see the brilliance of these two sentences.

The first two sentences are as simple as water, while these two sentences are just like the sudden emergence of wind and clouds, the steep cliffs, the crystal ice and snow, and the standing winter plum blossoms. In just a few short words, a majestic and extraordinary demeanor has jumped onto the paper.

People always say that turning decay into something magical is no exception. As soon as the two novel and sublime sentences at the end come out, the charm of the two simple sentences at the beginning immediately emerges.

It's as if a bit of fantasy color is blended into the bland black and white ink, and the whole painting immediately becomes vivid and lively.

Liu Bi, who was ordinary, could not help but applaud: "Excellent, novel and interesting, brother Cong, it's amazing that you can write such a thing."

Jia Cong seemed to be oblivious to what was happening around him at this moment, and continued to write: Beauty does not compete for spring, but only announces the arrival of spring...

The people around applauded again. The first two sentences were simple and straightforward, the next two sentences were surprising and interesting, and the third or second sentences went beyond the interest in expressing the author's true feelings and aspirations.

The plum blossom grows in bitter cold and is of a noble and pure nature. It does not compete with the romantic spring flowers for beauty, but only blooms silently in the chilly spring when all other flowers are not yet in full bloom. This young man is using the plum blossom to express his own feelings.

Everyone was amazed when they saw Jia Cong's demeanor in front of the archway at the foot of the mountain. Just now in the hall, they saw him deal with the provocation and humiliation of others with just a few words.

Now I see that I have written down a few sentences, which seem to be written effortlessly, but the style and rhythm are gradually deepened from shallow to deep, and only one who is deeply knowledgeable in the art of poetry can do it.

It is simply unbelievable how he had acquired such a profound foundation in poetry at such a young age.

Everyone was amazed. This young man who was not anxious and had outstanding talent was a level higher than the winter plum. Jia Cong picked up his pen and added ink, and wrote the last sentence: When the mountain flowers are in full bloom, he will laugh in the bushes!
As soon as this last sentence was written, the low whispers among the crowd suddenly burst out like boiling water.

An old scholar with white hair and beard nearby was so excited that he clapped his hands and shouted, "Great! Young people have great tricks. What a great phrase!"

Although this poem has only a few sentences, it is built up layer by layer, and the artistic conception rises step by step until the last sentence: When the mountain flowers are in full bloom, he is laughing in the bushes!
The accumulated emotion and charm of the whole poem explodes at once, making people feel as if they are standing on the top of the mountain, watching the changes of mountains and rivers, watching the flowers bloom and fade, and understanding the honor and disgrace, and feeling the heroic spirit of being undefeated.

Liu Bi looked at Jia Cong with a dazed expression. He was proud of his talent and had written poems that he thought were great. But now he knew what poetry was. This little brother of his was amazing.

Not only does he have amazing skills in calligraphy, but he can also write such wonderful words. It's okay that God has gifted him with extraordinary talents, but isn't this a bit too partial?

In the stone pavilion, Liu Yanxiu, Prince Jiashun, Zhang Yuzhen and others saw that several people had gathered beside Jia Cong's desk to watch him compose new lyrics. After a while, someone exclaimed in praise.

Soon more and more people left their seats and gathered towards the desk. Finally, someone cheered loudly, and the sounds of people chanting and talking came like a tide.

These people were puzzled. They knew that Jia Cong's calligraphy was outstanding, so it was not surprising that he was praised by everyone.

Could he write some good poetry that would cause such a big fuss?

I was somewhat skeptical in my heart. After all, he was just a grown-up kid, and it was rare for him to excel in one aspect.

Wu Jinrong had just given the question, and Jia Cong started writing without thinking. People of literary talent and dignity like Liu Yanxiu thought that the young man was a little rash.

Could it be possible to write something good like this? Although I had some doubts in my heart, those who gathered around the desk were all elites of the literary world in Shenjing, and they all had a broad vision.

Prince Jiashun called Wang Dong who was beside him and asked him to go over there and see what was going on. If Jia Cong had already written the lyrics, he should send it over as soon as possible. He was also somewhat looking forward to it.

After a while, Wang Dong came back with a smile, holding a piece of rice paper soaked with ink, and spread it carefully on the desk.

The three people in the stone pavilion focused their eyes on the manuscript.

With every few sentences they read, their emotions became more and more excited, and they finally understood why such a big commotion had just occurred.

Prince Jiashun clapped his hands and laughed, "This Jia Cong is so old, it's not enough that he is an excellent calligrapher, he can even write such wonderful words, the benefits of the world must have been taken by him."

Liu Yanxiu was a great literary figure of his generation. He was deeply immersed in poetry and had a richer sense of poetry than ordinary people. He was also impressed by the artistic conception of this poem.

He picked up the manuscript on the table, muttering something, his eyes shining, and the white beard under his chin trembling slightly. One could imagine how agitated and upset he was at that moment.

"Great! What a great poem about plum blossoms! The language used in this poem is extremely clean, but the description is vivid and full of meaning. In just a few sentences, the rhyme and intention are repeated three times. There is a sense of awe and an unyielding spirit.

At such a young age, yet with such talent and vision, it is no exaggeration to say that he is a genius.

I have read countless poems about plum blossoms in my life, and perhaps this one is better than this one in terms of harmonious rhythm and beautiful language.

But the spirit of indignation revealed in this poem cannot be surpassed by any other poem. This poem about plum blossoms is bound to be passed down through the ages!"

Zhang Yuzhen, who was standing aside, was looking at the manuscript of the poem in Liu Yanxiu's hand. He was known as a great scholar in Taoism, so he naturally knew that Liu Yanxiu's evaluation of the poem was pertinent.

What Liu Yanxiu said was heard not only by Prince Jiashun and Heavenly Master Zhang Yuzhen in the Stone Pavilion, but also by many scholars participating in the literary gathering outside the Stone Pavilion.

If they had not seen it with their own eyes and heard it with their own ears, it would be hard to believe that Liu Yanxiu actually gave such high praise to a boy with topknots.

This young man's deeds today, his poems today, and what Emperor Wenzong Liu Yanxiu just said, will make him famous in the capital in no time!

The looks people gave them now were much more complicated, some with envy, some with praise, and a lot of them with burning jealousy.

Wang Dong stepped forward and said to Prince Jiashun: "This old servant congratulates His Majesty. Today, Jia Cong has such an incident. Such a good word will surely be spread all over the capital tomorrow.

The Nanxi Literary Festival organized by the prince may be recorded in history books. This is such an honor."

Prince Jiashun laughed, pointed at Wang Dong and said, "You old fellow are really good at joining in the fun."

(End of this chapter)