Spring Drunk Chang'an

Even a tiger won't eat its own cubs. Duke Liu's attitude towards Liu Yu is very strange.

She doesn't care about his life or death at all, and even feels a little disgusted with him. Is it just because he is disabled?

But he was raised in luxury, and Liu Chang'an could see that when Liu Yu jumped into the river, the clothes on his body were worth at least a hundred taels of silver.

Moreover, it’s bad enough that Duke Liu looks down on Liu Yu, but why does Qu Qiutong do the same?

She is Liu Yu’s biological mother!

Liu Changan had countless questions in his mind. He only chatted with Guiyuan for two quarters of an hour before taking an excuse of being tired to rest.

Then two or three days.

It seemed like something big had happened in the court. The prince hadn't sent anyone to look for her, and Song was busy checking the accounts. Liu Chang'an observed silently, guessing Duke Liu's every move.

I didn't see anything.

The next day, Liu Changan and several maids from the main courtyard were sent to the garden to help.

Liu Qingru held a poetry reading and invited more than a dozen young girls to attend. Liu Wenrui joined in the fun and asked Liu Wenbai to come over and also invited several famous talents in Beijing.

In the garden of the Ningguo Mansion, flowers are in full bloom, the fragrance is everywhere, and the breeze blows the willow branches, swaying gently.

The talented men and ladies who attended the poetry meeting were dressed in gorgeous clothes, strolling among the flowers, talking in low voices, and expressing admiration from time to time.

Their clothes and flower petals are intertwined, and the overlapping of colorful colors adds a touch of poetry.

Liu Changan, Rong Cui and others shuttled among the crowd, providing exquisite tea and snacks to the talented men and beautiful women.

After a long time, the talented men and beautiful women seemed to be tired of shopping and sat down in groups of three or four. The two of them finally got a chance and knelt in the corner to rest.

They watched quietly.

The male guests began to recite poems and compose couplets.

The brothers Liu Wenbai and Liu Wenrui wrote two poems with the word "Liu" in their name, one in five characters and the other in seven characters, which were widely circulated among scholars.

"Brother Wenbo is indeed a man of literary talent. He has such great talent before he even reaches the age of twenty. He will surely win the top three prizes in the imperial examinations in the future."

"Brother Wenrui is no slouch either. His poetic talent is outstanding, and his appearance is also charming. He will definitely win the third place."

"Well, well, well, if the two heroes of the Liu family can both win the top three prizes, and father and son can serve as officials together, it will be a wonderful story."

The scholars were greatly impressed.

The Liu brothers are reserved and contented.

Liu Qingru held her chin high and proudly ordered the maid, "Go, ask the eldest and second brothers to bring over the poems they wrote so we can appreciate them too!"

"Yes!"

The maid responded and went to the male guest. After a while, she came back with poems and articles.

The ladies in the boudoir began to taste and pass the wine around. Some of them were whispering to each other, while others were blushing and looking towards the male guests with shy eyes.

Liu Wenbai and Liu Wenrui received the most attention.

Of the two men, one was the prince of Ningguo, a recognized talent in the capital, and the other, although a playboy, was handsome and of noble status. Judging from the poems he wrote, he did not seem to be a talentless person.

"Hmph!" Liu Qingru glanced at Liu Changan with contempt, feeling arrogant and proud.

As expected, what grandma said was right. She had two capable brothers and was a noble lady from a noble family. She was well-dressed and well-fed, and had unparalleled wealth. She would marry a noble man in the future and live a carefree life.

Why bother with a little slave girl?

There is no need to raise her status.

She raised the corners of her mouth, her eyes were shining, and she felt so happy that she almost flew up.

Liu Changan looked back indifferently with a faint expression.

"Chang'an, the Second Young Master doesn't usually like to study, but unexpectedly he has a talent for writing. 'A hundred-foot willow branches brush against the silver pond, and the color is not deep green, but light yellow.' How beautifully written!"

Rong Cui sighed and looked moved.

Liu Changan looked back at her silently, unable to help but ask, "Is it really okay?"

"It will be fine naturally!" Rong Cui nodded heavily.

Liu Changan raised his red lips slightly, revealing a small smile.

Her almond eyes were also filled with pride.

"My brother wrote it!" she whispered.

When Wang'er returned home this time after being released from prison, he told her that Liu Wenrui had never had any talent for poetry. All his poems and essays from childhood to adulthood were written by Wang'er. He wrote hundreds of poems for Liu Wenrui.

Liu Changan wrote it all down.

This poem "Ode to Willow" is one of them.

Liu Wenrui's literary talent belongs to her brother. This group of talented people all praise Wang'er!

Liu Chang'an was proud of it.

His back was also straight.

"What are you doing? Your eyes are lighting up. Are you so happy that the second young master is being praised? Don't you have a grudge against him?" Rong Cui was stunned.

Liu Changan didn't answer, his eyebrows curved.

You can see that he is really happy.

Liu Qingru, from her high position, had a clear view of the scene. The maid's almond-shaped eyes and sweet smile made her look even more like Song Shi. She felt strangely irritated and shouted, "Sisters, since we are here to enjoy the flowers and the scenery, we can't let the young masters have all the glory."

"Let's compose a poem to suit the occasion."

After saying this, without giving the ladies present a chance to object, he pointed at Liu Changan and scolded, "All of you, go and prepare pens, ink, paper, and inkstones for the young ladies!"

"You have no sense, yet you still need my orders."

"promise."

The maids responded and left in a hurry.

Liu Changan also went with Rong Cui to move the table and arrange the four treasures of the study.

Seeing that Liu Chang'an was walking around in support after hearing her order, Liu Qingru's arrogant heart was fully satisfied. She sneered contemptuously and turned around to urge the many noble ladies.

"We are women. We don't have the talent of my elder and second brothers, and we can't compete with the young masters. I won't set a topic or rhyme. Just write a poem casually, no matter what it is."

"It can be five-character or seven-character, or even a poem or song."

"You must not write it. If you don't write it, you are looking down on me!"

She raised her chin and smiled coquettishly.

The maids placed tables in front of the noble ladies from each mansion and handed them pens, ink, paper and inkstone.

All the noble ladies knew how to read and write, had read a few books, and could write poems and essays. Even if they were not well versed in the classics, they could at least write some doggerel. However, they always felt uncomfortable being forced to do something like this.

However, Liu Qingru was the daughter of the Duke's Mansion and the niece of the Empress. Since she had spoken, no one could refuse her, so they all began to think silently.

Soon, a talented person won it. Everyone circulated it and praised it.

Liu Qingru's poems were rated as first-class by the noble ladies and were passed on to the young masters, who praised them. She was so elated and proud that she was like a little phoenix. She no longer took Liu Chang'an seriously and instead set her sights on others.

"Miss Shi, where are your poems? You haven't written any in such a long time. Don't you know how to write?"

"Or, you've been praying in the temple since you were little, and no one taught you, so you don't know how to read?"

She laughed coquettishly and wantonly.

Because of her words, many young men and ladies focused their attention on a girl wearing a plain dress with bangs covering her eyebrows.

"Speak up, Shi Xiaoyue, I'm asking you!" Liu Qingru said angrily.

Shi Xiaoyue's body trembled slightly, and she looked up timidly, revealing her face which was half occupied by a crimson birthmark.

"I've just finished the first line of my poem, and I don't know how to finish the second half, so I won't show off my skills anymore." Shi Xiaoyue felt embarrassed and panicked by the looks in everyone's eyes, and tears welled up in her eyes.

He whispered, "I still wrote it."