Male superiority and female superiority: forced love

"Neither silver nor water reflects the coldness of the window, but rather the clear sky protects the jade plate. The faint fragrance of plum blossoms is about to spread, while the silken threads of willows are beginning to dry with dew. I only thought that the residual powder painted the gold bricks, and it seemed as if light frost had wiped the jade railings. When I wake from my dream, the west tower is deserted, yet my face can still be seen through the curtain." (From "Xiangling's Ode to the Moon, Part Two" by Cao Xueqin, Qing Dynasty)

Lu Yinnian's smile slowly faded. He lifted the tea bowl and placed it in his palm, silently feeling the warmth of the bowl. Suddenly, a charming curve appeared at the corner of his lips again. He stared at Ruan Chuyin's beautiful profile and said calmly, "A pillow of peace is indeed beautiful, but..." At this point, his tone suddenly became heavier and he paused. He placed the tea bowl back on the table, looked at Qin Guanzhi seriously, and said, "I never do that."

Ruan Chuyin pondered the two poems carefully. Her face flushed at first, then she straightened her back uncomfortably, pretending not to hear or understand, and turned her gaze back to the competition stage.

Just as the two were at a stalemate, Zhou Ziyi smiled and jokingly said, "I also have a poem here. Why don't you all give me some advice?"

The handsome guy wants to recite poetry? This time, Ruan Chuyin no longer pretended not to hear and listened attentively.

"Looking up, the moon is in the sky, shining on my shadow on the ground. When I walk, my shadow walks; when I stop, my shadow stops. I wonder if my shadow and I are necessarily two. The moon can reflect my shadow, but how can it reflect itself? Occasionally, I walk by a stream, and the moon is in the stream. Two moons, one above the other, which one is the real bottom? Is the water the sky, and is the sky the water?" (From Yang Wanli's "Enjoying the Moon on a Summer Night" in the Song Dynasty)

Compared to the previous two poems, this one was noticeably more playful and cheerful. The awkward atmosphere suddenly eased. Qin Guanzhi and Lu Yinnian pondered their thoughts, but Zhou Ziyi turned the conversation to Ruan Chuyin, refilling her tea and saying calmly, "I wonder what the Crown Princess thinks of our poem?"

Ruan Chuyin's heart skipped a beat when her name was suddenly called upon. She looked up and met his gaze, her heart racing even faster. A quick response template flashed through her mind, and she applied it: "This poem is lively and interesting, with a vibrant and dynamic spirit. It shows that the Imperial Master is a straightforward, witty person, with a broad mind... and a love of life." After she finished, she felt uneasy and carefully reviewed what she had said. Only after she was sure that her choice of words would not result in a penalty did her heart return to its original state.

The atmosphere suddenly became tense. Qin Guanzhi's obscure eyes kept flashing to Ruan Chuyin's face, causing her nerves, which had just relaxed, to tense up again.

Did she say something wrong? Her mind raced again.

"The Crown Princess's comments are insightful. Ziyi is just that kind of person." Lu Yinnian laughed heartily, his gaze becoming more obscure. If the other person were the Imperial Preceptor, he wouldn't mind sharing his wife with his friend. After all, Jiang Wenzhou had already set a precedent and role model for the contemporary world.

Zhou Ziyi's eyes flickered slightly, and he said gently, "I'm flattered by the Crown Princess's evaluation. We've just met today, and we're so close, it's like we've known each other for years." He emphasized the last part, making Qin Guanzhi's face almost falter. But he couldn't get angry right now, so he suppressed his anger, picked up the teacup, and swallowed mouthful after mouthful of bitter water.

At this point, Ruan Chuyin already understood the problem. It seemed like she'd overdone it, and a deep sense of regret welled up in her heart. She stole a glance at Qin Guanzhi, then awkwardly forced a faint smile at Zhou Ziyi, leaving him momentarily dazed and his heart pounding.

Well-behaved, soft, and delicate. Yes, exactly the type I like.

Her eyes held the morning star and the autumn water. The faint red glow in the corners of her eyes revealed a hint of childishness, which made him want to tease her. He then said, "I have heard that the Crown Prince's wife is intelligent, wise, and talented. Why don't you write a poem for her as well?"

Lu Yinnian's eyes lit up when he heard this. He thought this was a brilliant suggestion and agreed, "Princess, you're the only one missing from the four of us."

"Let me write the poems for my wife." Qin Guanzhi put down the tea bowl and stared coldly at the two smiling tigers opposite him with bad intentions.

"Prince Qin is worrying too much. I and everyone else have witnessed the talent of the Crown Princess at the palace banquet. A mere poem will certainly not be difficult for your Excellency. Crown Princess, what do you think?" Lu Yinnian showed a sly smile and began to look forward to it.

Perhaps it was because his smile was too flamboyant that ignited some fighting spirit in Ruan Chuyin's heart.

Is it because he defeated Princess Qinghe that this man holds a grudge against her and never misses any opportunity to attack her?

Beiyue Imperial Master's poetry is unique, and it would be difficult to create a poem in the same style. However, if we change the style, it would be difficult to compare. Right now, it's a bit tricky.

My mind quickly searched for the ancient poems I'd learned. Famous works were too imposing and inappropriate. Less popular ones seemed too far removed from the artistic conception of his own work. After weighing the pros and cons, I decided to borrow a refreshing poem from the great poet Liu Yuxi, "Enjoying the Moon on the Night of the 15th of August."

"Tonight, the moon will wash the world clean. The heat retreats, the sky is clear, and the autumn is bright. The stars shine, and the wind and dew make the crystals appear. It can transform the human world, and it is like the Jade Capital."

The reason for choosing this poem is that it has a soft artistic conception and the brushwork is neither exaggerated nor lively, so it has a certain persuasiveness when borrowed for use.

The three people at the table fell into a long silence. Their eyes were glued to Ruan Chuyin's face, as if they wanted to see through her.

Qin Guanzhi was particularly moved. This was the first time he'd heard his beloved wife compose poetry in person, and he was overwhelmed with mixed emotions. He'd always believed his parents and the public had exaggerated Hatsune's performance at the palace banquet, but now it seemed she was truly exceptional, and the rumors were all true.

But while he was proud of his wife's excellence, he couldn't help but feel anxious about the edge she showed. Especially now, the looks from Lu Yinnian and Zhou Ziyi made him feel uneasy.

Women of both talent and beauty have always been captivating, let alone someone like Ruan Chuyin? His wife was a capable womanizer, a master of the kitchen, a shrewd ...

A sudden burst of applause erupted from the room. A fire of surprise ignited in Zhou Ziyi's eyes, making him want to cross the azure sea and sky, ascend to the Crystal Palace, and pluck the ethereal "moon."

Lu Yinnian felt itchy and addicted. He finally understood why Lu Zhuoxi was so obsessed with this girl, because she was worth it.

What kind of expression would Prince Yixiang have if he knew that his beloved woman would one day be led by him into the Eastern Palace? It must have been very exciting.

The deafening sound of gongs and drums rang out again in the hall. Qu Haoyue lived up to everyone's expectations and won the first place in this literary competition.

The applause lasted for a long time, and everyone ended the event in a warm atmosphere.

Ruan Chuyin also followed Qin Guanzhi back to the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion.