Time Travel: Did My Sister-in-Law Get Slapped in the Face Today?

There were countless guests, but only Xu Ruyu and her group, along with Liu Ziwen and others, were able to sit in the front row. Everyone else looked on with envy.

"Brother Lin, would you mind having a drink with me? I have many poems that I would like to discuss with you..."

Xu Ruyu sat down, but looked at Lin Ruoshi with a faint smile.

Lin Ruoshi waved his hand: "No need to discuss poetry, let's just wait to watch the Snow and Moon Fairy's dance!"

He appeared calm and collected, but was actually quite nervous inside!

After all, he didn't write the poem himself. If he went over to discuss it, wouldn't he be exposed? He wouldn't feel comfortable pretending.

Thinking of this, he subconsciously swallowed and glanced at Li Lan. Seeing that Li Lan's expression was calm and that she was drinking Qingyun wine by herself, he felt a little more at ease.

At the opposite table, a group of literati and scholars looked displeased upon seeing Lin Ruoshi refuse Xu Ruyu.

"Hehe, Brother Xu is famous throughout the capital. He extended a kind invitation, yet this person dares to refuse?"

"What an arrogant and disrespectful person!"

"They won't even give Brother Xu face!"

Meanwhile, another person sneered at Lin Ruoshi's table, "Heh, a bunch of good-for-nothing martial artists and spoiled brats. They just copied a poem from somewhere and think they're all that. They're really overestimating themselves!"

Xu Ruyu smiled slightly, but in his heart he didn't think that Lin Ruoshi could write any poem!

The purpose of inviting Lin Ruoshi to discuss poetry was to test the other party's abilities, but Lin Ruoshi's refusal to come was enough to show that the other party probably lacked real talent.

"What do you mean?"

Upon hearing this, Lu Jun, Liu Ziwen, and the others were furious: "How dare you say that we are all talking nonsense?"

The man laughed and said, "Oh, that was indeed impolite. I'm sorry. You gentlemen are all incredibly dashing, so of course you know nothing but bullshit, very much so, hahaha..."

Xu Ruyu and the rest of the table burst into laughter.

"Heh heh, these four brutes dare to call themselves the Four Steeds of the Capital, haha, it's truly laughable, they should be called the Four Beasts of the Capital!"

"Hey, be careful what you say! This Brother Liu Ziwen is the tutor of the current Crown Prince, hehe, he holds a very high position and great power..."

"I wonder what His Highness sees in these people? They're making a fool of themselves by coming here!"

They started mocking, and the guests on the second floor joined in the jeering. In an instant, Lu Jun and the others looked extremely ugly.

Liu Ziwen slammed his hand on the table, his brows furrowed.

"Brother Lin, you must teach these people a lesson later!"

He looked at Lin Ruoshi with great seriousness in his eyes and said, "It doesn't matter if we are humiliated, but this person mentioned the First Prince... We absolutely cannot lose this battle!"

He was seething with anger. Back then, the Little Poet God was famous throughout the capital, and the First Prince had asked him to win him over, but... the other party wouldn't even see him!

Now, their words and actions reveal a disdain for them, and they also seem to be mocking the eldest prince.

what does this mean?

Xu Ruyu and his group... must have already sought refuge with another mountain!

Now, the honor and disgrace of the Four Steeds of the Capital are no longer important. What matters most is that when the other side ties them to the First Prince, their loss of face is a loss of face for the First Prince.

This is a battle between factions, a war between strongholds.

However, none of them were truly skilled in literature and poetry. Their only hope now was Lin Ruoshi, who had suddenly become a sensation.

Upon hearing this, Lin Ruoshi immediately panicked!

"This, this..."

He hesitated to agree, glancing furtively at Li Lan, but Li Lan simply drank Qingyun Brew, seemingly only interested in fine wine and indifferent to everything else.

"The fairy has arrived!"

As everyone was talking, a voice rang out, and suddenly, a variety of musical pieces began to play in the Drunken Moon Pavilion. The zither and the guzheng played melodiously, like pearls falling onto a jade plate. A peerless beauty emerged from behind the curtain and gracefully landed on the stage in the center.

Her face was veiled, revealing only a pair of eyes as clear as spring water, seemingly full of charm and tenderness. She only glanced at the audience, and many people were already captivated!

She was dressed in a long, snow-white veil, her graceful figure partially obscured, her long hair cascading down her back. Before the crowd, she gave a slight bow and said, "Recently, I have been longing to perform a dance, and I would like to make a fool of myself for you all."

As soon as Linglong finished speaking, she began to dance, and for a moment, even Li Lan, who was drinking, was attracted!

Her figure was as graceful as a crane, as beautiful as a peacock, and as elegant as a swan. Amidst her stunning beauty, she would occasionally reveal a touch of feminine tenderness. Sometimes, a gust of wind would blow, causing her veil to flutter gently, revealing her snow-white and smooth chin, which was even more breathtaking!

nice.

She was clearly dancing alone, but the movement of her skirt was like the surging of a tide, and her long sleeves fluttered like the bright moon and clouds, giving the impression that she was dancing alone under the vast moonlit night, quiet and lonely.

As the dance ended, the Snow Moon Fairy gracefully bowed, while on the second floor, the crowd seemed still immersed in that breathtaking beauty, remaining silent for a long time.

"Wonderful...wonderful, wonderful!"

The little poet finally realized what was happening, clapped his hands, and then received thunderous applause.

"It is indeed very beautiful."

Li Lan sighed, no wonder Fairy Xueyue had such a powerful appeal.

"Last year, on the river under the moon, I conceived this dance. Tonight, I only ask you gentlemen to compose poems for this dance. What do you think?"

Snow Moon Fairy smiled slightly and finally revealed her question.

Write a poem for the dance she performed!

The winner will surely be able to spend the night with her.

For a time, all the guests on the second floor were deep in thought, and some scions of prominent families even hurriedly sent people home to ask scholars and writers for help.

"I have a poem to congratulate the fairy on this dance!"

A young man at the same table as Xu Ruyu had already stood up and said, "A fairy maiden plays with the clear moon, her skirt falls like flowers in Chang'an. Drunk, she dances tonight; awake, she becomes a flower in the rear garden. What is the beauty of her radiant presence..."

The poem drew cheers from the audience.

"Brother Zhang Zijian, you truly have a talent for quick wit; this poem is wonderful!"

"Okay, okay, I'll sing one too!"

"Ladies and gentlemen, please listen to these four lines! The snow and moon are like a gentle bath, the breeze is so soothing..."

For a time, the sound of poetry recitation rose and fell on the second floor, creating a lively atmosphere. However, the group of young talents, including Xu Ruyu, composed the most poems.

"I have also thought of making a few works."

At this moment, Xu Ruyu finally spoke leisurely.

As soon as he spoke, the surroundings fell silent, and even the Snow Moon Fairy on the stage listened intently.

"A riot of red and green blossoms illuminates the brothel, where beaded curtains and jade hooks are rolled up. The twelve fragrant streets are filled with silk and brocade, and the moon shines over the brothel, causing you sorrow."

"This is the first work!"

As he finished speaking, everyone on the second floor lowered their heads to appreciate the work, their eyes filled with admiration and respect!

"What a poem, what a poem!"

At that moment, an aged voice rang out from one of the private rooms, saying, "Truly worthy of being called the Little Poetry Prodigy!"

Everyone couldn't help but turn their heads to look.

"Is that Mr. Gu, a Hanlin scholar?"

"Gu Qinghong?"

"It must be him! Among the Hanlin scholars, he is known as the romantic scholar. Needless to say, he frequents brothels, and his talent is extremely high! Even he said it was good, so it seems that this poem by the little poetry god is truly wonderful!"

Everyone was deeply moved.

On stage, the Snow Moon Fairy's eyes, as clear as spring water, lit up as she said, "This humble servant wishes to hear the rest of the Poetry God's works!"

Xu Ruyu said that he came up with not just one, but several!

Xu Ziru first bowed towards the private room, then turned around and continued:

"The flute and the zither harmonize, the strings startle the snow-white sleeves. The song returns with slender hands, listening to the beauty of the eyebrows."

"With tender feelings lingering, I gaze at you with unspoken words. As dusk falls, I linger with my honored guest, cherishing this moment together."

Another one!

As everyone savored the poems, they all nodded in approval. Inside the private room, the elegant scholar Gu Qinghong continued to comment: "Excellent, excellent! The previous poem expressed sorrow, and this one recites dance moves; both are of the highest quality!"

Xu Ruyu smiled again and then recited the third poem:

"The vast expanse of water and mist stretches north and south of Kyoto, the wind carrying the melodious strains of silk reeds. After the dance, green ribbons droop, wine stains her cheeks with a touch of rosy blush. Tomorrow, carriages and horses will travel east and west together, leaving only the wind and moon on the painted bridge, a scene of melancholy!"

Upon hearing this poem, all the literary figures and scholars at his table were captivated by it!

"What a beautiful line: 'Tomorrow, carriages and horses will go their separate ways, leaving only the wind and moon on the painted bridge in sorrow!' This poem, once composed, will become a timeless masterpiece tonight!"

Inside the private room, the Hanlin scholar sighed with emotion!

Everyone present was full of admiration.

Others racked their brains, and even those with quick wit could only manage one poem, but Xu Ruyu produced three in a row, each a masterpiece, each better than the last. Such poetic talent was indeed enough to make him stand out in the capital!

"Young master, you are truly talented; I admire you greatly."

The Snow Moon Fairy smiled, her spring eyes sparkling: "Someone, present Young Master Xu with Dragon Tiger Wine!"

The maid Yuzhen immediately presented the fine wine, which was rich and fragrant. Xu Ruyu took the wine and drank it all in one gulp.

"Good wine, good wine!"

Xu Ruyu laughed loudly.

"Tonight, I wish to offer this wine to Young Master Xu."

Snow Moon Fairy continued.

The implication is that Xu Ruyu's talent has already won her favor!

"correct!"

At this moment, Zhang Zijian, who was known for his quick wit, suddenly smiled and said, "This young master Lin was so dashing earlier with his line, 'The moon rises above the willow branches, and we meet after dusk.' Why is he silent now?"

He looked directly at Lin Ruoshi and sneered, "Young Master Lin, that poem of yours, you didn't plagiarize it, did you?"

Lin Ruoshi was immediately embarrassed and said, "Of course not..."

"No, then please. We are all eager to hear your poetic talent! If you cannot produce something of your own, you may be accused of plagiarizing a famous work, and you will have to bear the blame!"

"Furthermore, His Highness's four most outstanding disciples in the capital have actually associated with someone who plagiarizes others' poems. Heh, I'm afraid His Highness is not pleased either..."

Upon hearing this, Liu Ziwen's expression changed.

Zhang Zijian has malicious intentions!

His words immediately bound Lin Ruoshi, them, and the Crown Prince together.

If Lin Ruoshi cannot compose any poems now, and this gets out, he will surely be disgraced!

People won't listen to Lin Ruoshi's explanations like Master Cen did. If a good-for-nothing who can't even pass the county-level exam suddenly recites a poem of unparalleled beauty and then can't compose another one, he will inevitably be accused of plagiarism. In fact, his future in literature will be cut off, and he may never be able to take the imperial examinations again.

Furthermore, it will also implicate the Crown Prince!

Although it may not be a fatal blow to His Highness, it will ultimately leave a stain on his reputation, making him look foolish in choosing people and lax in managing his subordinates!

"Brother Lin..."

Liu Ziwen couldn't help but look at Lin Ruoshi with a serious expression.

Lu Jun and the others all looked at him.

Lin Ruoshi was now completely panicked. He had only intended to show off, but who knew he would mess it up...

Now I've got myself inside!

He scratched his head, sweating profusely, utterly helpless. Finally, he gritted his teeth and looked at Li Lan: "Brother-in-law..."

Li Lan was drinking when he saw this and could only sigh helplessly.

"Qingyun Brew is already a fine wine, but in this world, there will always be Dragon Tiger Wine that is even better."

He picked up his wine glass, took a small sip, and said, "The poetic talent of the God of Poetry is already extremely rare, so why be so forceful? Haven't you heard that in this world, literature is born of nature and a masterpiece is achieved by chance? Aren't you afraid that we ordinary people might also achieve something that makes the God of Poetry pale in comparison?"

His words were calm, but Xu Ruyu's expression changed slightly as he smiled. He stared at Li Lan, his brows furrowing almost imperceptibly.

Just from the two lines "A masterpiece is born of nature, and a skillful hand may occasionally bring it to fruition," he vaguely sensed that this person... was probably no ordinary individual.

But now, with the die cast, he had no choice but to proceed. He sneered and said, "Son-in-law Li Lan? If I remember correctly, you took the imperial examinations for three years and only achieved the title of Xiucai?"

A hint of arrogance and mockery flashed in his eyes: "What kind of miraculous skills could a mere son-in-law, a mere scholar, possibly possess? I, Xu, am all ears!"

Upon hearing this, Li Lan put down his wine cup, gently raised his eyes, and said:

"The spring river rises with the tide, reaching the sea; the bright moon rises with the tide..."

……