The Poisonous Consort, the Regent's Beloved

"Your Highness, I see that the lotus flowers are blooming beautifully, and I would like to compose a poem for you."

Upon hearing Su Wan'er's voice, Su Fuying turned to look, thinking to himself that everyone in the capital was saying that Su Wan'er was proficient in all the arts, including music, chess, calligraphy, painting, and poetry recitation. He wondered how good she really was.

"Wan'er is so thoughtful."

With permission granted, Su Wan'er stood up and recited in a measured tone: "The lotus leaves are just beginning to show their tips, and dragonflies have already landed on them."

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?

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A question mark appeared above Su Fuying's head. Summer lotus? The lotus buds are just beginning to emerge, and dragonflies have already landed on them?

"Good poem."

Consort Li exclaimed in praise, and all the women in the group applauded in response.

"Wan'er truly deserves to be considered one of the three most talented women in the capital, alongside the Grand Tutor's eldest daughter."

Hearing Consort Li's praise, Su Wan'er blushed and said shyly, "Your Majesty flatters me."

"Someone, bestow my pair of jade carved bracelets upon Wan'er."

At this moment, Ji Nanqing stood up and said, "Your Majesty, Su Fuying and Wan'er are both Consort Li's nieces. Wan'er has already presented Your Majesty with a poem, so how can Su Fuying not make any gesture?"

Upon hearing this, Consort Li couldn't help but look at her, and someone nearby chuckled softly, "What talent does she have? After all these years in the manor, she shouldn't be making a fool of herself here."

"Exactly, he has a handsome appearance, but in reality he's just an ignorant person."

Hearing the surrounding chatter, Su Wan'er said anxiously, "Qingqing, don't make things difficult for my sister. She's been alone on the estate all these years..."

The rest of the words were left unsaid, but the meaning was very clear.

"Wan'er, she just made things so difficult for you, why are you still speaking up for her?"

"No, that's not true. My sister treats me very well."

Su Wan'er glanced cautiously at Su Fuying, then immediately looked away, her expression making it seem as if she were abusing him.

The two talked in a back-and-forth manner, and Su Fuying raised her eyelids, roughly understanding the purpose of inviting her here today.

After talking for so long, Su Fuying just propped his head up and looked at her with a smile, Su Wan'er felt a little scared.

But thinking of her mother's instructions that morning, she felt more confident and stepped forward, bowing and saying, "Your Majesty, my sister doesn't know these things, but Wan'er is willing to compose a poem for her on her behalf."

"Su Fuying, what do you have to say?"

Consort Li stared directly at Su Fuying, a strange look in her eyes.

How should I say it? Of course, I'll say it with my mouth.

Of course, given her current status, Su Fuying only dared to mutter these words to herself.

"Your Majesty, I am indeed not good at poetry and songs. If you would like to help me, I thank you in advance."

Su Wan'er looked smug and was about to step forward when Ji Nanqing suddenly spoke up, "Su Fuying, have you no shame? You can't do anything. There are so many people around, and you still need your sister to help you."

Su Wan'er's smile froze. What was this idiot trying to do? She had only asked her to instigate Su Fuying, and now that she was done with it, why was she making such a fuss?

"Qingqing, it's alright. It's no big deal for me to offer another poem to Her Majesty on behalf of my sister."

Looking at Su Wan'er's pitiful little face, Ji Nanqing assumed she was unwilling and became even angrier. "You are the legitimate daughter of the Minister's mansion, how could you not know how to compose poetry? Could it be that you are ignorant and afraid of making a fool of yourself if you speak out?"

"You had Wan'er write a poem for you? Everyone knows that Wan'er's poetry is unparalleled in the capital. You ended up stealing her fame?"

After listening to Ji Nanqing rattle off a whole bunch of things, Su Fuying was quite impressed by her imagination.

Consort Li also spoke up calmly: "Su Fuying, do you really not know how to compose poetry?"

"Your Majesty, I never said I wouldn't; I just meant it was unkind."

Hearing Su Fuying's resounding reply, Ji Nanqing became even more enthusiastic, "Your Majesty, see? She can write poems, but she doesn't want to."

"Ji Nanqing, that's enough."

Suddenly, a reprimand came from the seats to the side. Turning around, a woman dressed in a blue dress with cinched sleeves slammed her hand on the table and stood up. She walked straight to the center and bowed slightly to Consort Li. "Your Majesty, my daughter has been neglected in her upbringing at home. I apologize on behalf of my sister."

Su Fuying had just noticed this woman. Her hair was tied up, and she wasn't wearing a dress, but rather a somewhat modified robe, which gave her a rather heroic and dashing air.

Now that I hear it, I never expected it to be Ji Nanqing's older sister, which is Ji Zhiyun.

"It's alright, you can go now."

Consort Li waved her hand impatiently. Ji Zhiyun pulled Ji Nanqing and, seeing that she still wanted to speak, whispered something in her ear, which made Ji Nanqing sit obediently on the cushion next to her.

A pair of eyes swept over Su Fuying several times before Consort Li said, "Since you know how, how can you, as the legitimate daughter of the Minister's family, lose face like this? Why not have a contest with Wan'er? If you win, I will reward you handsomely."

Su Wan'er's eyes lit up as she agreed, never expecting that things would turn out this way and she would achieve her goal.

If Su Fuying had refused before, she would have written a poem for her and gained a good reputation. Now that Su Fuying has agreed to compete with her, her reputation as a good-for-nothing will surely spread throughout the capital after today.

Su Fuying sneered inwardly. Poetry? Who doesn't know the Three Hundred Tang Poems?

As the competition began, Su Wan'er recited: "The lotus leaves stretch to the sky, an endless expanse of green; the lotus blossoms, bathed in sunlight, are a uniquely vibrant red."

!

Alarm bells rang in Su Fuying's mind. This wasn't a poem from modern times? She had some doubts about the previous line of poetry, but now she was even more certain.

Seeing Su Fuying standing there in a daze, everyone assumed she couldn't do it, and the jeers grew louder.

"In the sweltering heat, sunflowers and pomegranates bloom, exuding fragrance, and lotus flowers stretch for miles."

As soon as she finished speaking, there was complete silence. No one had expected that Su Fuying would actually say it.

Su Wan'er was also stunned on the spot, her mind was in disarray, and she stammered, "The lotus flowers seem to speak, but they sadden the boatman."

......

The two went back and forth like this for more than a dozen rounds, leaving everyone's jaws practically dropping to the floor.

"Fragrance floats around the winding bank, and round shadows cover the splendid pond. I often fear that the autumn wind will come early, and you will not know that they have fallen."

Once the words were spoken, Su Fuying stared intently into Su Wan'er's eyes. At this moment, Su Wan'er was covered in sweat and her heart was filled with panic.

No, no, how could she write poetry? She only knew how to memorize more poems from her mother's mouth. Now she has run out of poems in her head. What should we do?

Seeing that she hesitated for a long time without being able to speak, Su Fuying already knew what was going on. At first, it was just a guess, but now it was certain.

Su Wan'er's expression was not very skillful when she composed the poem. She stammered and even mispronounced some words. It was obvious that someone had written it for her and she had memorized it verbatim.

After a while, Su Fuying saw that Consort Li had not yet announced the end, and was about to speak when a cheerful voice suddenly came from outside the courtyard: "What a fine poem! What a wonderful line, 'You do not know of my drifting life.'"

"emperor."

A group of people immediately stood up and said, "Greetings, Your Majesty."

"Rise, all of you. I was just passing by with the Regent when we heard the commotion, so we came to take a look. There's no need to be so formal."