The Tang Dynasty: Wu Zetian made me her imperial tutor

The next step is the "Qiji," which is a gathering of candidates who passed the imperial examinations at the same time.

Since those who passed the special examinations could be directly appointed to official positions without having to go through the Ministry of Personnel for further examinations, this was also the last routine procedure.

Banquets and composing poems at Qujiang and the Wild Goose Pagoda were customary practices for the imperial examinations, and these events occurred after the capital was moved back to Chang'an during the Shenlong era.

The current event is simpler.

First, ride the official horse of the Imperial Stud to tour the streets, heading south from the Duanmen Gate of the Imperial City, crossing the Tianjin Bridge, walking along Tianjie Street, then turning to the bustling South Market, and returning along the Luohe River embankment. Along the way, enjoy the spring scenery and walk through the blooming flowers, while the crowds of people, their clothes flowing together, stretch as far as the eye can see.

All forty-five horses were white, but Lu Jun rode alone in the imperial-bestowed Flying Dragon Steed, a magnificent steed with a bright red coat that was quite eye-catching.

The custom of wearing flowers in one's hair only became popular after the Jinglong era. Today, some candidates wear flowers in their hair, while others do not, depending on their own preference.

Lu Jun felt something was off, so he didn't wear the flower in his hair. He took the lead, which caused a great commotion among the onlookers.

"The top scholar is indeed tall and handsome; though his clothes are simple, his character is truly outstanding!"

"Judging by her age, she's probably not even twenty yet. I wonder if she's married or not, and if so, which lucky family she's from?"

"In the past, successful candidates in the imperial examinations would often go to brothels to listen to music and appreciate... the most beautiful courtesans. I wonder if the top scholar will be going?"

"If I were a girl, I'd offer myself as a bedmate!"

"Haha, Brother Pang, let's shave your chest hair first..."

Cough cough--

The Tang Dynasty is indeed bold and unrestrained, what kind of wild and ruthless words are these... Lu Jun heard this on horseback and almost fell off from his breath.

At that time, marriages between officials and nobles were based entirely on family background, and there was no such thing as "choosing a son-in-law after the list of successful candidates" (a system of selecting a son-in-law based on official rankings). Therefore, the common people could discuss these matters freely without taking them seriously.

At first, Lu Jun felt a little awkward being surrounded by onlookers, but she gradually got used to it and indeed had the carefree feeling of "riding a swift horse in the spring breeze and seeing all the flowers of Chang'an in a single day".

Hearing funny jokes, he would laugh out loud and gesture with his hands in greeting, which earned him a lot of goodwill.

After arriving at the South Market, the candidates turned north and returned.

Walking along the Luo River onto the Wei King's Causeway, with a view of the Wei King's Pond to the left, we arrived at the head of the causeway and were led to a pavilion where we could stop our horses.

Wei Wang Pond is a depression south of the Luo River. The Luo River overflowed and a dam was built in the middle to separate it into a natural lake.

It was bestowed upon Prince Li Tai of Wei during the Zhenguan era and became part of the Prince of Wei's residence, hence the name Prince of Wei Pond, and the embankment was called Prince of Wei Embankment.

This place was a popular tourist spot for nobles, officials, scholars, and common people in the capital, and it was known as the Autumn Breeze of Luopu.

It was also the venue selected by the Examination and Merit Bureau for the period of the meeting.

The pavilion was long enough to accommodate more than forty people. A sumptuous banquet had been prepared, and there were also musicians playing instruments to entertain the guests. As usual, the scholars would drink and make merry here.

Tired and thirsty from the parade, everyone rushed forward and quickly took their seats in order, drinking heartily after a few rounds of drinks.

There were no rules about drinking normally, but a minor official suddenly appeared from the side and loudly proclaimed:

"Gatherings are an elegant affair, and this place is a scenic spot, which has been praised by poets and writers throughout history."

"In the third year of Huangchu, Cao Zijian encountered Mi Fei here and was inspired to compose the 'Ode to the Goddess of the Luo River,' which became a famous work for all time."

"You are all talented and elegant gentlemen. Why not compose a poem on the theme of this scene, and make Luoyang paper expensive?"

"The Duke of Zhou will offer ten thousand coins as a prize. The winner will have two hundred sheets of paper purchased, and someone will be hired to copy their poem and post it in various wards of the capital and at Tianjin Bridge to help them become famous!"

"If one fails to compose a poem, it would be a waste of the beautiful time, scenery, and elegant view. One should dismount and walk back to the capital."

He pointed to the side and there was indeed a large plate of copper coins laid out under the eaves, totaling ten strings.

A knowing smile played at the corners of his lips.

It was a smile directed at Lu Jun.

So, this is what Shen Quanqi was referring to...

"Bravo!" the candidates roared in approval.

It is customary for literati to hold banquets, compose poems, and join in verse, and with the Lanting Gathering preceding it, everyone is looking forward to it.

Not only Wu Chengsi and his few retainers, but almost everyone who looked at the beautiful scenery before them felt an urge to compose poetry.

Looking east from the pavilion...

To the left is the Luo River, lined with peach and plum trees, shaded by willows, with a long bridge spanning the water, and a cool breeze offering respite from the summer heat.

To the right is the Wei King's Pond, a vast expanse of misty water reflecting the clear blue sky, where water birds soar and swim, and lotus and water chestnuts flourish.

Beside the pavilions and terraces is a garden with craggy rocks. Because it is warm spring, bamboo flowers are lush, and peonies, peonies and peach blossoms are scattered among them.

Many people gathered to watch, and upon hearing that there was a poetry contest with a high prize, they cheered and shouted.

"Two hundred sheets of paper, enough to cover almost two stalls in each workshop, so everyone can see them—instant fame!"

"If I can't write it down, I'll have to abandon my horse and walk back, which would be truly shameful..."

"That's right, it's still quite a journey back to the capital from here, you have to cross the Tianjin Bridge, and there are lots of people gathered around watching..."

"Those riding white horses are fine, since others can't tell them apart anyway. Only the top scholar riding a red horse, if he walks back, will be recognized even if his face is covered..."

"If I'm going to make such a fool of myself, I might as well just plunge into the Luo River and swim to the other side!"

"Hahaha……"

The noise grew louder and louder, and many people pointed and whispered at Lu Jun, watching intently as he tried to compose a poem.

The clerk was well-prepared, and paper and pen were quickly offered to each scholar at their desks, ready for them to write on the spot.

Whether it was improvised or not is hard to say...

The paper and pen had barely been put down when several people shouted:

"I've already chosen one; though it's only four lines, it perfectly captures the scenery here, and I'm sure it will win first place!"

"Brother Xu, please don't be so certain. I also have some excellent lines in my mind, totaling eight lines, which I'm afraid will surpass yours..."

"Yesterday, Cao Zhi appeared to me in a dream, lending me his pen. My thoughts are now flowing freely, unstoppable. Who is willing to challenge me?"

"In matters of strategy and policy, I may lag behind, but when it comes to poetry and prose, I have nothing to fear from you esteemed elders. Be careful!"

"You've all come here to compete for second place, why the rush? Watch me, your humble brother, pour wine and compose poetry. I'll drink the wine, and my brush will drink the ink; with each sip, I'll write a line, and the poem will be complete!"

As expected, it was Wang Gou and Wen Tui again.

They all picked up their pens and smiled at Lu Jun, saying, "Scholar, if I am fortunate enough to come out on top, could we borrow your imperial horse?"

Along the way, they saw that the red horse was incredibly majestic and stole the show, and they were already very envious.

Lu Jun's strategy was excellent, but his writing skills were mediocre. Otherwise, given his personality, how could he have been speechless when Zhang Jiafu ridiculed him in the Imperial Academy?

If you can't write poetry, you have to abandon your horse, which gives others an opportunity to take the lead.

"Can I borrow your horse?" Lu Jun pondered for a moment.

He nodded: "Okay."

I've never heard of any high-ranking official needing to engage in poetry duels... Encountering this situation means you're not standing high enough.

Wang Gou, Wen Tui, and others deliberately provoked him. Seeing that he was young and easily embarrassed, he agreed, and their scheme succeeded, so they were all secretly happy.

Soon, several poems were written.

Looking at the Luo River —

Looking east, the long bridge connects to the verdant hills, where peach blossoms and willows sway gently in the breeze.

As the autumn wind passes, clear waves rise, and the sound of the river for ten miles carries guests home.

Luopu Spring Garden —

The rocks are jagged, the bamboo shadows slant, and the peach blossoms and wild peonies bloom amidst the spring flowers.

Tourists, unaware of the east wind's intent, mistook peonies for the evening glow.

"A Distant View of the Wei King's Embankment"

Looking east, the Luo River is wide; looking west, the pond water is clear.

Rainbow Bridge rises across the waves, snow egrets skim along the water.

The willow's green deepens along the embankment, while the fragrance of lotus blossoms gently fills the air.

The best place to escape the summer heat is here, with pavilions and terraces where the evening breeze stirs.

Passing by the Pond of King Wei —

A pool of misty water is bluer than the sky, and egrets sleep amidst the fragrance of lotus and water chestnuts.

Do not say that Penglai Island is far away; I feel as if I am already at the edge of the clouds.

……

Recently, new poetic forms have gradually emerged, and many famous poets have written excellent works. These few poems use the new poetic form.

Previously, palace-style poetry was prevalent, and its metrical rules followed the four tones and eight faults of the Yongming style. Modern poetry, however, transformed the four tones into level and oblique tones and the eight faults into parallelism and antithesis, making the writing process much simpler.

After all, he had already drafted the lines in his mind. The lines "Rainbow Bridge rises across the waves, snow egrets skim along the water" and "A pool of misty water is bluer than the sky, white egrets sleep amidst the fragrance of lotus and water chestnuts" were carefully crafted.

Lines like "Tourists, unaware of the east wind's intent, mistake peonies for the evening glow" are clichés, but they are still insightful.

Whenever someone composed a poem, the minor official would recite it on the spot, and if any lines were particularly good, they would win applause from the entire audience.

The musicians from the imperial music academy also cooperated, providing a solo performance on the zither, zheng, or pipa, adding a touch of beauty to the poem.

Soon, he had already performed a solo six times.

Seeing their fellow candidates finish their essays so quickly, the other candidates were so nervous that their train of thought was interrupted, and many of them frowned.

Zhang, unhurried and unhurried, spontaneously composed a poem entitled "On the Scenic Beauty of Luoyang Garden, Offering Thanks to Heaven's Grace"—

The beautiful scenery of Sanyang in early spring, and the new seasons in the garden of the four seasons.

Peach blossoms obstruct the path in every way, while a thousand weeping willows secretly meander through the river.

Birds startled by the wind-blown leaves, fish leaping because of people on the shore.

May the Holy Lord live as long as Mount Nanshan, and may he enjoy ten thousand years of spring.

After the official read it out, cheers from the pavilion lingered for a long time, and the melody of the zither also continued to play for quite some time.

The onlookers, though far away, eagerly inquired about the poem, and some recited and interpreted it, earning cheers from the crowd.

Wang Gou, Wen Tui, and the others turned pale upon seeing this, realizing their hopes of winning were dashed...

I studied the words and phrases myself the night before, but my work fell into the commonplace and was far less ingenious and elegant than Zhang Shuo's impromptu composition.

The key point is that Zhang Shuo was very clever; he only put a little effort into the middle two couplets and ended by praising the emperor.

What does "appropriate for the occasion" mean?

That's more in line with the occasion!

This batch of candidates passed the special imperial examination, also known as the "gift examination." Their parade and gathering in the streets were all bestowed by the Holy Lord, and they should naturally be grateful for the Heavenly grace.

They were only thinking about how to win, but forgot the most important thing... Now they regretted it.

The poem is already written, and there's no way to change it now.

"Brother Daoji's masterpiece is probably unmatched; the beautiful scenery before us is beyond words..."

"In terms of literary talent, we should all acknowledge Brother Daoji as the best; I, your humble younger brother, am completely outmatched..."

"Sigh, I only thought of two lines, and Brother Daoji has already written such a masterpiece. There's no need to think of the remaining lines..."

"I still have to write it. If I don't, won't I have to walk back and be ridiculed by the people along the way?"

"That's right, it's better to be at the bottom than to become a laughingstock..."

Most people gave up their ambition to be number one and quickly organized their thoughts and copied them onto paper.

As more and more poems were written, those written later all imitated Zhang Yue's structure, praising the monarch and thanking the emperor for his grace in the last line. When the minor official read them out, everyone naturally cheered, and the sound of the zither was played continuously.

On the contrary, Wang Gou, Wen Tui, and the others were not well thought out. Despite having received the questions in advance, they were at a disadvantage.

They were anxious and angry, but unable to express it, so they could only drink heavily in silence.

Suddenly I saw...

Lu Jun was also drinking, but she didn't write any poetry!

Even the top scholar couldn't write it!

A smug glint flashed in their eyes, their disappointment instantly vanishing. They exchanged glances, unable to hide their smiles, and said in a sinister tone:

"Oh dear, Brother Chu Yu, why haven't you written it yet?"

"Is it because I haven't drunk enough wine, and my poetic inspiration hasn't been aroused?"

"Still don't want to write because you don't like the scenery?"

"Brother Chu Yu is exceptionally talented, and his performance in the palace examination was absolutely stunning, far surpassing his peers. Surely he disdains competing with us?"

"No, no, no, I guess I'm just tired from riding the horse and want to get off and walk around for a while to stretch my legs."

"Hahaha……"

Some of the onlookers noticed that Lu Jun hadn't started writing and whispered among themselves, "Why hasn't the top scholar put pen to paper yet?"

No matter where you are, the number one spot always attracts the most attention and generates the most traffic.

The whispering quickly turned into pointing, then into buzzing discussions, and gradually became agitated.

Wang Gou, Wen Tui, and others lowered their heads and chuckled. Zhang said that he had a good relationship with Lu Jun, and couldn't help but worry.

Although everyone has their own area of ​​expertise—some are skilled in poetry and prose, some are adept at politics, and some excel in strategy—every scholar in the Tang Dynasty could compose a poem. Even if they didn't aim for the top prize, surely they could manage to write one…

Is it true that you disdain writing it?

Yes.

A poet wouldn't even be a dog.

It wasn't that he looked down on them; he greatly admired those great poets.

This is because at this time, many great poets, whose pens could stir up storms with their writing, could only flatter the powerful and wealthy, and thus lived a life of poverty.

The path I choose to walk will not rely on poetry and literature, nor will it seek the favor or rewards of those shallow, wealthy families.

But the atmosphere had been built up to this point... Lu Jun put down her wine glass.

"Give me a pen!"