Chapter 365: Immortal Poet?
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
This was because after two rounds, Song Que’s name was in the rankings, and he was leading the rankings too.
Furthermore, her husband’s name was not “Song Que” now, but “Song Rui.”
During this period of time, it wasn’t just her name “Qin Xiaoyao” that shook the capital.
The Great Talent Song Rui of the Prime Minister’s residence was also famous in the capital.
Whether it was his stunning performance during the peace talks with the Liao State or his outstanding talent that was displayed during the talent recruitment examination this time, he made everyone exclaim in amazement.
Around this time, some of Song Rui’s poems were also circulating in the streets. For a period, these poems received great acclaim from the scholars in the capital.
Qin Xiaoyao naturally had also read Song Rui’s poems. However, after reading them, she wanted to laugh.
“Don’t you see the Yellow River’s water falling from the sky,
Plunging into the ocean never to return.
Don’t you lament your white hair when you look into the hall’s clear mirror,
Black hair in the morning had turned snow-white in the evening…”
“This Song Rui is really a talent without parallel!” Princess Xiangyang took the poem she had just received and recited it while speaking to Qin Xiaoyao. Her face was filled with admiration.
Qin Xiaoyao wanted to laugh when she heard this.
Talent without parallel? The representative work of the Immortal Poet was no doubt good enough to amaze the world.
Alright, this was the first time she realized that her husband was quite thick-skinned. In order to make a name for himself, he actually plagiarized a poem.
Qin Xiaoyao simply smiled and replied, “Mm-hmm. It’s not bad.” Naturally, she couldn’t tell the truth.
“Only… not bad?” Princess Xiangyang said to Qin Xiaoyao in surprise.
“Master, your standards are so high…” she said with some disapproval. She felt that her master had really underestimated the Great Talent Song Rui this time.
Upon seeing this, Qin Xiaoyao raised her eyebrows slightly and looked at her precocious disciple.
“Er… 1 was wrong. Song Rui’s talent is indeed unparalleled, and this poem can be said to be peerless. It is good enough to be passed down to future generations,” she said in a somewhat mocking tone.
Princess Xiangyang didn’t care about the mocking tone in Qin Xiaoyao’s voice. Instead, she nodded in agreement.
“Such a good poem should indeed be passed down to future generations.
“This Song Rui is worthy of being our Great Jin State’s Poetry Saint.”
Qin Xiaoyao was astounded.
“Are you sure it’s the Poetry Saint and not the Immortal Poet?” she muttered.
“Wine Toasting” was the representative work of the Immortal Poet and had nothing to do with the Poetry Saint.
Princess Xiangyang’s eyes lit up.
“Immortal Poet?
“Yes, Song Rui should be the Immortal Poet! Only immortals can have such an elegant poetic talent!”
Qin Xiaoyao was stunned.
“Er… I was just joking,” she said with some embarrassment.
Princess Xiangyang looked at Qin Xiaoyao.
“No, Master, You’re right.
“This Mr. Song deserves to be called the Immortal Poet,” she said solemnly.
Qin Xiaoyao looked at her disciple again. She wanted to say something but hesitated. In the end, she did not say anything more.
Following that, within a few days, Song Rui’s reputation as an “Immortal Poet” spread.
As for how it came about, it was naturally thanks to the help of Qin Xiaoyao’s good disciple.
When her disciple entered the palace, she brought Song Rui’s poem manuscript and presented it to Empress Jia and the Emperor as if it was a treasure.
After Empress Jia and the Emperor read it, they naturally admired Song Rui’s talent.
They also felt that Song Rui was worthy of the title of “Immortal Poet” that their youngest daughter had mentioned.
Thus, by this natural progression, Song Rui became the Great Jin State’s Immortal Poet. It was even acknowledged by the Emperor and Empress.
At the same time, Song Rui was officially recognized by Empress Jia and the Emperor.
When the final results of the talent recruitment examination were published and Song Rui came out tops, the Empress saw the rankings and thought even more highly of Song Rui.
Not only did the Emperor and Empress both summon Song Rui into the palace, but Empress Jia also saw that Song Rui was indeed a good-looking talent. When she noticed that her youngest daughter especially admired him, she began to develop other thoughts.
Empress Jia had actually known about Song Rui before this. After all, Minister Shen was her relative.
Minister Shen had recommended Song Rui to her before and had expressed his intention to let Song Rui marry into the Prime Minister’s residence and take over his position in the future.
She didn’t think much of it back then
After all, Minister Shen was not considered old. He would be able to hold the position of Prime Minister for at least another seven or eight years.
It was not a big deal for him to want to nurture someone in advance.
Once the person was nurtured, Minister Shen would have a capable assistant under him.
And if he couldn’t be nurtured, he could be replaced at any time.
Previously, she had guessed that Song Rui was not ordinary. Otherwise, he would not have caught Minister Shen’s attention.
She did not expect this guy to be so extraordinary.
There were a total of six examinations in the talent recruitment examination, and he actually came out on top in every round.
She had seen his answer scripts before, and his answers in every round were amazing.
And his poetic talent was even more stunning.
If such a person did not become an official, he would still leave a memorable mark in history.
Moreover, from his performance in the Ministry of Rites, this person was quite capable.
If he were to embark on an official’s career, he would definitely be able to accomplish some achievements.
What made her even more pleased was that Song Rui was extraordinarily handsome.
Everyone loved to look at beautiful people. She felt her mood was even better when she spoke to such a handsome man.
Such a good young man should be matched with her youngest daughter and become the emperor’s son-in-law.
For him to marry into the Shen family’s residence and be a live-in son-in-law was too unfair to him.
At the thought of this, Empress Jia looked at Song Rui even more warmly.
At the same time, Empress Jia’s gaze would occasionally glance at her youngest daughter.
This girl was staring at the young man so intently. She didn’t even know how to exercise some restraint.
At this moment, Princess Xiangyang was indeed staring blankly at Song Rui.
It was not because the other party was too good-looking, but because she realized that Song Rui resembled Liu Ling, who lived in the Marquis’s residence, too much.
If she didn’t look carefully, she would have thought that the two of them looked almost identical.
“Ahem… Young Master Song, where do you live? Are you married?” Empress Jia suddenly asked. As she spoke, she glanced at Princess Xiangyang again.
Song Rui was quite a few years older than her Xiangyang.
However, it was normal for men to be older than women in marriage.
Anyway, the other party was not that old. He could just wait for two more years until her Xiangyang grew older.
With such good looks coupled with her pretty Xiangyang, in the future, their children would definitely look attractive.
Unknowingly, Empress Jia had already thought very far ahead.
Her youngest daughter deserved the best in the world…
Princess Xiangyang finally came back to her senses. When she saw her mother smiling at Song Que in a “kindly” manner, she finally realized that something was wrong.
She wanted to stop her mother, but she couldn’t find a chance to speak.
“Your Royal Highness, I am from Hua An Prefecture. After the famine last year… the Prime Minister’s residence helped me. Therefore, I am currently living in the Prime Minister’s residence as a live-in guest of the Prime Minister,” Song Rui replied respectfully.
Then, he raised his head and looked at Empress Jia in awe before continuing, “After the famine, I was the only one left in my family. Now, I’m all alone.”
Empress Jia frowned.
“Then, did you have a wife before this?” she continued.
Her Xiangyang would not be someone else’s second wife.
As soon as she said this, not only Song Rui, but the Emperor and Princess Xiangyang also looked at Empress Jia.
Song Rui was initially shocked, but he quickly regained his composure.
“No,” he replied.
He gave the same answer to Minister Shen too..