Chapter 280 True or False, Being Forced by the Su Mei’er
In Bai Yihao’s painting, there were bamboos in the background. There were green tender shoots that had recently sprouted. However, the bamboo was lush and green.
The sky was bright and there was a round moon hanging in the sky. A man wearing a long robe with wide sleeves sat before the bamboos, holding an antique Qin elegantly. There was a flask of wine beside him that was placed haphazardly. It was evident that it had been used. The man seemed a little tipsy, making him seem even more beautiful. The painting was extremely beautiful no matter in terms of the scenery or the intention behind it.
It also fitted the theme of the meet today where there were elegant nobility and music. If the poem did not match well, it was easy for others to feel that she was doing something unnecessary.
It was very difficult!
It was very difficult to get the intention of the painter and describe the scenery and figure in the painting!
You Yue’e smirked with satisfaction. She even cocked her head and asked, “Princess Anping. Look, what should be written here?” She asked for help fakely.
Wang Xiuxiu did not speak. She twisted the handkerchief in her hands and hid the satisfied smile on her lips. As long as Mo Xuetong failed here, no one would believe what she said in the future. Mo Xuetong could only stay silent on what happened between her and King Ning. King Ning’s idea was indeed good. Without any evidence, what could Mo Xuetong say?
Both of them each had their own intentions and they watched intently, waiting for Mo Xuetong to embarrass herself.
Luo Mingzhu noticed it and tugged at Mo Xuetong’s sleeves worriedly. She said softly, “Cousin Tong, wait here first. I’ll look for Eldest Brother to help you write one.”
Then, she moved to get up. Mo Xuetong held her back and shook her head imperceptively, gesturing for her to stay. Then, she pointed at herself and gestured that she was fine.
She knew that Luo Mingzhu had good intentions and wanted the talented Luo Wenyou to help her compose a poem. Then, she would pass it to Mo Xuetong. However, everyone was looking at her now. If Luo Mingzhu did that now, Wang Xiuxiu and the others who were watching her closely would definitely catch them. It would implicate Luo Wenyou and he would be embarrassed as well.
“Sir Bai, may I borrow paper and a brush?” Mo Xuetong looked up and asked with a smile. There were no brushes other than the one that Bai Yihao had used earlier.
“Please help yourself, Your Highness.” Bai Yihao smiled gently. His handsome face was as gentle and bright as the moon. The noble girls around him stared at him.
Mo Xuetong’s attention was not on him. She did not even look at him. She picked up the brush with her right hand and then looked at Bai Yihao’s painting. After some thought, she began writing on the white silk paper with a flourish. Then, after she was done writing, she hung the brush onto the brush rack on the side and picked up the paper. She handed it to Bai Yihao courteously with a faint smile and said, “Sir Bai, please give us your comments.”
As long as Bai Yihao said that it was good, Wang Xiuxiu and the others had no choice but to agree no matter how powerful they were.
Bai Yihao smiled and took the paper. He frowned slightly as he looked at the poem he was holding. He could not help but look surprised.
“Sitting alone in the quiet bamboo forest, the Qin sings long and distant. There is no one else in the deep forest, the moon shines bright and distant. Good!”
“This is a good poem, it’s really good. The princess is very talented and is the most talented woman in the capital.” There were already people standing beside Bai Yihao who saw the poem. They praised Mo Xuetong effusively.
“It is indeed a good poem that fits the theme. It cannot fit any better. I did not expect Your Highness to be so learned and talented despite your young age. You are really talented!” There were others who were stunned by the poem. It was evident that there were true talents at the Qin gathering. Their critique was naturally much more genuine than those who pretended to be elegant and learned.
You Yue’e watched wide-eyed and open-mouthed in shock. She stood up suddenly, wanting to see the poem. She did not believe that a country bumpkin could write so well and that her poem would fit the theme so perfectly.
“How can she write so well? Even a famous and talented scholar would not be able to write such an apt poem. Princess Anping is a true talent.” Wang Xiuxiu said. She was also shocked. A glint flashed in her eyes and she quickly hid the soft smile she had on her lips.
“That’s right. Princess Anping is the true talent.” Shen Qianxiu smiled and joined the crowd in their praise for Mo Xuetong. She did not look like she had any ulterior motives.
This time, it was not just You Yue’e who looked cross. There were many talented women in the capital. Beautiful women did not just stand out because of their appearances. Their beauty had to be critiqued by the masses, especially when there was a comparison between two girls. As such, to raise the popularity of their daughters so that they could marry well in the future, the wealthy and noble families would publicize the poetry that their daughters composed from time to time.
It was true that some of them were good works. Coupled with some publicity, there were many girls who were thus known to be both talented and beautiful no matter whether it was true or not. Those young ladies all felt that they were different from the masses when they went out and were usually very proud. They looked down on others. Now that they heard that a country bumpkin was not only known to be talented but also questioned their talents, they immediately grew angry.
…
“The poem is indeed beautiful, but I wonder if it was composed by her. There was once Aunt asked me to critique poetry and I realized that there were a few right at the top that was plagiarized.” A beauty in pink sitting on Bai Yihao’s right glanced at the poem in Bai Yihao’s hands with a disdainful smile.
She was Consort Su’s niece, the daughter of the Minister of Personnel, Su Mei’er. She was considered beautiful and was famous for her talents in the capital. Furthermore, because she was King Chu’s cousin, there were many who fawned over her. As such, she was known to be both beautiful and talented. Usually, she despised the other beauties and felt that they were all vases and had nothing to be proud of.
When she heard that there was someone who doubted her identity of being a talent, Mo Xuetong became the focus of her ire.
“Miss Su, I didn’t think about it until you mentioned it. I feel like I have heard someone reciting this poem before.” You Yue’e calmed down then and glanced at Su Mei’er. She hid her smile.
“That’s right. Could it be in the poems that my Aunt showed me the last time? I can’t remember right now.” Su Mei’er continued. She held her head in her hands as if she were thinking hard but could not remember. Together with You Yue’e, the two of them were just one step away from pointing at Mo Xuetong and saying that she had committed plagiarism!
“You liars. Cousin Tong did not plagiarize. This poem is so apt. Are you saying that Sir Bai and Cousin Tong are working together to lie to everyone here?” Luo Mingzhu was enraged. She hated losing out usually and when she heard the noble ladies accusing Mo Xuetong of plagiarism, she immediately slammed the tables angrily and stood up to retaliate.
“Younger Sister Mingzhu, take a seat. I believe that Princess Anping will not do anything like that. Sir Bai would not work together with Her Highness to do this either. Would Sir Bai tarnish his own reputation to help Her Highness?” Wang Xiuxiu pulled Luo Mingzhu back into her seat and counseled her softly.
Several unkind glances pointed at Mo Xuetong immediately.
Bai Yihao must really like her to protect her carefully. There were many young ladies who were secretly in love with Bai Yihao and most of the girls sitting beside him were secretly in love with him. When they heard that Bai Yihao would do something like that for Mo Xuetong, they all felt jealous. They all looked at Mo Xuetong unkindly.
Wang Xiuxiu was not an easy opponent. She had made Mo Xuetong the public enemy with just a few words. Mo Xuetong was truly speechless.
She saw how the people in front of her spoke from time to time and made sarcastic jibes at her. They were truly shameless and they would do anything to ruin her. It was a pity that while they had a good sword, and it was a double-edged one!
Mo Xuetong placated the angry Luo Mingzhu and got her to sit down. Then, she patted her shoulders and gestured for her to not worry. Mo Xuetong turned around to ask Su Mei’er with a smile, “Miss Su, you mentioned that you’ve seen this poem before in the donsort’s palace. I wonder if it was composed by another young lady? Could you let me take a look? Which young lady’s work have I plagiarized to incite the ire of the young ladies here so much that you would not mind besmirching Sir Bai’s reputation to frame me?”
With this, everyone’s gaze could not help but land on Su Mei’er doubtfully. If Mo Xuetong had written the poem herself, then why would Bai Yihao need to protect her? Furthermore, other than smiling gently, Sir Bai had not even said anything. He just sat there and watched the scenes unfold before him and did not look like he was trying to protect Mo Xuetong especially.
Ladies from noble families were all very sensitive to that and there were a few who immediately spoke up against Su Mei’er.
“Miss Su, tell us which young lady composed this poem.”
“Miss Su, is it a poem by the ladies for the consort selection? Tell us which young lady wrote it?” The consort selection was on-going and various noble families sent their daughters into the palace. Even though the main consort for the prince had already been selected, the second consort and other positions had not been set. Furthermore, it was said that there was a need for a few more beauties in the palace.
Because the scale of the selection was not large and it was said that the selection would be for those who had talents and were virtuous, the ladies all composed some poems and sent them to the palace. Other than the poems from these ladies, there would not be much of others in Consort Su’s palace.
Su Mei’er was stunned by the questions. She had only just made a casual remark that she had seen the poem somewhere and was just bringing up Consort Su’s name to make her remark more credible. She only realized then that she really should not be making things up. There were only a few girls in the consort selection and even if she were not present here, her relatives would be.
She should not have made things up.
Su Mei’er flushed red as everyone looked at her. She felt that she would not be able to extricate herself from this gracefully. She immediately steeled herself and said to Mo Xuetong, “There is a poem like this, but it is a poem that was sent into the palace. So how can I just speak of the author so casually.”
A poem that a prospective consort wrote that sounded so was likely to be accepted. She would become a consort in the palace in the future and would be of noble and high status. How could she reveal her name so casually? Furthermore, since the results were not out yet, who would bear responsibility if any changes were to occur after the news was revealed so casually?
It was very reasonable for Su Mei’er to say something like that.
“Oh, so it is a poem by the young ladies in the consort selection. But that’s not right. Her Highness was injured that day and did not enter the palace.” Wang Xiuxiu sat there, looking as if she were trying to help Mo Xuetong. However, she sounded hesitant as if she were unsure.
Wang Xiuxiu was a deep one. She brought everyone’s attention to the fact that Mo Xuetong did not enter the palace without much effort. If Mo Xuetong had not entered the palace, she would not be able to plagiarize the poems in the palace. However, what if she had entered the palace? Wang Xiuxiu knew that Mo Xuetong had entered the palace once after that.
“Her Highness entered the palace on the day of the palace banquet. I heard that something happened after Princess Anping entered the palace. Beauty Liu’s face was injured.” Indeed, You Yue’e had caught on deftly and spoke with a cold smirk.
“Princess Anping, is there proof that you wrote this?” Su Mei’er said, pleased. She immediately perked up with the support that she received.
“That’s right. Princess Anping, we will believe you if you have proof.” You Yue’e smiled. Her expression was one of innocence but her eyes were cold and mocking. She approached and turned to look at the poem in Bai Yihao’s hand with a look of disdain.
“That’s right, how can we believe you without any proof!” Su Mei’er’s lie grew more and more fluid and she smiled as she forced Mo Xuetong into the corner. She looked at Mo Xuetong as if she really had wanted to see if Mo Xuetong could take out any evidence to prove her innocence.
Bai Yihao’s gaze swept over Su Mei’er calmly. He smiled softly and did not speak. He put down the poem he held and turned around to pick up the brush and started writing on the painting. It was the poem that Mo Xuetong composed. Being presented on a painting invoked a completely different feeling from just reading it.
The painting and the poem complemented each other perfectly. It was as if the painting had been painted for the poem and that the poem had been composed for the painting!
Bai Yihao wrote in cursive. The painting and the calligraphy were wild and made the painting seem distant. It was exactly Bai Yihao’s style. It made it feel as if their poem and painting were one and was a match made in heaven.