Chapter 100:
On the other side, during the night, a grand poetry gathering was taking place at the residence of Prime Minister Zhangsun Wuji. People mingled, toasted in the garden, and enjoyed a lively banquet atmosphere.nôvel binz was the first platform to present this chapter.
Meanwhile, not far from the garden, in a room, porcelain shattered as it hit the ground, emitting a crisp sound. Zhangsun Chong angrily destroyed everything within his reach. The sound of silk and bamboo music drifted in from the window. Zhangsun Chong felt increasingly agitated, breathing heavily, his face still filled with anger.
As the organizer of the poetry gathering, he should have been enjoying the compliments from the attendees. Just a quarter of an hour ago, he was doing exactly that. But then, someone recited a poem by Su Li at the gathering.
Su Li! In the darkness, Zhangsun Chong gritted his teeth and muttered angrily to himself. The frequency of poetry gatherings in Changan City had recently surged. Organizing these gatherings had become the favorite pastime of the nobility. While Zhangsun Chongs literary talent was lacking, it didnt stop him from participating in this cultured pursuit.
The nobles and ladies held poetry gatherings to appreciate poems and enjoy the aesthetics of nature. However, this didnt mean noble sons like Zhangsun Chong lacked interest in this area. Their social needs were indeed flourishing. Since organizing poetry gatherings was in vogue, Zhangsun Chong had no reason to decline. His literary skill might not be exceptional, but his interest in the arts was genuine.
As the son of the Prime Minister and the Assistant Director of the Imperial Clan Court, if he expressed interest in poetry, talented individuals from all around Changan would be willing to participate to save his face. But who would have thought that someone without any sense would recite Su Lis poem in front of him?
Zhangsun Chongs marriage to Princess Changle was originally widely known. However, due to an unexpected turn of events, Su Li, a nobody at the time, benefited from the situation. Because of this, Zhangsun Chong couldnt suppress the anger in his heart. He spread rumors to tarnish Su Lis reputation, trying to discredit him.
However, his actions were soon discovered by Zhangsun Wuji. His fathers earnest advice made Zhangsun Chong promise not to trouble Su Li anymore. Unexpectedly, before he could put that promise into action, Su Lis poetic talent gained fame in Changan.
Upon learning this news, Zhangsun Chong was utterly surprised. The reasoning his father used to console him still echoed in his ears. His father had said that he and Su Li were not meant to be in the same league, that the greatest achievement in Su Lis life was becoming a consort, nothing more.
In this era, almost every literate person knew how to write a few poems. Zhangsun Chong had written poems himself, so he understood the nuances of poetry. He was also well-versed in Su Lis life story, particularly since he regarded Su Li as an enemy.
In summary, Su Li had spent the first twenty years of his life facing challenges and hardships. Despite all that, he had risen to prominence in the Princess Mansion, something that Zhangsun Chong couldnt overlook.
With such a background, merely recognizing a few words would be impressive for a person, even if they couldnt be considered a cultured individual. But writing poetry? How could that be possible? Each enduring masterpiece must come from the authors genuine feelings, not just exceptional literary skills. Considering Su Lis past experiences, which of his recent poems would match that? Moreover, the styles of those poems were so diverse, clearly not the work of a single person!
Zhangsun Chong couldnt believe that a persons talent could extend to such an extent. He believed that Su Lis poems were not genuinely his own. They couldnt be. Perhaps his earlier rumors had worked, leading Su Li to claim these works falsely.
Considering the speed at which fame could be achieved nowadays, poetry led the way. Zhangsun Chong believed he had everything figured out and felt invigorated by his revelation. He thought he had found a weakness.
He thought he had unearthed the truth, that Su Lis poems were not his own. It was impossible that a persons talent could progress to such an extent. He concluded that the poems had to be plagiarized.
As he pondered his newfound insight, Zhangsun Chong rubbed his face, adjusted his attire, and emerged from the room with a smile. When he arrived at the poetry gathering, a group gathered around him, showing concern. He maintained his usual smile and asked what they were discussing.
Someone immediately responded, telling him they were discussing Su Lis poems. They praised the exquisite nature of his poetry, whether describing scenery or emotions. Others chimed in, sharing their admiration for Su Lis skill, indicating that his poetry had surpassed theirs.
Listening to their praises of Su Li, Zhangsun Chong showed no change in expression. Instead, he continued to smile and added his own praises. Inside, he was sneering. He believed Su Lis poetry had to be fraudulent due to plagiarism.
The crowd continued to praise Su Lis poetic prowess, but Zhangsun Chong remained unmoved. Inwardly, he was coldly laughing at the situation.
