Volume One, Chapter 12: The Contest of Words Begins

Lord Luo Changfeng and the court officials, including Gan Yunshen, sighed quietly upon hearing the news—there was nothing left but to treat a lost cause as if it were a living hope.

At that moment, on the main stage, the Emperor of Chu had lost interest in announcing the rankings. He had initially expected his eldest son to take the spotlight, but it was Su Yuan who had stolen it instead.

Now, with the uproar over ministers pressuring the palace to restore Su Yuan’s status as a prince, the emperor was even less inclined to pay attention.

The task of announcing the rankings was handed over to the chief eunuch beside the emperor.

The second place was revealed next. Su Ming had assumed it would be him. Although Su Yuan had snatched the glory of first place, second was still respectable—it would save some face.

But to his shock, the eunuch announced Gu Tingyu as the runner-up. Su Ming felt his face burn with embarrassment.

He had only managed third place. Even without Su Yuan’s participation, he would have been second at best.

The stinging humiliation was almost unbearable. The gazes from the crowd made him feel utterly ashamed.

Moreover, Su Ming had always thought highly of his own boastful poetry, but compared to Su Yuan’s, the difference was immense—like night and day.

With the rankings announced, Su Yuan gently patted his daughter’s head before entrusting her to Luo Changfeng.

“Grand Tutor, I leave my daughter in your care,” he said, then turned to his daughter, “Mengmeng, wait for your father…”

The little girl obediently nodded.

“Yes, Father, I will wait for you patiently!”

“Rest assured, Your Highness, this old servant will take good care of the young princess,” Luo Changfeng said solemnly to Su Yuan.

Su Yuan nodded to Luo Changfeng and the other senior officials, then turned and strode toward the stage. The most thrilling part of the first literary contest was about to begin.

At the Great Qing delegation’s seat, a scholar dressed in traditional garb stepped forward and walked onto the stage.

On the main platform, Su Ming nodded to the Emperor of Chu and proceeded to the stage.

The emperor’s eyes glittered as he watched his favored eldest son; it was unclear what thoughts crossed his mind.

Soon, the three stood on the stage. Su Yuan was on the left, Gu Tingyu on the right, and Su Ming further to the right.

Gu Tingyu was handsome and refined, radiating an aura of gentleness and courtesy. He smiled faintly at Su Yuan and clasped his hands in greeting. “Gu Tingyu pays respects to His Highness the Second Prince. Greetings!”

Su Yuan nodded in return and responded with the same gesture.

“No need for such formality… Gu Tingyu returns the courtesy!”

Regardless of sincerity or pretense, proper etiquette must be observed. Gu Tingyu smiled but remained silent afterward.

This gesture caused Su Ming’s face to darken with displeasure; he nearly lost his temper.

Gu Tingyu had acknowledged only Su Yuan and completely ignored him.

Both were princes, yet Su Yuan had been deposed—why did Gu Tingyu accord him respect but treat Su Ming as invisible?

Su Yuan was somewhat taken aback by Gu Tingyu’s straightforwardness. He hadn’t expected such a candid character—liking someone meant liking them, disliking meant ignoring, with no pretense.

This earned Gu Tingyu a measure of Su Yuan’s goodwill.

At that moment, He Yuanshen stepped forward and announced loudly, “The first round of the literary contest begins! Challengers, please step forward. If none appear, the rankings will stand as is.”

Upon hearing this, the Emperor of Chu and Mu Yunchen exchanged a glance, silently understanding each other's thoughts.

Both then looked toward the scholars seated among the contestants, and the literary talents from Great Chu and Great Qing immediately became eager to challenge.

Soon, the first challenger appeared. Hailing from Great Qing, his appearance caused a stir among the surrounding literati.

“Isn’t that Tang Wenshan, last year’s runner-up? His talent matches Gu Tingyu’s. It’s truly a pity he didn’t make the top three. Who is he challenging?”

“Yes, Tang Wenshan’s strength lies in seven-character regulated verse, especially in landscape and lyric poetry. This time’s snow-themed topic was not his forte, which explains why he wasn’t selected.”

“So if he challenges using his specialty in seven-character regulated verse and landscape lyricism, could he possibly defeat one of the top three?”

“That’s quite possible. Last year, he defeated several challengers before falling short only due to the luck of the draw, which favored Gu Tingyu. Otherwise, he might have taken first place!”

“I wonder who he intends to challenge.”

As the crowd buzzed with speculation, Tang Wenshan stepped onto the stage and approached Su Yuan with a hint of arrogance.

“Your Highness the Second Prince, I wish to challenge you. The theme will be seven-character regulated verse, focusing on landscape and lyricism. Do you dare accept?”

At his words, the audience looked toward Su Yuan with pity and sighed.

As expected, Tang Wenshan challenged the top-ranked Su Yuan, choosing the area in which he excelled.

The challenger held the privilege to set the topic.

Of course, the top three had their topics drawn by lot, but others could choose their own.

Though Tang Wenshan’s topic was somewhat opportunistic and sharp, the rules allowed it; no one could accuse him of dishonor.

The audience merely lamented Su Yuan’s misfortune—though first-ranked, he faced a formidable opponent.

Indeed, among the contestants were many skilled literati.

Besides Tang Wenshan, at least five or six others were adept in various poetic styles.

Still, Tang Wenshan was the strongest among them. If he lost, few would dare challenge afterward.

No one believed Su Yuan could defeat Tang Wenshan, especially in his specialty.

Su Yuan met his challenger’s gaze, smiling faintly. “Why would I not dare? Shall you begin, or shall I?”

The challenger spoke first; the challenged must respond. To refuse was to concede.

“I’ll take advantage of Your Highness and let you go first. Otherwise, even if I win, it would feel dishonorable,” Tang Wenshan said with a mocking tone.

His voice carried arrogance.

Though seemingly humble, his words dripped with sarcasm.

What did he mean by ‘taking advantage’ and ‘dishonorable victory’? He might as well have said, “I intend to humiliate you.”

Winning against you would be too easy—no challenge at all!

Su Yuan’s lips curled into a smile, his eyes turning icy cold.

He was not one to boast, but that did not mean he lacked temper. To be mocked was intolerable.

He chuckled thoughtfully. “Better not. I’ll let you start first; otherwise, I fear that once I begin, you might lose the courage to compose at all.”

His words fell like a thunderclap, silencing the entire hall. Everyone stared in stunned disbelief, convinced they had misheard.

This fellow was truly audacious! Though the challenger’s words were unpleasant—