Chapter Fifty-Six: Awe (Part Two)

Chapter Fifty-Six: Awe (Part II)

Scholars and poets, when competing in verse or prose, vie for nothing less than pride. Even if bested, one must not lose composure or dignity. Such scenes were common to men like Gu Yanzhen, who, having seen the start of the contest, could often guess its end. Generally, people say there is no absolute in literature; poetry, being less rigid, doesn't usually cause much trouble. Yet today's presence of Chen Jiwen changed the atmosphere. The Su brothers were clearly outmatched, and after a round of mockery from the other side, pens, ink, and paper were pushed forward. Chen Wendin and his companions dared not write, lest they become the next joke. Were this elsewhere, a fight could easily break out, but in this crowded gathering, any brawl would end with intervention from the guards, leaving those involved flushed and speechless.

When Li Pin ascended the stairs and revealed his acquaintance with the Su brothers, it became clear that escape was impossible. Chen Jiwen then openly issued a challenge, and as the details drifted across the room, Gu Yanzhen and Shen Miao found amusement in the unfolding quarrel. What had begun as a dull dispute now held some intrigue.

But unexpectedly, within a few exchanged words, the tense standoff seemed doused by cold water. The confrontation persisted, but its sharpness had been quietly blunted. Li Pin merely greeted a few people and withdrew to his companions, apparently uninterested in interfering. Those who intended to compose poetry hesitated, unable to put pen to paper. Gu Yanzhen had seen their talent before, especially Chen Jiwen, who held his brush as if troubled by some inner concern—he seemed to have verses in mind, yet could not commit them, an odd occurrence indeed.

Unable to hear the conversation across the room, information trickled through, and the peculiar mood spread among the watching scholars. Whispers and gestures abounded; the Su brothers relaxed, yet remained uncertain of their next move, exchanging glances and looking toward Li Pin.

"De Xin has arrived, and now Chen Jiwen hesitates to write? When has such a thing happened?" Gu Yanzhen frowned, struck by the fact that he had not returned to Jiangning for several years.

Shen Miao shook his head, "He was provoking De Xin just now; why can't he write now?"

"Perhaps he thought he had a good poem, only to realize a verse remains unfinished?"

Their companion speculated, then left his seat: "I'll go see." He circled past several tables, asked among the whispering crowd, glanced toward Li Pin and his companions by the window, and finally returned, chuckling, "So that's it—not because of De Xin, but the man beside him. Chen Jiwen and the others are truly unlucky this time..."

"The young man—who is he?"

"Ning Yi."

"Ning Yi from the Su residence? Ning Liheng?" Shen Miao was momentarily stunned, then laughed, "Ah, no wonder... If anyone could make Chen Jiwen hesitate, it would be him. This man never attends social gatherings, so it's no surprise I didn't recognize him. If I were to write a poem now, I'd struggle as well. To meet him by coincidence—Chen Jiwen is in trouble..."

"Ning Liheng of 'Prelude to Water Melody' and 'Green Jade Table'? I've often heard of that 'When Will the Moon Be Clear and Bright' in the capital, but to have this much effect..." Gu Yanzhen frowned, puzzled, then fell silent, watching the scene and pondering those two poems with growing uncertainty.

Chen Jiwen hesitated for a long time before finally putting brush to paper. His companions gathered around as if released from a burden, relief evident on their faces. The poem was brought to the other side, but his gaze lingered on the window, all previous arrogance and mockery replaced by mere polite phrases, and he waited nervously for their response.

Ning Yi, seated by the window, was now aware of the standoff, which was not as amicable as it first appeared. Yet it did not concern him; his thoughts were elsewhere.

---

During his ascent upstairs, flickering light outside seemed to reveal something, though even he could not be certain. It was a fleeting impression recalled during a pause in his mood, a sudden memory of the glimpse he had on Lantern Night while writing "Suddenly I Turn Back." He had not seen the female assassin's face then, only caught her gaze; now, four months had passed since that night, and the image that came to him when arriving with Li Pin was so vague, even he doubted its reality.

While circulating through the gathering, he also saw Captain Song Xian, laughing with his guards, which brought back memories of the female assassin. Tonight’s setting bore certain similarities to Lantern Night, perhaps explaining his distracted mood. After sitting down, he glanced below, his view filled with the ebb and flow of the crowd, the impression gradually fading.

He must have imagined it.

Meanwhile, Chen Jiwen, across the room, truly hesitated because of Ning Liheng’s reputation. Ning Yi did not know his own renown, but the others could not have missed the fame of 'Prelude to Water Melody' and 'Green Jade Table.' Ning Yi, unconventional and calculating, had mastered the art of swaying hearts and public opinion. Where others earned their reputations through dozens or hundreds of poems and ostentation at gatherings, Ning Yi had only two, but the timing and his understated manner made him stand out. Beyond being called an eccentric or a reclusive genius, his presence could not be ignored.

And such enigmatic figures, shrouded in mystery, often proved hardest to contend with.

Chen Jiwen was not lacking in talent; had he prepared, he could have competed with Li Pin and the others. But recalling Ning Yi’s two poems and comparing them to his own, he became mired in deliberation. Even after finally writing, he lacked confidence and could only await the other side's reaction.

By the window, Ning Yi paid little heed to the proceedings; Li Pin, however, grasped the situation at once. As Chen Jiwen composed his poem, Li Pin learned of the events, then returned with a smile. Noticing Chen Jiwen's complex expression, he understood the reason and could not help but chuckle. He glanced at Su Wendin and Su Wenfang, then picked up his phone and leaned over.

At that moment, Chen Jiwen’s poem was handed over, accompanied by some polite words, the delivery awkward and strained. "Gu Yanzhen and his companions are over there," he said, "ignorance is ignorance; my comments are not mine alone."

Li Pin glanced toward Gu Yanzhen and his group. Su Wendin and the others hurried to give him the poem for appraisal. Li Pin smiled as he took it, "Things seemed chaotic just now—I haven’t greeted Miss Tang yet. My apologies." He first addressed Tang Jing, who had been neglected.

Only then did Su Wendin and the others realize they had forgotten this in their earlier embarrassment. Tang Jing herself had been uncertain, but now, hearing Li Pin’s name and even Ning Yi’s, she was momentarily stunned and unsure how to respond, with Su Wendin failing to introduce her. A young lady left to the side, pitiable indeed. Finally, she managed to pay her respects to Li Pin, and Ning Yi approached as well: "I neglected to greet Miss Tang earlier. My apologies."

Tang Jing, delighted, quickly bowed, "Tang Jing greets Mr. Ning. You are too courteous, sir; I should have greeted you first."

"Actually, Miss Tang, you danced on the central drum just now, didn’t you? I hadn’t expected you to know Wenfang and Wendin."

"Did Mr. Ning see my performance?" Tang Jing blushed, wide-eyed and nervous.

"Naturally, I did. It was very graceful," Ning Yi said with a smile and a nod. "De Xin was present as well, wasn’t he?" Tang Jing was both surprised and pleased, "Thank you, Mr. Ning, Mr. Li." She glanced at Su Wendin, and the tension dissolved. After some time, the topic turned to making friends through literature. Ning Yi looked at the poems on the table, and Li Pin handed over the one in his hand, "A fine poem, Liheng, take a look." He bowed to Chen Jiwen.

Ning Yi finished reading and nodded, "Yes, a fine poem," bowing in return. Only then did Chen Jiwen relax and bow back, saying no more.

"This one is also a good poem," Ning Yi said after a while, picking up Su Wendin’s work and handing it to Tang Jing. "What matters is sincerity. Miss Tang, you should keep it."

---

Most poems on the table were odes to beauties; Ning Yi passed the weakest one to Tang Jing, who quickly tucked it away. These few understated words left the others speechless, unable to find any response.

"…Sincerity is what matters?"

Gu Yanzhen watched developments unfold. He had mocked the poem earlier, yet on the other side, it was praised, and Tang Jing accepted it with care. The situation struck him as slightly absurd. Proud of his own talent, he found the scene complex. Thinking back to those two poems, he realized he was not much worse, but upon closer reflection, even he would hesitate to write if faced with Ning Yi.

The drama was over; Chen Jiwen had lost his edge. Though dissatisfied, he had nothing better to offer. Shen Miao laughed, "De Xin is here—shall we greet him?"

Gu Yanzhen shook his head, "No need. The performance will begin soon; let's go down first and greet him later. Today was indeed interesting."

By tomorrow, the story of how Chen Jiwen dared not write in the presence of Li Pin and Ning Yi would surely spread. For Ning Yi, it was a trivial matter; his mind was elsewhere. For Tang Jing, Su Wendin, and the others, it was significant—especially for Tang Jing, whose reputation was still modest. Meeting Li Pin and Ning Yi, both praising her dance, left her with indescribable feelings.

The group chatted upstairs for a while. When Xia Chan brought snacks, Ning Yi saw Song Xian downstairs, wandering leisurely with his soldiers before disappearing from view. Ning Yi frowned and stood.

"There’s something I need to check downstairs; I’ll return shortly."

"Hmm?" Xia Chan, about to eat a crystal dumpling, looked up, clapped her hands, and prepared to follow. Ning Yi smiled and patted her shoulder, "No need to come; stay and enjoy the food. I’ll be back soon—we’ll watch the performance together. Li, everyone, please don’t wait if you have other matters."

With that, he headed downstairs.

Some things must be confirmed to put one’s mind at ease…

---

Elsewhere, not far from Wenmo Pavilion, Gu Yanzhen left his group, curiously following a tall, slender young man in black robes ahead. This young man carried a folding fan and wore a scholar’s cap, presenting an elegant air from a distance—the type likely to captivate young women. As he walked, he glanced around, seemingly searching for someone…

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