“Leaning on the tower in the gentle breeze, I gaze afar,
Spring sorrows darken the horizon from afar.
Amid the misty grass and fading sunset glow,
Who understands my silent thoughts by the railing’s row?
I’d drown my wild heart in a drunken spree,
Singing with wine, forced joy holds no glee for me.
My belt grows loose, yet I regret it not,
For her I languish, worn and overwrought.”
Chen Fan recited as if no one else was present, yet everyone listening was stunned. How had Chen Fan composed another poem?
And once again, it was so exquisite!
So exquisite that they were momentarily unable to critique it, as if it were beyond their capacity to evaluate.
Chen Hao, Chen Guogong, and the others wore dark, unpleasant expressions. They, too, recognized the brilliance of Chen Fan’s two poems!
Not just Chen Hao—even everyone present was not on the same level as Chen Fan!
But for Chen Fan to compose one poem was one thing; now he had produced another!
Was his talent truly this exceptional?
Fortunately, however, they still could not discern any theme related to studying in this poem!
Lin Feng immediately spoke up, “Chen Fan! What kind of licentious and frivolous verses are you writing? ‘My belt grows loose, yet I regret it not’—you were asked to write about studying, not these indecent lyrics!”
Upon hearing this, everyone looked speechless.
Could this be considered licentious and frivolous?
Chen Fan, however, acted as if he hadn’t heard, lifting his cup to take a sip of wine before continuing.
“A thousand trees bloom in the east wind’s night,
Stars scatter like rain, a breathtaking sight.
Fragrant roads with carved carriages and steeds so fine,
Phoenix flutes resound, jade pots shine, fish and dragons dance till day’s decline.
Moth-like brows, snow-willow hair, golden threads so bright,
Laughter and whispers fade with subtle scent into the night.
Searching for her in the crowd a thousand times in vain,
Suddenly turning, I find her there where lantern light grows faint.”
Hearing this, everyone fell into silence.
The previous two poems were one thing, but now another had come.
Especially this final line: “Searching for her in the crowd a thousand times in vain, suddenly turning, I find her there where lantern light grows faint.”
What kind of verse was this? Could it even be written by a human?
The only shortcoming was that Chen Fan still hadn’t written about studying, which did not align with the theme of this Literary Gathering.
“Chen Fan! What are you showing off?”
Lin Feng spoke with a disdainful expression, as if afraid Chen Fan would continue, stepping forward aggressively.
“Do you think writing more means you win?
The theme is studying! No matter how much you write, if it’s unrelated to the theme, what’s the use?”
Yet Chen Fan remained calm, leisurely drinking his wine. “Whether it’s about studying or not, what’s the point of explaining it to you? Would you even understand?”
Hearing this, Lin Feng was momentarily at a loss for words. “How could I not understand? Tell me, where in your previous poem is there any trace of studying?”
But Chen Fan still wore a look of disdain. “Whether I wrote about studying or not, those who understand will understand. If you don’t, then shut up! Don’t embarrass yourself! Alright?”
Upon hearing this, everyone looked puzzled. What did Chen Fan mean by this?
Did he write about studying?
Where was it written?
Thinking this, they all began to reflect on Chen Fan’s three poems.
At that moment, however, Ji Qianxue in the pavilion suddenly understood something, her eyes lighting up as she exclaimed, “I understand!”
Hearing this, Xue Ying beside her looked even more confused. “Female Emperor, what do you understand?”
“I understand what he wrote about studying! Profound! Truly profound! This insight, this realm, is too elevated!” Ji Qianxue said excitedly, her eyes fixed on Chen Fan, unable to look away.
It was as if she was completely captivated by Chen Fan’s literary talent.
Yet Xue Ying, seeing this, looked even more bewildered.
She admitted that each of Chen Fan’s three poems was exceptionally well-written, worthy of being passed down through the ages. Even she herself liked them very much, sensing a touch of romance and affection within.
But how were they about studying?
How were they profound?
She truly couldn’t understand.
Yet, at that moment, a Great Scholar below suddenly slammed the table and exclaimed, “Brilliant! Truly brilliant!”
Hearing this, everyone turned their gaze toward the Great Scholar.
The Great Scholar looked deeply moved. “I never imagined that at such a young age, Young Master Chen possesses such talent and insight. This old man is truly impressed!”
Upon hearing this, the crowd grew even more puzzled.
“Elder Liu, what do you mean? What have you seen?” a student asked in confusion.
Elder Liu, his face flushed with excitement, declared, “Young Master Chen Fan’s first poem is extraordinary! Truly extraordinary!”
“Though they appear to be ordinary poems, they directly illustrate the Threefold Realm of studying and scholarship through these three verses. It is truly profound!”
The crowd grew even more bewildered. What Threefold Realm?
“Elder Liu, what is this Threefold Realm?”
Elder Liu wasted no time and explained directly.
“The first realm: ‘Last night, the west wind withered the green trees; alone, I climbed the high tower, gazing to the ends of the world.’ This means that in studying and scholarship, one must first have unwavering dedication, ascend to great heights, and have clear goals and direction!”
“The second realm: ‘My clothes grow loose, yet I regret it not; for her, I grow thin and haggard!’ This means that in studying and scholarship, one must endure hard work, forgetting sleep and food, seeking knowledge tirelessly, never regretting even as one grows thin and clothes hang loose!”
“The third realm: ‘Searching for her a thousand times in the crowd; suddenly turning back, there she is, in the dim light of the lanterns.’ This means that in studying and scholarship, one must possess focused dedication. As if in pursuit, with sufficient effort, one will naturally achieve mastery, make discoveries, and achieve breakthroughs!”
“The realms progress layer by layer; different attitudes toward studying lead to different realms! But only by advancing to higher realms can one experience what they offer!”
“It is truly remarkable. After studying for so many years, I finally understand today what studying truly means! Young Master Chen is immensely talented; this old man is in awe!”
As Elder Liu spoke, he bowed deeply toward Chen Fan.
Seeing this, Chen Fan was taken aback but dared not be negligent. He quickly stood up and returned the gesture. “Elder Liu, you flatter me too much. I am unworthy of such praise!”
Yet, the crowd watched in stunned silence.
Without Elder Liu’s interpretation, they would never have grasped the depth.
But after his explanation, they suddenly realized how profound Chen Fan’s three poems truly were!
Not only were the poems beautifully written, but they also embodied such a Threefold Realm!
Not just Elder Liu—even they were genuinely impressed and filled with admiration!
Such talent and learning were something they could never match, even if they studied for a hundred or a thousand years!
Most importantly, Chen Fan had composed these three poems on the spot, without even the time it takes for half an incense stick to burn!
For a moment, even Chen Hao’s face was filled with admiration. How could he possibly compete?
He had thought to offer his own poem as a modest contribution, but now, compared to Chen Fan’s three timeless masterpieces, his poem was nothing but rubbish!
How could he even compare?
They were simply not on the same level!
No wonder Chen Fan could write a masterpiece like the Ode to the Goddess of Luo!
Yet, deep down, Chen Hao shared the same thought as Chen Guogong: Chen Fan had always been an uneducated good-for-nothing in the past. How could he possess such extraordinary talent?
Why had no one noticed it before?
But at that moment, Chen Fan simply sat back down, pulling Lian Yue close once more. He took a light sip of wine from his cup before shifting his gaze to Chen Hao beside him, speaking calmly.
“Second Young Master, the incense is about to burn out. I wonder how your masterpiece is coming along? Could you recite it for us, so we may all witness the work of Jinling’s top scholar?”