Time passed bit by bit.
Seeing that Chen Fan had not spoken for so long, the crowd’s suspicion of him grew deeper and deeper.
“Could it be that the previous rhapsody was really plagiarized by him?”
“Of course. If it weren’t plagiarized, why hasn’t he said a single word now?”
“Brother Lin Feng is truly wise—he could tell at a glance that it was copied!”
“He’s just a profligate—what poetry could he possibly write? If he had the talent he showed earlier, would he have been rejected in marriage? Would he have been expelled from his family?”
…
For a moment, everyone was whispering and discussing. Even Lian Yue on the stage began to look somewhat worried, as she too suspected that Chen Fan’s earlier rhapsody might have been plagiarized.
That rhapsody was written too well, with such high literary accomplishment—it was completely impossible for someone known as a profligate to have written it.
“Chen Fan! If you can’t write it, just say so! Don’t pretend and waste everyone’s time!
Don’t worry! For old times’ sake, when I break your legs, I’ll do it gently!”
Lin Feng spoke with a smug expression. After all, didn’t he know Chen Fan all too well?
But Chen Fan ignored him. Instead, he straightened up and looked at Lian Yue, saying:
“Miss Lian Yue, pardon my poor effort!”
As he spoke, Chen Fan began reciting directly:
“Spring river tides level with the sea, the bright moon over the sea rises with the tide.”
With just this opening line, everyone’s expressions changed.
It was as if a painting of a spring river under the bright moon had instantly appeared before their eyes.
And Chen Fan did not stop; he continued reciting.
Suddenly came the line, “Who by the river first saw the moon? When did the moon first shine upon people?”
The crowd was stunned once more—what kind of divine poetry was this?
“At this moment we gaze but hear no sound, I wish to follow the moonlight’s flow to shine upon you.
Wild geese fly far, yet light does not cross; fish and dragons dive and leap, ripples form patterns in the water.”
…
“The slanting moon sinks, hidden in sea mist, from Jieshi to Xiaoxiang the road is endless.
Who knows how many return by moonlight? The setting moon sways with emotion, filling the river trees.”
Finally, Chen Fan stopped.
But the crowd was completely immersed in the awe of Chen Fan’s poem, unable to break free!
Eighteen lines in a row—each one could be called a timeless masterpiece.
Using the five elements of spring, river, flowers, moon, and night, it vividly captured the enchanting beauty of the moment, creating a wondrous artistic realm that invited exploration.
Within it lay sincere and moving sentiments of parting, as well as philosophical reflections on life. Coupled with a transcendent cosmic consciousness, it evoked a profound, vast, and serene realm.
For a moment, they could not think of a single poem that could compare to this one.
This poem was like the poem among poems, the peak atop peaks—overshadowing all the verses they had ever studied.
And this time, even Lin Feng, who knew nothing about poetry, felt that Chen Fan had written something extraordinary.
It was as if this kind of excellence could be felt without any literary accomplishment.
“Miss Lian Yue, what do you think of this ‘Spring River, Flowers, Moon, Night’?”
Only then did Chen Fan look at Lian Yue on the stage and speak.
Hearing this, the crowd finally snapped back to reality, but as they looked at Chen Fan, their eyes were filled with disbelief.
How could they believe that this was something Chen Fan—an uneducated profligate—had composed on the spot?
Moreover, it closely followed the theme Lin Feng had set, using the word “moon” over a dozen times in succession.
They were also certain that this poem was definitely not plagiarized—if it had been copied from someone else, they would surely have known.
And they were certain now that Chen Fan’s earlier rhapsody must have been his own work as well.
Without Chen Fan’s terrifying talent, it would be impossible to write such a rhapsody or such a poem.
“Young master, your talent is extraordinary. This humble woman is truly impressed! This poem is so exquisite that I dare not presume to comment on it.”
Lian Yue was genuinely won over by Chen Fan’s talent.
“With this poem, may I become Miss Lian Yue’s guest of honor?” Chen Fan said.
“You may,” Lian Yue replied.
Chen Fan paid no mind and turned directly to Lin Feng. “Young Master Lin, do you still intend to renege?”
Upon hearing this, Lin Feng’s expression suddenly turned extremely unpleasant. He had never imagined that Chen Fan could actually produce such a poem—and one of such high quality at that.
If he said anything more now, he would truly be reneging.
And with so many people watching!
“Hmph!”
“Would I, this young master, renege? A mere hundred thousand taels is nothing to me!”
As he spoke, Lin Feng directly took out a stack of silver notes. “Chen Fan! So what if you can write poetry? You’re still nothing but a stray dog. Without the protection of Guogong Mansion in the future, let’s see how you manage to establish yourself in Liangling City!”
Chen Fan, however, remained indifferent. He simply gestured for Xiao Ke and Xiao Ai to retrieve the silver notes before calmly saying, “Drink while you can today, for tomorrow’s worries will come tomorrow. Whether I can establish myself in Liangling City in the future is a matter for the future!
As for tonight, I only wish to have a pleasant conversation with Miss Lian Yue about romance and life.”
Chen Fan said this deliberately, knowing full well how infatuated Lin Feng was with Lian Yue—dreaming of her day and night. He wanted to provoke Lin Feng on purpose.
But Lian Yue and everyone present were momentarily stunned, for Chen Fan’s casual remark—”Drink while you can today, for tomorrow’s worries will come tomorrow”—was enough to astonish everyone there.
To casually utter such an immortal line!
Such talent! Truly remarkable!
Lin Feng’s expression, however, turned utterly grim. Lian Yue was the dream lover he had pursued for so long—he hadn’t even touched her hand—yet today, Chen Fan was about to beat him to it!
How could he not be furious!
And yet, there was nothing he could do to change it!
“Time is fleeting, so I shall not keep Young Master Lin company any longer!”
At that moment, Chen Fan deliberately cupped his hands toward Lin Feng before turning to Lian Yue. “Miss Lian Yue, a moment of spring night is worth a thousand pieces of gold. Shall we go?”
Upon hearing this, Lian Yue’s expression shifted slightly, but she said nothing. She simply bowed slightly and said, “Please, Young Master Chen.”
“Manager, please arrange a quiet room for these two girls.”
With that, Chen Fan, led by a maid, followed Lian Yue directly toward the inner courtyard.
Witnessing this, Lin Feng gritted his teeth so hard they nearly shattered. That was his goddess!
And tonight, she would…
“Chen Fan! Just you wait! If I don’t tear you to pieces, I won’t bear the Lin surname!”
Soon, under Lian Yue’s guidance, Chen Fan arrived at a very quiet room in the backyard of Qingyin Pavilion.
Lian Yue was truly beautiful. Her face, no larger than a palm, bore features so exquisite they seemed carved by a master sculptor, flawless in every way.
And in her lovely eyes and brows lingered a gentle tenderness that no man could resist.
“Young Master Chen, why are you looking at me like that?”
Lian Yue, who was brewing tea, noticed Chen Fan’s dazed gaze. A hint of shyness suddenly colored her cheeks as she softly asked.
“Naturally because you are so beautiful. This is the first time I’ve seen a girl as lovely as you, and I couldn’t help but be captivated. Please forgive me!” Chen Fan replied.
“Young Master Chen is quite forthright,” Lian Yue said softly.
“So, you know why I came with you, right?”
Chen Fan spoke somewhat hesitantly, after all, this was his first time visiting a brothel. He wasn’t familiar with the customs and didn’t know what to say.
Hearing this, Lian Yue’s face grew even more bashful. How could she not know!
She just hadn’t expected Chen Fan to be so direct.
Although she was a woman of the brothel, she had always sold her talents, not her body, and remained untouched. Hearing Chen Fan speak like this, how could she not feel shy?
But the rules were set by herself, so she could only nod gently. “I know.”
“So, it’s possible, right?” Chen Fan probed softly.
Yet Lian Yue’s face flushed with extreme shyness and nervousness. She didn’t dare to look at Chen Fan, only nodding lightly. Her innocence and bashfulness seemed unlike that of a woman from such a place of pleasure.
But Chen Fan was no gentleman. If he were, he wouldn’t have pretended to be a profligate to make the Female Emperor break off the engagement.
Seeing Lian Yue’s breathtaking beauty and her shy, alluring demeanor, his hand instinctively moved toward her chin, gently lifting her face.
After a moment’s hesitation, he leaned in and kissed her softly.