This Lotus Appreciation Banquet could be considered a grand gathering of the literary world, with every renowned scholar and talented writer within Danzhou in attendance.
For this grand occasion, the Du Residence had specially constructed a small channel beside the lotus pond, drawing clear water from the pond to fill it, setting up a Floating Wine Cups Along the Winding Stream arrangement.
The stone channel meandered and curved, with murmuring streams flowing through it, clear and shimmering. Stone tables were placed every three feet, each laden with fine wine, melons, and fruits. The gathered talents sat in rows along its banks.
In a nearby bamboo grove, women played the qin with delicate hands, the sounds of silk and bamboo instruments serene and pleasing to the ear. A gentle breeze drifted across the lake, carrying the faint fragrance of lotus blossoms. As the wine cups floated by, each guest would compose a verse upon receiving one, and all felt utterly exhilarated and supremely refined.
When drinking with a close friend, a thousand cups are too few.
The gathering lasted from afternoon until dusk, with the scholars, emboldened by wine, engaging in poetic duels and painting competitions. Masterpieces emerged one after another, dazzling the eyes.
Among them, the most eye-catching was Lan Tingzhou’s painting, Lotus Pond at Dusk.
After two rounds of Floating Wine Cups Along the Winding Stream, the attendees voted to select the three best poems and three best paintings of the day. These were presented to Du Zhong and Lu Yu, seated at the head of the gathering, for them to finalize the overall best.
For this gathering, Du Zhong had even brought out two Chengni Inkstones he had treasured for years as prizes, to be awarded to the creators of the best poem and painting.
The young prodigy from Luming Academy, Wang Xishi, took first place. His poem, Ode to the Lotus by the Lake, was unanimously selected by the two lords as the best poem.
But when it came to the paintings… Du Zhong unhesitatingly chose Lotus Pond at Dusk, but Lu Yu, looking at the painting, furrowed his brows tightly.
Du Zhong asked, “Does Lord Lu find this painting unsuitable?”
Lu Yu shook his head. “The brushwork in this painting is concise, the composition fresh and innovative, and it carries a certain charm. It is indeed a fine painting.”
“However, if it had been painted using the bold, freehand splashed-ink technique, it would have been even better. That majestic and grand style would have more prominently highlighted the lotus’s purity and ancient simplicity.”
When he saw the signature on the painting, his brows furrowed even tighter, and he snorted with dissatisfaction.
“First place it is, then. It’s a pity Zizhuo isn’t here this time. Otherwise, if he had painted one, it certainly wouldn’t have been inferior to this.”
Lü Zizhuo was Lu Yu’s prized disciple and a rising star in the Northern School of painting and calligraphy in Jingdu, quite renowned.
Du Zhong laughed heartily and said, “When Lord Lu’s beloved disciple comes next time, this humble official will host another Floating Wine Cups Along the Winding Stream gathering, and we can compete again.”
It was well known that Lu Yu was obsessed with painting and calligraphy and was a staunch advocate of Northern School techniques.
Yet this painting, Lotus Pond at Dusk, with its delicate and gentle brushstrokes and peaceful, understated style, clearly employed Southern School techniques. No wonder it provoked Lu Yu’s nitpicking.
In the end, Lu Yu, puffing out his beard, reluctantly and grudgingly selected Lotus Pond at Dusk as the best.
Lan Tingzhou and Wang Xishi stepped forward together, bowed respectfully to Du Zhong and Lu Yu, and, under the envious gazes of the crowd, received the Chengni Inkstones.
After the poetry and painting selection concluded, everyone shed their restraints, seeking out familiar companions to chat and socialize in small groups, the atmosphere lively.
Lan Tingzhou had hardly attended the Academy and had never left Qingshui Town, so among those present today, no one was familiar with him.
With no one to invite him, he sat alone at the far end of the stone channel, admiring the pond full of lotus blossoms, sipping wine lightly, finding his own leisure and ease.
Lu Yu descended from the head seat, walked up to him, glanced at him twice, then said with a stern face and a stiff tone, “You, accompany this old man for a walk.”
Seeing Lu Yu’s awkward demeanor, Lan Tingzhou couldn’t help but smile.
He rose gracefully and bowed respectfully, saying, “This student will comply.”
The two strolled casually along the lotus pond, with Lu Yu walking ahead in silence for quite some time.
Lan Tingzhou followed half a step behind, unhurried and steady, also remaining silent.
After a while, Lu Yu stopped and turned back with some annoyance, saying, “Didn’t you say as a child that you preferred the Northern School and even wanted to become my disciple? How did you end up shifting to the Southern School when you grew up?”
Lan Tingzhou smiled and replied, “My father did not permit it, so this student had no choice but to change course.”
Lu Yu snorted in dissatisfaction.
Lan Tingzhou said gently, “In this student’s view, calligraphy and painting are both means of expressing one’s heart directly. One should not be constrained by technique; what matters is the freedom and intensity of expression.”
Lu Yu glanced at him, snorted twice more, but his dissatisfaction seemed to lessen considerably.
“Since childhood, you dared to hit people with a broom—how could that suit the gentle, slow-paced style of the Southern School! One of these days, I’ll find you two good masters so you can see the strength, vigor, and grandeur of brushwork! That’s what true expression of the heart looks like!”
Lan Tingzhou smiled and said, “Then this student thanks Elder Lu in advance.”
Lu Yu paused mid-step and glared back at Lan Tingzhou. “What did you call me?”
Lan Tingzhou rubbed his nose, lowered his head, and said softly, “Uncle Lu.”
Only then did Lu Yu nod in satisfaction and continue walking.
“Your father’s charges have been pardoned. Have you taken the imperial examinations?” Lu Yu asked.
“I passed the County Examination just this spring,” Lan Tingzhou replied.
Lu Yu fell silent for a long while.
“Eleven years have passed. If I had been more diligent back then, I wouldn’t have been so helpless, unable to assist Brother Yaoshi in the slightest.” Facing the wind, Lu Yu couldn’t help but shed tears.
“Uncle Lu need not blame yourself. The political arena is unpredictable and treacherous, not something one or two people can control.”
“I didn’t expect someone as young as you to see things so clearly. If you can stay away from Jingdu in the future and serve as a leisurely local official, bringing prosperity to the people, that would be very good indeed.” Lu Yu sighed deeply.
“Which Academy are you studying at now?”
“At the Academy in town.”
“The Academy in town?” Lu Yu frowned, his eyes showing disapproval. “It’s not easy to pass the Juren examination from a town Academy.”
Lan Tingzhou fell silent, offering no reply. How could he not know this?
But gaining admission to a prestigious Academy was no simple matter. Besides money, it also required a recommender.
Lu Yu seemed to realize this as well and said, “How about I write you a letter to use as a recommendation? Though I am not particularly talented, I have built some modest reputation over the decades.”
Lu Yu had been a Second-Class Jinshi in his time and had once served as the current emperor’s calligraphy and painting teacher—this was far more than just a “modest reputation”! With his endorsement, Lan Tingzhou’s path in the imperial examinations would undoubtedly be much smoother.
But Lan Tingzhou did not wish to become too deeply entangled with him, fearing that if things went awry in the future, it might implicate him.
“Uncle Lu’s kindness is deeply appreciated. However, as you are now the Imperial Tutor and hold the title of Taifu, if I were to present your recommendation letter, I fear no Academy in Dànzhōu Fǔ would dare accept me.”
“What Taifu! I merely taught His Majesty a few lessons when he was young,” Lu Yu retorted irritably.
“Fine, everyone fears empty titles. I still have a few old friends in Danzhou. One of these days, you can visit them on my behalf.”
Lan Tingzhou’s heart swelled with joy, never expecting this journey to yield such a reward.
While Lan Tingzhou unexpectedly gained a recommender, Gan Cai’er was mingling among a group of noble young ladies from prominent families.
A dozen or so women gathered in the waterside pavilion near the arched bridge over the lotus pond, chatting among themselves. Wherever women gathered, gossip was always abundant.
“I heard that today, Wang Xishi once again outshone all others and won the top prize.”
“With him present, who else could possibly take first place?”
“Exactly! Young Master Wang is a once-in-a-century genius. He passed the imperial examination at just thirteen and is renowned as a master of both poetry and painting!”
“Ah, but you don’t know—this time, the first prize in calligraphy and painting didn’t go to Young Master Wang. It went to someone else.”
“What? The top prize in calligraphy and painting wasn’t Young Master Wang?!”
The crowd was astonished.
Gan Cai’er also pricked up her ears discreetly.
“They say it was a young gentleman who’s previously unknown, but his painting skills are truly remarkable. Even Elder Lu sought him out for a lengthy conversation.”
“Oh? What is this gentleman’s background?”
“That’s unclear. All we know is that his surname is Lan, he’s very young—even younger than Young Master Wang—and not yet twenty.”
“Tsk, tsk, could he be another genius?”
“Ah, rumor has it he’s not only skilled in painting but even more impressive in person. They say he’s ‘as towering as a solitary pine, as noble as a jade mountain about to crumble, a true gentleman in this turbid world’!”
“Miss Du, is this person truly so outstanding?”
The one who had been reciting poetry with such flourish earlier was none other than Third Miss Du. Just moments before, she had made an excuse to go up to the arched bridge to catch a glimpse of the excitement before returning.
Now, seeing all the women gazing at her eagerly, she couldn’t help but curl her lips in satisfaction.
“Of course! I saw it with my own eyes. If you don’t believe me, you can go and see for yourselves!”
The pavilion suddenly fell silent. Several unmarried young ladies exchanged glances and then hurriedly left on various pretexts.
Gan Cai’er watched as several of them made their way together onto the arched bridge, heading toward the area reserved for male guests.
Although Da Yong emphasized strict separation between men and women, and young women from noble families were required to memorize Female Virtues and Female Precepts from childhood, such etiquette was only rigorously enforced in Jingdu.
The farther one traveled from the capital, the more relaxed the restrictions on women became. In remote prefectures like Danzhou, such rules were sometimes virtually nonexistent.
For instance, at this Lotus Appreciation Banquet, although a wooden arched bridge separated the male and female guests, the boundary was far from clear. Especially once the Floating Wine Cups Along the Winding Stream began, many women secretly went to watch the excitement, while the elders turned a blind eye, pretending not to notice.
“Miss…” Xiao Hong nudged Gan Cai’er hesitantly. “Could they be talking about Gu Ye?”
Gan Cai’er expressionlessly twisted her handkerchief.
How could she have forgotten that Lan Tingzhou was the type to attract unwanted attention? Even a passing female cat would leap at him and meow twice!
In her past life, she had expended no small amount of effort clearing away these admirers of Lan Tingzhou. The number of fights she’d gotten into was more than she could count on one hand.
Originally, she had resolved to propose a separation once Lan Tingzhou entered Lùmíng Shūyuàn.
But now, it seemed that wouldn’t be possible!
Lan Tingzhou’s heart belonged to Shen Yunxi. Before he met Shen Yunxi, she had to guard the Inner Residence for him and cut off all these unwanted admirers.