Chapter 53: Inner Quality
Translator: Sparrow Translations Editor: Sparrow Translations
Meng Yushu felt that this bet can be nullified. Because, it simply wasn’t possible for a person to unveil Yun Qingwu’s veil. But, as he thought of his previous anger, he was still rather unsatisfied.
No matter what, he still had to try. If that really wasn’t possible, then he had to think of another method.
Who would have known that the Hundred Flower Gathering in the Huai An County would actually attract Yun Qingwu to partic.i.p.ate in it?
This was simply unthinkable...
What was the reason?
…
Yan Xiu’s gaze s.h.i.+fted to the gradually approaching pleasure boat, his expression didn’t change a single bit, as if he had seen yet, yet as if he hadn’t see it.
Only when the boat reached the riverside did he adjust his posture, as if he had suddenly thought of something.
On the other hand, the youth sitting beside him was still the same as before.
So much so that he even leaned back slowly, and slightly closed his eyes, as if enjoying the crisp wind from the riverside and the flowers blooming around him.
Yan Xiu didn’t speak. The youth also didn’t speak.
Except that after Yan Xiu’s behaviour became too proper, the youth’s appeared even more unglamorous. Sitting together with such differing postures, it appeared extremely awkward.
When the surrounding scholars saw this, they didn’t know what to say.
These two people sitting together was absolutely too uncoordinated, but they just had to sit together like this. Furthermore, they even seemed to be harmonious and in peace.
Weird, too weird!
…
The scholars at the Hundred Flower Gathering naturally set their aims on the flowers, even though Yan Xiu and the youth could attract their attention for a while, but it was indeed not possible for all these scholars to keep on staring at these two men?
Furthermore, the pleasure boat adorned with golden silk had finally come to a halt.
Except, the people on the boat didn’t have any intention of coming down. But, despite this, the atmosphere in the Hundred Flower Gathering had evidently become livelier.
The scholars cheered and jumped, loudly shouting Yun Qingwu’s name. There were even a few who actually brought over their brushes and desks, and began to write there and then.
Drawing pictures, writing poems, creating inscriptions, the atmosphere was lively indeed.
The Hundred Flower Gathering was a gathering for scholars to socialise before the Law of Dao examinations, hence there was no specially appointed judge. The rules were simple, after the talented girls displayed their skills, the scholars would place flowers inside the baskets in front of the girls, which counted as choosing a beauty.
Even though it was simple, it was very fair.
"Boom!"
A gong sounded. The Hundred Flower Gathering had officially begun.
Then, the talented girls began to mount the stage and display their skills, each of them wearing colourful long dresses, playing musical instruments, dancing, some even made a few poems on stage, encouraging scholars to compose poems to pair with theirs.
Yan Xiu’s gaze remained calm as water.
On the other hand, the youth was full of interest, watching eagerly, he even shouted out phrases such as "not bad" or "beautiful" from time to time, attracting silent criticisms from the surrounding scholars.
"Country b.u.mpkin!"
"Inner quality!"
"I am embarra.s.sed to be seen with such a person!"
In actual fact, the scholars were also deep in discussion, most of their voices even louder than the youth. But, a youth wearing a coa.r.s.e blue robe sitting in the middle of scholars dressed in embroidered clothes and fanciful garments naturally caused people to feel strange.
The youth lightly patted away the dust on the cleanly washed robe he wore on his body. He naturally wasn’t able to hear other people scolding him in their hearts. With a leisurely and carefree expression, he continued to listen to the songs, eating and drinking to his heart’s content.
Or it could also be said, even if he was able to hear, he wouldn’t pay any attention to them. Because, from where he was from, that was how everybody dressed. If he really had to dress like these scholars every day, time will definitely hang very heavily.
Finally, the singing had more or less stopped, and movement appeared within the pleasure boat that stopped by the riverside.
The boat doors opened gradually. Two rows of ladies dressed in standardised jade-green dresses neatly walked out, and behind them, two ladies dressed in gold-threaded long skirts followed.
When everyone had neatly arranged themselves below the boat, an graceful figure finally walked out slowly from within the boat.
Wearing an elegant sky-blue long skirt imprinted with a few snow-white tree peonies, and with a mirror-shaped pearl flower with the appearance of a golden moon on her head, her jet black long hair fell all the way to her waist, ending right at the golden purple belt at the waist. It was a female figure of absolute beauty.
Unfortunately, a black cloth blocked the woman’s facial features. Yet, this brought out the woman skin, which was as white and beautiful as snow…
Stepping lightly on the ground, a pair of boots embroidered with flowers sewn from golden threads wrapped around the woman’s feet and slowly walked up the riverside.
Then, directly up the stage.
Up until now...
The scholars below the stage were already completely silent, staring paralysed at woman on the stage, a blazing ray of light s.h.i.+ning their eyes.
Of course, there were also exceptions.
For example, Yan Xiu, who was sitting right at the front, continued to wear his usual ice-cold expression, and the youth sitting by his side continued to leisurely munch on his fruits.
"Young lady Yun Qingwu, please excuse my ugly display!" A voice crisp as a nightingale sounded out, Yun Qingwu lowered her head slightly, bowing. Her posture was elegant and her temperament was outstanding.
"Great!" Below the stage, the youth clapped cheerfully, instantly pulling the stunned scholars back to reality.
Good things have always been wildly pursued by people.
Those who destroyed their beautiful dreamlands naturally wouldn’t be treated well.
All the scholars stared at the youth, their faces filled with anger. A few even began to crack their fists, if Yan Xiu wasn’t by his side, the situation would definitely not have been dealt with as courteously.
Yun Qingwu gazed at the youth. She didn’t even seem to have flinched, instead, she gradually turned her body around and gave another bow to the youth.
"Yun Qingwu expresses her thanks to young master!" Her manner was extraordinary composed.
"You’re welcome, I wonder what song is sister Qingwu going to play today?" The youth’s jet-black eyes looked at Yun Qingwu, felt the anxious atmosphere around him, and smiled lightly.
Naturally, he understood why the surrounding people were enraged, but, people should be treated similarly. When other women mounted the stage, there were many cheers. If there wasn’t any when Yun Qingwu went up, wouldn’t it be strange!
"Who would have thought that young master also understands music. Today, young lady wishes to perform a song called The Reeds and Rushes." Yun Qingwu replied softly, not a single glimmer of disdain in her eyes. Instead, she was extremely respectful.
"The Reeds and Rushes?" Fang Zhengzhi nodded, and didn’t speak any further.
Yet, this caused the surrounding scholars to reveal an expression of disdain.
When they saw the youth inquire Yun Qingwu, they expected a deep discussion, yet all he did was nod, without expressing a single opinion!
But, after despising the youth, the scholars once again began to burn with pa.s.sion. Yun Qingwu’s choice of The Reed and Rushes, represented exactly the melancholy and dejection of pursuing one’s love, yet falling short.
Such a lady of wonder, yet despairing over not being able to pursue her love, indeed instilled a sense of pity in their hearts.
"This round of beauty, I will choose Yun Qingwu!" A scholar sitting in the front row instantly walked out. Going in front of the flower basket with Yun Qingwu’s name inscribed on it, he prepared to place the fresh flower on his hands inside.
Unfortunately, he wasn’t fast enough. Because, another scholar was able to run faster than him.
In a flash, he ended up in front of the flower basket. The fresh flowers in his hands reached the flower basket before the other scholar. When the flower entered the basket, his face flushed with red, a wild look on his face, "Ha ha ha… I am the first!"
When the other scholars saw this, they immediately began to panic, one by one they stood up from their chairs and rushed madly to the bottom of the stage, each of them competing to place their flowers in the basket, afraid of being too slow.
Hence, all the suspense in the Hundred Flower Gathering’s beauty instantly disappeared…
"Do you even have the slightest bit of inner quality? She hadn’t even performed, why are all of you rus.h.i.+ng to court her favour and choose the beauty, rush your b.a.l.l.s… b.a.l.l.s!" The youth sitting right at the front gazed at the sea of scholars blocking his field of vision, and finally lost his patience and huffed.