TFWYH – Chapter 650 Absolute Crushing

“County Lady Wengnai, it’s your turn!” Bathed in everyone’s admiring gazes, Gu Xiyan became even more arrogant. The contempt in her eyes when she looked at Tang Wan was completely undisguised.

Tang Wan glanced at her indifferently, then recited:

“Red plum blossoms bloom upon cold branches by the wall,
Their quiet fragrance drifts beneath the moon with carefree grace.
Untroubled by the affairs of the mortal world,
They guard a pure heart while waiting for the snow to come.”

The officials were stunned, and the way they looked at Tang Wan immediately changed.

Grand Tutor Yi stroked his beard and laughed. “The flow is smooth and natural, and the imagery is quite artistic. Good, very good!”

The officials immediately began showering her with praise.

“I never expected County Lady Wengnai to be such a talented and learned woman!”

“Of course! Lord Ling is the top scholar of the imperial examinations, full of knowledge and talent. How could his wife possibly be uneducated?”

“Marvelous, marvelous! County Lady Wengnai truly hides her talents well!”

…

Gu Xiyan had never imagined Tang Wan could compose poetry. The mocking expression on her face froze completely.

Only after hearing all the praise directed at Tang Wan did she snap back to reality and stare at her in disbelief.

Tang Wan said calmly, “Your turn.”

Seeing Tang Wan so composed and confident, Gu Xiyan panicked. After thinking for quite a while, she finally said:

“Scarlet hues fill the forest like spring in bloom,
Cold plum blossoms brave the snow with fragrant perfume.
As though the spring wind came overnight,
Shaking all other flowers into dust across ten thousand miles.”

Tang Wan replied instantly, without even pausing to think:

“Last night’s wine left me only lightly drunk,
The cold moon by the western window made sleep impossible.
Sitting alone, I gaze upon crimson branches like clustered flames,
A tree of plum blossoms burning toward the heavens.”

Gu Xiyan was dumbfounded. Her thoughts grew more and more chaotic until her mind became completely blank.

Time passed second by second. This time she hesitated even longer than before.

Just as Wan Zhenxiang was about to announce the result, she forced herself to stammer out:

“Seeking fragrance… before the plum tree,
Red… red blossoms await with scent concealed.
Proud bones greet snow and rain,
Peerless beauty unmatched in all the world.”

After stumbling through the poem, Gu Xiyan quietly let out a breath of relief and once again put on her arrogant expression, preparing to say “Your turn.”

But before she could speak, Tang Wan had already recited:

“A branch of plum blossoms blushes like drunken tears,
Who pities such powdered beauty and delicate face?
Snowflakes drift as shattered ink upon the page,
Ice and snow stain the tears upon blue robes.”

This time, just like before, Tang Wan answered immediately without any thought.

Gu Xiyan’s face turned pale, her mind in utter chaos.

How was this possible?

Wasn’t she supposed to be a village woman?

Wasn’t she supposedly illiterate?

How could she possibly compose poetry?

Gu Xiyan desperately wanted to calm herself and continue producing verses effortlessly, but she simply couldn’t focus anymore.

Wan Zhenxiang looked at the incense beside him as the final bit burned away and the ash dropped. Then he announced:

“Time is up. County Lady Wengnai wins.”

At once, the hall erupted into endless praise, and everyone’s opinion of Tang Wan changed completely.

At first, they had thought a country woman could hardly possess any literary talent.

But now they finally understood why Ling Yu never flirted with women outside. With such a wife blessed with both beauty and talent at home, how could he possibly care for ordinary women?

Facing all the admiring gazes, Tang Wan herself didn’t feel much.

China’s five thousand years of history had produced countless poets and endless timeless masterpieces.

She could casually imitate a few without much difficulty.

Forget plum blossoms—she had versions for all kinds of flowers.

Having achieved her goal, Tang Wan returned to her seat and happily resumed eating and drinking without even glancing at Gu Xiyan.

Gu Xiyan, meanwhile, was thoroughly embarrassed.

She had always prided herself on being a talented woman.

Yet now she had lost to a mere village wife.

The officials cast all sorts of meaningful looks her way, whispering among themselves nonstop.