Chapter Fourteen: I Am Truly Invincible
Page 1/3
Li Wenxuan paid no heed to the astonished gazes of the gathered scholars. He walked over to the plum tree, staring intently at the white blossoms and the snow on the ground. Inspired, he began to recite:
“The plum and snow vie for spring, neither willing to yield,
Poets lay down their brushes, struggling to appraise the field.
The plum must concede three degrees of whiteness to snow,
Yet the snow loses to plum in a fragrance bestowed.”
As soon as the poem was uttered, everyone present held their breath. Even the Martial Emperor himself, standing at the back, was captivated.
This young man?
He has redefined the very meaning of ‘somewhat knowledgeable’ for me!
Chief Steward Li couldn’t help but glance at His Majesty, his eyes sparkling with admiration.
This boy was beyond all expectations.
But that was not all.
Li Wenxuan broke off a branch of plum blossoms, brought it to his nose, inhaled deeply, and then, to the shock of all, recited again:
“Freed from earthly toil, I grasp the rope to strive,
Without enduring bone-chilling cold, how can plum’s scent arrive?”
A collective gasp echoed around the courtyard.
Without enduring the bitter cold to the bone, how could the plum’s fragrance be so pure?
The Martial Emperor clenched his fist, moved beyond measure.
This poem was exquisite!
It perfectly embodied the simple truth of hardship preceding sweetness.
Chief Steward Li, overcome with excitement, glanced once more at the Emperor.
By chance, His Majesty was looking right at him.
“A prodigy, my lord. This man is truly a prodigy!” he whispered in a low, fervent voice.
The Martial Emperor wore a mock disdainful smile.
“This is nothing yet. Just wait and see!”
“My lord, do you mean he can compose more?” Chief Steward Li’s eyes nearly popped out.
The Martial Emperor pointed ahead and tossed a plum blossom to the ground, then stepped on it several times with Li Wenxuan watching.
Chief Steward Li gave a puzzled look.
What could this mean?
Li Wenxuan began to chant:
“In the golden tower’s courtyard, lonely blooms open without a master.
At dusk, sorrow grows alone, buffeted by wind and rain.
Unwilling to compete for spring, letting all jealous blooms be.
Fallen to mud, crushed to dust, yet the fragrance remains as before.”
When he reached the line “Fallen to mud, crushed to dust, yet the fragrance remains as before,” he deliberately stomped again on the plum blossom, now trampled and almost unrecognizable.
After hearing this lyric, the faces of all the scholars present turned grim.
They were not poor poets by nature—otherwise, they wouldn’t be dining at the Golden Tower on public funds.
But this poem clearly scolded them for their pretentiousness, their lack of genuine talent.
And this young man named Li Biao, a junior among them, expressed his proud, unyielding character and disdain for their company through these verses.
By the time everyone had recovered their wits, the young man was already walking away, hands behind his back...
Page 2/3
“A divine talent! Simply a divine talent! Your Majesty, this is truly a divine talent!”
Chief Steward Li was so excited he forgot where he was.
Fortunately, the twenty or so scholars gathered around the plum tree had already erupted in chaos, so no one heard Li’s exclamation.
In a corner of a nearby room, the fifty-something Director of the Literary Institute looked at his beard, torn in frustration.
He had been hiding there, curious to see what merit this little-known figure, favored by the Emperor, might have.
Unexpectedly, as he twirled his beard and listened to Li Wenxuan’s poetry, he became so moved that he tore out a handful of his own beard hair...
“Ouch—such pain proves this is no dream!”
Wiping the sweat from his brow, the Director quickly stepped out, but then suddenly stopped, cleared his throat, and maintained the dignified demeanor befitting his position.
He loudly proclaimed outside the door:
“Go inquire. If no one objects, this newcomer will be promoted beyond rank and assigned to the Ministry of Revenue!”
“Yes!” came the slightly hurried reply from a page outside.
Li Wenxuan approached the Martial Emperor with a slight smile.
“Looks like everyone here in the Literary Institute is very humble, all yielding to me!”
“Hah?” The Emperor chuckled, unable to conceal his excitement as he slapped Li Wenxuan on the shoulder without regard for protocol.
“You really know how to talk…”
“I finally understand why, when I first named you ‘Li Invincible,’ you said that invincibility is truly loneliness.”
The Martial Emperor took a deep breath.
“You are already invincible in poetry and prose. To create such fine works in so short a time!”
Li Wenxuan shook his head.
“That’s nothing…”
Indeed, to him, this was merely a small event to promote Chinese culture.
At most, he had just slightly altered the opening lines of Lu You’s poem, changing the place names. What was so difficult about that?
Moreover, Li Wenxuan was certain scenes like this would become more common.
“You…”
The Martial Emperor was a bit speechless. As emperor, he had seen countless show-offs.
But someone who shows off like you… be careful when you leave!
“I just don’t know if I can really be promoted beyond rank and appointed directly to the Ministry of Revenue,” Li Wenxuan said with a hint of worry on his face.
A smile crept across the Emperor’s lips as his eyes glanced sideways at Chief Steward Li.
The Chief Steward’s expression mirrored the Emperor’s enigmatic smile.
Such a position at the Ministry of Revenue? Forget it.
The Eastern Depot needs talents like you!
Just then, the page came forward and loudly asked if anyone else had poems to present. If none, the Director would announce Li Biao the victor, soon to serve in the Ministry of Revenue.
The scholars who had just been clamoring fell silent at those words.
Page 3/3
Many among them, as Mr. Jin had remarked, were waiting to see others’ poems first, then refine their own in secret, hoping to shock everyone with their polished works.
But this young man Li Biao who suddenly appeared like an interloper was actually the pillar of the academy.
His three poems and one lyric completely overwhelmed everyone.
Who else dared to speak up?
Who had the nerve to display their poor verses and embarrass themselves?
This reaction was exactly what the page had anticipated. He raised his hands and waved them several times.
“Since no one speaks, Mr. Li Biao is the winner!”
The page’s voice was filled with excitement.
Li Wenxuan listened, his heart swelling with joy.
A position at the Ministry of Revenue—secured just like that!
It felt somewhat unreal, like a dream.
“Many thanks for your recommendation, sirs!” Li Wenxuan turned and bowed deeply to the Martial Emperor.
“No trouble at all. It is my duty,” the Emperor smiled warmly at him.
As emperor, discovering talent for the empire was his responsibility!
Ha ha ha!
Especially when he had stumbled upon such a prodigy!
My heart is deeply comforted.
Li Wenxuan looked up and noticed that while Mr. Zhao’s smile seemed sincere, something felt off to him.
At that moment, the page stepped beside him, bowed respectfully, and smiled with admiration.
“Mr. Li, please come with me to see the Director.”
Li Wenxuan looked at the Martial Emperor.
“Mr. Zhao, please wait a moment. I’ll be right back!”
“Go ahead. This is truly joyous news!” the Emperor smiled.
Li Wenxuan nodded and looked at the page, who seemed close to his age.
“You’ll lead the way.”
The page was startled by Li Wenxuan’s friendly and kind manner, quickly bowing.
“Not at all, Mr. Li. Please follow me.”
Chief Steward Li watched Li Wenxuan’s upright figure walking away, clicking his tongue.
“My lord, are you really going to let him take a position at the Ministry of Revenue?”
This was no ordinary youth—half his foot was already in the Eastern Depot, both feet firmly planted in the Overseer’s heart!
The Martial Emperor raised an eyebrow at the Chief Steward’s anxious demeanor and said disdainfully,
“Look at you, so small-minded. Have you arranged the good show I want?”
Chief Steward Li relaxed instantly and whispered earnestly,
“Rest assured, my lord. It’s all taken care of!”