Chapter 53 Peach Blossom Forest and Peach Blossom Poems

April brought peach blossoms in full bloom.

Within the peach orchard, alongside the young women from West Lake Academy, there were other tourists as well.

A gentle breeze swept past, scattering flower petals like rain.

Dressed in vibrant, beautiful gowns, the young maidens possessed bright eyes, white teeth, and radiant smiles. Their blooming beauty vied for splendor, outshining even the peach blossoms in the grove.

"I didn't expect them to arrive first..."

The academy students, having just stepped down from their carriages, felt their hearts flutter with joy and delight at the breathtaking scenery before them.

Huang Beicheng hurriedly led the students forward to greet them.

"Lady Liu..."

"Master Zhang..."

"Lady Yan..."

"Master Lin..."

The young men and women exchanged courteous greetings.

The men cupped their hands in a bow, while the women curtsied slightly, each of them well-mannered and poised.

After the greetings, they set off to admire the flowers together.

Walking as a merged group, chatting and laughing, they ventured deeper into the peach orchard.

The youthful, delicate faces of the maidens, highlighted by the sunlight and the peach blossoms, appeared all the more charming and lovely.

The young men wore beaming smiles, casting frequent sideways glances and eagerly striking up conversations.

The maidens maintained gentle smiles, reserved yet polite.

Even someone like Wang Dafu shed much of his usual rough language, his gaze continually stealing glances toward the female students.

"There are only a dozen or so of them. There aren't enough to go around for all of us," Wang Dafu muttered in a low voice.

Su Bie remarked purposely from the side, "Who knows? Perhaps all dozen of these maidens are secretly in love with you."

Wang Dafu chuckled heartily. "Not that many. At most, seven or eight of them."

Ignoring him, Su Bie walked over to Luo Zijun and lowered his voice. "Zijun, that Sun Yan'er has come too. She's been stealing glances at you the whole time."

Luo Zijun raised his head and looked over.

As it happened, Sun Yan'er was talking with Huang Zhaodi beside her while turning her head to shoot a glance in their direction.

Their eyes met.

Sun Yan'er froze for a moment, then immediately averted her gaze.

Her fair cheeks quickly flushed with a double tint of pink, as charming and vibrant as the peach blossoms overhead.

"Tsk, tsk, brother, why do I feel like Sun Yan'er is starting to take an interest in you?"

Su Bie had also witnessed the exchange just moments ago.

Luo Zijun withdrew his gaze and replied, "Could she have been stealing glances at you instead?"

Su Bie rolled his eyes in exasperation. "Don't pull that on me. Do you take me for a fool like Dafu?"

"Who? Who is a fool?"

Wang Dafu immediately spun around, glaring fiercely.

"You two treacherous scoundrels, talking behind your brother's back? The next time we go to a brothel, you're paying!"

Su Bie ignored him.

Luo Zijun said, "Brother Wang, look quickly, a young lady over there is stealing glances at you."

At these words, Wang Dafu's head whipped around in a flash!

"Who? Who is stealing glances at your brother?"

"The one called Huang Zhaodi. She has wheat-colored skin. Look, she's still watching."

Luo Zijun was not actually lying.

At that moment, Huang Zhaodi's gaze was indeed fixed in their direction, her face wreathed in smiles.

Luo Zijun quieted his breathing and focused his hearing, unexpectedly catching her whispered words.

"Look at Wang Dafu, all bruised and battered. His face was already as round as a pig's head, and now it looks even more like one. Hahahaha..."

Meanwhile, Wang Dafu was overjoyed.

"She really is looking at me! Brother Luo, your brother finally understands! The one secretly pining for your brother is most likely that little lass Huang Zhaodi! Hehe, though the girl is young and her skin isn't very fair, she truly is quite pretty. She even has two little canine teeth when she smiles. How adorable."

Su Bie could not help interjecting, "Could she simply be laughing at you for getting beaten up?"

Wang Dafu instantly grew displeased. "Nonsense! Brother Su, you're merely jealous of your brother's charm! I'm ignoring you!"

With that, he hurriedly flashed a wide, silly grin back at Huang Zhaodi.

That smile immediately threw Huang Zhaodi into a fit of laughter, rocking back and forth with her shoulders shaking.

Wang Dafu grew even more excited and smug.

This lass was indeed secretly infatuated with him!

He immediately began winking and casting seductive glances her way.

"Hahahahaha... Look at that idiot Wang Dafu, acting like a pig in heat! Hahahahaha..."

Huang Zhaodi was laughing so hard she almost fell over.

Thick-skinned though Luo Zijun was, he felt a twinge of embarrassment for Brother Dafu and quickly intervened. "Alright, Brother Wang, maintain some dignity. If you hand out sweets too early, she won't cherish them. Things obtained too easily soon grow stale."

Hearing this, Wang Dafu's smile vanished instantly. He adopted a profound expression, lowering his voice. "Brother Luo is right. Your brother got a bit too carried away just now. Can't give the lass sweets too early; slow and steady wins the race. Your brother shall seduce her little by little."

At this point, the group had reached the very center of the peach orchard.

A pavilion stood nestled here.

Outside the pavilion erectly stood a stone tablet inscribed with a poem about peach blossoms.

It had been left behind by the exceptionally talented Master Li Hanlin when he visited in years past.

It had long since become a mandatory check-in spot for literati visiting the area.

Seeing that everyone was merely chatting and laughing, which seemed a bit dull, Huang Beicheng proposed using poetry to liven up the atmosphere.

"Taking peach blossoms as our theme, whether poetry or prose, everyone is free to perform as they wish. Whoever composes the best piece will be exempt from the expenses of this outing."

Upon hearing this, Luo Zijun paused in surprise. "Do we have to pay for this outing?"

Wang Dafu said, "Naturally. Did you think it was a free ride? Though your share can be waived since you're new to the academy; you weren't even here when registration took place."

At that moment, Mei Yanqing, who led the group of women, also smiled as she offered an additional reward.

"Whoever writes the best piece may also come over and choose a maiden to accompany them. If the maiden agrees, the two of them may spend the outing together."

These words instantly ignited the enthusiasm of the young men.

"Of course, those who disagree may directly refuse."

Fearing that some girls might be displeased, Mei Yanqing quickly added another sentence.

The dozen or so maidens blushed slightly upon hearing this, but none raised objections.

After all, it was merely an activity.

Moreover, such events had been held in the past; they were all fellow academy students simply enjoying an outing together, and no one would mock them.

Naturally, if it happened to bring a couple together, that would be for the best.

"One stick of incense's time."

Seeing everyone's spirits aroused, Huang Beicheng smiled at Mei Yanqing.

Mei Yanqing nodded back at him.

At that moment, a tall, slender woman spoke up. "Sister Yanqing, what if we women win?"

Huang Beicheng laughed. "Naturally, you may also choose a young man to accompany you. We are all fellow students out to have a lively time, so there's no need to be shy, and no one will laugh at you."

The woman immediately smiled. "If this little sister wins, I shall choose Captain Huang."

Huang Beicheng laughed heartily. "Very well. You may choose anyone. If the women are doing the choosing, we men certainly dare not refuse."

With this playful banter, the maidens who had initially been shy cast aside their reservations.

"Very well, let us begin now," Huang Beicheng announced.

Hearing this, everyone immediately fell into deep thought.

Some stared intently at the poem carved on the stone tablet, while others gazed up at the peach blossoms overhead.

Wang Dafu said excitedly, "Brother Luo, do you think if that lass Huang Zhaodi wins, she might throw modesty to the wind and pick your brother directly? Should your brother play hard to get for a moment, or accept immediately?"

Luo Zijun casually replied, "Accept, of course."

Wang Dafu chuckled. "Your brother thinks so too. Before so many people, your brother wouldn't have the heart to refuse her."

Nearby, Zhang Yitian was staring at the poem on the tablet, mumbling under his breath.

Su Bie was also frowning in deep thought.

Seeing this, Wang Dafu hurriedly began racking his brains as well. After pondering for a moment, he suddenly lowered his voice. "Brother Luo, among the girls over there, Sun Yan'er is by far the prettiest. If your brother performs well later, may I choose her?"

Luo Zijun replied, "Brother Wang may choose whoever he pleases—even an elderly grandmother over there if you wish. Why ask me?"

Wang Dafu patted his shoulder and said, "Brother was just worried you might still harbor resentment. Though that Sun Yan'er is snobbish and looked down on you, her looks are passable. Look at that slender waist, that tender skin... Brother has decided, I'll pick her when the time comes and help you exact your revenge!"

Luo Zijun was speechless. "My matters with her are long in the past. What revenge could there be?"

"Doesn't Brother Luo hold even a shred of grievance in his heart?"

"None."

"Tsk, tsk, Brother Luo is truly magnanimous!"

Wang Dafu gave a thumbs-up. "I admire you! Truly admire you!"

At that moment, someone began reciting a poem aloud.

Wang Dafu's expression shifted drastically. Daring not to chat idly anymore, he quickly returned to racking his brains.

As poem after poem was recited, everyone broke into applause and cheers.

Huang Beicheng and Mei Yanqing recorded them one by one, then had everyone raise their hands to vote.

Just as Luo Zijun was thinking of Xu Xian, Su Bie suddenly asked in a low voice, "Zijun, have you composed anything?"

"No."

Luo Zijun shrugged. "No inspiration at the moment."

Su Bie smiled meaningfully. "It's not that you lack inspiration; you simply lack interest. If I were you, I couldn't be bothered either. As for those girls over there, even the prettiest one, Sun Yan'er, can't compare to your—cough, cough—"

He glanced at big-mouthed Wang Dafu. Seeing that Wang Dafu was engrossed in composing poetry and paying them no mind, Su Bie lowered his voice further. "None of them compare to that little senior sister at your shop. In front of her, the ones over there are mere weeds, so naturally you wouldn't fancy them."

"Brother Su jests. Actually, I feel there are still quite a few rather attractive maidens on the other side."

"Such as?"

"Do you see that flower-patterned-gown maiden picking peach blossoms over there?"

Su Bie hurriedly looked over, his face full of puzzlement. "No? Where? Isn't there only an elderly woman over there?"

"That's the one."

"..."

Before Su Bie could reply, a synchronized wave of applause and cheers erupted from the crowd on both sides.

"This ci-poem is brilliantly composed! Subtle, exquisite, and profoundly resonant..."

"Truly marvelous! Especially the concluding lines: 'In this mortal world as transient as a traveler's lodging, a single peach blossom. Year after year, it envies in vain; in whose loneliness shall it fall?' Truly leaving one with endless aftertastes and evoking a sudden touch of melancholy..."

"I actually find the preceding lines even more wondrous: 'Its pink adornment once fluttered, reflecting the edge of the sky. Drifted away with the waters time and again, yet still a beauty in a dream'..."

"Lady Sun, I am impressed! Highly impressed!"

Luo Zijun and Su Bie raised their heads to look.

Mei Yanqing said with a smile, "It seems everyone loves Yan'er's little ci-poem. Now then, let us cast our votes for Yan'er!"

As soon as she finished speaking, the majority of the men and women raised their hands.

"Master Wang Dafu, do you think our Yan'er's composition is no good? Tell us what is lacking!"

Huang Zhaodi suddenly pointed the spearhead at Wang Dafu.

Wang Dafu hadn't failed to raise his hand out of dissent, but rather because he was still struggling with his own poetry. Hearing this, he raised his head, and seeing everyone looking at him, he hurriedly raised his hand and proclaimed, "Splendid poem! Splendid poem! Truly breathtaking and beyond compare!"

"Pfft..."

Everyone burst into laughter.

Huang Zhaodi rolled her eyes. "Yan'er composed a ci-poem, not a shi-poem! Hmph!"

Seeing her angry expression was especially adorable, Wang Dafu hurriedly apologized with a flattering smile. "Your brother was busy conceiving his own verse just now and didn't hear clearly. My apologies, my apologies!"

Huang Zhaodi ignored him further, shifting her gaze to Su Bie and Luo Zijun standing behind him.

Just as she was about to speak, Luo Zijun hurriedly raised his hand and praised, "Splendid ci-poem! Splendid ci-poem! Truly exquisite and beyond compare!"

Wang Dafu: "..."

Sun Yan'er: "..."

Su Bie was stunned for a moment, then hurriedly raised his hand as well. "Indeed a splendid ci-poem! I was just savoring it carefully. I too vote for Lady Sun!"

By this point, everyone had raised their hands.

Sun Yan'er's ci-poem passed with a unanimous vote.

It seemed that barring any accidents, she would take first place today.