When Liu Shi Shi heard Lin Xuan Qi's reply, she grinned and stood up.
"Young master, reciting poems alone is such a lonely endeavor.
"My friend here is also well versed in poems.
"Why don't you and he have a challenge?"
Liu Shi Shi said to the plump young master.
That got the attention of everyone.
The patrons in the building were always excited for some fun.
They joined in and goaded the plump young master.
"Fine. I shall have a challenge with him," the plump young master said and introduced himself. "I'm Sima Long from the Sima Family. It's an honor to meet you."
"I'm Lin Xuan Qi from the Lin Family. Pleased to meet you too."
Lin Xuan Qi stood up, bowed at Sima Long, and took a glance at Liu Shi Shi.
She had a cup of wine in her hand, and she gave a toast to Lin Xuan Qi.
This Liu Shi Shi was so different from Xue Cong, Yue Jie, and Yue Xin, he thought.
Hopefully she was as good as Lee He Song had mentioned.
Lin Xuan Qi had thoughts about returning the favor to Liu Shi Shi in the future as he walked up the stage.
The patrons with their ladies stopped what they were doing and glanced over at the stage. As young masters, being interested and well versed in poems was seen as a gentlemanly and cultured pursuit.
None would want to miss out on such an event.
"What theme shall the poems be set to?" Sima Long asked, and he took another mouthful of wine from his wine bottle.
"I think it's best for you to decide," Lin Xuan Qi said.
He had most of the famous poems of the greats in his mind, and he wasn't afraid of any themes.
It was a refreshing feeling for him since he came to the Da Qian Dynasty.
Compared to unfamiliar things like Martial Arts, Immortals, and running a clan, this was something that he felt confident with for once.
"Since this is a joyous occasion, let's..."
Before Sima Long could finish, some of the patrons shouted out their suggestions.
"Joyous occasion? Then, it's best for something sorrowful."
"Yeah, it'll be more of a test on your skills."
"Imagine the commotion if you could come up with something that's filled with sorrow under this environment."
Sima Long frowned a little.
These young masters were all friendly on the surface, but when the opportunity arose, they couldn't wait to see you be in disgrace.
He glanced over at Lin Xuan Qi and saw him being nonchalant about it.
It was then that Sima Long knew it was best for him to go with the other young masters' suggestion.
They would surely ridicule him for not taking it on when his opponent seemed confident to deal with the theme.
"Fine. Let the theme be a poem about sorrow," Sima Long said.
He came over to Lin Xuan Qi and said, "Since I'm the one that started it, let me go first."
Lin Xuan Qi nodded and had a different view of Sima Long.
He thought that Sima Long was the typical arrogant young master, but he was pleasantly surprised.
Sima Long had decided to go first so that Lin Xuan Qi himself had more time to come up with a poem, not wanting him to do too badly.
He appreciated Sima Long's concern, but it was unwarranted.
Lin Xuan Qi had the advantage of being a transmigrator.
And he had to win so that his mansion would have more people for him to get the reward.
He focused and glanced at Sima Long next.
Pacing around the stage, Sima Long was trying very hard to come up with a poem.
The gazes from the patrons made him nervous, and his mind had difficulties coming up with words.
As time went by, the patrons began to be impatient.
"Are you able to do it?"
"It's fine if you can't come up with something."
"Yeah, we can understand."
Sima Long wasn't so dumb as to believe them.
Word would spread immediately in the circles of the young masters in Hong Feng City.
His grandfather, Sima Liang, wouldn't be too pleased about it.
Finally, he stopped pacing and finished all the wine that was left in the wine bottle.
Ahem. Sima Long cleared his throat.
He began to recite his poem slowly.
"Spring flowers bloom, so bright, so red,
"I sip my wine, it clouds my head.
"Last night I saw the moon on high,
"It made me sad, I don't know why.
"The palace walls still stand with grace,
"The maids wear silk with painted face.
"How deep my sorrow? None can say,
"It's like the tea I drink each day."
The patrons didn't have much reaction to it.
It was something that they could have come up with. And some of them could even do better than this.
Their focus turned to Lin Xuan Qi.
"To be fair, young master Sima Long used up an incense time to come up with his poem.
"I think you shouldn't take any longer than him."
One of the patrons said, and the others nodded and agreed.
Lin Xuan Qi nodded and pretended to go into deep thought.
He took a few steps and stopped.
The patrons looked on and wondered if he had given up so soon.
Some got ready to ridicule Lin Xuan Qi.
Lin Xuan Qi had used the time to decide which poem he should go for.
He finally decided to use one of the famous poems by Li Yu.
Li Yu was the last emperor of South Tang.
He was reluctant to be an emperor and was helpless against the Northern Song Army.
His life was full of sorrows, from his artistic talents as an emperor to his country being conquered by the Song Army.
Lin Xuan Qi knew that his poem was the perfect one for the occasion.
He copied Sima Long and cleared his throat.
Then, he began to recite Li Yu's poem.
"When will the flowers and moonlight fade?
"How long the memories time has made?
"The eastern wind swept through last night,
"Yet moonlit thoughts of home bring pain to sight.
"The carved railings, jade steps still stand,
"But youth has vanished from this land.
"How deep the sorrow hearts must know?
"As endless rivers eastward flow."
The patrons in the building went silent.