readytorunbook Chapter 145 Winning the Heart of the Beauty
Chapter 145 Winning the Heart of the Beauty
Wei Wuji stood in the center of the hall and announced in a clear voice: "My lords, is there anyone else who would like to compose a poem? If no one responds, then the princess will belong to His Majesty."
Upon hearing this, the hall fell silent. Some people lowered their heads in thought, while others secretly observed each other. None of them were willing to easily compete with Liu Kun for a woman, even though the princess was the most beautiful woman in the Song Dynasty.
Just as the atmosphere became delicate, Xiao Jinyan slowly stood up, his robes swaying gently with his movements, exuding a handsome and unrestrained air.
"Your Majesty, I would like to compose a poem to express my feelings."
Liu Kun's face instantly darkened, and he was secretly furious: Xiao Jinyan, you ignorant fool, all you do is ruin my plans! I'm determined to have this princess, but you just have to interfere.
However, as an emperor, he could not lose his composure. He forced a smile and said, "Haha, it seems that Minister Xiao is also drooling over the princess. Since you have such an interest, then come on, let me and all the ministers hear your masterpiece."
Xiao Jinyan chuckled inwardly: Liu Kun, you and I, a transmigrator, are trying to compose poetry? Isn't that like throwing an egg against a rock?
His gaze swept over the palace maids dancing gracefully on the dance floor, their movements exquisite, and inspiration struck him.
Xiao Jinyan's verses flowed out like a spring: "Clouds remind me of her clothes, flowers of her face; the spring breeze caresses the balustrade, the dew is heavy. If not seen on the Jade Mountain, she will be met under the moon on the Jade Terrace."
Every word and phrase contained his boundless yearning for and praise of beauty, as if the graceful dance steps and beautiful faces of the palace maids, as well as the magnificent splendor of the entire palace, were all woven into these short four lines of poetry. Inside the hall, everyone was stunned by this sudden poetic inspiration, and even their breathing became soft.
The surrounding area immediately erupted in chaos...
"What a poem! What a poem!"
"The imagery, the choice of words—it's wonderful! Absolutely wonderful!"
"This poem is indeed much better than His Majesty's just now."
"Keep your voice down! If His Majesty hears you, you're asking for trouble!"
Liu Kun's expression was even more complicated and hard to read. He never expected that Xiao Jinyan would have such talent. This poem not only depicted the beautiful scenery in front of him, but also aroused everyone's infinite imagination of beautiful things.
In Liu Kun's heart, he felt both fear and resentment towards Xiao Jinyan, especially when Xiao Jinyan shocked everyone with a brilliant poem. His resentment and jealousy spread like wildfire and were hard to suppress.
However, what truly made Liu Kun insist on not backing down was his infatuation and possessiveness towards that princess—in his eyes, he was the supreme emperor, and all the land under heaven belonged to the king; all the people on the shores of the land were the king's subjects, so who dared to compete with him for the one he loved?
Moreover, sitting on the judging panel today is Wei Wuji, who is the arbitrator of this poetry and prose competition.
Liu Kun's lips curled into a meaningful smile as he looked directly at Wei Wuji: "Duke of Qin, in your opinion, which poem, mine or Xiao Jinyan's, is superior?"
After speaking, he subtly gave Wei Wuji a meaningful look, his mind already meticulously calculating every detail.
Recalling the incident not long ago, Xiao Jinyan, due to a misunderstanding, accidentally severely injured Wei Wuji's beloved son, Wei Kui, causing the boy's intellectual impairment and turning him into an "idiot" in everyone's eyes. How could Wei Wuji easily forget this debt?
Liu Kunming chuckled inwardly. He knew that under such entanglements of grudges and grievances, no matter how extraordinary Xiao Jinyan's poems were, Wei Wuji would never easily speak up for him.
Liu Kun was secretly pleased with himself, as if he could already foresee the victory that was about to be announced, and the wonderful scene of spending a romantic night with the princess that would follow.
He imagined the look of astonishment and resentment that would appear on Xiao Jinyan's usually composed face when Wei Wuji, because he was the emperor and because of his hatred for Xiao Jinyan, was forced to declare himself the winner of the contest. This pleasure far surpassed any treasure, and he almost couldn't help but laugh out loud.
However, behind this seemingly settled contest, undercurrents were quietly surging. Wei Wuji's eyes were complex and unreadable; what he was weighing in his mind was not only personal grudges, but also the ever-changing political landscape of the court, and his respect for true talent.
After a long pause, Wei Wuji finally spoke slowly: "Your Majesty, I dare to say that Xiao Jinyan's poem is indeed extraordinary and surpasses Your Majesty's poem."
Upon hearing this, Liu Kun's eyes flashed with astonishment. He could hardly believe his ears, and his voice involuntarily rose a few decibels: "What? Duke of Qin, you...you actually make such a comment?"
Xiao Jinyan smiled faintly, took a step forward slowly, and said in a clear and firm voice: "Your Majesty, since a decision has been made, this princess shall belong to me."
After speaking, he swayed and darted forward with a swift and elegant movement, like a cheetah hunting its prey.
Before anyone could react, Xiao Jinyan had already swept Liu Lianyue, who was standing to the side, up in the most romantic yet daring princess carry.
A hint of shyness and surprise flashed across Liu Lianyue's face, but she was also touched by this sudden tenderness, and her hands unconsciously wrapped around Xiao Jinyan's neck. And so, amidst the astonished gazes of many, the two strode towards the palace.
Inside the main hall, chaos erupted instantly, with discussions and exclamations rising and falling.
Liu Kun, on the other hand, had a livid face and his chest heaved violently, clearly enraged by the scene. He suppressed his anger and walked slowly to Wei Wuji's side, his voice low and suppressed: "Duke of Qin, come out with me."
Wei Wuji nodded slightly, glancing with a complex expression in the direction Xiao Jinyan had left, before following Liu Kun out of the main hall. Outside, the night was as dark as ink, the moonlight thin, casting long, lonely shadows of the two figures.
"Duke of Qin," Liu Kun finally couldn't hold back any longer, his tone tinged with reproach and confusion, "why are you speaking up for Xiao Jinyan today? Haven't you always had a grudge against him? What is the reason for this?"
Wei Wuji slowly said, "Your Majesty, in what way did I speak up for Xiao Jinyan?"
Liu Kun said angrily, "Duke of Qin, you just said that Xiao Jinyan's poem was good, and that the beautiful Princess Yiyang was played with by Xiao Jinyan for nothing. Were you speaking up for Xiao Jinyan? Have you already resolved your grudges?"
Wei Wuji sighed softly. In the moonlight, his face appeared exceptionally gentle yet even more profound: "Your Majesty, my actions are not intended to favor Xiao Jinyan. However, I have deeper considerations, concerning the overall situation and the future of our Great Song Dynasty. As for the grudges with Xiao Jinyan, I will find a suitable opportunity to settle things with him."
After speaking, he looked up into the distance, his eyes gleaming with an unfathomable light.
Liu Kun frowned, his voice tinged with resentment and confusion, and said, "How did this suddenly become a matter of national importance?"
Wei Wuji's eyes were deep as he slowly spoke, his tone carrying an undeniable seriousness: "Your Majesty, please think carefully. Princess Yiyang is your cousin! If you were to have physical intimacy with her, how would the court, the people, and even the entire nation view you? Wouldn't you be branded as a debauched and immoral ruler?"
Liu Kun pondered to himself, a playful smile playing on his lips. He thought: "Those matters concerning my sisters and aunts, haven't they all passed peacefully? What trouble could a mere cousin possibly cause?"
So, he raised the corners of his mouth slightly and retorted, "If I truly admire the princess, should I force myself to give her up just because of these worldly opinions? Would that just let Xiao Jinyan get the better deal?"
Wei Wuji gently shook his head, his eyes, which had seen many vicissitudes of life, filled with worry: "Your Majesty, if this matter gets out, public opinion will certainly be unfavorable. Rumors among the people are enough to shake the foundation of the country, and will undoubtedly be a great hidden danger to your country. Although I know Your Majesty's intentions, the overall situation is more important, so I have to speak out."
Upon hearing this, Liu Kun's face darkened, and he laughed in anger, his voice tinged with helplessness and self-mockery: "You always have your reasons and rules, which bind people's hearts. So, does that mean I'm just going to let a stunningly beautiful woman go? Wouldn't that be enough to drive me crazy?"
Wei Wuji's voice was deep and strategic as he slowly uttered words that could overturn the world: "Your Majesty, have you considered this carefully? Liu Yixuan is like a tiger lying in wait, entrenched in Yizhou, with 100,000 elite troops under his command, ready to make a move. If you rashly lay your hands on his precious daughter, it will not only be a case of a beautiful woman bringing disaster, but also a fuse that will force him to rise up in rebellion."
Liu Kun's lips curled into a playful smile, his eyes flashing with unruliness and arrogance: "Hmph, Liu Yixuan? He dares! I am the supreme ruler, all land under heaven belongs to the king, and all people within the realm are his subjects. Even if he slept with his precious daughter, so what? If he dares to rebel, I have no shortage of loyal ministers and righteous men under my throne to nip this flame of rebellion in the bud."
Upon hearing this, Wei Wuji shook his head slightly, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes: "Your Majesty is wise, but the world is unpredictable and people's hearts are hard to fathom. I have a plan that can not only relieve Your Majesty of worries about the future, but also cleverly utilize this situation to achieve two goals at once. If Xiao Jinyan inadvertently defiles Princess Yiyang, the situation will be very different. Liu Yixuan's anger and hatred will surely be unleashed on Xiao Jinyan in an instant."
Upon hearing this, Liu Kun frowned slightly, then relaxed, a hint of interest flashing in his eyes: "Oh? This plan is quite interesting. Continue."
Seeing that Liu Kun was intrigued, Wei Wuji continued, "Your Majesty, consider this: Xiao Jinyan's father, Xiao Cheng, commands 300,000 troops in the north, his iron cavalry as numerous as clouds, his might shaking the four directions. Liu Yixuan, on the other hand, has 100,000 elite soldiers. Once Liu Yixuan turns his hatred towards Xiao Jinyan, the two families will inevitably clash due to their personal grudges, mutually restraining each other and forming a delicate balance. In this way, Your Majesty can rest easy and watch the changing winds of fate."
At this point, Wei Wuji's tone became even more impassioned: "At that time, Your Majesty will not only be able to consolidate your throne, but also secretly cultivate your power. When the time is right, neither Liu Yixuan nor the Xiao family will be more than two stepping stones on Your Majesty's path to achieving lasting glory."
Upon hearing this, Liu Kun smiled with satisfaction: "Duke of Qin, you are indeed my trusted advisor. It's just a pity that the beautiful Princess Yiyang was ruined by Xiao Jinyan."