Starting in Exile: Transmigrated as the Crown Prince's Lucky Little Wife

Chapter 87 Gu Liuli accepts the challenge of composing poetry for a foreigner! Results of the foreig

"Insolence!" Xiao Han's tone was extremely serious. Prime Minister Li, thinking the Emperor was on his side, looked at Gu Liuli arrogantly: "Crown Princess, the Emperor is here and you cannot be so insolent!"

The Emperor had long been dissatisfied with Prime Minister Li, especially after learning that he wanted to marry his youngest daughter to the Crown Prince—it was utterly delusional! "Li Jian! You have overstepped your authority!"

The few simple words made the Prime Minister feel uneasy, so he could only glare fiercely at Gu Liuli.

Gu Liuli, however, seemed not to have heard anything, her expression calm and confident.

She bowed slightly to the crowd, then slowly began, "Since everyone has chosen snow as their theme, I shall also compose a poem." She paused briefly, her mind rapidly searching through the knowledge bestowed upon her by the system, and after a moment, her lips parted slightly:

"Snowy Charm of Heaven and Earth: Snow falls and heaven and earth are renewed, and the jade flowers dance to cleanse the dust. The plum blossoms reflect the snow and add a touch of elegance, while the green bamboos are covered in frost and keep their true nature. The sound of the ancient temple bell carries a distant meaning, and the shadow of a lone boat fishing in leisure. Mountains and rivers become paintings when they are painted, and the charm of spring fills the world."

Gu Liuli's voice was clear and melodious, and the verses echoed in the hall. Everyone was taken aback at first, then were awestruck by the exquisite verses. The poem not only depicted the beautiful scenery after the snow, but also incorporated imagery such as winter plum blossoms, green bamboo, ancient temples, and lone boats, showcasing an elegant sentiment that transcends the mundane world. It was profound in meaning and had a lingering charm.

The foreign envoy's face instantly turned extremely ugly. His previously upturned lips were now tightly pursed into a line, his eyes filled with disbelief and resentment. The officials who had been mocking Gu Liuli also fell silent, their faces filled with shock and shame.

"What a wonderful poem! What a wonderful poem!" Xiao Han was the first to recover, clapping his hands in praise, his eyes filled with admiration for Gu Liuli. A burst of enthusiastic applause followed, and everyone looked at Gu Liuli with eyes full of respect and amazement.

The foreign envoy's face was so dark it seemed to drip water. He couldn't swallow this insult. Suppressing his anger, he coldly snorted, "To decide the outcome with a single poem is far too hasty. I'll use 'moon' as the theme again, and see what else you can do!" Having said that, he pondered for a moment, then loudly recited:

"Thoughts on the Lonely Moon": The lonely moon hangs high in the cold autumn, its clear light stirring up homesickness. The soldier on the frontier longs for his loved ones, while the woman separated from her husband waits for the messenger from her boudoir.

After the envoy finished reading, he looked at Gu Liuli with a defiant gaze. He believed that the poem was a perfect blend of emotion and scenery, with exquisite word choice, and that it perfectly captured the homesickness of a person separated from their loved ones. Gu Liuli would never be able to surpass it.

Gu Liuli remained composed, a faint smile playing on her lips. She gently raised her head, her gaze fixed on the sky outside the hall, as if the bright moon hung high before her. After a brief silence, she began to recite:

"Looking at the Moon and Thinking of My Distant Home": The bright moon shines over the nine provinces, its clear light dispelling all sorrows. Though we are in different lands, we gaze upon the same place, our hearts connected as we sail together on the sea of ​​life. The traveler, though far away, is bound to the past, his heart forever yearning for his homeland. He sends a wisp of longing on the wind, wishing you peace and tranquility in the distant years.

Gu Liuli's voice was unhurried, yet it seemed to possess a magical power, drawing everyone into a world filled with warmth and longing. This poem was not only more metrically perfect, but also had a broader artistic conception, elevating from personal homesickness to the beautiful vision of all people appreciating the bright moon together and hearts connected, demonstrating a magnanimous and inclusive spirit.

A brief silence fell over the hall once more, everyone immersed in the poetic atmosphere created by Gu Liuli. Then, thunderous applause and cheers erupted. The officials of Nanzhao Kingdom beamed with pride, their eyes filled with admiration and respect as they looked at Gu Liuli.

The foreign envoy's face turned from pale to ashen, his lips trembled slightly, but he could no longer utter a word. He never expected that Gu Liuli could handle each of his challenges so easily, and that each poem was superior in skill.

Although the foreign envoy verbally conceded defeat, he was truly unwilling to accept it. He paused, turned around abruptly, a forced smile on his face, but his eyes revealed stubbornness: "Wait a minute, this is just a competition, it cannot fully showcase the literary talents of our two countries. I would like to have another exchange with the Nanzhao Kingdom on the theme of 'plum blossoms,' what do you think?" As he spoke, he scanned the people in the hall, his provocative gaze finally landing on Gu Liuli.

Having said that, the envoy straightened his back, cleared his throat, and began to recite aloud: "The Lonely Plum Blossom: The plum blossoms alone, defying the frost and wind, its slender shadow lonely and forlorn. Who can understand the meaning of its cold stamens and solitary fragrance? Its icy beauty and jade-like bones are hard to match." After the envoy finished reciting, he slightly raised his head, a hint of self-satisfaction flashing in his eyes, as if he was certain that this poem would turn the tide.

Gu Liuli remained calm and composed. She gently brushed her sleeves aside, her gaze radiating confidence and serenity. She closed her eyes slightly, and a flood of poems and allusions about plum blossoms came to mind. After a brief selection, she opened her eyes and recited: "The Eternal Charm of Plum Blossoms: Plum blossoms proudly defy the frost, their charm ever-present, a thousand branches vying to bloom, their spirit never ceasing. Ice-like skin and jade-like bones embody a pure dream, iron trunk and gnarled branches display strength and vigor. Snow reflects the jade-like blossoms, adding to their elegance, the wind carries their subtle fragrance throughout the land. Lofty sentiments and lofty aspirations are praised for a thousand autumns, uniquely claiming the first place in springtime glory."

Her voice was melodious and gentle, each word seemingly carrying the spirit and charm of plum blossoms, leading everyone into a world of silver-clad snow and blooming plum blossoms, showcasing the plum blossoms' tenacious, noble, and proud qualities, and expressing a praise for and inheritance of these fine qualities.

This time, the hall fell silent for a moment, then erupted in even more enthusiastic applause than before.

The officials of Nanzhao Kingdom stood up one after another, cheering excitedly, their eyes filled with amazement and admiration as they looked at Gu Liuli.

The foreign envoy's face turned deathly pale, his hands clenched involuntarily, and his body trembled slightly. He never imagined that no matter what topic he posed, Gu Liuli could always respond with an even more exquisite poem. At this moment, his entourage also lowered their heads, their faces filled with dejection.

The Grand Tutor and the others, who had initially looked down on Gu Liuli, now blushed and stole glances at her, filled with regret. Xiao Han, beaming, strode down from the dragon throne and approached Gu Liuli, patting her shoulder approvingly: "Gu Liuli, you truly are the pride of my Nanzhao Kingdom!"

Then he looked at his son and said, "Haha, Jingchuan, you two have really opened my eyes today!"

"Wait!" He raised his voice, which echoed throughout the hall. "A literary competition ending after only a few rounds is hardly convincing. I propose that we compose a seven-character quatrain on the theme of 'Spring Scenery,' and that will truly determine the winner." These words immediately caused an uproar in the hall.

A young military general stepped forward first, his face full of anger. He pointed at the envoy and cursed, "How can you be so shameless! You've lost time and time again, yet you still won't give up. You're clearly here to deliberately make things difficult for my Nanzhao Kingdom!"

Immediately afterward, an old minister, his beard bristling and eyes wide with anger, exclaimed, "Our Nanzhao Kingdom has treated you with courtesy, yet you are so greedy! Do you really think we are easy to bully?!"

The officials spoke one after another, their insults and accusations rising and falling. The foreign envoy's face turned pale and then red. He gritted his teeth and forced himself to say, "I only wanted to truly appreciate the literary style of the Nanzhao Kingdom. Is your reaction because you are afraid?"

Just as everyone was arguing heatedly, Gu Liuli gently raised her hand, signaling everyone to be quiet. She moved gracefully to the center of the hall, her expression calm yet exuding an unassailable majesty: "My lords, please calm down. Since the envoy is in such a good mood, why not have another match?"

Having said that, she tilted her head slightly, her mind quickly searching through the system. After a moment, she softly recited: "Springtime Splendor: Spring arrives with fresh grass and trees, a tapestry of flowers intoxicates the traveler. Swallows chirp among the green willows, adding to the joy, the wind caresses the clear waves, filling the eyes with spring." The poem is concise and lively, yet it vividly depicts the vibrant life and beautiful scenery of spring.

The hall fell silent once more, everyone immersed in the springtime atmosphere created by Gu Liuli.

Then, thunderous applause and cheers erupted.

The foreign envoy stood there dumbfounded, opening his mouth but unable to utter a single word.