In the Turtle and Crane Garden of the Pan residence, the Zhi Shui Poetry Gathering had reached its climax.
As the music began, slips of paper were passed around among the guests, and the delicate voices of the songstresses sang tonight's excellent poems. The atmosphere here was somewhat more serious than that of the Puyuan Poetry Gathering, as many distinguished figures were present, yet the variety of performances still created a lively yet elegant ambiance.
The Turtle and Crane Garden was a beautifully laid-out, tranquil garden featuring various rock formations, water paths, and pavilions. Lanterns adorned with riddles were placed throughout the garden, where guests set up tables for a banquet. The women gathered on one side, the scholars on another, while the hosts and several esteemed elders occupied yet another side. Although there was no dedicated stage, the occasional appearances of singers and dancers among the garden pathways were quite natural and impressive. Many of those who attended this poetry gathering were renowned individuals, clearly having put significant effort into their presence.
Naturally, the poetry gathering also included elements like lantern riddles, performances, and moon-gazing, along with remarks from various learned individuals. For instance, Pan Guangyan, as the host, and even the magistrate of Jiangning had visited earlier, proclaiming phrases like, "You all are the pillars of the state," which underscored the significance of the Zhi Shui Poetry Gathering. Of course, due to the lively festivities, the magistrate was required to remain at the government office to prevent any disturbances in the city, so he could not stay long and left in a hurry.
If a talented poet had a remarkable piece, they would often rise to share it for evaluation. Periodically, guests would bring forth several well-crafted poems, which circulated among the audience for review. If a poem was truly good or inspired other thoughts, someone would stand to recite it, prompting discussion among everyone, with Pan Guangyan and others offering their critiques.
Master Qin sat on one side of the banquet, beside him was the still elegantly dressed Kang Xian, known for his witty exchanges with Ning Yi. His courtesy name was Ming Yun, which led many to refer to him as Mr. Ming. His background was complex; he was not lacking in wealth, and even in terms of literary and Confucian cultivation, he was well-respected enough to be called Mr. Ming by those present. Among the dozens of talented scholars, there were two or three who had received his teachings and called him "master." However, Kang was known for his strictness, and many felt intimidated by him. Despite this, he did not criticize anyone tonight, as he was quite satisfied with the quality of the poetry presented.
At this moment, he was quietly sharing laughter with Master Qin. Typically, by this time, the truly outstanding poems would have already emerged, and the two were discussing these works.
"...On the autumn equinox, the night lingers; the yin essence glimmers most brilliantly. How wonderful it is to emerge from the vast sea, watching the endless void gradually unfold. The layers of the sky seem to wash away their colors, while countless wonders contemplate their forms. This night is unlike any other, the morning rooster cannot be heard... Master Qin, Li Pin's poem for the Mid-Autumn Festival at the Lichuan Poetry Gathering is indeed brilliant. Though there is no first among poems, I fear this piece will shine the most tonight."
"With yin spirits and ghosts, it can be seen as an unconventional approach, yet it gives a grand feeling, stirring the mind without any trace of the eerie. This poem carries the charm of the Tang dynasty. Li Pin, Li Dexin, has truly entered the ranks of the greats. However, Mr. Ming, you have always held yourself to high standards. There were indeed a few good poems at Zhi Shui tonight, such as this one from earlier."
Master Qin picked up one poem and read: "The azure sky like water, with shimmering silver ripples, golden waves clear and bright. One might suspect that Chang'e hangs her treasured mirror, high above the palaces of the Cold Moon. The autumn leaves sing, curtains like paintings, the fragrant wind of osmanthus wafts. Year after year, this night at Yulou is exquisitely clear... You mustn't be biased, right?"
"Haha, we are not judges; we merely appreciate as we wish, how could there be bias? Hmm, this verse is indeed quite good…"
"In my opinion, the best two pieces of the night are among these."
Master Qin had always been low-key, making few public comments tonight, only speaking of these matters in casual conversation with friends. In fact, at this moment, the renowned poets from the Zhi Shui Poetry Gathering, Cao Guan and Cao Zongchen, and from the Lichuan Poetry Gathering, Li Pin and Li Dexin, were indeed among the most celebrated poets in Jiangning. The crowd below was also comparing their works, as although there is no first in poetry, there is always a contest for verbal prestige.
As the guests discussed the poetry, Pan Guangyan was laughing and chatting with Cao Guan. Soon after, someone brought in a new poem, which was divided into three copies for everyone to read.
At this point, truly exceptional poems that could stand out had mostly already been shared, but there were still some good ones. The guests laughed and commented as they passed around a page. When a page reached Master Qin and Master Kang, Qin picked it up and smiled.
"Hmm? What is it?" Kang Xian asked.
"Ha ha, I didn't expect that the Puyuan side could still produce a decent piece at this time. Just take a look," Qin replied.
"Oh? The Puyuan." Kang Xian also smiled, glanced at the poem, then looked at the name below: "Xue Jin." He shook his head and set it down. "It's adequate, but nothing particularly novel."
At that moment, someone in the crowd shouted, "Everyone, I didn't expect Lichuan to have a good piece right now. In my humble opinion, this one is indeed quite good."
A friend of his laughed and said, "Then read it out loud!" The man nodded and, after a moment, began to recite the poem: "This poem uses the tune of 'Shui Diao Ge Tou.' Everyone, listen: The autumn sky is as clear as water, the moon's reflection is unstable. In the solitude, I raise music, laughing as dust dissipates…"
Just as he reached this point, he suddenly seemed to sense something and turned to look at the platform where Pan Guangyan and the esteemed elders were sitting. An elderly gentleman had already stood up, holding a slip of paper, and hurriedly approached Pan Guangyan, fingers dancing over the page as he appeared to recite something. This elder had some acquaintance with Master Qin and Master Kang, and upon seeing him stand, Pan Guangyan also approached. The elder laid down the paper and, not raising his voice too much, said to those nearby, "Everyone, take a look at this poem."
This was also 'Shui Diao Ge Tou.' Noticing that the people on stage had turned their attention elsewhere, the man reading the poem hesitated, but Pan Guangyan reacted, smiling and gesturing for him to continue, yet he didn't look at the paper. When the man finished reciting, Pan Guangyan savored the poem for a moment, smiled, and offered a few comments before finally picking up the slip of paper. After a moment of low muttering, he frowned, and the audience, including the women, turned to look at him.
"Old Crane, if you have any good poems, just read them quickly. It's rather unkind to keep us in suspense."
Pan Guangyan, known for his good temperament, smiled as Cao Guan said this, and soon everyone else joined in laughter, lightening the atmosphere. Pan Guangyan chuckled in response, "Well, this is also 'Shui Diao Ge Tou.' Let me read it for everyone: When will the bright moon appear? I raise my cup to ask the azure sky. I don't know the heavenly palaces above, what year is it tonight… I wish to ride the wind back, yet I fear the cold high above the jade towers. Dancing to cast a clear shadow, how is it like in the mortal realm?"
As the lines of 'Shui Diao Ge Tou' echoed in the courtyard, even before he finished the first half, all conversation among the gathered guests had ceased. Pan Guangyan, a distinguished scholar in the literary world, recited the poem with great care, not quickly, but aligned with the poem's meaning, flowing seamlessly.
The assembled guests, all well-versed in literature, recognized the ethereal, grand, and distant ambiance of the poem. The initial question seemed simple; at this moment, the literary scene was thriving, with various poems inevitably pursuing complexity and endless variations. Some even argued that in moon poetry, the word "moon" should not appear at all to be considered excellent. Yet this poem started with the question, "When will the bright moon appear?" and paired with the next line, it naturally unfolded its meaning. By the time it reached "the heavenly palaces above," the poem's essence transitioned smoothly from a babbling brook to high mountain streams. The subsequent lines, "I wish to ride the wind back…" transformed the entire first half's meaning into a great river flowing into the sea, maintaining an ethereal quality devoid of any mundane essence, evoking a refreshing celestial atmosphere in just a few lines.
Since the Tang Dynasty, poetry and prose have developed over hundreds of years, yielding many works with profound and grand artistic concepts. However, by this point, many poetic works tended to exhaust themselves in the pursuit of intricate diction and complex variations. While there were certainly great poets who could return to simplicity, each with their own distinctive style, few could achieve the level of artistic concept present in this work. The essence of the poem expanded alongside its verses, yet retained a natural grace, reminiscent of the unrestrained and bold style of literati during the flourishing era of the early Tang, all while remaining thematically consistent. Just in this upper section, the grandeur of this 'Shui Diao Ge Tou' was already evident. Pan Guangyan paused, looked up at the group of talented poets below, and continued to read the next stanza.
"Turning the vermilion pavilion, lowering the ornate windows, illuminating the sleepless night. There should be no resentment; why does the moon always seem full when we part?… People have joys and sorrows, reunions and separations; the moon has its phases. This has been difficult to achieve throughout history… May we all live long, sharing the beauty of the moon even from a thousand miles apart."
"…May we all live long, sharing the beauty of the moon even from a thousand miles apart." The lines flowed easily, and after finishing, Pan Guangyan repeated the last line softly, nodding gently at the audience. After a moment, he sighed, "What a beautiful poem." At this moment, people in the garden exchanged glances, some murmured the lines quietly, creating an unusually quiet atmosphere. If it were any other poem, it might not have had such an effect, but this 'Shui Diao Ge Tou' indeed possessed a timeless charm that had endured for over a thousand years. Among poets and literary figures, there's even a saying that "once 'Shui Diao Ge Tou' was released, all other Mid-Autumn poems became obsolete." The audience here lived for this, having studied poetry for decades, some even dedicating their entire lives. Hearing it now, they might have suddenly felt the weight of such grandeur.
In this atmosphere, Master Kang reached for the slip of paper, first glancing at it and slowly nodding. After a moment, he looked again, as if noticing something, blinking in confusion and exclaiming, "Hmm?" He frowned, deep in thought, with an expressive look on his face. Seeing his demeanor, Master Qin, still pondering the lines, turned to him.
"What's wrong?"
"Ha… just take a look."
He handed the slip of paper over. Master Qin squinted, reading it word for word from "When will the bright moon appear?" all the way to "sharing the beauty of the moon even from a thousand miles apart." He found nothing amiss; it was indeed a fine poem. He exhaled, gently shook his head, and then squinted again, pausing briefly.
Naturally, there were a few more words at the bottom of the poem, but everyone was still absorbed in those lines, and Pan Guangyan hadn't yet thought to look.
On the bottom left of the slip, there was a signature, boldly written in seven characters:
—Su Mansion.
—Ning Yi.
—Ning Li Heng.
Master Qin was momentarily stunned, then glanced at Master Kang, and after a while, he chuckled softly.
"Ha…"
In the small building of Su Mansion, Ning Yi woke up to drink some water, suddenly sneezing hard and nearly choking. He groggily returned to bed, pulling the covers tighter.
Hmm, I hope this cold doesn't get worse…