"River's Longing! This title truly captures the essence of the poem!"
"Xiangyang River and longing for you—what a fitting title!"
"Clearly superior!"
"No wonder he's the greatest talent in Jiangling Prefecture—excellent calligraphy and poetry!"
There was no shortage of sycophants in the crowd. As soon as Sun Xuan's title was announced, his followers eagerly flattered him.
Believing he had regained the upper hand, Sun Xuan smiled and, in a voice loud enough for all to hear, asked Ren Yue, "Miss Ren, which title do you think suits this poem better?"
The entire room fell silent as everyone's gaze turned to Ren Yue.
"In my opinion, River's Longing boasts elegant diction and highlights the theme of longing in the poem…"
Hearing this, Sun Xuan's smile grew even brighter. "Miss Ren, you flatter me…"
"However, I live at the head of Xiangjiang River better conveys the poem's depth and true meaning."
"The longing between a man and a woman is both profound and unpretentious… Mr. Li's title makes me envision a determined and resilient man, crossing mountains and rivers tirelessly, traveling thousands of miles for his beloved."
As she spoke, a tear slid from the corner of Ren Yue's eye. She did not wipe it away but stared off into the distance, lost in thought.
The first part of Ren Yue's remark was like a gentle caress on Sun Xuan's cheek, but the latter part was an unexpected slap, landing squarely on his face.
The reversal left Sun Xuan feeling suffocated, but to maintain his image, he forced a smile and said, "Miss Ren's analysis is excellent… I wonder what the audience thinks?"
Receiving his signal, Wang Liang led the cheers, shouting, "Young Master Sun's title is truly the perfect match for the poem!"
Before long, the entire pavilion was filled with applause and praise for Sun Xuan.
For anyone without a strong will, such a one-sided spectacle could easily break their composure.
However, Li Xunshan remained unusually calm. It wasn't because of his own strength but because he knew he had friends supporting him. That alone gave him no room to falter.
Additionally, his ever-present yearning for his beloved seemed to give him a subtle source of strength.
"Young friend Li…"
A low voice suddenly rang out—not loud, yet it echoed in everyone's ears.
The crowd fell silent as people looked around, searching for the source of the voice.
In the corner, an old man in a plain robe slowly rose. Wherever he walked, the crowded throng instinctively parted, making way for him.
At each opening, the old man would bow slightly and say, "Thank you."
Before long, he arrived before Li Xunshan, cupped his hands, and said, "Young friend Li, judging by the tonal pattern and rhyme, this poem should have a second half, shouldn't it?"
Hearing this, Gu Ning'an smiled. It was no wonder this old man radiated such an aura of righteousness. He could deduce the incompleteness of the poem solely from its structure and rhythm.
Li Xunshan's body trembled slightly as he cupped his hands and replied, "You are correct, sir. This poem does indeed have a second half."
This unexpected exchange left Wang Liang bewildered and Sun Xuan increasingly uneasy.
Sun Xuan, more than anyone, knew the true origin of this poem. If it did have a second half and he couldn't produce it, wouldn't that prove the first half was plagiarized?
Such an outcome would instantly make him a laughingstock, not just in Jiangling Prefecture but throughout the literary world of Great Qian!
81 The Imposing Old Man (2/2)
"Ahem!" Sun Xuan cleared his throat and cupped his hands toward the old man below. "Elder, I didn't expect you to see through the fact that this poem has a second half."
Hearing this, Gu Ning'an didn't react much, as Sun Xuan's shameless nature had already been revealed through his earlier behavior.
However, even the steady and righteous old man couldn't help but glance back at Sun Xuan and remark, "Shameless, aren't you?"
If the elder brother is mocked, how can the younger ones stand idle?
From downstairs, Wang Liang immediately launched into a tirade against the old man. "Old geezer, who are you calling shameless? By the looks of you, you must be in cahoots with this scoundrel!"
"Claiming to deduce the existence of a second half of the poem from its tonal patterns—who do you think you are? Do you think being old automatically makes you an expert in literature?"
"In Great Qian's literary circles, we don't tolerate those who flaunt their age!"
The old man turned fully to face Sun Xuan and Wang Liang, smiling faintly. "If you're so certain, why don't you tell us plainly—does this poem have a second half or not?"
Sun Xuan's heart tightened. Under the piercing gaze of the old man, he instinctively wanted to look away.
"Young Master Sun, give us a straight answer—does it or doesn't it?" The old man's voice carried a subtle but undeniable authority.
Gritting his teeth, Sun Xuan cupped his hands and replied, "Of course it has one…"
The old man remained calm. "Then would Young Master Sun kindly recite the second half for us?"
Sun Xuan exhaled deeply, beads of sweat forming on his forehead. "I… I forgot."
"Did you forget, or do you not know?" the old man pressed.
Swallowing hard, Sun Xuan, under the old man's imposing presence, stammered, "I don't know…"
"No, no, I do! I do know!"
"I forgot… yes, I forgot…"
Completely flustered, Sun Xuan was caught in his lie and wished he could disappear on the spot.
"If you don't know, then let Mr. Li recite it for you."
With that, the old man turned to Li Xunshan, his face full of encouragement. "Young friend Li, recite it. I know this poem is yours. With me here today, no one can steal your work!"
Even though the old man's actions and words made Li Xunshan want to trust him, he still looked toward Gu Ning'an for confirmation. "Mr. Gu…"
Gu Ning'an raised his hand to interrupt him. "If you want to recite it, then recite it."
This small gesture made the old man pause and study Gu Ning'an more closely.
Judging by their voices, the young Li and the so-called Mr. Gu seemed to be of similar age.
But why would Li need to seek Mr. Gu's approval just to recite a poem?
Li Xunshan's voice was hoarse. He took a sip of tea, cleared his throat, and finally said, "I will recite the poem in its entirety, including the second half."
Seeing that Li Xunshan truly had a second half to the poem, Wang Liang wanted to disrupt the moment, but the old man, whose temples were slightly graying, placed a firm hand on Wang Liang's shoulder. No matter how much Wang Liang struggled, he couldn't budge an inch.
Wang Liang wanted to protest verbally, but when he met the old man's eyes—deep as cold pools—his words froze in his throat.
Li Xunshan looked up slightly toward the pavilion where Ren Yue sat. After a long sigh, he began to recite:
"I live at the head of the Xiangjiang River,
And you live at its tail.
Day after day, I think of you but cannot see you,
Though we drink from the same river's waters."
"When will these waters cease to flow?
When will this longing end?
May your heart be as mine,
Steadfast in its love and longing!"