Who Said a Study Servant Can't Win the Imperial Exam? - Chapter 41 - The Prodigy's Poetic Talent

After Zhao Yaozu left, Cui Xian, Pei Jian, and the others returned to the clan school. Having lost the poetry duel, the students were downcast and dispersed in low spirits. Some murmured complaints, “If you can’t do it, don’t force it. You can’t even match couplets, yet you insist on a poetry duel!”

“Now not only did you lose, but you also brought disgrace to the clan school.”

Pei Jian was infuriated by these words, leading to a heated argument between the groups. Zhuang Jin glanced cautiously at Cui Xian and comforted, “Xian, don’t listen to their nonsense. You’re already amazing!”

Li Heyu suggested, “How about this, Xian? Weren’t you planning to return to Hexi Village today? Why not head back early?”

This suggestion received unanimous support from the young masters. Given the awkward situation, it was best for Xian to leave for now.

Cui Xian sighed helplessly. With Wu Qinglan absent, there was no one to speak up for him! In that case, he might as well head home.

Before leaving, Cui Xian went to the Inner Room and carefully wrote the “Ode to the Goose” as a poem scroll, placing it on the desk. He believed that when Teacher Wu saw it, he would surely understand!

After a short while, Cui Xian boarded the carriage Pei Jian had arranged for him, carrying thirty taels of silver, returning home in prosperity. Gao Qi and the other three, disheartened, also returned home without the mood to study.

About an hour later, Zhao Yaozu’s Teacher arrived at the Pei Family clan school, breathless and asking for Cui Xian, only to find he was gone.

“Forget it, it’s fate!” The old Teacher muttered in despair, and then, unable to bear the shame, he packed up his family and left for the countryside overnight.

Meanwhile, Zhao Yaozu sent out several young boys to distribute the poems “Ode to New Bamboo” and “Ode to the Goose” to the scholars of Nanyang, specifically mentioning, “This ‘Ode to the Goose’ was written by the author of ‘The Legend of Rainbow Cat and Blue Rabbit.’ This person is all name and no talent, a complete fool.”

“Therefore, Zhao Yaozu’s ‘Ode to New Bamboo’ crushed him completely!”

This was clearly an attempt to boost Zhao Yaozu’s reputation. Normally, scholars would ignore such crude tactics. However, in the past few days, “The Legend of Rainbow Cat and Blue Rabbit” was selling like hotcakes in Nanyang, so many people accepted the poem scrolls.

One scholar, after reading “Ode to the Goose,” clapped his hands in praise, visibly excited. Upon hearing that “Ode to the Goose” lost to “Ode to New Bamboo,” he was furious, “Outrageous! Absolutely ridiculous! How could such a poor poem as ‘Ode to New Bamboo’ win?”

The boy distributing the poems was stunned and then slinked away, sensing something was amiss. This scene played out in many places across Nanyang County Town.

That evening, Vice Magistrate Zhao Zhi returned home, grinning as he asked, “Dear grandson, you must have shone brilliantly today! What kind of poem did that young boy write?”

Zhao Yaozu forced a smile, “He’s only eight, what good poem could he write!”

Zhao Zhi, agreeing, chuckled, “Just wait until tomorrow, and I’ll make sure to spread your name far and wide.”

The Vice Magistrate was in high spirits, dreaming of his “genius grandson’s fame spreading across Nanyang.” He failed to notice the uneasy expression on his grandson Zhao Yaozu’s face.

“Impossible! That ‘Ode to the Goose’ is rubbish; the Teacher must be blind,” Zhao Yaozu muttered to himself. Yet, for some reason, he felt uneasy and dared not tell his grandfather the truth.

The next day, Zhao Zhi went out and overheard several scholars discussing the ‘Ode to New Bamboo’ and mentioning something about a ‘Nanyang Prodigy Poet.’ Feeling proud and delighted, Zhao Zhi approached them with a laugh, saying, “My grandson is not very talented, but I am grateful for your praise. I am the grandfather of the ‘Ode to New Bamboo’ author.”

The scholars’ expressions changed; they looked at him with disdain and left with a cold scoff.

Zhao Zhi was puzzled. “These mediocre people have no gentlemanly manners; could they be jealous of my grandson’s talent? The world is truly going downhill!”

At the White River dock, a large ship slowly moored, and Pei Chongqing, the Provincial Graduate Lord of the Pei Family, disembarked. He was on leave and had returned to Nanyang by boat from Kaifeng Prefecture.

“Look, it’s Master Pei!”

“Master Pei, I recently came across a poem said to be written by an eight-year-old child. I was amazed after reading it; please take a look!”

Someone recognized Pei Chongqing and handed him the ‘Ode to the Goose’ with both hands. Pei Chongqing casually accepted it, thinking it was another child trying to gain fame through him. However, after reading the poem, Master Pei was thrilled.

He seemed to see the scene of white geese playing in the water!

“White feathers float on emerald stream, red paddles stir clear ripples by! Wonderful! So vivid, the poem paints a picture!”

After repeatedly confirming that the creator was only eight years old, Master Pei’s eyes lit up. “Nanyang has produced a prodigy poet! Do you know who this child is?”

The person handing over the poem shook his head. “This, I don’t know yet.”

Pei Chongqing was anxious. How could they not know? He must hurry home and find out about this little prodigy!

On his hurried way back to Funiu Alley, Pei Chongqing encountered Gao Qi’s father, Commander Gao. Although Commander Gao was a low-ranking military officer, he was still a Fifth-Rank official. Therefore, even though Pei Chongqing was eager, he had to patiently exchange pleasantries with Commander Gao.

Commander Gao laughed and said, “Speaking of which, our families had a minor dispute over a Study Servant some time ago…”

Study Servant? Pei Chongqing vaguely recalled that last month, his grandson Jian-Ge’er had written to Kaifeng, boasting about a Study Servant, which led to his son Kaitai’s reprimand.

The Gao and Pei families have always been on good terms; they must not let this cause any discord!

So Pei Chongqing generously said, “It’s a minor issue, no problem. If your son truly likes that Study Servant, I will make the decision for Jian-Ge’er and gift that little Study Servant to Gao Qi.”

Ah? Commander Gao was stunned! Then he was overjoyed, smiling broadly as he thanked Pei Chongqing and left, saying he would go home to tell his son this great news!

Pei Chongqing was puzzled, thinking, “It’s just a Study Servant; is it really such a big deal?”

He shook his head, still preoccupied with the “Ode to the Goose,” and hurried home.

Unexpectedly, neither Madam Pei nor Pei Jian was at home.

It turned out they had gone to the dock to welcome Pei Chongqing back, having heard of his return.

However, with favorable winds, Pei Chongqing’s ship had docked earlier than expected.

“Steward, send someone to the dock to inform the Old Madam and Jian-Ge’er that I have returned safely,” Pei Chongqing instructed. Then, almost as an afterthought, he added, “By the way, Jian-Ge’er has a Study Servant, doesn’t he? I just promised Commander Gao to give this Study Servant to Gao Qi. Let Jian-Ge’er know later.”

With that, Master Pei hurried into his study.

The steward was left standing there, shocked and pale-faced.

The rest of the Pei Family servants who overheard were equally horrified, as if the sky had fallen.

Had the Family Elder given Xian-Ge’er to Young Master Gao Qi?

Oh heavens!

Previously, the Gao, Zhuang, and Li families had gone to great lengths to try and take Xian-Ge’er, but it was all in vain. Now, the Family Elder had casually given him away!

When the Old Madam and the Young Master returned, they would surely be beside themselves!

In the study.

Unaware of the impending “disaster,” Pei Chongqing was completely absorbed in thoughts of the “Ode to the Goose.”

The more he thought about it, the more amazed he was!

It was truly full of childlike wonder and so catchy!

Overwhelmed with excitement, Master Pei picked up a book from the desk and paced back and forth, pondering how to find this prodigious young talent.

“Hmm? ‘The Legend of Rainbow Cat and Blue Rabbit’? A storybook?”

As he pondered, Master Pei glanced at the book’s title, his face showing displeasure: “This must be Jian-Ge’er’s idle reading, infuriating! Others write ‘Ode to the Goose’ at eight, while you waste time on storybooks.”

With that, Pei Chongqing angrily opened the book.

And then-

Predictably, he became utterly engrossed, lost in the story, unable to extricate himself!

Even the prodigy of the “Ode to the Goose” was temporarily forgotten.

“A move like ‘Long Rainbow Pierces the Sun’? Such a powerful technique!”

“Rainbow Cat truly lives up to the name of a young hero!”

“Black Heart Tiger, prepare to meet your end at my hands!”