Liu Xuan's spirit projection had just landed beside Gu Fangchen when he heard that line and nearly lost control of his Spirit Platform on the spot. He almost collapsed right there.
This wasn't even within the range of a doggerel anymore, it was pure nonsense!
Just as Liu Xuan managed to steady his Spirit Platform, he suddenly felt a force locking onto him.
He froze, and his heart sank.
Turning his head, he saw Gu Youren's cold eyes staring directly at him.
He had anticipated that Gu Youren might sense him and had deliberately concealed his aura, planning to make a quick move, deliver his poem to Gu Fangchen while everyone's attention was still on Gu Yuandao.
But then Gu Fangchen's astonishing "poetic talent" had startled him so badly that his aura leaked.
Gu Youren's face turned icy as she looked toward Liu Xuan's physical body and said coldly, "I didn't know the Poetry Branch had become another man's personal network."
The crowd had been discussing Gu Yuandao's poem, praising and complimenting him with great enthusiasm. The atmosphere was lively, until Gu Youren suddenly spoke in that sharp tone. Everyone fell silent, confused, turning to look her way.
Wasn't the Little Poetry Immortal supposedly feeling unwell and unable to compose? Why was Gu Youren suddenly reprimanding him?
Gu Youren was known for her straightforward nature, she never spoke in riddles.
Judging from her words, was the Little Poetry Immortal giving someone special treatment?
The scholars exchanged uncertain glances. Yet so far, none of the poems recited seemed to bear Liu Xuan's style.
Liu Xuan sighed, returning to his body, and forced himself to rise. He bowed toward Gu Youren.
"I do not know why you would say such a thing, Madam Gu. Could there have been some misunderstanding?"
Had he already given his poem to Gu Fangchen, he would have admitted fault and taken the blame.
But he hadn't said a single word yet.
So of course he had to deny it.
And besides, his plan to cheat was clearly ruined now. Whether he defended himself or not, he would likely be expelled from his sect anyway.
At least he shouldn't give himself an additional crime he hadn't committed.
Gu Youren frowned. She hadn't actually caught Liu Xuan in the act. From the look of things, he probably hadn't done anything yet.
A warning would suffice.
Though she couldn't understand why Liu Xuan would suddenly want to help Gu Fangchen, this kind of "sudden" thing had already happened three times today.
She no longer found it strange.
Gu Youren said calmly, "Perhaps it was a misunderstanding. I only hope the Little Poetry Immortal remembers the Master's words: a gentleman does not deceive even in the dark."
Liu Xuan exhaled deeply, filled with shame. He knew this was ultimately his own fault.
He had let foolish impulse cloud his judgment. But when he thought about Gu Fangchen possibly earning a "First-Class" seal with "so many lotuses taking a bath," his skin crawled as if all the ancestors of the Poetry Branch were climbing over him.
Gu Youren's sharp rebuke followed by leniency made the bystanders even more suspicious.
But they couldn't guess who the Little Poetry Immortal would cheat for.
Who had enough influence to sway such a proud man?
By now, only a few people hadn't yet recited their poems.
Surely it couldn't be that wastrel who didn't even know how to structure a verse, could it?
Among the attendees, many were cultivators; naturally, they had overheard Gu Fangchen's earlier doggerel about bathing lotuses when teasing Qingjian. They were all laughing quietly about it.
A few mischievous students stood up to add fuel to the fire, calling out mockingly, "I seem to recall His Lordship the Heir already composed a poem earlier. Why not recite it now for us all to appreciate?"
Gu Fangchen set down his wine cup and hesitated. "Are you sure you want me to? It isn't even my turn yet..."
The student immediately replied, "The poetic drinking game is just a bit of fun. Surely His Lordship isn't afraid of a little game?"
Gu Yuandao tilted his head back and drained a cup of wine. Seeing Gu Fangchen hesitate, a faint smile of amusement curved his lips.
Even if this Gu Fangchen was some old fraud in disguise, his talents could only lie in divination or psychology. Throughout Great Wei's history, there were only a handful of true poetic geniuses, none powerful enough to challenge the academy's literary masters.
In this field, Gu Fangchen was still beneath him.
Gu Fangchen rose to his feet, clasped his hands behind his back, and sighed toward the heavens.
"Ah, very well. I didn't want to steal the spotlight, but this gentleman insists. Alas, I can't refuse such enthusiasm."
"After all, the poems so far have been rather unremarkable. No wonder everyone's eager for me to speak."
The crowd burst out laughing in disbelief.
The ignorant fool dared to boast so shamelessly?
That "so many lotuses are bathing" line, and he dared to call others' work unremarkable? Truly fearless in his ignorance!
Gu Youren shook her head. She had thought Gu Fangchen might possess some composure, but it seemed he couldn't endure even a little provocation. The more he postured now, the harder he would fall in humiliation later.
Gu Fangchen noticed the look in her eyes and smiled faintly.
Originally, he hadn't planned to show off too much. But since that would-be cheater Liu Xuan had practically handed him a perfect setup...
Why not use it for an absolute counterattack against Gu Youren?
"Then please, everyone, listen carefully."
Gu Fangchen took a deep breath and began to recite slowly:
"The lotus leaves and gauze skirts share the same hue,
The hibiscus blooms beside her face in view.
Amid the pond, confusion hides her trace,
Until her song reveals her charming grace."
The student who had been about to scoff froze, his half-formed insult dying on his tongue.
The entire garden fell silent.
The poem described lotus picking, yet as he spoke, it was as though endless lotus blossoms filled the air. Human and scenery, motion and stillness, merged seamlessly, perfection in harmony.
Many eyes turned toward Gu Youren.
Those first two lines were clearly aimed directly at her earlier poem.
The imagery and technique were almost identical, but Gu Fangchen's version surpassed hers by far.
Not only a response, but a complete, devastating counter.
A master of Seven-Character Quatrains, was he joking with her?
Gu Fangchen smiled pleasantly at Gu Youren.
"What does Madam Gu think of my humble verse?"
Gu Youren's pupils shrank. Her expression turned cold as frost. The first thought that struck her was that she had realized it too late.
Liu Xuan must have given his poem to Gu Fangchen, helping him cheat!
This time, she was certain there could be no misunderstanding.
There were only a few people in the world capable of writing at that level. The verse was superb, yet still within the limits of the Little Poetry Immortal's skill.
There could be only one explanation.
Gu Youren's anger flared. "So it was Liu Xuan who helped you cheat! Shameless beyond words, and you even dare to gloat about it here!"
The crowd, still stunned by the poem, suddenly came to their senses. Realization dawned.
So it was the Little Poetry Immortal who'd cheated! Of course this couldn't have been written by Gu Fangchen himself. That uneducated scoundrel had actually thought of such a method!
Li Qingguang cried out anxiously, "Senior Brother! Did that Gu Fangchen threaten you? How could you do something like this?"
Liu Xuan opened his mouth, dumbfounded and innocent, looking even more shocked than anyone else.
Wait, he hadn't even had time to cheat yet!
Then who had helped Gu Fangchen?
And to produce a poem of that caliber...
Could it be... his teacher had personally intervened?!