Chapter 68: Another Round of Face Slapping
Suddenly, the crowd turned silent when they heard the name of Jia Hao.
” What? Jia Hao passed Lady Xu’s test?”
” What the hell!”
” How is this possible?”
Jia Hao laughed lightly as he held his wine glass, standing up with a leisurely smile. ” Oh, I guess I have to go then. How amusing…Sister Mi, please lead me there.”
He intentionally gave a smile while looking towards Niu Luo and Lei Qinzhu. Niu Chao’s expression changed when he saw that smug grin, making his blood lit on fire.
Gritting his teeth, he couldn’t believe Jia Hao passed the test and not him and Lei Qinzhu.
” This is unfair!” Niu Luo shouted as he smashed the wine jar on the floor. ” How is this possible? There is something fishy going on!”
” He is just an unknown brat! How can he get selected and not one of us?”
” Brother Niu, Calm down.” Lei Qingzhu spoke in a light voice. However, even he couldn’t help but raise his voice.
” However, Since Young Master Jia is so talented, it won’t be harmful to show his poem to everyone else, right?”
” Let us admire the poem of the victor of this trial, shall we?”
The maids of Xu Chenlan looked at each other as they smiled lightly.
” Lady Xu knew that the gentlemen here shall raise concerns. Therefore, she allowed us to recite Young Lord Jia’s poem here.”
” Go ahead and read it. It won’t bother me.” Jia Hao shrugged.
The maid started to read Jia Hao’s poem as everyone was eager to listen to it.
In the dim-lit chambers of jasmine and musk,
Where silk-clad beauties sway to whispered dusk,
Their laughter veiled, their eyes like moonlit streams,
Brothels bloom with secrets, woven in silken dreams.
– She pirouettes, a fragile flame in silk,
Her painted lips a crimson plea for solace.
Beneath the lantern’s glow, she weaves her tale,
Aching for love, yet bound by fate’s cruel chalice.
– Between silk sheets, confessions spill like wine,
Of lost innocence, stolen glances, and broken vows.
The jasmine scent clings to her skin, a memory,
As patrons seek solace in her painted brows.
– For every kiss bestowed, a coin changes hands,
And behind the laughter, shadows dance.
The courtesan’s heart, a fragile porcelain vase,
Cracks with every whispered promise, every stolen chance.
At dawn, when the lanterns fade to gray,
The courtesan dons her mask of indifference.
Her reflection in the mirror, a fractured mosaic,
Love’s illusion shattered, leaving only remnants.
The hall became silent as night as they heard the poem. It wasn’t about admiring the beauty of the woman in the painting or looking at the beauty of the world.
It’s the sorrowful smile of the courtesan, once a high and noble girl fell to such a state.
” In fact, The painting was anything but joyous.” Jia Hao sighed as he took the last sip of the wine.
” The gray pond was in contrast to the beautiful sky. As the woman looked at it, she saw the sky as he dreams yet the reality was reflecting in the pond.”
” She wished nothing more than to live an ordinary life like the villagers, a simple and common life.”
” Yet adorned with gold and jades, she is nothing more than an expensive doll.”
When everyone heard Jia Hao’s review of the painting, they couldn’t help but gasp in surprise. Looking back at the painting, they couldn’t help but think Jia Hao was right!
Lei Qinzhu was stunned as he couldn’t believe what he had just heard.
Earlier, he already made mind to create a ruckus. However, listening to Jia Hao’s poem, he felt like it was neigh impossible to pick flaws from his poem.
Meanwhile, Niu Luo’s face alternated between red and purple. He was frustrated as the poem was pretty good, and angry because Jia Hao taunted him yet going to meet Xu Chenlan now.
However, Jia Hao wasn’t bothered as he followed Little Mi, with each step taken with arrogance and swagger.
” This bastard! I am going to beat him!” Niu Luo clenched his fist as he stared daggers at Jia Hao.
However, Lei Qinzhu held his arms and shook his head. ” Brother Niu, Are you forgetting where you are right now? This is Phoenix Cloud Pavilion. ” You can’t cause a ruckus here.”
Niu Luo came to the realization as he shut his mouth as he realized that Phoenix Cloud Pavilion got its own backing.
” But, I can’t let that bastard go like that.” Niu Luo gritted his teeth. ” Not to mention, he also insulted you, Brother Lei.”
” Rest assured, Brother Niu.” Lei Qinzhu spoke in a cold voice. ” Let him have his moment. Once he comes out of the Phoenix Cloud Pavilion, my men will beat him into a pulp.”
” Hehe, As expected Brother Lei, you are smart.”
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Jia Hao was simply oblivious to all these as he followed Little Me. Although it’s called a boudoir, it’s more like a hall where a dozen people can sit and watch the performance.
The main bedroom seems to be at the end of the hall, protected by an exquisite wooden door. As Jia Hao followed Little Mi and arrived in the hall, his eyes became surprised as he saw two other people there.
One is a young man with delicate skin, with eyes sparkling like a clear gem. She was very handsome…and a bit feminine also. Jia Hao became amused when he saw him.
Other than him sat a middle aged man with a scholarly aura. Looking at him through his Sage’s Divine Eyes, Jia Hao was a bit surprised.
Because he was indeed a scholar and poet, and famous on top of that.
When they saw Jia Hao entering the hall, the middle aged man couldn’t help but smile.
” Are you Young Master Jia? I have read your poem and I have to admit, it’s simply beautiful. Even in the entire Great Yan, it’s hard to find such a poem.”
” Mr. Tong is overpraising me. How can a meager young man like me be compared with the literary giants of the Great Yan?” Jia Hao smiled politely as he sat on a seat.
” Haha, I guess Young Master Jia knows me. I am not as good as you are describing. Just an ordinary scholar with an ordinary lifespan.” Mr. Tong smiled lightly.
” I just came here to see Lady Xu’s sword dance. I hope it will give me some insights.”
Jia Hao didn’t converse with the young man as he sat there silently, pouring himself another glass of wine. His action caught the eyes of the young man, making his expression curious and surprised.
Soon, the curtain beads clattered to the side as a figure walked out.
” This poor girl greets the guest. I hope my performance shall entertain you.”
