Chapter 032: Visiting South Market Street
As early as when Zhao Hongjie told him about the Winter Solstice Poetry Festival, Shen Yichen had lost interest. This was not to say that he was indifferent to fame and fortune, or that he had no idea of becoming famous.
But it's about how much knowledge one has. Shen Yichen has a clear self-awareness. The more grand the poetry gathering is, the higher the requirements for poetry. What kind of works will he bring to participate?
Relying on my own original creation would probably be embarrassing in the past, especially since "Linjiangxian" was well-known in Yingtian Prefecture, the outside world must have very high expectations of me.
Even if his little universe explodes and he really writes a masterpiece, with the example of "Linjiangxian", no matter how well he writes, people will think that he has run out of talent.
If you really can't do it, just be a plagiarist. The Ming Dynasty was not the heyday of poetry like the Tang and Song Dynasties, but a well-known period of decline in poetry. There are not many works that can surpass "Linjiangxian". Even if there are other equally good works, it depends on whether they are suitable for the situation.
It's impossible that you would compose a frontier poem when there is so much romance and romance on the Qinhuai River. It would be too inappropriate.
So Shen Yichen tries his best to avoid participating in such gatherings of literati and scholars. I am a layman, so I'd better not join in the fun.
But to Lin Zhen and the others, this answer was simply unbelievable.
Earlier, Shen Yichen’s refusal to go to Zhaowen Academy could be explained by his respect for teachers , but the Winter Solstice Poetry Festival is an occasion that many scholars dream of, and ordinary people are not qualified to participate.
Now that the opportunity is in front of Shen Yichen, he still refuses?
"Yi Chen, even if you don't like fame and fortune, participating in the Winter Solstice Poetry Festival can broaden your horizons and make friends with scholars all over the world. It's a hundred benefits with no harm."
Lin Zhen started to persuade him, he didn't want Shen Yichen to miss such a good opportunity.
"Yes, Yichen. The Winter Solstice Poetry Festival is held once a year. It is the largest literary event in South Zhili. If you miss it, you won't be free to participate next year when the competition begins."
Li Tingxiu also echoed, saying that fame is often helpful in the imperial examinations. The examiner will have to take a closer look at your writings as a world-famous talent.
"That makes sense. I will be there to see if the literary style of Nanzhili is still flourishing this year."
Facing the persuasion of several gentlemen and bigwigs, Shen Yichen was too embarrassed to say that the reason he didn't go was because he felt guilty and didn't dare to go...
So at this moment, he could only bite the bullet and say, "The elder's order cannot be disobeyed, so I have no choice but to respectfully obey it."
The matters of apprenticeship and the Winter Solstice Poetry Meeting came to an end. There was no rush to teach the scriptures, and the next time was for them to catch up with the old friends.
Several people drank and talked happily, and they sang songs from time to time when they were deeply in love, which was quite like an old man talking about the youth's passion. Shen Yichen accompanied them until the night was approaching, and then he and Li Tingxiu took a carriage back to Chengguo Mansion.
"Yi Chen, I am very happy today, very happy!"
After getting off the carriage, Li Tingxiu was obviously drunk. He kept patting Shen Yichen on the shoulder to emphasize his joy.
“Students understand!”
Shen Yichen said a few perfunctory words, then signaled with his eyes to the driver to help the gentleman in.
"And Yichen, many people will be watching you from now on, so remember to be calm and composed in your words and actions, and don't let others catch you."
"I know, sir."
After the family dinner, Shen Yichen could clearly feel that he was being watched by many people. If the news of him becoming the No. 1 scholar’s apprentice today got out, it would probably attract even more attention.
Shen Yichen understands the principle that a tree that stands out in the forest will be destroyed by the wind.
After giving a few simple instructions, the driver helped Li Tingxiu into Duke Cheng's Mansion, and Shen Yichen turned around and walked towards home.
But when he walked out of the corner alley, he found two familiar faces coming towards him.
"Brother Yichen, isn't today a monthly holiday? Why are you here?"
When Chen Qingtong saw Shen Yichen appear, his words were full of joy. Today was the monthly holiday of the private school, and theoretically, the students would not come to the Chengguo Mansion.
"I have some questions in the book, so I came here to ask the teacher."
Shen Yichen didn't want to tell anyone about the trip he and Li Tingxiu had taken to worship Lin Zhen as their master today, and it was better not to let it spread from his own mouth.
Because once Shen Yichen announced this kind of thing, it would be seen as showing off, and no one knows how it would be spread by the public.
When the news reaches Lin Zhen or Sun Tixue, without a thorough understanding of their personalities, there is no guarantee that it will not cause any trouble. These two people are now Shen Yichen 's biggest backers on the road to the imperial examination, and he doesn't want to leave any misunderstandings because of his excessive talk.
"Really? Shen Yichen, you have changed a lot now."
After hearing Shen Yichen's answer, the young man next to him replied indifferently.
"Meet the eldest master."
Shen Yichen bowed and said, this person is Zhu Yi, whom he had met once at the family dinner of Duke Chengguo's Mansion.
Although the two were of similar age and were brothers in some sense, Zhu Yi was Zhu Yong's eldest son and the future Duke of Cheng. In fact, their status was very different, so Shen Yichen had to address him respectfully first.
"No need to be polite. Being diligent in learning is a good thing. If father knew about this, he would be very pleased."
Shen Yichen didn't know how to respond to the eldest son Zhu Yi's words. He wasn't even sure whether the other party was sincere or just testing him.
Because from childhood to adulthood, he had probably had less contact with Zhu Yi than with the second son Zhu Ji. Putting aside the blood relationship between the two, they were no better than strangers.
But in the royal family, blood relationship is one of the least valuable things. And with Zhu Ji's precedent, Shen Yichen now has no confidence in the brotherhood of the Chengguo Mansion.
Perhaps sensing Shen Yichen's reservedness and defensiveness, Zhu Yi smiled and turned to Chen Qingtong and said, "Qingtong, you and Yichen haven't seen each other for a long time. Let's have a good chat. I'll go back home first."
"Okay, Brother Yan Heng, you go back first."
Chen Qingtong waved to Zhu Yi, and Shen Yichen on the other side also bowed to see him off.
After watching Zhu Yi enter the Chengguo Mansion from the side door, Chen Qingtong immediately jumped to Shen Yichen's side and asked, "Brother Yichen, do you have anything else to do later?"
"Nothing."
"Since you have nothing to do, I heard there will be a fireworks show on Nanshi Street tonight. How about we go and see it together?"
Originally, Shen Yichen was planning to decline politely, because as the county exam was approaching, and his previous cultural foundation was poor, he had to hurry up and make up for it. He felt a sense of urgency just like before the college entrance examination.
But looking at Chen Qingtong's big eyes full of expectation and her curiosity about the night view of Nanshi Street in the Ming Dynasty, Shen Yichen finally nodded and agreed.
"Okay, let's go check it out."
"Um."
Chen Qingtong showed a happy smile on his face, and then led Shen Yichen towards Nanshi Street.
Nanshi Street was the most prosperous commercial street in Nanjing during the Ming Dynasty. To describe it in modern terms, it can be called the CBD of Nanjing during the Ming Dynasty. Its liveliness was no less than that of the Old Courtyard on the Qinhuai River and the Jiangnan Imperial Examination Hall.
It was already night, but the streets of Nanshi were crowded with people and vehicles, just like the nightlife of a modern city. Shen Yichen and Chen Qingtong walked among the crowds, listening to the various shouts and hawking sounds coming from the shops and stalls nearby.
Chen Qingtong looked around excitedly. As the only daughter of Marquis Taining, it was not easy for her to travel freely like she did today.
Especially since it was my first time traveling with Shen Yichen.
"Brother Yichen, look at that lantern. It's so beautiful."
"Brother Yichen, do you think this hairpin looks good?"
"Brother Yichen, that box of powder smells so good."
…
As time went by, Chen Qingtong gradually let go of her restraint and unfamiliarity towards Shen Yichen, and became like an innocent little girl, as if she had returned to the intimacy of her childhood.
