Chapter 65 (1/2)

Chapter 65

Chapter: 065 out of 513 – Half of five gold taels (2)

Ji Man’s recitation of the poem had been majestic and Ning Mingjie’s calligraphy was even better. His brush strokes were vigorous and penetrated the paper completely. It resembled Yan Zhenqing and Liu Gongquan’s style of writing, but it also contained a degree of unrestrained elegance. It could be a.s.sumed that Ning Mingjie’s calligraphy skills weren’t poor.

(T/N: Yan Zhenqing and Liu Gongquan were the two great masters of late Tang calligraphy. Below are pictures of their calligraphy.)

The onlookers were dumbstruck by what they had witnessed. First, they were astonished to see a married woman walk up the platform to write a poem. Then, they were further shocked to see a peerlessly talented man go to the platform to write out the poem for her. And, what left them dumbstruck was, was that really a poem?

No matter how they looked at it, it didn’t seem like a poem. Moreover, it didn’t seem complete. However, the magnificence of those words was incomparable. When they listened to that madam say that poem, it made the audience feel as if they were being guided to the verge of a breakthrough that would free them from the restraints in their hearts.

Ning Mingjie was also somewhat stunned. Was this a poem that a woman could compose?

“And then?” He asked.

Ji Man curved her eyes and smiled, “The official shouted to write one stanza. The section that I’ve already said is enough. Leave it here. If a person of outstanding ability comes, he or she might be able to write out the rest of the poem for me.”

One after another the audience

started discussing amongst themselves. Fortunately, Ji Man was wearing a veil and the average person wouldn’t be able to recognize her. It was fine for her to be in the spotlight. It’s not like anything serious would happen because of this.

The official stroke his beard and looked at the writing for a long time before he finally sighed and said, “I’m embarra.s.sed that we, the scholars, aren’t as talented as a lowly woman. Madam, your poem is much more remarkable than the other poems. Unfortunately, there’s only half.”

Ji Man said with a smiling expression, “That’s fine. I’ll just take half of the five gold taels. When someone else can write out the second half of the poem, give the remaining gold taels to that person.”

Ning Mingjie raised his eyebrows. He seemed to have suddenly understood something. Nie Sangyu had suddenly rushed up the platform after she heard about the five gold taels.

She was truly a greedy woman. With her family status, she already had plenty of money, but she actually cared about this pittance of gold. If she were willing to compose more poems like this one, he wouldn’t mind giving her gold taels too.

As he thought of this, he actually found it very interesting. Ning Mingjie saw Nie Sangyu receiving her prize and scampering back to her seat like a rabbit. After the official discussed with Luoyan PaG.o.da's servants for a bit, they earnestly hung up that half finished poem on the most eye-catching position on the fifth floor.

“Starting from today, except for the madam over there, Luoyan PaG.o.da will pay fifty gold taels to the person that can complete the second half of that poem.”

Ji

poem.”

Ji Man’s chin fell the ground. Fifty gold taels? Such spendthrifts! Since they had this money, why wouldn’t they pay it to her?! She had only received two and half gold taels for her writing!

Feeling indignant, she wanted to go up there and argue, but Ning Mingjie stretched his hand out and stopped her.

“You gave Luoyan PaG.o.da a new gimmick.” Ning Mingjie curved his lips into a smile and said, “After today, Luoyan PaG.o.da will definitely be crowded with people for a long time.”

Ji Man quieted down. She understood their reasoning after Ning Mingjie’s explanation. All businesses paid attention to gimmicks. Luoyan PaG.o.da seemed like it was a high-end teahouse. They were offering fifty gold taels as a tactic to attract more guests to come here and spend money. If she easily wrote out the second half of the poem, it would make the poem worthless.

While the people around them were eager to try writing out the second half of the poem, the official came over to them and gave Nie Sangyu a cedar token.