How can I bow my head and serve the powerful officials?

This poem, the only one that went off topic, was thought by everyone to have been written by some dissolute woman, and in the end no one took it seriously.

After selecting the best poem, the female guest quickly sent the title of the poem.

"woman".

The male guests received the topics of poems, some of which described the appearance and character of women, some described the strength of a mother, and some described the ideal women in their minds. Some thought of the poems written by women just now, and could not help but pick up their pens and ponder deeply, and write down their words with heavy voices, responding to their strong ambitions and emotions.

Jing Ze and Ouyang Jiu were both pondering and composing poems, and Zhu Xiaobiao also picked up his brush and weighed the words.

He was on duty in Chenghuan Palace during this period. Whenever the prince went to court, he would take the opportunity to read and practice calligraphy, so as not to embarrass the prince because of illiteracy. Even during his rest periods, he would study with Jingze. Although his knowledge was not as good as those students who were well-versed in sacred books, he could barely make up the number.

He had already thought of the poetic idea he wanted to express, but rhyming was still a little difficult for him. Just as Zhu Xiaobiao was scratching his head, Jing Ze and Ouyang Jiu had already finished writing their poems, and Shen Yuan had also put pen to paper a long time ago, and was admiring the paper covered with ink, with a look of satisfaction on his face.

Seeing Zhu Xiaobiao getting anxious, Ouyang Jiu leaned over and glanced at him with interest, "Master Xiao Zhu, do you want me to help you?"

Ouyang Jiu was also quite accomplished in writing poems. Zhu Xiaobiao could not help but feel moved. Just as he was about to hand over the paper, Jing Ze on the other side of him reached out and pressed down his arm. His voice as clear as water rang out, "When making friends through poetry, you should show your true talent and learning to others. You cannot cheat and deceive the woman."

He looked at Zhu Xiaobiao with calm and self-controlled eyes, "Does Lord Zhu intend to meet with the woman and say that he didn't write the poem? Then this peach blossom banquet will lose its meaning."

Ouyang Jiu propped up his chin and smiled playfully, "Brother Jing is too serious, don't scare Master Xiao Zhu."

Jing Ze glanced at him calmly, "Lord Zhu is a person close to the Second Prince. Everything he does represents the Second Prince's reputation. He should be careful with his words and deeds and not act as he pleases."

Zhu Xiaobiao heard it and immediately felt that it made sense. He couldn't bring shame to His Highness, so he quickly waved his hand and said, "Forget it, forget it. I'll just write it myself!"

After saying that, he buried his head and started racking his brains again.

Ouyang Jiu couldn't help but shake his head, feeling a little amused.

It seems like Brother Zhu has been completely controlled by Jingze.

However, Jing Ze, you are really going to any extreme lengths to use the Second Prince as a shield, right?

Ouyang Jiu cast a slightly contemptuous and teasing look at Jing Ze. Jing Ze withdrew his gaze indifferently and said, "Besides, Brother Ouyang, you are not as good as me in writing poems. Don't mislead the young people."

Ouyang Jiu: ...

Hey, hey, hey! Personal attacks are too much! Don't take advantage of our good relationship to attack me like this!

……

In this poetry competition, Jing Ze won the admiration of the students present with his outstanding talent and knowledge, and they believed that Jing Ze deserved the first place.

Jing Ze was a man of great talent. In his previous life, in order to arrange the assassination at the Qionglin Banquet, he lay dormant for six years, keeping a low profile and secretly connecting with the forces in the palace. Eventually, he was able to send seven concubines into the palace to dance, and he himself participated in the assassination as the top scholar.

However, as the assassination attempt ended in failure, his talent also fell into the earth along with his unwillingness and hatred, never to see the light of day again.

In this life, driven by destiny, he began to emerge. Not only that, Shen Yuan could even foresee that this year's Spring Examination would be very lively.

Jingze's poems were sent to the ancient pavilion where the young masters rested. As dignitaries in the capital, they came to the Peach Blossom Banquet to relieve their boredom and to make friends with each other and add some connections to their families.

It is said that where there are people, there is the world of martial arts. When they first heard Jing Ze's poems, they thought that this man was indeed very talented. But when they heard that he might be someone brought by Shen Yuan, they immediately wanted to make friends with him.

As Shen Yuan was a new noble in the capital, his father and grandfather had long warned the young masters not to mess with this "property-confiscation maniac", otherwise all nine generations of his clan might be wiped out at any time.

And it would be best if we could make friends with them.

But Lord Shen was really too busy. He was the only one who could meet people, and no one else could see him. Many young men wanted to make friends with him or curry favor with him, but they could never find the opportunity.

But now, isn't the opportunity here? !

The young masters left their seats one after another and poured into the tea area for the students, wanting to make friends with Lord Shen, who was famous in the capital. However, they couldn't find him after searching around. They were not disappointed, but turned to talk to Jing Ze, intending to start with him first.

Zhu Xiaobiao stood not far away, looking at Jing Ze who was surrounded by the young masters. He couldn't help but pursed his lips slightly, feeling a little lost in his heart.

He has always known that Jing Ze is a man of ambition and talent.

Unlike him, an uneducated playboy, Jing Ze was destined to be the one in a high position. Back then, Jing Ze was imprisoned, penniless and seriously injured, so he had to accept his financial support. At that time, the two of them might still be on equal footing.

But when the day comes when his name is on the imperial examination, the former "male favorite" will transform into Lord Jing, and the former Lord Zhu will become a lowly servant.

After all, he is no longer a person of status.

It was also at this moment that Zhu Xiaobiao seemed to understand why, when he was in Zhuolu County, he often told Jing Ze, who called him "sir", that he didn't need to be restrained, but Jing Ze always said that they had different identities and statuses and he could not overstep the line.

A higher official position can crush people to death. If Jing Ze lets him not to be restrained in the future, can he really go beyond the rules?

"What are you thinking about?" Ouyang Jiu walked to Zhu Xiaobiao's side leisurely, looking at Jingze, whose forehead was cramped by the young masters and whose eyes were full of forbearance, and he couldn't help showing a gloating expression, "He will probably be pestered for a long time, but it is also good to make friends with these powerful people. Let's not disturb him, why don't we go to the poetry board to appreciate poetry together?"

Zhu Xiaobiao couldn't help but turn his head to look at him, wondering, "Since there are benefits, why don't you go over and join us?"

Ouyang Jiu showed a mysterious smile, "Guess?"

Zhu Xiaobiao looked at him speechlessly, "You are so proud and arrogant that you disdain unconventional practices?"

He always felt that these words were very inconsistent with Ouyang Jiu. He even felt that in terms of unorthodox practices, Ouyang Jiu's character was more frivolous than Jing Ze. He was more like the kind of veteran who could collude with colleagues and swim like a fish in officialdom.

The main reason was that Ouyang Jiu was thick-skinned! If it were any other student, upon hearing that the Second Prince was coming to attend the Peach Blossom Banquet, they would have sent him off respectfully, not daring to overstep the boundaries. But Ouyang Jiu followed him eagerly, not considering himself an outsider at all.

Ouyang Jiu burst out laughing and joked, "I didn't expect that I am so good in the eyes of Master Xiao Zhu?"

"Then I'll tell you in secret." Ouyang Jiu leaned close to Zhu Xiaobiao's ear, and his low, magnetic voice was full of teasing, "Because I am a powerful person, I naturally don't need to make friends with the powerful~"