Chapter 108: Everyone Has Arrived
The Lu Clan members nearby looked at Lu Yun, who was surrounded by the three young masters in the middle, with faces full of envy. They knew he had already gained the recognition of the three and would from now on become a star among the younger generation.
However, they were also convinced. Lu Yun’s article was right there, seen by everyone. It was indeed not on the same level as the other articles. In the Lu Clan, which placed extreme importance on articles and knowledge, this was the most proud capital!
“Who would have thought that this Lu Yun not only knows how to fight and play chess, but even writes articles so well!” The clan members chattered noisily in discussion, their gazes toward Lu Yun already completely different from before. “Yeah, people really can’t be compared. I see that between this father and son, I’m afraid no one can suppress them!”
At this time, Lu Xi was practically fuming with rage. The reason he agreed to Lu Xin’s proposal was to show his own article to everyone, to properly shock Lu Bai and the other two, and make the crowd convinced in both word and heart of his winning the championship. He never expected Lu Yun to appear out of nowhere, instantly stealing all the limelight and becoming number one in everyone’s minds. How could Lu Xi accept this?
“It must be Lu Bai and them who are jealous of the young master, so they are inverting black and white, talking nonsense!” Lu Xi’s followers said indignantly: “Right, they want to suppress the young master!”
“Can’t tolerate this!” The shorty said, then pointed at Lu Xi’s article and shouted loudly: “What kind of vision do you all have? This one is clearly the best!”
“Exactly, that one can’t compare to this one at all!” The crowd of followers immediately chimed in. “One in heaven, one underground!”
With this shouting, they indeed attracted everyone’s gaze. Lu Song glanced at the article pointed out by the shorty, then smiled and said: “This one, ah, I remember it. It’s indeed very good.”
“Finally said something fair!” The crowd of followers were overjoyed, feeling that Lu Song was much more pleasing to the eye now.
“However,” who knew that Lu Song would suddenly change his tone and say: “Not afraid of not knowing goods, but afraid of goods comparing goods. This article is dull and dull, somewhat empty. Although the antithetical couplets are neat and the rhythm strict, it always feels like something is missing when reading it.”
“Xi virtuous younger brother, don’t be unhappy,” Lu Song looked at the expressionless Lu Xi and said: “Your article is about the same as mine, but literary talent is something bestowed by heaven. It just didn’t fall on us.”
Lu Song’s words were extremely polite. In order not to damage Lu Xi’s face, he even didn’t hesitate to belittle himself. It was truly rare and valuable. The Lu Clan elders couldn’t help but nod secretly. Gentle, kind, respectful, moderate—this was the elegant gentlemanly demeanor of a Lu Clan young master!
But Lu Xi and the others didn’t appreciate it. In their ears, Lu Song’s words were saying that Lu Xi had no literary talent!
“Young Master Song, on what basis do you say our young master has no literary talent?!” Lu Xi’s followers pestered relentlessly.
Seeing them starting to quibble unreasonably, Lu Song slightly frowned, then smiled faintly: “Since you gentlemen are unconvinced, why not explain where virtuous younger brother Xi’s article is better than virtuous younger brother Yun’s. If you speak with reason, I can take back my words.”
“This…” The crowd of followers had attended clan school, but spent all day fooling around with Lu Xi. How could they explain anything? They could only stick out their necks and stubbornly say: “Anyway, it’s just good…”
“Besides, who’s better or worse isn’t up to you all. See which one the fourth steward picks at that time!”
Seeing these people acting almost like ruffians, the clan members couldn’t help but feel contempt in their hearts. But even Lu Song and the others still had to give Lu Xi some face—how could they dare to say anything?
Just as the scene was becoming awkward, there was suddenly a commotion at the edge of the crowd. Someone shouted loudly: “The First Prince Your Highness has arrived!”
“What?” Lu Bai and the other two, along with several Lu Clan elders present, hurriedly pushed through the crowd. Sure enough, they saw Huangfu Xuan in a casual robe, accompanied by several attendants, appearing within Lu Ward.
Everyone couldn’t help but be greatly shocked and hurriedly paid respects while wanting to go in to report to the clan leader. But they were firmly stopped by Huangfu Xuan, who said: “Absolutely not! I’m just passing by to join the fun. If you alarm the old gentleman, I’ll turn around and leave immediately!”
With him saying this, everyone had no choice but to stop.
The First Prince spotted Lu Yun at a glance but pretended not to know him. He said enthusiastically to several Lu Clan elders with a smile: “The wall is full of articles pasted up. What is this for?”
The Lu Clan elders hurriedly replied: “Today our humble clan is examining the younger generation. Someone proposed that everyone paste their own compositions on the wall for joint evaluation!”
“Oh?” Huangfu Xuan was truly interested now and laughed: “This is an unprecedented spectacle. I must take a good look!”
“Your Highness, please.” The Lu Clan crowd hurriedly parted to make a path, inviting Huangfu Xuan inside to view.
“Haha, Older Brother, how come I run into you everywhere!” At this time, a voice that made Huangfu Xuan extremely uncomfortable rang out.
The Lu Clan crowd looked along the voice and were immediately stunned. They saw the Second Prince, Third Prince, and Fourth Prince unexpectedly arriving together. The one who had spoken earlier was the Third Prince Huangfu Shi.
“Shock! How did all four Your Highnesses come?” The Lu Clan crowd stared dumbfounded at Huangfu Zhen and the others. Although there was no regulation saying princes could not casually contact the various clans, to avoid suspicion, princes Your Highnesses never casually wandered into the various clans’ territories without reason. A sight like all four princes appearing together in the Lu Clan was something no one had ever seen.
Huangfu Xuan’s face sank slightly, then he immediately composed himself and said: “How did you all come?”
“You get to pass by, Older Brother, and we can’t come join the fun too?” Huangfu Shi said with a grin, clearly having heard Huangfu Xuan’s earlier words.
“Don’t talk nonsense.” Huangfu Zhen smiled and glared at Huangfu Shi, then affectionately grabbed Huangfu Xuan’s arm and laughed: “As younger brothers, we naturally follow Older Brother’s lead. Seeing you enter Lu Ward, we hurriedly followed over.”
“Since we’re here, let’s take a look together.” Huangfu Xuan didn’t want to let outsiders see the brothers’ conflicts as a joke, so he also nodded with a smile: “The Lu Clan produces talented scholars generation after generation. Such an opportunity is rare.”
“With the four Your Highnesses gracing us with your presence, our humble clan is greatly honored!” Several Lu Clan elders hurriedly invited the four princes inside together to view. Lu Xi and the others were even more full of anticipation. The four princes surely wouldn’t be like Lu Bai and the other two, deliberately hyping up Lu Yun to suppress Lu Xi, right?
Huangfu Xuan and the other three, surrounded by the crowd, arrived in front of the powder wall pasted full of articles. They pretended to browse those articles, praising nonstop as they looked, as if they had really come to gain knowledge.
The Lu Clan crowd could only patiently accompany them at the side, thinking that by the time they finished looking, it would probably be dark.
Who knew that after just a short while, Huangfu Xuan suddenly pointed at an article and shouted: “This one is good! Better than the other articles!”
Huangfu Zhen and Huangfu Shi heard and crowded over. They only glanced at the signature and hadn’t even seen the content, but Huangfu Shi already shouted loudly: “Good! Really good! Much stronger than the other articles! Stands out from the crowd!”
Huangfu Zhen looked helplessly at Huangfu Shi, thinking even if acting, please put in some effort, okay? He carefully looked at that article, then clapped and laughed: “Third Brother is right this time. This article is indeed exceptionally brilliant. Even compared to those literary world masters, it’s not inferior!”
At this time, Huangfu Xuan also crowded over. Sure enough, on the article the three were unanimously praising, he saw that familiar name. He originally thought the three were indiscriminately hyping Lu Yun without regard for right or wrong. But Huangfu Xuan only read the beginning and was immersed in it, unable to recover for a long time.
‘How does this kid have such talent?’ Huangfu Xuan’s heart surged with shock waves. He couldn’t help but glance at Lu Yun standing in the crowd, his brows slightly furrowing as he began to worry: ‘Now they definitely won’t let him go. How can I compete with them!’
Seeing Huangfu Xuan’s troubled expression, Huangfu Shi immediately said: “What’s this, this article doesn’t meet Older Brother’s standards?”
“Oh, no, it’s not…” Huangfu Xuan came back to his senses and hurriedly shook his head: “I am shocked! Truly unprecedented, unprecedented!” As he spoke, his gaze turned to the Lu Clan crowd accompanying at the side. “What kind of person could write such an article?”
“The four Your Highnesses truly have good vision!” At this time, Lu Song smiled and replied: “We looked around before and all felt this article is indisputably first place!” He pointed at Lu Yun standing quietly there and said: “This article comes from his hand!”
“Oh?” The several princes followed Lu Song’s pointing and, upon seeing Lu Yun, all deliberately showed surprised expressions. “It’s you!”
“So it’s virtuous younger brother. Who would have thought virtuous younger brother’s article is not inferior to your chess skill at all!” Huangfu Zhen’s face was full of admiration and warmth as he shook his head repeatedly: “Unexpected! Unexpected!”
“Haha, is there anything this kid of yours can’t do?!” Huangfu Shi strode over boldly, hooked his arm around Lu Yun’s neck, and shouted affectionately.
“Later you have to properly give me some lessons, so Father Emperor stops always saying my articles are no good!” Huangfu Xuan also held Lu Yun’s hand, his face full of humble eagerness to learn.
Huangfu Xuan wished he could strangle these two shameless younger brothers.
