Dan Qing found the speaker rather interesting. Both the tone and the cadence stirred an unusual flutter within him.
He couldn't help but rise and walk towards the screen that obstructed outsiders' view.
He saw a woman dressed in beggar's rags, approaching the poetry gathering hall with a swagger that defied convention.
Though her attire was tattered, her demeanor showed no trace of inferiority. The slight upturn of her eyebrows carried a calm self-possession, as if she held the world in disdain, yet it didn't come across as arrogant.
Was this the blood-smeared beggar woman from the broken temple that day?
Dan Qing heard his own heart pound. He clutched his chest with his left hand, his eyes already glistening with unshed tears.
Could it be you?
Ah Ci, have you come looking for me?
Should I hold onto hope?
Qiao Shan suddenly looked up and saw a disfigured beggar woman standing amidst the crowd, observing her with supreme nonchalance.
Even with the two ferocious scars crisscrossing her face, they couldn't hide her inherent, commanding aura.
Qiao Shan's pupils contracted violently.
Qiao Ci!
To leave the roots un-removed, and the spring breeze will blow again! I was indeed too merciful!!
But weren't her legs broken? Why could she now walk like the wind? Could it be that those servants were merely going through the motions?
Moreover, she actually knew the poem "Shui Diao Ge Tou." Could she possibly not be the original person, but a transmigrator like herself?
At this moment, Qiao Shan's mind was a whirlwind of questions, but now was not the time to delve into them.
"What do you mean by that?" Qiao Shan narrowed her eyes, amplifying her voice considerably to project an air of dominance.
"Do you have comprehension issues? Can't you understand plain speech?" Qiao Ci strolled into the center of the poetry gathering.
Upon seeing the scars on Qiao Ci's face, many men covered their mouths with their sleeves, not daring to look a second time, lest they have nightmares upon returning home.
"What evidence do you have to prove I plagiarized?" No matter what, Qiao Shan would never admit to copying.
Even if Qiao Ci were a fellow modern-day soul, what powerful evidence could she possibly present?
"That's right, Miss Qiao has already composed several astonishingly brilliant poems. What right does a beggar have to accuse her of plagiarism?"
"Is this a place for beggars? What does she know of poetry?"
"But the poem she just recited matches Qiao Shan's composition perfectly in terms of symmetry and imagery."
"Perhaps she saw it somewhere and came here to show off."
"Qiao Shan has been diligently studying the classics at home recently. We've all witnessed her efforts. It's believable that she could produce such stunning poetry. As for this beggar,呵呵..."
Qiao Shan did not wish to bicker with Qiao Ci in this setting, so she shifted her gaze to the Eldest Princess, who was presiding over the poetry gathering, hoping she would intervene.
As this was the Eldest Princess's first time hosting a poetry gathering, she did not want to spoil it. She then turned to Qiao Ci, saying, "Why do you claim Qiao Shan's poetry is plagiarized? Without evidence, it is slander, and you know you will be severely beaten?"
"Then what evidence should I provide?" Qiao Ci asked with a smile. "Why not let her complete the rest? See if she can maintain the parallelism and the imagery?"
The Eldest Princess found this feasible and said to Qiao Shan, "Your poem thus far is only half complete. Now, compose the remaining part, so that this beggar can be convinced."
Although she thought the beggar's completed lyrics were excellent, the Eldest Princess couldn't help but anticipate Qiao Shan producing even more brilliant verses.
This was her poetry gathering, and if exceptional poems were presented, it would reflect well on her.
Qiao Shan was enraged. The Eldest Princess was too useless, being led by the nose by a mere beggar.
Where could she possibly compose a poem more astonishing than Su Shi's? Although she had been involved in literature before, she was merely an unsuccessful writer with mediocre cultural grounding.
Thus, she said with a forced smile, "I had inspiration initially, but she completely disrupted it. I beg the Eldest Princess's forgiveness. Since she has come to make trouble, she must have come prepared. Let's just assume she is telling the truth."
Qiao Shan spoke ambiguously. She was in a difficult position and could only pretend to be magnanimous, especially since she couldn't produce evidence of her plagiarism. Having already recited one poem, and now the first half of this one, it was enough to establish her reputation as a talented woman of Dan country.
"Making trouble? Did you two have a prior conflict?" The Eldest Princess was very interested in gossip.
Qiao Shan gave a wry smile. "It's not exactly a conflict. Her name is Qiao Ci. She was born to a housekeeper who was bestowed the family name by my Qiao family. She read some books with me. Because she had sticky fingers recently, I expelled her from the manor. I never expected... As for the latter half of 'Shui Diao Ge Tou' that she just recited, forget it... Everyone, you've seen my embarrassment."
The Eldest Princess suddenly understood. "So that's how it is. A servant who read books with her master for a few years dares to frame her own mistress and had sticky fingers. Come, escort her out!"
Dan Qing, who was in the private room, froze upon hearing Qiao Ci's name. When he heard the Eldest Princess was about to have her dragged out, he couldn't think of anything else. He abruptly pushed aside the screen in front of him and exclaimed, "Wait!"
The Eldest Princess, who doted on her younger brother, heard this and raised her hand to stop those who were about to escort Qiao Ci out. "You may withdraw for now."
Then, she looked at Dan Qing with a smile and said, "Younger brother Dan Qing, do you have any objections?"
Qiao Ci's eyes flickered upon seeing Dan Qing emerge, and she felt a bit uneasy, inwardly scolding, "Little spoon, why didn't you tell me beforehand that Dan Qing was here? I could have worn a veil or a rag to hide my ugliness!"
Dan Qing suppressed the overwhelming joy in his heart and pointed at Qiao Ci, saying, "I believe her!"
If he could transmigrate into Su Mo, why couldn't his empress transmigrate to Dan country?
No, it wasn't a possibility, it was a certainty!
It was her, it must be her, it had to be her, otherwise, he might not be able to bear the pain of losing her a second time.
The despair of hope being shattered was the most profound.
Qiao Shan suddenly looked at Dan Qing, wondering why this idiot was getting involved. She regretted writing him as a pampered darling who was good for nothing but affection.
Although his later characterization was that of a male lead who admired Qiao Ci, Qiao Ci had not yet revealed her brilliance. Faced with such a disfigured face, how could he possibly fall for her?
Could plot strength and love at first sight make him stand up for her?
Qiao Shan looked at Dan Qing hesitantly, "Your Highness, what is this?"
Dan Qing stood in front of Qiao Ci, gazing at the scars on her face, his heart aching intensely.
She had suffered.
From now on, he would protect her!
As he approached, Dan Qing felt a sense of shyness, like returning home after a long absence. He turned to Qiao Shan with a stern glare, thinking, it was this woman who bullied his Ah Ci!
"You say you didn't plagiarize, then why not compose another equally brilliant poem? If you start it, how about you and... Qiao Ci continue it together?"
As he spoke, he turned to Qiao Ci and asked tentatively, "What... do you think?"
He knew very well that Qiao Ci was extremely learned, proficient in poetry, lyrics, astronomy, and geography. Grasping a plagiarist who stole others' poems would surely be easy for her.