Chapter 30: A Poem Stirs Chang'an City

The events at the pleasure house had become the talk of the entire city of Chang'an, spawning countless legendary versions of the story. Within half a day, even the children of Chang'an were reciting the poem "Jin Se."

"Zhuang Zhou's morning dream bewildered by the butterfly; King Wang's spring heart entrusted to the cuckoo... How elegant this is, it surpasses 'Green is your collar, deep is my heart'..."

Some scholars were moved to tears upon reading the verses. They felt that, apart from a few pieces in the Classic of Poetry, nothing could compare to this work. One scholar held a copy of Su Chen’s poem. It was not the original manuscript, but a transcription dictated by Su Chen. The scribe, having studied the calligraphy of Wang Xizhi and his son Wang Xianzhi, wrote with a fluid and elegant hand. When he recounted the events of the previous night and displayed the poem, it caused an immediate sensation.

"Is this the autograph of the greatest talent in the Great Tang? I never expected someone so young to write with such mastery; it carries the very spirit of the Sage of Calligraphy, Wang Xizhi."

Those with a discerning eye immediately recognized the value of the calligraphy. Many offered high prices to acquire the manuscript. The scholar was overjoyed, feeling as though he had struck gold. Cui Wenbin certainly could not have foreseen that this piece would become so valuable. The scholar did not rush to sell it; he believed that a talent like Su Chen would only grow more famous in the future, making this scroll a family heirloom.

Soon, news from Chang'an reached the imperial palace. Upon hearing that Su Chen had been at the pleasure house, Emperor Li Shimin rolled his eyes.

"This boy... he truly is a dog that can't stop eating dung; he’s just as he was before."

Li Shimin’s first instinct was that Su Chen had gone looking for women. He thought he should have had Zhangsun Chong teach him a lesson. But when he later heard that Su Chen had actually won a poetry contest at the house, Li Shimin laughed.

"He must have hired a ghostwriter."

How could Su Chen possibly write poetry himself? He must have found someone to do it for him. However, as the reports of Su Chen’s poem shaking the city of Chang'an continued, the Emperor grew curious.

"How good can a ghostwritten poem be? Bring it here; let me see what he has written."

Li Shimin was intrigued. Ghostwritten poems were usually mediocre; if those scholars were truly talented, they wouldn't be working as servants for others.

When Li Shimin finally read the poem, his eyes widened.

"Zhuang Zhou's morning dream bewildered by the butterfly... The pearl in the vast sea sheds tears in the moonlight... This is a poem that will endure for a thousand years."

Li Shimin was a man of taste. He recognized that such a poem would inevitably be passed down through history, and it seemed that from this day forward, nothing could stop Su Chen’s rise to fame. A poem of this caliber could not have been ghostwritten; anyone capable of writing it would never dream of letting someone else claim the credit. If it were truly Su Chen’s work, it was simply unfathomable.

"How is this possible? If this boy really wrote it, his literary talent alone would justify granting him an official position in the imperial court."

In the Tang Dynasty, poetry was held in high regard—it was considered the righteous path. Those who could compose such brilliant verses were seen as superior beings. Yet, someone so gifted had remained undiscovered until now. Li Shimin began to change his perception of Su Chen, realizing he had long underestimated him and that there was likely much more to the young man than he had realized.

Meanwhile, Su Chen slept until the afternoon, as did Cheng Chumou. When the two finally awoke, they found the sun setting behind the western hills.

"That was a truly refreshing sleep."

After rising, Su Chen felt invigorated, a sensation he had never experienced before. Zhou Taifu arrived to report that they had finished preparing the "Xiaoyao Pills" by noon. A man had come to collect them, claiming he was sent by Su Chen, so Zhou Taifu had handed them over.

"Was the person who came for the medicine a man or a woman?" Su Chen asked, fearing he had missed his chance. He remembered Yang Wan'er saying last night that she was leaving Chang'an, and he wondered if she had come herself or sent someone.

"A man," Zhou Taifu replied, not understanding why Su Chen was so concerned. The visitor was a young man.

Su Chen felt a pang of disappointment, though it was to be expected—it would have been inappropriate for a lady to visit their medical clinic alone. Zhou Taifu left after his report, but Cheng Chumou’s interest was piqued.

"Brother, tell me, what kind of woman was she last night?" Cheng Chumou asked, curious to see Su Chen still preoccupied with the lady from the night before.

Su Chen couldn't quite put it into words. He sensed that the woman harbored secrets she did not wish to be known.

"I can’t quite say. She was as beautiful as a diving goose and as brilliant as she was talented."

Few in the Great Tang received such high praise from Su Chen. He pondered Yang Wan'er's identity. He knew that the name she used was likely a pseudonym, as was customary in the pleasure houses.

"Who exactly is she?"

Su Chen retraced the events of the night. It was clear that Yang Wan'er had not come specifically for him. Given the circumstances, her background was unlikely to be simple. He recalled the two shadows—her bodyguards—who had stood motionless outside her door from the moment he arrived until he left.

"Brother, what are you thinking about? She’s just a woman of the pleasure house," Cheng Chumou said, oblivious to Su Chen’s deep contemplation.

Su Chen shook his head. He had sensed something amiss the previous night but had found no opportunity to voice it. He searched his memory, but no record of such a woman existed in his understanding of the Tang Dynasty.

"No, she is definitely not that simple. I can feel that there are secrets behind her that we don't know yet, but one day, we will surely find out."

Su Chen was certain of her complexity. While he couldn't pinpoint exactly what made her so formidable, he was sure of one thing: her arrival at the pleasure house was likely not for him, but for Cui Wenbin. And perhaps, even Cui Wenbin was merely a pawn in a larger game involving the great noble families.