Chapter 24: Du Chengfeng Attends the Poetry Gathering in Chang’an

Inside the Perfumed Palace, Lady Zheng waited anxiously for several days, but no news came of the assassins she had sent successfully completing their mission. The messengers she dispatched outside the palace brought back information that Du Chengfeng was living as usual in his mansion.

On the third day after Du Chengfeng killed the Zheng family’s assassins, Lady Zheng finally received a related message. She had someone inquire at the Court of Judicial Review: three days ago, two charred bodies were found by officials a dozen miles outside Chang’an. The faces were nearly unrecognizable, but the only proof of identity was the jade pendants hanging from their necks, clearly inscribed with the character for Zheng.

Because the bodies had not burned for long, the deep scar on the forehead of one man was still strikingly visible. The officials had specifically noted this in their report.

When Lady Zheng heard this news, she was shattered. Upon learning that one of the dead bore a deep scar on his forehead, she knew without doubt that her two assassins had been killed by Du Chengfeng.

The whereabouts and purpose of the two assassins were known only to her. Now, with both dead, the only possibility was that Du Chengfeng had killed them. Since the two had been slain by Du Chengfeng, Lady Zheng was more convinced than ever that her elder brother’s family had been wiped out by him.

The problem was, all of this was only her own speculation, and she still had no concrete evidence. Without proof, she could not accuse Du Chengfeng at the Court of Judicial Review.

She desperately wanted to seek out the Emperor and have him issue a decree to thoroughly investigate Du Chengfeng. Yet she felt guilty, knowing that without any evidence, the Emperor would never believe her.

In order to bribe the assassins and gather information, Lady Zheng had nearly spent all the silver she had accumulated from years of imperial rewards. But her painstaking plan for vengeance collapsed within a few days.

A few days later, a eunuch informed Li Shimin of a new development: Lady Zheng in the Perfumed Palace had gone completely mad.

Upon hearing this, Li Shimin, out of years of marital affection, granted her a sum of money and ordered that she be sent back to the Zheng family in Yingyang to live out her days.

None of this concerned Du Chengfeng any longer. After bringing his elder brother to Chang’an, he began contemplating how to proceed.

He had already exchanged for iron smelting technology, cement production techniques, and petroleum refining methods, though he could not yet implement them.

Reflecting on his situation, Du Chengfeng realized he was still relatively weak. Though his cloned soldiers possessed formidable strength, it was limited to war. His goal was to transform the Tang dynasty and dominate the world, but at the root of it all, he still lacked talented people!

Alas! While Du Chengfeng was mired in his own worries, Manager Lu sent word: the newly appointed Prefect, Lord Wang, would be hosting a grand poetry gathering in two days at Luo Garden beside Qujiang Pool, inviting enthusiastic young men of Chang’an to participate. The top three winners would receive rewards of fifty to one hundred strings of coins and could be recommended by the Prefect for positions in various counties.

Du Chengfeng had little interest in the monetary rewards or the official recommendations. What drew him was the opportunity to raise his prestige and reputation. Perhaps he might even discover talented individuals at the event, so he agreed without hesitation.

Thinking about attending the poetry gathering, he realized he could not appear in shabby attire. He instructed Steward Sun to order several sets of pure white brocade robes.

In modern times, Du Chengfeng had no particular preference for colors, but upon arriving in the Tang dynasty, he found himself drawn to pure white.

Two days passed swiftly. Du Chengfeng walked to Luo Garden clad in white brocade, standing out strikingly among the crowd. His unique temperament, gentle and refined demeanor, gave him the appearance of a courteous gentleman.

Luo Garden was built by the water, shaded by verdant trees and adorned with clusters of flowers, evoking the charm of a southern riverside town. Perhaps because the Prefect was hosting the event, scholars and literati from all over Chang’an flocked there in droves.

The Tang people’s love for poetry and literature was something Du Chengfeng witnessed firsthand. Besides scholars and literati, a great many noble ladies and young married women attended, dressed resplendently in jewels and finery, their faces radiant with joy.

The spectacle dazzled Du Chengfeng, prompting him to mutter, “Are they here for the poetry gathering or for matchmaking?”

A young man in brocade nearby overheard him, smirked disdainfully, and teased, “This must be your first poetry gathering, brother. Did you not know women can participate too?”

Stung by this unexpected retort, Du Chengfeng’s face twitched with mild irritation.

He hadn’t imagined he’d ever be mocked for ignorance. Seeing the surrounding looks of contempt, he hurried into Luo Garden.

Since the poetry gathering had not yet started, people mingled in small groups, laughing and exchanging ideas.

The ladies and young wives pointed and commented on the scholars, judging them by their attire and bearing to determine their family status and whether they might be worthy of entrusting themselves or their daughters.

The scholars enjoyed the praise and the secret glances sent their way by the women, basking in the vanity of the moment.

Yet there were some who stood apart. Near the dais, beside a cluster of bamboo, several elegant and distinguished young men stood quietly, attracting considerable attention.

Beside them were a dozen ladies and young wives, their faces flushed with longing as they gazed at the men, murmuring, “Look, it’s the Four Talents of Chang’an! So charming! My heart is beating so fast.”

Du Chengfeng had to admit that Tang society was quite open—women could freely express affection for those they admired, though only if they were unmarried.

So these were the famed Four Talents of Chang’an, no wonder they drew such attention. Du Chengfeng felt no disdain. To be so honored, they must possess extraordinary literary skill and scholarship. If given the opportunity, he would not mind befriending them.

Around noon, the poetry gathering officially began. The host was a venerable scholar, esteemed and dignified.

There were ten judges seated behind the dais, all thin-faced and appearing well past sixty, but their eyes shone brightly.

Each judge’s seat was marked with a nameplate listing their name and position, saving the host the trouble of introducing them.

Du Chengfeng glanced at the names: Yu Shinan, Chu Suiliang, Ouyang Xun—three of the Four Masters of Early Tang were present, all renowned figures and masters of calligraphy. Du Chengfeng drew a sharp breath; he realized he would need to show genuine ability.

Clearly, the Prefect attached great importance to this gathering. The host looked to the Prefect, who nodded slightly. The host then cleared his throat and announced, “Esteemed guests, the Chang’an Poetry Gathering commences. Before we begin, let me explain the rules.”

Upon hearing the host speak, the crowd quieted.

He continued, “This competition consists of three rounds: both regulated verse and free verse are permitted. In the first round, participants select their own topics; ink, paper, and brushes are prepared on the dais. Submit your work to the judges for scoring. The top fifty advance to the second round. In the second round, topics are set by the Prefect and judges; the top ten move on to the third round. In the third round, the judges choose topics at random, and the top three are decided. I wish each participant success in showcasing their talents and achieving great results.”