The entire hall erupted, voices of condemnation ringing out.
"Who are you? Who gave you the audacity to slander the foremost of the three great talents?"
"Do you think the talented Scholar Dugu doesn't understand? Do you know what 'fitting the occasion' means?"
"Such a reckless fellow should be thrown out!"
The crowd was incensed, but Gu Shaoyan was startled, "It's you?"
Dugu Xiao, however, fixed Liang Xiao with a cold gaze and said sternly, "Heh, a fly smelling something foul, rushing over impatiently?"
Liang Xiao retorted, "Are you saying everyone here, including yourself, is a fly? Then what are these young ladies?"
The originally indignant crowd turned their eyes to Dugu Xiao.
Even Yi Rou faltered slightly, then sneered, "Sharp-tongued!"
At that moment, Gu Shaoyan suddenly stood up and walked towards Liang Xiao, a look of joy on his face.
"Liang Xiao, I truly didn't expect you to attend the East Wind Gathering!"
"Liang Xiao?" the crowd was astonished again.
Was this the Liang Xiao who had rebuked the talented scholars and ladies at the Imperial Academy poetry competition?
"I've come to sell something," Liang Xiao nodded.
As soon as he finished speaking, the hall erupted in laughter!
Dugu Xiao chuckled, "Do you think this East Wind Gathering is a marketplace?"
Liang Xiao laughed heartily, "Not quite. After all, people at the marketplace at least don't pretend to be profound and affect elegance."
The crowd's faces fell again. Even Gu Shaoyan's expression shifted, and he whispered, "Liang Xiao, there are many sons of officials here. You should speak with caution!"
Just as Liang Xiao was about to respond, another commotion arose from the entrance.
The crowd looked intently, and a gasp of exclamation broke out, "Isn't that the capital's foremost talented lady, Miss Luo Qingxue!"
Dugu Xiao's heart leaped upon seeing Luo Qingxue.
Now that Liang Xiao had incurred the wrath of the crowd, this was a perfect opportunity to reveal Liang Xiao's reckless face to Luo Qingxue!
Luo Qingxue, who had been looking anxious, saw Liang Xiao from afar, and her anxiety turned into a wistful complaint.
"You, you actually came here!" Luo Qingxue walked up to Liang Xiao and fiercely pinched his arm.
Liang Xiao yelped in pain and whispered, "I just came to sell something."
"Selling things here, are you insane?" Luo Qingxue lost her temper.
"Qingxue, I heard Liang Xiao is your fiancé?" Mu Hong asked.
The people around cast envious and angry glances at Liang Xiao.
How could such a reckless fellow be worthy of being the fiancé of the foremost talented lady!
Seeing the unfavorable situation, Luo Qingxue quickly stepped in front of Liang Xiao and declared proudly, "That's right..."
Liang Xiao immediately pulled Luo Qingxue back, "This is my business, you don't need to bother."
"If you come to a place of romance, I have to bother!" Luo Qingxue couldn't help but pinch Liang Xiao's arm again.
Liang Xiao suppressed a smile, looking at the jealous Luo Qingxue.
Yi Rou on stage chuckled, "Miss Qingxue, it's a pleasure to meet you. But your taste is truly beyond my admiration! Young Master Dugu and your fiancé are like heaven and earth apart!"
Dugu Xiao laughed heartily, "You flatter me, you flatter me!"
Luo Qingxue said proudly, "Of course! Liang Xiao is heaven!"
The crowd looked bewildered.
Rumor had it that Luo Qingxue quite disliked her fiancé; why was she defending him now?
Dugu Xiao was both shocked and enraged, "Qingxue, how can you be so stubborn..."
Clearly, everyone in the capital believed that he and Luo Qingxue were a match made in heaven!
Just as Luo Qingxue was about to speak further, Liang Xiao's voice reached her ear, "Good girl, be obedient, come behind me."
Hearing this, Luo Qingxue turned and glared at Liang Xiao, but met his earnest gaze. Her heart fluttered, and her feet moved involuntarily as she obediently walked behind Liang Xiao.
"Considering the song you gave me, I'll indulge you for now, hum..."
Hearing Luo Qingxue's muttering, Liang Xiao smiled faintly and swept his gaze across the hall.
"What I, Liang Xiao, say is what I say, and what is second is second, is there a problem with a famous line even a three-year-old child would know?"
The crowd was angered but hesitated to act further.
Because what Liang Xiao said seemed to have no fault...
They calmed down now and realized they had indeed been praising Dugu Xiao's talent insincerely, merely because of his reputation.
Yi Rou finally grew angry and asked, "What right do you have to criticize Young Master Dugu?"
Before Liang Xiao could answer, Gu Shaoyan spoke first, "May Gu offer a few words of fairness?"
The crowd nodded one after another, eager to listen.
"Let's discuss the matter itself. I believe, Liang Xiao, you indeed have the qualifications! 'The merchant's daughter knows not the sorrow of a fallen nation, singing 'Rear Courtyard Flowers' across the river,' and that poem 'Man Jiang Hong,' were indeed spoken by Liang Xiao, and are sung by everyone! Don't you all understand that the price of paper has risen in the capital!"
The crowd was stunned and speechless.
The reason for the surge in paper prices in the capital was precisely due to Liang Xiao's 'Man Jiang Hong'!
Dugu Xiao said sternly, "Brother Shaoyan, is our friendship worth less than a dissolute young man? Your actions, Brother Shaoyan, make me feel disheartened!"
Gu Shaoyan's brow furrowed, and he said sternly, "My father always taught me that a gentleman is open and candid. I speak only what is in my heart. Liang Xiao indeed has the qualifications!"
"'Man Jiang Hong' came from Liang Xiao's lips. There is no record of this poem in past poetry..." The crowd murmured, their stance beginning to waver.
That 'Man Jiang Hong' was truly a timeless masterpiece, and no one dared to find fault with it!
Because, the poem had been included in the imperial collection, personally ordered by His Majesty to be transcribed, and ranked as the first poem in 'Great Qian Poetry'!
Within a few short days, even the soldiers, often regarded as "crude men" by scholars, praised the poem highly. Each carried a transcribed copy of 'Man Jiang Hong' with them, reciting it with great passion!
Yi Rou's hand holding the pipa trembled slightly, unable to accept this reality.
No matter how one looked at it, Liang Xiao was utterly detestable!
"It seems that during my period of secluded study, many interesting things have happened in the capital?" Mu Hong walked from the crowd towards Liang Xiao, looking at him, then at Dugu Xiao.
"Brother Mu Hong, Liang Xiao beat refugees, do you also support him..." Dugu Xiao finally began to feel nervous.
If even Mu Hong joined Liang Xiao's side, his situation would be precarious!
"Beat refugees? Utterly heartless!" The crowd's expressions changed drastically, and they distanced themselves from Liang Xiao as if he were a plague carrier.
The talented ladies on stage looked disgusted, their gazes towards Liang Xiao devoid of the shock and awe from before.
Such an act would be condemned by all literati!
Liang Xiao laughed heartily, "The refugee camp is directly opposite Chun Chun Tower. When have you ever cared? Now you are all full of benevolence and righteousness?"
The crowd was shocked and angered, but no one spoke to retort, thus exposing their indifference towards the refugees.
Mu Hong shook his head, "I heard my father mention this matter. The Prime Minister is still investigating and understanding it; how can we rush to conclusions? I, however, believe it is unlikely that Liang Xiao would commit such a foolish act."
Dugu Xiao's brow twitched, "Brother Mu Hong!"
Mu Hong continued, "However, I can roughly understand the animosity between you and Liang Xiao. Therefore, I have a compromise proposal."
Saying this, Mu Hong picked up a brush from the table and handed it to Liang Xiao, smiling, "Liang Xiao, do you dare to compose another poem to impress everyone and prove you have the capital to mock Young Master Dugu? I can grind ink for you, just write it on paper."
Under the confused gaze of the crowd, Liang Xiao took the brush and said, "Write it on paper? I refuse."
As soon as he finished speaking, mocking laughter erupted throughout the hall.
"His true colors are revealed!"
Dugu Xiao laughed even more gleefully, "He refused a good opportunity."
Mu Hong frowned, "Is my request too excessive?"