At that moment, Jiang Zancheng, who was sitting opposite, stroked his goatee and joined the conversation with a grin, "Why should the Princess be so serious? It's just a friendly competition of talents. If the Princess's talents are not up to par, it's fine to say so. No one will mock you, after all, your status is no secret here, and everyone understands."
Fan Zehao slammed down his wine cup, wanting to challenge Jiang Zancheng to a duel. However, Zhao Jiaqi, with quick hands, held his arm and whispered to him, "Calm yourself. I can deal with this kind of vermin!"
Zhao Jiaqi met Jiang Zancheng's smiling gaze. Her smile was even gentler than before.
"If that's the case, why don't the Empress go first and set an example for us? Let this Princess have the honor of admiring the Empress's literary talent. It's better to share joy than to enjoy it alone. What do you think, Your Majesty?"
Huangfu Yifan's forehead veins bulged. The Zhen King's Consort was asking him what he thought again!
He had only asked her how she saw things, and she had already asked him twice!
Her retaliatory nature was too strong! Now he was finally tasting the bitterness of his actions.
Since that was the case, if they wanted to play, everyone would play together, and no one would be allowed to just watch.
"Indeed, as the Zhen King's Consort said, everyone should showcase their talents. Those with outstanding literary talent will be rewarded with a coral tree."
Afterward, he brought out the congratulatory gift presented by the逍遥王 (Xiaoyao King) as the prize.
Several eunuchs carried the coral tree forward. The entire coral tree was almost as tall as a person. It was no wonder it was called a coral tree. Especially in the dim night, it glowed brilliantly, beautiful and captivating.
Everyone's eyes lingered on this rare treasure, and their palms itched with anticipation to display their talents.
Everyone was happy, and even more so excited. Only Huangfu Xu's face was unusually grim. He sat on his stool and drank wine dejectedly.
"Then, let's start with the Empress to set the tone!"
Huangfu Yifan had great confidence in Jiang Youyou's talent. In the Yun Kingdom, Jiang Youyou's reputation as a talented woman was among the best.
"Your humble subject obeys your decree!"
Jiang Youyou looked at the people below, eager to try, and found it quite amusing. For such a small gain, their greedy nature was fully revealed on their faces.
Soon, a poem emerged from her red lips. It wasn't exceptionally good, but it wasn't bad either. Everyone applauded. Following that, everyone's eyes turned to Zhao Jiaqi.
She thought it would be her, and Zhao Jiaqi herself also thought it would be her. After all, many people were watching her with anticipation for her downfall. However, before she could speak, someone had already taken the lead.
She glanced sideways and saw that it was the Crown Princess of the Jin Kingdom. Her words flowed effortlessly, and the poem was good. Unfortunately, Zhao Jiaqi couldn't appreciate it.
"The Empress and I, this Crown Princess, have already performed. Now, it is time for the Zhen King's Consort to compose a poem."
Zhao Jiaqi couldn't compose poems, but she could recite them. She offered them a piece of "将进酒" (Bring in the Wine).
"Do you not see the Yellow River waters descend from the heavens, rushing into the sea and never returning? Do you not see the white hair in the bright mirror of your high hall, from morning black threads to evening snow? When life is full of joy, seize the moment, and let not your golden goblet be empty before the moon. Heaven gave me talent, it must be put to use; a thousand pieces of gold scattered will return again. Let us cook sheep and slaughter cattle for merriment, and drink three hundred cups at a time. My dear King, my逍遥王, bring in the wine, stop not the cups. Let me sing a song for you, and may you lend me your ear. Trumpets and drums, delicacies and jade are not to be valued, but only wish to be drunk forever and never wake. Since ancient times, sages and wise men have been lonely, only the drunkards leave their names. At the past feasts of Ping Le, a dou of wine for ten thousand, we indulged in merriment. Why does the host speak of little money? You must buy more wine to drink with me. My five-flowered horses, call the boy to exchange them for fine wine, and together we shall dispel the sorrows of ten thousand years."
As Zhao Jiaqi recited this passage, silence fell upon the hall, not a sound. After a moment, everyone gasped.
Zong Han was the first to recover, and applause erupted in the hall. Zhao Jiaqi had once again refreshed his perception of her.
Only someone with her breadth of mind could compose such a spirited poem: "Consort, your literary talent is excellent. I believe the Zhen King's Consort's poem far surpasses those of the Empress and the Jin Crown Princess. The first prize should rightfully belong to the Zhen King's Consort. Does anyone have any objections?"
Since Zong Huang had spoken, everyone lowered their heads. It wasn't that they didn't want to acknowledge it, but they felt that the poems they had composed could absolutely not surpass the Consort's, so they no longer stepped forward to embarrass themselves.
Jiang Zancheng stared intently at Zhao Jiaqi, his mind constantly questioning himself!
A peasant girl? Illiterate?
Judging by this poem and her demeanor, where was she the wife of a country bumpkin!
Huangfu Yifan's face was not good, but thinking that the coral tree had not been taken by the Jin Kingdom, he still felt happy.
However, the fact that Zhao Jiaqi had won this prize still made him feel slightly unbalanced.
He had hoped that his subjects would receive this reward, but he did not want Zhao Jiaqi to get it, yet it was she who did!
He could only say that he did not understand Zhao Jiaqi at all, and he had been careless!
Even though Huangfu Yifan didn't want to admit it, he had to acknowledge that Zhao Jiaqi was the winner. His smile was very forced as he said to her, "The Zhen King's Consort's literary talent is outstanding, so the coral tree will naturally be awarded to the Consort!"
Zhao Jiaqi raised her eyelids slightly, a little unwillingly, and curtsied, "Thank you, Your Majesty!"
She was not interested in treasures at all, and she thought about selling this thing, wondering how much money it would fetch.
Everyone was congratulating her on winning the top prize and obtaining such a treasure, but who would have thought that she would actually want to sell it for money?
It was the Emperor's grand wedding. Whether he was tired or not, she didn't know, but Zhao Jiaqi felt as if her bones were falling apart.
After enduring the banquet, she truly wished she had wings to fly back.
On the way out of the palace, Huangfu Xu caught up with her. Knowing Zhao Jiaqi's personality, he stated his purpose immediately, without any beating around the bush.
"Consort, would you be willing to part with that coral? To be frank, that item was my congratulatory gift to the Emperor, and now..."
Zhao Jiaqi looked at the item being carried by the eunuch in his hands, then at Huangfu Xu's grim face. She chuckled a few times.
"The逍遥 King's fiefdom is truly prosperous, to be able to offer such a grand gift to the Emperor. However, parting with it is possible, but it depends on how much that item is worth in your eyes. Think it over carefully, and bring the bank notes to me tomorrow!"
No matter how grand the gift, or how precious the item, what was the point?
The Emperor looked down on it, and that was that. It was unlike them, husband and wife, who casually gave a Guanyin statue that sends children, and this jade alone cost them a hundred and fifty taels.
Now she didn't have to feel bad about the hundred and fifty taels. If this coral sold, it would be at least several times that amount. She had recouped her investment, so coming out tonight wasn't a loss.
The next day.
As the couple were having breakfast, the gatekeeper reported that the 逍遥 King had arrived and was waiting in the front hall.
"Wife, such a rare treasure is seldom seen. Don't you want to keep it for your enjoyment?"
Zhao Jiaqi honestly shook her head, "Although the item is good, it's not as secure as having money."
Given the current situation, the Emperor could make a move against them at any time. Keeping such an item was superfluous.
She couldn't take it with her, and it would be a pity to smash it. It was better to exchange it for a few bank notes, which could be used wherever she went.
As the saying goes, "Antiques in prosperous times, gold in troubled times" has its reasons!