My Sister Insisted on Swapping Marriages, and I Became a Marchioness Instead

Chapter 134: Chapter 134: Qin Wan Gifts a Poem Through a Dream

Gu Jingjun’s straightforward words elicited a few light laughs, and even Qin Siyuan couldn’t help but smile, saying: ”Let’s take a stroll; I can exchange verses with you. Maybe you’ll write something different today.”

Lin Ziqi, intent on seizing first place, invited Gu Jingjun merely for attendance; upon hearing this, he remarked, ”Then you two go ahead for a walk. Siyuan, I’ll leave Sixth Master in your care.”

Sixth Master Gu and Qin Siyuan, both impeccably dressed and strikingly handsome, stood up and immediately drew attention from many onlookers.

The two people sitting nearby naturally noticed as well and began inquiring out of curiosity.

Upon learning they were Sixth Master from the Dingbei Marquis Mansion and the nephew of Qin Jijiu, they smiled and nodded, ”Good looks run in the family.”

Qin Siyuan took Sixth Master Gu to a small pavilion nearby, where they began to match lines while gesturing at the colors of the sky and clouds.

Since the beginning of schooling, even elementary students start learning how to match lines. Sixth Master Gu was decent at basic word and phrase matching but lacked skill in line matching.

Qin Siyuan could tell that Gu Jingjun’s studies at Imperial College were quite ordinary.

”Let’s start with tonal line matching, without worrying about deeper meaning for now, as long as they sound harmonious. How about it?”

Gu Jingjun suddenly showed interest.

Qin Siyuan initiated a line for Gu Jingjun to respond to. Upon a successful match, they dissected it together; if not successful, Qin Siyuan guided him on how to find corresponding words and phrases.

After several exchanges, Gu Jingjun became more spirited and couldn’t help but laugh, ”How come following you makes writing poetry feel easier?”

Qin Siyuan responded solemnly, ”Poetry is inherently easy. During the Tang Dynasty, Bai Juyi would read his poems aloud to illiterate old women, ensuring they could understand. Employing tonal harmonious phrases that rhyme well, even with simple verses, is still poetry.”

Gu Jingjun felt greatly encouraged.

Qin Siyuan continued, ”With practice over time, naturally, you’ll be able to craft poems. When the Qin Family was in its prime, it’s said even the servants could compose verse spontaneously. Now the family’s declined, it’s been long without a towering talent; count me as one of the better ones.”

Gu Jingjun looked yearningly, saying, ”I wonder when I could also compose spontaneously.”

Qin Siyuan replied seriously, ”If Sixth Master Gu truly wishes to learn, memorizing Tang and Song poetry thoroughly will naturally lead to spontaneous composition.”

”Really?”

”Haha, naturally true,” a voice interjected behind them before Qin Siyuan could reply.

Gu Jingjun turned to see an old man who had conversed with Lin Ziqi, wrinkling his nose slightly, inquiring, ”Sir, are you also a poetry expert?”

The old man chuckled, ”I wouldn’t dare call myself an expert; I merely compose a few poems during leisure. Watching you two having fun sparked interest in me; why don’t we match some verses together?”

Qin Siyuan laughed, ”It’s an honor to accept.”

The old man stroked his beard, stating, ”Let’s try matching...” looking at the eager Gu Jingjun, ”How about a five-character quatrain?”

A five-character quatrain contains only four lines, each with five characters, concise yet impactful, perfect for someone at Gu Jingjun’s level.

Qin Siyuan felt a sentiment rising within, smiled, ”Good, Sixth Master, how do you feel?”

Gu Jingjun: ”Good, it’s just right.”

After exchanging verses with Qin Siyuan several times, he felt a significant improvement compared to before, eager to showcase his skills.

The old man remarked, ”I saw Lin Junren’s poem topic earlier; this place is the scene of Fishing River Bend. Why don’t we use fishing as our theme?”

Gu Jingjun replied, ”Good.”

Qin Siyuan nodded, having prepared beforehand, and having studied Qin Yuan’s example poems, he felt somewhat confident. Remembering Qin Yuan’s method for elevating poetic imagination, Qin Siyuan let go of mundane thoughts, gazing at the shimmering water surface. A rare breeze from the south blew into the pavilion, bringing a refreshing coolness, sparking an inspiration.

He promptly declared, ”I have it.”

”Siyuan, what did you come up with?”

Lin Ziqi, fanning himself, entered the pavilion and inquired seemingly unintentionally.

Gu Jingjun replied, ”The three of us are composing poems here with the theme of fishing.”

Lin Ziqi quickly said, ”Could I be included too? Earlier on my way here, I just crafted four lines.”

Qin Siyuan looked to the old man.

The old man smiled, ”Chance of meeting is fate, since you’re here, let’s hear Lin Junren first.”

Lin Ziqi had prepared for this day for a long time; before leaving home, he heard Qin Wan recite a superb five-character quatrain on fishing, far exceeding his painstaking efforts.

Qin Wan said she dreamt it up overnight, and Lin Ziqi felt the heavens were aiding him.

Opportunity unseized leads to disaster.

He glanced at Qin Siyuan, thinking, once he recited this piece, Qin Siyuan wouldn’t even need to try.

Though lacking in ethics slightly, when it comes to fame and fortune, one must not hesitate.

Lin Ziqi slowly recited the flawlessly memorized quatrain.

The three listeners’ expressions changed noticeably.

Though Gu Jingjun lacked poetic skills, his ability to appreciate poetry was intact. He applauded immediately, ”Good poem, good poem.”

The old man stroked his beard, nodded deeply, with eyes full of amusement toward him.

Whereas Qin Siyuan appeared shocked, as if utterly flabbergasted.

All blame this poem being too good.

Lin Ziqi thought contentedly.

The old man gazed at the astonished Qin Siyuan, saying, ”Mr. Qin, it’s your turn.”

Qin Siyuan dismissed distracting thoughts, reciting his own five-character quatrain.

The old man exclaimed in surprise, ”Excellent, excellent! I didn’t expect both of you to be such talents; one a nephew of the Qin Family, the other its son-in-law. Qin Jijiu truly has an eye for nurturing talent.”

Clearly, the old man appreciated Qin Siyuan’s talents more.

Lin Ziqi’s face turned sour, glancing at him suspiciously.

Qin Siyuan quickly asked, ”Do you recognize my uncle, sir?”

The old man chuckled, ”Yes, yes. With today’s poetic camaraderie, the young gentlemen’s talents are astonishing, even an old man like me can learn a thing or two.”

Saying this, he recited his own poem.

Qin Siyuan and Lin Ziqi naturally offered their praises.

Gu Jingjun admired, ”Your poems are all excellent. I can only humbly present my light verse.”

With all his might, he managed only this piece, yet compared to his past works—full of empty, ornate language—it marked significant progress.

The old man solemnly evaluated their poetry.

Qin Siyuan’s grand and lofty concrete ideas were superior, while Lin Ziqi’s charming elegance was equally commendable. Regarding Gu Jingjun, he still had a long path ahead to creating fine poems, but his rapid improvement indicated diligence in practice could soon yield finer poetry.

Finally, the old man said, ”Young friends, until we meet again. After descending the mountain, I shall return to inquire about other verses you composed today.”

After farewells, only Gu Jingjun remained jubilant, his poetic enthusiasm awakened, resolved to pen a few more poems.

Both Lin Ziqi and Qin Siyuan appeared lost in their thoughts, pondering something unknown.