The old emperor sat on the dragon boat, looking at the list of people who entered the finals from each region.
When he saw Huo Chenan's name, a playful smile appeared on his lips.
When he read the poem "Drinking Alone Under the Moon", he was also impressed by the talent in the poem, "This Huo Chenan has broad knowledge and unparalleled talent. He is really a rare talent. It seems that he should be warned to keep his mouth shut."
With this in mind, the old emperor called You Zizai and told him something.
You Zizai left in response to the order.
…
At this time, a young man named Zhang Renyu stared at the dragon boat the emperor was riding with burning eyes, and couldn't help but tighten the folding fan in his hand. He must win the championship of this Jinling Poetry Festival.
On the other side, Zhao Gongming, who was known as the top scholar in Jinling Academy, also entered the finals without any pressure.
The candidates for the finals in each region were released one after another, and the most distressed among them was Huo Chenan. Because this is totally inconsistent with his low-key personality, it seems that he can only write a few limericks to deal with it, and the sooner he is eliminated, the sooner he will go home.
At the same time, the works of the champions of each region are also circulated by Xuanwu Lake. Everyone gathered together to study the works of each champion.
"Hey, why didn't I go to the West District 1? The winner's work is shit. If I had gone, I would have won the first prize. It's too late to regret it, too late to regret it."
"Yeah, the work of the North District 2 is just as rubbish. If I had gone, I would have won the first prize."
"It's fate!"
"Hey~ Look, the work of the North District 3 can be called a masterpiece!"
"What masterpiece?"
"It's this "Drinking Alone Under the Moon"
"Wonderful, wonderful, the description is both dynamic and static, it not only writes about the loneliness of drinking alone, but also writes about the wildness of drinking. It's really wonderful!"
"It seems that this champion must be this person."
"I don't think so. Zhao Gongming from the West District 2 is the head of the Jinling Academy. Although his poem this time is not as good as this one, the subsequent competitions are all on-site questions. I think Huo Chenan can't cheat again." What he meant was that "Drinking Alone Under the Moon" was a poem that Huo Chenan had prepared long ago, and it was not a real skill.
After all, this is basically an unspoken rule of the poetry meeting. They naturally don't believe that Huo Chenan will be an exception.
Everyone nodded in agreement.
The champions of other regions all had different reactions to the poem "Drinking Alone Under the Moon".
Some lamented that there might be another strong opponent this time.
Some mocked Huo Chenan for being stupid and not waiting until the finals to bring out such a quatrain.
By the evening, the champions of the sixteen regions were all decided, and everyone gathered in front of the dock of Xuanwu Lake. At this moment, the old emperor's dragon boat was moored on the dock.
The dragon boat was separated from the arena on the dock by two platforms. The sixteen contestants will advance by writing poems, and they will be selected from sixteen to eight, eight to four, and four to one. In the end, only one of the sixteen people will be qualified to board the dragon boat to meet the emperor.
In other words, if you want to win the championship, you need to write three more poems and beat everyone else.
At this time, everyone gathered around the dock, waiting for the announcement of the shortlisted list.
Su Linglong has basically completed the purpose of this trip. She is very confident about the hot sales of perfume. At this moment, she just wants to see how her little servant shines on this stage full of young talents.
Su Linglong did not notice this change in her heart. From the beginning, this pervert that she hated, to later helping their Su family get rid of difficulties, and then later discovering his unclear relationship with her sister, she has begun to look forward to this servant.
Maybe this is fate.
In the evening, You Zizai walked down from the dragon boat and read out the list of finalists.
When Huo Chenan saw You Zizai, cold sweat instantly flowed down.
"It can't be such a coincidence! The old man with a white face and no beard turned out to be the eunuch beside the emperor? The old man who couldn't give birth to a son couldn't be... Nima, this is terrible, I'm afraid I have to die even if I don't want to die."
Huo Chenan wanted to cry but had no tears at this time. If he accidentally knew the secret of the royal family, would he still be alive? By the way, is the prince the old man's biological son? Bah, it's already this late and you still have the heart to gossip? No, I can't just sit there and wait for death, what else can I do?
When Huo Chenan was sitting there restlessly, he heard Eunuch You read out: "The sixteen people who have advanced are Zhang Gongming, Zhang Renyu, Huo Chenan,...
The emperor has ordered that those who cheat will be beheaded, those who seek fame will be beheaded, and those who fill in the numbers will be beheaded. I hope everyone will do their best and not just get by."
"Damn, are you targeting me?" Huo Chenan complained in his heart: "I'll have to survive first, right?"
Suddenly, he had an idea.
You Zizai continued: "Next, please invite the advanced candidates to the stage."
Soon, fifteen of the sixteen advanced candidates were on the stage, and only one person was left.
After checking, You Zizai shouted to the audience: "Is Huo Chenan here? Is Huo Chenan here? If he is absent without reason, he will be punished for deceiving the emperor."
At this time, someone shouted from the audience: "Here I am, here I am, I am here."
Everyone looked in the direction of the voice and saw a man in a green hat and a servant's clothes, holding a folding fan, and covering his face with the fan.
When Huo Chenan walked onto the stage, he quickly confessed to You Gonggong: "Sorry, I had a sudden stroke and came late."
But he still covered his face with the fan while speaking.
You Zizai glanced at him and said: "Please take the fan away. I need to verify your identity."
Huo Chenan froze when he heard this, and then slowly moved the fan away.
Behind the fan was a face covered with plasters, except for the mouth and nostrils.
You Zizai was stunned when he saw it. What are you doing? You can't do anything to me.
He asked in confusion: "Huo Chenan, what happened to you?"
"I had a sudden stroke and my facial muscles cramped. I can only continue to participate in the competition with plasters."
You Zizai nodded and said: "You are commendable for participating in the competition despite your illness."
Although he praised, You Zizai couldn't help but complain in his heart: I can recognize you even if you turn into ashes. This kid made the old emperor eat sweet potatoes and drink cold water. The old emperor farted all night that night. How could I not remember you?
Huo Chenan sighed. As long as the old emperor and the others didn't recognize him, he still had a chance of survival.
In other words, as long as he didn't get along with the old emperor, there was room for reversal.