Chapter 15: Will You Ever Stop?!
“What?!”
Gasps of astonishment filled the hall as Xu Buling’s words echoed through the room.
While they couldn’t force him to admit to plagiarism, his outright confession cemented the accusation.
Despite their disapproval, there wasn’t much they could say. He had admitted his wrongdoing openly and honestly.
He was the son of Prince Su, after all. Buying a poem for amusement and admitting to it when exposed showed a certain level of integrity. He didn’t rely on poetry for his livelihood, so there was no need to dwell on the matter.
Song Baiqing, Qi Xinghan, and the other scholars sighed in relief, nodding their approval at his straightforward confession.
Qi Xinghan was about to offer a platitude like, “It is commendable to acknowledge one’s mistakes,” when Song Yufu spoke up again.
Her face flushed with indignation and confusion, her eyes wide with disbelief:
“Prince Xu! You wrote this poem! Why won’t you admit it? Why would you accept the accusation of plagiarism?”
Because I don’t want to die young! Xu Buling thought to himself, gritting his teeth. He forced a sheepish expression and chuckled:
“As you can all see, this poem is beyond my capabilities. I copied it.”
Song Yufu’s eyes widened:
“From whom did you copy it?”
“I…”
Xu Buling’s heart skipped a beat. He froze.
It’s over!
From whom did I copy it?
I copied it from Li Qingzhao.
But Li Qingzhao doesn’t exist in this world!
Xu Buling’s face darkened as his mind raced. “Um… I had a servant buy it.”
But no one was listening anymore.
Song Yufu’s question, “From whom did you copy it?” had captured everyone’s attention.
That’s right!
Xu Buling’s literary talent might be fake, but the poem was real.
This masterpiece, destined to be passed down through generations, must have been written by someone truly talented, even if Xu Buling had bought it.
There had to be a seller for there to be a buyer.
They had been so focused on condemning Xu Buling for plagiarism that they had forgotten this crucial point!
Qi Xinghan, always eager to get to the bottom of things, frowned and stroked his chin:
“Prince Xu, since you claim to have bought this poem, may I ask from whom you purchased it?”
Xu Buling took a deep breath:
“I had a servant buy it. It was an anonymous purchase. I don’t know who the seller was.”
Qi Xinghan sighed:
“Even if you refuse to admit it, Prince Xu, the truth is clear to everyone. We are all scholars here. We understand the situation…”
“Indeed, indeed…”
“Master Qi is right…”
It’s getting worse! Xu Buling thought to himself, feeling trapped.
Unable to defend himself, he spread his hands:
“Believe what you want.” He turned to leave.
On the platform, Song Yufu saw him leaving and rushed forward:
“Wait! I haven’t finished proving your innocence. I have other poems written by Prince Xu here. ‘Drunk, I trim the lamp and gaze at my sword…’”
“Will you ever stop?!”
Xu Buling roared, his body shooting up like a hawk, his fox fur cloak billowing. He landed on the platform, covered Song Yufu’s mouth with his hand, grabbed her, and leaped out the window, disappearing from the hall.
The crowd gasped in astonishment.
Several young ladies, impressed by his extraordinary agility, stared with wide eyes.
“Prince Xu is talented in both literary and martial arts, and he’s so handsome. He’s leaving no room for other men…”
“Indeed. Such a charming and understanding man is rare…”
“If I were Madam Lu, I would be completely smitten…”
Unlike the infatuated ladies, the scholars on the platform exchanged bewildered glances.
They hadn’t expected the Prince of Su, known for his “violent and impulsive” nature, to possess such literary talent.
Prince Yan, Song Yu, tapped his fingers on the table, pondering for a moment, then chuckled:
“‘Drunk, I trim the lamp and gaze at my sword…’ That boy Buling is hiding his talents well…”
Song Baiqing frowned, thought for a moment, then shook his head:
“Old Qi’s reasoning is sound, but Xu Buling is only eighteen. Even with exceptional talent, he couldn’t have written this poem. And there’s no reason for him to deny it. His reaction suggests there’s something else going on. Until we know for sure, it’s best not to spread rumors.”
They had essentially concluded the matter with “reasonable doubt.”
But hundreds of people had witnessed the event. Some would believe, some wouldn’t. Who knew what the truth was…
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