Peerless Shameless Poetry

Seeing his composed demeanor, Dantai Huang couldn't help but believe him a little—perhaps he really could help her obtain it.

Entering the grand hall, the officials cupped their hands in greeting, glancing at Jun Qinglan’s faint smile and then at Dantai Huang’s softened expression. Everyone understood that the Crown Prince of Beiming’s act of offering the paper had deeply moved Dantai Huang; it seemed a match was in the making.

Thus, someone spoke up loudly: "The Crown Prince of Beiming and the Third Princess of Mobei are truly a match made in heaven!"

"Indeed, indeed! A talented man and a beautiful woman!" another person chimed in.

Jun Qinglan smiled enigmatically but said nothing.

Dantai Huang’s face darkened, but for the sake of the jade pendant, she remained silent.

To the side, Chu Changge fanned himself with his jade-boned fan and spoke leisurely: "This Prince feels that Princess Qinghuang and I are the true match made in heaven! As for the one meant for the Crown Prince of Beiming, it certainly isn't Princess Qinghuang!"

As soon as these words left his mouth, the hall fell silent. Huangfu Lingxuan’s face instantly turned black!

It was true that Dantai Huang was arrogant and overbearing, while Chu Changge was a profligate playboy. In that sense, they were a match. But the Crown Prince of Beiming was world-shakingly beautiful; could no one match him?

Huangfu Xuan was happy to watch the spectacle. His golden eyes turned toward Chu Changge as he smiled and said: "I am all ears! I wonder who Prince Chu thinks is a match for the Crown Prince of Beiming?"

Jun Qinglan’s narrow eyes half-closed, a hint of a smile looking at Chu Changge, his cinnabar mole turning a blood-red hue!

Chu Changge acted as if he hadn't seen it, fanning himself: "Isn't it simple? Everyone in the world knows of the Twin Heroes. There is the Crown Prince of Beiming, Jun Qinglan, a gentleman like jade, peerlessly elegant and world-shaking! And there is the Crown Prince of Great Chu, Chu Yuli, a lord like fine gems, with a heart like crystal, stunningly brilliant and the pride of the capital!"

The corner of Tong Jian’s mouth twitched. Why was the First Prince suddenly mentioning the Crown Prince?

Dantai Huang was also stunned for a moment. She hadn't expected there to be another figure as famous as this monster. A heart like crystal? Most likely another black-hearted soul!

Regarding the Twin Heroes, everyone knew of them, so they waited patiently for Chu Changge to continue.

"So, don't you all think these two are the perfect pair?" Chu Changge, ignoring the tension, enthusiastically tried to play matchmaker for his younger brother and Jun Qinglan.

Tong Jian, standing behind him, couldn't stop rolling his eyes. *The Crown Prince having a brother like you is truly a misfortune!*

The envoys began to cough, not daring to speak. Their reputations and statuses were indeed a match, but these were two men!

Jun Qinglan curled his lips slightly, seemingly in a good mood, and laughed softly: "For the Crown Prince of Chu to have a brother like the First Prince is truly the fortune of three lifetimes! Since the First Prince has said so, if this Prince does not agree, would that not be disrespecting Great Chu? Therefore, this Prince is willing to take the Crown Prince of Great Chu as my Crown Princess. Please, First Prince, be sure to convey my intentions to the Emperor of Chu, and express my sincerity to the Crown Prince!"

Now Chu Changge couldn't laugh! He had intended to make Jun Qinglan stomp his feet in anger, but the other man had turned it around. If he really conveyed this to his father upon returning, and that old man found out he was joking with the Crown Prince's reputation, his legs would surely be broken!

He coughed and gave a dry laugh: "Since it is a marriage alliance, why shouldn't the Crown Prince of Beiming come to Great Chu?"

"My Beiming has few heirs; my Father only has me as his son. But the Chu nation has three princes; losing one won't harm the nation's strength! After I return, I shall prepare the betrothal gifts. Please, First Prince, you must bring them back; you are the matchmaker, after all!" Jun Qinglan said nonchalantly, always smiling, though the smile didn't reach his eyes.

Matchmaker? If his father knew he was a matchmaker for this, he’d be flayed alive! For the first time in his life, the First Prince of Chu understood what it meant to drop a rock on one's own foot! "Hahaha, such a great matter naturally requires mutual consent. This Prince shall ask my brother first; the Crown Prince need not be in a hurry!"

"Then I shall await the good news!" Jun Qinglan smiled and walked back to his seat.

Dantai Huang had her eyes opened once again. Chu Changge had insulted him so, yet he could turn defeat into victory. That jade pendant wouldn't be a problem, right?

"Princess Qinghuang, your poem was not yet finished. Would you care to continue?" the envoy from Xiwu asked, cupping his hands.

Dantai Huang’s face turned green. If she finished the poem, the contest would be over.

"The Princess's poem need not be redone. A classic naturally stops where it should. The Princess has a follow-up; you gentlemen need only wait and see!" Across from her, his narrow eyes half-closed as he smiled at her, as if telling her she was destined to lose this bet!

Dantai Huang looked back at him, her red lips curling. She didn't care about winning or losing, only the jade pendant.

"Then only the First Prince of Chu remains. The First Prince of Chu and the First Prince of Mobei don't usually write poetry, do they?" the Dongling Prime Minister swept a contemptuous glance over them. Chu Changge was a fool; even with his toes, one could guess he couldn't write a poem.

But the First Prince of Chu seemed to lack self-awareness today. He stood up, his bright eyes looking at Dantai Huang with deep affection, enough to drown a person, and said: "This Prince shall compose a poem for Princess Qinghuang today!"

Seeing this, Huangfu Lingxuan’s face, already dark, turned as white as paper, and she could hardly sit still.

"A phoenix, oh a phoenix, returns to its home, wandering the four seas to seek its mate! But it has not met... met..." Halfway through, the Prince of Chu got stuck.

Tong Jian sighed deeply. *Prince, the Emperor has told you so many times: if you don't know how to write poetry, don't make a mess!*

The envoys looked at him silently, waiting for the next line.

Chu Changge coughed, smiled brightly, his eyes curving with charm, and spoke: "The rest of the lines, this Prince has forgotten. When I remember them, I shall let the Princess hear!"

With that, he flicked his sleeve and sat down nonchalantly, fanning himself.

"..." Normally, wouldn't a person be dying of shame in such an embarrassing situation? Yet Chu Changge looked proud, as if it were perfectly normal, making them feel that if they mocked him, they were the ones with the problem!

Dantai Huang also wanted to laugh but held it in! Chu Changge was truly an eccentric!

"Then the poetry contest ends here! Gentlemen, whose poem do you think was the best?" Huangfu Xuan’s voice rang out, his golden eyes flashing with a hint of a smile. Lingxuan’s poem was surely the champion among them! She was a Princess of Dongling, of the Royal House!

The officials discussed, about to name Huangfu Lingxuan, when Jun Qinglan suddenly spoke: "Emperor of Dongling, aren't the judges you and I? Why ask the officials?"

"Then I wonder who the Crown Prince of Beiming thinks..." Huangfu Xuan frowned slightly. During the earlier recitations, Jun Qinglan wasn't there; how could he judge?

Jun Qinglan’s narrow eyes swept over the officials one by one, his gaze cold as a blade, making everyone’s heart tremble with fear! Immediately, his voice rang out slowly: "This Prince believes the winner must be Princess Qinghuang! 'The sun shines on the incense burner, producing purple smoke; from afar, I see the WC over there.' This Prince is of meager talent and has yet to be able to match the following two lines. Therefore, I am willing to admit that Princess Qinghuang is a level above me!"

At this, the envoys of all nations understood—the Crown Prince of Beiming was clearly showing favoritism! They were about to protest when they remembered his icy gaze and kept their mouths shut.

"If any of you gentlemen can match the Princess's next lines, this Prince is willing to use twenty thousand troops to personally escort you back to your country!" His voice carried a bone-chilling killing intent.

This was the standard "courtesy before force"! The meaning was crystal clear: no one could match the poem. If someone did, they were claiming to be more talented than the Crown Prince of Beiming. He would personally bring twenty thousand troops to see them off—whether it was a send-off or a funeral was hard to say!

As the saying goes, self-preservation is the best policy. Beiming was currently at its peak; their sovereigns would not oppose him for the sake of an envoy, and they might even offend Mobei. So, they remained silent! After all, no matter who won, the jade wasn't theirs! Furthermore, they really couldn't match that "WC" poem.

"The Crown Prince of Beiming speaks truly!" the envoy from Xiwu spoke up.

Mobei naturally said nothing. The envoy from Dongjin, having been expelled, had no one to speak.

The envoy from Nanqi thought of his country across the sea; the chance of dying on the way if he offended Jun Qinglan was too high! So he agreed: "Princess Qinghuang truly has great talent!"

Chu Changge also hoped Dantai Huang would win, so he didn't speak.

This situation left Dantai Huang stunned. She finally understood: aside from being a sovereign who decided life and death, strength decided everything! Jun Qinglan had the strength to look down on everyone, so he was arrogant and disdainful. Even if others were dissatisfied, they could only swallow it!

Huangfu Xuan’s face was frozen, his voice cold as ice: "The Crown Prince of Beiming’s words are somewhat unfair!"

Jun Qinglan smiled carelessly and spoke lazily: "Then can the Emperor of Dongling provide the next two lines?"

At these words, Huangfu Xuan was successfully choked! How could he match such a "WC" poem? Even if he could, it would be humiliating!

"Perhaps the Princess of Mobei herself doesn't know the next lines!" Huangfu Lingxuan stood up and spoke.

Dantai Huang hesitated for a moment, feeling that saying the next two lines would be truly embarrassing. Thus, under the gaze of everyone, she sent Cheng Ya to get brush and paper. Once they arrived, she stood and wrote, then set the brush down. "Please, Emperor of Dongling, have a look!"

The paper reached the dragon desk. Huangfu Xuan took one look! Instantly, he was stunned, his face pale, and he even showed signs of wanting to vomit! He clenched his hand, and the paper turned to dust, fluttering away like powder. He felt that looking at this poem truly soiled his eyes!

His golden eyes stared at Dantai Huang for a moment, his feelings toward this disgusting yet strange woman unclear. He gritted his teeth and spoke with a darkened face: "In this poetry contest, the Princess of Mobei wins!"