The hall filled with the gentle tapping of chopsticks on bowls and the gentle chatter of nobles speaking of daily affairs and the most recent drama. Bai Chun took a small bite of the veggie dish near him before taking a few bites from a meat dish. Suddenly, a man stood up, interrupting the quiet chatter, drawing everyone's attention. He bowed to the magistrate and walked to the center of the room.
"Greetings, magistrate, it's great that three men passed the exam this year. They will be good additions to scholar ranks." He said with a smile. The magistrate frowned slightly but nodded.
"Yes, Assistant Min it is good for us." He said in response. Assistant Min then turned and looked at his son sitting near the magistrate.
"Although my son has made some mistakes, he is now your son-in-law. With him passing the exam, I hope we can work well as a family." He said with a smile, trying to put a small amount of pressure on the magistrate not be as hard on his son. He then bowed to give the magistrate less to argue about.
Everyone took sips of their drink, eyeing Assistant Min, enjoying the show he was putting on.
"Presumptuous!" Shouted the magistrate, slamming his hand down on his chair while glaring at him. Assistant Min bowed again to him calmly.
"I am now an In-Law. I just wish for us to be close, that's all." He said
"Assistant Min, you are airing our family's dirty laundry!" He shouted, pointing at him, his face turning red from anger. Seeing how angry her fuqin is getting, Chun Hua placed her hand on his sleeve, making him stop his rant. He looked back at her angrily. Chun Hua sniffled, glanced at the crowd of people gathered before looking back at him.
With a huff, she waved his sleeve, looking back at Assistant Min.
"You may be seated, Assistant Min we will speak later." He said wanting the conversation to be over quickly. Assistant Min, with a smile, bowed and retreated to his seat. Here, his qizi waited nervously.
The magistrate took a deep breath before looking out at everyone.
"Apologies for my outburst, I don't wish to ruin the banquet, so we should start reading out poems to liven the atmosphere. Hearing what he said, everyone started chattering. After a bit, Huang Hao stood up, stepping into the center of the room, bowing.
"This little wishes to lighten the mood and celebrate our entry into officialdom." He said, smiling. The magistrate, still looking annoyed, nodded his head. With a bow before speaking, Huang Hao looked around the room filled with higher-ranked officials who looked at him with a sneer, then, taking a deep breath, spoke.
"The deer call sounds; the hall grows still.
From study's gate, you step to trust.
Long nights of ink have shaped the will
To place the public good first, just.
Now rank is earned, yet duty starts,
Let virtue lead where power stands.
Serve with clear mind and steady heart,
And law will rest in worthy hands." Saying this, he bowed with a smile. The previously snearing officials now looked at him with slight anger at his subtle diss at the end of his poem, but still gave him some light, polite clapping.
The magistrate, looking calmer, clapped as well.
"Hmm, you are showing good promise in officialdom." He said, giving him a casual compliment.
With a smile, Huang Hao bowed in thanks before retreating to his seat. Then, before Bai Chun had the chance to stand up, Min Qiang stood with a bow, giving Bai Chun, who looked slightly annoyed, a glance.
"Fuqin-in-law, this one wishes to say a poem on family support in studying." He said loudly. The magistrate, without even looking at him, frowned.
"Use titles."
Without skipping a beat, Min Qiang repeated his sentence once more.
"Magistrate, this one wishes to say a poem of family support in studying."
The magistrate waved his hand in agreement, not wanting to speak to him. Min Qiang walked to the center of the room and bowed before speaking. Everyone watched, waiting with respect in their eyes because even though the magistrate didn't like him, his qizi loves him, and his father is Assistant Min.
"Beneath the lantern's gentle glow,
In halls where ancient wisdom flows,
Family's hands, both firm and kind,
Guide the scholar's eager mind.
Through scrolls of silk and ink-stained page,
Their strength endures from age to age.
With honor bound and hearts aligned,
They lift the spirit, sharp and refined."
Finished speaking, he bowed to the gentle claps of the nobles.
"My he is well spoken." Someone said softly, knowing the magistrate won't praise him, not wanting Chun Hua to get angry and complain to her Fuqin later. The magistrate, still looking annoyed, waved his hand.
"Good." He said dismissively.
Min Qiang ignored his tone and glanced at Bai Chun, looking slightly smug, before bowing and going back to his seat. Chun Hua reached out and lightly grabbed his sleeve, her cheeks flushed as she looked at him.
"Zhangfu is amazing." She said softly. Without looking at her, he yanked his sleeve and took a shot of his tea. She looked at his sadly before lowering her head to look at her hands.
The magistrate noticed their interaction turned and glared at him angrily. Bai Chun watched all this with a frown, not liking how he treated her, and glanced at Huang Hao, who watched as if entertained. Wanting to help soothe the girl without overstepping, Bai Chun stood up with a bow.
"This one wishes to say a poem to lighten the mood."
The magistrate, holding back his anger, waved his hand in agreement. Walking to the middle of the room, Bai Chun glanced towards Chun Hua, who looked at him with the corners of her eyes red.
Taking a deep breath, Bai Chun slowly spoke, making sure to keep his tone soft and soothing.
"The room grows soft where silence stays,
Like dusk easing a restless day;
Even the heart, when held by time,
Finds gentler breath, and learns to sway.
No word need mend what night has stirred—
The moon still rises, clear and kind.
What bends today is not yet broken,
Morning remembers what hearts forget."
After speaking, Bai Chun bowed to the quiet room before looking up.
The magistrate looked at him with narrowed eyes, glancing at his daughter before looking back at him, a hint of happiness in his eyes.
"I like your poem, very calming and soothing to the ears." He praised with a smile. Bai Chun bowed in thanks. Hearing his praise, everyone started clapping their eyes locking onto him like hungry animals.
Bai Chun bowed once more before going back to his seat. Min Qiang didn't notice the subtleties of the interaction, too busy glaring at Bai Chun.
The magistrate, looking happy, stood attracting everyone's attention.
"With that poem, would anyone else like to come up to say a poem?" He looked around. Everyone stayed seated, not wanting to get up when seeing how happy he looked, wanting to end it there.
With a smile, the magistrate waved his hand, calling back the previous dancers. The door opened, and the dancers slowly came to the middle of the room, going back to dancing.