As news of the duel spread, the vendors on the commercial street disseminated the word throughout the Persian kingdom. The crowd grew larger and larger, extending from the
Simon strode confidently onto the red stage. Known not only for his impressive strength but also for his literary talent, Simon was rumored to be able to compose a poem with just seven steps. Today, on this grand stage, he was sure to showcase this skill. The audience below eagerly stretched their necks, while those outside climbed stools and nearby buildings to get a better view of the performance inside.
Simon confidently held his pen and took seven steps towards the rice paper, where he composed a beautiful ode:
On the verdant meadow where lilies bloom,Lives a maiden with a fragrant aura.Her eyes sparkle with heavenly fire,
Igniting a fervent desire within her heart.Her long hair weaves a dream that dispels the night,Her voice, sweet and soothing like a silver-strung lute,Makes roses blush under her breath, and time itself bows.
"Only seven steps and such an exquisite poem," the audience exclaimed in admiration. They whispered amongst themselves, marveling at Simon’s literary prowess. The poem captivated the scholars present, who praised the prince's performance. Even the "Flower Fairy" watching from above leaned in to observe Simon.
Next up was Jace. Simon stepped aside, sneering, "Can you write poetry? Brother, don’t pretend. It’s not too late to admit defeat."
Jace ascended the stage calmly, despite the rising murmurs of doubt from the audience. The fourth prince, Jace, had always been seen as a roguish troublemaker by the people.
Ignoring the jeers, Jace picked up his pen, closed his eyes, and suddenly opened them with a gleam. His thoughts flowed effortlessly as he began to write. The countless poems he had memorized over the years surged into his mind, and he began to write with ease.
Simon taunted, "Stop pretending. Give you three days, and you still won’t write a decent poem. Just admit defeat."
Jace remained unperturbed and continued writing on a piece of paper, then another, until he put down his pen on the third sheet. “I’m done. Come and see,” he called out.
The crowd gathered and admired the beautiful calligraphy. Curiosity piqued, they asked, "It’s indeed well-written, but how about the poem?"
Simon also approached and was surprised by Jace's penmanship. "How can his handwriting be so good?" he wondered.
An onlooker read Jace’s poem aloud:
I wandered lonely as a cloud,That floats on high o'er vales and hills,When all at once I saw a crowd,A host, of golden daffodils;Beside the lake, beneath the trees,Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.Continuous as the stars that shine And twinkle on the milky way,They stretched in never-ending line Along the margin of a bay:Ten thousand I saw at a glance,Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.
The audience was captivated by the beauty of the poem and applauded enthusiastically. And there was another poem:
Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?Thou art more lovely and more temperate:Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,And summer's lease hath all too short a date:Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines,
And often is his gold complexion dimmed;And every fair from fair sometime declines,By chance or nature's changing course untrimmed....
“What exquisite lines! The praise of this woman’s charm is rendered to perfection!” exclaimed an older scholar, his lips curling into a deep smile.
The atmosphere seemed to freeze as everyone immersed themselves in the wonderful poetry, forgetting the competition. It wasn’t until a round of applause from above jolted everyone back to reality that they noticed the "Flower Fairy" descending the stairs, her crystal goblet swaying gently, revealing her stunning beauty as the breeze lifted her veil.
Simon’s arrogance vanished instantly. How could he compete with such an eternal masterpiece? His face flushed with envy.
Amidst the praise, Jace couldn’t help but feel a smug satisfaction. These were Shakespeare’s poems—how could a mere Simon compare?
Simon, trembling with rage, had red streaks of jealousy in his eyes. The crowd’s cheers and taunts drove him mad. He stormed off the stage, shoving past the onlookers, and left in his carriage without looking back.
"Ah, the loser barks like a dog. This is Simon, who dares to bet but not to fulfill!" Jace shouted from the side.
After the commotion, the "Flower Fairy" calmly and gently whispered into Jace’s ear, "Follow me."
Jace, shifting from his earlier joy to deep concern, thought, "Tonight is my first time…." He sighed heavily, wishing he had spent some time dating in modern society. "If only I had a girlfriend before all this."
The Flower Fairy led Jace into an intimate private room, softly lit by lanterns. As she poured wine into their goblets, a mischievous glint sparkled in her eyes. With a shy smile, she handed the wine to Jace, her fingers lingering momentarily.
Jace looked at the beautiful woman, his heart racing uncontrollably. As he turned to remove his shirt, he noticed her adding an unknown powder to his cup.
Jace instinctively grew wary, observing her closely. He saw her hands tremble slightly and glance towards the door. He raised the cup, took a sip without swallowing, then theatrically acted as if the drink was taking effect.
Jace lowered his eyelids and tilted his head. He saw the woman’s lips curl into an almost imperceptible smile, believing she had mesmerized him. She then quietly slipped out of the room.
"He was drugged and knocked out, but to my surprise, he has no money. What should we do next?" Jace continued to pretend to be asleep, breathing steadily, focusing on the fading footsteps.
"So, this is all a trap!" Jace squinted. He was considering his next move and needed to act quickly. As she re-entered the room, he slid back into his seat, resuming his drunken posture. The woman's cunning smile grew brighter.
Jace swiftly escaped through the window, running desperately to the carriage downstairs. As he exited the Flower Pavilion, Wanka, already waiting by the carriage, approached with a grin and asked, “Prince, why are you out so soon? Did you… become impotent?”
Jace, visibly displeased, retorted, “Nonsense. Let’s leave here quickly. Back home!”
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