Chapter 45: Magnificent Prose

Emerging from the small alley, the view suddenly opened up to reveal the famous East Market of Chang'an City.

Here, the layout was much more orderly, with broad streets and rows upon rows of shops.

Silk and satin drapers, gold and silver workshops, bookstores, pharmacies, musical instrument shops—everything one could possibly imagine was available.

Wealthy merchants dressed in rich brocades and silks, officials' family members attended by servants, and sightseers like them looking around in wonder were rubbing shoulders in an endless stream.

After strolling for a while and leaving the East Market, Chen Si led them south of the city to the banks of Qujiang Pond.

Although it was still late winter and early spring, the pond water had not yet thawed, and the weeping willows along the bank had only sprouted tiny, tender buds, many sightseers had already come out for a spring outing.

Near the pond, street performers were doing fire-breathing and jar-balancing acts, drawing waves of cheers.

Wang Mingyuan watched with rapt attention, especially the monkey show, where the monkeys turned somersaults and rode tiny carts, making him laugh out loud.

At this moment, infected by the lively atmosphere, he temporarily set aside the pressure of the prefectural examination, gesturing and discussing with Chen Si which performer had better skills, his face bearing the relaxed smile unique to a youth.

At noon, Chen Si played the host, treating them to a meal at the "Jingshui Pavilion," a quite famous restaurant by Qujiang Pond.

He ordered Chang'an's famous dishes: "Gourd Chicken," "Milky Broth Pot Fish," "Ziyang Steamed Basin," "Shangzhi Meat," and a large, steaming platter of "Soup-Basked Embroidered Meatballs" (large meatballs).

Wang Danyuan was initially a bit reserved, but under Chen Si's enthusiastic urging and Wang Mingyuan's encouragement, he gradually let go and ate heartily and with great gusto.

The crispness of the Gourd Chicken, the tender freshness of the Milky Broth Pot Fish, and the novel taste of the Ziyang Steamed Basin all drew his endless praise.

In the afternoon, as the sun slanted westward, Chen Si led them to the final stop of their trip—the Big Wild Goose Pagoda at Ci'en Temple.

Looking from afar, the seven-story pagoda rose steeply from the ground like a sharp sword piercing the firmament.

The body of the pagoda was archaic and majestic, its brick and stone structure glowing with a warm luster in the setting sun.

The bronze bells hanging at the corners of the pagoda emitted a clear, lingering chime in the wind, as if capable of purifying one's soul.

"This is the Big Wild Goose Pagoda."

Chen Si pointed at the tall pagoda, his tone carrying a trace of reverence.

"It was built back then by the Venerable Xuanzang to preserve the Buddhist scriptures he brought back from Tianzhu. It is the landmark of our Chang'an City!

Come, let's climb the pagoda for a distant view!"

The stairs inside the pagoda were narrow and steep, spiraling upward.

Wang Danyuan was large in stature and found the climb somewhat laborious, but his spirits were very high.

Wang Mingyuan and Chen Si, being leaner and smaller, walked with light and nimble steps.

With every floor they ascended, the horizon broadened by a fraction. Upon reaching the top floor and leaning against the railing to gaze into the distance, the entire Chang'an City lay spread out before their eyes.

The lingering rays of the setting sun gilded this ancient city with a layer of gold.

The densely packed houses, the chessboard-like intersecting streets, the majestic imperial palaces in the distance, the winding city walls...

All were shrouded in a soft and magnificent halo.

Mount Zhongnan outlined undulating indigo shadows against the horizon, and the residual snow on its peaks glittered with tiny golden specks under the setting sun.

A flock of homing jackdaws, like splashed ink dots, swept across the top of the pagoda and flew toward the distant, hazy twilight.

"D-Damn it, this is huge!"

Wang Danyuan held onto the railing, dumbfounded, struggling for a long time before squeezing out those words.

He had never looked down upon a city from such a great height; the shock brought by this sight far surpassed that of the food and street performances.

Wang Mingyuan and Chen Si were also awed by the scene before them, remaining speechless for a moment.

A cold wind swept across the top of the pagoda, rustling their robes loudly.

The universe was vast and boundless, and human beings were mere grains of sand.

An indescribable sense of grandeur and insignificance surged into their hearts simultaneously.

Just at that moment, a clear burst of laughter and conversation came from beneath the pagoda.

Following the sound, they saw several young men standing in the open space at the base of the pagoda.

All of them were dressed in uniform moon-white scholars' robes with square caps on their heads, possessing refined demeanors that marked them instantly as men of letters.

Among them, one was tall and upright with handsome features, particularly outstanding, surrounded and escorted by the others.

"Eh? It's them?" Chen Si whispered softly, a look of surprise and a hint of excitement crossing his face.

"Brother Chen knows them?" Wang Mingyuan asked.

"Yes!" Chen Si lowered his voice, pointing at the group.

"See those moon-white robes? That's the symbol of the Chang'an Academy!

The Chang'an Academy is the best academy in our Chang'an Prefecture, and even the entire Northwest!

Those who manage to enter are the top talents!

The most handsome one in the middle is called Yuan Canglan! During last year's provincial examination, he was the *Jieyuan*—the top scorer in our Chang'an Prefecture!

I've heard his scholarship is exceptionally profound, and he's a hot favorite for the metropolitan zhuangyuan next year!"

Hearing this, Wang Mingyuan felt a jolt in his heart, his gaze involuntarily focusing on Yuan Canglan.

The top provincial scorer! A favorite for the *zhuangyuan*!

Such titles, to someone still struggling for the prefectural examination, felt like figures living in the clouds.

Unconsciously, he straightened his back, his eyes filled with curiosity and admiration.

Down below the pagoda, those scholars seemed to be discussing something.

Someone pointed at Mount Zhongnan in the distance, while another gestured at the structure of the pagoda.

A moment later, one of them smiled and bowed loudly to Yuan Canglan, saying:

"Brother Canglan, under such circumstances—with the Wild Goose Pagoda standing majestic, Mount Zhongnan in view, the twilight dimming, and birds returning to their nests—this is truly a grand spectacle of heaven and earth!

Though we have racked our brains, we ultimately feel our writing skills fall short and cannot fully capture its grandeur.

We kindly ask Brother Canglan to wield your brush impromptu and compose a piece of prose to record today's magnificent outing. What do you say?"

The others chimed in one after another, casting eager gazes toward Yuan Canglan.

Yuan Canglan stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze sweeping slowly across the Chang'an cityscape under the setting sun, gazing afar at the residual snow on Mount Zhongnan, and then looking up at the homing jackdaws circling the pagoda top.

His expression was calm, without the slightest sign of refusal. After pondering for a moment, his clear voice rang out beneath the pagoda:

"The year is Guimao, the season is early spring. I and my friends have gathered beneath the Ci'en Wild Goose Pagoda.

It is now the decline of day, and the jackdaws are returning to the forest. Raising my head, I observe the solitary loftiness of the stupa; lowering my gaze, I survey the vast expanse of Chang'an.

The snows of Zhongnan are yet un-melted, distant peaks like dark eyebrows; the ice of Qujiang is thawing, nearby waters holding mist. Streets intersect like the warp and woof of a chess board; dwellings blanket the earth like scattered constellations.

The twilight clouds merge like jade, dyeing the thousands of gates of the golden palaces; falling sunset and solitary wild geese sweep over the seven-tiered flying eaves. The chanting of bells and Sanskrit hymns reaches the ears of heaven; winds stir the bronze clappers, their melodies carrying into the wilds..."

His voice was not loud, yet every word was clear, piercing the twilight.

Written in parallel prose of four and six characters, the diction was ornate without being frivolous, possessing a broad horizon and a profound artistic conception.

It melted the scenery seen before his eyes and the feelings felt in his heart into a single furnace.

It contained not only a magnificent description of Chang'an City, but also the thoughts of ascending high and gazing far, reflecting upon antiquity and the present, while faintly revealing the soaring ambition and vigor of a talented youth.

Wang Mingyuan stood not far away, holding his breath and concentrating, listening without missing a single word.

Every word was like a pebble dropped into the lake of his heart, stirring up layers of ripples.

He had always considered his grasp of the classics solid and his essays passable, but listening to Yuan Canglan's impromptu parallel prose at this moment, he truly understood what was meant by "the difference between clouds and mud"!

The precision and elegance of the phrasing, the grand and open architectural layout of the composition, and the talent and bearing contained within all gave him an unprecedented sense of shock and... a feeling of inferiority.

"…Alas! Scenic spots are not eternal, and grand feasts are hard to repeat. Inscribing names on the Wild Goose Pagoda awaits another day; plucking osmanthus in the toad palace remains to be seen this very morning! Parting words bestowed as gifts are fortunately received at this grand feast; ascending high to compose poetry is what is expected of all you gentlemen. Daring to exhaust my humble sentiments, I respectfully draft this short prelude. With every word composed, all four rhymes completed—please unleash the rivers of Pan Yue, and pour out the seas of Lu Ji!"

When Yuan Canglan finished chanting, the area beneath the pagoda fell into absolute silence.

A moment later, enthusiastic praises erupted.

"Splendid! Brother Canglan possesses supreme talent!"

"Every single word is a priceless pearl, your momentum spanning the rainbow!"

"With this piece written, it shall undoubtedly add luster to the Wild Goose Pagoda!"

Chen Si also excitedly grabbed Wang Mingyuan's arm, lowering his voice to say:

"Did you hear that, Brother Mingyuan? This is the standard of the top provincial scorer! Good heavens, composing it impromptu and writing it so brilliantly!

This... this truly proves there are people above people, and heavens beyond heavens!"

Wang Mingyuan did not speak, only nodding heavily.

He gazed at Yuan Canglan, who stood surrounded by the crowd with such extraordinary grace, feeling a surge of burning, rushing heat flow collide within his chest.

Envy, admiration, and an even stronger sense of yearning and fighting spirit!

So essays could be written this way!

So scholars could reach such a height!

So Chang'an City harbored such dazzling stars!

He gripped the icy railing tightly, his knuckles turning slightly white from the force. A single thought was unshakeably branded into the depths of his heart:

The prefectural examination! The academy examination! The provincial examination! The metropolitan examination! The palace examination!

He was going to pass them all! He was going to stand higher!

He wanted to see for himself what kind of scenery truly lay waiting where one "plucks osmanthus in the toad palace"!