Adult Tang Dynasty: I, the Scoundrel, Fully Support the Empress

Chapter 26: A Spoiled Playboy? More Like a Poetry Legend!

“Bring on the Wine”…

As one of the most iconic poems by the legendary poet Li Bai, “Bring on the Wine” had the power to shake the entire literary world. Su Yang knew this better than anyone.

But even he had underestimated just how influential and captivating Li Bai had been during the Tang Dynasty.

Take this moment, for example.

The second Su Yang composed “Bring on the Wine” in just seven steps, the entire Imperial Academy fell into a stunned silence. It wasn’t until long after that the sheer weight of what had just happened finally hit everyone, setting off an explosion of excitement.

Many of the scholars in attendance didn’t fully grasp the poem’s brilliance, but Prince Li Tai was completely dumbfounded. He stood frozen in place, eyes wide with disbelief. He had been utterly crushed by the poem’s overwhelming power.

A bitter sense of despair gnawed at his heart. Li Tai had to admit—no matter how hard he worked, no matter how many years he dedicated to his craft, he could never hope to write something this majestic.

Hell, he couldn’t even pretend to be in the same league!

And it wasn’t just him.

Even the so-called great scholars in attendance were losing their minds. Clutching the freshly transcribed copy of “Bring on the Wine,” some were laughing, some were crying—completely overwhelmed by what they had just witnessed.

A sight like this baffled many of the military officers present, including General Cheng Chumo and his peers. They couldn’t understand why the scholars were acting so out of character.

But if they had known the full extent of it…

Even the Four Great Scholars of the Early Tang, the most revered literary figures of their time, had fallen to their knees upon hearing Su Yang’s poem. If the generals had seen that, they would’ve been even more shaken.

And the storm caused by “Bring on the Wine” was only just beginning. When news of the poem reached the Grand Hall, it sparked an unprecedented uproar.

At first, most of the court officials had opposed Su Yang—not out of personal grievances, but simply because they wanted to curry favor with the Minister of Appointments. They had stood against Su Yang just to show loyalty.

But then…

Now that they had seen “Bring on the Wine” with their own eyes, their entire outlook changed. In an instant, their opposition crumbled.

“A spoiled brat? Are you kidding me?”

“This guy is a damn poetry god!”

If not for the fact that they were in the middle of morning court, these officials might have followed the Four Great Scholars’ lead and knelt before the poem itself.

“Wait…”

“You’re telling me that he wrote this? That scoundrel actually created this masterpiece?”

Even the military officials, who knew next to nothing about poetry, were shaken. After reading “Bring on the Wine,” they couldn’t help but feel an unexplainable awe. How could that reckless playboy, Su Yang, be capable of such genius?

It defied all logic.

Even Li Er, seated high upon his golden throne, was momentarily stunned into silence. For the first time, he found himself genuinely impressed. Someone capable of writing a poem like this couldn’t possibly be dismissed as some spoiled noble brat.

Could the rumors be true?

Could Su Yang really be the prophesied great minister of the Tang Dynasty, just as the Guan Yinbi had foretold?

For the first time, he seriously considered the possibility.

In the end, there was no room for debate—the literary duel ended in Su Yang’s overwhelming victory.

The result left Li Er feeling strangely sentimental, while Zhangsun Wuji and his faction seethed with frustration. Even the notoriously stubborn Wei Zheng had no choice but to lower his head in defeat, looking utterly dejected.

Because they all knew the truth.

If they continued to oppose Su Yang now, it wouldn’t just be the court officials who would stand against them—the entire literary world would erupt in outrage.

Su Yang’s “Bring on the Wine” had already taken the literary world by storm.

People were calling him the reincarnation of a poetry god.

The so-called Four Great Scholars of the Early Tang had turned into Su Yang’s biggest fanboys, even proclaiming that they would be honored just to tie his shoes!

That alone spoke volumes about his newfound status in the literary world.

Some even declared…

“If the world’s literary talent were divided into ten parts, Su Yang alone would claim eight. Cao Zhi would take one, and the rest of the world would have to share the last.”

In the Eastern City of Chang’an.

Su Yang’s residence.

By now, the literary duel was long over, yet the flow of visitors to Su Yang’s mansion never ceased. Day after day, nobles and officials lined up outside, eager for an audience with him. The sheer number of guests was so overwhelming that the threshold of his doorway was nearly worn away.

Everyone had the same request. They wanted Su Yang to compose a poem for them. Some were even willing to offer a fortune in gold just to have his words on paper.

But money wasn’t what tempted Su Yang the most.

The real prize was the connections.

His visitors weren’t just common nobles—they were the most powerful figures in the empire. From the Grand Chancellors to the high-ranking ministers, they all came, humbling themselves before him.

In a matter of days, Su Yang had built an extensive web of influence.

And if that weren’t enough, many of these officials were now eager to introduce their daughters to him, hoping to secure a marriage alliance with the literary prodigy who had taken the empire by storm.