[Wuxia] The Number One Ding Under Heaven (Complete) - 18

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Chapter 127 In the Green Jade Pavilion, the Trampling of People is Underway (Part 1)

With a creak, the door opened, and the two turned their heads simultaneously.
"Brother Yongshu!" Pang Yu's eyes lit up. The person who had successfully entered the competition after him through answering the questions was none other than Ouyang Xiu.
When Ouyang Xiu saw him, he also showed a pleased expression and walked quickly towards the table. As he got closer, his gaze suddenly sharpened, staring at Ren Huang beside Pang Yu, his expression somewhat strange.
"Brother Yongshu!" "Brother Yongshu!" Pang Yu called out twice before he snapped out of his daze. He first bowed politely, then turned his gaze to Ren Huang. "This brother looks familiar, I wonder..."
"Hahaha----Shao Li Ouyang has forgotten." Ren Huang chuckled slyly. "I am a servant in the Princess's residence. I met you when you accompanied Prime Minister Lü to visit the Princess, and we even chatted for a bit."
Ouyang Xiu was taken aback, vaguely remembering something like that. He quickly added another bow, thinking to himself: Brother Pang and I discussed scholarship, and you truly have a broad mind and a wealth of knowledge. Answering questions correctly is a piece of cake for you. How can a servant in the Princess's residence be so capable?
Fourth Brother, with his keen eyes, knew exactly what he was thinking. He chuckled, "Brother Yongyuan, I didn't see you in the queue for the quiz earlier. How come..." This showed Fourth Brother's loyalty; after all, they were cellmates who had served time together. He didn't want Ren Huang to be too embarrassed, so he casually steered the conversation back to Ouyang Xiu.
Ren Huang's gaze towards Fourth Brother grew even more admiring!
"Oh, it's like this." Upon hearing this, Ouyang Xiu became a little embarrassed, blushing as he said, "Uncle Yong is not talented. In the past, when my academic friends gathered, we would compete in poetry and lyrics, and I always won by a narrow margin. Over time... over time, I gained the empty title of 'the number one talent in Bianliang,' but I really don't deserve it."
Wow, the young man is quite humble, promising indeed.
Fourth Brother was initially very impressed, but then he thought about it again.
Damn. Is this humility?
No. It's clearly admitting defeat. Feeling inferior!
----With Fourth Brother around. The number one talent in Bianliang. No, that's not right. " Who else could possibly be the number one talent of the Song Dynasty?!
" "Master Nangong is hosting this Yaoqin Music Gathering. The original intention was to gather learned scholars and musicians from the capital to appreciate the newly composed pieces from the Guangling San score, which Master Nangong recently discovered in Luoyang. Because answering questions one by one would be too time-consuming, and... since the questions are set by the four maids, they shouldn't be too difficult. Therefore, several well-known young scholars from the capital and some highly respected seniors in the performing arts can enter the Green Jade Pavilion without taking any questions."
Holy crap! No exam required! That's so unfair!
Pang Yu and Ren Huang slammed their fists on the table indignantly.
Fourth Brother had decided that he would definitely make a grand entrance today and get the title of "Number One Talent" for fun.
Reputation wasn't important. Fourth Brother, indifferent to fame and fortune, had long since seen it indifferently.
The key was that the title "Talent" was a passport that granted him unimpeded access everywhere. It would be incredibly beneficial for picking up girls, seducing women, and attracting ladies!
And if he were the number one talent in the world… "Whether it's day or night, if you sneak into the home of a well-bred young lady, the parents will welcome you with open arms, practically wishing you would consummate the marriage with their daughter immediately!"
Pang Yu indulged in irresponsible fantasies, while Ren Huang stroked his mustache and grinned lewdly.
With these two lecherous fellows involved, Ouyang Xiu was speechless and could only bury his head in his tea.
Gradually, more and more people filled the hall, indicating that the four young girls' test-taking skills were truly limited. So many people were qualified to sit in the hall with his fourth brother.
Ouyang Xiu was undoubtedly a renowned young scholar in the capital's academic circles, and with his illustrious status as "a disciple of Prime Minister Lü," many young scholars entering the hall came to pay their respects. Many had originally wanted to curry favor and sit at his table, but upon seeing the two servants sitting beside him, they immediately showed disgust.
Pang Yu, however, didn't care. What were these so-called "learned scholars" in his fourth brother's eyes? Less than dogs! Sitting down would truly humiliate him. Just because
they could write a few lines of poetry or compose a couple of verses, did that make them so great? Fourth Brother will make you all vomit blood in a moment!
Ren Huang didn't care at all. This guy's shamelessness was unprecedented, even Pang Yu would probably have to admit defeat, otherwise how could he sit so calmly after climbing over the wall and through the window, and even
criticize the scholars who came in!
"Who is this? Fat head, big ears, and a body full of fat, a scholar? More like a pig."
"Hey, what's that kid over there showing off for? Wash your cup before drinking tea. Do you think the things in Green Jade Pavilion are dirty?"
"Oh my, oh my. A man in his fifties comes here, an old cow daring to dream of young grass. Have you no shame?"
"Brother Pang, you'd better watch out." Ouyang Xiu suddenly said.
"What?"
"The Prince of Anding was deposed, and the Prince of Beihai suffered a setback. Brother Pang, you've had a great time, but you've also become a thorn in the side of the Prince's faction. Among the princes of the imperial clan, Zhao Zonghui, grandson of Prince Gongxian of Han and Prince of Jiangxia, is the most talented. He ranked second among the scholars exempt from the examination. When he arrives and sees you here, Brother Pang, he'll surely gather a group of scholars who are inclined towards the Prince's faction to make things difficult for you."
"Hahaha, no problem, no problem." Pang Yu laughed loudly, declaring with great magnanimity, "I'm not even afraid of you, Brother Yongshu, let alone a few clowns."
"Who are you calling a clown!" As soon as he finished speaking, someone at the opposite table jumped up.
Haha, Pang Yu almost burst out laughing, casually shouting, "Who are you calling a clown?"
"I'm calling you a clown..." the person answered, only realizing he had fallen for the kid's trick when everyone around him burst into laughter. He stood up angrily and walked towards him, followed by two others. They were probably supposed to come in batches, and then launch a simultaneous attack once everyone was there. But after Pang Yu's outburst, a few restless ones came to their deaths first.
"A mere servant dares to be so arrogant, spouting nonsense about talent!"
"Which of Anle Marquis's men knows any shame? Overestimating themselves, utterly overestimating themselves!"
They surrounded Pang Yu, launching into a tirade of sarcasm.
Pang Yu, meanwhile, sipped his tea, waiting until their mouths were dry from talking, before slowly and leisurely saying, "I'm chatting with Brother Yongshu, what business is it of yours?" "
Just mess with us..." This time, thankfully, the laughter subsided quickly, but it still drew a burst of laughter.
These talented scholars and writers all wanted the others to leave as quickly as possible; the fewer left, the better. Being left alone would be ideal—to enjoy Nangong Qinyi's music all to oneself was more glorious than passing the imperial examination!
So, as soon as someone made a fool of themselves, everyone started jeering. They were afraid things wouldn't escalate.
If they did, both sides would be kicked out!
Sheng Jia, the one who led the charge and admitted to being a clown, turned pale with anger upon hearing Pang Yu and Ouyang Xiu address each other as brothers: "You—you dare! How can a mere servant associate with Ouyang Shaoli!" "
Little did they know that Ouyang Xiu had experienced Pang Yu's prowess firsthand. He had discussed the founding of the *Great Song Dynasty Weekly* with Pang Yu extensively, and knew of Pang Yu's exceptional insight and talent. Pang Yu's many novel viewpoints and ideas broadened Ouyang Xiu's horizons, making him feel inferior. Ouyang Xiu even offered to recommend Pang Yu to his mentor, hoping to secure him an official position.
—Fourth Brother, indifferent to fame and fortune, decisively refused. This further impressed Ouyang Xiu.
Ouyang Xiu smiled without speaking.
"I disagree! This man is merely a lowly servant in the Grand Tutor's mansion; what talent does he have to sit at the same table as Ouyang, the Junior Official!" Sheng Jia retorted angrily.
Ouyang Xiu still smiled without speaking."
He was actually annoyed by these guys too. A person should have integrity; "learn literary and martial arts, sell your skills to the emperor," meaning you should be loyal to the Song Dynasty, not some prince or high-ranking official. To rely on a little talent and willingly become someone else's lackey was something Ouyang Xiu utterly despised.
However, his status prevented him from openly clashing with these people, so he asked the fearless Pang brothers for help. They could give these people he loathed to the extreme a good thrashing.
Seeing Ouyang Xiu's expression, Sheng Jia was even more furious, coldly saying, "Fine, then I'll give you a couplet. Let's see if you can match it. If you can't, then get out and stop embarrassing yourself here." *
You're the one embarrassing yourself!
* Ouyang Xiu thought, watching the show while sipping his tea.
Sheng Jia, feigning deep thought, pondered for a moment before replying, "A mantis trying to stop a chariot. A tiger leaping across a river, what courage does a mere man possess!" He then looked down at him with a smug expression, believing his carefully crafted couplet to be quite challenging and sarcastic, allowing him to publicly humiliate this presumptuous servant.
Pang Yu didn't even bother to glance at him, waving his hand dismissively: "Ants climbing a locust tree, a mayfly trying to shake a tree, a fool presumptuously claiming to be a hero."
Sheng Jia froze on the spot.
Behind him, Sheng Yi, unconvinced, jumped out and said, "Two apes cutting wood in the mountains. This monkey can even compose a sawing couplet." Comparing his handsome fourth brother to a monkey was utterly despicable; his fourth brother was even more despicable. He waved his hand: "A horse stuck in the mud, how can this beast get out (problem)?"
The room fell silent for a second or two, then burst into laughter
. Student B's face turned pale, then red. Seeing that Pang Yu had met his match in the blink of an eye, and that Pang Yu's knowledge and aura far surpassed his own, he dared not speak again and obediently shrank back to reflect.
There are usually two kinds of people who will follow one after another in this world: one is the great, respectable revolutionary martyr, and the other is the fool who asks for trouble and is trampled on by the protagonist. Sure enough
, just as Student B was gone, Student C stepped forward. Seeing Pang Yu drinking tea, a wicked thought arose: "Lacking food and drinking from the spring, how can plain water be enough to satisfy?" This is a cleverly word-splitting couplet; "lacking food" becomes "drink," and "plain water" becomes "spring," quite ingenious.
Pang Yu glanced at him sideways, noticing the man's wretched appearance and the large mole on his lip with two tufts of black hair on it. He felt an inexplicable disgust and sneered, "Without talent, you can't even fill your stomach with black earth." "Without talent" and "black earth" were direct accusations that the man was utterly ignorant, making Sheng Bing so angry he nearly fainted.
"Hahaha, well said, well said!" Ren Huang clapped his hands and laughed, his small mustache twitching, instantly overshadowing Sheng Bing's wretchedness. "Young brother, I didn't realize your literary talent was so good! Truly worthy of being a Heavenly Soldiers! The Emperor is wise, truly wise! Hahahaha—" He laughed with undisguised pride.
"Pah! What 'Heavenly Soldiers,' 'Dog Soldiers,' that's more like it! One of Marquis Anle's dogs!"
A sneer and mockery, a discordant voice filled with contempt, rang out from outside the door. Then the door opened, and four or five young men in brocade robes escorted an arrogant youth wearing a golden crown and a purple robe with cloud-patterned dragons. Their gazes all fell on Pang Yu's table, their eyes filled with contempt, disdain, and anger. "
Damn it, they dare to insult Fourth Brother? They're tired of living!"
Pang Yu thought, his anger flaring.
Ren Huang also frowned, his forehead veins throbbing with annoyance.
"Fourth Brother Pang, they're here. The one at the front is Prince Zhao Zonghui of Jiangxia. It's rumored he shares a concubine with Prince An'ding; they're very close. Be careful," Ouyang Xiu kindly warned, his smile tinged with malice.
"Shared wives?" Pang Yu laughed. "Then casting Zhao Shiqing would be too easy for him, hahaha----don't worry, a few clowns won't amount to anything." He used the word "only" to count, clearly treating the other party as an animal.
"No, that's not it." Ouyang Xiu shook his head and said in a deep voice, "The two men to Zhao Zonghui's left and right are those two young masters with folding fans, one is Cheng Hao (Cheng Bochun), and the other is Cheng Yi (Cheng Zhengshu). The two brothers are both famous young talents in the capital. Their family has been famous for generations and is one of the three great clans of Bianliang. Their great-grandfather, Cheng Xizhen, served as the Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Works, their grandfather, Cheng, was granted the title of Grand Master of the Palace and Minister of Personnel, and their father, Cheng, was the Grand Master of the Palace. These two brothers were influenced by their family's education from a young age, studied diligently, and had a great love for poetry and literature. They aspire to study the classics. Their teacher, Zhou Dunyi, is a master of Neo-Confucianism in our dynasty, with a illustrious reputation. The students he taught will definitely not be bad. Brother Pang, it's good to be confident, but you must not be careless."
Pang Yu raised an eyebrow: "From what Brother Yongshu is saying, these two brothers have some real talent?"
"Not just a little, but a lot." Ouyang Xiu's hand holding the cup suddenly tightened, because Zhao Zonghui and his party did not find a place to sit down, but went directly to their table.
"Greetings, Prince Jiangxia." Ouyang Xiu stood up and gave a perfunctory bow, a necessary gesture for his current status, one he could not refrain from doing under any circumstances.
---Of course, years later, Ouyang Wenzhong Gong would not even need to bow to a prince.
Pang Yu and Ren Huang remained seated.
Zhao Zonghui smiled faintly, as if he had expected this, or perhaps he was too arrogant to stoop to the level of two servants. However, one of his followers couldn't hold back any longer, stepping forward and coldly snorting, "In the painting, the dragon doesn't roar, the tiger doesn't howl. How laughable are these lowly servants!"
"Who is this?" Pang Yu asked, pointing.
"Wu Haosheng, son of Wu Ye, the Deputy Commander of the Palace Guard."
"His father is a general?"
"Yes, but he has studied literature since childhood." Ouyang Xiu was completely watching with a detached, amused attitude.
"Wu Haosheng, Wu Haosheng, being competitive should come with some weight." Pang Yu returned his gaze with utter disdain, picked up a plate of melon seeds from the table, and slowly cracked open a few, acting as if he didn't care at all: "On the chessboard... a rook without wheels, a horse without a whip... uh, call it checkmate, be careful—you can get out of here, next."
Wu Haosheng was dumbfounded on the spot, no longer able to be "competitive.
" Another person jumped out from behind Zhao Zonghui, let's call him Shengding, and sneered sarcastically: "Who was it that stole peaches through the dog hole yesterday?" He directly compared Fourth Brother to a dog, the provocation was obvious.
"In the future, when I climb the laurel tree and ascend to the moon palace, I will surely be there." Fourth Brother answered casually, almost making him roll his eyes.
Not to be outdone, he added, "Green and red everywhere, orioles and swallows everywhere, how would you respond to this couplet?"
Pang Yu curled his lip, deliberately making a series of "tsk tsk tsk" sounds: "Vulgar, truly vulgar! Entering such an elegant place as Green Jade Pavilion, you only think of orioles and swallows? Oh dear, isn't this defiling the sacred place in the hearts of millions of people in the capital? Those two little girls outside must be blind to let you in."
His provocation caused everyone to glare angrily at Sheng Ding, who was inexplicably humiliated and too scared to speak—the wrath of the masses was not to be trifled with; even with the protection of the Prince of Jiangxia, he couldn't afford to offend all the talented men in the capital.
"Hey, you there, can you not change the subject?" Cheng Hao sneered, assuming Pang Yu couldn't answer. "
You there?"
Hearing this address, Fourth Brother laughed.

Chapter 128 In the Green Jade Pavilion, the Trampling of People is Underway (Part Two)

"Hey, you there."
Pang Yu called him that too, but there was no sign of anger on his face.
"Such a simple couplet, don't you feel insulted by answering it? --- Green and red everywhere, orioles and swallows, opposite flowers and grasses year after year, dusk and dawn, do you even need to think about this?"
Cheng Hao was stunned.
Green and red opposite flowers and grasses, in such a short time, he had only thought of the first four words, and he was still pondering what to use to match "everywhere, orioles and swallows," yet the servant had already answered it.
Cheng Hao couldn't believe it, thinking it was just a coincidence, or that the servant had heard someone else answer it before.
He was unconvinced and decided to test his knowledge himself.
"Brother, let me go first." Cheng Yi, who especially disliked Pang Yu, stepped forward eagerly, determined to make this arrogant little servant lose so badly he couldn't hold his head up.
"Listen carefully! Water with insects is turbid, water with fish is fish, water, water, water, rivers and lakes are vast." After careful thought, he gave the first couplet, and Ouyang Xiu's expression changed slightly upon hearing it. This was a couplet with repeated characters. Water and insects together form "turbid," water and fish together form "fish," and water, water, water, forms the character
"淼" (miao). At the same time, there was also an embedded character within the repeated character. The three three-dot water radicals complemented the rivers and lakes, which was truly ingenious. It was unlikely that Pang Si could answer it in a short time. "Oh my, a couplet with repeated characters, and even embedded characters. Brother Cheng is indeed a talented man. This question is really..."
"Enough nonsense. If you can answer it, then answer it. If you can't, then get out!" Cheng Yi was very arrogant and domineering. It was unclear whether he was venting his anger for his brother or wanted to show off in front of Nangong Qinyi and compete for the limelight in front of the beauty.
"Answer, of course I'll answer! Wait a minute, let me think about it." Pang Yu looked troubled, touched his nose, and thought for about five seconds.
"The root is below the wood. === The end is above the wood. Wood, wood, wood, pine, cypress, camphor, lush and verdant."
"Good, good match! Brother Pang, you've got it!!!" This time even Ouyang Xiu couldn't help but praise. Adding a horizontal stroke below the wood is the root, adding a horizontal stroke above the wood is the end. Wood, wood, wood, together form the character 'lush'. Pine, cypress, and camphor all have the wood radical. It's a perfect match, not a single word off!
"Good couplet. Good couplet, Chen, the great talent, has set a really high standard."
"What talent? Just the level of a servant."
"The Cheng family of Bianliang, nothing special, nothing special."
The jeers started again. Sure enough, everyone loses their composure in front of a beautiful woman. In order to minimize the number of people sharing Nangong Qinyi's supreme music, even the lackeys of the Prince's Party joined forces to criticize her.
Cheng Yi was publicly humiliated. Unable to swallow this insult, he thought for a moment and then said, "Father a Jinshi, son a Jinshi, father and son both Jinshi!" There was a reason for this; his family, three generations—his great-grandfather Cheng Xizhen, his grandfather Cheng, and his father Cheng—were all learned men who passed the imperial examinations on their first attempt. Thus, starting with his grandfather Cheng, there was a saying: "The family is full of learned men, father and son both Jinshi." === Cheng Yi used this as a counter-argument. Not only was he making things difficult for Pang Yu, but he also served as a warning to the scholars—the Cheng family had been renowned for its learning for generations. How dare you mock them? Did you no longer wish to pursue literature?
Sure enough, the scholars who had been jeering earlier fell silent, obediently shutting their mouths. Some even changed their tune and began attacking Pang Yu.
"This lowly servant is overestimating himself! Young Master Cheng was just letting you win!"
"Shameless scoundrel, utterly shameless!"
"Young Master Cheng, don't hold back, make him admit defeat wholeheartedly."
A chorus of insults rose up, and Ouyang Xiu could no longer remain silent.
He was a man of honor, and Pang Si considered him a confidant, so he naturally regarded Pang Si as a brother in return. Seeing the whole room launching an attack, the spearhead aimed directly at his buddy, how could he stand idly by?
"Young Master Cheng's couplet, Yongshu will take over." He stood up and, without hesitation, said, "Father a Jinshi, son a Jinshi, father and son both Jinshi. My reply: Wife a Madam, daughter-in-law a Madam, wife and daughter-in-law both Madam!"
The first talent's move was indeed extraordinary; what Cheng Yi considered a difficult problem was solved in a moment.
"Hey, something's not right." Someone suddenly offered a suggestion.
Pang Yu!
"Brother Yongshu, although your second line is very good, rewriting it from beginning to end is a bit troublesome."
"Oh, Brother Pang Si uses a simpler version?" Ouyang Xiu was also surprised.
Pang Yu smiled, dipped his thumb in tea, and wrote Cheng Yi's first line on the table:
Father a Jinshi, son a Jinshi, father and son both Jinshi. *****
“How should the four Pang brothers revise the second line?”
Pang Yu smiled without saying a word, dipped his teacup again, and lengthened the horizontal stroke under each character of “shi” (士), so the whole couplet became: Father enters the earth, son enters the earth, father and son enter the earth together.
Well, they just passed the imperial examination, and now they're all “entering the earth” (died).
“Hahaha, well done, well done!” Ren Huang slammed his fist on the table in admiration. Even Ouyang Xiu, and even Wu Haosheng and the scholar Ding, who were with Cheng Yi, couldn't help but sneer.
Serves you right for being so pretentious! Serves you right for thinking your family is so great! You deserve to be mocked!
Cheng Yi was almost furious, and angrily grabbed a cup from the table to smash it over Pang Yu's head.
Go ahead and smash it; if it hits, his fourth brother will immediately “create” another eunuch for the Song Dynasty.
Before the cup could be thrown, it was stopped by Zhao Zonghui, who easily snatched it away with a flick of his wrist. He didn't say much, just gave Cheng Hao a wink.
Cheng Hao proudly declared, "Dongting Lake stretches for eight hundred miles, its waves surging and rolling. Where does a master come from? Brother Pang, you're right!" This was a veiled reference to his family's three generations of teachers, whose students were scattered throughout the land, their combined influence like the eight-hundred-mile-long Dongting Lake, hence the title "Master of Literature." It was a sarcastic jab at Pang Yu's arrogance and overestimation of his abilities.
Ouyang Xiu shook his head upon hearing this.
The four Pang brothers weren't arrogant at all; they were simply too modest. If he truly wanted to display his talent, he would have directly challenged the Prince of Jiangxia. Why waste his breath on these insignificant figures?
Unexpectedly, Pang Yu was no longer modest this time, showing even less respect for Cheng Hao. He blurted out, "Where does the title of Grandmaster come from, you say? 'The twelve peaks of Wushan, shrouded in mist and heavy with clouds, this academy descends from the heavens!'" He was using his opponent's first line of a couplet to call himself a Grandmaster, utterly arrogant, presumptuous, and disdainful of everyone, directly trampling the Cheng family of Bianliang into the ground. The
assembled scholars were in an uproar. Not only did he insult the renowned Cheng family, but he also dared to proclaim himself a Grandmaster. This servant was truly audacious. However, given his talent, he was indeed the most outstanding among them, and in this Green Jade Pavilion, he could insult anyone without consequence.
Seeing his vulgar and arrogant words, Cheng Hao could no longer hold back and shouted sharply, "Pang Yu, don't be so arrogant! Do you think you're invincible just because you can compose a couplet? Hmph, you dare to publicly insult my brothers, which is to insult my father and grandfather! To insult my father and grandfather is to insult all the talents in the world!"
All the talents in the world?
Hearing these four words, Pang Yu laughed again. He had initially felt a sense of satisfaction seeing the Cheng brothers' faces flush and palate, looking as if they were about to vomit blood from anger. But now that Cheng Hao had dared to speak so arrogantly, he was determined to teach him a lesson; otherwise, he would truly believe that the mere Cheng family of Bianliang was so powerful.
In the entire Song Dynasty, apart from the Zhao family who ruled the country, who dared to act arrogantly in front of the Pang family!
Fourth Brother stood up, a hint of gloom flashing in his narrowed eyes.

Chapter 129: In the Green Jade Pavilion, the Trampling of People is Underway (Part 3)

"Insulting your father and grandfather is insulting the learning of the world? Do your father and grandfather represent the learning of the world?" Pang Yu, standing a full head taller than Cheng Hao, immediately overwhelmed him with his imposing aura.
Cheng Hao, naturally, was terrified and took two steps back, trembling as he said, "You... what are you going to do?"
Pang Yu had no intention of using force—it wouldn't dirty his hands to beat up this kind of scum! Seeing all eyes on him, he thought quickly and said loudly, "To represent the learning of the world, one must possess the ability to master all the learning of the world. The one universally acknowledged as the most learned person in the world today is none other than Yongshu's mentor, the Grand Secretary Lü Xiang. Brother Yongshu, you have studied literature with Grand Secretary Lü for many years. Have you ever heard him claim to represent the learning of the world?"
Ouyang Xiu stood up solemnly and said, "My mentor once said: Among the learning of the world, there are twelve famous schools of thought, including Yin-Yang, Confucianism, Mohism, the School of Names, Legalism, Taoism, the School of Diplomacy, Miscellaneous, Agriculturalism, Fiction, Military, and Medicine. Even though he devoted his entire life to studying and learning, he only grasped seven or eight parts of the essence of Confucianism, and only had a rough understanding of Taoism and Legalism. Not to mention him, even Confucius himself would not dare to claim to represent the learning of the world."
Everyone present knew who Lü Yijian was. He was the current prime minister, second only to the most powerful, a model for all learned scholars, and an idol in the hearts of all intellectuals. His words were law, not to be questioned. Although the Cheng family, including Cheng Hao and Cheng Yi, were also a prominent family with considerable influence among scholars, compared to Lü Yijian, who was only slightly inferior to Grand Tutor Pang and the Eighth Prince… they were not even worthy of being mentioned. Moreover, Ouyang Xiu, being shrewd, played a trick of subtly shifting the meaning when relaying his mentor's words. He even dragged Confucius into the conversation. You see, Lü Yijian's words stop at "roughly speaking, only Daoist and Legalist." What follows is Ouyang Xiu's own exclamation—not to mention him, even Confucius himself wouldn't dare claim to represent all the learning in the world. \\\\\\ But if spoken quickly and vaguely, who knows that the sentence should have been paused after "only Legalist," at first glance… They thought it was all Lü Yijian's original words.
Now look what's going on—a Prime Minister Lü, a Confucius, what can Cheng Hao and Cheng Yi say?
"Clap—clap—clap—"
The sound of applause, one after another, was particularly jarring amidst the noisy clamor of the hall.
Zhao Zonghui.
His lackeys all retreated in defeat. This top talent among the prince's faction could no longer remain calm.
"Brother Pang, you truly have great talent, I admire you." Zhao Zonghui looked at him. His eyes were somewhat unfathomable.
"I dare not, I dare not. Calling me 'brother' as Your Highness puts me on the same level as Zhao Yunbi. I apologize, I apologize, I have no inclination to associate myself with beasts."
Upon hearing this, everyone in the hall gasped!
Holy crap, to dare humiliate the Prince of Beihai like this in public—only Pang Si in the entire world has such audacity.
Zhao Zonghui had long known this man was incredibly audacious; otherwise, he wouldn't have castrated Zhao Shiqing with a single stroke. His face showed no shock. Instead, he smiled slightly. Displaying a touch of scholarly elegance, he slowly began, “Last spring, I was traveling in Yunnan, passing by Dianchi Lake in Kunming. I was struck by its breathtaking scenery, spanning over five hundred li, with Jinma and Biji Mountains flanking it from east to west. The lake's vast expanse of water, a boundless expanse of blue, dotted with sails, was a truly magnificent sight. The Daguan Pavilion stood beside the lake, where I feasted with a group of fellow scholars, composing poems and enjoying the panoramic view of the lake's splendor – a truly delightful experience. Inspired by this, I spontaneously penned a hundred-character couplet. Of the nineteen talented scholars from the Northwest present that day, none could match it.”
“What couplet? Hurry up and say it! I hate people who show off!” Pang Yu, impatient with his rambling, waved his hand dismissively.
The scholars, though not understanding the meaning of "pretentious," knew it wasn't a compliment and were about to erupt in cheers, but Zhao Zonghui's long recitation silenced them: "Five hundred li of Dianchi Lake rushes into view. With robes open and turbans askew, I rejoice in its boundless expanse. Behold: a divine steed soaring to the east; a spirited phoenix flying to the west; a winding dragon winding north; a white crane soaring south. Why shouldn't refined scholars choose this scenic spot to ascend? Take advantage of the crab-shaped islets and snail-shaped sandbars, where the wind and mist adorn their hair. Furthermore, the reeds and rushes are dotted with emerald feathers and crimson clouds. Let us not waste: the fragrant rice paddies all around; the vast expanse of sunny sand; the lotus blossoms of summer; the willows of spring."
As soon as he finished, cheers erupted throughout the hall.
Zhao Zonghui's couplet, nearly a hundred characters long, vividly described the shimmering, elegant scenery of five hundred li of Dianchi Lake, where water and sky merge seamlessly. Its inner beauty was like poetry, its outward splendor like a painting; poetry within painting, painting within poetry. The artistic conception was truly profound. The praise from the scholars was not mere flattery, but a testament to Zhao Zonghui's genuine talent. Even Ouyang Xiu was moved, thinking that Zhao Zonghui's couplet was truly brilliant. Not only would few scholars in the Northwest, but few in the entire Song Dynasty could answer it so quickly—at least, not for now!
Pang Yu's face showed a rare seriousness as he pondered in silence.
Most of the scholars waited quietly, watching how this arrogant and boastful servant of the Pang family, who had repeatedly stumped countless scholars in the capital, would finally be dealt with.
Yes, dealt with, you read that right.
Because no one believed Pang Yu could match the couplet.
So what they wanted to see was how the Prince's faction would humiliate Pang Yu, who couldn't answer, would treat him.
However, some fools, after waiting a few seconds, shouted,
"Hey servant, you think you can match the couplet of the Prince of Jiangxia?"
"Get lost, don't embarrass yourself here."
Zhao Zonghui glanced coldly at them and shouted, "Silence! Let him think!" He was one of the few truly talented members of the imperial family in this generation, and not just any ordinary talent. When he got angry, he exuded an imposing aura, and the few who had been shouting and stirring up trouble fell silent. Zhao
Zonghui looked at Pang Yu with an arrogant and confident expression. He loved composing poetry and believed that none of the talented people in the capital, except for Ouyang Xiu, could rival him. He was certain that even if he went back to his hometown and thought for three years, a mere servant like him wouldn't be able to come up with a matching couplet.
But unfortunately for him, in Ouyang Xiu's eyes, his fourth brother's talent was comparable to his own.
As Zhao Zonghui recited his couplet, his fourth brother had just poured himself a cup of tea.
The tea was still warm. His fourth brother was already smiling.
"My second line: Thousands of years of history flood my heart. I raise my cup to the void. I sigh, where are the heroes of the past?" "Think: Qin built warships; Han erected iron pillars; Jin wielded jade axes; Tang rode in leather sacks. Their magnificent achievements, though seemingly futile, required immense effort. Even the most ornate buildings and painted beams cannot capture their grandeur, their beauty fleeting like the changing seasons. Broken steles and crumbling monuments are all consigned to the mists of time and the setting sun. All that remains are: a few distant chimes; the flickering lights of fishing boats on the river; two lines of autumn geese; and a pillow of frost."
Zhao Zonghui was stunned, as were Cheng Hao and Cheng Yi. Everyone in the audience was dumbfounded.
Only Ouyang Xiu smiled, a smile of profound admiration.
----Guan Yu warmed wine before beheading Hua Xiong, Fourth Brother stomped on the Prince with hot tea—brilliant, truly brilliant!
Zhao Zonghui's first line describes the scenery, depicting the breathtaking beauty of Dianchi Lake. Pang Si's second line expresses emotion, using beautiful language to convey boundless感慨 (gǎnkǎi, deep feelings) about Yunnan's "thousands of years of history." The lines blend emotion and scenery seamlessly, with clear layers, perfect parallelism, refined wording, grand scale, and lofty artistic conception—it's beyond words!
Huang, with a lewd grin, held the teacup to his lips, his eyes behind the cup gleaming slightly as he slowly…slowly…slowly nodded at Pang Yu's standing profile.
Zhao Zonghui's face was extremely ugly. He looked like a hardworking man who, after a long day of sweating, returned home to find his wife being forcibly…
yes. That's the feeling of being raped.
His talent had been shamelessly raped by Fourth Brother!
"Hahaha!" "After a year, Your Highness has finally found a matching line for this couplet! It's truly a fortunate event for the literary world, a momentous occasion!" Ouyang Xiu seized the opportunity to stand up and smooth things over. Although he wholeheartedly agreed with Pang Yu's decision to crush these self-important, uncouth scoundrels, today was, after all, a time to listen to the zither, not a poetry or couplet competition. Your actions in the Green Jade Pavilion were clearly disrespectful to Nangong Qinyi.
So, that was enough; let's stop here.
Pang Yu thought the same thing—great minds think alike! He pulled out his chair to sit back down.
But someone was oblivious to this. Ouyang Xiu continued, "What fortunate event? This servant clearly heard this couplet before; otherwise, how could he have answered it so quickly?" Upon hearing this
, Zhao Zonghui seemed to see a glimmer of hope amidst despair. His previously deathly pale face instantly regained its luster. However, as a dignified prince, he couldn't afford to pick a fight with a mere servant. So, he remained still, but with a slight wink, his group of lackeys immediately attacked.
Wu Haosheng, nearly spitting blood from anger, the scholar Ding, and Cheng Hao and Cheng Yi, who had implicated their father and been humiliated by their fourth brother, surrounded Pang Yu like madmen, launching into a barrage of attacks.
"That must be it, otherwise, how could anyone possibly match Your Highness's authority in such a short time!"
"The Marquis of Anle's men are just as shameless as their master; they're capable of anything."
"I've seen plenty of shameless people, but this is the first time I've seen anyone this shameless."
Pang Yu originally wanted to back down, to save some face—leave a way out for others, so you can meet again in the future. If he trampled on him too hard the first time, who would dare to mess with him again? Wouldn't it be a lot less fun if he didn't mess with them?
But since they were still not satisfied, and their lackeys were insulting him like this, Fourth Brother couldn't tolerate it any longer.
First, he swept his eyes around, and without any pretense, a murderous glint of light burst forth. Immediately, Wu Haosheng, Scholar Ding, Cheng Hao, and Cheng Yi all shut up, very uniformly. Especially Wu Haosheng, whose father was a general, was so frightened that his legs went weak, and he stumbled backward, only managing to stay upright by grabbing the table.
Pang Yu smiled slightly and spoke directly to Zhao Zonghui: "Your Highness, are you not satisfied with your loss? Fine, very well."
Zhao Zonghui felt uneasy.
"You've been testing me the whole time. Now I'll give you a couplet. If Your Highness can match it, then I'll admit defeat, and Pang Si will kowtow and apologize to you!"
Ren Huang added in a very lewd way: "And if Your Highness can't match it?"
Pang Yu laughed: "That's simple. From now on, in my presence, Your Highness must not talk about talent or learning, and even more so, must not compose poems, lyrics, or engage in couplet competitions!!!"
"You!" Zhao Zonghui could no longer maintain his forced composure, and his refined face twitched almost distorted.
He was arrogant and self-important, considering himself the most learned among the princes and nobles. Whether at imperial banquets, lantern festivals, flower shows, or various activities among nobles and ministers—including but not limited to drinking, gambling, and whoring—he always distinguished himself with his couplets and lyrics, making him the most prominent and influential member of the princely faction after Zhao Yunbi. Pang Yu declared that if he lost, he would be forbidden from discussing his talents, composing poems, lyrics, or engaging in couplet competitions—essentially a public attempt to sever his lineage!
Without these, he would have no outstanding qualities; without these, he would receive no appreciation or praise; without these, he would be no different from other wealthy and dissolute playboys; without these, he would be nothing more than a prince wasting his life!
Zhao Zonghui felt a little guilty. Although Pang Yu's words were extremely arrogant, no one doubted his ability. After several rounds of exchanges, all the talented scholars present, including himself, understood that Pang Si was indeed talented. No wonder even Ouyang Xiu addressed him as a brother. The couplets he presented must be extremely difficult.
"Does Your Highness dare not? Do you think my conditions are too harsh?" Pang Yu looked at him with infinite contempt.
"I'm doing this for Your Highness's own good. With Your Highness's petty skills and third-rate writing, competing with me in couplets and poetry in the same setting will only result in four words: utter humiliation!"
His most confident talent had been criticized as "third-rate writing." How could Zhao Zonghui tolerate this? Moreover, dozens of eyes were watching in the hall, and this was Nangong Qinyi's territory. If he backed down...
he really wouldn't be able to face anyone anymore.
Zhao Zonghui flicked his sleeve and said coldly, "Just give me the challenge. Am I afraid?"
"Your Highness, have you thought it through? Don't regret it as soon as I come out," Pang Yu said with a leisurely smile.
He was always a reserved person, very low-key in his actions, a reputation well-known in the capital's social circles and among the city's ladies and daughters of wealthy families (low-key and well-known?), but since the other party was so shameless as to force him to show his skills, Fourth Brother had no choice but to "go all out."
----Go all out, pushing Zhao Zonghui to the edge of a cliff.
Showing mercy at this time was not in his nature.
Zhao Zonghui was now forced into a corner, and it was difficult for him not to agree. He urged, "No need for nonsense, I've thought it through very clearly. I'll give you the first line of the couplet according to your conditions!"
"Your Highness, have you really thought it through?" Pang Yu asked again, his voice booming like a bell, causing dust to fall from the beams.
Zhao Zonghui had nowhere to retreat, completely pushed to the edge of a cliff. He angrily shouted, "Stop talking nonsense, just give me the question!"
"Fine, I'll give you one."
Zhao Zonghui listened intently. "Really?" He was still hanging on.
"Don't be nervous." Still hanging on.
...This has happened time and time again. Isn't this obviously wasting his time and teasing him?!
Just as Zhao Zonghui was about to explode, his fourth brother finally uttered the first line of the couplet.
"The bright moon shines through the gauze window, the princesses are like Zhuge Liang and Kongming."

Chapter 130 of the main text: The First Absolute Couplet of All Time (Part 1)

Unsolvable!
This couplet is unsolvable!
This is not something Pang Yu said casually, but a conclusion made by an extremely awesome person.
Nonsense, there aren't that many awesome people in the world!
No, the person who said this deserves the title!
Isn't the Complete Library of the Four Treasuries awesome?
The Siku Quanshu (Complete Library of the Four Treasuries) is the largest collection of books in Chinese history, divided into four parts: Classics, History, Philosophy, and Literature, hence the name "Siku Quanshu." It contains 3,503 (3503) titles and 79,337 (79,337) volumes
of ancient books, bound into over 36,000 books, surpassing even the Yongle Encyclopedia of the Ming Dynasty. Those who participated in compiling the Siku Quanshu were all exceptional individuals; any one of them possessed profound knowledge and outstanding literary talent.
The chief compiler of the Siku Quanshu, who led this group of exceptional individuals, was undoubtedly exceptional as well.
The chief compiler of the Siku Quanshu said, "This couplet is unsolvable!"
Upon hearing Pang Yu's first line, Zhao Zonghui's face turned extremely ugly, very, very, very ugly, resembling a prisoner facing certain death. ===
The bright moon shines through the gauze window, each one a Zhuge Liang (a brilliant strategist). The poem depicts a nighttime scene—a silvery world illuminated by moonlight: the bright moon shines through the gauze window, illuminating every window opening and many pavilions (a homophone for "Ge" in Chinese). In terms of imagery alone, the first line of this five-character and seven-character couplet is only "average," but its linguistic skill is truly exceptional!
The second line, "个个孔明诸葛亮" (each one is Kongming Zhuge Liang), uses "个个孔明" to mean "Zhuge Liang" (Zhuge Liang). "Zhuge Liang" is a given name, and "Kongming" is the courtesy name of "Liang." Their relationship and order can be described as: courtesy name plus given name. Semantically, "个个" is equivalent to the first character of the compound surname "Zhu." "孔" is similar to the second character of the compound surname "Ge," and "明" has a slightly different meaning from "Liang."
Furthermore, there is the alternating tones and rhythmic patterns, which require:
First line: Bright moon shines through the gauze window. The couplet, "Every one of them is a Zhuge Liang," is as follows: First line: 仄仄
仄平平，仄仄平平平仄仄Second line: 平平平仄仄。平平仄仄仄平平 Zhao Zonghui stood there for a long time, his face turning red and white. He, who considered himself the second most talented scholar in the capital, was completely stumped by this couplet. He gritted his teeth and remained silent, his face ashen. He thought: Even disregarding the tonal patterns, just the seven characters "Every one of them is a Zhuge Liang" alone... Not to mention him, even if Prime Minister Lü himself were here, he might not be able to match it. " What Prime Minister Lü?" Pang Yu thought. "Even if you gathered all eight great masters of the Tang and Song dynasties and had them all sit here in a row, they still might not be able to match it. " "Your Highness, don't even think about it. This couplet is unsolvable. Standing here is a waste of time," Pang Yu kindly reminded him. "I don't believe it! How can there be a couplet that can't be matched!" Zhao Zonghui shouted wildly. His eyes were bloodshot. Alas. He overestimated himself.

There was once a man who boasted that there was no antithesis in the world. That man was Ji Xiaolan, the chief compiler of the *Siku Quanshu* (Complete Library of the Four Treasuries)
, a man known for his sharp tongue and penchant for challenging couplets! Compared to Zhao Zonghui, who merely considered himself a young talent in the capital, ranking only second in learning, Ji Xiaolan was universally recognized throughout the Qing Dynasty as a literary giant, a leader in academia, and a master of literature. His writing was elegant and insightful, his wit and agility making him arguably the greatest antithesis in Chinese and foreign literature. He could create antithetical couplets about anything in the universe, from ancient to modern poetry, with effortless fluency and natural flow. His masterful writing skills were breathtaking.
Ji Xiaolan truly possessed genuine talent and learning; his boast of having no antithesis in the world resulted in angering someone even more powerful than himself—his wife!
Seeing her husband's arrogance, Ji Xiaolan's wife, fearing she wouldn't be able to control him in bed, casually posed this couplet: "The moon shines through the gauze window, each one a Zhuge Liang." Ji Xiaolan couldn't match it and was stunned on the spot. From then on, he dared not be arrogant in front of his wife.
Later, somehow, this couplet circulated, and some busybodies added the character "明" (ming) to the first character, corresponding to the radical of the character "照" (zhao) in the first line (both have the sun radical), and also echoing the "明" in the last seven-character line "孔明" (Kongming), making it even more difficult to match.
A couplet that even the quick-witted and unparalleled "Saint of Couplets" Ji Xiaolan couldn't answer, and with later generations adding to its difficulty, could Zhao Zonghui possibly match it?
Zhao Zonghui, humiliated and wanting to die, suddenly shouted: "Pang Si, your first line... I, I cannot match your first line, but how can there be an unsolvable couplet in this world!"
How tragic, Pang Yu couldn't help but sigh.
One shouldn't be too arrogant; excessive arrogance will only harm oneself in the end. "
People as humble as Fourth Brother are extinct!
" Pang Yu declared, "Who under heaven can match my perfect couplet?" He swept his sleeves, his sharp eyes scanning the surroundings. His unrestrained and bold spirit was reminiscent of Li Bai. ****
"What if someone does match it?" Ren Huang interjected lewdly.
"Whoever can match this couplet perfectly, without missing a single word, I, Pang Yu, will serve them like a slave for life!!!"
"You, you, you, you, you, you!" Zhao Zonghui was so angry he almost vomited blood, his hand trembling as he pointed at him.
"What do you mean, Your Highness? You just promised me that in front of all these people, in the presence of me, Pang Yu, you would not flaunt your pitiful talent, and even less would you attempt to compose poems, lyrics, or couplets, lest you embarrass yourself—"
"You…you…thump!" Zhao Zonghui's vision went black, and he collapsed backward.
"Your Highness!" "Your Highness!" "Your Highness!" Cheng Hao, Cheng Yi, and the others rushed to help him up.
Looking at these flustered lackeys, Pang Yu sneered, a bloodthirsty glint in his eyes.
From this day forward, I'll uproot the Prince's faction bit by bit!
"Hey, hey, you really can't solve this couplet?" Just as Pang Yu sat down, Ren Huang tugged at him.
Pang Yu shook his head.
"I don't believe it." Ren Huang also shook his head. "It's this guy's useless. Someone else will definitely be able to solve it. Then… hey, you'll have to be their slave for life." Ren Huang stroked his small mustache, his smile extremely lewd.
"Who can solve it?"
Ren Huang pointed lewdly at Ouyang Xiu.
Ouyang Xiu remained silent, his brows furrowed.
"Hey, hey, Jie Fu, Jie Fu, can you solve this couplet?" From the most inconspicuous corner of the hall, a soft murmur arose, surprisingly from two eleven or twelve-year-old, chubby-cheeked children.
"I can't figure it out, it's too difficult." The boy named "Jiefu" shook his head. "Zigu, what about you? Do you have a solution?"
"Zigu" shook his head as well: "It doesn't match up. I've thought about it a lot, but it's still not quite right—no, it's far from right. It's really hard! My head is about to explode!"
"This person, is he... is he really a servant?"
"Jiefu" and "Zigu" leaned on the table, trying to get closer so they could see Pang Yu's face more clearly.
Their eyes shone with admiration.
If only they could become his disciples!
"I've got it!" Ouyang Xiu's eyes suddenly lit up.

Chapter 131 The First Absolute in the Thousand Ages (Part Two)

"What is it?" Almost the entire hall shouted in unison.
"I have a solution." Ouyang Xiu, who had been pondering, finally looked up, revealing a relieved smile.
"Who can solve this?" Zhao Zonghui, who had been sprawled there like a rag doll, suddenly found the strength to jump up, push aside the crowd blocking his way, and saw that it was Ouyang Xiu speaking. He immediately burst into wild laughter: "Hahaha, you surnamed Pang, you're finished now! What unsolvable couplet? Bullshit! Ouyang Shaoli has already solved it for you! Hahaha, go and be his slave! Hahahaha—" His laughter was somewhat incoherent; was he about to go mad?
No one paid him any attention; all eyes were on Ouyang Xiu.
"Brother Yongshu, what's your answer?" Pang Yu looked at him with a smile.
Ouyang Xiu's expression was solemn, and he slowly said, word by word: "The bright moon shines through the gauze window, each one a Zhuge Liang, I respond: A gentle breeze bathes the Phoenix Pavilion, everywhere is Changqing Shangguan Zheng."
"Oh dear, how do you solve this second line?" Ren Huang asked, leaning over.
Ouyang Xiu began his explanation unhurriedly: "Fengge refers to the 'Zhongshu Sheng,' which was renamed during the reigns of Emperors Gaozong, Wuzong, and Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty. Shangguan Zheng was a general of this dynasty, his surname was Shangguan, his given name was Zheng, and his courtesy name was Changqing. During the Yongxi era of Emperor Taizong, he was summoned to serve as a palace attendant, later promoted to court official and military supervisor of Tianxiong. He later distinguished himself in the pacification of Xichuan, rising through the ranks to become the commander-in-chief of Xichuan and the Left Dragon Martial General. During the Jingde era of Emperor Zhenzong, he was appointed Left Dragon Martial Army General and Pingzhou Defense Commissioner before retiring. My second line means: if the highest decision-making body of the state could be bathed in a climate of integrity, the system..." "If the government decrees that uphold integrity and incorruptibility at all times and in all places, then the officials who are above the people must also be upright and honest. Among them, 'a gentle breeze corresponds to the bright moon, a phoenix pavilion to a gauze window, every place to every person, and the surname 'Shangguan' to 'Zhuge'..."
Before Ouyang Xiu could finish, Zhao Zonghui's lackeys couldn't wait to shout: "Well done! Well done!!!" "Every word and phrase is perfectly matched, a timeless masterpiece. No one can solve it!" "The number one talent in the capital, truly deserving of the title, has avenged my lord!"
Only Zhao Zonghui remained silent, his face extremely grim.
Ouyang Xiu finished reciting the couplet, explaining halfway through, and then noticed its flaw.
----Indeed. Although Ouyang Xiu's second line was well-matched and its meaning reasonable, the parts of speech of "常" in the second line and "孔" in the first line were slightly flawed. Also, the meaning of the character "官" in the couplet's surrounding characters was not similar. It could be said that two small points were overlooked. Furthermore, the meaning of "everywhere is always clear" is quite different from "Shangguan Zheng." How can it be as symmetrical as "everyone is a Kongming" and "Zhuge Liang"?
However, to be able to come up with such a matching couplet in such a short time, Ouyang Xiu is indeed exceptionally talented. He certainly deserves his title of "the most talented man in the capital."
Zhao Zonghui's face turned ashen. The hope he had just glimpsed was instantly extinguished. "
A gentle breeze bathes the Phoenix Pavilion. Everywhere is always clear, Shangguan Zheng. "
If an ordinary person answered like this, it would be considered perfectly correct. But among these literary talents who value perfect parallelism
, how could a single word be wrong! Sure enough, Ouyang Xiu sighed, "My second line isn't entirely correct. It's just a hastily come-out answer, close to correct but not entirely correct. And even if I had more time, I'm afraid... no, absolutely, absolutely unable to match it completely, word for word."
"Why is that?" Ren Huang interjected.
"Because even looking across the entire world, there isn't a single historical figure who can truly be compared to Zhuge Liang, and at the same time, make this couplet perfectly structured, creating a brilliant echo between the two lines, like the 'burning the boats' and 'enduring hardship for humiliation.' Therefore, any other second line, including my earlier response of 'Qingfeng Mufengge, chuchu Changqing Shangguanzheng,' is merely a forced attempt at matching, a coherent and awkward phrase. Even if it's perfectly matched, it only disgraces Zhuge Liang and the Pang brothers' brilliant first line."
"Therefore!" Ouyang Xiu took a deep breath and said solemnly, "The Pang brothers are absolutely right. 'The bright moon shines through the gauze window. Every one of them is a Zhuge Liang'—this couplet truly has no solution, no correct solution."
Ouyang Xiu's words drew admiration from all the scholars present.
Wasn't it? Every one of them was a Zhuge Liang—who throughout history could be compared to Zhuge Liang, and whose name could fit so perfectly into the structure of this couplet?
None! Therefore, of course, there is no solution! "Of course !"
Pang Yu said, rubbing his nose with absolute confidence.
This couplet was undoubtedly the greatest of all time, defying all previous attempts at a perfect match. Examples such as "A loyal minister suffers in an iron net. An official's son is upright like Linghu," "Virtue is passed down through the Book of Rites. Every chapter is filled with respect for virtue, like Yuchi Gong," "A couplet written with a flourish, auspicious and lucky like Xiahou Cao," "A beautiful concubine is charming throughout the world, a magnificent beauty like Ouyang Xiu," and "A long whip strikes a young colt, each one like Sima Qian," all had flaws. The only one that could barely be considered a perfect match was—"The radiant light enters the eye, the basket of fragrant flowers, Mei Lanfang." The bright moon corresponds to the radiant light, the eyelid to the gauze window, "basket" and "orchid" are homophones, and Mei Lanfang corresponds to Zhuge Liang. The word choice, the parallelism, and the imagery are all there. "Basket of fragrant flowers" barely matches the meaning of Mei Lanfang, and Mei Lanfang is also qualified to be mentioned alongside Zhuge Liang.
However, there's one point:
Mei is a single surname, so it still cannot be considered a complete match.
Moreover, at this time, no one even knew which of Mei Lanfang's ancestors was in the womb!
Therefore, this couplet was unsolvable, not even a closest match!
"Wow----" Zhao Zonghui collapsed, his mouth smeared with blood, truly spitting blood from anger.
At the Green Jade Pavilion's Yaoqin Music Gathering, Pang Yu's couplet was beyond the comprehension of all the talented scholars in the capital. Ouyang Xiu was in awe, Zhao Zonghui vomited blood, and Cheng Hao and Cheng Yi fled in terror. From then on, Fourth Brother's fame spread throughout the land, and no one in Bianliang City dared to mention couplets in front of him again!
Fourth Brother showed a humble smile, calmly meeting the admiring and respectful gazes of all the talented scholars present. Of course, admiration and respect were mixed with awe!
Especially the two children, "Jiefu" and "Zigu," who looked at him as if he were an idol!
It's nothing, nothing, this kind of situation is too normal, there will be more in the future.
Fourth Brother was used to big scenes and was not excited at all.
Ren Huang, on the other hand, was overjoyed, constantly tugging at his clothes: "Good, good, good!" " I never would have guessed that a mere servant like you possessed such talent!"
"Hey, hey, don't put on a personality cult. I utterly despise that." Pang Yu chuckled, prying his hand away. "Fourth Brother isn't some god; he still has to live like everyone else. Offering some real money is more practical."
This time, he managed to infuriate Zhao Zonghui to the point of vomiting blood, and Ren Huang had played a significant role in that. His cooperation was perfectly timed. His banter was always spot-on, making Pang Yu almost consider taking him on as a follower.
"How about ten strings of cash a month? I'll follow Fourth Brother from now on."
Just as Pang Yu was about to ask him this, a sweet, heavenly voice suddenly rang out from upstairs: "Young Master Pang is indeed a man of great literary talent. Qin Yi has truly broadened her horizons today." The clamor of the hall
fell silent instantly. Everyone stopped talking and looked towards the source of the sound.
What came into view was like a painting of Chang'e under the moon: dressed in white as snow, ethereal and otherworldly. Her snow-white silk robe, adorned with a plain shawl embroidered with cloud and pheasant patterns, accentuated her flawless, jade-like skin. Her inner beauty radiated outwards, captivating all who beheld her. Her ethereal beauty could only be described as "extraordinary and otherworldly"!
"Qin Yi has arrived late, I apologize for keeping you all waiting." Nangong Qinyi descended the steps with light, graceful steps, like a fairy. She curtsied first, her eyes sparkling with a smile as she swept over the group of scholars who were staring at her, her captivating, star-like eyes sending a chill down everyone's spine.
Nangong Qinyi didn't stop, but walked gracefully towards Pang Yu. Her slender, snow-white fingers, delicate as freshly peeled bamboo shoots, had somehow produced a wine pot. She came to his side, a soft, natural smile playing on her lips. A rare slyness shone in her eyes: "Young Master Pang's talent in couplets is unparalleled in the world; no one in the capital can match him. This cup is offered by Qinyi to you, so that we may all witness this eternal masterpiece together." Upon hearing this
, everyone at the table burst into laughter.
It was known that Nangong Qinyi had always held herself in extremely high regard, never considering any man in the world worthy of her attention. In the past, simply being able to exchange a few words with her was a great honor, let alone being personally toasted!
It seemed the rumors were indeed true; this little servant and the Nangong family were indeed having an affair!
"Young Master Pang, please have some." "Nangong Qinyi, with a breathtakingly graceful posture, accompanied by a fragrant breeze brimming with youthful vitality, poured wine into the cup he had just raised.
Unlike their previous two meetings, Nangong Qinyi's demeanor exuded a carefree, languid charm, possessing a unique elegance unmatched by anyone. From her sweet voice and melodious intonation to the delicate expressions in her eyes and brows, everything possessed an intoxicating allure, captivating and mesmerizing.
No wonder she was worthy of being called the most famous courtesan in the land.
It's no wonder so many nobles, kings, generals, and wealthy young men were drawn to her.
Pang Yu was amazed, but also puzzled. Normally, it was the sight of a talented and handsome man that would cause one's heart to flutter and one to throw oneself into his arms; such behavior was something only young girls in the throes of first love would do. How could even Nangong Qinyi have fallen into this trap?
"Young master, please enjoy." Nangong Qinyi looked at him with a half-smile.
Meeting her bright, autumn-sun-like gaze, Fourth Brother felt a surge of warmth in his heart and downed his cup in one gulp.
"Pah, it's water!"
Pang Yu realized something was wrong after drinking it, almost spitting it out. He was about to smash the cup and curse when a sudden realization dawned on him.
Nangong Qinyi was playing him, playing him!
She was deliberately praising him high before slamming him to the ground!
Sure enough, Nangong Qinyi smiled faintly, a strange glint in her eyes, her eyebrows slightly arched, still displaying that gentle yet mischievous air she had at the beginning: "What's wrong? Doesn't this taste good?"
Pang Yu suddenly remembered that the person had only said " I'll toast you," not "it's wine!"
If he smashed the glass, cursed, or lost his temper, wouldn't he be humiliating himself and inviting criticism?
Even a cup of water poured by Nangong Qinyi would be drunk like a divine elixir by countless people!
"Good...good wine, especially poured by a young lady...it's even more mellow and fragrant, with a lingering aftertaste." Fourth Brother had no choice but to force himself to swallow it for the sake of his pride, his handsome face flushed red. He was "forced" to close his eyes, pretending to savor it, helplessly swallowing a bitter pill.
He would remember this "taste" for the rest of his life!
Nangong Qinyi stopped her elegant laughter, cleared her throat, and softly said, "Qinyi believes that while composing couplets is an essential skill for talented scholars, merely being able to compose a good couplet is not enough." "Not even worthy of being called talented, one must be proficient in composing poems, lyrics, and songs..."
Here it comes! Fourth Brother had already guessed that there was a premeditated plan below.
"Writing poetry? Too easy! It's just a matter of standing up and taking six steps. There's no skill involved," Fourth Brother boasted, as arrogant as ever. Cao Zhi, the legendary poet, was said to have composed a poem in seven steps. Xie Lingyun, the founder of the landscape poetry school, praised him, saying, "Of all the talent in the world, if there's a bushel (ten pecks), Cao Zhi alone possesses eight pecks, I possess one peck, and the rest of the world's talent is divided among the remaining pecks." Now Fourth Brother claims he only needs six steps—that's more than eight pecks of talent!
The assembled scholars erupted in a clamor, accusing him of arrogance and ignorance.
Fourth Brother ignored their shouts; the Grand Tutor's mansion kept dogs. He was used to hearing them all.
He only stared at Nangong Qinyi, his eyes wandering in places he shouldn't be looking. Having thoroughly enjoyed the beautiful scenery, he smiled and said, "How about this, I'll compose a poem to suit the occasion, and I'd like to ask Master Nangong for his critique." His gaze, of course, remained fixed on Nangong Qinyi's flawless face, his smile incredibly ambiguous, lewd, and cunning…
a completely vengeful look, as if to say, "You tricked me, I'm going to get my revenge.
" "If I do well, Master Nangong, will there be a reward?"
"What reward do you want?" Nangong Qinyi met his gaze without flinching.
"It's simple." Pang Yu shrugged. "Same as that day, same place. Let me sleep."
Fourth Brother's thoughts were pure; he was just a little tired of composing couplets and wanted to lie down on the bed in the bathroom to rest. But to Nangong Qinyi's loyal fans, these words were like a bolt from the blue!
Same as that day! Same place! Let me sleep!
These three phrases, if heard by a hundred people, would all misinterpret them, thinking they were having an affair!
The eyes of all the talented scholars turned bloodshot instantly, their glares like those of dozens of wolves that hadn't eaten for half a month. They all wanted to pounce on him and tear him to shreds!
"Alright, as long as your lyrics are good enough, I'll let you sleep with me," Nangong Qinyi replied leisurely.
Everyone's hearts were bleeding!
"Really? You won't go back on your word?"
"No, I won't go back on my word. As long as your lyrics are better than his, Qinyi will let you sleep with me."
Even Ouyang couldn't help but wipe his sweat.
He increasingly felt that what was happening before him wasn't a musical gathering, but rather a newlywed couple having a falling out, putting on a show of bickering in front of so many people!
"I stand leaning against the high tower, the wind is gentle. Gazing into the distance, spring sorrow rises darkly on the horizon."
Pang Yu recited in a loud voice, his opening lines immediately astonishing everyone present.
"I stand leaning against the high tower, the wind is gentle." The opening narrative vividly depicts the protagonist's ascent to the tower, gazing into the distance like a paper-cut. The phrase "standing and leaning" perfectly captures the length of his stay and the depth of his longing. "Gazing to the ends of the earth, spring sorrow rises darkly on the horizon"—looking to the far reaches of the sky, a melancholic "spring sorrow" arises, perfectly fitting the season.
"Amidst the fading light of the setting sun, the grass and smoke blend, who can understand my silent thoughts as I lean on the railing?" The preceding line describes the scenery; the protagonist stands atop the tower for a long time, reluctant to leave even as dusk falls. "The grass and smoke blend" vividly portrays the beautiful scenery under the afterglow of the setting sun. However, no one understands the protagonist's feelings as he gazes into the distance, so he remains silent, filled with "spring sorrow" yet unable to express it. Although this is not the content of "spring sorrow" itself, it intensifies its bitterness.
"I intend to indulge in unrestrained revelry, to sing and drink, but forced joy is tasteless." This line describes the author's intention. He had deeply experienced the profound sorrow of spring, which he could not dispel alone. Therefore, he sought to drown his sorrows in wine, aiming for a state of intoxication. In pursuit of this intoxication, he became unrestrained and disregarded all rules, content as long as he was drunk. He not only drank heavily but also sang loudly, using song to express his melancholy. However, the result was "forced joy tasteless." He could not suppress his spring sorrow; his feigned joy was "tasteless," further illustrating the lingering and persistent nature of this sorrow. The poem's depiction of spring sorrow at this point is indistinct and elusive, from "intending to" to "tasteless," the writing style is dynamic and undulating, reaching a sublime level, arousing the listener's boundless curiosity. The
truly talented Ouyang Xiu suddenly stood up, his eyes shining, unable to discern whether it was excitement or surprise!
Nangong Qinyi could not hide her astonishment, finding it hard to believe that such a wonderful poem was casually composed by a mere servant.
Fourth Brother had anticipated her reaction. His incomparably handsome face wore a wicked smile that could charm any young girl in love. He was about to recite the final two lines of the second stanza, a timeless masterpiece, to make Nangong Qinyi utterly defeated and willingly let him sleep to his heart's content!
Suddenly, a voice from outside the hall interrupted:
"I grow thinner and thinner, yet I have no regrets, for I am wasting away for her!"

Chapter 132 Fourth Brother vs. Liu Yong (Part 1)

I grow thinner and thinner, yet I have no regrets, for I am wasting away for her!
That's right, Butterfly Loves Flowers, this poem is Liu Yong's Butterfly Loves Flowers.
Like countless time travelers, Fourth Brother inherited the fine tradition of seizing copyrights and "creating" poems. Xiang Shaolong, Third Brother Lin, and Fan Xian's souls possessed him at this moment!
However, very unfortunately, before Fourth Brother could finish reciting "Butterfly Loves Flowers," the last, most classic, and most sublime two halves were snatched away, cut off in half!
How could this be?!
Pang Yu nearly went berserk on the spot.
Liu Yong's *Butterfly Loves Flowers*—only he, a brilliant time-traveling youth and literature enthusiast, could have read it in a later era. No one in this time could possibly have encountered it! Or even conceived of it!
How… how could someone have matched it in a moment, beating him to the punch?
The only explanation…
Pang Yu felt a little uneasy. The only explanation was that the person standing outside the door, the one who had come in, was…
“Young Master Liu!” Xiao Wan, the maidservant beside Nangong Qinyi, was the first to call out.
“Ah, Liu Qi! Brother Sanbian!!!” Ouyang Xiu was the second to stand up, his expression one of extreme surprise.
“Hahaha, Uncle Yong, it’s been so many years! Long time no see!” Amidst the loud laughter, the door suddenly opened, and in the brilliant midday sun, a handsome, refined, and elegant man walked in. His pure white robes were spotless, like snow, and his appearance was even more handsome than Bai Yutang, the "Golden-haired Rat"!
Liu Yong, Liu Sanbian!!! Pang Yu’s eyes widened at Ouyang Xiu’s shout.
Pirated poems encountering their original authors—among all the time travelers, he's probably the first in history to do so!
Before Fourth Brother could even figure out how to smooth things over, Nangong Qinyi's gaze shifted from him, looking directly at Liu Yong: "Young Master Liu
, how have you been?" Liu Yong returned his gaze, his eyes blazing with passion: "Since our parting in Luoyang, I've missed you dearly. As soon as I finished my personal business, I rushed to the capital. Please forgive my rudeness, Master Nangong."
What the hell does this mean?!
Pang Yu was furious. He chased him from Luoyang to Bianliang—this guy's trying to steal my woman?!
Not only was he furious, but everyone in the room was enraged by Liu Yong's fervent expression upon seeing Nangong Qinyi—his eyes gleaming, his breathing rapid. Aside from greeting Ouyang Xiu upon entering, his gaze had been fixed on Nangong Qinyi the entire hall of talented men from the capital; he didn't even bother to glance at them.
Nangong Qin Yi sighed softly, "Xin Yi is but a worldly woman. How
could she bear the sway of your affections, sir?" Liu Yong, oblivious to his surroundings, exclaimed, "I only know of your beauty and talent, your natural elegance, like the goddess of the Luo River. Your bright eyes are as radiant as the rising sun, your graceful figure as dazzling as a lotus emerging from clear water. I could never forget you at first sight.
Our parting in Luoyang was a heartbreaking loss, and I still think of you today. Seeing your beauty again, Nangong Qin Yi is as radiant as ever, your charm undiminished. It was truly worth my thousand-mile journey, the hardships of travel. My life is complete."
Is there anyone who isn't going to be popular?!
Old acquaintances are fine, but who knew that one was passionately fiery yet seemingly oblivious, the other gentle yet seemingly melancholic, their ambiguous expressions in public so blatantly suggestive—what did they take them for?
Everyone was filled with mixed emotions!
In an instant, the focus shifted entirely from Pang Yu, whom they wished dead a thousand times over but dared not provoke, to the newly arrived Liu Yong.
The twenty-odd people present all turned their gazes towards him. Everyone was seething with rage, everyone was seething with anger! Some even wanted to kill him!
If this were the martial arts world, someone would have already drawn their sword and rushed forward.
The martial arts world has its rules; if you don't like someone, you kill them!
Scholars, of course, have their own methods.
The group that had been harassing Pang Yu earlier now swarmed towards Liu Yong.
"Young Master Liu, you are truly talented. I have a couplet; can you match it? 'Dense clouds bring no rain, Tongzhou has no water, no boats can pass.' 'The vast fields are all fields, Jimo has autumn, all is wheat.'" "He can answer instantly, with a mere 0.05 seconds of thought,
more than ten times faster than Fourth Brother!
'Water and land islands, the island stops the boat, the boat moves but the island doesn't!' 'Heavenly Heart Pavilion, the pavilion lands the pigeon, the pigeon flies but the pavilion
hasn't flown.' Still 0.05 seconds. ' Tuning the zither , tuning
a new tune , tuning and tuning ... Pang Yu suddenly turned his head and looked at Ouyang Xiu, who had remained silent. "Alas, the contest is over." Ouyang Xiu sighed deeply, his face filled with dejection. "Yongshu is arrogant and full of talent and learning, but he is no match for Brother Sanbian. Why humiliate himself?" Hearing Ouyang Xiu's words, and seeing Liu Yong's composed and playful demeanor, Ren Huang was very displeased and frowned, saying, "Brother Ouyang is a disciple of Prime Minister Lü, the number one talent in Bianliang. Can he really be inferior to the mere Liu Qi of Jiangnan?" Ouyang Xiu's face flushed red: "I am ashamed, I am ashamed. When Yongshu traveled to Jiangnan, he and Brother Sanbian had two contests by Daming Lake, and each time he was slightly inferior. Brother Sanbian truly deserves the title of the number one talent in the world." Ren Huang's face darkened even more. "Hmph, hmph, what a so-called number one talent in the world." He sneered, his eyes flashing with extreme resentment. "A dissolute young man indulging in sensual pleasures, and no one in our Great Song Dynasty can compare to him?" "Bang!" Pang Yu slammed his hand on the table and stood up. He was furious, extremely furious; his fourth brother was about to make his move. "I have a couplet; I wonder if the talented Liu can match it?" He cleared his throat, instantly silencing the noise in the room, his gaze fixed intently on Liu Yong. Liu Yong turned abruptly, meeting his challenging gaze. "This… ah, you must be the brother who composed the poem earlier." Liu Yong smiled, his expression quite solemn. "I listened to your poem outside the door; every word was exquisite, reaching the pinnacle of perfection. It is truly the finest work I have heard recently. My heart itched to write a couplet, and I couldn't resist adding my own. Please forgive me, brother." "My clothes grow looser, yet I have no regrets; for her sake, I grow thin and weary. " "This was originally his later work, but now that Pang Yu has composed the first part, it's not surprising that it's been released ahead of time. " Pang Yu smiled faintly, thinking to himself, "I'm not that shameless. I stole your copyright and now I'm nitpicking." He pointed to the brightly blooming peach trees outside the window and recited a poem in a fitting tone: "Who says peach blossoms are frivolous? Look at their dazzling beauty, adding color to so many beauties. Dripping clear dew, I envy the myriad buds flowing like rosy clouds. But spring departs, and the phoenix branches eventually bear fruit. Thus, Pingzhong devised a plan, Dongfang stole the secret, the Queen Mother held a banquet, and Liu Lang wrote a poem. Moreover, the kernel can be used to make medicine, curing chronic diseases and aiding in medicine; the branches can be used as knives, borrowing seals and talismans to drive away evil spirits. It grasps the secrets of heaven and its precious qualities, and also knows the seasons to yield to all flowers. A message to autumn chrysanthemums and winter plums: do not blindly follow those who are poisonous! Brother Liu, please respond!" " A super long couplet of 110 characters! In comparison, Zhao Zonghui's work at Daguanlou pales in comparison. Chapter 132 Fourth Brother vs. Liu Yong (Part 2) A hint of surprise flashed in Liu Yong's eyes. When he added the two lines "My clothes grow looser, yet I have no regrets, for I am wasting away for her" outside, he always thought that the lyricist was Ouyang Xiu. Otherwise, who in the capital could have such literary talent that it would lead Liu Sanbian to do the most despicable, most vile, and most sordid thing in the eyes of literary talents, such as "intercepting other people's lyrics"?" ----You've exhausted your talent, spent so much time building up to create a masterpiece, and just when you're about to finish, reach the pinnacle, and climax, someone steals it! Don't you feel bad? But when he entered, he found Ouyang Xiu sitting there, while the one reciting the poem was a servant in a blue robe and a small hat! So, like everyone else, he assumed that his fourth brother had gotten lucky, or had copied a good poem from somewhere (uh, he "borrowed" it from him, don't believe it? At this point, Ouyang Xiu hadn't written "Butterfly Loves Flowers" yet, so his fourth brother was the original author, hahaha!). But when this long couplet was presented, Liu Yong's face changed instantly. One hundred and one hundred characters, recited offhand—this servant truly had talent! And, he was no less talented than Ouyang Xiu! Pang Yu had anticipated this reaction, and his smile grew even brighter. Damn it, chasing after a woman right up to his fourth brother, ruining his chance to shine—he'd crush him to the ground! He focused his voice and repeated with full force: "Who says peach blossoms are frivolous?" Behold its dazzling beauty, enhancing the allure of countless fairies. === Drops of clear jade dew, envied by ten thousand vibrant buds like flowing rosy clouds. Alas, spring departs, and the phoenix's branches inevitably shed their fruit. Thus, Pingzhong devised a plan, the East stole a secret, and the Queen Mother held a banquet for her guests. Liu Lang inscribed a couplet. Moreover, the kernel of the kernel can be used to make medicine, curing chronic diseases and aiding in traditional Chinese medicine; its branches can be used as knives, borrowing seals and talismans to drive away evil spirits. It grasps the secrets of heaven, possessing precious beauty, and knows that the seasons yield to all flowers. A message to autumn chrysanthemums and winter plum blossoms: beware of blindly following poisonous friends! ----Liu, the great talent, please provide the matching line. Liu Yong remained silent, his handsome brows furrowing slightly. Although he had come to pursue Nangong Qinyi, a true scholar is a true scholar, not some ordinary fool who would lose his mind at the sight of a beautiful woman. Once the topic turned to couplets and lyrics, he immediately switched to a state of deep thought, his long, narrow phoenix eyes flashing towards his temples, his dark pupils like a cool, clear spring in a still pool. Even the brightest stars in the sky paled in comparison. His sharply defined face, sculpted as if by a knife, remained elegant even in deep thought. A slight, graceful curve appeared on his thin lips, a languid smile… tsk tsk tsk, how could one word describe his handsomeness?! Xiaowan, Xiangjun, Xianglan, and Yuanyuan, the four girls, were instantly captivated. Fortunately, only… Those who came down were all men; otherwise, there would probably have been a cacophony of screams. \\*\\\ The Green Jade Pavilion hall was now completely silent, all the scholars' eyes fixed on Liu Yong. They were watching to see if he could answer this incredibly difficult long couplet! Everyone was in a state of spectator's mood, because after the earlier, timeless perfect couplet, "The bright moon shines through the gauze window, each one a Zhuge Liang," none of these self-proclaimed literary talents felt qualified to solve Fourth Brother's long couplet, not even to try! Only Ouyang Xiu was deep in thought. He seemed to want to use this opportunity to compete with Liu Yong again. Of course, he also wanted to know who among him, Liu Yong, and Pang Si truly deserved the title of "The Greatest Talent Under Heaven"!

Still in an inconspicuous corner, the two little boys, "Jiefu" and "Zigu," were also deep in thought, their chins propped up on their hands. However, compared to Liu Yong's contemplation and Ouyang Xiu's deep pondering, they seemed more bewildered.
After all, they were too young; their knowledge and experience were limited, and their talents were yet to be fully developed, even though they would both become great literary figures renowned throughout history. It was best for them to study hard in their youth. They should just follow their fourth brother and
watch obediently. Only Ren Huang looked the most relaxed, glancing at this and that. He stroked his mustache and grinned mischievously, seemingly quite pleased with Pang Yu's brilliant performance in twice casually uttering couplets that stumped everyone present.
Time passed slowly, and Liu Yong remained deep in thought, the elegant curve of his lips gradually turning serious, his languid smile long gone.
In Nangong Qinyi's eyes, which seemed to pierce through the complexities of the world, a deep light shone. She looked at Pang Yu beside her with disbelief, her beautiful eyes filled with shock, surprise, and a hint of...
joy!
What woman in the world doesn't admire talent? Although most of the time "wealth" is more appealing than "talent," in the eyes of a stunning beauty who even disregarded the title of princess, "talent" might be the only thing that could move her. A short while passed.
Liu Yong was still deep in thought.
Nangong Qinyi's gaze remained fixed on Pang Yu. If everyone hadn't been focused on the pensive Liu Yong, their envious stares alone would have been enough to kill the fourth brother.
Ren Huang sat leisurely, sipping tea, watching Nangong Qinyi's breathtakingly beautiful back from the side. He didn't seem particularly amazed or captivated; instead, he sighed softly, shook his head, and seemed lost in thought.
Two incense sticks' worth of time passed…
“Brother Sanbian, it’s getting late. I think we should slow down…” Ouyang Xiu stood up and said. He had been thinking for so long, racking his brains, but he had only managed to come up with half of it. If he continued thinking, the “Yaoqin Music Gathering” would be impossible. \\\*\\
Liu Yong nodded slowly.
This wasn’t an agreement to his suggestion, but rather a confirmation that he already had an answer.
"I praise this enchanting land, gazing upon the verdant peaks, where jade pavilions float amidst the clouds..." Liu Yong's pensive expression suddenly vanished, and he smiled with hands clasped, his expression serene and serene: "There is a clear, bright lake, capturing ten miles of beautiful forests in a painting. It seems as if the dust of the world has been cleansed, and I have ascended to heaven on a crane, thanks to your grace. No wonder I hear of the mountains and admire the scenery, raising my head to express my joy, visiting friends in Qin Village, and wielding my brush at the Stele Garden. If Qing Jie were to be reborn, he would surely call the fisherman back from his desperate situation; if Qu Yuan were to be reborn, he would surely sing of today surpassing the past dynasty. Do not grieve for the red rain falling on the secluded stream, for it continues the elegant style of poetry, and only then can one believe that
even ordinary people do not need to ascend to immortality." "Wonderful!" someone in the hall exclaimed, followed by a cacophony of voices.
Liu Yong had perfectly matched Pang Yu's hundred-character couplet!
"Brother Sanbian's talent is overflowing, I admire you greatly!" Ouyang Xiu bowed respectfully, sincerely impressed.
Now, Fourth Brother was at a loss, frozen in place, unsure whether to advance or retreat, quite embarrassed.
Liu Yong walked towards him, his elegant steps stopping three steps away. He clasped his hands in a deep bow, his graceful and composed demeanor immediately eliciting a flurry of admiring gasps from the four young maids: "Third Brother, you've composed countless couplets and antithetical couplets, but none have been as exquisite as this one, brother! Your literary talent is astounding; Third Brother is utterly impressed. If I have the opportunity one day, I will definitely pay you a visit and hope you will generously offer your guidance."
Wow, this young man is quite nice, rather humble, even knowing how to be polite with me.
Seeing that Liu Yong's attitude is quite good, Fourth Brother is too lazy to criticize him.
---- Well, anyway, I wrote most of "Butterfly Loves Flowers," so I'll get the "reward" Nangong Qinyi promised first, hehehe.
Hehe, using his words to sleep in the bed of the girl he's chasing... that feeling must be incredibly good.
Pang Yu took a deep breath, preparing to discuss the issue of "sleeping" with Nangong Qinyi in front of Liu Yong. His basic principle was to use a combination of coercion, pleading, and force; he didn't care about saving face, but he was determined to sleep with her... well, first, in her bed.
Unexpectedly, Liu Yong turned to Nangong Qinyi first, speaking before him: "Today, I, Pang Yu, have come to pay my respects to Master Nangong. In my haste, I did not bring a gift. However, I was moved by Brother Pang's poem 'Butterfly Loves Flowers,' and wish to compose a poem on the spot to present to Master Nangong!"
The entire room erupted in commotion.
Liu Yong gazed at Nangong Qinyi, seeing her calm, beautiful face like still water. She neither nodded in agreement nor seemed to refuse. A surge of excitement, a feeling of winning the favor of a beauty, welled up within him. His eyes gleamed, and he shouted, "Bring me pen and ink!"
Back in Jiangnan, countless courtesans had sought his calligraphy to elevate their status. The talented Liu Yong would consider the girl's beauty, sincerity, and the pleasure of his service before deciding whether to grant his request—oh, wrong word, it should be "to write a poem," not "to make love." But given Liu Yong's dashing charm, the possibility of doing both simultaneously… well, not impossible, but quite high, even absolutely certain. Otherwise, why would she write a poem for him!
But this time, at the Green Jade Pavilion, if Nangong Qinyi would so kindly accept, the talented Liu Yong would write a thousand poems standing up without complaint!
Xiao Wan, Xiang Jun, Xiang Lan, and Yuan Yuan presented the writing implements.
Liu Yong spread out the Xuan paper and began to write with a flourish: "The scenery is desolate, a lone tower stands facing the clear sky. A melancholy autumn mood stirs within me, a sentiment shared by Song Yu in his time. A lone plume of smoke rises from the fishing market, cold and green, while withered leaves dance in sorrowful red in the waterside village. The Chu sky is vast, waves wash over the setting sun, a thousand miles of shimmering light. Facing the wind, I think of my beloved, her face etched with sorrow since our parting, her brows furrowed. Alas, in those years, all traces of her have vanished. Her elegant figure and graceful form were once joyful, but now, like fallen flowers and flowing water, they drift east and west. No regrets, only the longing for her, I entrust to the migrating geese!"
With bold strokes and vibrant ink, a poem, "The Fragrance of Snow Plum," leaped from the paper!
Nangong Qinyi looked at Liu Yong and gave him a graceful bow.
Ouyang Xiu was deeply moved: "Brother Sanbian! What a fine poem of longing! It uses scenery to express emotion, the scene and emotion intertwined, vividly portraying feelings, thoughts, and state of mind!"
Liu Yong sighed softly: "It was just a spontaneous act, a casual stroke of the brush. I've made a fool of myself." "After the ink on the paper dried, he carefully picked it up, seemingly intending to hand it to Nangong Qinyi personally.
"Young Master Liu, let me do it." The obedient Xianglan blocked his way.
Liu Yong smiled affectionately: "This 'Snow Plum Fragrance' is the culmination of three years of hard work. It must be presented to Master Nangong personally to show my sincerity. I beg Miss Xianglan to grant my request." He then bowed deeply again, and when he looked up at her again, his deep eyes poured out boundless tenderness, instantly captivating the lovestruck young Xianglan. Just
as Liu Yong was about to take a step, another figure blocked his way.
A strong, muscular body, a tall and upright posture, handsome features, and an unpretentious, naturally exuding heroic spirit, along with a faint yet arrogant smile on his lips... Who else could it be but Fourth Brother!
"Brother Liu indeed writes excellent lyrics, but if you want to present it to Master Nangong, you'll have to compete with me."
Pang Yu stood there, his every word brimming with an arrogant disdain for all the talented men in the world! "
Bring—a—pen—and—ink!"

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