[Hetu] [Heavenly Demon] [Episode 2] Chapter 1

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"Chapter One" Seemingly Talented

"These are all ignorant words, I'm sorry for making you laugh, Your Excellency." Zi Xian trembled, and after a long pause,

her voice became somewhat low.

"Please speak freely, Miss," Yang Shu said softly from the side. "Since we're drinking and having fun, there should be some kind of prize

. Since you are so talented, Miss, you must already have a plan."

"That's right!" Xiao Jiu chuckled, a cunning glint in his eyes, and said with a hint of sarcasm, "

Young Your Excellency, this is a wonderful opportunity that many people would kill for. Miss Zi Xian has such a chance today,

it would be ungrateful not to seize it. Besides, our Your Excellency isn't forcing you; we're just making friends through literature, seeking a connection through literature.

If you don't even allow this, what's the point of the fun?"

"In that case, Zi Xian will make a fool of herself." Zi Xian's heart skipped a beat. Although she knew the young man had already helped her out of trouble

several times , it seemed Xiao Jiu wouldn't let her off easily. She

had already embarrassed him with her impulsive actions , and if she didn't try to curry favor now, not only herself but everyone on the pleasure boat would

be implicated.

"Please." Yang Cun was impeccably polite, his smile so innocent. If

there were a mirror in front of him right now, he would definitely jump up in fright and exclaim, "Damn,

who is this obviously dim-witted guy?"

"When I was young, I heard of an ancient couplet, and I pondered for a long time but could not come up with a matching line. I trouble you, Your Excellency."

After a long pause, the young lady Zi Xian slowly recited, her red lips slightly parted: "South Tongzhou, North Tongzhou, South and North Tongzhou connect South and North."

Upon hearing this couplet, everyone on the boat fell into deep thought.

This couplet is indeed a timeless masterpiece revered by countless scholars. Legend has it that an emperor once matched it with:

"East pawnshop, west pawnshop, east and west pawnshops pawn east and west. East, west, south, north, echoing each other." For centuries, countless

scholars and Confucianists have regarded it as a masterpiece. Besides, countless writers and poets have racked their brains, but let alone finding

a similar matching line, even a poorly cobbled-together work is rare. Every literate person

knows this eternally famous couplet.

"Miss Zixian is being a bit too demanding," Zhao Yuanming pondered for a long time, finally shaking his

head with a wry smile. He considered himself a well-read scholar; how could he not know this timeless masterpiece?

Even his teachers, those learned masters, all admitted their own ignorance when this couplet was mentioned.

"A timeless masterpiece," Yang Shu sighed, seemingly having pondered for a long time without finding a solution.

"Miss Zixian, is it inappropriate to use a timeless couplet as the topic for a casual conversation?" Xiao Jiu's face instantly darkened

. Suppressing his displeasure, he said with a hint of disdain, "Among the great masters of this era,

there are very few . Countless scholars and poets sigh in admiration. Yet you, Miss, use this timeless couplet as the topic for finding a husband. Are you

deliberately making things difficult for me?"

"This humble woman dares not," Miss Zixian said coldly, and then said no more. But her eyes secretly glanced

at Yang Cun, whose face was full of sorrow, and her heart suddenly softened. She knew that using such a timeless couplet as the topic was

a bit excessive, but despite Yang Cun's repeated help tonight, in Zixian's heart he was also an official. That

indelible pride in her bones made her always hate those evil officials who oppressed the people. Yang Cun was caught in the crossfire.

"Uncle, have you gained anything?" Yang Shu, seeing that the atmosphere was becoming somewhat tense, immediately turned to look at Yang Cun. Although

it was just a fleeting affair, the person being tested was Yang Cun. For a dignified man like Yang Cun to be stumped by a courtesan—

if word got out, he'd lose face big time. As the head of the Yang family, he didn't want to embarrass himself . 　　"Miss Zixian, I have a matching line, but it's utterly vulgar. I dare not presume to presume." Yang Cun hesitated for a long time , then remembered his extremely vulgar work from his past life, and a wicked smile crept across his face. Although it was somewhat disreputable, it was still a passable response. He was used to vulgarity; he just couldn't afford to lose face. 　　"Please, Your Excellency." Zixian looked at Yang Cun, a sudden, inexplicable disappointment washing over her. Her initial smugness vanished, replaced by a strange mix of anticipation and trepidation. 　　"South Tongzhou, North Tongzhou, South and North Tongzhou connect North and South. East Pawnshop, West Pawnshop, East and West Pawnshops pawn things!" Yang Cun hesitated for a moment, then smiled sheepishly at everyone, scratching his head and saying somewhat embarrassedly, "My second line is, male student, female student, male and female students give birth to male and female!" 　　"Pfft..." Even the usually calm Yang Shu and the incredibly composed Zhao Yuanming involuntarily spat out their drinks. 　　Xiao Jiu, standing to the side, stared wide-eyed at the usually polite Yang Cun, completely unable to believe that such a vulgar piece came from the mouth of this elegant young man. Instantly, tears welled up in his eyes . This is the realm of the scholar! The erudite, repressed sensuality of a learned man can be so utterly vulgar . He is truly an idol for us wolves! Even a timeless couplet can be made both romantic and vulgar. Such shamelessness should only exist in heaven; how often can one hear of it on earth! 　　"My lord!" The young lady Zixian was stunned upon hearing this, her pretty face flushing crimson by the time she reacted . She inwardly spat in embarrassment; how could this seemingly refined and polite young man utter such and vulgar words? 　　"Your lord is truly talented; I have learned much from you," Zhao Yuanming chuckled for a long time before slowly regaining his composure. Although he was a seemingly respectable prince, men sometimes share unspoken understandings; some things, even if known, can only be understood implicitly, not explicitly. 　　"Uncle, this couplet… seems somewhat inappropriate," Yang Shu stammered in surprise, his mouth agape . The usually straightforward Yang Shu was truly at a loss for words regarding his uncle's vulgar response. It was inappropriate, yet it lacked literary merit; it was appropriate, however, too vulgar and frivolous, brimming with the air of a spoiled brat. 　　"I also feel it's not quite right." Yang Cun scratched his head sheepishly, then turned to the beautiful woman behind the curtain and asked, "I wonder what Miss Zixian's opinion is?" 　　"Lord Duke, this couplet... seems a bit vulgar." Miss Zixian was stunned by Yang Cun's second line and remained speechless for a long time. Although her pretty face flushed, her tone remained gentle, though she inwardly thought it wasn't just vulgar, it was downright obscene, utterly tasteless, and an insult to refinement. 　　"That's true, but I have another second line. I wonder if Miss is interested?" Yang Cun said as he spoke...

Thinking that it was such a waste not to use all the efforts and readily available resources of later generations, it was fortunate that the concept of intellectual property rights didn't exist in this era . However, he felt a little uneasy, wondering if someone had already matched

the second line of the couplet he had heard before . 　　"I'd like to hear the details," the Purple Fairy said softly, her eyes lighting up. The shock from the vulgar second line seemed to have lingered, and although her voice was still pleasant, it sounded somewhat stiff. 　　The other three also looked over with curiosity. Although Xiao Jiu had long planned to deal with this brothel, they were all men after all, and everyone cared about their reputation. Bullying others was one thing, but who wouldn't want to win fair and square ? Besides, the Purple Fairy was renowned for her beauty and pride, never showing any weakness. If he could outwit her with his literary talent, it would be quite a story. 　　"Listen carefully, young lady." Yang Cun coughed as if to appear serious, then puffed out his chest with unparalleled flair, put his hands behind his back, and recited with an extremely intoxicated expression: "Spring reading, autumn reading, spring and autumn reading, reading spring and autumn." Upon 　　hearing this couplet, everyone in the boat lowered their heads in contemplation . Spring and autumn reading, reading spring and autumn—while not as perfect as the previous couplet, East, West, South, North, it was still a masterpiece unheard of in many years. Even the great scholars of the time were proud to have composed such a perfect couplet. "Spring and autumn reading" not only fit the meaning of the text but also suited the status of a scholar. In terms of contemporary works, this couplet, while not absolute, should certainly be considered the best of its time. 　　"Good!" Yang Shu snapped out of his reverie and was the first to applaud. 　　"The Duke is indeed a man of great literary talent!" Zhao Yuanming was also overjoyed and couldn't help but applaud as well. 　　Xiao Jiu, though uneducated, knew he had regained face and immediately began to flatter him . 　　"You flatter me, you flatter me." Yang Cun bowed with an air of humility, though inwardly he cursed them a thousand times over. What was with this group of guys clapping and watching? Did they think he was putting on a monkey show? And you, Yang Shu, why are your eyes so bright? I'm not doing a chest-breaking exercise, what are you getting so excited about ? 　　"Your Excellency is truly talented, I humbly admit defeat." The young lady Zi Xian was lost in the artistic conception, and the cheers brought her back to her senses. By this time, her pretty face was flushed, and she bowed respectfully to Yang Cun . 　　"I wonder if Miss Zi Xian has any other questions?" Xiao Jiu's smile was the most lewd. As soon as he finished speaking, he immediately became arrogant and almost provocatively shouted, "Someone, please invite Boss Zhang!" 　　A moment later, a trembling old woman was invited forward, her legs almost going weak with fear as she bowed . Yang Cun, feeling embarrassed to let the old woman be so formal, quickly asked her to dispense with the formalities. Xiao Jiu, looking smug, chuckled and said, "Boss Zhang, don't accuse me of bullying! Miss Zixian has stated that only those with the greatest literary talent can be husbands. Our Duke is a young talent who can even stump the most famous couplets of the ages. I think there's no better time than today. With two princes acting as matchmakers, it's time for you to enjoy the newlywed tea." 　　"This humble subject obeys," the old woman replied, trembling with fear. She had been sweating profusely since entering. Two princes and a duke—such figures had already made her so terrified that she couldn't think straight. 　　"Miss Zixian, what do you think?" Zhao Yuanming smiled, looking on with amusement. A night of passion—calling someone a husband was far too sweet. For a courtesan, it was just the first night. If no one was willing to redeem her afterward, she would be condemned to a life of prostitution, a plaything for men. 　　"Uncle, what do you think?" Yang Shu was getting anxious; this was clearly a forced match . The Yang family was a prominent family in Jiangnan. Even though Zi Xian was a stunning beauty, she was still a courtesan. His traditional views were deeply ingrained, and he naturally didn't want anyone from his family to do such a ridiculous thing. 　　"Miss Zi Xian, this…" Yang Cun was also in a dilemma. It seemed unreasonable . Yang Cun didn't care much about social status, and he didn't even understand the difference between wives and concubines in those days. But he was still a virgin, and the idea of having relations with a woman he'd only heard her voice from but never seen was incredibly awkward. "My lord, I have two more questions. Would you be interested?" The subtle banter was easily understood 　　by Zi Xian 's quick wit. Looking at the young man before her, and thinking of her lowly status, she couldn't help but laugh self-deprecatingly . Though a pang of sadness gripped his heart, he couldn't help but ask, 　　"Please enlighten me, young lady." Yang Cun's mind was clearly elsewhere; after all, this concerned his virginity , and the thought of sleeping with someone so inexplicably made him feel wronged. Besides, this Zi Xian girl appeared hazy from afar, with a melodious voice and graceful figure, but he couldn't tell what she looked like. In this day and age, people's aesthetic standards might be questionable, considering unconventional looks as beautiful. Who could guarantee what kind of freak this renowned courtesan might actually be? 　　Thinking about it, An Qiao seemed better—delicate, with a rosy complexion and a perpetually blushing face. Her voice was soft, and while her body wasn't particularly sexy, it possessed a gentle, tender quality. Remembering the lovely girl , Yang Cun suddenly felt a jolt, his body uncontrollably heating up. 　　"White Pagoda Street, Yellow Blacksmith, Red Furnace, Burning Black Charcoal, Emits Green Smoke, Flashes Blue Light, Quenching Purple Iron, Sitting North Facing South, Forging East and West." Zi Xian's lips parted, uttering an incredibly difficult first line of a couplet. She didn't want to become someone's tool for gossip, but for some reason, seeing Yang Cun's somewhat perfunctory expression, she felt a pang of bitterness and pain in her heart . Her stubbornness flared, and she wanted to challenge Yang Cun a little. 　　"Danshui Bay, Poor Farmer, Wearing a Cool Hat, Bending a Weary Back, Enduring the Scorching Sun, Sweaty and Salty, Cutting Sweet Sugarcane, Raising Wife, Teaching Children, and Raising Grandchildren." Yang Cun responded without hesitation. In his previous life, his greatest interest was couplets and riddles. His mind was filled with so much knowledge that he could respond effortlessly in a flash of inspiration. 　　"Your Excellency is indeed learned," Zhao Yuanming immediately exclaimed in praise. 　　"I never imagined Uncle's talent was so profound." Yang Shu couldn't help but nod in approval. Although he didn't like this farce , seeing his Yang family members triumphant, as the rightful head of the Yang family, he naturally couldn't help but admire them. 　　"It's hard to ask for help, it's hard to ask for help, everyone finds it hard to ask for help!" Zi Xian didn't expect Yang Cun's reaction to be so quick . She gritted her teeth and continued to offer couplets with great reluctance.

"The New Year is bitter, bitter through the New Year, bitter through the years, bitter through the years!" Yang Cun recited verses after only a moment's thought.

"The sun is in the east, the moon is in the west, the character 'bright' is formed in the sky!" Zi Xian's eyes held a hint of indescribable turmoil, her pretty

face slightly flushed

as she bit her lower lip. After a moment's thought, she quickly replied with another line. "The son is on the right, the daughter on the left, a good match is destined in the world!" Yang Cun was equally unambiguous. With his glib tongue, he could handle any situation, whether it was a timeless couplet or a chaotic wordplay, he could defeat them all. 　　"The character 'crystal' has three 'suns,' when there is a day, one thinks of no day, day after day, 36,000 days in a hundred years." Looking at the spirited young man , Zi Xian felt for the first time how incompetent she was, and for the first time, her mind was in turmoil. The previous defense, the current recitation, all sorts of feelings welled up in her heart, a mixture of emotions that left her heart restless. 　　"The character '品' (pǐn) has three mouths, so open your mouth as you please, mouth, mouth, mouth, I urge you to drink another cup of wine." Yang Cun laughed heartily, raising his wine cup to the people inside the boat. Turning around, he looked at the beauty behind the curtain, cup in hand, and gestured for her to drink. 　　"Alright, I urge you to drink another cup of wine!" Zhao Yuanming, also caught up in the moment, raised his cup and downed it in one gulp, laughing heartily, "What does it mean to be learned and talented? I've finally seen it all today. There are countless self-proclaimed talents under heaven, but only you, sir, truly possess the breadth of knowledge and wisdom. I admire you." 　　"Your Highness is too kind." Yang Cun laughed heartily, also drinking in one gulp, displaying great boldness. " 　　Thank you for the wine, sir." The young lady, Zi Xian, couldn't help but feel a tremor in her heart, her face blushing even more deeply. Suddenly rising to pick up her wine cup, she glanced at the mandarin ducks playing in the water on the pillar, and with a touch of embarrassment, softly recited: "Mandarin ducks reflected in the water, a pair, tender and affectionate, why envy the immortals in heaven?" " The phoenix and the luan bird 　　are bound together, their hearts intertwined, destined to be tied by the moon's thread." Yang Cun replied without hesitation, but a thought suddenly flashed through his mind. This seemed a little off, like… a love confession couplet? "This concubine will take her leave now." The Purple Fairy's face flushed as if on fire. She sipped her drink, her voice barely audible. After finishing, she retreated with a hint of awkwardness. 　　"Congratulations, Your Excellency!" Zhao Yuanming laughed heartily, cupping his fists at Yang Cun, a gesture every man understands . 　　"Congratulations, Your Excellency! A night of spring breeze, truly breathtaking!" Xiao Jiu also congratulated her, but watching the Purple Fairy's graceful departing figure, he felt a pang of reluctance. Such a beautiful woman, so exquisitely beautiful, was seduced with just a few lines of poetry. The thought of losing her virginity to someone else filled Xiao Jiu with bitterness, but he could only console himself that there was plenty of time. Once this girl was officially registered, he could enjoy her every night ! He wondered what it was like for a nobleman like Xiao Jiu to have slept with a prostitute. 　　"Congratulations, Uncle," Yang Shu said awkwardly, offering his congratulations nonetheless. After all, in those days, men visiting brothels wasn't shameful; it was a topic of conversation, a romantic affair. Moreover, winning a beauty's heart through literary talent would certainly become a celebrated story. 　　"This…" Yang Cun was speechless. He'd gotten so engrossed in his story that he'd almost forgotten about it, and his mind went blank. What to do? Was he really going to lose his virginity here? No way! If this Zi Xian girl were exceptionally beautiful, would I kill her for the sake of my chastity? But if she's pretty… sigh, I'm afraid I won't have the strength to resist. 　　"Congratulations, Your Highness." The owner of the pleasure boat, a smooth-talking man, quickly stepped forward to congratulate him. But seeing this scene, his heart ached, and beneath his forced smile, a trace of melancholy and bitterness slipped through his fingers. 　　"Your Highness, please enjoy yourself. I won't disturb you any longer." Zhao Yuanming chuckled and waved for Xiao Jiu to leave with him. 　　"Boss Zhang, you'd better serve our Duke well, otherwise, you know…" Xiao Jiu couldn't help but snort as he left, displaying a bit of official arrogance, but he didn't say anything too outrageous. 　　"Yes, yes, I understand." Boss Zhang naturally nodded and bowed, not daring to disobey, but it felt somewhat unnatural. 　　"Your Highness, let's go back to the city and drink some more. Don't disturb their wedding night." Zhao Yuanming chuckled and reached out to pull Yang Shu. Although their relationship wasn't immediately apparent, Zhao Yuanming was clearly trying to ingratiate himself . 　　"Uncle, I'll take my leave," Yang Shu hesitated, then whispered in Yang Cun's ear, "Life is short , so please don't be so formal. However, I'll have someone deliver the dowry for Miss Zixian tomorrow morning. Please don't let anyone else spend money." 　　"Understood," Yang Cun replied, now in a difficult position, but inwardly approving . Yang Shu appeared outwardly rigid, but was quite shrewd. It was clear tonight that Prince Ding was deliberately trying to please him and Yang Shu; the purpose was unclear, but Xiao Jiu was undoubtedly Prince Ding's man. 　　After a few more banter, the three of them disembarked from the pleasure boat. Yang Cun, still troubled by his unexpected romantic encounter , was somewhat unsettled. Boss Zhang, though his expression shifted between anger and joy, dared not offend Yang Cun. After a long while, seeing a change in Yang Cun's expression, he approached cautiously and said, "Lord Duke, a moment of passion is worth a thousand pieces of gold. Miss Zixian is already bathing and dressing. Are you perhaps...?" 　　"Oh, where?" Yang Cun couldn't help but recall the graceful figure behind the curtain, and the melodious voice of a nightingale. His heart began to itch uncontrollably. Men, especially men who have drunk alcohol, all have moments of impulse. Although hadn't seen her face, he thought that since she was a renowned courtesan, she must be quite beautiful, right? Even if she wasn't a beauty that could topple kingdoms, she would at least be a beauty of her own. 　　"Look, right there." Boss Zhang turned around and pointed towards the riverbank. 　　It turned out that besides the pleasure boats on the canal for people to enjoy themselves, the south side was also brightly lit. Although it was not very clear, several courtyards built on the river could be clearly seen. Yang Cun finally understood. That large area was the main base of the brothels, and these pleasure boats were . Thinking about it, it made sense. Living on a boat? Neither the madam nor the girls could stand it. The dampness was one thing, but the rocking on the river was unbearable.

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[Hetu] [Heavenly Demon] [Episode 2] Chapter 1

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