Chapter 20

Qiao Diyi heard Qiao Jiaojiao’s inner thoughts and thus suggested, “Everyone just ran towards the Caifeng Building. Brother Shen, big brother, shall we go take a look too?”

Upon hearing this, Qiao Jiaojiao immediately clung tightly to Qiao Diyi’s clothes, her face filled with excitement.

【Second brother truly understands me! Could he be the voice inside my belly?】

Qiao Diyi: “…”

Thanks for the compliment.

The Crown Prince, upon hearing the address “Brother Shen,” couldn’t help but smirk.

Throughout his life, no one had ever called him that, which was quite rare.

He had heard of the second son of the Qiao family’s prowess in martial arts but wondered about his abilities in leading troops and strategy.

If he could learn a bit from Imperial Censor Qiao, he would surely become a great general in the future of the Great Yong Dynasty!

“Then let’s go take a look together. The spring exams are about to begin, and it’s the time when there are many talented people in the capital. It must be very lively.”

Since the Crown Prince had spoken, the group headed towards the Caifeng Building.

As they walked, Qiao Jiaojiao kept thinking to herself:

【Indeed, there are many talented individuals in the capital at this time, but tonight, all the limelight will be stolen by one person!】

Qiao Tianjing couldn’t help but be surprised when he heard this. Could Meng Guxue be that impressive?

Qiao Jiaojiao continued to think to herself:

【After all, Meng Guxue possesses the wisdom of the five thousand years of Chinese civilization. Just reciting a few poems would be enough to amaze everyone.】

Qiao Tianjing was amazed to hear this. Although he had heard from his little sister that Meng Guxue was a soul from another world, he didn’t know she had such a profound cultural background.

【It’s best not to let the Crown Prince see the radiant Meng Guxue, or else the two of them might truly fall in love.】

Upon hearing this, Qiao Tianjing and Qiao Diyi exchanged a glance, both secretly keeping this in mind.

Soon, the decorated Caifeng Building came into view.

The palace guards surrounded the Western Prince, quickly clearing a path for them through the crowd.

Qiao Jiaojiao and her group arrived at the front of the crowd.

In front of them was a temporary stage, with red cloth covering it, and only a table, a chair, and a person sitting on it.

The person sitting on the chair had white temples, and his long beard reached his chest, giving off the air of an old scholar.

Next to him hung a brilliant couplet, with no one yet to come up with the second half.

Qiao Jiaojiao couldn’t help but burst into laughter when she saw it.

【As expected of ancient romance, classic couplets must have a place!】

Qiao Tianjing had excellent knowledge and had once been a renowned scholar in the capital. He saw the upper couplet and raised his eyebrows with interest.

On the red paper, it was written: “Looking at the Jiang Tower, looking at the Jiang River, looking at the Jiang Tower looking at the Jiang River, the Jiang Tower for eternity, the Jiang River for eternity.”

【Hah, isn’t this the famous couplet of the Jiang Tower? Alright, it’s an easy one for the female lead.】

【I remember the second half: “Imprinting the moon in the well, imprinting the moon’s reflection, imprinting the moon in the well imprinting the moon’s reflection, the moon well for eternity, the moon’s reflection for eternity.” Haha, I have a good memory!】

Qiao Tianjing pondered for a moment, then nodded in approval.

Qiao Diyi: “…”

What well and reflection, it’s too flowery and meaningless!

【Where’s the female lead? Let me see where the female lead is!】

Qiao Jiaojiao’s eyes darted around.

Suddenly, Qiao Tianjing had a flash of inspiration. So, the second half that little sister mentioned earlier is what Meng Guxue will answer? 

Meng Guxue wanted to become famous and form a connection with the Second Prince, and then the two of them would work together to harm their entire Qiao family?

How could such a good thing happen in the world!

With this in mind, Qiao Tianjing signaled to Qiao Diyi to watch over Qiao Jiaojiao, then quickly squeezed into the crowd.

The Crown Prince noticed Qiao Tianjing’s departure but didn’t think much of it.

On the other hand, the crowd below whispered for a long time, but they still couldn’t come up with a satisfactory second half.

On the other side of the red platform, Meng Guxue was accompanied by several maids, her eyes shining brightly, with a confident demeanor.

Who would have thought that the absolute puzzle for the talented men of the capital was that she happened to know the second half of the couplet!

However, she wasn’t in a hurry to go up on stage.

She wanted to wait until everyone was at a loss, until Gu Qianshan announced that no one could match the couplet, and then she would step forward as if descending from the heavens!

By then, all the talented men in the capital would be bowing under her literary prowess!

If she casually recited a few more ancient poems, wouldn’t they all acknowledge her as the number one talented woman in the capital?

Thinking of this, Meng Guxue couldn’t help but smirk.

This was the unique advantage of transmigrated women, no one could compare!

“I’ll give it a try!”

At this moment, a voice rang out from the crowd.

Meng Guxue’s heart trembled when she heard this. Could someone actually match it?

With these words spoken, the crowd voluntarily made way for a young man in coarse clothes.

Although the young man was dressed plainly, his eyes were bright, and he looked quite handsome.

On stage, Mr. Gu nodded to him and said, “Come up and match it.”

The young man walked up to the red platform and bowed respectfully to Mr. Gu.

“The humble one, Tan Hanchi from Zhuozhou, is showing his incompetence before Mr.”

Mr. Gu stroked his beard and shook his head, “No need for courtesy, please write.”

Tan Hanchi walked to the table, picked up the brush, and began to write.

While the crowd was buzzing with anticipation, Qiao Tianjing returned.

His eyes were bright, and there was a hint of a smile on his face.

On Qiao Jiaojiao’s side, when she heard the name Tan Hanchi, she was greatly surprised.

【Ah? So Tan Hanchi has appeared so early? He’s quite a significant figure!】

【Don’t be fooled by his current appearance as a simple clothed scholar; he’s actually very talented, both in literary and military aspects.】

【He was a victim of cheating in this year’s spring exam. Not only was his exam paper replaced by someone else, but the other party also attempted to assassinate him to silence him!】

【The King Jing happened to rescue him inadvertently, and since then, he has gained a loyal top-tier strategist. Many of the Second Prince’s strategies were devised by him!】

【This person is too powerful; he absolutely cannot be left to the King Jing!】

Qiao Jiaojiao was anxious. Why couldn’t she have been born a few years earlier? Then she could speak up now!

Qiao Tianjing, upon hearing this, looked steadily at Tan Hanchi, who was calmly holding the brush.

If it weren’t for his little sister’s disclosure, he wouldn’t have imagined that this scholar in front of him was so capable!

The Second Prince’s luck was also too good. Even such a talented person could be inadvertently rescued by him, as if the heavens were helping him!

However, now that they had the advance knowledge from his little sister, they wouldn’t sit idly by anymore.

This Tan Hanchi, they marked him in advance for the Qiao family!

Just as Qiao Tianjing thought of this, Tan Hanchi finished writing.

He respectfully handed the red couplet to Mr. Gu.

Mr. Gu lowered his eyes and took a look, then nodded gently and said, “Not bad.”

Upon hearing Mr. Gu’s approval, everyone became curious instantly.

There were seven or eight people who had bravely attempted to match the couplet before, but Mr. Gu was dissatisfied with all of them. This was the only one he approved of.

Meng Guxue, who was watching from below the stage, felt her heart lurch.

Could it be? Was Tan Hanchi ahead of her?

But apart from her, no one else could possibly know the second half of that couplet!

Unless… unless Tan Hanchi was also a transmigrated person!

At the thought of this, Meng Guxue’s face suddenly turned pale.