Chapter 61: Stepping onto the Path to Fame and Success

Although there aren’t many people who can recite couplets these days, there are quite a few in the Yinyin Poetry Hall.

The reason is that the person who wins the daily “champion” of the challenge can avoid the examination in the Yinyin Hall for a whole month.

Moreover, those who contribute to the hall can be exempted from exams for life.

As a result, the hall’s first-floor lobby is fairly lively.

Ye Chutang, being the only woman and personally welcomed by the master into the hall, drew the attention of everyone in the room.

“This must be the Ye Miss, who snatched away the title of ‘First Talent’ from Ye Miao, and the ‘First Beauty’ of Anping County, right?”

“Her grace is like an orchid, her talent surpasses the immortals. Is there really such a woman in this world?”

“I wonder what the second line of the couplet for Miss Ye will be.”

“You’ll know in a moment. To witness her write with your own eyes is a real honor.”

“I actually think the rumors might not be true…”

Upon hearing this, a young man dressed in dark-colored brocade was quickly surrounded by others.

“Master Xu, don’t be so arrogant. Admitting that women can be more talented than men isn’t something to be ashamed of!”

“It’s people like you who make others say, ‘Literati look down on each other’!”

“Brother Xu, are you trying to defend Miss Ye? You really can’t stand losing, can you?”

These words struck Xu Kang’s sore spot.

He slammed his hand on the table, stood up, and shouted angrily.

“Don’t speak nonsense! To insult a woman’s reputation is unworthy of a scholar!”

Ye Chutang chuckled lightly. “Master Xu, who questions me without understanding the truth, is he worthy to be called a scholar?”

Xu Kang’s face alternated between red and white, feeling humiliated.

“Miss Ye has only written three poems and three pieces of calligraphy, yet she’s already called the most talented woman in the capital. Is my questioning unjust?”

“If Master Xu can compose three poems and write a calligraphy piece within a quarter of an hour, without any mistakes, then I’ll have no objections.”

This remark was like a loud slap in Xu Kang’s face, making him feel utterly embarrassed.

Ye Chutang continued, “Let me challenge you with a couplet, Master Xu. If you can respond to it, I’ll return the title of the First Talent to you.”

Xu Kang, hearing the humiliation in her words, could not resist.

“Fine!”

He had studied for ten years and had passed the provincial exam, so there was no way he wouldn’t be able to answer a couplet from some village woman!

Ye Chutang watched confidently as Xu Kang, sure of himself, raised his chin. The corners of her lips curled into a sly smile.

“What if Master Xu can’t answer?”

Xu Kang, feeling it was impossible, made a bold statement.

“If I can’t answer, I’ll kneel and apologize to Miss Ye!”

“Alright.”

The bet between them attracted a lot of attention from the people upstairs.

Some stood by the railings to watch, while others rushed downstairs to join the excitement.

At this moment, the teacher of the Poetry Hall arrived with a banner, a thick brush, and a bucket of ink.

A servant from the first floor quickly briefed him on what had just happened.

So, the teacher also brought the usual ink, paper, and brush.

After setting everything up, he smiled and said, “I’ve heard that Miss Ye will be presenting the first line of the couplet. Please go ahead.”

After saying this, he began grinding ink himself.

Ye Chutang didn’t hold back and wrote the first line: “A guest resides in the countryside, keeping solitary vigil by the cold window.”

[Note: This comes from Li Qingzhao’s poetry.]

As soon as she finished writing, the teacher commented, “Ah, this first line is beautifully written! I wonder, Miss Ye, why did you choose such a line?”

Ye Chutang casually replied, “When I was in the countryside, I happened to see a widow who lived like this.”

“Ah, I see.”

The teacher handed the first line to Xu Kang. “Master Xu, with your talent, surely you can complete the second line in no time?”

Xu Kang felt uneasy when he heard the teacher praising Ye Chutang.

When he saw the first line, his vision went dark.

Forget about a stick of incense—if you gave him a month, he wouldn’t be able to match it!

People nearby shook their heads as they saw it. “This is a tough couplet to respond to!”

“Even in the entire capital, and perhaps all of North Star Country, only Master Song might be able to answer this.”

“Miss Ye, would you mind if I wrote down this first line?”

Ignoring the uncomfortable look on Xu Kang’s face, Ye Chutang smiled and nodded. “Of course, I don’t mind.”

Just as she finished speaking, Xu Kang slapped the paper with the first line down on the table.

“This couplet is impossible to respond to!”

Seeing Xu Kang, who couldn’t bear to lose, the teacher shook his head.

“Such disgraceful behavior.”

Someone chimed in, “Exactly, if you can’t respond, just admit defeat. Refusing to acknowledge it is truly embarrassing.”

Xu Kang, breathing heavily, gritted his teeth in frustration.

How could he, as a man, kneel before a woman?

“Miss Ye, tell everyone, did I say anything wrong?”

Ye Chutang looked at Xu Kang, who was trying to corner her, and laughed lightly.

“Coward. Forget about Ye Anling, even the stray dogs on the street wouldn’t look at you.”

After saying this, she picked up her brush again and swiftly wrote down three possible second lines.

One was her own response, and the other two were ones she had found online.

She slapped the inked paper, still wet, onto Xu Kang’s face.

Xu Kang looked at it, trembling in anger. The paper almost tore from his shaking hands.

Ye Chutang raised an eyebrow. “Now, are you convinced?”

As soon as her words fell, she stood up and kicked both of Xu Kang’s knees.

“Thud, thud!”

Xu Kang fell heavily to the ground, groaning in pain, his face turning pale.

He lost grip of the paper, and it fluttered to the floor.

Many heads leaned over to examine the second line.

Before they could fully read it, the teacher of the Poetry Hall swiftly snatched it up.

“If anyone is interested in Miss Ye’s second line, feel free to try writing your own. If no one can come up with one, I will reveal Miss Ye’s second line.”

After saying this, he looked at Xu Kang, who wished he could sink into the ground, his expression turning cold.

“Master Xu, the Poetry Hall will no longer welcome you. Please leave.”

This statement effectively ended Xu Kang’s scholarly career.

He was shocked. “You can’t do this to me!”

“I can. The Poetry Hall has no place for those lacking virtue.”

Thus, Xu Kang became the first scholar ever thrown out of the Poetry Hall.

Ye Chutang, satisfied with the show, instructed a servant to clear the clutter on the table.

She then took the banner, dipped the thick brush into the ink, and wrote down the second line she had just created.

The brush danced on the paper, flowing smoothly and effortlessly, as the words appeared in elegant strokes.

“Like floating clouds, sharp as a startled dragon—what beautiful writing!”

Applause filled the room as Ye Chutang signed her name at the end of the second line.

The teacher ordered a servant to take the banner upstairs and hang it outside the hall.

He then turned to Ye Chutang, “Miss Ye, would you be willing to provide me with a calligraphy piece with the couplet written in different characters, to be hung on the second floor?”

“If it’s placed in the best spot, I don’t mind.”

“Of course.”

The teacher brought out the Poetry Hall’s finest silk paper.

After Ye Chutang finished writing the couplet, lunch was brought to the table.

She enjoyed the meal amidst the compliments of the crowd.

Afterward, she climbed the stairs, stepping onto the path to fame and success.

The unsolvable deadlock had been broken.

The realistic charcoal sketches had been drawn.

The double-sided embroidery had dazzled.

Countless poems had been written, and much calligraphy had been left behind.

She guided students, offering unique insights; reviewed ancient poetry with eloquent remarks; and was proficient in astronomy, geography, and everything else.

By the time she left the Poetry Hall, she had earned a lifetime exemption from exams.

She had also become a legendary figure, on par with Master Song Jingning, as praised by scholars.

Ye Chutang was thoroughly pleased with her achievements today.

She planned to find a quiet place to change her appearance and then go to various restaurants to order delicious meals to stockpile.

However, as she reached the alley’s entrance, a sack suddenly dropped over her head.