Chapter 21

At this moment, Mr. Gu finally turned over the correct second couplet by Tan Hanchi. Immediately, someone in the audience read it aloud:

“Comparing poetic platforms, comparing poetic talent, on the poetic platform, comparing poetic talent, the platform is peerless, the talent is peerless.”

Meng Guxue, upon hearing this, suddenly regained her composure!

Great, it’s different from the second couplet in her mind!

She had indeed scared herself.

It seemed that this Tan Hanchi was not a time traveler at all; he just had excellent literary talent.

Qiao Tianjing nodded secretly upon hearing this second couplet.

This person indeed had remarkable literary talent and quick thinking!

“Good, really good.”

“Not bad, not bad, this should be the right match.”

After the audience repeatedly recited it, they all praised it wholeheartedly.

Seeing this, Mr. Gu raised his voice and asked, “Does anyone have a better second couplet?”

Meng Guxue knew that her moment to shine was finally here!

Thinking of this, she raised her hand triumphantly, as if she could already foresee the astonished and admiring gazes of the crowd!

But before she could speak, a loud voice had already spoken:

“I have a couplet!”

Everyone turned to look, seeing a tall and sturdy man standing outside the crowd, raising his hand.

Qiao Tianjing, seeing this, flashed a hint of amusement in his eyes, his smile deepening.

“What’s this? He doesn’t look like a scholar at all.”

“Look at the calluses on his hands, he’s either a martial artist or a butcher!”

“Tsk, what good couplet could he possibly have? Most likely, today’s winner is that Tan Hanchi from Zhuozhou.”

The discussion buzzed, even Qiao Jiaojiao looked curious.

She had seen Meng Guxue raise her hand just now.

The man apparently heard the crowd’s discussion. He smirked and said frankly:

“I’m just a butcher, I don’t understand couplets, but a guest just gave me some silver to match this couplet.”

Meng Guxue paid no attention to this.

It was just a farce; she would reluctantly wait a little longer.

Then, the butcher’s loud voice rang out, “The second couplet given by the esteemed guest is: ‘Imprint of the moon, imprint of the moon in the well, imprint of the moon in the well lasting for thousands of years, moon’s reflection for thousands of years!'”

As soon as the butcher finished speaking, there was silence in the crowd.

Qiao Jiaojiao looked shocked.

[Who is it! Who could know the second couplet! Could it be that there are other time travelers besides the protagonist!?]

Qiao Tianjing looked at Qiao Jiaojiao, her eyes wide with shock, and couldn’t help but find her cute and amusing.

Silly little sister, thanks to you, there will be many more places to shock you in the future!

Meng Guxue stood in the crowd, feeling as if a thunderbolt had struck her head, making her legs weak!

How could this be possible? She should be the only one, shouldn’t she?

Meng Guxue, who had always prided herself as the unique time traveler, enjoying the culture of five thousand years, believed that everyone would be amazed by her.

If there were other time travelers, how could she continue to show off and amaze everyone?

Meng Guxue was in turmoil, and when the people of the Western Zhou Dynasty reacted, they began to praise this couplet even more.

“This one is indeed better.”

“But why would someone with such talent hide their identity?”

“Yeah, why not show up themselves and instead send a butcher to match the couplet? Is there something they don’t want others to see?”

It was at this moment that Meng Guxue finally reacted.

Yes, she wanted to ask that butcher who taught him the second couplet!

The most urgent task was to find the other time traveler!

Perhaps she could talk to that person; they could share those poems and verses since they both had knowledge from different times!

With this in mind, Meng Guxue immediately struggled to push through the crowd and walked towards the butcher.

However, the butcher was a man of business. With the money already in hand and the task completed, even when asked who the person was, he just turned and left.

Because he didn’t know who the person was either.

All he remembered was that the person wore a long cloak that reached down to their legs and deliberately lowered their voice, and as long as they looked like a man, it was fine.

Meng Guxue finally managed to squeeze out of the crowd to follow, but the butcher was long gone.

She stood there blankly, her small face pale, completely bewildered.

What’s going on?

Why is this time travel so different from what she imagined, a great battle of wits and literary prowess?

Would she still be able to shine in the poetry gathering in the capital two months later?

Qiao Tianjing noticed Meng Guxue’s confusion. He calmly withdrew his gaze.

This wouldn’t be the first counterattack; he wouldn’t allow anyone to harm the Qiao family!

Although the person who came up with the second couplet didn’t show up, it couldn’t be denied that this couplet was the most perfect.

At this point, there were no objections from anyone on the stage or in the audience, and the anonymous person was declared the winner of the day.

Meng Guxue listened to the praise of the second couplet from the crowd, feeling regretful to the core.

If she had known, she wouldn’t have waited for the perfect moment. She would have taken the stage first, and then, at this moment, all this glory would have belonged to her!

Qiao Jiaojiao watched the development of the situation, which was completely different from the novel, and couldn’t help but look puzzled.

[What’s going on? Where did it go wrong?]

[The protagonist didn’t stand out, and there’s a new time traveler?]

[Is the male protagonist now watching all this from the opposite building? How far has his relationship with the female protagonist developed?]

Qiao Jiaojiao had no idea that after the last full moon banquet, Mrs. Qiao, upon hearing her thoughts, intentionally had the maid lead Meng Guxue to the backyard garden, where she was only released after the banquet ended.

So, the male and female protagonists still didn’t know each other!

Qiao Tianjing casually turned his head, seemingly casually glanced at the Zhucui Pavilion behind him.

The Zhucui Pavilion was the largest jewelry store in the capital. Why would the Second Prince be in there?

Qiao Jiaojiao couldn’t figure it out and had to give up.

[The excitement is over, it’s time to go back. There will probably be trouble later.]

Qiao Tianjing, Qiao Diyi: ?

What trouble? Why didn’t little sister mention it before?

The Crown Prince and the Second Prince are still here; we can’t let anything happen!

[I remember it’s the people from the Northern Kingdom who came. They want to meet with the King Jing, but the King Jing’s guards mistook them for assassins, and there was a conflict between the two sides.]

[Those people from the Northern Kingdom have no idea; this Zhucui Pavilion is the stronghold of the King Jing’s power, with many guards inside. They can’t even think about getting close.]

[I have to say, the King Jing does have some business acumen. This Zhucui Pavilion not only makes a lot of money but also has well-informed intelligence!]

[After all, the people who come to buy jewelry are all from wealthy families, and it’s common for them to spill some secrets. Over the years, the King Jing has managed to grasp many secrets and leverage them!]

[Looking at the time, it’s estimated to be just a matter of time. Either I’ll make my exit.]
Qiao Jiaojiao had already planned it out; she’d just stay for the excitement and then relieve herself. Her big and second brothers would surely rush to take her back.

Qiao Tianjing: …

Little sister, you really think of everything.

Qiao Diyi: …

Little sister, can you really do it?

Qiao Diyi could already feel the warmth spreading on his arm.