My family has been wielding knives for generations, but now it's my turn to wield a pen!

"Heh, wants the questions to be easier? He's afraid he'll lose too badly, isn't he!"

"Is this just saving face for themselves?"

As Jiang Xiaobai finished speaking, the discussions inside the Lanting Tower resumed.

Many students looked at Jiang Xiaobai sitting on the high platform with disdain.

Yes, in their opinion, Jiang Xiaobai's words sounded nice.

What kind of kindness, what kind of not wanting the other twelve to lose too badly.

But actually?

Perhaps he was unsure of himself, which is why he deliberately chose an easier question.

This face... is somewhat shameless.

Within the Jiazi area, a cold smile appeared on Du Chong's lips.

This Jiang Xiaobai, he really is all talk and no action.

When faced with the actual exam questions, they start thinking about how to leave themselves an escape route.

The Third Prince sat there, his expression indifferent, but his gaze toward Jiang Xiaobai held a hint of disdain.

"These test questions were all prepared in advance."

The middle-aged man who was writing the document listened to the surrounding voices, sighed softly, and shook his head, saying, "Therefore, it cannot be changed!"

Upon hearing this, many people in the building breathed a sigh of relief; it was undoubtedly best that things couldn't be changed.

"Young Master Jiang, the topic will not change for anyone."

At this moment, the middle-aged man spoke again, pausing slightly, and said, "The first question is a half-couplet left by the Green Robe Society."

"This couplet has been hanging in the Qingshan Society for many years. Although there are people who can match it, it can be described as well-crafted and exquisite."

Upon hearing this, many people inside the Orchid Pavilion became serious.

The half-couplet left behind by the Qingshan Society must have been anything but simple.

On the fourth floor, several elderly men also stopped talking.

Fan Xinghe looked up and down.

Gu Zhiyan smiled as well, seemingly intrigued.

Li Bingzhang held his teacup, his gaze fixed on Jiang Xiaobai.

He wanted to see how this kid would handle the first question.

The middle-aged man looked around and slowly began to speak: "The first line of the couplet is: 'The Orchid Pavilion stands by the waves, the waves reflect the Orchid Pavilion, and the orchids in the pavilion add to its charm!'"

As soon as he finished speaking, the entire Lanting Tower fell silent.

Most of those who came in were students, and upon hearing the first line of the couplet, they all frowned.

This first line of the couplet not only alludes to the Orchid Pavilion, but also borrows the imagery of the lake, and further uses the words Orchid Pavilion, garden orchid, and the charm of orchids to create a harmonious and interconnected meaning.

It may seem like just describing scenery, but in reality, every part is intertwined with words.

If not handled carefully, the second line will appear loose and uncoordinated.

On the Jia section side, the twelve people immediately fell into deep thought.

Du Chong's sneer disappeared.

Guo Zhan frowned, while Zhong Yu lowered his head, tapping his fingers lightly on the table, clearly trying to find the matching words in his mind.

The third prince remained silent.

Although he was a prince, he was also a disciple of Chief Minister Meng, so he naturally had some knowledge of couplets.

However, this first line... is indeed difficult to match.

Jiang Xiaobai looked surprised when he heard the first line of the couplet.

Sure, the Green Robe Society does have some merit.

This couplet looks elegant, but it contains many hidden mechanisms. If it were a regular couplet, it would probably be impossible to suppress it.

but……

Jiang Xiaobai's lips curled up slightly.

Seeing that all thirteen people had fallen silent, the middle-aged man was not in a hurry.

This kind of half-connection naturally takes time.

However, when his gaze fell on Jiang Xiaobai, he found that Jiang Xiaobai was still sitting steadily, and even had a smile on her face.

Ok?

Could it be that Jiang Xiaobai already has a plan?

Just then, Jiang Xiaobai spoke up: "This question is indeed a bit too easy."

The voice wasn't loud, but the Lanting Tower was quiet at the moment, so almost everyone heard it clearly.

Many people immediately looked at Jiang Xiaobai.

Simple?

Is that simple?

Jiang Xiaobai, however, seemed oblivious to their reactions and continued, "So, let them answer first."

"So that if I answer, they won't feel pressured and won't be able to answer either."

As soon as he finished speaking, a low murmur rippled through the Lanting Tower.

"Wow, Jiang Xiaobai is way too arrogant!"

"Is he trying to buy himself more time to think?"

"That's right, but they put it in such a high-sounding way."

"Shameless!"

Within Zone A, everyone's faces twitched slightly.

These words are infuriating, as if all twelve of them are no match for Jiang Xiaobai alone.

The Third Prince frowned and finally spoke, "Since you have an idea, just say it. Why put on airs here?"

"That's right!"

Du Chong then spoke up, sneering, "If Young Master Jiang has truly answered correctly, then say it."

"You answered it, but we can answer it just the same way!"

They shared the same thought: Jiang Xiaobai must want to buy himself more time, which is why he spoke up in that way.

"Yeah?"

Jiang Xiaobai looked at Du Chong and smiled, "Alright then."

After speaking, Jiang Xiaobai sat up straighter and cleared his throat: "The first line is: 'Listening to the waves at Lanting, the waves reflect Lanting, and the orchids in the pavilion add to the orchid's charm!'"

My matching line is: "The scholar loses in voice, the voice surpasses the scholar, born with a soul that surpasses even the writing!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the entire Lanting Tower fell into a deathly silence.

The students stared wide-eyed, filled with disbelief, at Jiang Xiaobai on the high platform.

No, this guy... he's actually going to fight me?

Moreover, this second line is not a typical response.

The scholar loses to the voice, the voice surpasses the scholar, born with a soul that surpasses even the writing.

This second line not only echoes the first line, but also maintains a very stable pronunciation.

More importantly, this means... it's clearly a mockery of the twelve people in Zone A!

The scholar lost in voice, and the voice overwhelmed the scholar.

Doesn't this mean that no matter how loud you scholars are, you will ultimately lose?

Even those who are unhappy with this couplet have to admit that it is extremely scathing.

It's ruthless in its neatness and ruthless in its imposing presence.

The person who wrote the document stood to the side, and his expression was clearly taken aback.

Then, the way he looked at Jiang Xiaobai completely changed.

This guy... he's actually got some skills!

This half-couplet is no ordinary couplet; it's already quite an achievement to come up with a matching one in such a short time.

Not to mention, Jiang Xiaobai's second line also carries a sense of counter-pressure.

On the fourth floor, a smile appeared in Li Bingzhang's eyes, and Lin Fengshuo nodded slightly.

"What a scholar who lost the argument!"

Gu Zhiyan couldn't help but laugh.

Fan Xinghe frowned, but did not deny it.

Because this pair is indeed very well-matched and exquisite.

Another place.

Zhao Sheng frowned deeply.

Chen Zhanqiu's face visibly twitched.

Wait, how did this guy come up with that?

And, it was corrected so quickly?

Has the Lanting Tower exam been leaked?

But that's impossible!

The Qingshan Society's author personally sets the questions, and Lantinglou would never leak the questions to Jiang Xiaobai.

But if not, then it can only mean that... Jiang Xiaobai really got it right.

Thinking of this, Chen Zhanqiu's expression became even more unpleasant.

Meanwhile, the twelve people in Zone A all looked rather grim.

Du Chong's expression, in particular, had darkened.

Jiang Xiaobai's second line is clearly a dig at them.

But ironically, this pair of characters is indeed perfectly matched.

If they want to fight back, they must offer something even better.

For a moment, all twelve of them fell silent and began to think hard.

Guo Zhan's expression remained calm. After a moment, he finally raised his head and said, "The bamboo pavilion is built of bamboo, the bamboo sways the pavilion's shadow, and in the shadow, we drink and recite poetry, drawing inspiration from the bamboo's sound!"

As soon as he finished speaking, many people in the Lanting Tower nodded slightly.

This couplet is quite good; it has a certain artistic conception and the sound is somewhat resonant.

However... it's still a bit lacking compared to Jiang Xiaobai.

After Guo Zhan finished speaking, he gently shook his head.

Yes, he himself knew that if it were taken out alone, it might be good.

However, compared to Jiang Xiaobai's quote, it seems much weaker.

Jiang Xiaobai's sentence was not only well-structured, but it also completely overwhelmed the twelve of them.

The momentum is too strong; his sentence... in the end, it's just describing the scenery and doesn't provide a proper comparison.

Zhong Yu also looked up at this moment. He had thought of something too, but he swallowed the words back down.

Because he himself knew that what he had come up with was no better than Jiang Xiaobai's.

If I say it out loud, it will only be used for comparison.

Du Chong gently pinched the rim of the cup, his face growing increasingly grim. He had his own ideas, but they weren't enough!

The third prince sat there, his expression also darkening.

For a moment, none of the twelve people in Section A spoke.

The atmosphere inside the Orchid Pavilion became increasingly strange.

Those who were just waiting to see Jiang Xiaobai make a fool of himself were now speechless.

After a long pause, the middle-aged man who had been writing the answer gave Jiang Xiaobai a deep look and said, "The first question is answered correctly by Young Master Jiang!"

what?

Jiang Xiaobai sat in the chair, and upon hearing the result, he seemed stunned for a moment, his face full of surprise: "I just guessed randomly."

"This...this is how we won?"

"..."

Many people's lips twitched simultaneously.

Just randomly chosen?

You call this random matching?

Jiang Xiaobai seemed to suddenly realize something and exclaimed, "I know!"

Everyone was taken aback.

What does this guy know?

At this moment, Jiang Xiaobai looked at the twelve people in Section A and said seriously, "They must be worried that I would embarrass myself on the first question, so they let me pass!"

After saying that, he looked at the twelve faces that were flushed red and asked with a smile.

"Am I... right?"