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

what?

Beside him, Li Zhixing's eyes widened immediately.

Isn't Jiang Xiaobai's statement a bit too arrogant?

Shut everyone up?

Could it be that Jiang Xiaobai intends to use the power of the Zhenbei Marquis's mansion to force people into submission?

If that's the case, then you've come to the wrong place.

Indeed, ordinary people might be afraid of the name of the Marquis of Zhenbei.

But these students are different.

These students were all filled with anger, especially now that the unfairness of the imperial examinations and the buying of official positions were involved.

If Jiang Xiaobai tries to intimidate others at this point, it will only make things worse!

really!

As Jiang Xiaobai finished speaking, the commotion inside the Qinglou building grew even stronger than before.

Many students glared angrily.

Some of the more hot-tempered ones had already rolled up their sleeves, and judging by their posture, they seemed ready to charge at any moment.

"Jiang Xiaobai, you have quite the nerve!"

"Shut up? What gives you the right?"

"Hmph, a mere scoundrel who bought his way into office dares to act so arrogantly in a brothel!"

"If you don't give an explanation to all the students today, don't even think about leaving this building!"

The shouts grew louder and louder.

Li Zhixing's expression changed slightly, and he immediately wanted to step forward to stop him.

It wasn't that he wanted to protect Jiang Xiaobai, but if this matter really escalated to the point of physical violence, Qinglou would also be implicated.

But just as Li Zhixing was about to take a step, Jiang Xiaobai's voice rang out.

"What's the rush?"

Jiang Xiaobai stood there, his gaze sweeping over the crowd, his expression remaining calm: "In the end, don't you all just want me to lose my title of top scholar?"

"Okay, I can agree to that."

Upon hearing this, the entire Qinglou fell into a brief silence.

Many students looked surprised.

promise?

Jiang Xiaobai actually agreed?

Li Zhixing was also stunned, staring at Jiang Xiaobai with disbelief.

Is this guy crazy?

The title of "top scholar in the imperial examination" is something that countless scholars dream of obtaining.

Even if Jiang Xiaobai was bought, His Majesty has now personally acknowledged it.

This is tantamount to wealth already in hand.

Jiang Xiaobai actually said no, and that's it?

While everyone was still in shock, Jiang Xiaobai continued, "However, I have conditions!"

"What are the conditions?"

From the crowd, someone immediately asked in a cold voice.

Jiang Xiaobai didn't answer immediately. Instead, he turned his head to look at Li Zhixing, who was still in a daze beside him: "Come on, Little Li, quickly get me some paper and pen!"

"what?"

Li Zhixing was taken aback again.

"Huh?"

Jiang Xiaobai looked at Li Zhixing and said, "Your Qinglou doesn't even have paper and pens, does it?"

"Of course!"

Li Zhixing's face twitched, and he glared at Jiang Xiaobai with annoyance before instructing the Qinglou waiters to prepare.

Soon, a long table was carried to the center of the hall.

The writing brush, ink, paper, and inkstone were all laid out neatly.

Jiang Xiaobai walked to the table and picked up the calligraphy brush.

At this moment, everyone's eyes in the Qinglou were fixed on Jiang Xiaobai.

They wanted to see what this top scholar, who had bought his way into office, really wanted to do.

Do I have to write a letter of apology in public?

Or perhaps, he would write a memorial requesting that his title of top scholar be revoked?

If that's the case, then today's commotion at the brothel wasn't entirely in vain.

Jiang Xiaobai ignored the gazes around him, dipped his brush in ink, and calmly began to write on the paper.

The first one.

With swift, flowing strokes, he finished writing quickly.

Immediately afterwards, Jiang Xiaobai changed to a second one.

The hall became much quieter.

Only the soft scratching of the brush on the paper could be heard.

A moment later, Jiang Xiaobai put down his pen and handed the two scrolls of paper to Li Zhixing.

"Go, hang it up!"

Ok?

Li Zhixing took the scroll of paper, his expression somewhat puzzled.

Yes, he really wanted to open it and see what Jiang Xiaobai had written.

But Jiang Xiaobai's matter-of-fact attitude made it difficult for Li Zhixing to expose him in public.

Finally, Li Zhixing could only grit his teeth and lead his men up to the second floor.

Soon, the two scrolls of paper were hung on the second-floor railing.

One on the left and one on the right, looking down from above.

The students upstairs and downstairs all raised their heads at that moment.

Jiang Xiaobai stood in the center of the hall, raised his hand and waved gently: "Open!"

Li Zhixing, standing upstairs, heard the sound and simultaneously put down both paper scrolls.

Whoosh!

Two scrolls of paper covered with ink writing hung down.

All eyes immediately turned to them.

Come on!

Jiang Xiaobai stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze sweeping over all the students present, and said calmly, "Aren't you all quite knowledgeable?"

"If you can match these two couplets..."

"Today, I, the Crown Prince, will publicly write a memorial to personally request His Majesty to revoke my title of Top Scholar!"

"If you can't match them, from today onwards, everyone shut up!"

These words caused another stir in the audience.

A pair?

That's it?

Many students immediately showed anger on their faces.

They even thought Jiang Xiaobai had some amazing skills.

Unexpectedly, they only presented two pairs of poems.

Isn't this humiliating them?

It should be noted that while not everyone present is exceptionally talented, those who can engage in scholarly discussions in the Qinglou Pavilion all possess some ability.

Moreover, many students from the Imperial Academy have also come today.

You think you can stump them with just two couplets?

It's ridiculous!

But when everyone's gaze actually fell on the two scrolls of paper, the sounds inside the Qinglou gradually weakened.

The first picture has five characters written on it.

What man could be worthy of such a fine woman!

The second picture reads: "The sun is yang, the moon is yin, the sun and the moon shine together!"

For a moment, the entire room fell silent.

The students, who had been so indignant just moments before, were now all stunned.

Some people frowned, while others were deep in thought.

Some people's lips moved slightly, as if they wanted to speak, but the words stuck in their throats and they swallowed them back.

What man is worthy of such a fine woman?

At first glance, the first line of the couplet does not seem complicated.

But upon closer inspection, the taste was off.

Okay, if you break it down, it becomes a woman.

The first line of the couplet itself contains the ingenuity of word splitting.

Who could be a suitable match for her? This is a subtle connection to the beautiful woman in front of her.

To create a matching second line, not only must the words match, but the structure must also be correct.

difficult!

As for the second one, it made many students' faces change.

The sun is yang, the moon is yin, and the sun and moon shine together.

This is not just about the opposition of Yin and Yang, but also about the sun and moon combining to form brightness.

If the second line cannot take into account the meaning of the words, yin and yang, and the combination of words, then it cannot be considered well-structured.

Jiang Xiaobai stood there, looking at the now silent audience, a slight smile playing on his lips.

Feel the terrifying power of his past life, which spans five thousand years of Chinese civilization!

These two are absolute masterpieces throughout the ages.

Of course, he hasn't even brought out anything more ruthless yet.

Phrases like "Smoke locks the willows by the pond" and "Looking at the river from the river-viewing tower" are common.

If those things were actually brought out, wouldn't these students be left questioning their very existence on the spot?

Thinking of this, Jiang Xiaobai's expression became even more indifferent.

At that moment, Li Zhixing upstairs was also looking down at the two couplets.

Li Zhixing's expression originally carried a hint of disdain.

After all, what good stuff could Jiang Xiaobai, a man who bought his way into office, possibly write?

But after only a couple of glances, the expression on Li Zhixing's face gradually froze.

After glancing at it a few more times, Li Zhixing's brows furrowed deeply, and his expression turned shocked.

Finally, Li Zhixing raised his head and looked incredulously at Jiang Xiaobai in the center of the hall.

no……

Isn't this guy supposed to be an incompetent good-for-nothing?!