Poet Immortal, Poet Sage, Duke of the State!

Yaoguang Poetry Society.

Lin Wenjing sat at her desk, holding a book of poems in her hands, but her gaze was unfocused, and her mind was clearly not on the book.

Although the challenge had been sent out, she wasn't sure whether Xiao Qingshuang would dare to accept it.

If she avoids battle, there's nothing I can do about her.

Shortly after, footsteps could be heard outside the door.

Next, Sun Wanying and Yang Yuchan pushed open the door and walked in.

Lin Wenjing immediately put down the poetry collection, looked at the two women, and asked, "How is it?"

Sun Wanying stepped forward and said with a smile, "Sister Wenjing, she has accepted the challenge."

A hint of joy appeared on Lin Wenjing's face as she confirmed, "She agreed?"

Yang Yuchan stepped forward and said with a grin, "She originally wanted to find an excuse to refuse, but we provoked her a bit, and she couldn't hold back anymore. She accepted the challenge on the spot. Let's see how she makes a fool of herself then..."

Lin Wenjing's lips curled into a slight smile; she hadn't expected things to go so smoothly.

With just three couplets and a four-character poem, Xiao Qingshuang earned the title of the most talented woman in the capital and received a plaque bestowed by His Majesty.

Lin Wenjing learned poetry from a young age, could compose poems at the age of seven, and became famous in the capital at the age of twelve. She wrote hundreds of poems and lyrics, but she never received such an honor.

Once she defeats Xiao Qingshuang in poetry, she can rightfully obtain this title.

This was actually a rare opportunity for her.

Yang Yuchan suddenly hesitated, and murmured, "Sister Wenjing, what if that poem really was written by Xiao Qingshuang...?"

Lin Wenjing glanced at her indifferently.

Sun Wanying noticed Lin Wenjing's displeasure and immediately said, "Yu Chan, what are you saying? If Xiao Qingshuang had this talent, she would have been famous throughout the capital long ago. Why would she have waited until now?"

She changed the subject, adding, "Besides, even if she wrote that poem, does that mean she's better than Sister Wenjing?"

Yang Yuchan realized she had misspoke and quickly said, "Of course, I was just being prepared. Sister Wenjing isn't afraid of her, of course. What I meant was... since she accepted the challenge so readily, could it be... that she might have someone else write it for her?"

Lin Wenjing remained silent for a moment.

She had thought about this question as well.

Xiao Qingshuang didn't have that ability; those couplets and that poem "Though the Tortoise Lives Long" must have been guided by a master.

But the person never showed up, and she didn't know who he was or what his background was. She could only guess that he must be an elderly person.

After all, someone who could write such a magnificent poem as "Though the Tortoise Lives Long" and come up with a couplet that even the most accomplished scholars of Yan could not match must have had rich experience and broad knowledge, and must not be young.

Although Lin Wenjing was somewhat arrogant, she was not so presumptuous as to think that she could compete with such a literary senior.

She waved her hand, not taking the matter to heart, and said indifferently, "Even if someone helps her, the topic will be drawn on the spot in three days, and she will compose poems on the spot. She can't exactly bring that person to Wangyue Tower and keep an eye on her, not letting her leave at will. Let's see who she can copy then..."

Sun Wanying and Yang Yuchan nodded repeatedly.

"Yes, we'll keep a close eye on her then!"

"Don't give her a chance to cheat!"

Lin Wenjing waved her hand and said, "Alright, it's getting late. You should go back and rest. I have my own plans for what will happen in three days."

Sun Wanying and Yang Yuchan got up to say goodbye, but as they reached the door, Lin Wenjing suddenly called them back.

She turned around, a meaningful smile on her face, and said, "Three days later, have everyone from the poetry society go, and also notify a few other literary societies we know well. I want the whole capital to see who the true number one talented woman is..."

Sun Wanying twitched the corners of her mouth and said, "Don't worry, Sister Wenjing, I will make sure everyone in the capital knows that Xiao Qingshuang is nothing but a fake talented woman with a hollow reputation..."

……

With the deliberate encouragement of certain individuals, the news that General Zhenyuan's daughter, Xiao Qingshuang, was going to compete in poetry with the granddaughter of the Minister of Rites spread like wildfire throughout the capital overnight.

"Have you heard? The head of the Yaoguang Poetry Society is going to have a poetry competition with General Zhenyuan's daughter at Wangyue Tower in three days!"

"Are you kidding me? This little witch wants to challenge someone to a poetry contest? Are you sure it's not a fight?"

"Nonsense, the notice from the Yaoguang Poetry Society is already posted, how could it be fake?"

"Is that Qing Shuang, the girl who stood up to the Yan envoy in the imperial palace? Last time the Yan envoy came to provoke us, not a single official in the court stood up for himself. It was she who saved the court's face and even won a city for us..."

"That's because she has a master mentoring her. A girl from a military family, who spends all her time practicing martial arts, what does she know about poetry and literature?"

"How do you know she didn't write it herself? 'An old steed in its stall still aspires to gallop a thousand miles'—only someone from a military family could write something with such powerful spirit!"

"While the poem is grand and imposing, its style is clearly that of a seasoned elder. How old is Xiao Qingshuang? She's only sixteen or seventeen. How could she possibly have such experience?"

"Who do you think will win the competition two days from now?"

"Of course, Lin Wenjing is the granddaughter of the Minister of Rites. She could compose poems at the age of seven and was famous throughout the capital by the age of twelve. Have you read her graceful poems? That's what you call a true talented woman."

"That's not how it works. Although Xiao Qingshuang comes from a military family, she's also quite accomplished in both literature and martial arts, isn't she? In that competition at the Golden Palace, she answered three questions in a row, and the Yan envoy was so ashamed that he committed suicide by running into a pillar..."

"Who knows if she wrote that couplet herself? Didn't you hear? She went back and forth several times, clearly seeking advice from others. In my opinion, her reputation as a talented woman is largely supported by others."

"Even if someone else supported it, they had the ability to find an expert to guide them, that's their skill too. Who cares who wrote it, as long as it brings honor to the country, isn't that enough?"

"That's not how it works. I acknowledge that Miss Xiao has made contributions to the country, but to call her the most talented woman in the capital based solely on that is far too hasty. Wouldn't the Yan Kingdom later laugh at our Great Ning for having no literary talent?"

……

A vegetable market in the city.

Chen Chang'an came out to buy groceries.

He stood in front of a stall, listening to the vegetable vendors' conversation, and was stunned, his mouth agape.

Clear frost?

The daughter of General Zhenyuan?

He guessed that this young rich woman was no ordinary person. She could casually spend sixty taels of silver, and she was accompanied by three burly men as bodyguards. No matter how you looked at it, she was not from an ordinary family.

But he never expected that her background was so profound.

The Zhenyuan General's Mansion—it was the most prestigious of all military families, one of the pillars of the entire Da Ning military. In terms of background and power, ten Chen Wenyuans combined couldn't compare.

At the same time, he also learned about the matter of the Yan envoy.

He was puzzled at the time as to why Qing Shuang kept coming to ask him for couplets. It turned out that it was to deal with the people from Yan.

The couplets he casually composed actually helped Da Ning win a city?

Chen Chang'an shook his head. He had no interest in these important national affairs. Whether Qing Shuang was the daughter of General Zhenyuan or an ordinary woman, Chen Chang'an only regarded her as a good friend. She did not put on airs of a great person in front of him.

However, he soon realized something.

Qing Shuang is the daughter of General Zhenyuan, but what about Miss Gong Yue?

Judging from her slightly respectful attitude towards Miss Gongyue, Miss Gongyue's status is probably even higher...

Could she be a member of the royal family?