From a slave to the Great Qian Martial Saint

"The spring breeze owes me three bushels of poetry, and today it comes to collect..."

Looking at the couplet hanging on the second floor, the crowd muttered to themselves and couldn't help but frown.

The couplet itself isn't difficult; the challenge for most people is the one thousand taels of silver.

Without money, how can we agree on anything?

"We need to think this through carefully."

Feng Qi tapped his fingers rhythmically on the table, his expression also solemn.

For a talented scholar like him from Yongqiu, coming up with a matching couplet was a piece of cake, and as a scion of a noble family, he certainly didn't lack that thousand taels of silver.

However, according to past practice, it is not enough to just match well or cleverly. Matching is just a formality; the important thing is to make friends, and the first priority in making friends is to be like-minded.

To put it bluntly, you have to be on Shen Bi's mind.

To truly understand Shen Bi's heart is difficult.

Feng Qi has come seven or eight times. With his literary talent, he amazes everyone every time, but he has only been selected by Shen Bi twice.

"It's just a couplet, why make such a fuss?"

Gu Chenglie drank his wine, glanced at Feng Qi, chuckled, and then turned to Chen Shi.

"Steward Chen, why don't you give it a try?"

"Third Master knows that I am a rough man, and I should not embarrass myself in such an elegant occasion."

"What kind of talk is that? When you're out having fun, you should enjoy yourself to the fullest. What's wrong with giving it a try?"

"Well..."

Chen Shi looked up at the first couplet, toying with his wine cup, and suddenly smiled.

"The Hu woman promised me a pot of wine; I'll go get it at midnight."

"Haha~! Chen Shi, you said you couldn't compose couplets! Isn't this great!"

Gu Chenglie laughed so hard he slapped the table and raised his wine glass.

"Come, come, let's have a drink."

"vulgar!"

Feng Qi over there had also made up his mind, and rolled his eyes at Chen Shi and Gu Chenglie.

He looked up at the second floor again, a confident expression on his face.

His second line was not only good, but it was also something he had come up with after figuring out Shen Bi's thoughts, so he was 100% sure it would be chosen.

"I'll have one! That drunkard owes me two pounds of meat, pay up now!"

As they were speaking, a middle-aged man who was obese and covered in gold and silver jewelry stood up and said loudly.

This second line immediately drew laughter from everyone present.

"It's not as good as yours."

Feng Qi chuckled dismissively and glanced at Chen Shi.

Chen Shi pursed his lips and continued drinking, seemingly unconcerned.

Then, several other people came up with matching lines.

They may be vulgar or have a touch of elegance, but none of them are particularly amazing.

That makes sense. A truly talented and virtuous person would never come here to spend a thousand taels of silver to have a nighttime chat with a courtesan.

"I'll do it."

The time was almost right. Feng Qi straightened his clothes, stood up, and said loudly.

"The bright moon has restored my thousand dreams, which were fulfilled last night!"

"That's right!"

"This is definitely the best of the night!"

"As expected of Master Qi! Truly an absolute masterpiece for all time!"

As soon as Feng Qi finished speaking, the hall erupted in praise and cheers.

The second line is not bad, but it's far from perfect.

As for the claim of being immortalized, that's just empty boasting.

But none of that matters. Even if Feng Qi were to say to a drunkard that "he owes me two pounds of meat," everyone would cheer loudly, because he is the son of a marquis.

Feng Qi was already full of confidence, and now he was even more smug, standing straight and looking up at the second floor.

The maid on the second floor looked down and asked again.

"Is there anyone who can come up with a matching second line?"

"Once Uncle Qi pulls this off, who would dare to embarrass themselves!"

"That's right, Miss Chenbi, don't hesitate!"

The crowd erupted in cheers again, showering Feng Qi with praise.

Feng Qi stood with his hands behind his back, becoming increasingly smug.

"My friend has one."

Just as everyone was getting into the swing of things, Gu Chenglie, holding up his wine glass as if he were half-drunk, laughed and said loudly.

"My friend Chen Shi said, 'The Hu woman promised me a pot of wine; I'll go fetch it in the middle of the night!'"

"Haha~ What kind of second line is this? It's practically identical to that 'Two Pounds of Meat' couplet!"

"What nonsense are you talking about! You're a friend of Master Lie! I think you're right!"

"Hmm, I think that's a good idea too!"

"It's more than good! Of all the couplets tonight, only Master Qi's can compare!"

They were just mocking him, but when they saw it was Gu Chenglie, they immediately started praising him.

When Chen Shi saw Gu Chenglie suddenly reveal the couplet he had joked about, he couldn't help but frown slightly. Could it be that he was deliberately trying to embarrass him?

But then, seeing everyone's reaction, Chen Shi was taken aback, then realized what was happening and couldn't help but shake his head with a smile. In brothels, everything is just an act; there's nothing real going on.

Although Gu Chenglie was "causing trouble," Feng Qi didn't care. After all, in his view, Chen Shi's second line posed no threat to him.

"Is there anything else? If not, then this is the end."

The maid upstairs asked a few more questions, and seeing that no one answered, she turned and went back.

A moment later, he came out again.

For a moment, the hall was completely silent. Everyone looked at the little maid, waiting for her to reveal the answer.

Whoever is chosen can go up to the second floor and have a night talk with Miss Chenbi.

Feng Qi raised his head slightly, a smile on his face, already determined to win.

"Miss Chenbi said that the friend of Master Lie San said, 'The Hu woman promised me a pot of wine, and I will go to get it in the middle of the night.' This shows his true character and suits her tastes very well. Please invite Master Lie San's friend upstairs."

"……What?!"

Feng Ji, who was about to get up, suddenly widened his eyes and looked at Chen Shi with a look of surprise.

Chen Shi, who was drinking there, was also taken aback.

What is that?

What kind of genuine personality is this? Shen Bi is talking nonsense with him!

His offhand nonsense—can that even be called a couplet? It's good enough that he's not considered uncivilized.

"Wow, she actually got elected."

Gu Chenglie, the culprit, just smiled, looking surprised.

Chen Shi frowned secretly. Could it be because of Gu Chenglie?

After all, couplets are just a pretext; it all comes down to the person who puts them together.

Or perhaps, Shen Bi saw him from above and deliberately chose him to go up?

"Steward Chen, please come upstairs."

Just then, the madam came over with two young maids, inviting them with a big smile.

Two maids stepped forward and draped a large red flower over Chen Shi, making him look like a groom.

"Go! I'll pay the thousand taels of silver!"

With a broad smile, Gu Chenglie gave Chen Shi a forceful shove.

At the same time, the people around also joined in the commotion, shouting "Go upstairs!"

Chen Shi hesitated slightly, but could only stand up.

"he!"

Watching Chen Shi go upstairs, Feng Qi was furious and glared at Gu Chenglie.

"Look what you've done!"

"Brother Qi, don't be angry. It's not worth it for a woman. Come, let me toast you!"

Gu Chenglie, however, seemed unconcerned and poured Feng Qi a glass of wine.

Led by a maid, Chen Shi went straight to a room.

The decor is elegant, with a pipa hanging on the wall and writing implements on the table, giving it the feel of a refined scholar having a late-night conversation by candlelight.

Shen Bi, dressed in a white veil, was sitting at the table.

Clang!

Chen Shi was looking around when the door behind him suddenly closed.

Chen Bi looked at Chen Shi, hesitated slightly, and then unbuttoned his clothes...

"Let me tell you! If it weren't for you causing trouble tonight..."

Feng Qi, holding his wine glass, was still complaining about Gu Chenglie when he suddenly stopped halfway through his sentence.

A red lantern was hung at the door of Chen Bi's room on the second floor.

Looking at the red-light district, Feng Qi dropped his wine cup with a clatter.

Dian Yuanhong.

Shen Bi is going to be targeted by Yuan Hong tonight!