Chapter 20

Others might not know who Hu Xiaotian was, but everyone recognized Xu Zhengying, believing that Xu Zhengying had today openly confronted Wu Jingshan, engaging in a direct confrontation. Only Xu Zhengying knew that he had been kidnapped by Hu Xiaotian, and even if he felt bitter, he could only swallow his anger. Clearly, Xu Zhengying was not the main character of this group. On the other side, the shameless Hu Xiaotian was already grinning and trying to get close to Huo Xiaoru, "Miss Huo, what would you like to drink?"

Huo Xiaoru glanced at the teapot on the table and smiled, "Do I have a choice?"

Hu Xiaotian nodded, "At least two choices."

Huo Xiaoru, recalling his previous words, quickly shook her head, "I'll pass on the choice." She felt a hint of mischief in his smile, fearing he might say something vulgar. She had chosen to sit next to him partly because she was attracted by his displayed talent, and partly because she disliked Wu Jingshan and his group. But seeing Hu Xiaotian's carefree smile, she regretted it a bit. This guy was probably just a spoiled rich kid, and the talent she saw might have been just a fleeting moment of brilliance. However, since she was here, she had to make the best of it.

Hu Xiaotian said, "There's tea and clear water. I think Miss Huo is more suited to clear water."

Huo Xiaoru smiled, "Why do you say that?"

"Clear water brings out the beauty of the lotus! Only clear water matches Miss Huo's extraordinary beauty."

Xu Zhengying was amazed by Hu Xiaotian's talent when he heard the first part, but when he heard the second part, he turned his head and spat out his tea, "Damn, can you be any more sappy?"

Hu Xiaotian was greatly annoyed by Xu Zhengying's abnormal behavior. "What's wrong with you? I'm trying to flirt here. You've lived for so long, Xu Zhengying, don't you know when to back off? Don't you realize you're just a third wheel? Forget it, you'll never understand."

The little maid behind Huo Xiaoru giggled, her laughter sweet, revealing two small white teeth.

Huo Xiaoru smiled, "Sir, you really know how to talk. May I ask your name?"

"Hu Xiaotian!"

The two chatted quite well, and the other literati and scholars in the hall became mere spectators.

Minister of Rites Wu Jingshan gave Su Qingkun a meaningful look. Although Wu Jingshan was very angry and wanted to leave, he couldn't. Scholars valued their dignity and reputation. If he left now, the joke that "the Minister is a dog" would spread throughout the capital. He had a high reputation in the literary world and had been in the bureaucracy for half his life; he couldn't lose to a young, inexperienced brat.

Su Qingkun understood his meaning, stood up, and said with a thick face, "Gentlemen, today we have gathered at the Yan Shui Pavilion. We are fortunate to have the leader of the Meishan School, Minister of Rites Wu Jingshan, and the renowned talent, Miss Huo Xiaoru. This is a rare event in the literary world of the capital. I propose that we engage in literary exchanges, each showing our talents, and write immortal verses to celebrate the beauty of the Yan Shui Pavilion and the prosperity of our great Kang Dynasty."

Everyone cheered. Although there had been some unpleasantness, and Minister Wu Jingshan had lost face, his status was still there. They all recommended him to set the topic. After a moment of recovery, Wu Jingshan drank some tea, stood up, and walked around, deep in thought.

To Hu Xiaotian, this old man was clearly showing off, trying to appear profound. He was probably thinking of some trick, and this trick was likely aimed at him.

When Wu Jingshan's gaze fell on Huo Xiaoru, his frown relaxed, and he smiled, "Let me set a topic. How about we do a couplet contest?" Composing couplets was a favorite activity of talented people, even for an old scholar like Wu Jingshan.

Everyone cheered. Wu Jingshan stopped and looked at Huo Xiaoru's half-covered face, "Listen carefully, my upper couplet is: 'Silk is dyed, and with a touch of embellishment, it becomes a text!'"

Everyone applauded again. Wu Jingshan's upper couplet was indeed ingenious, cleverly embedding two characters. This kind of couplet not only required a neat match but also the same embedding of two characters, truly a hidden challenge, showing that the leader of the Meishan School was not just a name.

Hearing the praise, Wu Jingshan felt a bit proud, and his confidence gradually returned. He looked at Xu Zhengying.

Xu Zhengying frowned. He was known for his scholarship and was not a fool. After a moment, he said, "I have it! My lower couplet is: 'Wood is fierce, and without humanity, it still becomes a king!'"

Everyone praised his lower couplet, and Xu Zhengying looked pleased, finally regaining some dignity through his talent.

Wu Jingshan nodded, "Not bad, quite neat."

Then someone else said, "I have a couplet too!" It was the son of a university scholar, Qiu Zhigao. After attracting everyone's attention, he said, "Water and alcohol, if one can turn back, they become human!"

"Good!" Another round of applause. Qiu Zhigao's couplet had a hidden meaning, advising Hu Xiaotian to turn back, and indirectly calling him inhuman. It also flattered the Minister of Rites Wu Jingshan, who understood the meaning and smiled.

Hu Xiaotian pretended not to hear, and Huo Xiaoru remained silent. Qiu Zhigao's couplet not only insulted Hu Xiaotian but also seemed to express dissatisfaction with Huo Xiaoru sitting at this table, advising her to turn back. Huo Xiaoru remained calm, but the little maid behind her couldn't hold back, "What's so great? I could come up with a couplet too."

Everyone was stunned, thinking the little maid was too presumptuous. Who were they? All were highly talented scholars and literary giants. What did a little maid know?

The little maid said, "Female is low, but why not be a servant!" Her words stunned everyone. No one expected the little maid by Huo Xiaoru's side to come up with such a brilliant lower couplet. Her words made the so-called scholars feel ashamed and made the Minister and others look dull.

Censor-in-Chief Su Qingkun said, "I have a couplet too: 'A cold day, without a single drop of water, it's not ice!'" He responded to ease the awkward atmosphere. His couplet was neat and clever, and everyone cheered again.

Su Qingkun bowed to the crowd, clearly satisfied with his lower couplet, and then smiled at Huo Xiaoru, "Miss Huo, do you have a more ingenious lower couplet?"

Huo Xiaoru smiled faintly, about to speak, when Hu Xiaotian said, "I have a couplet!" His voice was loud, and he stood up as if afraid no one would notice him.

Su Qingkun thought, "Who are you? Do you have to show off?" He had been insulted by Hu Xiaotian earlier and hated him.

Minister Wu Jingshan saw Hu Xiaotian stand up again and sneered. He thought the previous exchange was just a matter of sharp words, not real talent. How much could a young man know about true scholarship?

Hu Xiaotian, with good eyesight, could see Wu Jingshan's disdain from afar. He smiled, "My lower couplet is: 'Words are trust, without the Minister, one is a villain!'"

The hall fell silent. Hu Xiaotian's lower couplet was extremely clever, not only neat but also deeply hidden, insulting Wu Jingshan again. Wu Jingshan was so angry that he trembled, and if he didn't have to maintain his dignified image, he would have cursed. "What did I do to you? You keep targeting me, calling me a villain."

Xu Zhengying, sitting next to Hu Xiaotian, was thoroughly impressed by his talent. People said Hu Xiaotian was a fool, but if he was a fool, there were no smart people in the world. No wonder Hu Xiaotian's father, Hu Buwei, didn't agree to marry his daughters to anyone. Hu Xiaotian was a genius! "Words are trust, without the Minister, one is a villain!" Brilliant! Wu Jingshan, you old dog, you dared to insult me. Now you're getting what you deserve. Hu Xiaotian is right, you are a villain!

After Hu Xiaotian's lower couplet, no one dared to respond. This guy had the nerve to insult the Minister of Rites. Some curious people had already found out Hu Xiaotian's identity and whispered it to Wu Jingshan. Wu Jingshan was furious. It turned out this kid was his archenemy Hu Buwei's only son. They said he was a fool, but he saw a sharp, cunning, and devious young man. Knowing Hu Xiaotian's identity, Wu Jingshan lost the desire to continue the contest. Even if he won, it wouldn't be glorious, and if he lost, he would be a laughingstock. But he had already lost, and lost badly.

Wu Jingshan slowly stood up. Having been in the bureaucracy for half his life, he knew when to leave. He bowed to the crowd, "I have important matters to attend to, I must take my leave." He left without looking back.