15 Stunning the Entire Audience

“Brilliant! The beginning and end of the year matching the full and half moon—truly a perfect harmony. What a marvelous coincidence!”

“Not only is it a perfect match, but the quick wit to come up with it in such a short time is truly admirable.”

“I hadn’t even begun to gather my thoughts, and this young lady had already responded. She truly deserves the title of a talented woman.”

The crowd at the literary gathering burst into applause, their words of praise flowing abundantly.

Lin Qingliu was momentarily stunned, then a profound sense of defeat welled up inside her. She had heard the first couplet before, yet Lin Yuejiao had responded faster than she ever did. She was, in fact, more gifted.

Si Chengyu was equally taken aback; he hadn’t expected Lin Yuejiao to react so swiftly.

After replying to the first couplet, Lin Yuejiao bowed gracefully to the assembly, “Lin Yuejiao of the Lin family in Xinzhou, fourth in rank, greetings to all the gentlemen and ladies present.”

This was the custom of the literary gathering: after completing the threshold couplet, one must announce their identity.

A literary gathering is unlike others—without knowing names, how can one gain renown?

Lin Qingliu had never taught Lin Yuejiao these rules, yet she knew them all perfectly. Every move she made was humble and courteous, truly embodying the demeanor of a refined lady.

“Yuejiao, you…” Lin Qingliu wanted to reprimand her but, faced with so many outsiders, she had to preserve her own image and could only force a smile, saying, “Yuejiao, you’ve truly made your sister see you in a new light.”

Lin Yuejiao lowered her head shyly, seemingly unaware of their schemes, and modestly replied, “Sister Liu, you flatter me. Please, Sister Liu, proceed.”

In her previous life, as a crown princess, she had diligently studied poetry, calligraphy, chess, music, and painting to match Beitang Han’s talents, fearing to bring shame upon him.

Aside from her unsightly face, in every other aspect, she was no less accomplished than the top scholars of Chaohuang Academy of old. So while the first couplet was somewhat challenging, it was nothing for her.

She was curious to see what the third couplet would be.

Lin Qingliu seethed with hatred but could only smile and take up the second couplet: “The first line: ‘Blessings like the Eastern Sea’s long flowing waters.’”

This was a simple couplet that even children just beginning their studies could respond to. Without hesitation, Lin Qingliu said the second line: “Longevity like the Southern Mountain’s evergreen pine.”

“Heh, it’s a waste to let Miss Lin face such a couplet; it’s far beneath her talent,” Si Chengyu said awkwardly.

As soon as the couplets were unveiled, Lin Qingxu was utterly dumbfounded and blurted out, “Young Master Si, isn’t this bullying? This is clearly a timeless, unbeatable couplet. How can you use this for matching?”

The crowd murmured in surprise, asking what kind of couplet it was.

Lin Yuejiao thought to herself: as expected, they were deliberately setting a trap.

“The first line: ‘Mist locks the pond and willows.’ Everyone listen carefully—this is clearly a deliberate challenge, isn’t it?” Lin Qingxu said angrily.

Lin Yuejiao’s expression turned somewhat strange upon hearing this.

In the hall, a young nobleman dressed in a deep purple, richly embroidered pine-patterned robe clicked his tongue and said, “Si Chengyu, you’ve already brought out a timeless, unbeatable couplet. Are you deliberately trying to keep someone from entering?”

His name was Wen Zeye, handsome and elegant, exuding charm.

Lin Yuejiao had no impression of him, indicating that this royal noble had not been involved in the imperial succession struggles and was a peripheral figure in the power dynamics.

“Brother Zeye, I don’t know who will draw the ‘timeless unbeatable’ couplet. How can you say I’m deliberately keeping someone out?” Si Chengyu smiled and said, “No one ever said the unbeatable couplet couldn’t be used as a threshold couplet. What I’m doing isn’t breaking any rules. Moreover, in our current dynasty, Li Moqian once broke an unbeatable couplet. I’m just seeing if Xinzhou can produce a second Li Moqian. If not, then whoever draws this couplet is unfortunate; if yes, it will become a celebrated story.”

Now that the matter had come this far, he could not show favoritism and had to stick to the prepared speech.

Lin Qingxu’s face turned pale. “Young Master Si, may I redraw? I don’t have the talent of Young Master Li to match this unbeatable couplet.”

“Miss Lin, I’m sorry, but which couplet you draw is a matter of luck. There is no rule allowing redraws,” Si Chengyu said with an air of impartiality.

Lin Qingliu watched this scene with displeasure. Originally, the unlucky one should have been Lin Yuejiao, but now it was Lin Qingxu who had lost out, wasting such a good opportunity.

“Miss Lin, it’s just bad luck. Please allow the next participant,” Si Chengyu reminded as the atmosphere grew tense.

Suddenly, Lin Qingxu snapped back to reality, her voice full of resentment, “It’s not bad luck for me! This couplet should never have been drawn by me. I was second. The couplet Lin Qingliu drew should have been mine. This one should have belonged to Lin Yuejiao. It’s all because you snatched the first couplet that the order got messed up, and I ended up with this one—it should have been yours.”

“Second sister, what does this have to do with me?” The instigator, Lin Yuejiao, looked surprised and innocent, perfectly timed.

Many of the young nobles witnessing this whispered among themselves, thinking Lin Qingxu was unfairly blaming others simply because she couldn’t respond to the couplet herself.

Holding the couplet, Lin Qingxu stormed up to Lin Yuejiao, eyes gleaming with venomous resentment. “This couplet should be yours. You are the one who shouldn’t enter the Xinzhou literary gathering. Why is it me? Why should I suffer for you? Give it back! This is yours.”

“Second sister, the eldest sister and I have already switched. How can we switch again?” Lin Yuejiao stepped back.

Lin Qingxu was furious, forcing the couplet into Lin Yuejiao’s hands. “I want to switch with you! It’s all your fault! This couplet was always meant for you!”

Lin Qingliu saw the quarrel between Lin Qingxu and Lin Yuejiao and inwardly felt a bit pleased, but outwardly she adopted a conciliatory tone. “Xu’er, although it’s because Yuejiao drew the first couplet that you ended up with what should have been hers, the couplets have already been drawn and matched. There’s no reason to switch now. Stop causing a scene; it only makes us a laughingstock.”

Though she advised Lin Qingxu not to make trouble, her words placed Lin Qingxu in the position of a victim.

Lin Xueshu, a sycophant, immediately chimed in, “Sigh, Sister Xu, we all know you’re wronged. The couplet you shouldn’t have drawn fell to you, and you suffered for someone else. But now that it’s like this, there’s nothing you can do even if you make a fuss. Fourth sister is truly lucky to have you take the blame. Poor Sister Xu is really innocent. Zijing, don’t you agree?”

Lin Zijing, who had remained aloof until now, was suddenly asked but did not join in the chorus. Instead, she said, “With so many couplets, who draws the unbeatable one is a matter of luck and has nothing to do with others.”

She neither sided with Lin Yuejiao nor Lin Qingxu. As the only remaining daughter of the fourth branch, Lin Zijing had always maintained a neutral stance and never meddled in the affairs of the other three branches.

Lin Xueshu had wanted her to join in defending Lin Qingxu but was displeased by her words. She glared at her but, constrained by her position as the old matriarch’s attendant, dared not say more and could only wear a concerned expression and say again, “Sister Xu, we understand why you blame Fourth Sister. But since it’s come to this, you should go home.”

Lin Qingxu, stung by their words, grew even angrier and more resentful of Lin Yuejiao. Lin Yuejiao merely glanced at the three women watching this farce unfold.

“I don’t care, I’m not going back. It’s all because Lin Yuejiao caused me to draw the unbeatable couplet. Lin Yuejiao, you must switch with me,” Lin Qingxu said stubbornly and unreasonably.

Lin Yuejiao’s lips curved into a smile. “Second sister, I certainly hope you can participate in the literary gathering. But switching is impossible—that’s the rule.”

“You only know how to say fancy words. If you really want me to join, then switch with me,” Lin Qingxu’s beautiful eyes blazed with fiery resentment. She had been ready to make a splash at the gathering, only to have Lin Yuejiao ruin everything. She was so agitated she nearly lost her reason.

Then Lin Yuejiao looked toward Si Chengyu and said, “Young Master Si, may I respond to this couplet on behalf of my second sister?”

“Will you respond?” Si Chengyu was surprised.

Lin Yuejiao smiled. “My grandmother always taught us that sisters must advance and retreat together, taking care of one another. Today, my second sister unfortunately drew the unbeatable couplet, but I have some skill in poetry and couplet matching. I hope to respond to this couplet on her behalf. If Young Master Si finds my response passable, please allow my second sister to participate in this literary gathering.”

Lin Qingxu was stunned. What?

Before Si Chengyu could answer, Wen Zeye, now intrigued, spoke loudly, “I agree. Miss Lin the Fourth is kind and loyal. I am the first to support you. Come on, tell us—what’s your response?”

He was curious to hear the couplet Lin Yuejiao had composed.

Others also expressed their support. Si Chengyu knew that if he rejected such a display of sisterly affection, he would be criticized for being heartless. He smiled and said, “Though this isn’t exactly by the book, just as Mulan once took her father’s place in war, now Miss Lin the Fourth responds for her sister. It’s a charming story that deserves to be fulfilled. If Miss Lin the Fourth can match the couplet, it will count as Miss Lin Qingxu’s success.”

“My response is: ‘The village temple bell tolls deep into the night,’” Lin Yuejiao said, lifting the couplet, lips pressed into a smile.

When Lin Qingxu spoke the first line, Lin Yuejiao had already recalled something.

This unbeatable couplet was famously broken by someone three years later and became widely known throughout the Dazhao Dynasty.

But at this moment, three years prior, it remained unmatched.

For a moment, the entire hall fell silent, all eyes fixed on Lin Yuejiao.