Chapter 224: Wrestling! (Part 1)
Ye Duo smiled and told Li An Ning what happened just now. Li An Ning was very interested and said with a smile: "I didn't expect that you could write couplets! It just so happens that Xiao Wang also likes this! One of the servants beside me is good at writing couplets. Why not take advantage of the birthday of the old man to discuss with everyone What do you think, Lord Ye?"
Since the young prince said so, the officials present naturally applauded. Ye Duo was still hesitant, but seeing that everyone was very excited, he had no choice but to agree.
Li Anning smiled and pressed his hands. When everyone quieted down, he said, "If it's just a simple couplet, it's really boring! How about this - Xiao Wang will offer a prize and use Mr. Bo Hu's "Picture of Mountains"! However, Lord Ye, you have to offer a prize too -"
While speaking, Li An Ning also glanced at Ye Lingshuang who had been standing beside Old Madam Ye, and then said with a smile: "If Lord Ye loses, please ask Miss Ye to accept Xiao Wang's painting!"
At first glance, it seems that Li An Ning will give a painting to others regardless of winning or losing, but after careful consideration, it is not the case. Originally, Ye Lingshuang had clearly rejected Li An Ning's "good intentions", but Li An Ning took this opportunity to force the painting to Ye Lingshuang, which is really asking for something against her will.
In the entire Northern Tang Kingdom, Tang Yin's calligraphy and painting were the most famous. When everyone heard that the young prince actually used Tang Yin's "Picture of Mountains" as the prize, they immediately became excited.
Jiang Chengfeng was very disdainful. This "Picture of Mountains" did not have the seal of Old Man Tang. But his "Picture of Smoke and Waves" did have the seal of Old Man Tang, and it was more valuable than "Picture of Mountains"!
Even a cunning man like Ye Duo was in a dilemma. On the surface, the prince of Liang was playing with couplets, but secretly he was plotting against his daughter. If he lost, then -
Li An Ning did not give Ye Duo much time to think. He waved his hand and a middle-aged scholar in white stepped forward and said to the crowd, "I am Zhang Quanshu, the president of the Northern Academy Association!"
What is the Northern Academy Association? There is also a president? Why does it sound like some kind of crusade in later generations! Also, this guy's name is too funny - Zhang Quanshu, this name is too unlucky!
Seeing Jiang Chengfeng's dumbfounded expression, Shen Ruoyan knew that he didn't know this Zhang Quanshu. She pulled his sleeve and whispered, "This Northern Academy Association is a book club-like organization spontaneously formed by scholars and candidates from the five northern provinces of Northern Tang. There are a lot of people in it! It can be said that every year, as long as the top scorer in the imperial examination comes from the north, he must be a member of this association!"
"And this Zhang Quanshu is the leader of this association. Although he is only a small scholar now and has no higher title, he is very good at couplets and is known as the best couplet writer in Northern Tang!"
Jiang Chengfeng couldn't help but roll his eyes. What is the president of the Northern Academy Association? To put it bluntly, isn't he just the president of the student union? Why is he so arrogant?
Zhang Quanshu stood proudly, bowed to everyone present and said: "Today, I will compete against all the talents from the south, and there is no limit to the number of opponents. I accept all of them!"
When he said this, all the southern scholars present were immediately furious. This was a blatant provocation!
The arrogant Zhu Kewei's face flushed, and he was the first to jump out. He sneered and clasped his fists and said, "I am Huayang Zhu Kewei, and I would like to ask Mr. Zhang for advice!"
Zhang Quanshu glanced at Zhu Kewei and said with a smile, "May I ask if this young brother Zhu has any achievements?"
Zhu Kewei also raised his head and said, "I'm waiting for the next spring exam!"
"So, what kind of official position does this young brother Zhu want to hold?"
"Of course, he's going to be the Prime Minister!"
Zhang Quanshu laughed and said, "At the age of sixty, he is still considered a child. He can be said to be long-lived!"
To put it bluntly, this couplet is actually a satire on Zhu Kewei. Even if he passed the exam until he was 60, he might not be able to pass the imperial examination, let alone become a noble or a prime minister. Besides, this couplet itself is difficult. It not only requires neatness, but also the ability to satirize back is the key.
Zhu Kewei was obviously aware of the ins and outs of this. His face suddenly turned red and he stood there, not knowing what to do.
Ye Lingshuang frowned and thought, but she had no idea. She secretly glanced at Jiang Chengfeng, but saw that the latter turned his head to look out the window. She couldn't help feeling a little disappointed.
Ye Duo sighed. He didn't expect to lose the first game. Just as he was about to admit defeat, he suddenly heard someone ask loudly, "Excuse me, is Mr. Zhang a scholar?"
Zhang Quanshu glared at him and found that the person who spoke was a little servant in black clothes and a black hat with a sneer on his face. He couldn't help but get even more angry. Although he was known as the best couplet writer in the world, he only had the title of a scholar. He failed the imperial examination three times in a row, which was his biggest regret and pain. Now, someone ruthlessly opened his scar, revealing the bloody flesh inside. How could he not be angry?
After taking a deep breath, Zhang Quanshu pretended to be calm and nodded: "That's right!"
Jiang Chengfeng pushed Zhu Kewei back to sit on the chair, then looked at Zhang Quanshu with a smile and said, "You are the president of the Northern Academy Association, so I will represent the president of the Southern Six Provinces Academy Association to make a couplet. You are still not familiar with the Five Classics at an old age, you are worthy of being a scholar!"
"Great!" As soon as Jiang Chengfeng finished speaking, Young Master Zhao stood up and applauded, followed by others. Zhu Kewei also stood up and applauded excitedly. This was the first time he felt that Jiang Dazhu was still very cute!
Just now Zhang Quanshu mocked Zhu Kewei for having no talent, but Jiang Chengfeng's second couplet used the most vivid example to prove who has no talent.
It can be said that Zhang Quanshu shot himself in the foot and immediately lost face. Just as he was about to retort, he heard Jiang Chengfeng say with a smile: "Mr. Zhang, things like couplets are just a pure entertainment activity. Why get angry?"
Zhang Quanshu was not convinced, snorted coldly, and came up with another couplet, saying: "The mountains and rivers under the pen help to make it magnificent--"
Jiang Chengfeng immediately chanted: "The wind and moon in front of the building have been there since the Spring and Autumn Period!"
After reading it, he felt something was not right. Why did he feel like he had seen this couplet somewhere before?
Zhang Quanshu was a little anxious. He glanced at the rockery and pool outside and sneered, "Green mountains are not painted for thousands of years—"
Jiang Chengfeng frowned slightly. This was a subtle satire on Old Fox Ye! But Old Fox Ye lowered his head at this time, as if he didn't understand at all.
Jiang Chengfeng smiled bitterly and said, "The flowing water has no strings, and the eternal zither is like this—"
This couplet once again opened up Zhang Quanshu's old wounds, which could be considered as revenge for the old fox Ye.
Zhang Quanshu was so angry that he gnashed his teeth, but he couldn't get angry. He glanced outside the hall and found that there were many scholars from Jiangnan crowded outside the gate. He couldn't help but sneer: "Open the pomegranate, there are many sour people inside the rich family!"
"Peel the pear and you'll see a little person in white clothes!" Jiang Chengfeng said sarcastically.
