Baozhu gently tugged at Lin Hao’s sleeve and whispered, “Miss, it’s Young Master Han.”

Lin Hao looked at Han Baocheng, her eyes showing amusement.

Someone willing to offer a sincere heart even in her elder sister’s situation—she found him agreeable to look at.

If Young Master Han was here, then—Lin Hao looked in the direction Han Baocheng had come from and indeed spotted her cousin Wen Feng in the crowd.

Could the friend Young Master Han mentioned be her cousin?

This thought flashed by and was quickly dismissed.

Based on her understanding of her cousin, with the dignity of Great Zhou scholars at stake, if her cousin could compose a matching couplet, he would have stepped forward long ago rather than remaining unmoved.

That friend should be the top scholar Yang Zhe.

Lin Hao looked a few more times in that direction but didn’t discover Yang Zhe’s figure. Instead, Wen Feng noticed her.

Wen Feng showed surprise and squeezed through the crowd to Lin Hao’s side.

“Ah Hao, you’re here too.”

“I came out to buy some things and saw it was lively here, so I came to look. Are you and Young Master Han just the two of you, Eleventh Elder Brother?”

Wen Feng’s tone was somewhat helpless. “Yes, but Brother Han has already sent a servant to fetch Scholar Yang.”

Lin Hao couldn’t help but smile. “That’s something Young Master Han would do.”

Wen Feng’s heart stirred.

It seemed Ah Hao had a good impression of Brother Han. If so, Brother Han would very likely get his wish.

Wen Feng wanted to ask about Lin Chan’s health, but was drawn away by the Yuliu people’s mocking laughter.

Like the onlookers, several Yuliu people thought Han Baocheng was bragging. One of them asked with a laugh, “Where is your friend?”

“My friend will arrive shortly.”

“He’s not here?” The Yuliu people exchanged glances and laughed even louder.

The watching crowd couldn’t help complaining.

“How unreliable is this person! His friend isn’t even here, yet he brags on his behalf.”

“Exactly! Isn’t this rushing to let the Yuliu people mock us?”

Amid the chorus of criticism, a young man became excited. “I’ve seen him—he’s last year’s newly appointed metropolitan graduate!”

A newly appointed metropolitan graduate?

The discussion stopped, and soon someone refuted, “Even a newly appointed metropolitan graduate is useless. Just now, weren’t several newly appointed metropolitan graduates defeated after competing with the Yuliu people?”

The young man clenched his fists tightly, restraining his excitement. “His friend is Top Scholar Yang!”

Those who heard became excited.

Last year during the parade on Imperial Street, they had all witnessed the top scholar’s magnificence on his tall horse. That was the Star of Literature descending to earth—even now they still remembered the thunderous drums and gongs and the large banner held high proclaiming “Triple First Place.”

That was truly a glorious scene rarely seen in decades.

“That’s right! When the top scholar comes, he’ll definitely make the Yuliu people lose face!”

People suddenly gained confidence, sweeping away their earlier indignation and embarrassment as they eagerly awaited the top scholar’s arrival.

“Tianming, what are you all doing?”

Seeing the newcomer, the laughing Yuliu people all performed salutes.

The Yuliu Prince walked over, his tone revealing curiosity. “Can someone tell me what happened? Why are there so many people?”

One person laughed proudly. “Prince, we competed with Great Zhou scholars in matching couplets, but who knew their talent was so mediocre—not one could compose a match.”

As he said this, the others laughed again.

The Yuliu Prince assumed a disapproving expression. “You mustn’t act this way. We are guests and should be courteous to our hosts.”

“We weren’t discourteous at all. They’re the ones who always think our Yuliu can’t compare and that their literary talent is number one under heaven.”

“Enough, don’t say so much. Come with me back to the guest house.”

The several people showed regret and reluctantly agreed.

Seeing them about to leave, the watching crowd became unwilling instead.

“Don’t leave—the person for the couplet contest is arriving soon!”

“Are you not daring to stay because you heard our top scholar is coming?”

It wasn’t that the onlookers were fanning the flames—if these Yuliu people really left today, Great Zhou’s face would be utterly lost. But when the top scholar arrived, there would still be a chance to hold their heads high and feel proud.

Hearing these shouts, the Yuliu people who were about to leave stopped moving. “Prince, listen—they’re saying we don’t have the courage to stay.”

The Yuliu Prince’s brows furrowed and his expression darkened. “Since that’s the case, let’s wait a bit then.”

“He’s coming, he’s coming!”

Someone shouted, and the crowd consciously parted to make a path. A young man wearing a moon-white scholar’s robe walked over.

The youth had features like a painting and a posture like a pine tree. Though people accompanied him, in everyone’s eyes they could only see him alone.

“The top scholar, it’s the top scholar!” people shouted excitedly.

Princess Lingque, wearing a veiled hat and standing quietly among the Yuliu group, gazed intently at the newcomer through her sheer veil with her beautiful eyes.

So he was Great Zhou’s top scholar.

So this was what Princess Yi’an’s husband looked like.

She raised her hand to adjust the sheer veil covering her pointed chin and smiled slightly.

“Brother Yang, you’ve finally come.” Seeing Yang Zhe arrive, Han Baocheng breathed a sigh of relief.

Just now he had really worried that these shameless Yuliu people would leave like this. He knew his good friend’s talent all too well—not letting the Yuliu people witness it would be too stifling.

The Yuliu Prince looked at the approaching youth and couldn’t help but have a thought flash through his mind: Could my younger sister purely have taken a liking to the top scholar as a person?

No, no, my younger sister hadn’t even seen this Scholar Yang before.

The Yuliu Prince was unwilling to admit that even he, a grown man, had nearly been won over by Great Zhou’s top scholar’s bearing. He hurriedly dismissed these stray thoughts. “At the banquet that day, this prince saw you.”

Yang Zhe introduced himself with a calm expression and looked at the several Yuliu people. “I heard there was an interesting matter of a couplet contest here. Might Yang be permitted to participate?”

The Yuliu scholars, upon hearing this, became secretly annoyed.

This was clearly a literary battle between two countries—how had it become a mere “interesting matter” in this person’s mouth? With one sentence, he had relegated today’s contest to the status of vulgar play. This Great Zhou top scholar was truly detestable.

They thought of the prince’s earlier instruction that they must ultimately let this person win and became even more frustrated.

“Naturally you may.” A Yuliu scholar said in a heavy voice.

Yang Zhe smiled and cupped his hands. “Please state the upper couplet.”

“Listen well. The upper couplet is: South boats pass, north boats pass, south-north boats pass connecting south-north.”

“East pawnshop, west pawnshop, east-west pawnshops pawn east-west.” Yang Zhe gave the lower couplet without hesitation.

He matched it! The crowd immediately erupted in cheers.

The Yuliu scholars’ expressions grew somewhat grave.

For the distinguished Great Zhou top scholar to match it wasn’t frightening—what was frightening was the other party’s speed.

“River-Viewing Tower, viewing river flow, beneath River-Viewing Tower viewing river flow, river tower for a thousand ages, river flow for a thousand ages.”

“Moon-Reflecting Well, reflecting moon’s shadow, within Moon-Reflecting Well reflecting moon’s shadow, moon well for ten thousand years, moon’s shadow for ten thousand years.”

“Excellent!”

Amid the deafening cheers, the Yuliu scholars broke into sweat on their foreheads, finally realizing how quick-witted the youth before them was.

Just then, the young lady wearing a veiled hat stepped forward from the crowd. A soft, gentle voice rang out. “I also have a couplet. Please, Top Scholar, provide the lower couplet.”

Yang Zhe courteously cupped his hands, his tone warm. “Miss, please state the upper couplet.”

Princess Lingque stared intently at the youth and parted her vermilion lips slightly. “The upper couplet is: Because of lotus, one obtains lotus root.”

Yang Zhe answered without hesitation. “With apricot, no need for plum.”

Princess Lingque smiled broadly. “Top Scholar matched it truly well.”

Wen Feng, standing beside Lin Hao, murmured repeatedly, “Because of lotus, one obtains lotus root; with apricot, no need for plum—”

His expression suddenly changed.