Yelü Guzha's pupils dilated in shock; clearly, Gu Jinghui's actions were unexpected.

Gu Jinghui stood with his hands behind his back and his feet slightly apart, calmly waiting for him to give an answer in public.

But how do you explain that?

The hostage prince of the Yelü clan signed a life-or-death pact with a group of young women, but the reason could not be made public.

If this were to be said, I fear that all the scholars of the Great Xing Dynasty would condemn him.

Scholars are traditionally known for their high moral character and love of reputation; even when it comes to dirty deeds like corruption, they can find elegant excuses. Their curses will continue for years and will come in many different forms, which is very detrimental to his plans to win over the court officials.

Yelü Guzha felt as if he were being roasted over a fire.

It was an especially agonizing ordeal.

"How come Gu Jinghui, this military man, has started to play tricks on scholars?"

He was greatly puzzled.

Outside the arena, Qin Siyuan suddenly raised his arm and shouted, "Yes, why did the Yelü family hostage make a life-or-death pact with the young ladies who came to watch the poetry contest? We came here after hearing the news, but we don't know the reason. May I ask the Yelü family hostage to explain it to the public so that we, the spectators, can know the reason?"

Qin Heng hurriedly followed, shouting, "If there's nothing shameful about it, then naturally you wouldn't be afraid to tell everyone. Yelü Clan hostage, you speak up, and let us all judge this."

The students of the Imperial Academy naturally wanted to help their side, and they all agreed, saying, "Yes, yes, tell us why."

The Yelü clansmen said, "Are you all sore losers? It's so late, why aren't you continuing to play? Instead, you're here saying irrelevant things. If you don't want to play or are afraid to play, just say so."

Hearing the clamor of arguments outside, Lord Gu whispered provocatively, "What? You're too scared to speak up? You're capable of doing anything, so why are you afraid to say anything? Are you afraid you'll lose face and be unable to continue fighting if you do?"

Lord Gu's words subtly provoked Yelü Guzha's defenses, causing him to lose his composure. Yelü Guzha shouted, "The people of Daxing are going back on their word. If they don't want to compete, fine, but aren't they just afraid of death and defeat? Just say it! We Yelü clan are already defeated by Marquis Dingbei. Do you still dare to displease Marquis Dingbei?"

The words had barely left his mouth.

The crowd immediately erupted in boos from both the players and the audience.

Qin Siyuan shouted, "Are you so guilty? Did the hostage deliberately trick the young ladies into signing the death waiver? Everyone is here now, no one can lie, why don't you dare to speak? Isn't the hostage afraid that even if he wins, people will still talk behind his back?"

Qin Heng chimed in, "Yes, yes, we have an old saying in Daxing: 'If you haven't done anything wrong, you have nothing to fear.' We only asked you to explain why the two sides became enemies and signed a life-or-death agreement, and you dared not even say that. It seems there's definitely something fishy going on. We're all from Daxing; we can't just stand by and watch the Yelü clan bully us!"

The guards immediately echoed, "Yes, make it clear! We can't stand by and watch our own people be bullied!"

The situation gradually spiraled out of control.

Yelü Guzha forced a smile and said, "Since Marquis Dingbei is worried about his sister and doesn't want to compete, we won't put up with it. We won't compete, and this life-or-death agreement... will be void."

He was about to tear up the life-or-death agreement in his hand when he said that.

Gu Jinghui said, "How can you tear this up? The life-or-death agreement has already been signed, and the competition isn't over yet, right?"

With a flick of his finger, a fine needle flew out and struck Yelü Guzha's wrist.

Suddenly, I felt a numb and painful sensation in my wrist, so painful that I couldn't hold the thin paper with my fingers.

Yelü Guzha watched helplessly as the paper gently floated down and landed between Gu Jinghui's strong, slender fingers.

"Since you don't want to keep it anymore, I'd better do it."

Lord Gu chuckled and withdrew his hand, waving the contract in front of him.

Yelü Guzha's face turned pale, and his expression as he looked at Lord Gu was filled with fear and shame.

Lord Gu raised his arm above his head, waved the contract in his hand, and said loudly, "Everyone can be my witnesses. Yelü Guzha has handed the contract to me. The contract is still valid, and the game must still be played to a result. Now that the contract, which concerns the lives of so many people, is in my possession, I must find out the whole story clearly."

Everyone said, "Yes, Marquis Dingbei is right. We all want to know the truth."

Large beads of sweat streamed down Yelü Guzha's face, soaking the front of his clothes.

The robe looked rather out of place on him.

Now he looks even more sloppy.

Yelü Guzha managed to calm himself down, then spread his arms high to signal everyone to be quiet.

But no one in Daxing listened to him.

Gu Jinghui suddenly whistled, the sound echoing through the sky, as sharp as tearing silk.

Everyone then quieted down.

Yelü Guzha glanced gratefully at Lord Gu and said loudly, "This dispute arose because my Yelü clan members, after reading the poems submitted to the poetry contest, felt that they were not as lively and melodious as our Yelü clan's folk songs. As a result, they argued with the seventh young lady of the Dingbei Marquis's mansion and several other noble ladies. The two sides were heated at the time, and neither side would give in. In a moment of anger, they agreed to settle the matter with a polo match and signed a life-or-death contract. If you all feel this is inappropriate, this contract can be voided."

He figured out how to avoid the important issues and focus on the trivial.

Gu Baozhu could no longer hold back and was about to argue: "That's not what you said back then. You said that people from the Central Plains like to write things with five or seven characters. What can a few characters accomplish? We say that the ancient sages and worthies all did this..."

Before he could finish speaking, the youngest daughter of the Minister of Personnel covered his mouth and said, "Let me add a few words: This Yelü hostage said that the poems displayed on the poetry wall to defend the contest are worthless. He also said that Qin Juren's poems are so bad that he's not even worthy of carrying his shoes. I'm afraid that Young Master Nantang and Master Songshan would have to kneel down and beg to become his disciples. Qin Jijiu's poems..."

Considering the students, the youngest daughter of the Minister of Personnel paused before saying, "His arrogance is truly unbearable. We are not talented, but we have studied for a few years, know a few words, and have a slight understanding of the quality of poetry. So please don't spout nonsense. If he has such great talent, why not compose a few poems to compete with him?"

Upon hearing this, the crowd booed.

These days, whenever they have free time, everyone goes to take a look at the poetry wall.

Among so many poems, it is already widely acknowledged that the works of Mr. Songshan and Mr. Nantang are of superior quality.

And Qin Jijiu has always been respected by students...

Some people mocked, "When I was studying, I didn't understand what it meant to be a monkey dressed in a hat, but now I do. A barbarian wears a long robe and thinks he is the reincarnation of the Poet Saint. Isn't that exactly what it means?"

Some were even more direct, saying, "You can't win a war, but you're not afraid of blowing your own horn too far."

Qin Heng rolled his eyes and said loudly, "Ladies and gentlemen, I am a primary school student from the outer dormitory. I have only recently learned to write poetry. Just now, on a whim, I wrote a doggerel called 'Satirizing Yelü the Hostage'."