Chapter 257 Competition
The bet proposed by Qu Ling poured cold water on all those who wanted to provoke Mo Yu today.
It turns out that to compete with the champion, there must be decent stakes.
The rising student's cheeks flushed red under the gaze of everyone.
He is now in a difficult situation.
If he backed down, he would be looked down upon, and he was reluctant to give up the bet given by the princess.
But what if...
He pondered Qu Ling's intention over and over again in his mind, and the more he thought about it, the more he felt that the princess must want to scare him away.
When this thought came to his mind, he breathed a sigh of relief.
The temptation of going to the Imperial College is too great.
Besides, he had studied hard for many years and would not lose to a woman from the countryside.
He has always believed in the rumors among the people.
Mo Yu is the tool used by Your Majesty to implement policies.
What kind of talent can one have?
"I do."
His heart was beating fast, and he made up his mind, "I'm willing to bet my future on it."
As long as he defeats Mo Yu, he can completely change his fate.
Qu Ling clapped his hands and laughed, "Okay, you did this voluntarily, and everyone here is a witness. I didn't force you.
The student bowed and said, "I am willing to learn from you, Miss Mo."
Pei Jingming, who was watching the show, pointed at him and said, "You should call her Mo Jieyuan or Miss. I think you are very disrespectful to her."
The student was stunned for a moment, and did not dare to refute. He lowered his head and responded.
The bet is set, and the competition is about to begin.
Mo Yu stood up and calmly asked the student, "What are you best at? I can compete with you in something you're good at."
This was undoubtedly a humiliation for the student.
"What do you mean?"
The student was stung, and his voice suddenly rose, "Do you think I need you to give in?"
"Not Jean."
Mo Yu was very serious. "After all, if you lose, your future will be ruined and your body will be crippled. If I lose, I will just get gossip, but no real loss."
These words made the students feel like they were bleeding.
How could she be so sure that she would lose?
Where does she get her confidence from?
“No need!”
The student gritted his teeth, anger rising in his heart, "I have studied hard for many years and read a lot of books. I don't need you to give in."
Mo Yu nodded seriously, "Okay."
The student bowed to Chi Yuan and said, "I heard that the prince consort is from the Hanlin Academy, so I asked him to set the questions."
He wanted to make Mo Yu admit defeat with conviction.
Chi Yuan did not refuse, he stood up, and said gently, "There is no need to deliberately ask questions."
He asked people to bring a hundred classics from the academy's library and selected two candidates.
"The rules are simple. Two candidates pick up a book, open a page at random, pick a sentence, read the first sentence, and you two write the second sentence on paper until the winner is determined."
Many people gasped.
This is a test of one's familiarity with the classics, history, and literature, and is extremely difficult.
"These are required readings for the imperial examinations, so it's fair to both of you."
Set out the pen, ink, paper and inkstone.
After Mo Yu and the students took their seats, the competition began.
Everyone held their breath.
Those people who were busy eating also put down their food for a while.
The two candidates flipped through more than a dozen books in succession. Mo Yu always wrote calmly, his handwriting was neat, and there was no mistake.
And he was always faster than that student.
The student could still cope at first, but later his forehead began to sweat and his writing became messy.
The two scholars who were studying first selected some familiar classics and poems.
Seeing that they couldn't decide the winner, and fearing that the princess would feel bored, they exchanged glances, picked up an obscure book, opened a page, and recited a sentence that even they both found unfamiliar.
Mo Yu continued to write as if possessed by God, submitted his answer, and looked relaxed.
The student was stuck. He held the pen and thought hard, but couldn't write a single word for a long time.
"Time's up."
As the time for answering the questions ended, the student was shaky and looked dazed, "I lost?"
He couldn't accept it.
"No... Impossible."
He slammed the table and stood up. "How can mere memorization prove genuine knowledge? It's all rote memorization."
Qu Ling was stunned for a moment, but he didn't react immediately. Instead, he turned to the oldest gentleman in the academy and asked, "Who do you think will win or lose between these two?"
The white-haired old man stood up tremblingly and bowed deeply to Mo Yu. "Mo Jieyuan is well-read and knowledgeable. He is admirable."
He looked at the student and sighed, "As the Book of Rites says, the way of a gentleman is to be indifferent but not disgusted. Admitting defeat is also the way of a gentleman."
"I don't accept it."
The student yelled hysterically.
To hell with the gentlemanly demeanor.
How can he still walk in the world with dignity after losing to a woman?
"Su Shang."
Qu Ling called out lightly.
Su Shang instantly flashed to the student's side, unsheathed his sword, and waited for the order.
Everyone present had a solemn expression on their faces.
"If you're willing to gamble, you have to accept defeat."
Qu Ling's smile didn't reach his eyes. "This is something we both agreed to."
"Princess, please calm down," a young man who was on good terms with the student stepped forward and pleaded, "A literary competition is all about elegance. If you lose, just give them a small punishment and a big warning. Why actually hurt them?"
Qu Ling's face darkened. "If you are willing to take the punishment for him, I will let him go."
If you let it go easily, what else will happen?
The young man who was begging for mercy was stunned for a moment.
Take the punishment for someone else?
That won't work.
Those who were about to plead together swallowed their words back in an instant.
No one spoke anymore.
Only then did the student realize that he was in real trouble.
"Princess, spare my life!"
The cold sword edge made him feel cold all over.
"The student is arrogant. Please forgive me, Princess."
Several gentlemen in the academy showed a flash of pity in their eyes.
I feel that the princess is a little unkind.
"You are not arrogant, you are completely without reverence."
Qu Ling sneered, "Don't I know what you're thinking?"
"There have been a lot of rumors circulating among the people lately. You dare to speak out, which means you believe them. You also think that Mo Yu won the title of Jieyuan because the court missed a question, or that the court specifically singled her out."
She swept her eyes over all the scholars present. "Do you think I held the Luming Banquet to quell the rumors?"
Everyone whose thoughts were guessed looked embarrassed.
Qu Ling added, "You are not as skilled as others, so you spread rumors and slander them. You are also very self-righteous and think the court owes you an explanation."
She pointed at the row of Yangzhou officials and said, "Which of these gentlemen is not famous for their imperial examinations? Ask them how many years they endured to be qualified to appear at this banquet."
She was furious. "Scholars from Jiangnan are just like this. They are a disgrace to scholars. If I had known this would happen, I would have let you all die at the hands of the rebels on the day of the chaos in the Imperial Examination Hall."
The students who were scolded so harshly were so ashamed that they wanted to find a place to hide.
He also remembered the princess's life-saving grace.
They all knelt down and said, "We will study hard in the future and never have any crooked thoughts again."
The gentlemen who had wanted to plead for mercy also shut up.
Princess Jia'an is really tall.
To describe a competition as questioning the imperial court.
The crime can be serious or minor.
It’s better not to get into trouble.
The student felt desperate.
Knowing that no one would plead for him anymore, he suddenly turned to Mo Yu and said, "Mo Jieyuan, I have no intention of offending you. Please be kind and forgive me this time."
Mo Yu looked at him quietly and shook his head.
"If I plead for you, I will be betraying the princess's protection of me."
Qu Ling nodded approvingly.
Although Mo Yu has a cold personality, he is a sensible person.
"After all, this is a banquet, don't dirty the place and disturb everyone's enjoyment."
"Drag it further away before you chop it down."
The guards lifted up the limp student and dragged him out.
All the guests were silent.
Only after hearing the wailing sound did Qu Ling raise his glass in satisfaction, "Mo Jieyuan, I toast you a glass."
"Princess, please."
Mo Yu's eyes sparkled.
Qu Ling drank it all in one gulp and said, "If anyone among you thinks that they are more talented than Mo Yu, you can continue the competition."
Everyone wanted to bury their heads under the table.
No more comparison.
The previous match was enough to show that Mo Yu was indeed extraordinary.
The student who was dragged away was already a leader in the academy and was said to have read all the books in the academy.
That's why he is so confident.
In fact, this competition was not that fair to Mo Yu.
That student was a student of Tongjiang College, but Mo Yu was not.
It is very likely that there are books that Mo Yu has not read.
Many people have thought about this.
But no one said it.
Even so, Mo Yu still won.
To be honest, those who are dissatisfied with Mo Yu are not so upright.
For a moment, everyone felt complicated.
Chi Yuan smiled as he poured wine for Qu Ling and whispered, "Killing a chicken to scare the monkeys?"
Qu Ling pursed his lips and smiled, "The monkey I want to warn is not them."
The sound of stringed instruments began to play, and no one mentioned the student who had just been dragged away and had his hands chopped off anymore.
After finally restoring the harmonious atmosphere of the banquet, Qu Ling suddenly spoke, "The previous headmaster of Tongjiang Academy has passed away. I have received an imperial decree to select a new headmaster for Tongjiang Academy."
Nian Zhaoyun suddenly sat up straight, like a rooster with high fighting spirit.
Here it comes.
The moment he had been waiting for had finally arrived.
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