Perhaps she realized that her previous aggressive attitude had displeased most of the Yanbei girls, so Yan Ningshuang showed her grace this time, letting Ren Yaoqi ask the questions first and she would answer with the source.
Ren Yaoqi also wanted to test the depth of this Miss Yan, so he didn't refuse. After a brief thought, he said, "What future generations hope for is to live up to the natural order. Farmers and workers will be well-off, and men and women will have food and clothing. The people will be rich, and the officials will have official positions..."
Before Ren Yaoqi could finish, Yan Ningshuang interrupted him, saying, "It's from the 'Mu Tianzi Biography.'" She glanced at Ren Yaoqi and curled her lips. "Your turn. 'A golden platform rises a hundred feet from the sea, its structure exquisite and beautiful, the work of divine craftsmanship. Its light shines across the rocks and islets, its brightness shimmering like the Milky Way.' Where did that line come from?"
Ren Yaoqi answered quickly: "From the Netherworld Record."
Yan Ningshuang was a little surprised. "Records of the Underworld" was a strange novel, and she didn't expect that Ren Yaoqi would read it too.
Then the two of them asked each other questions. In order to test Yan Ningshuang's background, Ren Yaoqi selected various books such as history books, classics, travel notes, geography, etc. To Ren Yaoqi's surprise, Yan Ningshuang could actually tell her the sources. Although the books she tested were all common, it was very good for Yan Ningshuang to have read all of them and remember them at her age. No wonder Yan Ningshuang dared to compete with her in such a big tone.
Yan Ningshuang, intent on defeating Ren Yaoqi, even examined astronomical calendars, medical texts, pharmacopoeias, Buddhist scriptures, and other texts. But what shocked Yan Ningshuang was that no matter how unconventional her sentences were, Ren Yaoqi could actually answer them. She herself had a photographic memory, so she had memorized every book in her study. Whether or not he could understand her was secondary; she didn't believe Ren Yaoqi had the same ability! But as they stood face to face, it was clear that Ren Yaoqi couldn't cheat.
The two of them chatted back and forth, while the people below watched with gusto. Aside from the three adults, everyone present was female. Some of the titles Ren Yaoqi and Yan Ningshuang were talking about were unfamiliar to them, yet these two could recite them fluently, easily reciting a paragraph or a sentence.
Ren Yaoqi and Yan Ningshuang were able to answer each other's questions because the collections in both Pei Zhiyan's and the Yan family's studies encompassed most of the books currently available. Pei Zhiyan's study was particularly popular, as many people decorated their rooms after Imperial Master Pei's collection. Unless it was a rare and inaccessible copy, they wouldn't show it to anyone.
It was almost noon, and the two still hadn't decided the winner. Neither could stump the other. The princess looked at the sky and discussed with Madam Xu, "Can you think of a way to decide the winner quickly?"
Pei Zhiyan, who was sitting nearby, heard their conversation and said leisurely, "I do have a way to help them decide the winner quickly."
The princess smiled and said, "Mr. Pei, what ideas do you have? Why not tell me?"
Upon hearing this, Ren Yaoqi and Yan Ningshuang also looked at Pei Zhiyan.
Pei Zhiyan smiled slightly and asked Ren Yaoqi and Yan Ningshuang, "Are both of you familiar with Qiu Yang Miscellaneous Stories?"
Just now, Yan Ningshuang had asked Ren Yaoqi to guess a line from "Qiuyang Miscellaneous Stories," which was why Pei Zhiyan had asked this question. This book, "Qiuyang Miscellaneous Stories," wasn't a masterpiece; it was simply a collection of essays written by an old scholar from the previous dynasty on customs and geography, calligraphy and painting, singing and dancing, and the arts of flowers, birds, fish, and insects.
Ren Yaoqi said, "I can't say I've read it thoroughly, but I've glanced at it briefly."
Yan Ningshuang glanced at Ren Yaoqi and said, "I've also taken a quick look at it."
Pei Zhiyan nodded and said with a smile, "That's fair. I'll ask a question about this book. Whoever answers it wins."
Pei Zhiyan looked at Ren Yaoqi. It was Yan Ningshuang who had asked the question. Miss Yan had taken the initiative, so strictly speaking, Ren Yaoqi had suffered a loss. The other two adults and the nanny sent by the Queen Mother had no objections.
Ren Yaoqi didn't care when he heard this. He bowed his head and said respectfully, "I have no objection."
Although Yan Ningshuang appeared to have the upper hand, she didn't show any joy on her face. She was already sweating. She had originally thought that her extensive reading would easily defeat Ren Yaoqi, but she hadn't expected him to be so formidable. Now Pei Zhiyan was asking for a challenge. Although she believed Pei Zhiyan wouldn't help Ren Yaoqi plot against her, Yan Ningshuang remained cautious about anything she wasn't sure of.
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