"Kid, there's one last couplet left. If you can't come up with a matching one, or if you can't come up with a good one, you lose! I'm going to cripple you!"
"You dare to steal my woman? This time, I'll not only take your two legs, but also your third, so you can never touch a woman again!"
Ma Biao's eyes were full of threat, and he gritted his teeth. If it weren't for this bastard, he would have already taken the beauty in his arms, rushed into Bai Ruyan's boudoir, and galloped freely on those snow-white mountains.
But upon hearing this, Anfu couldn't hold back any longer and shouted angrily, "How dare you! How dare you be so arrogant! Don't you want to live?!"
Anfu was furious; he would never allow anyone to insult the Emperor like this in front of him!
Ma Biao, however, was not afraid at all and sneered repeatedly.
"You old geezer, how dare you speak to me like that? What, do you not want your tongue anymore?"
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Ma Biao's men all drew their daggers in unison, their blades gleaming coldly.
The scene fell silent immediately; everyone was terrified and dared not utter a sound.
These ruthless and heartless people are truly capable of killing!
"Damn it! How dare you..." An Fu immediately screamed in anger, but Qin Yu pulled him down from the side, his face calm and his voice indifferent.
"Isn't there one last couplet? No need to rush, step back."
"Good lad, you're arrogant enough! I hope you can maintain this haughty attitude when you're begging for mercy on your knees later!"
Ma Biao's eyes were sinister as he glared maliciously at Qin Yu. He then said coldly, "I want to see how you can come up with a matching couplet that even Pan An couldn't solve!"
At this point, Ma Biao stopped pretending and directly pulled Pan An to the front of the stage.
Upon hearing this, Qin Yu revealed a mocking sneer, not even glancing at him, and got up to walk to the vermilion couplet. He picked up a brush and began to write with great flourish!
At this moment, Bai Ruyan on the stage, her almond-shaped eyes fixed on Qin Yu, felt slightly nervous.
Compared to the wicked Ma Biao, she naturally hoped that the couplet could be answered by a refined gentleman like Qin Yu.
But reason told her that this seemed impossible.
This last couplet is really tricky and bizarre.
This was a question she set herself, and she herself didn't believe that anyone could come up with it in such a short time.
But……
Bai Ruyan looked up at the handsome and dashing man, her eyes sparkling with admiration.
Qin Yu smiled slightly, raised his hand and held up the second line of the couplet he had just written, and said it aloud.
"Miss Bai's first line was 'Three Powers: Heaven, Earth, and Man,' and my second line is 'Four Poems: Elegance, Poetry, and Praise!'"
As soon as he finished speaking, the crowd erupted in an uproar, craning their necks and staring wide-eyed at the couplet in Qin Yu's hand!
This kid actually got it right?
Ma Biao's face also trembled violently!
His pupils contracted, and he hurriedly looked at Pan An.
Pan An was also slightly taken aback, sweat pouring down his forehead, but his eyes quickly lit up, signaling Ma Biao to calm down.
Then, he stepped forward, opened his folding fan, squinted and sneered: "Your second line is no better than my Three Lights Sun Moon Star, is it? I forgot that the upper and lower lines of a couplet cannot have the same characters, but your couplet is utter nonsense, a forced patchwork."
"Oh? May I ask where the passage is blocked?"
"Hmph, is that even a question? The 'Airs of the States,' 'Odes,' and 'Hymns' are clearly three poems, yet you claim they are four. Isn't that utter nonsense? It's just a forced patchwork for the sake of neatness, isn't it?"
Pan An gave a smug sneer, and everyone was speechless upon hearing this, for it was indeed as he had said!
Ma Biao realized what was happening and was immediately overjoyed!
"Kid! I thought you were someone important! Now that you've lost, don't blame me for being ruthless!"
"Today I'll show you what it means to have trouble come from your mouth! Guards!"
"Yes, sir!"
Several henchmen immediately stepped forward, their faces fierce!
Anfu, Zhou Xiong, and Zhou Hu were so frightened that they quickly stepped in front of Qin Yu!
But Yin Dang and Wu Chi's eyes darted around, and they hid in fright.
"Break his legs and arms, and throw him into the river to feed the turtles!"
"Yes, young master!"
At his command, the group of men immediately surrounded Qin Yu fiercely, drew their machetes, and cursed as they prepared to strike!
"Wait!"
Qin Yu roared, instantly stunning the thugs who stepped forward.
"Hmm? Kid, isn't it too late to beg for mercy now?"
Ma Biao sneered repeatedly, a hint of disdain flashing in his eyes.
"Beg for mercy? Hah!"
"Who says my couplets don't make sense?"
Qin Yu spoke slowly, his eyes filled with endless mockery and pity: "Don't you know that there is a distinction between 'Greater Elegance' and 'Lesser Elegance'?"
As soon as these words were spoken, the room fell silent. Then, a heated discussion broke out.
"I see. So there are different levels of elegance. We actually forgot about that?"
"If that's the case, then the four sections of Odes—Da Ya, Xiao Ya, Feng, and Song—make exactly four poems, don't they?"
"Wonderful, wonderful! The four poems of the Book of Songs are simply wonderful! We almost got caught up in Pan An's trap. We've wasted so many years of studying the classics!"
Everyone clapped and cheered, suddenly realizing the truth.
Ma Biao's expression became extremely interesting.
He stood there dumbfounded, turning his head to look at Pan An.
Pan An, the dashing and debonair scholar who considered himself the most talented man in the capital, looked as if he had seen a ghost.
He stared intently at Qin Yu, his finger trembling as he extended it.
"How is this possible?! How...how could you have beaten me!?"
Pan An's voice seemed to be questioning Qin Yu, or perhaps questioning himself.
He couldn't believe that his most prized literary talent had been defeated today by a young boy he had never seen or heard of before.
This puzzled and angered Pan An.
But more than anything, there was shame and anger.
He lost inexplicably, without any warning!
He was originally confident, but Qin Yu's second line defeated him in a completely humiliating way!
Even at first glance, he couldn't decipher the meaning behind those words.
He lost, and lost in a very humiliating way!
"Damn it, why aren't you saying anything? Keep talking! Isn't this kid's answer just utter nonsense?"
Ma Biao stared at Pan An with bloodshot eyes. How did the public opinion suddenly turn around?
Pan An took two deep breaths to calm himself down. His back was hunched over, and he said dejectedly, "Young Master Ma, I've lost."
"What? What did you say? Are you deaf? Say it again."
Ma Biao suddenly jumped up, grabbed Pan An by the collar, and said through gritted teeth.
Pan An shook his head bitterly. He had lost, utterly lost!
On stage, Bai Ruyan's beautiful eyes sparkled with surprise, and she covered her mouth in astonishment.
She never expected that someone could actually match all the couplets she had given in such a short time, and in such a neat, elegant, and wonderful way!
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