Nine dragons fight for the throne, I don't want to sit on this throne

Inside the inn, the aroma of tea filled the air and the charcoal fire glowed slightly red.

The questions asked by the three great scholars were not difficult for two children under the age of ten. Wouldn’t it be a joke if this got out?

Cui Gaoxuan's expression was somewhat grim. He forced a smile and stroked his beard, saying:

"The princess and the prince are indeed very talented. This Thousand Character Classic and The Complete Collection of Ancient Prose will naturally not be difficult for you."

Wu Xiuning giggled, her small hand supporting her chin, her eyes curved into crescents: "Of course! My brother Chu Tian and I are very capable!"

She suddenly sat up straight, a sly glint in her eyes: "You all asked us questions just now, isn't it our turn now?"

Cui Gaoxuan was startled for a moment, then he laughed heartily and waved his hand in a pretentiously heroic manner:

"As a great scholar of the State of Wei, I keep my word! If you have any questions, feel free to ask!"

A mere six-year-old child has only been exposed to enlightenment books such as "Thousand Character Classic" and "Gu Wen Guan Zhi".

These kinds of books are not a problem at all for these great scholars.

But Pei Yanzhi and Sima Hui looked at each other, feeling vaguely uneasy.

But then I thought, what difficult questions could two young kids ask?

He nodded in agreement: "Princess, please feel free to ask."

Wu Xiuning blinked, pretending to think, and then asked crisply, "Mr. Gao, you are knowledgeable and experienced. So, may I ask—why is the moon sometimes round and sometimes crescent?"

Cui Gaoxuan: “…”

His originally confident expression froze in an instant, his brows were furrowed, his lips moved slightly, but he couldn't speak for a long time.

Is the moon waxing or waning?

This question seems simple, but if you want to explain it clearly, it involves astronomy, calendar, and the movement of the sun and the moon.

Although Cui Gaoxuan was well-versed in the Four Books and Five Classics, he knew very little about astronomy and calendar calculation, and for a moment he didn't know how to answer.

He originally thought that Wu Xiuning would ask him about literature, so he agreed without hesitation.

Who knew Wu Xiuning didn't play by the rules at all!

Suddenly asked him why the moon is waxing and waning, he had no answer!

At this moment, Wu Xiuning tilted her head, her face full of anticipation: "Gao Daru?"

Cui Gaoxuan's forehead was slightly sweaty, and he stammered, "This... the moon waxes and wanes, it's the natural law of nature..."

Wu Xiuning curled her lips and said, "Then why does the moon wax and wane?"

Cui Gaoxuan: “…”

How could he possibly know this kind of question!

I’m afraid even the Imperial Observatory doesn’t know!

He looked at Pei Yanzhi and Sima Hui for help, and they both looked confused.

Seeing this, Wu Xiuning sighed in disappointment and said, "Since Gao Daru can't answer, why not ask Pei Daru and Sima Daru to answer?"

Pei Yanzhi and Sima Hui's faces changed drastically when they heard this. They looked at each other with surprise and suspicion in their eyes.

Pei Yanzhi coughed lightly and said reluctantly, "Princess, your question involves the movement of celestial phenomena. Although I am well versed in the teachings of sages, astronomy is a vast and profound subject that I have not delved into."

Sima Hui also hurriedly fanned himself to hide his embarrassment: "Exactly, exactly, this is the responsibility of the Imperial Observatory, not something that Confucian scholars like us can handle."

Wu Xiuning blinked, and suddenly turned to look at Chu Tian: "Brother Chu Tian, it seems that they don't know how to do it."

Chu Tian nodded obediently, then said in a baby voice: "Then let me ask a question."

Chu Tian pulled out an exquisite jade abacus from his sleeve, fiddled with it for a few times with his small hands, and raised his head to ask:

"Three great scholars, if there is a cage of chickens and rabbits, with a total of thirty-five heads and ninety-four feet, how many chickens and rabbits are there in the cage?"

Three great scholars: "..."

Pei Yanzhi's eyelids twitched, the feather fan in Sima Hui's hand fell to the ground with a "click", and Cui Gaoxuan froze.

Chickens and rabbits in the same cage?

This problem sounds simple, but it requires proficiency in arithmetic to calculate.

They usually study the classics, but never thought that they would be stumped by a three-year-old child with mathematics?

Pei Yanzhi's forehead was covered with sweat, and he forced a smile and said, "Your Highness's question is quite unique."

Sima Hui bent down to pick up the feather fan and chuckled dryly: "I think it's better to let the officials of the Ministry of Revenue handle such mathematical matters."

Chu Tian tilted his head, looking innocent: "But aren't you great scholars? Aren't great scholars supposed to know everything?"

Three great scholars: "..."

That damn guy said that great scholars know everything?

They only understand literature. They know nothing about astronomy and mathematics!

At this moment, the three great scholars cursed the ancestors of the person who spread the rumor in their hearts.

At this moment, Wu Xiuning suddenly stood up, her face puffed up with anger: "So these three great scholars can't even answer such a simple question?"

She took Chu Tian's hand and pretended to leave.

"Brother Chu Tian, let's go! I want to tell everyone in the world that these three great scholars can't even answer a child's question!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the faces of the three great scholars changed suddenly!

They can die, but their reputation must not be ruined!

Pei Yanzhi rushed to the hall door, opened his arms and stopped the two of them, and said urgently: "Princess, wait a minute! Give me one more chance, and I will definitely be able to answer it!"

Sima Hui also quickly agreed: "That's right! We just weren't prepared. Princess, please ask another question and we will definitely be able to answer it!"

Cui Gaoxuan wiped the sweat from his forehead and forced a smile, saying, "The princess is very talented and the question she asked is indeed brilliant. How about...how about asking another question?"

Wu Xiuning stopped, pouted, pretending to think, and then nodded reluctantly:

"Okay, I'll give you one more chance."

She blinked and suddenly asked, "Three great scholars, do you know why there is thunder in winter and no snow in summer?"

Three great scholars: "..."

Pei Yanzhi opened his mouth and closed it again.

The feather fan in Sima Hui's hand fell again.

Cui Gaoxuan froze in place, his mind going blank.

Thunder in winter?

No snow in summer?

This question seems simple, but if you want to explain it clearly, it involves the principles of climate, geography, yin and yang, and the five elements. How could they understand these?

There was dead silence in the inn.

The charcoal fire crackled and the aroma of tea gradually cooled.

The three great scholars had cold sweat on their foreheads and racked their brains, but still could not come up with an answer.

Wu Xiuning shrugged, looking helpless: "It's not that I didn't give you a chance, it's that I gave you a chance, but you couldn't seize it."

She took Chu Tian's hand and walked out the door, saying as she walked:

"How about this, you guys continue to think here, and my brother Chu Tian and I will come to you tomorrow. I hope you can give us an answer tomorrow."

The three great scholars stood there in a daze, watching the two small figures disappear in the wind and snow.

Jia Yu stood outside the door, a slight smile on his lips, and then followed the two of them, his black cloak fluttering in the wind.

In the post house, the charcoal fire gradually went out.

Pei Yanzhi sat back in his chair dejectedly, muttering, "This...what should I do?"

Sima Hui picked up the feather fan and said with a wry smile, "If you can't answer it tomorrow..."

Cui Gaoxuan sighed, "Our reputation is about to be ruined!"

The wind and snow were howling, and the lanterns in the inn were swaying in the cold wind, reflecting the pale faces of the three great scholars.

How will they respond tomorrow?