The girl traveled through another world and forced the prince to take the imperial examination

Facing the eighty-one talented scholars, Yun Qing calmly recited with his hands behind his back: "Eighty-one scholars, each one a talent, let the fools challenge me! Please provide the matching couplet!"

Instantly, the entire hall fell silent!

Eighty-one talented scholars were carefully analyzing the first line of the couplet. What seemed like a few simple words were actually quite complex, with hidden mechanisms in every word.

The phrase “八一士” (eighty-one scholars) together form the character “仕” (official); the phrase “个个为才” (each one is talented) stacked together forms the character “倈” (talented); the word “呆子” (foolish person) is a veiled insult that implies “木” (wood); the character “伐” (to cut down) contains the meaning of “provocation” and its shape is exactly “a person holding a spear”.

The couplet skillfully blends wordplay, homophony, and double entendre, cleverly incorporating the immediate situation. It appears to be casually composed, yet it is as subtle as a needle hidden in cotton.

"This is extraordinary, truly extraordinary!"

The scholars exchanged bewildered glances, some already gesturing with their palms, their brows furrowing. Their earlier composed smiles now froze into beads of sweat on their foreheads. The only sound in the garden was the rustling of sleeves in the wind, a subtle contrast to the faint, distant sounds of joy.

"With so many of you, how come you can't come up with the answer?"

Seeing that no one answered, Feng Zhishang sensed something was wrong, and his arrogant attitude immediately deflated!

"Hahahaha..." Duan Qingzhou's voice boomed as he strode out, his iron hands on his hips: "Brother Feng, your scholars' tricks won't work! We have to see what our military generals can do!"

He turned and bowed to Yun Qing: "Your Highness, please!"

Yun Qing glanced at the almost invisible love lock in the distance and said, "Since they are love locks, why are there only one? I want a pair!"

"Excellent! That's impressive!" Duan Qingzhou clapped his hands and cheered, then quickly had someone tie another one.

When Yun Qing took the bow from the shelf, she took two arrows directly.

He calmly took out a red silk ribbon from his pocket and blindfolded himself! Actually, at this distance, he probably couldn't see clearly even without blindfolding himself!

Yun Qing drew her bow, nocked an arrow, and fired two arrows in quick succession.

"Whoosh—Ding! Ding!"

Two crisp sounds almost overlapped as the arrowhead pierced precisely through the holes of the double locks, firmly securing the pair of love locks to the tree trunk behind. The red ribbons at the arrow's fletching fluttered in the wind, like two hearts bound together.

"it is good--!"

Cheers erupted instantly, shaking the heavens.

"Incredible skill!" Duan Qingzhou exclaimed sincerely, waving his hand and declaring, "Open the door! Welcome His Highness the Crown Prince to his new bride!"

-------

Inside the boudoir, Mu Qingcheng and Mu Yao were lounging on a brocade couch, chatting idly while cracking melon seeds.

A red figure suddenly appeared above the two of them.

"Ahhh!" Mu Yao screamed in fright, almost blowing the roof off.

Yun Qing frowned slightly, glanced at her with disdain, and then focused her gaze entirely on Mu Qingcheng, who was dressed in red.

He reached out and scooped Mu Qingcheng up in his arms, his breath slightly ragged, his voice filled with a long-suppressed heat: "Nuan Nuan, I've come to pick you up."

"Is this so fast?"

They were almost there; Mu Qingcheng hadn't even had time to see Yun Qing's face clearly. She was completely bewildered. Weren't there supposed to be eighty-one talented scholars waiting to test the Crown Prince? Wasn't there supposed to be an extremely difficult martial arts test?

While Mu Qingcheng was still in a daze, Yun Qing had already carried her out of the boudoir.

Just then, a flurry of footsteps and exclamations approached from afar, and a group of ladies and young women came rushing in!

Leading the way was a robust old woman in red, panting heavily as she ran: "Your Highness! Your Highness, you mustn't! Carrying the bride is this old servant's job!"

Following closely behind, Su Qingyan, supported by Linglong, hurriedly asked, her hairpins slightly disheveled: "How did His Highness manage to barge in? Where is Liu Liu? Isn't she guarding the inner courtyard gate?"

"I don't know! How come everyone's gone?"

Little did they know that while Yun Qing was trying to pass the test, the little black guys had already secretly climbed over the wall and taken down Liu Liu, tied her up, and thrown her into the woodshed.

In critical moments, it's time for the secret guards to step in!

Yun Qing wouldn't allow anyone else to do it for him. He's already had enough of holding his new bride himself! Who needs a matchmaker to do it for him?

Ignoring the calls of the crowd behind him, he held the person in his arms firmly and walked straight through the corridors and courtyards, through the vermilion gates and brocade doors, until he arrived at the magnificent carriage with its flowing lights outside the gate.

"Nuan Nuan!" He looked down, his eyes filled with her beautifully made-up face. "This car was designed for you by myself. Do you like it?"

Mu Qingcheng gazed at the exquisitely crafted car before her, every detail imbued with her heartfelt sentiments. The surprises and emotions accumulated throughout the day surged forth like a warm current, soothing her heart.

"When did you do all this... I had no idea."

“Nuan Nuan is my Crown Princess!” His voice was deep, as if with regret: “I cannot let you suffer even the slightest grievance. It’s just… it was still a bit rushed in the end.”

Mu Qingcheng choked up, her vision suddenly blurred, and the tears she had been holding back for so long finally welled up in her eyes.

Yun Qing carried Mu Qingcheng into the Yan Zhai carriage! After putting her down, she thoughtfully adjusted her dress.

The bustling street fell silent for a moment, then erupted into even louder cheers.

The wedding procession slowly set off, carrying the newlyweds around half of Jiangzhou Prefecture! The people followed behind the procession, shouting auspicious words, while children chased after the carriages, singing lucky songs!

A gentle breeze lifted a corner of the carriage curtain, and those with sharp eyes could see the bride and groom holding hands tightly inside, with the prince whispering tender words in the princess's ear.

Just in time for the auspicious hour, Yan Zhai's carriage returned to the new residence in the government office!

Yun Qing carried Mu Qingcheng off the carriage and headed straight for the government office.

"Your Highness, this..." Fang Xurao was about to say that this was unreasonable, but he swallowed the words back.

Yun Qing seemed not to hear, carrying Mu Qingcheng, and steadily stepped onto the prepared vermilion carpet. She stepped over the sandalwood saddle carved with the words "Peace"! She leaped over the burning charcoal brazier, her robes brushing against the flames, raising a wisp of smoke and a faint scent of pine, symbolizing a prosperous and calamity-free future.

He didn't leave her behind, but went straight into the main hall.

Inside the main hall, red candles burned brightly, incense burners with auspicious beast designs emitted wisps of smoke, and ceremonial music began to play again.

Only when they reached the hall did he gently put Mu Qingcheng down. His hand, however, remained tightly holding hers, his fingertips warm, conveying a silent sense of security.

Fang Xurao quickly followed, singing in a high-pitched and melodious voice: "I bow to Heaven and Earth—"

Yun Qing turned around nimbly and bowed solemnly towards the outside of the hall. Mu Qingcheng had specially learned the etiquette of the wedding ceremony beforehand, and she followed him in bowing gracefully, the pearls and jade on her phoenix crown jingling.

"Second worship high hall-"

In the main hall, two empty rosewood chairs stood. The two bowed again. From that moment on, his parents were her family.

"Husband and wife pay homage——"

As the announcement faded, the clamor in the hall seemed to vanish instantly. Yun Qing slowly turned around and met Mu Qingcheng's gaze. He smiled, his eyes reflecting her elaborately made-up appearance, his gaze deep and intense, as if he wanted to imprint this moment into eternity.

Mu Qingcheng's heart pounded. Under his focused gaze, she held her breath and leaned forward, and he bowed in return.

The tassels and pearls hanging from their foreheads touched gently during the bow, intertwining and colliding, producing a very subtle yet crisp sound, like the resonance of heartstrings. The wide sleeves of their crimson auspicious robes spread out on the ground, like two closed, perfect vermilion lotus petals.

The ceremony is completed.

"Send it to the bridal chamber—!"

Is this it? Mu Qingcheng was somewhat dazed. Did this mean they were husband and wife?

Yun Qing straightened up without hesitation, picked her up again, and strode towards the inner courtyard.

Mu Qingcheng nestled in his arms, listening to his steady heartbeat gradually harmonize with her own pounding heart. At this moment, her unreal and panicked heart finally found a home. She quietly pressed her face against his chest, where, beneath the crimson brocade, their hearts pounded like drums, burning hot like fire.